Thomas Earnshaw was the second child of Thomas Earnshaw & Jane Turnbull born Oct-December, 1853 at Dawdon, Seaham Harbour, Co Durham.
In 1861 the family were living at the Gas Works, Dawdon & Thomas had 2 brothers & a younger sister.
By 1871 the family had moved to Haswell Colliery & Thomas was now working as a screeman at the colliery. He had 5 brothers & a sister.
At the time of the 1881 census Thomas was found at 20 Marboro Mews, St James, Westminster where he was a police constable. He was living at the constabulary with many other police constables of a similar age.
Thomas (Tom on census) was still living in London in 1901 but was now a detective.
At the time of the census he was lodging at 5 Barnby St, Somers Town, St Pancras
with Harriet & William Dean, a brewer’s drayman.