Saddingtons of Diseworth, Leicestershire (Edited 21 June 2008)

This is just a quick post, building on two marriage certificates obtained courtesy of Sue Horsman.

The first relates to the marriage of Thomas Pratt Saddington, baptised on 30 December 1838 at Appleby Magna, LEI, a son of William Saddington and Elizabeth Pratt.

The wedding took place in Diseworth Parish Church, as follows:

No. 129
August 21 1871

Thomas Pratt Saddington 32 Bachelor Brickmaker Appleby William Saddington Farmer
Mary Pountain 32 Spinster Domestic Servant Diseworth John Pountain Gardner

Both bride and groom signed their names, and the witnesses were the groom's brother, William Pratt Saddington, and one Sarah Ann (surname unclear).

In the 1881 census, Thomas and Mary were living at Clements Gate Street, Diseworth, with their 7 year old son, Thomas Pratt Saddington, and two male indoor servants, Charles Harris, 21, from Barrow on Soar, LEI, and Bentley Jordan, 20, from Tonge, LEI. Thomas is described as a farmer of 114 acres, employing one labourer and one boy.

In the 1891 census, Thomas and Mary were living at Cross Farm, Diseworth, with their 17 year old son, Thomas Pratt Saddington, and one servant, George H Baker, 16, from Repton, DBY. Thomas is described as a farmer.

The second marriage certificate relates to the marriage of Thomas and Mary's son, Thomas Pratt Saddington. He was also married in Diseworth Parish Church.

No. 200
October 17 1898

Thomas Pratt Saddington 24 Bachelor Farmer Diseworth Thomas Pratt Saddington Farmer
Minni Bicket Ferguson 21 Spinster - Isley Walton Hugh Kerr Ferguson (deceased) Farmer

Both bride and groom signed their names, and the witnesses were the bride's brother, Bryce Ferguson, one Alfred Edward Stretton, E P Saddington (probably the groom's cousin, Elizabeth Pratt Saddington) and Mary Orr Ferguson (possibly the bride's mother or a sister).

Mary Saddington died in the March quarter of 1897, aged 66 (Shardlow RD, Vol 7b Page 312). The 1901 census tells us that the TPS II family had moved in with the widowed TPS I at Lady Gate, Diseworth, LEI. The household consisted of TPS I, a farmer, TPS II, a civil engineer, TPS II's wife Minnie (born in Dalry, Ayr, Scotland, where her grandfather, Bryce Ferguson, was farming 106 acres in the 1881 census), their daughter, Mary, age 2 and born in Isley Walton, LEI, and two male farm servants, Louis Orion, 21, a horseman from Diseworth, and David Wain, 16, a cow boy from Long Wharton, LEI.

Anyway, Thomas Pratt Saddington I died on 18 December 1908, at the age of 70, having moved back to Appleby Magna. Probate was granted to Thomas Pratt Saddington II on 10 March 1909. The gross Estate was worth £3076 7s 2d. In 2007 (which is the closest I can currently get), this would have been £229,815.70.

Thomas Pratt Saddington I had lived to be a grandfather 5 times over. According to the GRO Indexes, the following Saddington children were born in the Shardlow Registration District after the marriage of Thomas Pratt Saddington II and Minnie Bicket Ferguson:

June quarter 1899 - Mary Orr Saddington - Volume 7b, Page 518
September quarter 1901 - Sarah Elizabeth P Saddington - Volume 7b, Page 524
December quarter 1903 - Marion Ferguson Saddington - Volume 7b, Page 535
March quarter 1906 - Margaret Kathleen Saddington - Volume 7b, Page 515
September quarter 1908 - Thomas Pratt Saddington - Volume 7b, Page 548

Not that many years later, on 30 December 1911, Thomas Pratt Saddington II made his Will. As Executors, he appointed his brother in law, Bryce Ferguson, farmer of Diseworth, and his friend, John Harris, farmer of Diseworth. They were each to receive £10 free of duty, and were to be guardians of his children, should his wife die before they reached their majority (at this date, the age of 21).

The Will stated that his wife, Minnie Bicket Saddington, was to be the guardian of any infant children, was to have the use of all furniture, books, household effects etc during her widowhood, and was to continue in business as a farmer during her widowhood and receive all the profits. However, if she remarried, she was to receive a third of the income from the farm for her life only.

The Will went on to say that his son, Thomas Pratt Saddington III, had been provided for by his late father, Thomas Pratt Saddington I.

After the death of his wife, the Estate was to be shared equally between his children on reaching the age of 21, or if the child was a daughter, immediately if they were married by the time their mother died. The distribution of the Estate was not to include Thomas Pratt Saddington III.

Thomas Pratt Saddington II died on 23 March 1929 at the General Hospital, Nottingham. His address was 35 Cromwell Street, Nottingham. His Will was probated on 17 October 1929 by his brother in law, Bryce Ferguson. The gross Estate was worth £1202 5s 6d. In 2007, this would have been £52,401.06.

There is evidence to show that the Saddingtons may have been living in Nottingham, or at least spending time in Nottingham, for a number of years. According to the GRO Indexes, three of TPS II and Minnie's daughters got married in the Nottingham Registration District.

September quarter 1922 - Mary O Saddington - Alonzo Knight - Volume 7b, Page 752
March quarter 1927 - Marion F Saddington - John A Abbott - Volume 7b, Page 479
June quarter 1927 - Margaret K Saddington - Frederick E Miller - Volume 7b, Page 849

And finally, the year after his father's death, Thomas Pratt Saddington III married a Miss Hinds in the Shardlow Registration District - possibly back in Diseworth (Volume 7b, Page 1323).

I would be delighted to hear from you if you are related to this branch of the Saddington family.

William Pratt and Sarah Ann Saddington of Appleby Magna, Leicestershire

In Loving Memory of
Sarah Ann
Wife of William Pratt Saddington
Who Passed Away Dec. 8 1921
Aged 71 Years
Also of William Pratt Saddington
Who Passed Away March 5 1928
Aged 88 Years

[This memorial was difficult to read and photograph, because the majority of the lead lettering had fallen off, and the lower steps of the memorial had been covered over by grass.]


William Pratt Saddington was born in Appleby Magna, LEI in the March quarter of 1841, the son of William Saddington, a maltster, and his wife, Elizabeth (nee Pratt). He appears to have had one brother, Thomas Pratt, born in the December quarter of 1838.

In the 1851 census, William the father is described as a maltster and bricklayer, employing two labourers. In 1861, William is just a maltster again, and his sons are described as maltster's sons. By 1871, Elizabeth has died and William is described as the owner and farmer of 20 acres. Both his sons are described as brickmakers.

On 19 February 1878, William Pratt Saddington married Sarah Anne Harrison in the Parish Church at Appleby Magna. William P was described as a butcher, while his father was described as a maltster. He claims to be 35 years old [should be 37] and she is 27 years old.

William P and Sarah Ann's first child, Elizabeth Pratt, was christened on Christmas Day 1878 in the Parish Church. Their second child, Lilian Kate, was born in the June quarter of 1880. Her birth must have taken place around the time of her grandfather's death, as William Saddington the elder died intestate on 17 May 1880 in Appleby. William P was granted administration of his father's Personal Estate on 20 November 1880, and is described in the National Probate Calendar as a butcher.

In 1881, William P is described as a butcher. His next child, Eleanor Harrison, was born in January 1882. John William Pratt Saddington followed in the Spring of 1884, and Mary in the Summer of 1885. Tom Harrison Saddington was born in the Spring of 1888, and William P and Sarah Ann's last child, Vincent Charles, was born in the Autumn of 1889.

In 1891, William P is described as a butcher and farmer, and the family is living in Overstreet, Appleby Magna. Tragedy then strikes the family with the death of Eleanor Harrison Saddington in December 1892; her burial taking place on 30 December 1892.

In 1901, William P is described as a farmer and butcher. Of his daughters, Elizabeth Pratt is living in Muston, LEI, managing a dairy, Lilian Kate is in Bulkington, WAR, working as a ladies help, and Mary is at home with her parents. Of his sons, John William Pratt is living in Lambeth, London, working as a clerk and the other two, Tom and Vincent, are at home with their parents.

On 8 December 1921, Sarah Ann Saddington dies at her home, Bateman House, in Appleby Magna. Her will is probated on 28 June 1922 by her husband, William P, who is described as a farmer, and her Estate amounts to £215 2s 8d. She is buried in the cemetery over the road from the Parish Church.

On 5 March 1929, William Pratt Saddington dies at Appleby Magna. His will is probated on 15 January 1930 by his three sons, John William Pratt and Tom Harrison, civil servants, and Vincent Charles, school master. His Estate amounts to £942 13s 1d. He is buried in the same grave as his wife, Sarah Ann.