Lt. Commander Robert Claud Gibbs

Notes:

Lt. Commander Royal Navy (ret.) Only child. Baptised at Waltair 6 May 1895. Educated at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, 1908-10 and Royal Naval College, Dartmouth 1910-12. Cremated at West Norwood, Surrey.

Midshipman in the Royal Navy 1913; Sub- Lieut. 1915; Lieutenant 30 April 1917; Retired 1921; obtained rank of Lieut. Commander 30 April 1926. Served throughout the Great War (on HMS's Thunderer and Empress of India at Scapa Flow, Sloop Iris at Queenstown and in submarines in the North Sea), and was awarded the 1914 Star, British War medal, and Allies (Victory) medal. In employ of Minerals Separation Co. London and of allied firms on the Continent 1921-9; in Dorr Oliver Co. Ltd., Sales Engineers, London, from 1929. He and his wife lived from 1931 at Ash Cottage, Garrard Road, Banstead. Associate Member of Institute of Mechanical Engineers 1932. During World War II 1939-45 at Admiralty Offices in Glasgow and London.

Robert married Walda Elfriede E. Gruhn on 15 Mar 1930 in Berlin, Germany. Walda (daughter of Edwin Gruhn and Henriette Rothe) was born on 27 Nov 1908 in Berlin, Germany; died in Oct 2005 in Peterborough, Northamptonshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Iris Walda Gibbs was born on 12 May 1932 in 19 Bentinck St., St. Marylebone; died on 9 Jun 1932 in The Infants Hospital, Vincent Square, London SW1.
2. Terence Claud Gibbs was born on 9 Mar 1934 in Banstead, Surrey; died on 25 Jan 2015 in Queensland, Australia.
3. John Francis Gibbs
4. Jacqueline Sylvia Gibbs was born on 19 Apr 1938 in Banstead, Surrey; died on 14 Apr 1997 in Sutton, Surrey.
5. Iris Emily Claudette Gibbs was born on 30 Oct 1939 in Llyswen, Breconshire, Wales; died on 15 May 1957 in Chertsey, Surrey.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1871, Clifton Hampden, Oxfordshire; Relation to Head of House: Son
• Residence: 1930, Kensington, London

Notes:

2nd son of Rev. John Lomax Gibbs. Baptised 13 June 1865 in the church at Clifton Hampden. Educated at Winchester College and at a Tutor's in Cornwall 1979-83, and at the Royal Indian Engineering College, Cooper's Hill, Englefield Green, 1883-6. Buried at Leamington Spa.

In the Indian Telegraph Service (in Burmah 1886-7 in India 1888-1914); a director thereof 1910-14. Retired to England 1914. Sometime Captain in Madras Volunteer Guards. In the Great War was in London attached to the Intelligence Staff of War Office 1915-19 as a Censor of Telegraphs with the rank of temp. Lieut. May 1915, temp. Capt. Ap. 1919. Assistant Treasurer and lay Canon of Southwark Cathedral 1925-30. Lived from 1925 at 7 Prince of Wales Terrace, Kensington.

Pastel portrait by Havell.

Birth:
The Parsonage

Robert married Emily Fraser Handcock on 3 Apr 1893 in Waltair, Andhra Pradesh, India. Emily (daughter of Rev. Richard George Hancock and Mary Swinhoe) was born on 31 Jul 1864 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire; died on 24 May 1947 in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire; was buried in Bristol, Gloucestershire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

2nd daughter of Rev. Richard George Hancock (died 1913), rector of Ditteridge, nr. Bath, 1894-1911, for whose descent from Sr William Handcock, Kent (died 1701) see Caslemaine in 'Burke's Peerage', 1915); by Mary (died 1890), 2nd daughter of General Samuel Swinhoe (died 1866) of the East India Co., Calcutta and of Eslington House, Cheltenham by Emily Gillanders. Died 24 May 1947 and was buried at Bristol.

Birth:
Eslington House

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 26 May 1832, St. Giles-in-the-Fields, Holborn, London
• Residence: 1851, Oxfordshire
• Residence: 1871, Clifton Hampden, Oxfordshire
• Residence: 1881, St Thomas the Apostle, Exeter, Devon
• Residence: 1891, Clyst St George, Devon
• Residence: 2 Apr 1911, Speen, Berkshire; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head

Notes:

8th son of George Henry Gibbs of London. Baptised 26 May 1832 at St.-Giles-in-the-Fields, Holborn. Educated at Eton College 1834-35 and Charterhouse, London, 1846-7. Matric at Oxford (Exeter College), 24 Oct. 1849, BA, a 'grand compounder, MA, 1856. Buried 15 January 1914 at Speen. Will proved 17 February 1914.

To add to the facts about education, he went to a school at Brighton about six or seven, and then to one at Clifton, Bristol. After Charterhouse he was, 1848-9, with a tutor, the rector of Poundstock, Cornwall. Joined Antony Gibbs & Sons, London, 1854, but left them 1856 through ill-health, and in every year 1851 to 58 he travelled much abroad, particularly in Spain, and (1857-8) up the Nile and in Palestine. A student at Wells Theological College 1858. Ordained Deacon (Exeter) 1859, Priest 1860. Curate at St. Mary's, Torwood, Torquay, to Rev. J. Hogg 1859-1860, when his health drove him abroad again (Pyrenees) with his wife and first-born. Living at Bradeham, Bucks., 1863-4. Perpetual Curate of Clifton Hampden, Oxon., 1864 (presented by his brother Henry Hucks Gibbs), but resigned work in 1874 from the same cause as before. His parsonage there was what is now the Manor House. Resided at Oaklands, Cleveland, Somerset, 1874-8. Vicar of Exwick, Devon, 1878-85; Rector of Clyst St. George, Devon 1885-97 (presented to both by Antony Gibbs). Retired and resided at Speen House, Berks., 1898-1914. Editor of 'The Registers of Clyst St. George', published 1899 by The Parish Register Society. Member of the Athenauem Club, London, 1863-86. His diaries 1851-1912 (52 vols.), last in possession of John Arthur Gibbs in 1932 are now missing. The volume of his 'Reminiscences' (MS.) from c.1840 to 1910, now in the possession of Denis D. Gibbs.

Portraits: Oil 1858 by E.U. Eddis in possession of Lord Aldenham (1932); oil (c. 1902) by A. Macdonald, last in possession of Alexandra White (2021 - previously George Medley); a posthumous one painted 1921 (from a photo of about 1910) by Ronald Gray in possession of Denis D. Gibbs; a chalk drawing by E.U. Eddis (c. 1859) last in possession of Francis L. Gibbs in 1932; a pastel by E. Havell (1887) last in possession of Francis L. Gibbs in 1932.

Died:
Speen House

John married Isabel Marianne Bright on 3 Jan 1860 in Abbots Leigh, Somerset. Isabel (daughter of Robert Bright and Caroline Tyndall) was born on 1 Mar 1835 in Abbots Leigh, Somerset; died on 22 Mar 1920 in Newbury, Berkshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1851, Abbots Leigh, Somerset; Age: 16; Relation: Daughter
• Residence: 1871, Clifton Hampden, Oxfordshire
• Residence: 1881, St Thomas the Apostle, Exeter, Devon
• Residence: 1891, Clyst St George, Devon
• Residence: 1901, Speen, Berkshire; Relation to Head: Wife

Notes:

2nd daughter of Robert Bright (died 1869) of Abbots Leigh, Somerset (partner of George Gibbs), for whose lineage see Bright of Colwall in Burke's 'Landed Gentry', by Caroline (died 1843); 4th and youngest daughter of Thomas Tyndall of The Royal Fort, Bristol. Baptised at Abbots Leigh 3 January 1860. Was buried at Speen House 24 March 1920. Administration May 1920.

Her Tyndall grandmother was Marianne (died 1805), daughter of Lambert Schimmelpennick of Bristol (of the family of the Dutch Counts of that name) and sister-in-law of Mary Anne Schimmelpennick, the authoress, whose life is in the Dictionary of National Biography. For the Tyndall family see articles by Greenfield in The Genealogist Magazine Vol II (1878). Her diaries 1851 to 1920 (53 volumes) were in possession of John Arthur Gibbs in 1932, now missing.

Portraits: Pastel by E. Havell (1887) last in possession of Christopher J. Gibbs; a chalk drawing by E.U. Eddis (c. 1859) last in possession of Francis L. Gibbs in 1932; a watercolour by Curnock, one of a set of three of herself, her sister Caroline (born 1827) and her sister Constance (born 1837), all in possession of George Medley 2014, but not mentioned in the 1932 edition of the Gibbs Pedigree. Sampler, dated Sept 26 1845 (then aged 10) in possession of Vera Medley.

Died:
Speen House

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Ditteridge; Rector of Ditteridge
• Christening: 12 Apr 1829, Bebington, Cheshire

Richard married Mary Swinhoe on 11 Sep 1856 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Mary (daughter of General Samuel Swinhoe and Emily Gillanders) was born on 10 Jan 1836 in Bārākpur, West Bengal, India; died on 17 Dec 1890 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Christening: 17 Jun 1836, Bārākpur, West Bengal, India

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Partner with his father in Antony Gibbs & Sons, London
• Residence: Bedford Square, Middlesex, England
• Baptism: 26 Sep 1785, St Mary Major, Exeter, Devon

Notes:

Trained in his father's business, from the age of 15 he paid 6 visits of 6 to 10 months each to the Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) between 1801 and 1807. Present in Cadiz at the Spanish revolt against the French in June 1808, he reopened his father's house of business there and remained till 1810. Partner with his father in Antony Gibbs & Sons, London, (and in the Cadiz branch) from the founding of the firm in Sep. 1808. From 1815 till he died he was head of Antony Gibbs & Sons, who, under him and his brother William, opened branches at Gibraltar 1818, Lima 1822, Arequipa and Guayaquil 1823, Valparaiso 1826 (see the History of the Business in the book 'Antony and Dorothea Gibbs' by J.A. Gibbs). A director of the London Assurance Corporation 1822-42. A member of the club 'Nobody's Friends' 1832-42 and of the 'City of London Club' 1840-2. A member of the London Committee which (1832-5), with the Bristol Committee, promoted the Great Western Railway, and an original Director of that Company 1835-42. Between 1819 and 1840 he and his brother William voluntarily completed the payment of those of their father's and grandfather's debts which were still outstanding from their bankruptcy in 1789.

A few months before he died in 1842 he succeeded to most of the properties (for particulars see the book 'Antony and Dorothea Gibbs' by J.A. Gibbs) which his cousins Sarah (died April 1842) and Anne Noyes (died Dec. 1841) had inherited in 1814 from their uncle Robert Hucks of Aldenham, Herts (his mother's 2nd cousin): namely as heir at law to Sarah he received Aldenham House and other estates in Herts, and Middlesex; and under Anne's will, on Sarah's death, estates in Oxon and Berks, and in Lambeth, Surrey. With these properties he became lord of the manors of North Moreton, Berks (sold by his son Henry), Burston, Herts. (sold by his grandson, Alban), and Clifton Hampden, Oxon; and patron and lay rector of the last named. His residence was 2 Powis Place 1817-21, 11 Bedford Square 1821-42 (both in the Borough of Holborn). For note of portraits and sculptures of him see the book 'Antony and Dorothea Gibbs' by J.A. Gibbs, p. 435 and the Additions of 1927, to which add that a replica or copy of the portrait by Edmund Gill was in possession of Lord Cullen in 1932, who also had a miniature by Miss Ross (1860) (? founded on a portrait by Gill of 1843); and that a portrait in oils belonged to A. Gibbs and Sons (in 1932) after the min by Ross in Lord Aldenham's possession.

George married Caroline Crawley on 7 Jul 1817 in Stowe-nine-Churches, Upper Stowe, Northamptonshire. Caroline (daughter of Rev. Charles Crawley and Mary Gibbs) was born on 25 Apr 1794 in Clyst St George, Devon; died on 13 Feb 1850 in Wraxall, Somerset; was buried on 21 Feb 1850 in Clifton Hampden, Oxfordshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Caroline sold the lease of 11 Bedford Square in 1849 and resided at Aldenham House 1846-50. In 1843-6 she built at Clifton Hampden, where her brother in law Joseph Gibbs was Perpetual Curate, a new parsonage to take the place of the old one which Anne Noyes gave in 1832. By a re-exchange in 1905 the former is now the Manor House and the latter has since been demolised.

She also completely restored the church of St. Michael of All Angels there, mainly with money set aside by her husband when he inherited the property, but with contributions added by herself, and her son Henry. G Gilbert Scott was her architect in both cases. The Living was augmented under her Will. See article on Clifton Hampden in the book 'Antony & Dorothea Gibbs' by J.A. Gibbs pp. 447-50. For her 'Royal Descent' see entry for her father, Rev. Charles Crawley.

For note of portraits of her see the book 'Antony & Dorothea Gibbs' by J.A. Gibbs p. 435, to which add that a copy was in possession of Lord Cullen (in 1932) of Sir William Ross's miniature, done by Ross's daughter under her father's supervision. Caroline was buried at Clifton Hampden. Monumental Inscription in church and church yard there and in Aldenham church. Her Will was printed on 16 July 1950 at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Doctors Commons, London.

Died:
Belmont

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 24 Feb 1796, Bristol, Gloucestershire; Lewins Mead Presbyterian or Unitarian, Bristol
• Residence: 1851, Abbots Leigh, Somerset; Age: 55; Relation: Head
• Residence: 1861, Abbots Leigh, Somerset
• Probate Date: 23 Oct 1869

Robert married Caroline Tyndall on 4 Jun 1821 in Bristol, Gloucestershire. Caroline (daughter of Thomas Tyndall and Marrianne Schimmelpennick) was born on 13 Jan 1796 in Bristol, Gloucestershire; died in Jan 1843 in Bedminster, Somerset; was buried on 16 Jan 1843 in Holy Trinity, Abbots Leigh, Somerset. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Christening: 19 Feb 1796, St. Augustine-the-Less, Bristol, Gloucestershire
• Residence: 1841, Colwall, Herefordshire

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1851, Cambridge St Benedict, Cambridgeshire

Richard married Jane Fraser. Jane was born in 1795 in St Marylebone, Middlesex. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: India; Lieutenant General East India Service

Samuel married Emily Gillanders on 17 Jun 1819 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. Emily was born on 28 Jun 1801 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India; died on 10 Feb 1876 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]