Thomas Elrington was probably born in Dublin, Ireland about 1722 the son of Thomas Elrington and Frances Ashbury. This is not the view of all researchers, see research notes below
Thomas married Rebecca Goodall 1 December 1763 at St Phillp’s, Birmingham. Rebecca was the daughter of Francis Goodall, a Birmingham mercer and banker, and his first wife Rebecca Banner. At the time of his marriage to Rebecca he was a widower however no record of a marriage has been found. Like many members of his family in military service he spent extended time overseas and it is possible that he was married for the first time whilst away. There is also no record of any children from a first marriage.
Thomas Elrington entered an agreement to purchase the property Low Hill from Miss Carol Gamage on 6 Jul 1765 and this beautiful house became the home of the family. Thomas had a long military career attaining the rank of Captain. His epitaph in St John the Baptist, White Ladies Aston, Worcestershire lists many of the battles he served in including Culloden, Fontenoy, Falkirk Muir and Lauffeld. He served in America under General Braddock and Lord Amherst.
In Dec 1779 Captain Thomas Elrington of the 95th Foot was appointed Captain of one of ten companies of invalids formed from the out pensioners of Chelsea Hospital.[1] In her reminiscences of her cousin Adam Lindsay Gordon, Frances Gordon writes of their great grandfather Captain Thomas Elrington who being incapacitated by his wounds after his service in America was given the governorship of Plymouth Citadel.[2] Thomas’s four youngest children were baptised in Plymouth whilst the family were living there but after retiring the family returned to Worcestershire.
Thomas died on 6 Aug 1809 at Low Hill House and was buried at St John the Baptist, White Ladies Aston, Worcestershire. He was mentioned in the 1793 Will of his cousin William Elrington of Kings Lynn, Norfolk who died 1795.
Plaque in St John the Baptist Church, White Ladies Aston, Worcestershire:
Rebecca relict of Thos Elrington Esq. of Low Hill
She departed this life on the 14th February 1823 in the 81st year of her life most deseverdly beloved and deeply lamented
This tribute to her worth is dedicated with Affection by her truly sorrowing Daughters.
Thomas Elrington Esq. who died at Low Hill 6th August 1809 aged 87 years.
He had borne the King’s Commission as an Officer in the Army 65 years.
Was at the battles of Fontenoy, Falkirk, Culloden and Lafeldi etc etc
He served in America under General Braddock and Lord Amherst.
Was at the taking of the French West India Island and at the siege of Havannah and had been several times severely wounded.
Beside him lies his eleventh child Charlotte Catharine who died on the 2nd February 1808 aged 21 years.
Thomas is commonly attributed as the son of Gerard Elrington and Mary Green but there is no supporting evidence that this was the case. Gerard and Thomas are common christian names in this family and that Gerard and Mary had a son named Thomas in 1722 is not enough to justify that parent/child relationship.
It is much more likely that Thomas was the youngest son of Thomas Elrington (actor) and Frances Ashbury. Chetwood, who was a friend and contemporary of Thomas Elrington notes that Thomas and Frances had numerous children and names one (at the time of publication 1749) as a son, Thomas, who was in Colonel Flemming’s regiment in Flanders.[3]
Further evidence to support Thomas as the son of Thomas Elrington and Frances Ashbury is found in the obituary of his son, George Esdaile Elrington which mentions his father as a former governor of Plymouth and ‘of the family which furnished more than one bishop to the Irish branch of the United Church of England and Ireland of that name, besides one who filled the office of Provost in Trinity College, Dublin’.[4]
References
- The Scots Magazine. Edinburgh: Printed by Sands, Brymer, Murray and Cochran, Vol. 41, 1779, p. 687.
- Humphris, E. M. (Edith Mary) and Sladen, Douglas Brooke Wheelton, 1856-1947 Adam Lindsay Gordon and his friends in England and Australia (Australasian ed). Constable & company ltd, London, 1912. (also available online)
- Chetwood, William R. A General History of the Stage from Its Origin in Greece Down to the Present Time. London, 1749, pp. 134-35.
- The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for the Year … Edw. Cave, 1736-[1868], 1865, p. 120. Google-Books-ID: TfEIAAAAIAAJ.
- “England Marriages, 1538–1973 ,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N23F-5MH : 10 December 2014), Thomas Elrington and Rebecca Goodall, 01 Dec 1763; citing Saint Phillips,Birmingham,Warwick,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 0813726-728, 0814245, 0813712, 813725.
- The National Archives; Kew, England; Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 1503 Thomas Elrington
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