tycho wrote:
Yes, that's my man! In fact, I am in contact with a genealogist who is very interested in Sutton and who referred me to this site that has a lot of information about him.
http://surreygenealogist.com/sgprojectsutton.htmI've only just found out where he is buried. But I'm ready to give up on finding an image of him. I've searched every museum, art gallery and archive I can think of, with no luck. In fact, his descendants don't have one of him either. As said, it's a real mystery. Here's a man who was a distinguished officer, highly thought of by Nelson. and whose descendants have treasured his letters and his sword - but no picture!
Hi Anna:
I've only just come across your messages, as I am researching Rear Admiral Samuel sutton, but more particularly his wife, Charlotte (nee Ives), of Bungay.
Both were buried at St Mary's Church, Woodbridge, he in 1832 and she joined him in 1852. Frustratingly, the church saw fit to build its new organ in the north porch, over the tomb, in 1875, so oblitering any record of its inscription. The Victorians have a lot to answer for!
I read that you were asking somewhere about how Sutton coud afford to buy commissions in the army for his three sons. It was almost certainly because he profitted significantly from the bounty of three Spanish ships he was instrumental in capturing - even at that time the total amounted to £1 million, and his share would have been substantial.
I have been unable to trace a picture of him, but I am more interested of a portrait of Charlotte - you mentioned one existed in Scarborough in 1929 at Sutton's birthplace. Do you have any more info on that? I am writing an historial novel based on the actual love affair between Charlotte and the great French writer and statemen, Vicomte Francois-Rene
de Chateaubriand, who stayed in Bungay with the Ives family while an emigre in England, and following a fall from a horse.
If you could steer me towards a portrait of Cahrlotte, I would be most grateful.
Terry