Family History Mysteries

American Charles Sherwood Stratton, a small statured man, achieved international fame as a member of PT Barnum’s touring sideshow troupe and named himself Tom Thumb – he appeared in Melbourne in 1870 which encouragedAustralian versions.
This episode covers the stories of two Australian 'Tom Thumbs'.
*Warning – there will be terminology used in this episodethat does not reflect modern acceptable terms*

Born Thomas Henry Augustine Penney, Cecil Pierpont was one of a number of aliases he used in Australia. Others included Cecil Rowe, Professor Gordon Rowe and Cecil de Vere, Gordon Vane Tempest Simpson, Gordon Tempest, Gordon Burge, Gordon de Burgh, Cecil Royal Aubrey, Cecil Devine, John Soames, Sydney Bruce Burge. He was also married a number of times, including to several women at the same time.

Born Thomas Henry Augustine Penney, Cecil Pierpont was one of a number of aliases he used in Australia. Others included Cecil Rowe, Professor Gordon Rowe and Cecil de Vere, Gordon Vane Tempest Simpson, Gordon Tempest, Gordon Burge, Gordon de Burgh, Cecil Royal Aubrey, Cecil Devine, John Soames, Sydney Bruce Burge. He was also married a number of times, including to several women at the same time.

Percival George Whittall Percy was born into an English merchant family, educated in England, multilingual and employed by the large Far East trading company, Jardine, Matheson & Co. He came to Australia in 1879. He started off well but by 1895 was charged with imposition.

In a 1923 newspaper article, it outlined how William Mowbray under the title of Dr William De Vale, had slept with a number of his patients even though he was a married man with children.