William Kyffin Thomas

William Kyffin Thomas (4 November 1821 – 4 July 1878) was a newspaper proprietor in South Australia. William, the son of Robert Thomas, was born in Fleet Street, London and emigrated to South Australia with his father in 1836, and from that time until the day of his death William was intimately associated with the fortunes of the South Australian Register, for the last twenty-five years of his life as one of the proprietors. To his industry and ability in the different capacities in which he acted was due to a large extent the high character and phenomenal success of the Register, and the weekly and afternoon journals issued from the same office—the Adelaide Observer and Evening Journal. The firm which conducted these papers bore the name of the subject, being known as W. K. Thomas & Co., and consisted of John Harvey Finlayson and Robert Kyffin Thomas, the latter being the elder son of William Kyffin Thomas, and grandson of the founder of the Register. William died on 4 July 1878 in Glenelg, South Australia and was buried in West Terrace Cemetery. William was survived by his wife Mary Jane, née Good, six daughters and three sons.

William Kyffin Thomas (4 November 1821 – 4 July 1878) married Mary Jane Good (c. 1826 – 17 November 1901) on 28 January 1843. Their children included

• Mary Maria Thomas (c. 1843 – 18 March 1878) married Charles Napier Birks (13 February 1844 – 29 April 1924) on 13 September 1866
• Helen Rosetta Thomas (c. 1845 – 3 May 1932) married George Napier Birks (24 October 1838 – 14 September 1895) on 28 January 1863. George died in Paraguay; he was the a brother of Charles Napier Birks, founder of the Rundle Street store.
• Frances Thomas (1847–1926) married William Neill (c.1846 – 10 December 1929) on 29 October 1869

• Sir Robert Kyffin Thomas (19 August 1851 – 13 June 1910) married Amelia Bowen (c. 1855 – 15 July 1922) in 1876. See his entry for family details.
• Rosetta Jane "Rose" Thomas (12 March 1856 – 3 October 1911) married Charles Napier Birks (1844–1924) on 8 March 1879. Rose was a noted suffragist.
• Florence Emily Thomas (1860 – 20 August 1922) married J(abez) Edwin Thomas (c. 1853 – 10 September 1920) on 22 September 1881. Edwin was not a near relative. He was an accountant, business partner of William Neill (above).
• Margaret Edith Thomas (1862 – 10 October 1946)
• Annie Isabel Kyffin Thomas (19 June 1864 – 21 November 1948) married Dr. George Bessant Mallam MRCS LRCP (11 May 1843 – 28 August 1910) of Oxford on 30 July 1884

• Evan Kyffin Thomas (1866 – 27 July 1935) married Mary Harriet Archer "Maisie" Smith (c. 1878 – 6 March 1942) on 1 June 1901 He was a journalist with the Register, editor of the Observer then partner and general manager. Their children included: