#thomas evans

My take on a playlist for @cold-boy-tapes day 7 prompt: An obscure Terror character playlist. This idea came to me as I was falling asleep. Click below for the song list, I have zero idea what this playlist actually sounds like, I made it on my lunch break.

Thomas and Freddy had managed to be discharged so they could return to their studies. As expected, the boys were extremely relieved to finally go back home, although even that wasn’t enough to put a smile on Thomas’s face. He had been completely downcast since his separation from Molly, and his melancholy was noticeable. Returning to academic life was infinitely better than being stuck in a trench, but it was far from his idea of happiness, and he made sure to visit the family in Brindleton at the first opportunity.

“— It’s a beauty, isn’t it? I’ve had my eye on one of these for a while.” William said, proudly showing off his new car and inviting his son inside.

“— What are we doing here?” Thomas asked, after they crossed the border into Innesgreen and stopped in front of a semi-detached house.

“— I’ve been thinking a lot about some of my actions, apparently burying a son always has that effect. You start thinking about how you’ve been treating the ones you still have, you know? Brinchester, the Mulligan girl, everything really. It’s not new that I’ve been realizing I’ve been placing expectations and responsibilities on you that were never meant to be yours.”

“— It’s alright, father. I know you only wanted to make sure I would take good care of our family. I never blamed you for any of it.” Thomas assured him.

“— I know you didn’t. You’re a good boy, you always have been, and certainly not because of me. And your reward for being a good son shouldn’t be inheriting a life you don’t want. Being so well-behaved and understanding shouldn’t mean having less freedom than your brothers.”

“— What do you mean by that? Did you change your mind about Molly?” Thomas asked, beginning to feel hopeful.

“— No. I was right about my imposition, that girl isn’t fit to be the wife of my heir.” William said, and before Thomas could grow discouraged again, he added: “— But she definitely should be your wife.”

“— So…?” Thomas asked, confused.

“— You’re not suited for that, son.” William stated. “— This here.” He continued, pointing to the house in front of them. “— This suits you. You can manage things on this side of the island, get your hands dirty, start earning your own living.”

“— And your business?”

“— Don’t worry about that, son. I know what to do.”

And so, after more than a decade of courtship, the Mulligan girl officially became Molly Evans in the summer of 1917, and Thomas could finally have the joy of calling his childhood love his wife.

The Evans felt like they needed something to lift their spirits, and although it was painful not having all the boys home for Christmas, they had to focus on the good things and show gratitude. Robert had managed to get leave, which was already a huge relief. Thomas’s battalion had been sent to Brindleton, and they were granted permission to extend their stay through the holidays. And Albert had returned from his expedition, which of course meant he would have to serve now that he was eighteen, but at least for that moment, he was home.

Evelyn’s labor helped lift everyone’s mood. With the help of Evangeline and Mary Ane, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Hazel. It was also the first time in nearly two years that they had seen Elizabeth. She and Nathan had been traveling everywhere lately, never staying more than two weeks in the same country. It seemed Liz was determined to make up for all the time she had spent basically locked away at home, and her husband seemed incapable of denying her anything. Aunt Viviane had also decided to show up. She now had a rather radical new look, considering how modestly she had always dressed.

Thomas, after all the time he had spent in the field, could only think about Molly, and about how she would be left if something happened to him. He needed to make sure she wouldn’t be left helpless. The moment he set foot in Brindleton, he knew they had to get married as soon as possible. To his surprise and misfortune, however, as soon as he tried to approach the girl’s house, Mr. James stopped him.

“— Listen, boy.” James began. He looked tired and almost sympathetic. “— Maybe I let this go on for too long, but you know my daughter. Keeping her so focused on you certainly spared me from dealing with a lot of trouble. But this ends here, Thommy. You’re a good boy, a very good one, and under different circumstances I would welcome you with open arms as a son, but not like this, not in your position, not with Molly.”

“— What are you talking about? Mr. Mulligan, I swear your daughter would be in good hands with me. There’s nothing I want more in this life than to build a family with Molly.”

“— I don’t doubt your intentions, Thommy, but the burden of a good father is knowing the children he has. Molly isn’t the girl for you. I know it, your father knows it, and even she knows it. She’s upstairs. She’s definitely listening to everything, but she won’t interfere because the little bit of sense she has in that wicked little head tells her this is the right thing to do. And look, my daughter must truly love you to be choosing to do the right thing. She knows that her affection for you wouldn’t be enough to make her behave like a proper lady all the time.”

“— I don’t care if she’s not a proper lady.” Thomas said. He then glanced up at the upstairs windows, hoping Molly had heard him.

“— Your father does. He was very understanding in our conversation, always willing to overlook my family’s situation and my daughter’s lack of a dowry, but her troublesome behavior… that can’t be ignored, not in the future wife of his heir. Even so, he wouldn’t forbid the marriage, but he made it clear that if Molly didn’t behave, he would have no choice but to disinherit you.”

“— THEN LET HIM THROW ME OUT!” Thomas declared in a firm voice. He then tried to force his way inside.

“— Thomas! Thomas!” Mr. James called, trying to make him stop and calm down. “— She’s already decided, Thommy. She can’t let you lose your position. Her conscience would kill her. And even if she could, what kind of life would you give her? What would you have without William’s support? Certainly not enough to give Molly the life she deserves. So do what’s best for both of you and get her out of your head.”

🎖Thomas Evans

There were four ship's boys on the Franklin expedition: George Chambers and David Young aboard Erebus, and Robert Golding and Thomas Evans aboard Terror. There was a mandible initially estimated to belong to someone who was 12-15 years old that was speculated to belong to a ship's boy, which interested me, however baptism records for all four have been found showing that all were born by 1828 at the very latest, making them around ~20 when they died, so that estimate must be off.

Thomas George Evans, son of Thomas (seaman) and Louisa. Baptized 5 Aug 1827 in Saint Nicholas, Deptford, Greenwich

George William Chambers, son of Thomas (rigger) and Jane. Born 5 Sept 1827, baptized 28 Sept 1827 in Saint Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Greenwich.

David Young, son of David (mariner) and Maria. Born 4 Jan 1828, baptized 7 Aug 1831 in St Mary, Portsea. (Note: This is his likely second baptism; it appears he was first baptized in 1828 in Lambeth by his mother when his father was at sea.)

Since he enlisted, Thomas felt like he was being tossed from one place to another without anyone properly explaining what he was supposed to do. At least training kept him occupied, and although he had never stood out much in sports, he felt he was doing well. At least he was so exhausted when he returned to his quarters that he fell asleep the moment he touched the bed, with no time to think about how far he was from home and everything he knew.

His hope was that he might be able to find his brothers once he was finally assigned to a battalion, but that wasn’t what happened. They made him march for hours without knowing the destination, and then ordered him and his companions to dig. Thomas thought that maybe it was some kind of trap they were setting up, but after talking to other soldiers, he realized that that dreadful trench would be his home for at least a few weeks. He could only hope his brothers were in a better situation.