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Rev. Thomas Kynaston Gaskell |
Fifth son of Charles Thomas Gaskell and Charlotte Bruce, father of Dr. Hugh Selwyn Gaskell and husband of Horatia Octavia Hugo
Thomas was born on 15th February 1840 and baptised on 22nd March 1840 at St Peter, Chalfont St Peter. His birth date is confirmed on his birth certificate.
Thomas was admitted to Westminster School on 29th January 1852 and was a Queen's Scholar in 1854.
He was elected to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1858 and Admitted "pensioner" on 19th May 1858.
The rowing medals and cups which Thomas won as cox were:
Cambridge University: won by Trinity College
Four Oars Race: November 1858
Four Oars Race: November 1859
Head of the River won by Third Trinity Crew 18. Thomas weighed 7st 8lb
He also obtained a Rowing Blue when he coxed the Cambridge VIII in the 1861 Boat Race, but they lost to Oxford.
Henley Regatta (not “Royal” at that time)
Stewards Challenge Cup
Visitors Challenge Cup
Thomas graduated B.A. in 1863 and M.A. in 1866.
Hugh Selwyn, his eldest son, writes in his memoirs that the family wanted Thomas to enter the army as had all his brothers. However, a bad heart prevented this and he was ordained Deacon in 1864 and priest in 1865; Thomas was Curate of Buckingham from 1864 until 1868.
His further appointments as Curate were:
Little Drayton, Salop 1868 - 70.
Bramley, nr Leeds 1870 - 72.
Caverswall, Staffs 1872 - 74.
West Felton, Salop 1874 - 76.
Digswell, Herts 1876 - 78. where he was curate to Rev. R K Haslehurst.
Thomas married Horatia Octavia Hugo on 17th September 1878 at St Nicholas Church, Shaldon, Newton Abbot, Exeter.
Witnesses at the Marriage were:
R K Haslehurst
W J Haslehurst - The Haslehursts were former employers of Horatia - see Horatia’s notes.
Marriage celebrant - Frederick Temple, Uncle of Horatia and in 1878 Bishop of Exeter, later Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Rev. W H Wrenford, Vicar of the Parish.
Thomas’s residence on the marriage certificate is Welwyn, Herts, On marriage in 1878, Thomas moved from Welwyn to become Rector of Folksworth.
The Times of 19th September 1878 records:
On the 17th Sept. at the Church of St Nicholas, Shaldon by the Lord Bishop of Exeter, Uncle of the bride, assisted by the Rev W H Wronford, Vicar of the Parish. THOMAS KYNASTON GASKELL, Rector of Folksworth, Huntingdonshire to HORATIA OCTAVIA youngest daughter of the late W H Hugo Esq., M.D. of Clifford House, Shaldon, Devonshire.
Thomas and Horatia had the children on the following page
Thomas was Rector of Folksworth, Hunts from 1878 - 85. While at Folksworth. He abandoned the old thatched Rectory, (see Hugh Selwyn Gaskell’s note) and employed his architect friend from Peterborough, H M Townsend, to build a new Rectory. To the left is a picture of Thomas in 1880.
The 1881 census for Folksworth, records that those present at the Rectory were Thomas, Horatia and son Hugh, aged 1. In addition, Thomas’s brother, Robert Bruce Gaskell, a Captain in the Army, was visiting and there were three servants - Angelina Mills, Cook; Ellen Howman, Housemaid; and Emma Oldham, Nurse.
Restored to health, he became Vicar of Leaton, Salop from 1887 to 1891 and according to the 1891 Census, Thomas was living at The Vicarage, Leaton with Horatia, Christopher, aged 5, and Horatia Margaret, aged 1, plus 2 servants.
He then became Vicar of Longthorpe, Northants (now part of Peterborough) from 1891 until 1900 when he retired. However, in the 1901 Census Thomas was living in Paston in the Rural District of Peterborough, still as a Clergyman. In the house with him were Horatia, John Charles Temple, aged 17; Horatia Margaret, aged 11; Dorothea Grace, aged 7 and three servants.
According to Hugh Selwyn, in the 1890’s Thomas had a private income of £1000 per annum and a salary of £250 per annum. On retirement in 1900 Thomas and Horatia moved for a short time into rented accommodation in Peterborough, and then to Ealing to be near his brother Robert and sister Annie. They lived in Madeley Road, then 10 Park Hill and 44 Mount Park Street.
Thomas died on September 13th 1915 at his son Hugh's home - Vine House, Cobham, Surrey to which he had moved in 1910 from Mount Park Street and where his son, Hugh Selwyn, was a Doctor. Thomas's last words to his son Hugh were " Think of me as a young man, of sometime holy aspirations" The death is recorded in The Times of 16th.September 1915.
Inscription on a tomb in Cobham cemetery, Surrey.
In loving memory of The Rev Thomas Kynaston Gaskell M.A. Formerly Vicar of Longthorpe, Northants Who died at Cobham Sep 13th 1915 Aged 75 years "I will extol thee O Lord for thou hast lifted me up"
In St Botolph’s Church, Longthorpe, Cambridgeshire (now Peterborough), is the following inscription on a brass memorial tablet on the south wall of the Chancel.
REV: THOMAS KYNASTON GASKELL M.A.
FORMERLY VICAR OF THIS PARISH
WHO DIED AT COBHAM, SURREY
ON SEPT. 13TH 1915 + AGE 75
“HEAVINESS MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT
BUT JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING” (PSALM 30 V 5)
ALSO OF HIS SON LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
GERALD BRUCE GASKELL R.N.
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY
ON NOV. 1ST 1914, AT THE SINKING OF
H.M.S. GOOD HOPE, AT THE BATTLE OF
CORONEL IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN, AGE 32
“JESUS ENTERED INTO THE SHIP” (JOHN 6 V 21)
His will was proved on 27th October 1915 and probate granted to the executors Horatia Octavia Gaskell, wife, and Hugh Selwyn Gaskell, son. His effects were valued at £6,417 13s 4d.
A very brief history of his life is contained in "Record of Old Westminsters".
There is a similar record in Alumni Cantabrigiensis.
Other references are Book of Blues; Crockford; Northants Clergy; Scott, MSS, and papers of Hugh Selwyn Gaskell, Thomas's eldest son.
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