Saddington Family History

This post relates to a family that I am still researching and is being posted in the hopes of connecting with a family member.

The first Saddington of Rochers Head was Joseph Saddington, son of Samuel Saddington and Mary Milbourne, born in Tansor, Northamptonshire circa 1843. How and why he made his way to the Sheffield area is as yet unknown.

In the December quarter of 1870, Joseph married Lucy Ann Earnshaw in the Wortley Registration District, and later that same quarter, she gave birth to their first son, John Albert. They went on to have 11 children in total.

Samuel Ernest arrived in 1873, followed by Joseph William in 1875. Florence Ann showed up in 1876, and Lucy Ann in 1878. Then Catherine Mary was born in 1880.

The 1881 census showed Joseph and Lucy Ann living at Smallfield, Rotchers Head, Bradfield, Yorkshire. He was a farmer of 200 acres. Their eldest son, John Albert, was living with his uncle, John Earnshaw, at Fair House, Bradfield, but the other five children were at home with their parents.

The family continued to grow. Percy was born in 1883, followed by Clara Elizabeth in 1885 and Elsie Emma in 1887. Then Louisa Ellen came along in 1890.

The 1891 census showed Joseph and Lucy Ann at Rocher Head, Bradfield, with nine of their then ten children. Lucy Ann the younger is not with the family. Joseph was still a farmer.

Edith came along in 1892 to finish off the family, but unfortunately died later the same year.

The surviving children of the family married one by one, and started producing their own families. John Albert married Lily Earnshaw, and Joseph William married Clara Haigh probably on the same day in 1898.

The 1901 census shows Joseph living at Rotcher Head with five of the children. Lucy Ann has gone to stay with her aunt, Ann Holbrook, at Cross House, Bradfield, where Lucy Ann the younger is working as housekeeper. John Albert is at Cross Cottage, Bradfield, with his wife and two small children, working as a stone cutter. Joseph William is at Fir Tree Farm, Thurgoland, with his wife and son, working as a carter and farmer.

Lucy Ann the younger married William Bramhall in 1905, and Florence Ann married Benjamin Roebuck in 1908. Clara Elizabeth married Alfred Andrews in 1909 and Samuel Ernest married Rachel Barnes in 1915. Louisa Ellen married James Heywood Staniforth in 1917.

Catherine Mary is believed to have married a Mr Binder, but no marriage has yet been found. Elsie Emma is known to have died a spinster, and it is believed that Percy never married.

Joseph Saddington died on 8 May 1928, described as being "of Rocher Edge Bradfield near Sheffield". He didn't leave a will and administration was granted to his sons, Samuel Ernest and Joseph William, both farmers. His estate amounted to £767 12s 1d, which would have been worth £141,951.43 in 2007, based on average earnings.

His wife, Lucy Ann, died on 17 December 1929, described as being "of Rocher Head, Bradfield, Yorkshire". She didn't leave a will either, and in March 1930, administration was granted to her son, Samuel Ernest Saddington, farmer. Her estate amounted to £712 13s 4d, which would have been worth £132,397.74 in 2007, based on average earnings.

If this family of Saddingtons belongs to you, please get in touch.

Following the release of the 1911 census and the arrival of the Board of Guardians records from the London Metropolitan Archives and the Guildhall Library on Ancestry, I can now update you on the life and times of Lewis Bryan Saddington, the habitual criminal.

Having been sentenced to prison on 28 March 1911 for "feloniously uttering" a forged cheque, the 1911 census taken on 2 April 1911 found Lewis incarcerated in HM Prison Wandsworth. As stated in my previous post, I am unsure whether Lewis was to be imprisoned for five or eight years on this occasion, but he must have been used to the system by then, having definitely been in prison for the 1881 and 1901 censuses and probably for the 1891 census as well.

Whether Lewis was in prison for the 1921 census, we shall have to wait and see. However, 1921 was the year that his story came to an end.

The Register of Deaths for the St Pancras South Infirmary, Pancras Road, London states that Lewis Saddington died on 17 November 1911 in Ward 4 of the Infirmary. He had been admitted to the Infirmary on 11 November 1921. His age was given as 61 and his last place of abode had been 6 Kenton Street, Camden. His occupation was given as builder's labourer and the cause of death was bronchitis. The Register also states that Lewis Saddington was buried by his Parish, presumably in a pauper's grave somewhere.

So a misspent life came to an ignominious end. What set Lewis Saddington on the path of crime will probably remain unknown. It would be interesting to find out what crime he committed to be in prison in 1881 at the age of 18. Any further information about Lewis Bryan Saddington would be gratefully received.

This post relates to Elizabeth Saddington, eldest child of my 3x great grandparents, Thomas Saddington and Hannah Deacon, and demonstrates how incomplete information can lead to wrong conclusions. The research involved in this post has taken place over a twenty year period.

Elizabeth Saddington, daughter of Thomas and Hannah, was born in December 1828 in Great Bowden, Leicestershire, and was baptised on 29 December 1828 in the Parish Church.

Her life is then conjecture until the 1841 census, due to the lack of official documentation. In 1841, Elizabeth, now aged 13, was living in Great Bowden with her parents, Thomas and Hannah, and six of her siblings, namely Thomas (1830), John Jonathan (1831), William (1834), Joseph (1836), Ann (1838) and Jonathan (1841).

Over the next ten years, Elizabeth appears to have remained at home, helping out with the housework and the younger children. In the 1851 census, she was still living in Great Bowden, aged 22, with her now widowed father and seven siblings, being the six present in 1841 and a further brother, Henry (1843). Elizabeth's occupation is given as 'housekeeper'; her mother, Hannah, having died only about six weeks before.

When the 1861 census was taken, Elizabeth, aged 32, was still living at home at Middle Green, Great Bowden with her father and her three youngest brothers, Joseph, Jonathan and Henry. However, her occupation is now given as 'charwoman', so she was presumably working outside the home, cleaning other people's houses. Her father had not remarried, so it is reasonably safe to assume that she was also still keeping house for him and her brothers.

After that, I could find no record of her in the 1871 and 1881 censuses, so at that stage in my research I presumed that she had probably moved away and possibly got married. Elizabeth is a fairly common name amongst Saddingtons at the time, so tracing her marriage would not be easy, and so I let it ride.

Research later showed that, at the time of the 1871 census, her father, Thomas Saddington, was living alone at Lucas Yard, Great Bowden; all of his children had seemingly left home. And in 1881, he was living in Foxton with his next youngest and unmarried brother, John, and their youngest and spinster sister, Sarah. But when Thomas died on 28 May 1883, he was back in Great Bowden and his death was registered by "E. Saddington, Daughter, Present at the death, Great Bowden". When I bought his death certificate back in 1998, I assumed that this meant that his daughter, Elizabeth, had not married after all and had come back from wherever she had been for the 1871 and 1881 censuses to care for her father in his final illness.

Recently, however, I went back through the notes that I had originally taken from the Great Bowden parish registers. There, amongst the burials, I found an entry for an Elizabeth Saddington, aged 34, being buried on 26 February 1863. I did the maths and the dates were right for Elizabeth Saddington born in 1828. So I bought the certificate to make sure one way or the other.

When the certificate arrived, it stated that Elizabeth Saddington, aged 34 and a charwoman, had died on 22 February 1863 of chlorosis and exhaustion. The death was registered by one Sarah West, present at the death. Further research was called for. Going back to the 1861 census, I found a Sarah West, wife of Samuel, living two doors away from the Saddington family. I can now be almost 100% certain that the Elizabeth Saddington on the death certificate is the same as Elizabeth Saddington, daughter of Thomas and Hannah Saddington. The only other Elizabeth Saddington of a similar age known to be living in Great Bowden in 1863 was the wife of Thomas Saddington, Elizabeth's oldest brother, but she is known to have lived until 1914 and is buried with her husband in the Great Bowden cemetery.

This means that the conclusion I reached in 1998 regarding which Elizabeth Saddington had registered Thomas Saddington the elder's death was completely wrong. It had been his daughter in law, Elizabeth Saddington (nee Smith), not his own daughter, Elizabeth. I had been misled by the custom of referring to sons and daughters in law as sons and daughters, something which happens frequently in historical documents.

To tie up the final loose end, I investigated the cause of Elizabeth's death. According to Wikipedia, chlorosis is a form of anaemia (iron deficiency), one of the symptoms of which is lack of energy - which probably led to exhaustion being given as a secondary cause of Elizabeth's death. It may have been hereditary, and today it would have been treated with vitamin supplements. In Elizabeth's day, it was also known as green sickness, because a sufferer's skin developed a pale green tinge. An academic article about chlorosis can be found here.

So Elizabeth Saddington died relatively young and unmarried, having spent most of her life looking after her family. The possibility of her cause of death being hereditary has now made me look more closely at her mother, Hannah, who died at the age of 42.

Any comments on this post will be gratefully received.

To begin with, I would like to apologise for the shortage of posts this month, but I am labouring under the burden of revision for exams in June.

This is a brief post resulting from the appearance on-line of British Convict Transportation Registers, courtesy of the State Library of Queensland.

So far it appears that only two Saddingtons emigrated to Australia courtesy of the criminal justice system. These were Eliza Saddington who was sent to Van Diemen's Land for 7 years in 1850, and George Saddington who was sent to Western Australia for 7 years in 1865.

Eliza Saddington was convicted of a felony, to wit the theft of four pairs of clogs at Coventry, at the Lent Assizes held at Coventry on 28 March 1850. She was 17 years old. Eliza was sentenced to 7 years transportation, and consequently sailed from London on 30 October 1850 aboard the 'Emma Eugenia', together with 169 other female convicts.

The 'Emma Eugenia' arrived in Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) on 7 March 1851. The Archives Office of Tasmania has now digitised a lot of their convict records. Eliza Saddington is described as being a nursemaid, aged 18, 4'9" tall, with brown hair and eyes, and a fresh complexion. She had a scar on her left cheek, a scar and blue marks on her right arm below the elbow and another scar over her right brow. She could read and write imperfectly. It appears that she had also spent 12 months 'on the town' before this conviction, i.e. she had been a prostitute.

According to the records, her native place was Appleby, probably Appleby Magna in Leicestershire. Her father was John, her mother was Elizabeth, and she had a sister, also Elizabeth. As yet, I have not been able to place Eliza within the Appleby Magna branch of the family.

Unfortunately Eliza did not flourish in Van Diemen's Land. The surgeon on board ship reported that her conduct was indifferent. It appears that Eliza was then sent to the Brickfields Hiring Depot at Hobart New Town. Here she would have waited to be hired as a servant for the period of her sentence or until she was paroled. Eliza never went into service in Van Diemen's Land. The records show that she died in the Hospital at the Brickfields Hiring Depot on 4 July 1851.

Moving on to George Saddington, the records show that, at the age of 25, George was convicted of larceny at Guildford Assizes in Surrey on 1 August 1864 and sentenced to be transported for a term of 7 years. He left England on 20 or 30 September 1865, sailing from Portland on the 'Vimiera' with 280 other male convicts, bound for the Swan River Colony. The voyage took 83 days and the ship arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on 22 December 1865. It appears that 3 of the convicts had died on the way, as only 278 convicts landed in their new country.

In the convict records, George is described as being a carpenter, married with one child, 5'11 1/4" tall, with brown hair and grey eyes. His face was long, he had a pale complexion and his build was middling stout. He also had a scar over his left eye. Most of this additional information comes from Convicts to Australia , a website compiled by the Perth Dead Person's Society.

According to the records of Fremantle Prison, George received his ticket of leave on 11 February 1868. This was his document of parole, which entitled him to seek employment within a specified district, marry or bring his family over from England, and to acquire property. Despite having a wife and child back in England, George married Dorah Toole on 20 February 1869. He received his Certificate of Freedom at Perth, Western Australia, on 2 November 1871, having completed his sentence.

The records then show that George died on 20 April 1895 in the Champion Bay Registration District, Western Australia, when he was about 60. He was buried in the St Francis Xavier Cemetery, Geraldton, despite being a Protestant. His wife, Dorah, died on 25 July 1905, age 62, and was buried in the Urch Street Cemetery, Geraldton. It is not known whether they had any children. A George Saddington was also buried in the Urch Street Cemetery in February 1905, age 55. Now was this a relation, or did Dorah have her husband's body moved?

If either Eliza or George belong to your family, please get in touch.

Once again I must apologise for the shortage of posts this month. However, the exams are now out of the way and I have just about got my life back in order.

A couple of years ago, I received an enquiry from a gentleman in South Australia who had come across a family called Plush who, for a couple of generations, had used the name Saddington as a forename. The family descended from three brothers who had emigrated from England to South Australia in 1839, the sons of Thomas Plush and Frances Taylor. One of the sons was named John Saddington Plush, and my enquirer asked if I could assist him with any connection between the Saddington and Plush families on the basis that surnames used as forenames tend to be family surnames somewhere along the line.

Well, I had nothing in my database at the time, so I had a look round the Internet. Initially, all that I could find were IGI records for the marriage of Thomas Plush and Frances Taylor on 1 November 1804 at St Leonards, Shoreditch, London and a marriage for John Saddington and Ann Plush on 16 February 1792 at St Peters, Cornhill, London.

On the National Archives website, I also found a reference to a document referred to as "Item C 13/589/19 = Plush v Saddington. Answer only." It was dated 1801 and related to a matter in the Court of Chancery. It also appeared that only part of the paperwork still existed.

Some months later, I took a trip to the National Archives and ordered the Chancery document in advance. When I went to collect it, what I was given was a huge roll of documents which had been brought specially from the disused salt mine in Cheshire where documents which are rarely requested are kept. With my white archival gloves on, I worked my way slowly down the roll until I reached my document. Straining my eyes to read the tiny writing, I discovered the following story.

The document was an Answer to a Bill of Complaint. The Bill had been brought by John Plush and Sarah, his wife, and by Sarah Plush, James Plush, Mary Plush and William Plush, Infants [i.e. persons under the age of 21] by their father, John Plush. The Answer was submitted by the Defendants in the case, who were John Saddington and Ann, his wife, and Jane Plush, the Guardian of the Infant Defendants, Thomas Plush, Jane Plush, Elizabeth Plush and William Colewell Plush.

The Bill of Complaint [which was missing] appeared to have related to the Will of the late William Plush, who had died on 26 December 1794, and who was the father of Ann Saddington and the grandfather of the Infant Defendants.

When William Plush Senior had died, his Will had been proved in the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury by his Executors, Daniel Tanner and Titus Tanner. In his Will, William had left his daughter, Ann Saddington, £310 in 3% Capital Stock, and he had left his four grandchildren £200 in the same 3% Capital Stock. His remaining 3% Capital Stock (about £200 worth) and his personal Estate had been left to his son, William Plush Junior. Unfortunately, William Plush Junior had died during his father's lifetime, so this bequest had lapsed and the residue was divided between his daughter, Ann Saddington, and the four grandchildren. William Plush Senior had also owed his son in law, John Saddington, the sum of £34 17s 2d, which John Saddington had kindly forgiven.

Now, during his lifetime, William Plush Senior and one Thomas Home or Horne [it was difficult to read this surname, so I will call him Thomas Horne throughout this post] had been the Trustees of a Trust Fund containing £600 worth of 3% Capital Stock for the benefit of the Complainant, John Plush. At some point in the past, £100 worth of stock had been sold at John Plush's request and the money given to him on the proviso that the stock was to be replaced using the dividends from the remaining £500 worth of stock.

However, in May 1792, Thomas Horne had prevailed upon William Plush Senior to sell out the remaining £500 worth of stock without John Plush's knowledge or consent, so that Horne could use the money himself. Horne signed a memorandum dated 8 May 1792, acknowledging the agreement and agreeing to repurchase stock to the sum of £500.

In December 1794, William Plush Senior died and Horne became the sole Trustee. From Christmas 1797, John Plush had been receiving dividends from Horne equivalent to the entire £600 worth of stock. However, when John Plush went to collect the dividends that had accrued at Christmas 1799, he discovered that Horne had absconded. Horne was insolvent, avoiding his creditors, and had never replaced the stock as agreed in the May 1792 memorandum.

The Defendants' Answer to John Plush's Bill of Complaint came in two parts. Firstly, it stated that William Plush Senior's Executors, Daniel and Titus Tanner, had not done their job properly. They had failed to make the proper enquiries in relation to the Estate, and they had refused to allow John and Ann Saddington to make the proper enquiries. The Executors had therefore been unaware of the Trust Fund and indeed one of the Executors was now dead. The 1792 memorandum signed by Thomas Horne had only lately been discovered by John Saddington amongst a bundle of William Plush Senior's papers which were in the custody of William Plush Junior's widow (probably Jane Plush, the Guardian of the Infant Defendants).

Secondly, the Defendants stated that John Plush should have made proper enquiries in relation to the Trust Fund and paid proper attention to the reinvesting of the stock after the initial £100 worth had been sold at his request. They went on to say that Thomas Horne had been solvent for many years after William Plush Senior's death, so if John Plush had taken proper care, things would never have been able to get to this point.

And for these reasons, the Defendants should not have to reimburse John Plush out of what they had inherited from William Plush Senior's Estate.

Unfortunately, there appears to be no further documentation to say what the outcome of the case was.

However, putting all the evidence together, I believe that the Thomas Plush who married Frances Taylor in 1804, and who named one of his sons John Saddington Plush, was the Infant Defendant Thomas Plush in this case. It would seem that his aunt's husband was sufficiently important in his life that he named one of his sons after him.

But who was John Saddington and where did he come from? The Answer doesn't say. If you have any further details relating to this case and/or John Saddington, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Just a quick post to let you know that I have started a Saddington One Name Study group on GenealogyWise, the new genealogy social network.

GenealogyWise is apparently like Facebook, but for family history researchers.

Hopefully, I will see some of you there soon.

These four marriages come to you courtesy of Sue Horsman's Derby Marriage Challenge. At the moment, I am just supplying the details on the marriage certificates, but hope to be able to expand on them in the future.

1.
Parish Church of St Werburgh, Derby
No. 120
March 15 1862
Abraham Joseph Yeoman, 21, Bachelor, Copper Smith, Dunkirk[?], Daniel Yeoman, Labourer
Sarah Jane Saddington, 20, Spinster, -, London Road, James Saddington, Labourer
By Certificate
Both bride and groom signed their names.
Witnesses - William Saddington, Macklin Harvy

2.
Parish Church of St Peter, Derby
No. 252
May 30 1868
Henry Saddington, 20, Bachelor, Moulder, Normanton Road, James Saddington, Labourer
Eliza Wheatcroft, Full, Spinster, -, Normanton Road, William Wheatcroft, Solicitors Clerk
After Banns
The groom signed his name and the bride made her mark.
Witnesses - Will[?] Saddington, Sarah x Saddington

3.
Parish Church of St Alkmund, Derby
No. 469
December 25 1878
Arthur Saddington, 22, Bachelor, Iron Moulder, Upper Brook Street Derby, James Saddington, Tanner
Kate Hind, 24, Spinster, Mill Hand, Upper Brook Street Derby, Thomas Hind, Iron Moulder
After Banns
Both the bride and groom signed their names.
Witnesses - John T Brailsford, Elizabeth Alice Hind

4.
Parish Church of Christchurch, Derby
No. 476
June 18 1904
John Saddington, 24, Bachelor, Clerk, 7 Webster Street Derby, George Saddington, Porter
Elizabeth Kemp, 24, Spinster, -, 83 Devonshire Street Derby, Charles Kemp, Deceased
After Banns
Both bride and groom signed their names.
Witnesses - John Kemp, Ida Kemp

If any of these marriages feature in your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Just a quick one to say that I have filled in part of one of the gaps currently to be found in Lewis Saddington's dodgy career.

On doing a general search for Saddingtons in the Online Catalogue of Kent Archives Service, I discovered our friend Lewis misbehaving in Canterbury.

The index to the judicial records in the Canterbury Cathedral Archives shows that on 7 December 1882, Lewis was up before the Court of Summary Jurisdiction and was convicted on two counts as follows:

James Taylor and Bryan Louis Saddington, St Alphege: assaulting William Neville Jeffries. Each fined 5s plus 3s 9d costs payable forthwith. If in default of payment, 7 days hard labour in HMP St Augustine's, Canterbury.

Bryan Louis Saddington: assaulting PC Edgar Hawkes a police officer in the execution of his duty as a constable of the City of Canterbury Watch. Fined 10s plus 6s 6d costs payable forthwith. If in default of payment, 14 days hard labour in HMP St Augustine's, Canterbury.

My best imperial arithmetic brings Lewis' total fine to £1 5s 3d. According to the Measuring Worth website, in 2008 terms, this would be £94.74 [using the retail price index] or £662.05 [using average earnings]. Either way, not an insignificant sum. Lewis may well have preferred to do 21 days hard labour, rather than try and find that amount of money.

So what else did our black sheep Saddington get up to during his life? It will be interesting to find out.

If Lewis is one of your Saddingtons, or if you come across him in your research, please do get in touch.

Courtesy of Sue Horsman's Derby Marriage Challenge, this post contains details of further Saddington marriages which took place in the Derby Registration District.

In the Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Derby:

No. 68
January 25 1879
George Saddington, 24, Bachelor, Ticket examiner, Derby, John Saddington, Framework Knitter
Margaret Annie Bowen, 21, Spinster, -, Derby, Thomas Bowen, Joiner
After banns
Both bride and groom signed their names.
Witnesses - Robert Blood, Harriet Blood

In the Parish Church of St Luke, Derby:

No. 351
November 6 1892
Frederick Saddington, 23, Bachelor, Butcher, Appleby, Derbys, Henry Saddington, Butcher
Jessie Ward, 20, Spinster, -, 17 Crosby[?] Street, James Ward, Farmer
By Licence
Both bride and groom signed their names.
Witnesses - Samuel Banks, Eliza Banks

In the Parish Church of St Chad, Derby:

No. 386
August 30 1902
Frank Saddington, 24, Bachelor, Shunter, 43 Vale Street, John Saddington, Labourer
Alice Jemima Bloor, 21, Spinster, -, 17 Mill Hill Road, George Bloor, Blacksmith
After banns
Both bride and groom signed their names.
Witnesses - Albert Tharme, Ealand Tharme

In the Parish Church of St Paul, Derby:

No. 206
June 2 1906
George Smith, 27, Bachelor, Waggon Builder, 42 Colombell Street, William Holt Smith, Waggon Builder
Lucy Saddington, 22, Spinster, -, 10 Roman Road, Arthur Saddington, Moulder
After banns
Both bride and groom signed their names.
Witnesses - Arthur Saddington, Jane Saddington, Willons Charles Wright, Elizabeth Holt Smith

Subsequently, the locations of six other Saddington marriages have also been discovered, together with the names of their respective spouses, as follows:

December quarter 1853 - Thomas Saddington married Susannah Sporway at the Derby Register Office.

December quarter 1864 - William Saddington married Sarah Wild at the Derby Register Office.

December quarter 1869 - James Saddington married Emma Shephard at the London Road Methodist New Connection.

December quarter 1877 - Henry William Herdman married Mary Saddington at the Derby Register Office.

September quarter 1888 - George Henry Saddington married Elizabeth Meller at the Babington Lane Swedenburg Chapel.

June quarter 1903 - Henry Frederick Rankin married Mary Saddington at the Derby Register Office.

If any of these happy couples feature in your family tree, please do let me know.

When you commit yourself to a One Name Study, you commit yourself to collecting all instances of that surname. It doesn't matter whether the person concerned was born with the surname that you are collecting, whether they acquired it by marriage or whether they chose to use it instead of the one that they were born with - you must collect the reference to the surname.

Walter Frederick Saddington, the subject of this post, is an example of the third option - someone who chose to use the surname Saddington instead of the one that he was born with.

He was born Walter Frederick Needham in Oakham, Rutland. His birth was registered in the March quarter of 1866, and his mother was Adaeliza Needham, a daughter of John and Sarah Needham of Egleton, Rutland. She was baptised on 12 June 1847, so was about 19 at the time of Walter's birth.

In the December quarter of 1869, Adaeliza married John Saddington in the Oakham Registration District. According to the 1871 census, by which time the little family had moved to Lowdham in Nottinghamshire and Walter is enumerated as a Saddington, John was born circa 1850 in Market Overton, Rutland and was employed as a railway porter. He may be the son of Henry and Sarah Saddington of Market Overton, Rutland, but as yet I cannot prove this.

Unfortunately, the marriage did not last long. Although I have yet to find a probable death reference, it appears that John Saddington died at some point before 13 July 1880, when his widow remarried at St John's Parish Church, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

No. 78 - July 13 1880
Charles Dunkling, 32, Bachelor, Tallow chandler, Back Lane West, Simeon Dunkling, Labourer
Addaeliza Saddington, 31, Widow, -, Back Lane West, John Leedham, Labourer
After banns by me, Cecil G Paget

Charles Dunkling
Addaeliza Saddington

Witnesses - Sybilla Newson[?], William Henry Draycott x his mark

In the 1881 census, the newly formed family were living at 17 Clumber Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Walter is enumerated as Walter Fk Dunkling, Son in law, Unm, 15, Printer Apprentice, Rutland, Oakham. So he is now on his third surname.

However Walter does not appear to have been too keen on the new situation. On 20 October 1883, aged 18 years and 10 months, and describing himself as a "clerk", Walter enlisted at Derby in the Derby Regiment under the name of Walter Saddington. He appears to have remained a Saddington for the rest of his life. His next of kin is listed as Elizabeth Dunkling, Mother, 17 Clumber Street, Mansfield.

Based on his pension records, Walter appears to have served with the 2nd Battalion of what was then known as The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment). He served in the East Indies (presumably India) twice and in Malta. On 30 September 1894, he married Hellena Fitzgerald at the Wesleyan Chapel in Umballa, Bengal, India. It appears that they had two children who died in India, but I know nothing more about them at the moment.

Walter and Hellena were back in England before October 1904, as their son, Frederick, was born on 24 October in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, and was then baptised in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Southwell on 12 December 1904. Their daughter, Eveline, was also born in Southwell on 4 April 1906, being baptised in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on 30 April 1906.

In the 1911 census, the family are living on Westgate, Southwell. Walter's occupation is given as 'Colour Sergeant His Majesty's Army, Instructor to Territorials'. The census also confirms that Walter and Hellena had had four children, two of whom had died.

Walter retired from the Army on 31 December 1912, having served for 29 years and 73 days. However, he re-enlisted the next day (1 January 1913) in the 8th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) for 'promotion forthwith to the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant, Service in the United Kingdon only'. The 8th Battalion was a Territorial Battalion, so I assume that he carried on with the training work that he had been doing previously. He was then living at 26 Crown Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Walter remained in the Territorial Army for another couple of years, before being discharged on 24 March 1915 under King's Regulations 392 (XXV) - whatever that means (if anyone can tell me, I would be grateful). By this time, the First World War was raging and a good soldier was going to do his bit as long as he could. A couple of months later, on 28 May 1915, Walter re-enlisted again, this time in London.

Walter spent the rest of the war in the Army, working as a storeman, before being discharged for the final time on 30 December 1919 due to cardiac debility and vertigo at the age of 53. He then returned to his home in Newark.

Having already lost two children in infancy, Walter and Hellena must have been devastated when their son, Frederick, died on 6 March 1927 at East Stoke, Nottinghamshire, at the age of 22. As yet, I do not know the cause of death. The family was then living at 14 Crown Street, Newark, and letters of administration were granted to Walter at Nottingham on 18 May 1927 in which he is described as an Army Pensioner.

Walter was obviously still closely connected with his old Battalion as the Letter of Administration lists his sureties as being 'Horace Leslie Brockbank Mills of the Drill Hall Newark aforesaid Captain and Adjutant 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters T.A. and Albert Coltman Grimwood of the Drill Hall aforesaid Lieutenant and Quartermaster 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters T.A.'.

After Frederick's death, I currently have no further definite information about this Saddington family. I believe that his sister, Eveline, may have married in the Holborn Registration District of London in the December quarter of 1938, possibly to a Mr Ballard.

If you have any further information about Walter Frederick Saddington or his family, I would be delighted to hear from you.

These three marriages come to you courtesy of Howard Benbrook's Shoreditch Marriage Challenge.

1) Parish Church of St Mary, Haggerston Road, Shoreditch

No. 357
Aug 3rd 1863
William Saddington, 22, Bachelor, Groom, 21 Kent Street, William Saddington, Groom
Ellen Connolley, 21, Spinster, -, 21 Kent Street, Michael Connolley (dec), Labourer
After banns by me, Geo. Morris
Signed: William Saddington, Ellen Connolley x her mark
Witnesses: John David King, Sarah Ann Stanborough x her mark

2) Parish Church of St Mary, Haggerston Road, Shoreditch

No. 481
Jan 3rd 1871
Edward Bell, full, Bachelor, Schoolmaster, 19 Brownlow Road, Robert Bell (dec), Civil Service
Eliza Saddington, full, Spinster, -, 19 Brownlow Road, William Saddington (dec), Shopkeeper
After banns, by me Sidney S. Browne
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: Henry Woodley, Elizabeth Jarvis

3) Parish of St Chad, Nichols Square, Haggerston

No. 11
Oct 24 1872
John Douglas, 24, Bachelor, Clerk, 17 Huntingdon Street, George Douglas, Butcher
Elizabeth Saddington, 22, Spinster, -, 88 Cowley Road, Brixton, James Saddington, Tailor
After banns by me, Edwd. H Flynn
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: Robert Chignell Bostock Jr., Jane Saddington

If any of these couples belong to your family tree, please do get in touch.

The following 15 marriages come to you courtesy of Peter Copsey's West Ham Marriage Challenge. I hope to be able to expand further on some of them in future posts.

1) Parish Church of All Saints, West Ham

No. 84
February 16 1857
James Gladman, 37, Widower, Pork Butcher, West Ham, John Gladman, Pork Butcher
Frances Saddington, 41, Widow, -, West Ham, George Cooper, Foreman
After banns by me, A. F. Raine, Vicar
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: Samuel Calver, Fanny Calver

2) Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Woodford

No. 319
November 16th 1867
George Saddington, years 26, Bachelor, Grocer, Chelsea, Middlesex, Edward Saddington, Deceased
Harriett Blond Fear, years 23, Spinster, -, Woodford, William Fear, Gent [?]
After banns by me, Joseph Clarke, Curate
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: William Fear, Emma Eliza Fear, Mary Ann Mitchell Fear

3) Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Plaistow

No. 270
2 October 1870
Joseph Saddington, full, Bachelor, Blacksmith, 24 Abbey Street, Thomas Saddington, Blacksmith
Sarah Wood, full, Spinster, -, 24 Abbey Street, George Wood, Blacksmith
After banns by me, N.W.B. Marsh
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: George Parry, Elizabeth Coy.. [?]

4) Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Canning Town

No. 23
10th June 1878
Edwin Bennett, 21, Bachelor, Carpenter, 47 Bidder Street, James Bennett (deceased), Carpenter
Priscilla Saddington, 20, Spinster, -, 47 Bidder Street, William Saddington, Blacksmith
After banns by me, George Soden
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: William Saddington, Emma Saddington

5) Parish Church of St Luke, Victoria Docks

No. 208
March 28 1880
David Saddington, 23, Bachelor, Gas fitter, 37 Vincent Street, William Saddington, Blacksmith
Elizabeth Haley, 21, Spinster, -, 37 Vincent Street, John Haley, Labourer
After banns by me, H. S. Brooks, Curate
Signed: Elizabeth Haley, Elizabeth Haley's x mark [don't know what happened to groom's signature]
Witnesses: Henery Goodchild, Emma Saddington

6) Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Canning Town

No. 183
18th July 1880
James Henry Goodchild, 23, Bachelor, Lighterman, 23 Hermit Street, Charles Goodchild (deceased), Lighterman
Emma Saddington, 19, Spinster, -, 1 Hampden Villas, William Saddington, Blacksmith
After banns by me, L. M. Dalton
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: Edwin Bennett, Priscilla Bennett

7) Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Plaistow

No. 424
August 17th 1885
Harry Saddington, 21, Bachelor, Planer, Plaistow, William Saddington, Blacksmith
Mary Morison, 20, Spinster, -, Plaistow, George Morison, Clerk
After bannns by me, A. StLege Westall
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: Alice Morison, Annie Morison

8) Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Plaistow

No. 420
September 1st 1889
William Saddington, 23, Bachelor, Engineer, 5 Avenons Road, Barking Road, William Saddington, Blacksmith
Elizabeth Allen, 21, Spinster, -, 52 Newman Road, James Allen, Stoker
After banns by me, Richard H O'Reilly
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: Thomas William Mason, Agnes Saddington

9) Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Plaistow

No. 450
December 25th 1889
Thomas William Mason, 26, Bachelor, Lighterman, 336 Barking Road, Thomas James Mason, Lighterman
Agnes Saddington, 19, Spinster, -, 5 Avenons Road, William Saddington, Blacksmith
After banns by me, Richard H. O'Reilly
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: William Saddington, Ada Saddington

10) Parish Church of All Saints, West Ham

No. 244
March 20th 1890
Simeon Cundy, 36, Bachelor, Manager, Prince Regent Lane, Isaac Cundy (deceased), Coal Merchant
Elizabeth Ann Saddington, 28, Spinster, -, 14 Baron Road, John Saddington, Blacksmith
After banns by me, John I Mitchell
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: John Saddington, Clara Saddington

11) Parish Church of All Saints, West Ham

No. 33
25th Dec 1890
Robert Henry Whitaker, 29, Bachelor, Engineer, 30 Parker Street, Thomas Whitaker, Engineer
Clara Jane Saddington, 26, Spinster, -, 14 Baron Road, John Saddington, Blacksmith
After banns by me, Deans Cowan
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: John Saddington, Jane Saddington

12) Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Plaistow

No. 422
October 8th 1892
John George Saddington, 30, Bachelor, Carpenter, 14 Baron Road, John Saddington, Blacksmith
Bessie Allen, 27, Spinster, -, 42 Ordnance Road, John Allen (deceased), Saddler
After banns by me, C. Pierrepoint Edwards
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: John Saddington, Rosa Crush, Janice McBride

13) Parish Church of All Saints, West Ham

No. 331
May 3rd 1896
James Henry Holdgate, 50, Widower, Labourer, 19 Beaconsfield, Henry Holdgate (Deceased), Bricklayer
Sarah Saddington, 49, Widow, -, 18 Liverpool Road, George Wood (Deceased), Blacksmith
After banns by me, W. R. Morrow
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: S. Brenster, Eleanor Brenster

14) Parish Church of All Saints, West Ham

No. 331
Septr 5th 1897
John Thomas Moore, 26, Bachelor, Lighterman, 42 Amelia Street, Thomas Wormsley Moore, Chemical Worker
Sarah Jane Saddington, 20, Spinster, -, 14 Baron Road, John Saddington, Blacksmith
After banns by me, Henry G. W. Cooper
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: John Saddington, Grace Maud Saddington

15) Parish Church of St Thomas, West Ham

No. 138
June 18 1899
William Saddington, 20, Bachelor, Fireman, 35 Langehorne Street, Richard Saddington, Labourer
Florence Archer, 18, Spinster, -, 37 Langehorne Street, George Archer (Decd), Bricklayer
After banns by me, J. W. Eisdell, Vicar
Both bride and groom signed.
Witnesses: Emily Gardiner, E. Bewick [?]

If any of these couples belong in your family tree, please do get in touch.

This post comes courtesy of Ebay and the National Gas Archive.

Last month I was fortunate enough to be the successful bidder for this little gem, which is the size of a 2p. It is a long service award presented by the South Eastern Gas Board. On the back, the inscription reads "For 40 years faithful service. Awarded to T.G. Saddington 1922-1962".

A little research on Wikipedia informed me that the South Eastern Gas Board was created in 1948 when the UK gas industry was nationalised, and that it was formed from a number of privately owned and municipal gas companies in the area covering Kent, and parts of the administrative County of London and of Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex. So prior to 1948, T.G. Saddington must have worked for one of these privately owned or municipal gas companies.

I got in touch with the National Gas Archive to find out if they had any information on T.G. Saddington. The archivist there could only find one reference to him, but that reference was directly related to the little badge that I had won. It was a double spread article in the February 1963 issue of the SE Gas magazine, headed "Forty years behind all these men...", and it listed all the men who had received long service awards. It also gave the area in which they worked and their job title. So under Eltham, there was a reference to Thomas G. Saddington, district fitting foreman. The article also had photographs taken at the banquet that had obviously been given as part of the award presentations, and there, referred to as one of "four from Greenwich and Woolwich district" was Mr T.G. Saddington and his wife. Unfortunately he is sat slightly behind another award recipient, so it is not a very good picture of him. (I only have this in pdf format, but would be happy to forward it to any interested party.)

So now I knew that his first name was Thomas and that he had worked in the South London area for possibly as many as 40 years. If, as seems likely, he had worked in the gas industry for his whole career, beginnng in 1922, he was probably somewhere between 14 and 18 at the time he started work. This meant searching for a suitable birth between 1904 and 1908, but I widened the search to the period 1900 to 1910 to cover all eventualities. I found two possibilities - a Thomas George born in the Lewisham registration district in the June quarter of 1904 and a Thomas George born in the Wandsworth registration district in the March quarter of 1906. In 1922, they would have been 18 and 16 respectively.

In order to try and find out a bit more about these two Thomases, I searched the 1911 census, when they would have been 7 and 6 respectively. Unfortunately I have only managed to locate someone who I believe to be the 1906 Thomas George Saddington. The 1904 Thomas George is as yet unfound.

The presumed 1906 Thomas George is living at 28 Arden Street, Battersea, London SW. He is living with his parents, John Henry Saddington, age 46, a potman in a public house, born in Northampton, and his mother, Clara, age 41, born in Clapham, London. His parents have been married for 22 years [FreeBMD states that John Henry Saddington married Clara Frances Randall in the September quarter of 1889 in the Wandsworth registration district]. The marriage has produced 8 children, 6 of whom are still living, and all of whom are listed on the 1911 census.

The children are John Henry G., age 20, a manufacturer's clerk, born in Clapham; Gladys, age 18, a book folder in a printer's, born in Battersea; Frederick, age 15, a house painter's assistant, born in Battersea; James, age 12, at school, born in Battersea; Albert, age 10, at school, born in Battersea; and Thomas, age 5, at school and born in Battersea.

These eight people shared four rooms, not including any scullery, landing, lobby, closet, or bathroom. It did include the kitchen, so the house might have contained a kitchen, a living room and two bedrooms. This would have presented some problems with five sons (two at work, and three at school) and an adult daughter to accommodate. It is likely that, if there was a living room, that it would also have been used for sleeping as well.

Having checked the Charles Booth poverty map of London for 1898/99, it seems that Arden Street ten years or so previously had been classified as "Purple - Mixed. Some comfortable, others poor." With four wages coming into the house, the family might have been quite comfortable despite the cramped quarters.

A quick check of the 1881 census finds John Henry Saddington, the father, living at 33 Castle Street, Northampton, described as a provision shop. He is aged 16, described as a confectioner, and living with his elder sister, Eliza, age 18, a tailoress, and his younger brother, James Bronham [James Brown, born 1868], age 12, a laborer. The relationships are a bit odd here. Eliza is enumerated as Daur (Head), John as Son (Bro) and James as Son (Bro), which seems to indicate that there is a parent somewhere in the offing.

There is still a lot of research to be done on Thomas George Saddington and his family. However, if he is a member of your family tree, I would be delighted to hear from you.

A couple of new pieces of information about our Lewis - I'm really quite fond of him now.

I bought a batch of certificates the night before the prices went up, and one of them was Lewis' birth certificate. So, having had the end of Lewis' life in a previous update, here is the start.

He was born on 27 September 1860 at Market Place, Wantage. His parents were William Saddington and Jane (nee Cox). William was an innkeeper. The birth was registered by Jane on 22 October 1860.

The place of birth corresponds with the 1861 census when the family were living at the "Crown Inn", Market Place, Wantage.

Having looked into his parents' marriage, according to the IGI, there is a marriage of a William Saddington and a Jane Cox on 24 June 1846 at Old Church, St Pancras, London. This corresponds with the only entry for a William Saddington/Jane Cox marriage on FreeBMD, which is for the June quarter of 1846 in the St Pancras registration district. However, without further information, I cannot be certain that this is the right marriage and so it will remain a possibility for the time being.

The other new piece of information relating to our Lewis comes from the Chelsea Pension records that are now on line at Findmypast.

He enlisted into the Army as Bryan Lewis Saddington at Canterbury on 11 November 1881. [I don't know yet when he was released from Holloway Prison which is where he had been for the 1881 census held on 3 April.]

Lewis said that he was born in Wantage, Berkshire, was 20 on his last birthday and was an ostler by trade. He enlisted for "General Services Cavalry" and was appointed to the 9th Lancers. His regimental number was 2194.

He is described as being 5 foot 7 1/4 inches tall, weighing 143lb, and with a chest measurement of 34 1/2 inches. He had reddish brown hair, brown eyes, a fresh complexion and scars on both knees. Lewis had been vaccinated in his childhood and had two vaccination scars on each arm. Nevertheless the Army revaccinated him on 22 November 1881.

Lewis' service record shows that he was stationed at "Home" (meaning England, Scotland and Ireland) between 11 November 1881 and 31 December 1882. Between 1 January 1883 and 22 November 1885, he was stationed in the East Indies. And then between 23 November 1885 and 14 August 1889, he was stationed at "Home" again, after which he was released from the regular Army and was a member of the Army Reserve from 15 August 1887 to 10 November 1893. He was then discharged from any form of Army service as of 10 November 1893.

During his Army service, Lewis had a number of medical problems. Whilst stationed in Canterbury, he had an ulcer at the end of 1881 and a sore throat in June 1882. He was sent to India on 31 January 1883 and was being treated for orchitis caused by gonorrhea at Umballa in late February/early March of that year. He had another longer bout of orchitis at Rasauli [sp?] in August/September 1883. He suffered a contusion of the foot following an accident in the gymnasium at Umballa in January 1884. He was then sent to Rasauli [sp?] Hill Depot for a change of air in August 1884.

Lewis seems to have remained healthy for the remainder of his time in India, boarding HMS Crocodile for the journey home on 28 October 1885. He arrived back in Shorncliffe, Kent on 24 November 1885, where he appears to have remained until 21 August 1886, when he was posted to York for the last part of his service in the regular Army.

General remarks regarding his habits, conduct etc were "Regular, Fair, Temperate". His character on being passed to the Army Reserve was described as "Fair".

Lewis spent 5 years 277 days in the Army and a further 6 years 88 days in the Reserve. The whole of the 5 years 277 days in the Army counted towards his Good Conduct pay and 5 years 263 days counted towards his pension.

So where do his convictions for assault in Canterbury in December 1882 come in? He would have been in the Army for about a year by then - surely assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty is not Good Conduct! However, other than that, he seems either to have behaved himself whilst in the Army, or they didn't catch him when he misbehaved!

Still more research needed, methinks! If Lewis belongs to your branch of the family, please do get in touch.

I am now in the process of putting on-line some of the basic information that I have regarding the Saddington name.

The information can be accessed here - Saddington Archive.

I will be adding to the information available on a regular basis and intend to put updates on this blog. Currently the archive holds GRO index details for Saddington marriages between 1837 and 1860. It also indicates whether I have any further details regarding a particular marriage.

Please note that you will have to register to view the contents of the archive, but this is only for the purpose of keeping out spammers and data miners. Your details will not be passed on to anyone else.

I hope that you will find the archive of use in your research.

Many thanks to David Barrall who has kindly provided me with a whole wodge of Saddington marriages courtesy of his Thrapston Registration District Marriage Challenge.

Thrapston itself is in Northamptonshire on the A14 between Kettering and Huntingdon, and the Registration District covers the area around it.

As there are 30 marriages to list, I will only give the place, date, names of bride and groom, and their fathers' names. If you would like further information, just get in touch

Parish Church of St James, Thrapston
22 December 1842
Samuel Manning, son of Henry Manning, and Ann Saddington, daughter of Robert Saddington

Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Woodford
6 May 1844
James Saddington, son of Joseph Saddington, and Mary Abbott, daughter of John Abbott

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
13 September 1847
Obed Saddington, son of John Saddington, and Eunice Marriott, daughter of Saml. Marriott

Parish Church of St Mary, Ringstead
19 August 1849
Jonathan Saddington, son of John Saddington, and Harriet Coward, daughter of William Coward

Parish Church of St Peter, Raunds
25 December 1849
William Saddington, son of John Saddington, and Hannah Harrison, daughter of Thomas Harrison

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
13 October 1851
Job Major, son of John Major, and Lois Saddington, daughter of John Saddington

Parish Church of St Peter, Raunds
10 August 1856
James Bars, son of William Bars, and Elizabeth Saddington, daughter of John Saddington

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
[no date given] 1857
John Saddington, son of John Saddington, and Elizabeth Hannah Wakefield, daughter of William Wakefield

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
27 January 1858
Stephen Fensom, son of John Fensom, and Charlotte Ann Saddington, daughter of John Saddington

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
13 July 1858
William Pearson, son of William Pearson, and Mary Ann Saddington, daughter of John Saddington

Parish Church of St Peter, Raunds
13 September 1858
Thomas Knight, son of John Knight, and Mary Saddington, daughter of Samuel Saddington

Parish Church of St Mary, Ringstead
15 November 1860
Henry Smith, son of William Smith, and Sarah Saddington, daughter of Samuel Saddington

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
28 July 1862
Henry Kettle, son of William Kettle, and Elizabeth Sadington, daughter of James Saddington

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
24 March 1864
Benjamin Starmore, son of John Starmore, and Elizabeth Ann Saddington, daughter of John Saddington

Parish Church of St Peter, Raunds
1 December 1867
Joseph Burton Saddington, son of Samuel Saddington, and Mary Emma Beeby, daughter of William Beeby

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
24 December 1879
John William Saddington, son of John Saddington, and Hepzibah Mayes, daughter of Williams Mayes

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
16 October 1882
George Saddington, son of John Saddington, and Harriet Smith, daughter of Henry Smith

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
12 October 1885
James Burton Oliver, son of Arthur Oliver, and Mary Jane Saddington, daughter of John Saddington

Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Titchmarsh
15 October 1891
John Saddington, son of John Saddington, and Sarah Ann Alderman, daughter of James Alderman

Parish Church of St Peter, Raunds
16 April 1892
Samuel Saddington, son of Joseph Saddington, and Naomi Lynes, daughter of Thomas Lynes

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
26 March 1894
Albert William Smith, son of Frederick Smith, and Elizabeth Annie Saddington, daughter of John Saddington

Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Denford
24 July 1894
Charles Robinson, son of George Robinson, and Annie Saddington, daughter of John Saddington

Parish Church of All Saints, Hargrave
5 August 1895
George Saddington, son of John Saddington, and Sarah Jane Pettit, daughter of (deceased)

Parish Church of St Peter, Raunds
23 May 1896
Joseph Saddington, son of Joseph Saddington, and Flora Smith, daughter of Alfred Smith

Parish Church of St Peter, Raunds
13 June 1896
Alfred Attley, son of George Attley, and Elizabeth Ann Saddington, daughter of Joseph Saddington

Parish Church of St Peter, Raunds
28 September 1896
Arthur Bugby, son of Lewis Bugby, and Mary Ann Saddington, daughter of James Saddington

Parish Church of St Peter, Raunds
24 December 1898
Francis Frank Tidbury, son of Samuel Mitchell (deceased), and Sarah Lucy Saddington, daughter of Joseph Saddington

Parish Church of St James, Thrapston
24 June 1900
Harry Saddington, son of Solomon Saddington, and Bertha Hodby, daughter of Joseph Hodby

Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Woodford
24 December 1900
John James Saddington, son of George Saddington, and Florence Elizabeth Hawkins, daughter of William Hawkins

Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Chelveston
14 December 1908
William Saddington, son of Joseph Saddington, and Amelia Hollyoak, daughter of George Sparks

If any of these happy couples belong in your family tree, please do get in touch.

This post comes to you courtesy of Google, without which I may never have come across the Great Explosion at Faversham, Kent which took the life of the subject of this post.

Charles Joseph Saddington was born in Margate in the December quarter of 1870, the second son of Charles Saddington and Ann Long.

The family appears on the 1871 census at 2 Wheatleys Place, Margate, but under the name of Long. This is, I believe, because Charles and Ann are not yet legally married despite having registered their three existing children under the name Saddington.

In 1871, Charles Long (otherwise Saddington) is enumerated as a 36 year old bricklayer born in Oundle, Northants (where many Saddingtons can be found). Ann Long is enumerated as a 33 year old laundress born in Reading Street, Kent. The children were enumerated as Susannah and Louisa, aged 11 and 9, both scholars and born in Lambeth, London, [probably Ann Long's daughters by a previous relationship as they are registered as Long] and Mary A, age 4, John, age 2, and Charles, age 5 months, all born in Margate, Kent and the elder two being scholars.

A second daughter, Elizabeth Jane, was born in the December quarter of 1872 in Margate.

It may be that Charles and Ann were waiting for Ann's previous husband to die or otherwise disappear as they did not marry until the June quarter of 1873, possibly at St Laurence in Thanet, Margate.

The now legalised family was increased by the birth of Isaac Robert in the September quarter of 1875 and Ellen in the June quarter of 1878, both in the Thanet Registration District.

Then tragedy struck. Charles Saddington died in the March quarter of 1881, apparently aged 48. The date of death can be narrowed down to being before 3 April 1881 because Ann Saddington appears on the 1881 census held on that date as a widow.

In 1881, the Saddington family were living at 73 Dane Road, Margate. Ann was enumerated as a 46 year old widow, working as a laundress. Living with her was her son, William Long (presumably from the same relationship as Susannah and Louisa), aged 23 and a fisherman born in Lambeth. All six of the children from her relationship with Charles Saddington were also living with her from Mary, now aged 14 and a general servant, through to Ellen (enumerated as Nelly) age 2. Also lodging with the family was one Ellen L Raymond, a 47 year old single woman born in Gloucester who was living on the income from an allowance.

By the 1891 census, the family had moved on, back to Lambeth. Ann Saddington, now a 52 year old widow working as a 'washer', was sharing 3 rooms at 1 Neptune Cottages, Lambeth, with her three sons, John (a bus conductor, age 22), Charles (a waiter, age 20) and Isaac (enumerated as Robert, a van boy, age 16), and two of her daughters, Mary (an ironer, age 24) and Elizabeth (an ironer, age 19). What has happened to Ellen/Nelly, as yet I do not know.

I have been unable to locate Charles Joseph Saddington in the 1901 census as yet, and there is the possibility that he might be overseas, perhaps fighting in the Boer War in South Africa.

However, by the June quarter of 1906, he has reappeared and proceeds to marry Susan Gibbs in the Steyning Registration District. This is none too soon as their first child, Susan Annie E Saddington, is born in the December quarter of 1906, again in the Steyning Registration District. A son, Charles Joseph, follows in the September quarter of 1908, this time in the Brighton Registration District.

There was obviously something about Lambeth which attracted this branch of the Saddington family because the 1911 census finds Charles Joseph and his family living at 2a Wheatsheaf Lane, South Lambeth. Charles is enumerated as a 36 year old laundryman, married for 6 years with both children of the marriage still living. Susan is enumerated as aged 30 and born in Canterbury, Kent.

The evidence seems to show that Charles Joseph and Susan had two more children whilst living in Lambeth; Kathleen L, born in the March quarter of 1912, and William F, born in the September quarter of 1914.

At some point after the birth of William, the family moved back to Margate and Charles Joseph got a job at the Explosive Loading Company's factory at Uplees near Faversham, about 27 miles away.

At 2.20pm, on Sunday 2 April 1916, some empty sacks caught fire at the factory, resulting in the explosion of 15 tons of TNT and 150 tons of ammonium nitrate. The explosion was so huge that it shattered windows in Southend on the other side of the Thames and the tremor could be felt in Norwich. Details can be found on a number of websites including Faversham's own website, the Kent section of the Roll of Honour website, and Wikipedia amongst others.

The death toll totalled 109 men and boys, including the whole of the Works Fire Brigade and Charles Joseph Saddington. The female members of the factory's workforce was saved by the fact that it was Sunday and women were not permitted to work the Sunday shifts.

Charles Joseph Saddington's body could not be identified following the explosion and so he has no death certificate. Whatever was found of him was buried in a mass grave on 6 April 1916 at the Faversham Borough Cemetery. He is named on the grave as J. Saddington because, as stated in his obituary in the Isle of Thanet Gazette of 22 April 1916, he was generally known as 'Joe'.

According to John Breeze's "Faversham Explosives Personnel Register 1841 - 1934,Part 3: S-Z", he is however listed on the Margate War Memorial as "C.J. Saddington, killed in Faversham munitions explosion".

At the time of Charles Joseph's death, the family were living at 205 High Street, Margate. What happened to them after his death, I am not yet sure. But if you are descended from Charles Joseph Saddington or any of his siblings, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Tonight's post comes courtesy of Peter Copsey and his Romford Marriage Challenge.

1) Parish Church of St Margaret, Barking, Essex

No.89
May 20th 1872
George Bacon, 20, Bachelor, Labourer, Barking, George Bacon, Labourer
Elizabeth Saddington, 20, Spinster, -, Barking, Obed Saddington, Labourer
After Banns by me, John Reginald Beckett
George Bacon
Elizabeth Saddington x her mark
Witnesses - Tom Lambert, Sarah Anne Bailey x her mark

This bride in this marriage is believed to be Sabina Elizabeth, born circa 1853 at Tilbrook, Bedfordshire, daughter of Obed Saddington and Eunice Marriott.

2) Parish Church of St Mary, Great Ilford, Essex

No. 389
July 30th 1882
George Saddington, 20, Bachelor, Labourer, Gt Ilford, Frances [sic] Saddington, Labourer
Mary Elizabeth Cummins, 20, Spinster, -, Gt Ilford, William Cummins, Labourer
After Banns by me H.B.Barnes
G.Saddington
X The mark of Mary Elizabeth Cummins
Witnesses - x the mark of William Boxall, x the mark of Mary Ann Boxall

3) Parish Church of St Mary, Great Ilford, Essex

No. 472
Decr 23rd 1883
William Saddington, 23, Bachelor, Labourer, Gt Ilford, William Saddington, Labourer
Margaret Ronan, 18, Spinster, -, Gt Ilford, Patrick Ronan, Labourer
After Banns by me H.B.Barnes
X The mark of William Saddington
X The mark of Margaret Ronan
Witnesses - William Fisher, x the mark of Rebecca Fisher

4) Parish Church of St Mary, Great Ilford, Essex

No. 267
Jany 27th 1901
George Ambrose Saddington, 19, Bachelor, Labourer, 25 Oaklands Park, Ilford, George Saddington, Labourer
Alice Maud Elizabeth Appleford, 18, Spinster, -, 25 Oaklands Road,Ilford, Charles Appleford, Labourer
After Banns by me Arthur G.Evans
George Ambrose Saddington
Alice Maud Elizabeth Appleford
Witnesses - x the mark of Edward Langstead, x the mark of Maria Elizabeth Saddington

5) Parish Church of St Margaret, Barking, Essex

No. 427
Tenth April 1909
George Cooper Saddington, 40, Bachelor, Solicitor's Clerk, 16 Cavendish Street, St Albans, George Saddington, Gentleman
Elizabeth Jane Beszant, 25, Spinster, -, 17 St Pauls Road, Frederick Beszant, Carriage Builder
G.C.Saddington
Elizabeth Jane Beszant
Witnesses - E.J.Saddington, Marguerite E.Harding

This marriage relates to an earlier post regarding Saddingtons in St Albans. The first witness is believed to be the groom's brother, Ernest John Saddington (1874-1958).

If any of these couples belong on your family tree, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The last post of 2010 comes courtesy of Tracy Barrall's Potterspury Registration District Marriage Challenge.

Potterspury Registration District lies in the area between Milton Keynes, Buckingham, Towcester and Northampton to name the biggest towns in the immediate vicinity.

As there are just two marriages to report, I propose to give full details of them.

The first marriage also appears to be the first to be recorded in the parish of Passenham with Deanshanger under the new registration procedure commencing in late 1837.

Marriage solemnized at St Guthlac in the Parish of Passenham with Deanshanger in the County of Northamptonshire

No. 1
5th Oct 1837

James Saddington 21 Single Groom Passenham James Saddington Groom
Pheobe Ayres 26 Single Dairy Maid Passenham - -

Married in the Church of Passenham according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England after Banns by me, L ? Smith

This Marriage was solemnized between us, James Saddington, Phobe Ayres
in the presence of us, George Buckingham, Martha Buckingham

The second marriage took place just under 10 years later.

Marriage solemnized at St Guthlac in the Parish of Passenham with Deanshanger in the County of Northamptonshire

No. 77
5th Apr 1847

George Clarke 25 Bachelor Labourer Deanshanger Thos Clarke Labourer
Mary Ann Sadington 24 Spinster Servant Deanshanger George Sadington Labourer

Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England after Banns, by me ?

This Marriage was solemnized between us, George Clarke x his mark, Mary Ann Sadington x her mark
in the presence of us, William Clarke, Sarah Ann Foxley x her mark

Passenham and Deanshanger are slightly south of the A5 between Towcester and Milton Keynes. As yet I have no further information about the Saddingtons in this area, but would be delighted to hear from anyone who has these people in their family tree.

I send my best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year to everyone who reads this post.

Arthur Saddington was born in Middlesbrough in the June quarter of 1909 (volume 9d, page 552), the eldest child of Penrith Saddington Taylor, commonly known as Penrith Saddington, and his wife, Emily May Roxby. Arthur was the eldest of thirteen children born over a period between 1909 and 1934.

In the 1911 census, Arthur, then nearly 2, and his parents were living at 17 Harewood Street, Middlesbrough, the home of Penrith’s parents, Arthur Charles Saddington and his wife, Hannah (nee Robinson). Also sharing the house were five of Penrith’s brothers and sisters ranging in age from 17 years to 1 year. Penrith was employed as a bricklayer while his father, Arthur, worked as a blast furnace man and the next eldest son at home, Nathan, aged 17, was a butcher.

As we must wait to see the 1921 census, I can only surmise what happened to Arthur over the next twenty years. He grew up in a large family, probably leaving school in his early teens in order to find a job and earn money to support the rest of the family. At some point he decided to become a sailor, a decision which eventually led to his tragic death.

I first learnt about Arthur’s death courtesy of the Gravestone Photographic Resource Project, an on-line international grave monument directory. When I was sent a photo of Arthur’s gravestone, I was intrigued by the inscription written on it. It said that the gravestone was:

“In Loving Memory of
Our Dear Son
Arthur Saddington
Who was accidentally killed
On the SS Dalwhinnie
Dec. 2nd 1931 aged 22 years
Someday we’ll understand.”

I googled the SS Dalwhinnie and discovered that it was a steamship built in Holland in 1919 to carry cargo up and down coastlines. It was originally called the SS Begonia, and was owned by a Norwegian. In 1922 it passed into the hands of T C Steven & Co of Leith and was renamed the SS Dalwhinnie. In 1938 it was sold to Comben Longstaff & Co – Williamstown Shipping of London, and renamed the SS Whintown. Unfortunately it was then sunk in a collision off Great Yarmouth on 7 December 1939.

Having got this far, I emailed my contact in this branch of the Saddington family, who knew about the gravestone but not what had happened to Arthur, and who agreed to do some further research for me.

A search of the local paper, the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, produced the following sad story reported on 3 December 1931.

Tragedy of the Tees
Boro’ Man Falls Into River

An unfortunate drowning tragedy occurred in the River Tees, off Messrs Gjers, Mills and Company’s wharf, about nine o’clock last night. The victim is Arthur Saddington, aged 22, of Palmer-street, Middlesbrough, an able seaman of the crew of the s.s. Dalwhinnie, which was berthed at the wharf.

It appears that Saddington was fixing the gangway from the vessel to the wharf when he overbalanced and fell into the river in the short space between the ship and the wharf. One of his mates on the crew immediately dived to his rescue, but Saddington had completely disappeared from view.

Grappling operations were carried on by members of the crew with the assistance of River Police officers, and after about 20 minutes, his body was recovered. Artificial respiration was tried for some time, but Dr. Hepplethwaite, who had been called to the scene, pronounced life extinct.

The body was conveyed by ambulance to the mortuary.

The member of the crew who showed so much gallantry in diving to his comrade’s rescue was Bo’sun Gatenby. After his futile efforts to trace Saddington he was hauled aboard by other members of the crew.

It is thought that Saddington may have struck his head on the boat or the wharf in his fall, and was rendered unconscious.

The Dalwhinnie have moved from Dent’s Wharf to Gjers’ Wharf at the time of the tragedy.

A tragic accident and a young life lost – no wonder Arthur’s parents had inscribed on his gravestone the words “Someday we’ll understand.”

If you are related to the Middlesbrough branch of the Saddingtons, or have any further information about the SS Dalwhinnie, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Saddingtons of Rochers Head, Bradfield, Yorkshire

Update - Lewis Bryan Saddington, the Habitual Criminal (1860 - 1921)

Elizabeth Saddington (1828 - 1863): Trying to tie up loose ends

Transported to Australia - Saddington convicts

Plush v Saddington - A suit in Chancery

Saddington One Name Study on GenealogyWise

Derby Registration District Marriages - Part 1

Update No. 2 - Lewis Bryan Saddington, the Habitual Criminal

Derby Registration District Marriages - Part 2

Walter Frederick Saddington (circa 1866 - ?)

Saddington Marriages in the Shoreditch Registration District

Saddington Marriages in the West Ham Registration District

40 Years Faithful Service 1922 - 1962: Thomas George Saddington

Update No. 3 - Lewis Bryan Saddington, the Habitual Criminal

Saddington Archive at Guild of One Name Studies website

Saddington Marriages in the Thrapston Registration District

Charles Joseph Saddington (1870 - 1916)

Saddington Marriages in the Romford Registration District

Potterspury Registration District Marriage Challenge

Arthur Saddington 1909-1931