Thomas Aubrey (1740 - 1814)

Born 17 Jul 1740 in Stoke Lyne, Oxfordshire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 15 Jan 1814 at age 73 in England, United Kingdom

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Biography

This profile is part of the Awbrey Name Study.

Thomas, born July 17, 1740, is the second son of Sir Thomas Aubrey, 5th Baronet and Martha Catherine Carter, daughter of Richard Carter of Chilton (Bucks). ^[1]

He was educated at Westminster and Jesus College, Oxford. He matriculated in 1756 and obtained a BA in 1760. ^[1]

He was a Lieutenant in the 4th Foot from 1776 – 1771 as shown in Image 1.^[2]

During the American Revolutionary War, Thomas was a member of Gen. John Burgoyne’s army. Burgoyne had established a supply line Fort Ticonderoga and Fort George. Between the two forts was a supply depot guarded by two companies of the 47th Regiment of Foot commanded by Captain Thomas Aubrey on Diamond Island, Lake George. An attack by an American force led by Col. John Brown was launched. Captain Aubrey, a veteran of Bunker Hill, and his two companies, perhaps 80 men altogether with six cannon, had been warned the Americans were coming and were well prepared. In the 36 hours before Brown’s arrival, the British regulars had thrown up breastworks and positioned some heavy guns Burgoyne had left behind. The Redcoats used this surplus artillery with skill and effect. Captain Aubrey’s force held.^[3]

He also fought at the battles of Lexington, Concord and Saratoga. His ranks included Ensign, 1762; Lt., 1766; Maj., 1782; and, retired on half pay as a brevet Lt. Col in 1788. He was Inspecting Field Officer of Yeomanry and Volunteer Corps in 1807.^[1]

Thomas was MP for Wallingford 1784-90.^[4]

At today’s Detroit, Michigan, he married Elizabeth Irving (misspelled Twing). They had two children:

• Thomas Aubrey born in America about 1781. He was an officer in the infantry (Ensign, 1797; Lt. & Capt., 1799; Adjutant, 1801). He died on November 19, 1806 in his father’s house after a long illness lasting 3 years.
• Elizabeth Sophia born 1792 and died in 1873. ^[1]

Col. Thomas died on January 15, 1814 and is buried at St Mary Paddington, Middlesex. His wife died on October 12, 1822. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Landed Families of Britain and Ireland
2. ↑ Colonel Thomas Aubrey (1740-1814) – National Museum of Wales
3. ↑ Forgotten Battle of Diamond Island on Lake George
4. ↑ The History of Parliament - AUBREY, Thomas (?1740-1814), of Savile Row, London