Elizabeth Tugwell

Elizabeth Tugwell (1711-1801 )

Elizabeth Tugwell died on 7th June 1801 and was buried on the 15th June 1801, at the great age of 90 years.

Her obituary read: 'In whom the poor experienced a constant and liberal benefactress.' By a codicil in her will, dated July 12th 1799, Mrs Elizabeth Tugwell left £100 the interest of which she directed to be divided among forty old and infirm persons, of the Parish of Bradford (on-Avon), on the fifteenth day of January in each and every year. These dividends were managed by her grandson Mawbey Tugwell up to his decease, and then by his brother Thomas.

This TUGWELL'S CHARITY is recorded on a black-painted board in the Choir Vestry and also in Parliamentary papers, House of Commons and Command, Volume 21, Part 2.

This painting was also by Thomas Gainsborough, who painted her husband and two sons.These can still be seen as Sandford Orcas near Sherbourne, where the owner Sir Mervyn Meddllycott is a descendant of the marriage of their daughter Betty to Sir William Coles Meddlycott of Venn House in 1796