Rowland Edward Calvert (c.1750–1813), the father of the artist Edward Calvert (1799–1883), was captain of the Bideford Yeomanry and lived at Appledore on the north Devon coast. He was the first owner of Girtin’s Appledore, from Instow Sands (TG1737) and it is assumed that the artist stayed with him in November 1797, when he is documented as having been based in the area. The relationship between the two men was presumably close as the artist named his son after him. Thomas Calvert Girtin (1801–74) was baptised on 26 January 1802, though his father was still in Paris at the time.