John Henry Fludyer, 4th Baronet, generally known as Henry Fludyer, was a rare combination of Baronet and clergyman who restored the villagechurch inThistleton, Rutland as a memorial to his three eldest children. He inherited the Baronetcy at a late age after his cousin and two elder brothers died without issue. He inherited the family seat at Ayston, a village where he was already Rector, and near which he seems to have spent most of his life. He died at age 92, having been connected to the parish of Ayston for nearly 70 years.
In 1832 Fludyer married Augusta, daughter of Sir Richard Borough, Bart, and granddaughter of Viscount Lake. In 1834 he was appointed Rector of Thistleton and Ayston. His eldest three children of their seven children died of scarlet fever at the ages of 4, 6 and 8 years while the family were living in Thistleton In 1863, on the death of his second brother William the remaining family moved to Ayston Hall, whose grounds adjoin the church there, and in 1870 he resigned the living at Thistleton. In 1879-80 he and Augusta restored the church in the memory of their three eldest children. Their children were:
Augusta Mary died 1842 in childhood
Caroline 1835-1842, died in childhood
Henry 1838-1842, died in childhood
Charles 1840-1895, married Lucy Hodder in 1866. Rose to Lt Col in the Grenadier Guards and retired in 1876. He died in Camborne, Cornwall where he had mining interests, and was said to have lost a large fortune. He had no children.
Katharine born 1841, married Henry Randolph Finch Vere Finch
Arthur John 1844-1922, 5th and last Baronet, married Augusta Borough, daughter of Sir Edward Richard Borough, his cousin.
Henry 1847-1919 CVO and Gentleman Usherin Ordinary to Edward VII married Mary Hordern in 1891. He joined the Scots Guards and rose to Command of the Regiment in 1898. He retired in 1903, but from 1914 to 1916 he was in temporary command of the Scots Guards. He died without issue.
Augusta died in 1889. Henry was reputed to be a devoted husband, and it was said that never once did she leave the room without his standing to open the door for her, and that every year he cut the first rose of the season for her, and placed it on her boudoir table. At his death, at the age of 93, his personal probate was £9,810. He was buried beside her in Ayston.
