# Watkin Thomas — The Maid of Sker character guide

> Watkin Thomas in The Maid of Sker by R. D. Blackmore.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Watkin, young Watkin, boy Watkin, poor Watkin, little Tom tailor

**First appearance:** 0001-the-maid-of-sker

## Snapshot

A young tailor's apprentice whose knife carves dolls for a castaway child and whose courage pulls her from the sea.

## Who they are

Watkin Thomas is the farmer's son who befriends little Bardie on the sands, carving the dolls that sit in her sand-chair and later plunging in to save her when she runs after Patty Green. He is poor, pale, and dutiful, left to mind five dead young men at the inquest while his father cannot bear to look. His small heroisms and steady kindness anchor Bardie's new life among the Thomases and earn him a shilling and a place in her story.

## In the story

### [VIII: Children Will Be Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/viii-children-will-be-children)

The youngest boy of Sker, about twelve, plays the jew's-harp for Bardie and tells Davy about her arrival and behavior.

### [IX: Sandhills Turned to Sand-Holes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/ix-sandhills-turned-to-sand-holes)

Young boy frightened by the storm, seeks Davy's protection, speaks Welsh in fear.

### [XI: A Wrecker Wrecked](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xi-a-wrecker-wrecked)

Distraught boy who believes his five brothers have been buried under the sands.

### [A Verdict on the Jury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xv-a-verdict-on-the-jury)

The young boy left to mind the bodies of the five young men; Davy consoles him and spares him from identifying the corpses.

### [Into Good Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xxiii-into-good-society)

Sent by Moxy to fetch Bardie home, shows reverence and sorrow, receives a shilling from the Colonel.

### [Triple Education](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/li-triple-education)

A fine young fellow of twenty, shy and deeply admiring Miss Delushy from a distance.

### [In a Rocky Bower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/lix-in-a-rocky-bower)

Bunny's fiancé, mentioned as a suitor whom all the girls in Newton pursued.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/characters/watkin_thomas
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/characters