PRESTON, Thomas

1795 - 1885

Thomas Preston was baptised at Horningtoft, Norfolk on 25 January 1795, son of Revd George Preston (16 July 1760-23 October 1837), rector of Beeston St Lawrence, Norfolk, and his wife Henrietta née Bedingfeld (1762-25 April 1828). Thomas was a half-pay Naval Officer when he married at Hempnall, Norwich on 9 May 1839, Caroline Rolfe (6 February 1812-23 May 1848), second daughter of Revd Robert Rolfe, vicar of Hempnall and in 1841 they were living at South Turnpike, Lowestoft, Suffolk. His wife was buried at St Margaret's church, Lowestoft on 27 May 1848, aged 37 and in 1861, Thomas was a 55-year-old widower 'Royal Navy', living at 1 High Street, Lowestoft with three of his four daughters, Alice 18, Caroline 16 and Ellen 13, his married sister-in-law Alice Barnham and a governess and retained three indoor servants. An amateur artist during his retirement days at Lowestoft, painting scenes in and around Lowestoft and seems never to have returned to active service in the Navy, remaining on half-pay from 1830. Joseph Clover painted an oil of his wife Caroline with his youngest daughter Mary, who was born in 1842 and Thomas painted a small oil on wood of 'St. Margaret's [Church] from the South' 18cm x 23cm. Thomas Preston died at High Street, Lowestoft on 15 October and was buried at St Margaret's Church on 20 October 1885. He also had a son Benjamin Preston, born 1846 who entered Gonville and Caius College and was a brewer as Youngman & Preston, at Lowestoft in 1898.

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Works by This Artist