Researching Thomas Wood

Wood was born in Chorley, Lancashire and attended Barrow Grammar School, also in Lancashire, before studying at the University of Oxford and the Royal College of Music. In 1919 he was appointed Director of Music at Tonbridge School in Kent, returning to Oxford in 1924 to teach at Exeter College. During this period he composed several choral-orchestral works including Forty Singing Seamen (1925), Master Mariners (1927) and The Ballad of Hampstead Heath (1927). He went to Australia in 1930 and spent over two years travelling across the country. This prompted him to write his book Cobbers (1934) which the Australian Dictionary of Biography describes as "still the most perceptive and captivating characterization of Australia and its people ever written by a visitor". He continued to compose and wrote several other books, including an autobiography, True Thomas (1936), before his death of a heart attack in 1950.

Miss St Osyth Mahala Eustace-Smith(1886 - 1970) of Wormingford married Thomas Wood in 1924 at Wormingford Church.Before her marriage, on 7 June 1918 "The London Gazette" reported St Osyth receiving an OBE for her work as "Hon Secretary, Essex Local War Pensions Committee". After their marriage the new Mrs St Osyth Wood moved into Parsonage Hall, Bures and became great benefactor to the local community.She died at Wasperton, Warwickshire aged 84 years.

In 1853, Wood moved from his place of birth to Vigo County, Indiana, with his parents; where he received his education and studied law at Terre Haute, Indiana. He graduated in law from the University of Michigan in 1867 and began practicing law. Wood moved to Crown Point, Lake County in November 1867 and practiced law there. He served as Lake County's prosecuting attorney from 1872 to 1876.

Wood was a member of the Indiana Senate from 1878 to 1882 and was elected as a Democrat to the 48th United States Congress. He served from March 4, 1883, to March 3, 1885, and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection.

Wood was born the son of Thomas Wood MP for Breconshire. He was educated at Harrow School. He lived at Littleton, Middlesex, and at Gwernyfed Park, Breconshire, Wales. He became an officer in the Grenadier Guards. In 1837 he was elected Member of Parliament for Middlesex. He held the seat until 1847. Also in 1841 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

He commanded the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards in the early stages of the Crimean War (1853–56) and reached the rank of General.

He died aged 68. He had married Frances Smyth, daughter of John Henry Smyth and Lady Elizabeth Anne FitzRoy, on 6 July 1848.

Wood was an opening or middle-order batsman who kept wicket on occasion for amateur Somerset sides in non-first-class matches between 1886 and 1894. In his one first-class appearance he batted in middle-order and did not keep wicket; he scored 11 in Somerset's only innings in the home match against Lancashire.

He died at Annapolis Royal and is buried at Garrison Cemetery (Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia).