Lomas married Elizabeth,[1] with whom he had six known children. Four of them died within five years of each other: daughters Margaret (died 1767),[2] Agnes (1773)[2] and Betty (1774),[2] and sons Samuel Jr (1764),[2] John (1776)[2] and James (1778).[3]
In November 1736, Lomas was listed as an apprentice to John Royle, a clockmaker and watchmaker based in Great Bolton, Lancashire. Eight years later, he was working out of a "smithy"[4] behind his home at 21 Sheaf Street (today's Hardhorn Road) in Poulton-le-Fylde,[5] next door to the Wheatsheaf Inn.[6] Both the home and the inn were demolished, but the smithy is still standing.[4] He is recorded as being "Poulton's clockmaker c. 1744 – c. 1792".[7] His engraving was Lomas Poolton.[8]