▶Date of birth: 1840     Place of birth: Crickhowell, Breconshire

▶Father: Arthur Richard Gabell   Mother: Elizabeth Davies

▶Spouse(s): Thomas James Cottle    Date(s) of marriage: 10 April 1894   Place(s) of marriage: St. Mary’s, Cheltenham ▶Occupation:

▶Lifestory:  Gloucester Citizen 11 April 1894

Marriage of Dr. Cottle. The marriage was celebrated on Tuesday at the Parish Church of Dr. T. Cottle and Miss Gabell, of Anlaby, Evesham-road. The happy pair have gone to the West coast for the honeymoon, to be extended to a trip to the Bermudas. Dr. Cottle is 85 years of age, and Miss Gabell 56, the united ages of the bride and bridegroom thus being over 140 years. The bridegroom recently retired after half-a-century's service as one of the medical officers the Cheltenham Union. He is well known in coursing circles, and for many years has had a nomination for the Waterloo Cup, this year running Hidalgo II.

Cheltenham Chronicle 14 April 1894

INTERESTING LOCAL MARRIAGE.

Mr T. J. Cottle, of Pulteney-villa, Winchcombe-street, was, at eight o'clock on Tuesday morning, married to Miss Gabell, elder daughter the late Mr Arthur Edward Gabell, J.P., of Anlaby-house, Evesham Road. Although the affair was, by the express desire of the friends of both the bride and bridegroom, kept exceedingly quiet, there was a very large attendance at the Parish Church, where the ceremony took place, the bridegroom by his long and honourable connection with Cheltenham having made himself wonderfully popular among all classes of society. The lady to whom he was married is also well known in the town for the interest she has taken in many good movements, and many were the good wishes for the future happiness of the pair, whose united ages run close on 140 years, Mr Cottle being one of the oldest residents in Cheltenham.

Shortly before the hour fixed for the interesting event Mr Cottle, clad in a light grey morning suit, and looking, for a gentleman his age, remarkably well, drove up, accompanied by Mr Davies, a London friend —  who acted his best man – and another gentleman, the trio being met at the church door by General Jno. Macdonald, brother-in-law to the bride — who subsequently gave the bride away — whilst very shortly afterwards the bridal party arrived. Miss Gabell being neatly attired in grey striped travelling gown, and having a beautiful bunch of Marechal Niel roses fastened by a diamond and pearl brooch. By this time the church was almost filled, and little before eight o'clock the Rev. A. C. Gabell, formerly of the Leigh, Tewkesbury, but now of Nunney, Somerset, brother the bride, took his place at the Communion rails, and commenced to read the Marriage Service. The service was quite plain, and at its conclusion the party adjourned to the vestry, where the register was signed, the witnesses to the signatures of the bride and bridegroom being "John Macdonald and Eleanor Clunes".

On leaving the church Mr and Mrs T. J. Cottle were given a good send-off in the shape of a shower of rice. Breakfast was afterwards partaken of at Anlaby House, and within an hour the bride and bridegroom left Cheltenham en route to the West Indies, where the honeymoon will be spent.

News of her death took over a month to reach Cheltenham.

Gloucester Citizen 18 May 1894

Death of Mrs. Cottle.—A rumour gained currency on Thursday afternoon, which upon enquiry proved to be only too true, that the wife of Dr. Cottle had died while en voyage to Barbadoes, whither she was proceeding on a honeymoon trip with her husband, and had been buried at sea. The information has been received with sadness by all classes owing to the respect in which Dr. Cottle is held by his townspeople and the circumstances of his somewhat extraordinary marriage just over five weeks. It will be remembered that the bride was Miss Gabell, daughter of the late Mr. A. C. Gabell, and that after the wedding the newly united pair proceeded to Southampton and took passage on the Orinoco for Barbadoes.

From a letter received at Pulteney Villa, Winchcombe-street. (the residence of Dr. Cottle) on Thursday morning, it appears that the deceased lady shortly after dinner on the first day out, complained of pain in the back and sickness, and she was attended to by the ship’s surgeon. On the following day she became worse, and despite all efforts died on April 13th, and her remains were committed to the waters "until the sea shall give up the dead that are in it." We understand that Dr. Cottle contemplates an immediate return, and it is expected that he will arrive the beginning of next month. Great sympathy will be felt for him in the sudden and sorrowful event.

▶Moved to Pittville from:  Keynsham bank, London Road, Cheltenham    Moved from Pittville to:

▶Date of death: 12/13 April 1894   Place of death: At sea

▶Date of burial: 13 April    Place of burial: At sea

▶Notes:   The marriage certificate states that Mary was 54 when she married 82-year-old Thomas James Cottle, who was a well-known and long-time surgeon of Cheltenham. A probate record states that she died at sea two days after her marriage, leaving an estate to the value of £17,000.

ID: 3294

Contributor(s): David Drinkwater