# Thomas Twisleton > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Twisleton > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Twisleton.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Twisleton > Source revision: 1329367582 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the British Army officer and peer, see [Thomas Twisleton, 13th Baron Saye and Sele](/source/Thomas_Twisleton,_13th_Baron_Saye_and_Sele). The **Hon. Thomas James Twisleton** (also **Twistleton**) (1770–1824) was an English churchman, Archdeacon of Colombo from 1815 to 1824.[1] His early marriage is thought to have contributed to the use by [Jane Austen](/source/Jane_Austen) of amateur theatricals as a plot device in her novel *[Mansfield Park](/source/Mansfield_Park)*.[2] He was also noted as an amateur [cricketer](/source/Cricket). ## Life He was born on 28 September 1770 at [Broughton, Oxfordshire](/source/Broughton,_Oxfordshire), the youngest son of Thomas Twisleton, later [Thomas Twisleton, 13th Baron Saye and Sele](/source/Thomas_Twisleton,_13th_Baron_Saye_and_Sele). He was educated at [Westminster School](/source/Westminster_School), where he was a scholar, playing sports, and participated in *The Trifler*, a periodical, with [John Hensleigh Allen](/source/John_Hensleigh_Allen) and others.[1][3] He matriculated at [St Mary Hall, Oxford](/source/St_Mary_Hall,_Oxford) on 2 February 1789, aged 18, graduating B.A. in 1794, and M.A. 1796.[1] Twisleton was ordained in 1795, and became a curate at [Charwelton](/source/Charwelton).[4] He was short of money, but was offered livings, appointed in 1796 to [Blakesley](/source/Blakesley) by Susannah Wight of [Blakesley Hall](/source/Blakesley_Hall_(Northamptonshire)), which he had for the rest of his life; and later to [Broadwell](/source/Broadwell,_Cotswold) with [Adlestrop](/source/Adlestrop), in the gift of [Chandos Leigh](/source/Chandos_Leigh,_1st_Baron_Leigh), his nephew.[3] In 1802 Twisleton became secretary and chaplain to the British administration in [Ceylon](/source/Ceylon). He was appointed Archdeacon of [Colombo](/source/Colombo) in 1815, receiving the Oxford degree of D.D. in 1816. He died in Colombo, on 15 October 1824.[1] ## Cricket career Twisleton was mainly associated with [Marylebone Cricket Club](/source/Marylebone_Cricket_Club) (MCC).[5] He made appearances in four important matches, from 1789 to 1796.[6] ## Family Twisleton's first marriage was at age 18 or 19, the result of an elopement with the heiress [Charlotte Anne Frances Wattrell](/source/Charlotte_Wattell). In May 1788, they had played together in an amateur performance, of *Julia* by [Robert Jephson](/source/Robert_Jephson), at [Freemasons' Hall, London](/source/Freemasons'_Hall,_London), as Mentevole and Julia; and in September of that year ran away and were married in Scotland.[3][7][8] Twisleton already had acting experience, in theatricals at [Adlestrop House](/source/Adlestrop_House), and the couple performed together, there and elsewhere, for a year or so, attracting public attention. A son was born to Charlotte on 5 June 1790.[8] Surviving issue of the marriage was the daughter Julia Eliza (1789–1832), who married Captain James Brown in 1808.[9] A change of heart by Twisleton about acting with his wife, in early 1794, precipitated a change of direction in his life, involving taking an Oxford degree, and preparing for the Church. He experienced money problems, they separated, and were divorced in 1798.[8] Twisleton's second wife, whom he married in 1798, was Anne Ashe (died 1847), daughter of Benjamin Ashe of the [East India Company](/source/East_India_Company).[10][11] Their children included: - [Frederick Fiennes, 16th Baron Saye and Sele](/source/Frederick_Fiennes,_16th_Baron_Saye_and_Sele)[12] - Charles Samuel Twisleton (1806–1890), cleric, married Caroline Carr (1799–1873), daughter of Ralph Carr (1768–1837) and his wife Caroline Gregg, daughter of [Francis Gregg](/source/Francis_Gregg) MP.[13] - [Edward Turner Boyd Twisleton](/source/Edward_Turner_Boyd_Twisleton), youngest son.[14] - Mary Elizabeth, married in 1818 William Gisborne, of the Ceylon Civil Service, third son of [Thomas Gisborne](/source/Thomas_Gisborne) and his wife Mary Babington.[15] ## References 1. Rosenfeld, Sybil Marion & Research, Society for Theatre (1978). *Temples of Thespis: Some Private Theatres and Theatricals in England and Wales, 1700-1820*. Society for Theatre Research. p. 128. ISBN 9780854300266. 1. Cave, Edward (1825). [*The Gentleman's Magazine*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_bIUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA275). pp. 275–. Retrieved 8 March 2018. 1. [Arthur Haygarth](/source/Arthur_Haygarth), *Scores & Biographies*, Volume 1 (1744-1826), Lillywhite, 1862 1. ["Thomas Twistleton, Cricket Players and Officials, ESPNcricinfo"](http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/537163.html). *[ESPNcricinfo](/source/ESPNcricinfo)*. Retrieved 8 March 2018. 1. Harris, Jocelyn (2017-08-03). [*Satire, Celebrity, and Politics in Jane Austen*](https://books.google.com/books?id=U2MqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA104). Bucknell University Press. p. 104. ISBN 9781611488432. Retrieved 8 March 2018. 1. Highfill, Philip H.; Burnim, Kalman A.; Langhans, Edward A. (1993). [*A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800: Tibbett to M. West*](https://books.google.com/books?id=TGgS9VxWJ0oC&pg=PA65). SIU Press. pp. 65–6. ISBN 9780809318025. Retrieved 8 March 2018. 1. Lodge, Edmund (1840). [*The Peerage of the British Empire as at present existing*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ufJBAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA448). Saunders. p. 448. Retrieved 8 March 2018. 1. [*The Gentleman's Magazine (London, England)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=5GodAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA442). F. Jefferies. 1847. p. 442. 1. Faye, Deirdre Le (2006). [*A Chronology of Jane Austen and Her Family: 1700-2000*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hQlx8cMfWGQC&pg=PA211). Cambridge University Press. p. 211. ISBN 9780521810647. Retrieved 8 March 2018. 1. [*The Gentleman's Magazine (London, England)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=5GodAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA84). F. Jefferies. 1847. p. 84. 1. Crisp, Frederick Arthur (ed.) (1903). [*Visitation of England and Wales*](https://archive.org/details/visitationengla02unkngoog/page/194/mode/1up). Vol. Notes 6. London: Privately printed. p. 194. 1. Curthoys, M. C. "Twisleton, Edward Turner Boyd". 27915. 1. Burke, Bernard & Ashworth Peter Burke (1895). ["A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry"](https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalhera00burk#page/449/mode/1up). *[Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)*. Vol. II. London: Harrison. p. 449. Retrieved 8 March 2018. ## External links - [CricketArchive record](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/82/82260/82260.html) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Thomas Twisleton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Twisleton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Twisleton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.