Humphrey Tugwell

Humphrey Tugwell of Bradford-on-Avon (1704-1775)

Humphrey Tugwell, born in 1704, was apprenticed to Matthew Smith of Bradford, Clothier, in 1720.

He became a very successful clothier in his own right and held properties in Pippett Street (now Market Street), Woolley Street, and "Goodbys" in Church Street, also a Dye-House and Mill.

His monument at Bradford-on-Avon states: "He carried on an extensive manufactory in Bradford (-on-Avon) for fifty years."

[See http://www.wiltshire-opc.org.uk/Items/Bradford-on-Avon/Bradford-on-... for reference to Bradford's cloth industry history from the 14th century and "Thomas Tugwell & Co. 1810-1825"]

- "Al the toun of Bradeford stondith by clooth-making -John Leland c1540" "Much of Bradford’s past prosperity and many of the fine buildings in the town and vicinity were due to the woollen cloth industry." - see Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge Museums in Wiltshire regarding the cloth industry,

Humphrey was churchwarden at Holy Trinity 1751-1755, 1774-1773; at Bradford 1751-06

He married Elizabeth JONES, daughter of Daniel Jones of Bradford, a dyer. (Elizabeth had two brothers, Daniel (1724- 1772) of Bradford, an apothecary, and William).

Humphrey and Elizabeth had seven children.

c.1760 Humphrey and Elizabeth were among some of the earliest sitters for the celebrated Thomas Gainsborough - who also painted his two sons, William and Thomas. These can still be seen at 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

Interesting to see this Gentleman with Daniel Clutterbuck, the Attorney, as witnesses to Robert Haywards Will of 1760.

The Priory, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire 1763 He purchased a 15th century medieval house "Methwins" ("The Priory" in Pippett Street (1977 named Market Street) at the western corner of the triangle in Bradford-on-Avon in 1763 and his family lived there until 1811 when the property was sold to John Saunders.

WILL of Tugwell, Humphry - of Bradford on Avon, signed 13 Oct 1764.

Beneficiaries: Edward LEA of Bradford; brother Edward TUGWELL of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, wool stapler (trustee); brother in law Daniel JONES of Bradford(-on-Avon), apothecary (also trustee); wife Elizabeth; sons William and Thomas; brother in law William JONES.

Codicil: 6 Apr 1775 - says his son William has died leaving issue George Haywood, Thomas, Elizabeth (Betty), [and] Mawby.

Proved 1775. Original at Wiltshire Record Office. WSRO 800/6.

For details of all the memorials at Bradford church see "Storied Urns" by Rosemary F Carr, ISBN 0 9521355 1 5, 1998.

Humphrey is recorded as having the "Tugwell Coat of Arms": has a boars head in the top left quarter, a crown in the right, three corn sheaves in the lower left quarter, and a lion in the right.