Author: Abbott, Thomas Eastoe
Biography:
ABBOTT, Thomas Eastoe (1787-1853: ODNB)
He was probably born in 1787, the son of John Abbott and his wife Susannah Eastoe who had married at East Dereham, Norfolk, on 13 Nov. 1777. The original DNB entry gave a birth date of 1779 which, although more in keeping with the parents’ marriage, is solely based on the GM entry, giving an age of 76. The ODNB corrects this but there is no documented authority for his birth or baptism other than Census information, obituaries and death certificate. He married, first, Winifred Rycroft on 7 June 1810 at St. Michael, Stamford, Lincs., and second Anne Cowle, on 10 Sept. 1838 at Gateshead, Durham, with issue from both marriages. In addition to the works listed, his obituary notice gives Commerce; and Other Poems (London 1819), dedicated to Wilberforce, but this is most likely an error since these were contained in The Triumph of Christianity (1819). He worked in the revenue service for thirty years, first as an officer and later as collector. He was active in the cause of the Royal Free Grammar School, Darlington, for which he was mostly remembered after his death. He died on 18 Feb. 1854, aged 67, at Rose Villa, Darlington. (ODNB 25 Sept. 2020; ancestry.co.uk 25 Sept. 2020; Northampton Mercury 9 June 1810; Newcastle Courant 21 Sept. 1838; Durham County Advertiser 17 Mar. 1854; GM Apr. 1854, 443) AA