He was born Wilson Gale, the eldest son of John Gale of Highhead Castle, Cumberland by Sarah, daughter of Christopher Wilson of Bardsea Hall Urswick. Sarah's sister Margaret Wilson was the first wife of the Rev. Roger Baldwin, rector of Aldingham. Through his mother Wilson Gale was to become representative of the family of Braddyll of Conishead Priory near Ulverston, and in consequence he added that name to his own in 1776. The same year he married his second cousin Jane, only child of Matthias Gale of Catgill Hall, Cumberland, by Jane, daughter of Rev. Dr. Thomas Bennett.[1]
Members of the family were painted several times by Joshua Reynolds in 1788 and 1789. A full-length group portrait of Wilson and Jane with their son Thomas is now held by the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, while a portrait of Mrs. Braddyll hangs in the Wallace Collection.
As well as Thomas (later Thomas Richmond-Gale-Braddyll) the couple had three married daughters. Mrs. Braddyll survived her husband for a little under a year, dying 6 November 1819. They are commemorated by a memorial inscription in Ulverston church.
References
^"Richmond-Gale-Bradyll formerly of Highhead and Conishead Priory". Burke's Landed Gentry, 18th edition.
