Schools

So far, the only school definitely known to have had Gwinnett boys on its register is the College School, held in Gloucester Cathedral, and, nowadays, called the King’s School. The register covers the period from the late 17th century to the early twentieth century (1685 – 1922).

The following Gwinnett names have been found in the College School register:

  • 1686 Sep 30  Richard Gwinneth, son of George Gwinneth of Sherhamton
  • 1692 Aug 22  John Gwinnet, aged 13, son of Revd. Isaac Gwinnet of Ashton (Keynes) in Wiltshire
  • 1694 Apr 19  George Guinnet, age 8, son of George Guinnet of Sherdington
  • 1694 Jul 2   George Guinnett aged 8.5, son of George Guinnett of Brimpsfield
  • 1728 Feb 10   George Gwinnet, aged 7, son of George Gwinnet of Sherdington
  • 1733/4 Jan 14  George Gwinnett, aged 18, son of George Gwinnett of Gloucester
  • 1737 Aug 30  William Gwinnett, aged 18, son of Gwinnett of the City of Gloucester
  • 1739 Jul 9  Samuel Gwinnett, aged 7, son of Samuel Gwinnett of the City of Gloucester

Although it has been said that Button Gwinnett attended the College School, his entry in the register was not found. However, there appear to be some gaps in the registers as there is only one entry in 1740/41 and no entries in 1744/5, 1745/6, 1746/7, 1747/8 and only a single entry marked for 1745 but appearing after 1748/9.

In the late 18th century, other Gwinnett boys were attending smaller, less well-known schools in the city of Gloucester.  In a case heard by the Committee for Privileges in 1799 relating to the Berkeley pedigree, Theodore Gwinnett said, on oath, that he attended “a school held by Mr Cook in Oxbody Lane, Gloucester”, when he accompanied a boy called William Cole during the years from 1779 until 1782 or 1783.  This school was later described as being ‘John Cooke’s school’. Presumably this is the school, now called the Crypt School, which was founded by a legacy in the will of John Cooke in 1539. It was originally held in the schoolroom attached to St Mary de Crypt church in Southgate Street.

Another witness stated that Theodore Gwinnett actually went to Mr Mutlow’s school.

Other schools mentioned in the case included one run by someone called Middleton, attended by girls, in Northgate Street, and another run by Mrs Clarke.  Nothing more is known of these schools.

In the 19th century, James Gwinnett, son of Theodore Gwinnett, born 15th May 1806, applied to join the East India Company.  In his application in 1827,, he stated that he had attended several schools ‘but lastly at that of Revd. Doctor Tomkins in Boulogne sur Mer’.