Thomas Gerard (historian)
Thomas Gerard (1593-1634) of Trent in Somerset (now in Dorset) was an antiquary and historian of the county of Dorset and is the author of "Coker's" Survey of Dorestshire.
Career
He was born at Trent, in Somerset, in 1593 and was educated at Gloucester Hall, Oxford.[1]
Country historian
He was the first "county historian" of Dorset, but his work has traditionally been attributed to his brother-in-law John Coker, hence known as "Coker's Survey of Dorestshire".[2] He thus joined other "county historians" who made an appearance during his era, such as Sir William Pole (d.1635) and Tristram Risdon (d.1640) of Devon, William Burton (d.1645) of Leicestershire (a friend of his[3]), etc., and most notably William Camden (d.1623).
Publications
- "Coker's" Survey of Dorestshire, Containing the Antiquities and Natural History of that County, published posthumously in 1732. It was relied on heavily by John Hutchins for his History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset.
- Particular Description of Somerset, unfinished work.
Marriage & progeny
In 1618[4] he married Ann Coker (1603-1633), a daughter of Robert Coker[5] of Mappowder in Dorset. She died in childbirth on 25 June 1633, aged 29 years, 10 months and 7 days, as her monument in St Andrew's Church, Trent states.[6] By Ann he had progeny including:
- Ann Gerard, who in 1646 married Francis Wyndham. In 1651, during the Civil War King Charles II was given refuge at the manor house of Trent, on his way to the port of Bridport in Dorset and thence to exile in France.[7]
Sources
- Thomas Gerard of Trent, 2011 article, Dorset Ancestors website[1]