Reverend Abel Gerald Wilson Blunt, MA, Rector of Chelsea Old Church. Father of Reginald and artist Arthur Cadogan Blunt (1860–1934).
confirms that Blunt was the Rector at The Rectory from 1860 and "A. Gerald W. Blunt was the son of Henry Blunt, senior curate of Chelsea Parish (1824–1830) and later Rector of Holy Trinity, Chelsea (1832–1835). Several additions were made to the Rectory during Mr. Gerald Blunt's residence there."
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, adds that Abel Gerald Wilson Blunt was born on 25 July 1827, the youngest of the three children of the Reverend Henry Blunt (1794-1843) and Julia Ann Blunt née Nailer (1794-1883). On 2 November 1827 he was baptised at St Luke's Church, Chelsea, Middlesex (now Greater London), where his date of birth is confirmed in the baptismal register, that also showed that his family lived in Sloane Street, Chelsea and that his father was a clergyman.
His two siblings were: Henry George Scawen Blunt (1821-1899) and Julia Sophia Blunt (1823-1895).
The states that he graduated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in 1850 and his Master of Arts in 1860. He took Holy Orders in 1851 and was from 1856 to 1860 the Incumbent of Crewe Green, Cheshire. In 1860 he was preferred to the Rectory of St. Luke's, Chelsea.
On 9 December 1851 he married Frances Mary Forssteen (1820-1899) in St Michael's Church, Chester Square, Pimlico, Middlesex, where in the marriage register he is shown as Abel Gerald Blunt, of full age, a bachelor and an esquire who was residing at 2 Wellington Square, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the son of Henry Blunt - a deceased clerk, whilst his wife was described as of full age and a spinster living at 2 Chester Terrace, Chester Square, Pimlico, the daughter of the late Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Forssteen (1784-1828).
They were to have seven children: Frances Elizabeth Blunt (1852-1907); Gerald Henry Blunt (1854-1935); Walter Blunt (1856-1859); Reginald Blunt (1857-1944); Arthur Cadogan Blunt (1860-1934); Elaine Mary Blunt (1863-1933) and Geraldine Maud Blunt (1865-1926).
When census was taken on 7 April 1861 he was shown as Gerald Blunt, aged 34 years and the Rector of Chelsea. He was living at The Rectory, Church Street, Chelsea, with his wife and their four surviving siblings: Frances Elizabeth Blunt; Gerald Henry Blunt, Reginald Blunt and Arthur Cadogan Blunt, together with his cousin, Frederic L. Blunt - the curate of Chelsea and one male and four female domestic servants.
He was still living at The Rectory, Church Street, Chelsea, when the census was taken on 2 April 1871, He was shown as Abel G. W. Blunt, aged 43 years and the Rector of St Luke, Chelsea, residing there with his wife and four of their children: Frances Elizabeth Blunt; Reginald Blunt; Elaine Mary Blunt (1863-1933) and Geraldine Maud Blunt (1865-1926), together with Thomas W. Norwood - the curate of St Luke's, Chelsea, a cook, a nurse, a housemaid, a footman and a kitchen maid.
When the census was undertaken on 3 April 1881 he was shown as Gerald Blunt, aged 52 years and the Rector of Chelsea, still residing at The Rectory, Church Street, Chelsea, with two of his children: Frances Elizabeth Blunt and Arthur Cadogan Blunt - a student, together with four female domestic servants.
The census that was taken on 5 April 1891 shows him as Abel Gerald W. Blunt, aged 63 years and the Rector of Chelsea, still living in The Rectory, Church Street, Chelsea, London, with his wife and two of their daughters: Elaine Mary Blunt and Geraldine Maud Blunt, together with a cook, a lady's maid, a parlour maid, a housemaid and a kitchen maid.
The census dated 31 March 1901 described him as Abel Gerald Wilson Blunt, aged 73 years and a Church of England clergyman, still living in The Rectory, Church Street, Chelsea, with his wife and three of their children: Francis Elizabeth Blunt; Arthur Cadogan Blunt - an artist and Geraldine Maud Blunt, together with a cook, a parlour maid a housemaid and a kitchen maid.
His death was registered as aged 74 years in the 1st quarter of 1902 in the Chelsea Registration District, London and his body was buried on 13 February 1902 in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels, Crewe Green, Cheshire.
Probate records confirm that he died on 8 February 1902 and that probate was granted on 5 March 1902, jointly to his sons: Gerald Henry Blunt - a schoolmaster and Reginald Blunt - a hospital secretary. His effects totalled £23,262-11s-7d.
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