Here we attempt to determine who Thomas Luny’s parents were and where he was born. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography provides the following:
Luny, Thomas (bap. 1759, d. 1837), marine painter, son of Thomas Luny and his wife, Elizabeth Wallace, was probably born in Cornwall, being baptized at St Ewe near Mevagissey on 20 May 1759. His mother had a son from a previous marriage, James Wallace (1754–1832).
The Dictionary of National Biography has his place of birth as London and another sourcehas Plymouth. None of these sources provide any supporting evidence.
We will start with Thomas’ death and work backwards.
Thomas Luny was buried at St James West Teignmouth on 7 Oct 1837
His will was proved on 21 Oct 1837 having been made on 2 April 1832. He left legacies to Elizabeth Wallace widow of his half-brother Captain James Wallace of the Royal Navy. He also refers to Elizabeth, daughter of his half-brother Haswell and wife of Frederick Haswell. This fits with memorial inscriptions of Thomas Luny and his half-brother James Wallace at St James, Teignmouth and another to Elizabeth wife of Frederick Thame Haswell and daughter of Captain James Wallace:
Sacred to the memory of
Captain James Wallace, Royal Navy
Who departed this life 28th Janry 1832 aged 76 years
This venerable officer served under the gallant Nelson
at the Battle of Copenhagen and having bravely fought
under the Banners of his Royal Master and the Cross
of his Glorious Redeemer, he has finished his Course
and now rests in peace and joy.
Also
Thomas Luny Esq., Marine Artist
of West Teignmouth, half Brother of the above
Who departed this life Sept 29th 1837, Aged 79 years
This tomb is erected by his grateful niece, Daughter
of Capt James Wallace
Boast not thyself of tomorrow
For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth”
Her children shall arise and call
her Blessed
Also
Frederick Thame Haswell
Husband of the above
Who died in London
August 3rd 1873 Aetat 89″
Thomas Cluny’s age at death shows he was born in 1758 and similarly his half-brother James Wallace was born in 1756. It follows that James Wallace’s father must have died, and his widow remarried, in the period 1756 – 1758. This fits perfectly with the marriage of Frances Wallis (Wallis/Wallace is not significant), 26, widow of the parish of Tynemouth and the diocese of Durham to Thomas Luny, 27 of the parish of Stepney and the diocese of London, in Dec 1757 – see the Marriage Bond and Allegation below:
The marriage took place on 11 Dec 1757.
The following part of the Marriage Bond shows Thomas Luny (senior) was a mariner and that might be significant with a son who was a marine artist.
Thomas Luny son of Thomas was baptised at Christ Church, Tynemouth on 10 Nov 1758 (no further details).
Our hypothesis is that Thomas Luny the marine artist was not Cornish and was baptised (and perhaps born) in Tynemouth, Durham (now Northumberland) in 1758 and he was son of Thomas Luny, mariner of London and Frances Wallis/Wallace, widow.
In this case Thomas had a sister Ann, who was baptised at St Paul Shadwell, daughter of Thomas Luny, mariner of Spring Street and his wife, Frances. Thomas Luny was recorded at Spring Street, Shadwell in 1759, 1761 and 1762 (see the London Land Tax Records).
Thomas also had a brother, John, who was baptised on 6 May 1766 at St George in the East, London (son of Thomas Luny captain and Frances of Anchor and Hope Alley at St George in the East).
The family link with St Paul’s, Shadwell is significant as it is possible that Frances’ first marriage was Frances Jackson to James Wallace of St Paul’s, Shadwell at May Fair Chapel 5 Apr 1752 (from Clandestine Marriages ex Findmypast).
It is very plausible for a London-based mariner to be in Tyneside but why did he marry Frances there – did they elope?
Thomas Luny senior made a will on 7 May 1778 in which he left one third of his estate to his son Thomas and two thirds to his wife Frances. On the decease of Frances her wearing apparel, watch, rings, jewels and household furniture was to be given to his ‘daughter law’ Betsey Wallis (presumably the daughter of his half-brother James. As part of proof of the will John Sims and Philip Court? swore that they were well acquainted with Thomas Luny of the parish of St George in the county of Middlesex and master of the merchant ship Reprieve.
The will was proved on 2 December 1780.
James Wallace, RN. We know that Thomas Luny’s half-brother James Wallace was born 1755/56. If the memorial inscription is correct and he died on 28 Jan 1832 aged 76, he would have been born between 29 Jan 1755 and 28 Jan 1856 and may have been the James Wallace who was baptised at Tynemouth on 5 May 1755, son of James Wallace. Our working hypothesis is James Wallace and Frances Jackson married in London in 1752 and moved to Tynemouth where their daughter Elizabeth was baptised on 28 Feb 1753. Frances’ husband, James, must have died about the time their son James was born in 1755 (also baptised in Tynemouth). His burial may be that of James Wollis on 26 Feb 1755 at St Paul, Shadwell (ex Ancestry PR). Widow Frances then married Thomas Luny in Tynemouth in 1757 where their son Thomas was baptised. Thomas and Frances moved back to Shadwell, London in 1759.
We know that Frances’ second husband was a mariner and it is plausible her first husband was too and this explains the London/Tynemouth axis given the importance of the trade between London and Newcastle at that time.
There is some doubt about the rank of James Wallace (1755 – 1832) and whether he fought in the battle of Copenhagen see here .
Jottings on my Family History 