Dr Thomas Watkins Wilson
Lived at Calcutta, India. He graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) He gained the rank of Surgeon-Major in the Indian Medical Service. [Source]
Dr Thomas Watkins Wilson’s Monument
Monument. c1900. Stonemasons said to be Affleck's of Ulverston. Marble. Built as a scale replica of a lighthouse, with carved rocks and waves around the base, and with the tapered shaft incised to represent ashlar blocks, a doorway, and window openings. A glass lantern (originally enclosing a gas jet) is surrounded by 4 shafts which carry a drum and openwork cap with ball-and-spike finial. The base is carved with an anchor and chain, and has inscriptions (some in verse) which include: 'Thomas Watkins Wilson MD', who 'Fell asleep at 20 minutes to 7 on Friday evening January 15th 1897...', and 'Every year for 15 years we were wont to spend some months at Conishead Priory'. [Source]
Erected by daughter Mary. He is buried in St Cuthbert’s West Church, Edinburgh
Grade II listed
Texts on the monument:
Across the anchor reads: “AN ANCHOR FOR THE HOPE OF SORROW THROUGH ALL TIME”
The scripts on the upper part reads:
HIS FAVOURITE TEXT
ONE IS OUR MASTER, EVEN CHRIST,
THIS WORD FOR GROUNDWORK LET ME GIVE
EACH LIFE’S FOUNDATION STONE,
FOR POET, PRIEST; FOR PEASANT, PRINCE:
BY ONE LIFE RULE THINE OWN
SOME SAY THAT LIFE WAS HUMAN LIFE
AND OTHERS SAY DIVINE
THERE IS NO FAILURE IF THOU HAST
ITS SPIRIT RULING THINE
WHETHER ‘TIS GOD, OR ONLY MAN, OR BOTH IN ONE COMBINE
Around the lower part, above the waves, four plaques read:
1 WHO EARNESTLY THIS LIFE WILL LEAD THE SOUL FROM SELFISH PURPOSE FREED A MIRACLE OF PEACE WILL KNOW ‘TIS EVEN NOW AS LONG AGO
2 LIKE TO THE BEACON ON THE ROCK FOR GUIDANCE, NOT A STUMBLING-BLOCK A MIRACLE BY NATURE WROUGHT PURE LIGHT FROM OUT OF DARKNESS BROUGHT
3 NO ONE A PATHWAY NEED PREPARE E’EN AS HE WALKS, FOOTPRINTS ARE THERE HIS STEPS THEY FALL, AND FALL ARIGHT, LED ON BY SINGLENESS OF SIGHT
4 GO, LEAD THE LIFE – THY PAST ABJURE THE WAY ID CLEAR, - THAT LIFE WAS PURE PASS ON, PASS ON, AND DAY BY DAY, TWILL LEAD THEE RIGHT, AND LAST FOR AYE.
[Source]
Many postcards of this glorious monument are available: this one is from the Wrench series (1900-1907). The mason, Richard Affleck, is buried in the Cemetery, and on his death in August 1947 the Barrow News made reference to ‘his best known public sculpture .. the ‘Lighthouse Memorial in Ulverston Cemetery. This he did over 40 years ago entirely by hand work.’
Dr Thomas Watkins Wilson married Annette Andrews, daughter of Dr William Smith Andrews of Richmond Surrey, in Comillah, Bengal, India on 8 November 1839. He and his wife had 7 children.
Thomas Watkins Wilson lived at Calcutta, India. He graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) He gained the rank of Surgeon-Major in the Indian Medical Service. [Source]
Lt.-Col. Danvers Henry Osborn was born on 25 August 1827. He was the son of Sir John Osborn, 5th Bt. and Augusta Frederica Louisa Valentina Davers. He married Annette Wilson, daughter of Thomas Watkins Wilson, on 17 March 1862. He died on 5 February 1898 at age 70.
He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Honourable East India Company Service and Indian Army.
Children of Lt.-Col. Danvers Henry Osborn and Annette Wilson:
Laura Constance Osborn d. 24 Jan 1949
Annette Frederica Kathleen Osborn d. 1948
Colonel Arthur Osborn b. 19 Aug 1863, d. 25 Oct 1934 Danvers Osborn b. 14 Nov 1864, d. May 1929 [Source]
Picture of his grave at St John and St Cuthbert (Joint)'s Church Cemetery, Edinburgh, courtesy of Gravestone Photographic Resource
It reads
ALSO
HIS THIRD SON
THOMAS WATKINS WILSON
SURGEON-MAJOR I.M.S.
DIED 15TH JANUARY AGED 85
1897
ALSO HIS YOUNGEST SON
ARCHIBALD STEWART WILSON
DIED 28TH MARCH 1911
