File:Rev ThomasMortonColson (1719-1786) RectorOfStudland Dorset.xcf

English: Portrait of Rev. Thomas Morton Colson (1719-1786), Rector of Studland in Dorset. Engraved on back of gilt metal casing: "Rev'd Tho Morton Colson obt Mar 14th 1786 aet 67".

Text from "The COLSON Family of Dorchester (From 1596) Apothecaries, Barber Surgeons, Capital Burgesses, Clergymen & Mayor in 1712 & 1722" Compiled by Michael Russell, Online Parish Clerk for Dorchester, January 2015" [1]:

Rev. Thomas COLSON MA (1716-1784) (sic, dates do not match to inscription engraved onto back of miniature case) was baptised at St Peters church in Dorchester on 25th Jan 1716/17.

He was a son of Robert COLSON Junior (1676-1724) Attorney at Law, Capital Burgess and Mayor of Dorchester in 1712 and 1722 by his wife Mary MORTON (1681-). Her pedigree is recorded in the 1677 Visitation of Dorset and this shows that she was the 6th and last child of Charles MORETON of Hembrey in Dorset (1650-1681) by his wife Mary the daughter of John Lawrence (1653-1691) of Milton Abbas. Mary Morton was baptised on 12th Jan 1681 and had an elder brother John Morton who was baptised 7th Jan 1677/8.

Thomas graduated at Balliol College Oxford where he matriculated at the age of 18 (sic) on 11th Nov 1735, going on to be awarded his BA in 1739 and MA in 1742 (see Alumni Oxoniensis (1715-1886) volume 1[2]). He joined the church being ordained a deacon at Christchurch in Oxford on 1st June 1740 and a priest at Wells Cathedral on 24th May 1741. Probably because of his father's status as a gentleman he was appointed Rector of St Andrews at Stoke Trister in Somerset which included the hamlet of Bayford. He was then appointed Rector of Studland in Dorset on 31st May 1744 where he remained for 40 years until his death there in 1784 (sic). He married firstly Mrs Jane CULME in Studland on 19 Jun 1753 but she died and was buried there on 27 Mar 1759. He then married Jane WORGAN on 15th May 1760 at Andover in Hampshire. They had three children:

• Mary Morton COLSON (1761-1826) She was baptised at Studland on 29 Feb 1761 and was the niece of John WORGAN, Rector of Linkenholt. She married Henry FESTING (1757-1807) from Weymouth at all Saints Church in Dorchester on 19th Dec 1786. Henry was a native of Wyke Regis having been born there on 13th Mar 1757 the son of Michael FESTING by his wife Katherine GREENE. He became a Commander Royal Navy and died 29 Jul 1807(9) being buried at Linkenholt(10). They raised a family of nine children the first 4 being baptised at All Saints Church in Dorchester. She is reported to have died in 1826. Her children were beneficiaries under Anna HUNTS(11) will proved in 1814. There are some interesting accounts of her sons exploits in the Navy in the British Naval Biographical Dictionary of 1849 (available to view on ancestry.com) Her son Benjamin Morton Festing aged 15 was present at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st Oct 1805.
• Rev. John Morton COLSON (1762-1837) he was baptised at Studland on 8 Sep 1762. According to the Clergy of the Church of England Database he studied at Balliol College Oxford where he matriculated on 30th March 1781 then aged 18. (Note:- His university record incorrectly only refers to him as John Colson and does not give any details of his graduating) He was ordained a deacon at Christchurch Oxford on 22nd May 1785 serving as curate of Studland. His ordination as a priest was at Bristol on 24th September 1786 when he was awarded a salary of £30. He was made Rector of Studland on 6th Nov 1786 (a clue as to the correctness of his father's date of death "14 March 1786" (per reverse of miniature), whom he replaced in this office) a position he retained until his death in 1837. He married by licence at Sherborne to Elizabeth HOBSON (1761-1848) on 29th Aug 1786 and they had children. He was also made Rector of Piddlehinton in Dorset on 22nd Aug 1809 being buried there on 22nd Dec 1837. He left a long will in which he refers to being "late of Corfe Castle but now of Piddlehinton". He refers to an assurance policy for £1,000 and leaves bequests in which he refers to his son Rev. John Morton Colson of Piddlehinton and his nephew the Revd. John Morton Colson of Fordington. His nephew was a bachelor and Rector of St Peters in Dorchester but lived on Fordington Hill within Fordington parish as that was where the rectory for St Peters was actually situated. He left monies in trust for his wife, named as Elizabeth Colson, and his granddaughter Julia Colson until she reached the age of 21. His wife son and nephew were all executors under his will which was dated 27th Oct 1836 and proved on 27th April 1838. After the death of her husband Elizabeth appears to have moved to Swanage but was returned to Piddlehinton for burial when she died aged 87 on 27th Oct 1848.
• Rev. Thomas Morton Colson BA (1764-1830) He was baptised at Studland on 15th May 1764 and educated at Wadham College, Oxford where he matriculated on 20th June 1782 at the age of 18 and he was awarded a BA degree in 1786. He was ordained a deacon at Christchurch Oxford on 5th Nov 1786 being appointed to the curacy of Winterbourne St Martin on 21st December. Thomas married Mary DAMPIER at Wareham on 16th March 1790 when Thomas was described as being resident within All Saints Parish in Dorchester and raised a family of 4 children moving from Holy Trinity to live in Fordington in 1792. He employed a faithful man servant John WHETHAM who when he died in 1822 made Thomas his executor to pay interest to support his wife and legatee to safeguard the future of his 5 children. Thomas Morton went on to become curate at Winterbourne Monkton (14 Jan 1797) before being appointed as Rector of Winterbourne Came in 1800, Linkenholt in 1801 and Pilson in 1804 a position he retained until his death in 1830. Thomas was buried at St Peters Church Dorchester on 28 June 1830 and left a will which is at the National Archives and was proved on 16 September 1830 (PROB 11/1775). There is a memorial tablet in St Peters church to him on the north wall. Mary lived until 1st Dec 1833 and was buried at St Peters on the 9th Dec 1833.