Monday 30 June 2008

Thomas Saddington the Bigamist (circa 1826 - ?)

This is a work in progress post about Thomas Saddington the bigamist, who featured in the Old Bailey post back in May.

Courtesy of the Times Archive, the Times newspaper, dated 14 February 1866 (most appropriate!), reported the matter as follows:

"At Lambeth, Mr. Thomas Saddington, an inspector on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, was charged with feloniously intermarrying with Jessie Kempton, his former wife, Caroline, being then and still living. Mr. Inspector Henry Meath, of the L division of police, said he apprehended the prisoner on the evening before at his residence in the Old Kent-road. On telling him the charge, his reply was "Yes, that's quite right." The witness produced two certificates of marriage of the prisoner, the first with Caroline Talkington, at St. Pancras Church, on the 19th of April, 1849, and the second with Jessie Kempton, at St. Mary's, Newington, on the 9th of September, 1865. Both wives were present, and the last, who is very young, gave evidence of her marriage, and said that while paying attentions to her the prisoner had always represented himself as a widower. The prisoner was fully committed for trial."

Courtesy of the GOONS Marriage Challenge, I can bring you the contents of Thomas and Caroline's marriage certificate.

St Pancras Church
No. 121

19 April 1849

Thomas Saddington Full Bachelor Soldier Edward Street Thomas Saddington Tavern Keeper
Caroline Talkington Full Spinster - Edward Street John Talkington (decd) -

After banns.

Both bride and groom signed their names.

The witnesses were John Wilson and Sara Wilson.


As yet, I do not have further details of Thomas' marriage to Jessie Kempton, but it is still listed in the General Register Office indexes in the September quarter of 1865 in the Newington Registration District (Vol 1d, Page 271).

I will add to this post as I find out more about Thomas and his wives. If he belongs to you, I would, as usual, be delighted to hear from you.

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