Thomas Gaffin
Born 1819
Died 24 October 1869
Active: 1841 - 1869
Country of birth: Ireland
Country of death: England
Sculptor, marble mason
He was born in Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland and was the son of Edward Gaffin (1780-1855) who had established a successful firm of statuaries in London in the early nineteenth century. Thomas continued the business and two of his sons Edward (c.1843-71) and Anthony (1845-c.78) also worked for the firm. Thomas died in London and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery on 30 Oct 1869.
There are further details about the family and firm in the Thomas Gaffin business record.
Wealth at death: £16,000 0s. 0d.
Effects under £16,000
Probate date: 18 November 1869
Locations
Address 17 Kensington Place Millbank London | View on map
1841 - 1860
This was also the Gaffins' business premises. The Census Returns of 1841 state there was a house in the yard belonging to 17 Kensington Place.
Address 6 Bessborough Gardens Pimlico London | View on map
1869
He died while living at this address.
Address 63 Regent Street London | View on map
1869
These business premises for Gaffin were mentioned in the Probate Calendar.
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841
'Marble mason' his father, Edward Gaffin is listed as a 'Sculptor'. It is very probable they were employing the following 8 people who are listed immediately after the Gaffins in Kensington Place: Martin Welch (aged c.36), 'Mason's Labourer'; Daniel Gaffin (aged c.14); James Hincy? (aged c.36), John Caulfield (aged c.36), and James Caulfield (aged c.36) all three 'Marble Polisher'; John Dailey (aged c.41) and John Dailey (aged c.14) both 'Mason'; Edward Hughes (aged c.45) 'Stone Sawyer'. A further person, James Wilkins (aged c.30) is listed ahead of the Gaffins on the Census Returns and was a 'Mason'.
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
Thomas Gaffin 'Sculptor' listed at 17 Kensington Place, there is no reference to his father Edward at this address in 1851. However, John Daley (aged c.51) and his son Richard (aged c.16), both from Cork, Ireland are both listed as 'Mason' adjacent to Thomas Gaffin at 17 1/2 Kensington Place.
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
Thomas listed as 'Sculptor employing 14 (or 16) men', his sons Edward (born c.1843 in Westminster) 'Letter Cutter' and Anthony (born c.1845 in Westminster) 'Artist'.
Sources
A Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors in Britain, 1660-1851
2009
pp. 486-9. Note: in Roscoe the first names of Edward and Thomas are reversed.
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841
2004
HO107 piece 737 folio 2/8 page 11
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
2004
HO107 piece 1479 folio 75 page 37
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2004
Class: RG9; Piece: 47; Folio: 60; Page: 24; GSU roll: 542563
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Thomas Gaffin
Probate Date: 18 Nov 1869
Death Date: 24 Oct 1869
Death Place: Middlesex, England
Registry: Principal Registry
London, England, Deaths and Burials 1813-1980
2010
Name: Thomas Gaffin
Record Type: Burial
Estimated Death Date: abt 1869
Burial Date: 30 Oct 1869
Age: 50
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1819
Parish or Poor Law Union: Kensal Green All Souls
Borough: Kensington and Chelsea
Register Type: Bishop's Transcript
Citing this record
'Thomas Gaffin', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=ann_1377086639, accessed 02 Apr 2023]
