Looking for info on Thomas Sayers - Boxer

[kevlin]

I am looking for information on the personal life of the British Boxing Champion Thomas Sayers b 1826 Pimlico area of Brighton and died 1856 St Pancras. I know all the info on his profession, but there is a lot of confusion on his private life.  I know he was married and had a mistress (divorcee) at the same time and had children by both, but I cannot sort out who was who via the census as both women are listed as wife to Thomas.

Just leaving a message just in case there is someone else who has researched Thomas's muckie private life

Lin

[Jane Masri]

Lin,
Have you found his marriage registration?  That would sort things out for you 

jane

[kevlin]

It's ok - it's a bit complicated - yes I have - first thing you would do Thomas married a Sarah Henderson in 1853 but had two children before on 1850 and 1852. Then by 1861 he was living with a Charlotte and son Peter b 1848 - states Charlotte as wife - Then Thomas pops his clogs in 1865 - not surprising.

Lin

[Jane Masri]

You said Thomas had 2 children before his marriage to sarah, do you mean with sarah so they were registered in the name Henderson?  Did you find sarah in 1861? just to make sure she hadn't died & Thomas legitimately married Charlotte.  Also in what name was Peter registered?

jane

[kevlin]

In 1861 whilst Thomas was with Charlotte, Sarah was living with a James Aldridge plus their son James Aldridge b 1860 - Sarah married James in 1868. As for Charlotte, by 1871 she was living with a Willam Olrod and still living with him in 1881. The two illegitimate children where registered as Henderson, but Thomas was totally devoted to them. Children of Charlotte and James were illegtimate and took the name Aldridge-Sayers.  Now Peter is a different story - He was illegitimate - seems to be the norm, but in 1851 he is listed as Peter Powell living with Charlotte and a John Sayers (John might have been mis transcribed. Anyway Peter's relation to head of household (Tom/John) was cousin ?  On reading some detailed stories on Tom Sayers the writer states that Tom had illegitimate children with Sarah Powell before he married her, but it definitely states Henderson on BMD so is there a third woman who had a Peter Powell or did the transcriber get Peters name wrong?

Are we now confused? This is why I am trying to find someone else who knows about Tom Sayers private life. Forgot to mention - Peter took the Sayers surname.

Lin

[Jane Masri]

Wow, what a tangled web we weave    or at least Thomas did!
I did a Google search for Tom Sayers (as I'm sure you have) & greatly enjoyed these two sites

http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/tom_sayers_history.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Sayers

I wondered, did he leave a will?  There might be a few insights into his private life if there was one.

jane

[kevlin]

Hi Jane

Did not think about a will - I'll have a rummage in national archives - great thinking batman

Must admit he seemed a bit of a ladies man.

Thanks for reading and the suggestion on the will.

ttfn
take care
Lin

[sillgen]

I had a look at the image of the 1851.  It quite clearly says John Sayers.  He is a bricklayer age 28 with wife Charlotte 26 and Peter age 3 - I did wonder if it actually said Powell but I think it could be.  All born in Brighton.
Andrea

[sillgen]

I see that in 1861 Charlotte and Peter are born in Uckfield.
Andrea