Thomas Graham, along with twin sister Elizabeth, was born on the 2nd June 1794 at Mulgrave Place, New South Wales, Australia. Mulgrave Place was the name given to the district where the first settlers were placed on the Hawkesbury River. Thomas Graham grew up and went by his mother's name of Graham either in honour of his mother, but more likely as a true reflection of his birth particulars. There is some doubt as to wether Matthew Lock was the father of the twins as in later life, when referring to Thomas Graham, he was to write on two documents "my reputed son" and "my step son".
Thomas's mother, Eupham Graham, died when he was only two years old. Three months after the death of his mother Matthew Lock married Alice Burrows. The children were brought up with Matthew and Alice while living on the 30-acre grant at Mulgrave Place, which Matthew had received on the expiration of his sentence in 1794. In 1802 and 1804 Thomas's father received two more grants of 50 and 30 acres at Bushells (Robinson's) Lagoon and the farm became known as Lock's Farm. At the age of twelve, Thomas was most likely helping on the farm as by the 1806 General Muster, the farm had over 50 acres in wheat, barley, maize and 1 acre of orchard and vegetable garden. There were also 50 goats, 10 pigs, 30 sheep, 3 horses, 1 cow and 2 oxen to care for, although 4 convict servants were working there.
Thomas Graham on his 16th birthday was given 25 acres, known as the old Nicholas Farm, from his father. The farm had been purchased earlier by Matthew Lock from its original owner, Richard Nicholas, and layed half way between Matthew's original grant and his larger grant on Bushells Lagoon, originally known as Lock's Farm but later became known as Highlands. The old Nicholas Farm was neighboured by John Cobcroft and Laurel Farm, now occupied by Thomas Rose and his family of the Bellona.
On the 13th September 1813 Thomas Graham, aged 19, married Mary Maria Hodgetts, aged 18 at St Matthews in Windsor by Banns. After their marriage Thomas and Maria lived at Highlands (Lock's Farm) and had 14 children, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary Ann, Thomas, Harriet, John, William, George, Jane, James, Louisa, Alice, Richard and Frederick. In 1815 Thomas and Maria were supplying meat to the Government and were farming partly on the Bushells Lagoon property (Highlands) also on their 25 acres at Nicholas Farm and 60 acres of partly developed land at Kurrajong which was granted to Thomas from the Government when he turned 21. By 1828 they had 145 acres, 47 cleared, 47 cultivated and had 5 horses and 15 cattle.
In 1836 Thomas's father, Matthew Lock, died leaving his lands to his children and grandchildren. Thomas Graham was given 40 acres of the 80-acre Highlands property he also received the house and goods on the land as well as all the cattle. Two house blocks of land in Wilberforce were also given to Thomas. The other 40 acres at Highlands was given to his sister Mary through her husband Thomas Maloney.
Five years earlier in 1831 Thomas had mortgaged Nicholas Farm for 90 pounds for reasons unknown and in 1844 he used Highlands as callateral to borrow 50 pounds from his attorney, Frances Bedeck. Also in 1844 Thomas was forced to sell the Nicholas Farm as he had been unable to repay the 90 pound mortgage, but realised 224 pounds after all debts were paid. On 17th May 1844 there was more tragedy for Thomas when his wife Mary Maria died while giving birth to her 15th child, a son who also did not survive.
Two years later on 22nd May 1846 Thomas Graham, aged 51, married Margaret Louisa Mills, aged 21 at Scots Church in Windsor. Margaret was the daughter of John and Mary Mills and already had an 8-month-old baby possibly to Thomas. After their marriage Thomas and Margaret had 7 more children, Maria, twins Jacob and Isaac Graham, Opher, Alexander, Abel and Rosena. Which meant that Thomas had fathered at least 21 children.
Whether Thomas was a poor manager or had too many mouths to feed is unknown but over the next few years he mortgaged Highlands at least three more times. In 1848 for 25 pounds, again in 1854 for 75 pounds and finally to William Jasper for an unknown sum but the loan was described as "a life interest in the farm" which was to cause major legal problems later. Sometime after the birth of their last child in 1858, Thomas and Margaret seperated and Thomas remained at Highlands.
Thomas's grandson, Thomas Orlando Reynolds whose father-in-law was none other than the mortgagee, William Jasper, was now leasing the farm. It would appear that Thomas was not a well man and part of the lease agreement was an understanding that Thomas Reynolds was to look after his grandfather, Thomas Graham, until his death. Further trouble occured in 1862 when Thomas Graham sued his grandson, Thomas Reynolds, for 20 pounds for misappropriating his farm furniture outside the terms of the lease. The court action was dismissed in the Windsor District Court on 14th August 1862, when Reynolds produced a receipt for the furniture with Thomas Graham's signature on it and verified by Reynolds's wife Jemima who claimed to have drawn up the receipt.
Thomas Graham left his home after the court case and went to his son James's house, saying he no longer wished to return home. James eventually got him home but the following day on the 15th August 1862 Thomas Graham fell into a deep sleep and died soon after. Thomas was buried in St John's Cemetery in Wilberforce with his wife Mary Maria and beside his father Matthew Lock.
On the death of Thomas, his son Thomas Graham Jnr took possession of the farm as Thomas Orlando Reynolds lease was up, however, William Jasper pressed his claim for the outstanding debt, which Thomas refused to recognise. After a protracted and complicated legal case William Jasper finally acquired the farm in 1866 and sold it in 1867, but not before Thomas Anderson, husband of Mary Ann Graham was bankrupted in the process
