Four-times mayor fought fever in faraway wars
Last updated 05:29, Friday, 18 July 2008
One of the youngest of the Captain JB Gilpin’s 16 children, Joseph Appleby Dacre Gilpin, took his Christian names from his uncle, of Kirklinton Hall, who had married his father’s sister.
While his brothers, William and Sawrey, have entries in the Dictionary of National Biography, Joseph is not included, even though he was knighted for his service in the army.
As he was born in Carlisle and was four times mayor of the city his life is worthy of investigation, but to do this we need first to look at his father, Captain Gilpin’s career.
Between 1733 and 1736 John Bernard Gilpin was promoted from a lieutenant in the 12th Regiment to a captain of an independent company of invalids, one of two companies who were then doing garrison duty at Carlisle Castle.
Previously the family had lived at their seat at Scaleby Castle. William Gilpin, the captain’s eldest son, wrote later: “This promotion made a happy change in Captain Gilpin’s affairs because his family was at this time so large that it was hardly in his power, with all his economy, to maintain them.”
With a view to educating his children, William Gilpin said: “A few years before Captain Gilpin obtained this appointment, he had removed his family to Carlisle, so that being upon the spot he was put to no extraordinary expense.”
The last child baptised at Scaleby was Sawrey on October 31, 1733 and the next, Ann, was baptised at St Mary’s, Carlisle, on October 8 1736, “the daughter of Captain Gilpin of Castle Street.”
Dorothy followed in February 1737. She was also born at Castle Street, but Catherine was born at Abbey Street in November 1739.
These two houses were perhaps held on Dean and Charter leases because the captain “was very intimate with Dr Bolton, Dean of Carlisle, who showed him every friendship in his power.”
Another two children were born at the Abbey Street house in 1741 and 1743, followed by Henry who was baptised in December 1744, but his life was short – he was buried at Wetheral on June 19, 1745.
The circumstances of Joseph’s birth are more complicated.
He cannot have been born in March 1745, the date given by the Cumberland Pacquet because of the closeness of Henry’s birth.
Usually Gilpin children were baptised within a few days of birth.
But the events of 1745 overtook the family.
Captain Gilpin was involved in November in the defence of Carlisle against the forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie and was “shut up in the Castle,” said William Gilpin, leaving his wife to defend herself when the city was taken.
Mrs Gilpin first sought protection from one of the Prince’s officers and then took in Lady Lovat and Lady Elmer as lodgers, “at Captain Gilpin’s house, a place of great security”.
No provision was made by Charlie’s men for taking prisoners, so Captain Gilpin was released, but in an occupied city he felt his future uncertain and determined to go.
Leaving a faithful old soldier to guard his house, “Captain Gilpin got two little uncovered carts and set out with his family for Whitehaven,” said William Gilpin.
This was the end of December in the midst of a heavy snow and the Gilpins got no further than Caldewgate.
Here the captain had to stop at an inn because he “had several small children and his wife who was far from well, very near being confined,” stated William.
The expected child would be Joseph, but Mrs Gilpin must have rallied as, after a few days and a thaw, they made it safe to the coast and out of danger.
“After these troublesome times had subsided,” said William, “and quietness was again restored, Captain Gilpin returned with his family to Carlisle.”
This would have been in January 1746, when “the Dean of Carlisle, who, not residing in his deanery, lent it to Captain Gilpin to live in.”
The Pacquet believed that Joseph was born at the Deanery, but there may have been a delay in his baptism because this did not take place until March 19, 1746 at St Mary’s.
While the family remained at the Deanery the captain left with his regiment for Plymouth.
From the Grammar School registers we know that Joseph Gilpin was admitted in 1754 and left before Christmas 1757.
The Pacquet stated: “Joseph was destined for the medical profession and was apprenticed to the late Dr Graham of Carlisle.”
After he completed his training he entered the army as a medical officer.
As a surgeon in the forces Joseph served the British in the American War of Independence and against the French in the West Indies.
For arresting fever in Gibraltar he was knighted and returned to his native city from foreign service in 1806, the year he first became mayor.
He also served as mayor in 1811, 1816 and 1820.
In 1821 the Carlisle Patriot announced his appointment as Inspector General of Hospitals.
A year later the Carlisle Journal gave the obituary of his wife who died “at her residence in The Abbey after a severe illness, aged 71, a sister to Sir Emilius Irving of Robgill Tower.”
After some years living on Castle Street, Sir Joseph moved to Fisher Street in 1839, but with declining health he left for Bath in 1832 and it was there he died at Sydney Place in October 1834 aged 89.
Although Sir Joseph was not buried in Carlisle it was felt appropriate to erect a monument to his memory.
As a result a bust by David Dunbar, with a suitable inscription, was placed in the cathedral.
In raising funds for this the Journal stated: “Sir Joseph was a man of talent, of great private worth, and deservedly esteemed by all parties, and we trust that the subscription will be such as to do honour to the memory of a man who, living, never had an enemy.”
