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The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn, son of Henry Frederick Hanover, Duke of Cumberland and Anne Hanover [Horton] [Luttrell]
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Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn was born 12th April 1777 in London and christened at St. Clements Danes in the Parish of Westminster on 9th June by his adopted parents Thomas Dearn and Eleanor Wilmot. He grew up unaware of his real parentage until in 1803, at the age of 26, his uncle Temple Simon Luttrell told him of his real (royal) parentage and the existence of his sister Olive who had been adopted as well. Dearn had married Elisabeth Stevenson at St. Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook on 20th November 1800. They had a family of two daughters, Ann and Elizabeth, before they were requested to adopt his sister Olive's daughter, Caroline in 1805. Ten years were to elapse before Thomas and Elisabeth were to have the rest of their family.

Thomas Dearn had moved to Cranbrook in the mid 1790s and quickly became a prominent member of the Cranbrook community. From 1809 until 1843, he was prolific producer of prints of topographical and architectural images and maps for Cranbrook and the surrounding area - almost 100 in total. From 1798 until 1828 he regularly had architectural exhibits at the Royal Academy. As an architect he is attributed with the design of numerous properties in the Cranbrook area including his own house Dearn Villa. He published a number of books on architecture culminating in his 'Designs for Lodges and Entrances to Parks, Paddocks and Pleasure Gardens' in 1811. However, it was his book An Historical and Descriptive Account of the weald of Kent, published in 1814 that was to gain him real prominence and popularity.

Thomas Dearn lived to be 76 when he died on 17th January 1853. He is buried at St Dunstan's Church in Cranbrook

The circumstances surrounding Thomas Dearns' parentage, his early life and his life as an author, artist and architect in Cranbrook are depicted in the definitive biography of him, 'Sporting the Oak' by Paul Donovan and published in 2005


Date
Type
Information
Source
 
12th April 1777
Born
London; adopted by Thomas and Eleanor Dearn
IGI - Family Search
 
9th June 1777
Christened
At St. Clement Danes in the Parish of Westminster, London; christened as Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
IGI - Family Search
 
20th November 1800
Married
Elisabeth Stevenson at St Dunstan's Church in the Parish of Cranbrook, Kent
Mid Kent Marriage Index
 
1801
Birth of a daughter
Ann Willmot
 
 
1803
Birth of a daughter
Elizabeth, in London
 
 
December 1805
Adopted
Caroline, his sister Olive's daughter
 
1811
Published
Designs for Lodges and Entrances to Parks, Paddocks and Pleasure Gardens
 
1813
Cranbrook
Cranbrook by Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent
 
1814
Published
An Historical Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent
 
1814
Benenden Church and Parsonage
Benenden Church and Parsonage by Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent
 
1814
Hemsted
Hemsted by Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent
 
1814
Remains of Trinity Chapel, Milkhouse Street
Remains of Trinity Chapel, Milkhouse Street, Sissinghurst by Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent
 
1814
Angley House
Angley House, Cranbrook by Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent
 
1814
Elfords
Elfords, Hawkhurst by Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent
 
1814
Moor House, Seat of Jesse Gregson, Esq.
Moor House, Seat of Jesse Gregson, Esq., Hawkhurst by Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent
 
1814
Fowlers
Fowlers, Hawkhurst by Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent
 
9th September 1815
Birth of a daughter
Elizabeth, in London
 
 
3rd March 1818
Birth of a daughter
Julia in the Parish of Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook Parish Registers
 
19th August 1820
Birth of a daughter
Sarah Hodsoll in the Parish of Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook Parish Registers
 
17th January 1853
Died
In the Parish of Cranbrook, Kent; aged 76 years
 
 
After 17th January 1853
Buried
At St Dunstan's Church in the Parish of Cranbrook, Kent
 
In memory of Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn,
who departed this life and entered a blissful immortality
January 17th, 1853, aged 76 years.

The grave its trophies shall resign,
Christ will the mould'ring dust refine;
And death the last of foes must be,
Swallowed and lost in victory.
Then king of terrors boast no more,
Thy ancient wide extended power;
Each saint in life, with Christ his head,
Shall reign when death itself is dead!

Ancestor's report
Descendent's report
Dearn, Dearne, Dearnes individual records
The ancestral pedigree of Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearn
   
 Ernst August I Kurfürst von Hannoverm: 30th Sep 1658 Castle Chapel, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemburg, GermanySophie von der Pfalz 
 b: 20th Nov 1629 Herzberg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
d: 23rd Jan 1698
bur: 23rd Jan 1698 Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
  b: 13th Oct 1630
d: 8th Jun 1714 Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
 
  
          
George I Louis  Unnamed child  Field Marshal Maximilian Wilhelm Unnamed son Sophie Charlotte Karl Philip Christian Heinrich Ernst August
b: 28th May 1660 Leineschloss, Osnabruck, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 11th Jun 1727 Osnabruck, Niedersachsen, Germany
bur: After 11th Jun 1727 Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
  b: Feb 1664
d: Feb 1664
  b: 13th Dec 1666 Schloss Iburg, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 16th Jul 1726 Vienna, Austria
 b: 13th Dec 1666 Schloss Iburg, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 13th Dec 1666 Schloss Iburg, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
 b: 12th Oct 1668 Schloss Iburg, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 21st Jan 1705 Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
 b: 3rd Oct 1669 Schloss Iburg, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 31st Dec 1690 Pritina, Albania
 b: 19th Sep 1671 Schloss Iburg, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 31st Jul 1703 Ulm, Germany
 b: 7th Sep 1674 Osnabruck, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 14th Aug 1728 Osnabruck, Niedersachsen, Germany
   Friedrich August Unnamed child      
   b: 3rd Oct 1661 Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 31st Dec 1690 St Georgen, Siebenbürgen, Transylvania, Germany
 b: Feb 1664
d: Feb 1664
      
                 
Great-
Great-Great-
Grandfather
record
   
   
   
 George I Louis Hanover
King of Great Britain
m: 21st Nov 1682Sophie von Braunschweig-Lüneburg 
 b: 28th May 1660 Leineschloss, Osnabruck, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 11th Jun 1727 Osnabruck, Niedersachsen, Germany
bur: After 11th Jun 1727 Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
  b: 5th Sep 1666
d: 2nd Nov 1726 Ahlden Castle, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
bur: After 2nd Nov 1726 Celle Church, Celle, Niedersachsen, Germany
 
  
  
 George II Augustus Sophie Dorothea
 b: 30th Oct 1683 Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany
d: 25th Oct 1760 Kensington Palace, London
bur: After 25th Oct 1760 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 b: 16th Mar 1687 Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 28th Jun 1757
bur: After 28th Jun 1757 Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany
    
Great-Great-
Grandfather
record
   
   
   
 George II Augustus Hanover
King of Great Britain
m: 22nd Aug 1705 Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, GermanyWilhelmine von Brandenburg-Ansbach
Prinzessin
 
 b: 30th Oct 1683 Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany
d: 25th Oct 1760 Kensington Palace, London
bur: After 25th Oct 1760 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
  b: 1st Mar 1683
d: 20th Nov 1737
 
  
       
 Frederick Louis Anne Amelia Sophia Eleanor Carolime Elizabeth Unnamed son George William William Augustus
 b: 31st Jan 1701 Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 31st Mar 1751 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
 b: 2nd Nov 1709 Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany
d: 12th Jan 1759 The Hague, Holland
 b: 30th May 1711 Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany
d: 31st Oct 1786 Cavendish Square, Soho, London
bur: After 31st Oct 1786 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 b: 21st Jun 1713 Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany
d: 28th Dec 1757 St. James Palace, St. James, London
bur: After 28th Dec 1757 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 b: 9th Nov 1716 St. James Palace, St. James, London
d: 9th Nov 1716 St. James Palace, St. James, London
 b: 3rd Nov 1717 St. James Palace, St. James, London
d: 6th Feb 1718 Kensington Palace, London
bur: After 6th Feb 1718 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 b: 26th Apr 1721 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
d: 31st Oct 1765 Upper Grosvenor Street, London
bur: 10th Nov 1765 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
         
Great-
Grandfather
record
   
   
   
 Frederick Louis Hanover
Prince of Wales
m: 27th Apr 1736 St. James Palace, St. James, LondonAuguste von Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg
Prinzessin
 
 b: 31st Jan 1701 Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
d: 31st Mar 1751 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
  b: 30th Nov 1719 Gotha, Thüringen, Germany
d: 8th Feb 1772 Carlton House, Carlton House Terrace, St. James, London
bur: After 8th Feb 1772 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 
  
         
Augusta  Edward Augustus Elizabeth Caroline William Henry Henry Frederick Louisa Anne Frederick William Caroline Matilda
b: 31st Aug 1737 St. James Palace, St. James, London
d: 23rd Mar 1813 Hanover Square, Mayfair, London
bur: After 23rd Mar 1813 Windsor Castle, Berkshire
  b: 14th Mar 1739 Norfolk House, St James Square, St. James, London
ch: 11th Apr 1739 Norfolk House, St James Square
d: 17th Sep 1767 Monaco
bur: 3rd Nov 1767 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 b: 30th Dec 1740 Norfolk House, St James Square, St. James, London
d: 4th Sep 1759 Kew Palace, Kew, London
bur: After 4th Sep 1759 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 b: 14th Nov 1743 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
d: 25th Aug 1805 Gloucester House, Grosvenor Street, London
bur: After 25th Aug 1805 Windsor Castle, Berkshire
 b: 27th Oct 1745 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
d: 18th Sep 1790 Cumberland House, Pall Mall, London
bur: After 18th Sep 1790 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 b: 8th Mar 1749 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
d: 13th May 1768 Carlton House, Carlton House Terrace, St. James, London
bur: After 13th May 1768 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 b: 24th May 1750 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
d: 29th Dec 1765 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
bur: After 29th Dec 1765 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
 b: 11th Jul 1751 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
d: 10th May 1775
bur: After 10th May 1775 Celle Church, Celle, Niedersachsen, Germany
 George III William Frederick         
 b: 4th Jun 1738 Norfolk House, St James Square, St. James, London
d: 29th Jan 1820 Windsor Castle, Berkshire
bur: After 29th Jan 1820 Windsor Castle, Berkshire
         
                  
Grandfather
record
   
   
    
 Henry Frederick Hanover
Duke of Cumberland
m: 2nd Oct 1771 Hertford Street, Mayfair, LondonAnne Horton
2nd marriage
 b: 27th Oct 1745 Leicester House, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London
d: 18th Sep 1790 Cumberland House, Pall Mall, London
bur: After 18th Sep 1790 Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London
  b: 24th Jan 1742/43 Marylebone, London
ch: 21st Feb 1742/43 St. Mary
d: 28th Dec 1808 Trieste, Italy
 
  
  
 Olive Thomas Downes Wilmot
 b: 3rd Apr 1772 London b: 12th Apr 1777 London
ch: 9th Jun 1777 St. Clement Danes, Westminster, London
d: 17th Jan 1853 Cranbrook, Kent
bur: After 17th Jan 1853 St Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook, Kent
     
Parental
record
   
   
   
 Thomas Downes Wilmot Dearnm: 20th Nov 1800 St Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook, KentElisabeth Stevenson 
 b: 12th Apr 1777 London
ch: 9th Jun 1777 St. Clement Danes, Westminster, London
d: 17th Jan 1853 Cranbrook, Kent
bur: After 17th Jan 1853 St Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook, Kent
  b: 1778 Maidstone, Kent
d: 6th Apr 1852 Cranbrook, Kent
bur: After 6th Apr 1852 St Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook, Kent
 
  
     
 Ann Willmot Elizabeth Elizabeth Julia Sarah Hodsoll
 b: 1801 b: 1803 London
d: 1803
 b: 9th Sep 1815 London b: 3rd Mar 1818 Cranbrook, Kent
d: 1897
 b: 19th Aug 1820 Cranbrook, Kent
         
Family
record

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