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John Tomkyns who lived at Lydney in East Terrace, Budleigh Salterton was the second son of the Revd. Chichester Tomkyns of St. Winnow in Cornwall.  Lieutenant Colonel John Tomkyns had been in the Indian Army.  The account below of his career is taken from The East India Military Calendar (1).  

He was appointed a Cadet of Artillery in September 1778 and made Lieutenant on the 6th Nov. 1778.  He subsequently was promoted to Captain on 27th Oct. 1794, Major on 12th Nov. 1803, and Lieutenant-Col. on 15th May, 1804.  He had a distinguished career.  In 1780 he accompanied a detachment, consisting of five regiments of Native infantry and a company of artillery, which marched from Calcutta to Madras, under the command of Col. Pearse, to join the army commanded by Sir Eyre Coote.  He was present at the storming of the fort of Tripasoor and in the engagements with Haider Ali on 27th Aug. 1781 at Pollilore and then at Sholinghur in the September following. He was also involved in the engagement of 22 January 1782 when Haider Ali attacked the rear of the British army on its march to the relief of Vellore, and was present at actions near Mimundrum on 13 January 1782 and near Arnee on the 2nd June following. 

In 1783 he served under Major-Gen. James Stuart, and was present at the storming of the French lines at Cudalore 13th June, 1783; and at the affair of the 25th June, when the French made a sally to regain their lines, but they were defeated.  In 1786 he was present at the capture of a strong fort, north-west of Furruckabad; in 1790 he served under Gen. Sir William Meadows, and was present at the capture of several forts.  He served at the capture of Dindigul on 22 August 1790; and at that of Palicaudcherry 22 September following.  

In 1791 he served under Lord Cornwallis; and was employed on the 2nd March with a party to blow open the gates of Oscotta.  He was at the capture of Bangalore, 21st March, 1791; and in the engagement with Tippu Sultan, near Seringapatam, 15th May, 1791, at the capture of Outradroog, Nundydroog, and Savandroog; and at the storming of Tippu's lines near Seringapatam, 6 February 1792.   

In the following year he was employed to the eastward of Chittagong, under the command of Col. Erskine, and took possession of many of the enemy's forts, which were evacuated as soon as the British came in sight.  In 1799 he served under Lord Harris, and was at the capture of Seringapatam, Chitteldroog, and some other forts. In 1800 he served under Col. Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) and commanded the artillery at the capture of several forts in the Mahratta country. 

In 1803 he left India for Europe, and in May 1805 retired from the service.  He must have soon moved to Budleigh Salterton and leased Lydney in East Terrace which would have been newly built around that time.  He died on January 20th 1830 and his burial service was held on February 3rd 1830 at St. Paul’s Church in Exeter.  His name was included on a memorial (2) in St. Paul’s Church in Exeter to his younger brother Henry who died in 1811 and his sister Eleanor who died in 1826, both parishioners at St. Paul’s (which is no longer in existence).  Lydney, which was leased for “three good lives” from Lord Rolle, was auctioned on 19th April at the Rolle Arms (3).  

Compiled and researched by Roger Lendon © 2009 

1  The East India Military Calendar; containing the services of general and field officers of the Indian army by John Gough Nichols & John Philippart 1823. 

2  Notes on the history fabric and features of interest in the churches of the Deanery of Christianity Devon by Beatrix F Cresswell  Exeter: James G Commin 230, High Street 1908  

3  Sale documents at Fairlynch Museum.

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