Individual Details
Sir Thomas Edward Michell Turton Bart
(8 Nov 1790 - 13 Apr 1854)
Sir Thomas Edward Mitchell Turton 2nd Bart. 1790 - 1854
Thomas Edward Mitchell Turton was born on 6th November 1790, the only son of Sir Thomas Turton of Starborough Castle. He was educated at Eton. Dr Goodall, the then head master of Eton College regarded him to be one of his best classical scholars.
Captain Gronan a fellow pupil admired his recklessness:
‘He was a determined poacher...that led him to exert his abilities in Windsor Park itself where he contrived to bag game, in spite of the watchfulness of the keepers... On one occasion however, by some unlucky chance, tidings of his successes reached the ears of the royal gamekeeper, who formed a plan...to entrap him...so nearly were they pouncing upon Turton that he was obliged to take to his heels and fly, carrying with him a hare which he had caught. The keepers followed close on his heels until they came to the Thames into which Turton plunged, still holding his prize by his teeth,
swam to the other side... He reached the college in safety and the hare served for the enjoyment of merry friends.’
Thomas married Louisa Browne daughter of General Browne on 2nd November 1812.
He was called to the Bar in 1818 and his career as a Barrister promised to be
a brilliant one but that he offended against the moral attitudes of that time and lost his
position.
Late in October 1821 it had been observed by Louisa’s elder sister that “an improper, but not criminal [i.e. incestuous] relationship existed between her sister Adeline and Mr Turton”. Early in January 1822 Louisa opened a letter from Adeline to Turton and after reading it ‘instantly ordered horses and returned home [to Brighton]’. It was agreed by all parties that what had taken place be carefully concealed from the family, and that Thomas should go to India.
On 5th June 1822 Thomas bought a Bond of the East India Company for £1,000 to practice as a Barrister in Calcutta. Two weeks later his wife, Louisa and her sister Adeline Maria paid £400 for a Bond to travel as visitors to Calcutta. All three sailed to Calcutta together. At the time of the sailing Thomas acknowledged that Adeline Maria was pregnant and urged that all three should sail to India and that after the child had been born and the desired secrecy attained, she should be sent back to England.
In April 1823 Miss Browne was safely delivered of a daughter Emma. Ten months later Louisa Turton returned home to England alone. In January 1825 Miss Browne was delivered of another child [a daughter] also “begotten by Mr Turton”.
In 1829 Louisa obtained a sentence of divorce from the Ecclesiastical Court then appealed to Parliament for dissolution of the marriage and for the liberty to marry again. Louisa was meantime under the protection of the father of her husband and her own father.
The evidence against Thomas Turton was conclusive. In March 1830 his wife Louisa was given leave for a Divorce Bill. The Bill passed through all stages and finally passed in 1831. ‘Provided...that it shall not be lawful for the said Thomas Edward Mitchell Turton at any time hereafter to contract matrimony with the said Adeline Browne...’ Until 1857 divorces were rare, and obtained only by an Act of Parliament.
Thomas and Adeline went on to have five more daughters and three sons. They spent most of the their time in India but made frequent visits to England where their sons
were sent for their education, under the Guardianship of their Aunt Miss Sarah Turton. In India Thomas Turton enjoyed the hospitality and respect of his profession. It was reported in the India Gazette, Jan. 1829, that a Dinner in his honour was given by the solicitors of the Supreme Court to Mr Turton and his friends, upon the approaching departure of that gentleman for Europe. He was presented with ‘a beautiful and richly chased vase as a tribute of their professional regard. The party sat down 80 to dinner’.
Similarly a Farewell Party was given at the Town Hall by several gentlemen of the mercantile community. ‘About 100 people sat down to an excellent Dinner... a profusion of every delicacy of the season and excellent wine...the health of Mr Turton was pledged...amidst the most cordial peals of applause...It was a late hour before the last lingerers of the jovial party quitted the festive board’.
Thomas and Adeline made frequent trips between England and India, the journey then could take up to 6 months; sailing from Calcutta, crossing the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, then sailing north across the Atlantic Ocean. On the way back to India in 1830 their first son, Thomas Trevor was born at sea, off Ushant (Isle de Ouessant, west of Brest) on board the East Indiaman 'Carolina' on 29th July 1830. The baby was eventually to rise to the rank of Lieutenant-General serving with the Indian Army. He died at Weir Courtney, Lingfield, in 1904.
Back in England again in 1837 Thomas stood as a Reform candidate for the Sudbury Election of August 2nd 1837, but was unsuccessful. The following year he was appointed a Secretary of the General Government of Canada. The Earl of Durham, Governor-General of Canada summoned Turton to the Executive Council on 2nd June 1838. The appointment did not last long as in 1841 he was back in India again and was appointed Registrar of the Supreme Court at Calcutta from 1841 – 1848. That same year 1841, Adeline Maria died, aged 41, she was buried at Calcutta on 14th July.
Maria’s obituary refers to the ‘wife’ of Thomas E M Turton, although they never could marry. ‘As a faithful affectionate and devoted wife, a fond, indulgent and ever anxious mother, she lived respected and beloved and died deeply lamented by her husband and numerous family...’
On 23rd September 1842 Thomas married Maria Louisa Hume Denman in Calcutta. His father having died in 1844, Thomas inherited the title of 2nd Baronet.
By 1848 Sir Thomas was in debt and insolvent. He presented his petition to the Court for the relief of insolvent debtors at Fort William, Bengal. On 22nd February 1849 relief was granted. Another Court at Calcutta ordered that the real and personal estate and effects of Sir Thomas Edward Mitchell Turton, both within the limits of the Charter of the East India Company and without, except the wearing apparel and certain other chattels were to be offered for sale at Public Auction.
Lands in Lingfield were included in the above order. The majority of the Turton estate, at Felcourt, was subject to trust administration for the benefit of Sir Thomas's 10 children. The remainder of his lands at Clays Farm, Apsley Town, Dormans Land, and at Plaistow, Lingfield were sold to pay creditors. At that time Sir Thomas was living on the Island of Ceylon.
Sir Thomas Edward Mitchell Turton died on 13th April 1854 at Port Louis, Mauritius, he had been on his way to England to recover his health. He was 63 years old.
His widow Maria Louisa Hume Turton was remarried at St George’s Church Hanover Square in 1858.
Thomas Edward Mitchell Turton was born on 6th November 1790, the only son of Sir Thomas Turton of Starborough Castle. He was educated at Eton. Dr Goodall, the then head master of Eton College regarded him to be one of his best classical scholars.
Captain Gronan a fellow pupil admired his recklessness:
‘He was a determined poacher...that led him to exert his abilities in Windsor Park itself where he contrived to bag game, in spite of the watchfulness of the keepers... On one occasion however, by some unlucky chance, tidings of his successes reached the ears of the royal gamekeeper, who formed a plan...to entrap him...so nearly were they pouncing upon Turton that he was obliged to take to his heels and fly, carrying with him a hare which he had caught. The keepers followed close on his heels until they came to the Thames into which Turton plunged, still holding his prize by his teeth,
swam to the other side... He reached the college in safety and the hare served for the enjoyment of merry friends.’
Thomas married Louisa Browne daughter of General Browne on 2nd November 1812.
He was called to the Bar in 1818 and his career as a Barrister promised to be
a brilliant one but that he offended against the moral attitudes of that time and lost his
position.
Late in October 1821 it had been observed by Louisa’s elder sister that “an improper, but not criminal [i.e. incestuous] relationship existed between her sister Adeline and Mr Turton”. Early in January 1822 Louisa opened a letter from Adeline to Turton and after reading it ‘instantly ordered horses and returned home [to Brighton]’. It was agreed by all parties that what had taken place be carefully concealed from the family, and that Thomas should go to India.
On 5th June 1822 Thomas bought a Bond of the East India Company for £1,000 to practice as a Barrister in Calcutta. Two weeks later his wife, Louisa and her sister Adeline Maria paid £400 for a Bond to travel as visitors to Calcutta. All three sailed to Calcutta together. At the time of the sailing Thomas acknowledged that Adeline Maria was pregnant and urged that all three should sail to India and that after the child had been born and the desired secrecy attained, she should be sent back to England.
In April 1823 Miss Browne was safely delivered of a daughter Emma. Ten months later Louisa Turton returned home to England alone. In January 1825 Miss Browne was delivered of another child [a daughter] also “begotten by Mr Turton”.
In 1829 Louisa obtained a sentence of divorce from the Ecclesiastical Court then appealed to Parliament for dissolution of the marriage and for the liberty to marry again. Louisa was meantime under the protection of the father of her husband and her own father.
The evidence against Thomas Turton was conclusive. In March 1830 his wife Louisa was given leave for a Divorce Bill. The Bill passed through all stages and finally passed in 1831. ‘Provided...that it shall not be lawful for the said Thomas Edward Mitchell Turton at any time hereafter to contract matrimony with the said Adeline Browne...’ Until 1857 divorces were rare, and obtained only by an Act of Parliament.
Thomas and Adeline went on to have five more daughters and three sons. They spent most of the their time in India but made frequent visits to England where their sons
were sent for their education, under the Guardianship of their Aunt Miss Sarah Turton. In India Thomas Turton enjoyed the hospitality and respect of his profession. It was reported in the India Gazette, Jan. 1829, that a Dinner in his honour was given by the solicitors of the Supreme Court to Mr Turton and his friends, upon the approaching departure of that gentleman for Europe. He was presented with ‘a beautiful and richly chased vase as a tribute of their professional regard. The party sat down 80 to dinner’.
Similarly a Farewell Party was given at the Town Hall by several gentlemen of the mercantile community. ‘About 100 people sat down to an excellent Dinner... a profusion of every delicacy of the season and excellent wine...the health of Mr Turton was pledged...amidst the most cordial peals of applause...It was a late hour before the last lingerers of the jovial party quitted the festive board’.
Thomas and Adeline made frequent trips between England and India, the journey then could take up to 6 months; sailing from Calcutta, crossing the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, then sailing north across the Atlantic Ocean. On the way back to India in 1830 their first son, Thomas Trevor was born at sea, off Ushant (Isle de Ouessant, west of Brest) on board the East Indiaman 'Carolina' on 29th July 1830. The baby was eventually to rise to the rank of Lieutenant-General serving with the Indian Army. He died at Weir Courtney, Lingfield, in 1904.
Back in England again in 1837 Thomas stood as a Reform candidate for the Sudbury Election of August 2nd 1837, but was unsuccessful. The following year he was appointed a Secretary of the General Government of Canada. The Earl of Durham, Governor-General of Canada summoned Turton to the Executive Council on 2nd June 1838. The appointment did not last long as in 1841 he was back in India again and was appointed Registrar of the Supreme Court at Calcutta from 1841 – 1848. That same year 1841, Adeline Maria died, aged 41, she was buried at Calcutta on 14th July.
Maria’s obituary refers to the ‘wife’ of Thomas E M Turton, although they never could marry. ‘As a faithful affectionate and devoted wife, a fond, indulgent and ever anxious mother, she lived respected and beloved and died deeply lamented by her husband and numerous family...’
On 23rd September 1842 Thomas married Maria Louisa Hume Denman in Calcutta. His father having died in 1844, Thomas inherited the title of 2nd Baronet.
By 1848 Sir Thomas was in debt and insolvent. He presented his petition to the Court for the relief of insolvent debtors at Fort William, Bengal. On 22nd February 1849 relief was granted. Another Court at Calcutta ordered that the real and personal estate and effects of Sir Thomas Edward Mitchell Turton, both within the limits of the Charter of the East India Company and without, except the wearing apparel and certain other chattels were to be offered for sale at Public Auction.
Lands in Lingfield were included in the above order. The majority of the Turton estate, at Felcourt, was subject to trust administration for the benefit of Sir Thomas's 10 children. The remainder of his lands at Clays Farm, Apsley Town, Dormans Land, and at Plaistow, Lingfield were sold to pay creditors. At that time Sir Thomas was living on the Island of Ceylon.
Sir Thomas Edward Mitchell Turton died on 13th April 1854 at Port Louis, Mauritius, he had been on his way to England to recover his health. He was 63 years old.
His widow Maria Louisa Hume Turton was remarried at St George’s Church Hanover Square in 1858.
Events
| Birth | 8 Nov 1790 | Mirfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Christen | 6 Dec 1790 | Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Marriage | 2 Nov 1812 | St Clement's, Hastings, Sussex, England, United Kingdom - Adeline Maria Browne | |||
| Marriage | 23 Sep 1842 | Fort William, Bengal, India - Maria Louisa Hume Denman | |||
| Death | 13 Apr 1854 | (on way to England from Ceylon), Mauritius |
Families
| Spouse | Adeline Maria Browne (1799 - 1841) |
| Child | Emma Turton (1823 - 1887) |
| Child | Gen Thomas Trevor Turton (1830 - 1904) |
| Child | Col John Palmer Turton (1831 - 1883) |
| Child | Sophia Henrietta Turton (1831 - ) |
| Child | Adeline Forbes Turton (1834 - 1872) |
| Child | Edith Lucy Turton (1835 - 1867) |
| Child | Lt Melville Gore Turton (1838 - 1864) |
| Child | Mary Adeline Florence Turton (1839 - ) |
| Spouse | Maria Louisa Hume Denman (1815 - 1896) |
| Father | Sir Thomas Turton (1764 - 1844) |
| Mother | Dame Mary Michell (1765 - ) |
| Sibling | Susannah Turton (1786 - 1881) |
| Sibling | Mary Turton (1787 - 1803) |
| Sibling | Anna Turton (1788 - 1827) |
| Sibling | Sarah Turton (1789 - 1860) |
| Sibling | Lucy Turton (1793 - 1815) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Turton (1794 - 1867) |