Thomas Triplett
Encyclopedia
Thomas Triplett was Canon at Westminster Abbey
from 1662, and by his death in 1670 he was Sub-Dean. A schoolmaster
in Hayes, Middlesex
during the Commonwealth
period (when cathedrals and canonries were abolished), there remains a school in Hayes
named after him.
), the son of Robert Triplett, Master of the Stationers Company
of London, and Margery (Cartwright). Triplett was educated at St Paul's School, London and Christ Church, Oxford
where he graduated M.A. in 1625.
in the north of England, including Washington
(where George Washington
's ancestors originated). He was appointed to a canonry at York
in 1641, another at Salisbury
in 1645, and yet another at Durham
in 1648 or 1649.
and the Commonwealth
period, when cathedrals and canonries were abolished. He had to earn his living as a schoolmaster
, first in Dublin, and then in Hayes, Middlesex
, where there remains a school named after him, Dr Triplett's. When King Charles II
was restored to the throne in 1660 cathedrals were re-established, and in 1662 Triplett was made a Canon of Westminster Abbey
. By his death in 1670 he was Sub-Dean.
. He founded two charities: one to help apprentices from Washington
and nearby places in County Durham
; the other to help apprentices from Hayes in Middlesex
, Petersham
and Richmond, and scholars at Westminster School
. Both these charities still exist. In his will he mentioned his relatives in Oxfordshire
: cousin Christopher and his brother Richard Triplett; Henry Triplett, son of Paul; and another cousin, Ralph Triplett. His large collection of books left to various people show he must have been a scholar, though no writings are known. Several books with his signature are in the library at Westminster Abbey
- he signed his name Triplet.
Triplett is buried in Poets' Corner
at Westminster Abbey
. His white marble monument is on the west wall of the South Transept. At the top of the monument is a carving (uncoloured) of his coat of arms
: a hind courant, pierced through the neck with an arrow, a chief indented (see Heraldry
). His Latin epitaph can be translated as follows:
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
from 1662, and by his death in 1670 he was Sub-Dean. A schoolmaster
Schoolmaster
A schoolmaster, or simply master, once referred to a male school teacher. This usage survives in British public schools, but is generally obsolete elsewhere.The teacher in charge of a school is the headmaster...
in Hayes, Middlesex
Hayes, Hillingdon
Hayes is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. It is a suburban development situated west of Charing Cross. Hayes was developed in the late 19th and 20th centuries as an industrial locality to which residential districts were later added in order to house factory workers...
during the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
period (when cathedrals and canonries were abolished), there remains a school in Hayes
Hayes, Hillingdon
Hayes is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. It is a suburban development situated west of Charing Cross. Hayes was developed in the late 19th and 20th centuries as an industrial locality to which residential districts were later added in order to house factory workers...
named after him.
Early life
Thomas Triplett was christened on 6 April 1602, at St Nicholas Cole Abbey, London (near St Paul's CathedralSt Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
), the son of Robert Triplett, Master of the Stationers Company
Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Stationers' Company was founded in 1403; it received a Royal Charter in 1557...
of London, and Margery (Cartwright). Triplett was educated at St Paul's School, London and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
where he graduated M.A. in 1625.
Early career
In the 1630s Triplett was rector of various parishes in County DurhamCounty Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
in the north of England, including Washington
Washington, Tyne and Wear
Washington is a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear...
(where George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's ancestors originated). He was appointed to a canonry at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in 1641, another at Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
in 1645, and yet another at Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
in 1648 or 1649.
Commonwealth period and after
Triplett's career was interrupted by the English Civil WarEnglish Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
period, when cathedrals and canonries were abolished. He had to earn his living as a schoolmaster
Schoolmaster
A schoolmaster, or simply master, once referred to a male school teacher. This usage survives in British public schools, but is generally obsolete elsewhere.The teacher in charge of a school is the headmaster...
, first in Dublin, and then in Hayes, Middlesex
Hayes, Hillingdon
Hayes is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. It is a suburban development situated west of Charing Cross. Hayes was developed in the late 19th and 20th centuries as an industrial locality to which residential districts were later added in order to house factory workers...
, where there remains a school named after him, Dr Triplett's. When King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
was restored to the throne in 1660 cathedrals were re-established, and in 1662 Triplett was made a Canon of Westminster Abbey
Dean and Canons of Westminster
The Dean and Canons of Westminster are the ecclesiastical body of Westminster Abbey, a collegiate church of the Church of England and royal peculiar in Westminster, England. They meet in Chapter and are also known as the Dean and Chapter of Westminster....
. By his death in 1670 he was Sub-Dean.
Death
Triplett does not appear to have been married. Most of his estate at his death was left to his sister Katherine Warne and her three children, then living in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He founded two charities: one to help apprentices from Washington
Washington, Tyne and Wear
Washington is a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear...
and nearby places in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
; the other to help apprentices from Hayes in Middlesex
Hayes, Hillingdon
Hayes is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. It is a suburban development situated west of Charing Cross. Hayes was developed in the late 19th and 20th centuries as an industrial locality to which residential districts were later added in order to house factory workers...
, Petersham
Petersham
Petersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
and Richmond, and scholars at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
. Both these charities still exist. In his will he mentioned his relatives in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
: cousin Christopher and his brother Richard Triplett; Henry Triplett, son of Paul; and another cousin, Ralph Triplett. His large collection of books left to various people show he must have been a scholar, though no writings are known. Several books with his signature are in the library at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
- he signed his name Triplet.
Triplett is buried in Poets' Corner
Poets' Corner
Poets' Corner is the name traditionally given to a section of the South Transept of Westminster Abbey because of the number of poets, playwrights, and writers buried and commemorated there. The most recent additions were a memorial floor stone unveiled in 2009 for the founders of the Royal Ballet...
at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. His white marble monument is on the west wall of the South Transept. At the top of the monument is a carving (uncoloured) of his coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
: a hind courant, pierced through the neck with an arrow, a chief indented (see Heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
). His Latin epitaph can be translated as follows:
Here rests the Reverend Doctor Thomas Triplett, of the county of Oxford, prebendary of this church: who, right through to his seventieth year of age, made himself dear to God by his piety and constant devotion; to the Learned, by his uncommon skill in the Greek language; to the Poor, by his generosity and continual good works; and to All, by the innocent charm of his character; and finally passed from this life to a better one, on the 18th of July A.D. 1670.