Theophila (Palmer) Gwatkin (1757 - 1848)

Born 15 May 1757 in Great Torrington, Devon, England

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Lovell Gwatkin J.P. — married 18 Jun 1780 in Great Torrington, Devon, England

Descendants

Died 4 Jul 1848 at age 91 in The Rectory, Ideford, Devon, England

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Biography

Theophila (Palmer) Gwatkin was born on May 15, 1757.^[1] She was the second daughter of Sir Joshua’s sister Mary Reynolds (1716-94), who married John Palmer (1708-70) of Great Torrington, Devon, in 1740. Clearly Theophila felt more at home in London however, and from the age of thirteen lodged with her uncle, of whom she was ‘enthusiastically and affectionately fond’. The feeling was clearly mutual, and when Reynolds died in 1792 he left his niece a staggering £10,000 fortune in his will. Earlier in 1781 Theophila married Robert Lovell Gwatkin (1757-1843) of Killiow, near Truro in Cornwall, they had three sons and seven daughters. She died on 4 July 1848 at age 91 at Ideford, Devon.^[2]

Portrait of Theophila Palmer

Death

Death:

Date: Jul 4th 1848

Place: Devonshire, United Kingdom^[3]

freeBMD Deaths Sep Q 1848 Newton Abbot 10 83 GWATKIN Theophila

Note

Note: Theophila Palmer was said to have been an accomplished painter, who copied several of Joshua Reynolds paintings. Reynolds deeply cared for Theophila. Not only did he paint her several times, Theophila is also the only correspondent who Reynolds gave a nickname (Offy). In his letters to Theophila, Reynolds does refer to her sister Mary Palmer (1750–1820) as Polly, but there are no letters addressed to her. Because Reynolds was not married, he first lived with his sisters and then invited his nieces, the daughters of his sister Mary (1716-1794), to live with him in London. Theophila remained in his household until she married Robert Gwatkin (1757-1843) in 1781. Mary remained with her uncle until he died, inheriting most of his property and income.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophila_Gwatkin
2. ↑ http://www.thepeerage.com/p13622.htm#i136218
3. ↑ Source: #S2383914760 Note: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=freebmddeath&h=14129205&ti=5538&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: Data: Text: Death date: Jul 4th 1848 Death place: Devonshire, United Kingdom
4. ↑ http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/hsl_shl/reynolds%20letters.htm