Captain Thomas Gadsden died far from home at the island of Nevis in 1691. He was undoubtedly buried there, though the wooden markers then used for graves have not withstood time or the weather and so far we don’t know precisely where Thomas’s grave is. It seems likely that his chief mate Hugh Windsor and other members of his crew would have paid their last respects at whatever funeral was held.
There may have been some sort of memorial service held in London at a later date – news travelled slowly from the West Indies – and we might speculate as to what members of the Gadsden family would have attended. The grieving widow, Ann, would have been there, of course, and such of her children as were old enough to attend. Thomas jnr., born in 1688, was only three and may not have been taken to the service, if there was one. Little Thomas would barely remember his father later.
Other likely attendees would be Ann and Susanna Gadsden, daughters of Captain Thomas and Ann. We are aware of these girls’ marriages in 1701 and 1703 respectively.
Phillip Gadsden, probably a son of Captain Thomas and Ann, may have been among family members at the service. Phillip, also a mariner, was to marry Hannah Shute at St Botolph’s Bishopsgate in 1703 and to die at sea in 1705/6.
A Nathaniel Gadson [sic] of Deptford Kent died in the ship Thomas in 1696, only five years after Captain Thomas’s death. His relationship to Captain Thomas is currently uncertain, but, with the occupation of mariner, that he was part of the extended Gadsden family is entirely possible. His baptism is recorded at St Mary Colechurch 7 September 1622. His brother was Samuel, baptised at the same church in 1624. These two men were sons of John and Barbara Gadsden.
gadsdensoftheworld 