The first book dedicated to the history of Ipswich (1830), includes brief biographical notes on 'distinguished personages connected with the town'. Entries include: 'Crickmore, Thomas, came from Beccles to Ipswich, in 1809, and died the 6th of January, 1822, about forty years of age. On his first arrival in this town he was a performer in the band of the Suffolk militia, and at the peace he married and settled here as an optician, and had he lived, would probably have risen to eminence in that occupation; for though he was self-taught, his knowledge and excellence of execution was known and appreciated by many men of science.... This singular man was endowed with a variety of talent, was possessed with a vein of wit, combined with a humorous eccentricity of character, which rendered him so entertaining a companion that he was much esteemed, and his loss regretted by all his friends and associates.'
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