TRENT, William

1786 - 1876

William Trent was baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, London in September 1786, son of Saville Cust Trent (18 July 1761-16 January 1833) and his wife Sophia née Johnson (1761-1788), daughter of James Johnson of Grundisburgh, Suffolk, who married at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 2 November 1785. William married at St Margaret's Church, Ipswich on 22 September 1813, Sarah Wilkinson (died 1864) and they had a least two children born at Ipswich, John Thomas born 1814 and Saville. In 1841, a farmer, living at Copdock, near Ipswich with his wife and a 2-year-old Thomas Cooper and in 1851, a 64-year-old farmer of 15 acres, living at the Swan Inn, Copdock with his 60-year-old wife Sarah, born Aldeburgh, Suffolk and their 11-year grandson William C. Trent, born Clerkenwell, London. Copdock St Peter's church has a tower which is topped with brick battlements, with a weathervane of King David playing his harp which was designed and made by local farmer-artist William Trent in 1855. William made several watercolours of local scenes in Ipswich, in and around Washbrook and Copdock. William Trent died back in London at the home of his son Charles, at 18 St Thomas Street, Islington on 20 January 1876, aged 90, being described as 'late of Washbrook, Suffolk, farmer'. His will was proved by his son Charles William Trent at the PPR on 12 February 1876.