Thomas Pole, M.D. / written by Edmund Tolson Wedmore for the Friends' Historical Society ; with notes by Norman Penney ; illustrated by portrait, and forty-eight drawings by Dr. Pole.

  • Wedmore, Edmund Tolson.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Thomas Pole, M.D. / written by Edmund Tolson Wedmore for the Friends' Historical Society ; with notes by Norman Penney ; illustrated by portrait, and forty-eight drawings by Dr. Pole. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Edward, Ann and Thomas. We lost our mother not long after, so the care of the family devolved on our guardians, William Callendar and Edward Catherall.” Thomas Pole was born on the 13th of October, 1753, in Philadelphia. He was the youngest child of John and Rachel Pole. Bereft of his father when little more than one year old, he was able to recall something of his mother’s tender and religious care, for she lived till he was about six; and the records he has left also refer to his indebtedness to his guardians. Anna too, his elder sister, did her part towards the nurture of the younger children. His brother was sent early to England under the care of the uncles in Somersetshire, and the three others lived with William Callendar, who says that Thomas had a very active disposition. When Anna married James Bringhurst, A]2n went to live with her and Thomas was placed with Joseph Noble. At this time, T. Griffiths, a friend. of Thomas Pole’s, of Milverton, went to America, and being asked to interest himself in the family and satisfy then- uncle as to their welfare, wrote thus from Philadelphia: “ I both saw and enquired particularly concerning thy nephew, Tommy Pole, a young lad twelve years of age, bearing a good character, and remarkably inclined to be doing one nick-nack or other in wood—as little boxes, &c., and as far as I understand minds his learning. He lives at present with Joseph Noble, who speaks well of him and says when he gets a little money he is not apt to squander it. He told me himself that he would like to learn to be a carpenter and joiner. I went to see the two sisters, and I hear nothing hut well concerning them. But later, by association with wicked schoolfellows, Thomas was corrupted and gave way to an evil turn of mind ; he “ yielded to sinful gratifications.” Happily, the voice ’of conscience pleaded and he was awakened to a