Thomas Savage: History

 

The Company

This business known as Thomas Savage was established sometime between 1870[1] and 1875 by a man named Thomas George Savage.  It was first listed in an 1875[2] London city directory as “Thomas Savage, stationer & engraver, 355 Strand”.   The firm continued to be listed as such in 1880[3] and 1885[4] and in 1881[5] employed 7 men and 2 women.   Evidently at some point Mr. Lewis Henry Perry became a partner with Mr. Savage because in 1887[6] a notice was placed in a local newspaper indicating their partnership was dissolved.  The business was listed in the dissolution announcement as “Savage, Thomas (Lewis Henry Perry and Thomas George Savage), 355 Stand, Dealers in Stationery and Fancy Articles”.  Unfortunately, additional information has not been found regarding Lewis Henry Perry.  A thorough search was made on ancestry.com in the 1861, 1871 and 1881 censuses in the London area for a man with this name and although several were found, none had an occupation related to a stationer or fancy goods dealer.  The business was carried on by Thomas George Savage and the 1889[7] advertisement seen here provides interesting information regarding the type of merchandise this company sold.

 

In 1892[8] there was a robbery at the firm’s store which is described in the following transcribed newspaper article.

“ROBBING HIS EMPLOYER. - At the Bow-street Police-court on Monday Henry Charles Law was charged with stealing a silver match-box and a cigarette-case, the property of Thomas Savage, a stationer and fancy goods dealer, 355 Strand.  During the pressure of business immediately before the Christmas holidays, the prisoner was temporary engaged to assist in the prosecutor’s shop.  On Saturday evening he was missed, but eventually returned to his duties saying he had been to have a tooth drawn.  It was afterwards found, however, that during his absence the prisoner had been to Wardour-street in a cab, and pawned a silver match-box and cigarette-case, which he had stolen from his employer’s shop.  The prisoner said he was so drunk at the time that he did not know what he was doing.  He was sentenced to two months hard labour.”

 

Mr. Thomas Savage continued the business by himself and it was listed in 1890 [9]and in 1895[10] the same as it was prior to the dissolution.  Evidently the business closed sometime shortly after Mr. Savage’s death in 1895 as it was last recorded in city directories that year and was not listed in 1900[11].

The only Avery style needle case with the Thomas Savage name is the Quadruple - Bird on Leaf seen here which was William Avery’s second most popular Quadruple design.  To date this Quadruple has been found with 11 different names, 9 of which were the names of companies from the London area.  There are a total of 21 slightly different versions of the Quadruple needle case of which 7 of these, including the one with the Bird on Leaf, were stamped with the names of 19 different London companies.  Four of the 21 varieties were made specially for London companies as they contain decorations associated with these firms such as a drawing of the company’s shop or the company’s emblem or crest.

 

The Savage Owners

The parents of the founder of this company were Thomas Savage and Mary Ann Hinde who were both born in the Finsbury or Clerkenwell sections of London, approximately a mile north of St. Paul’s cathedral.  The father will be listed as Thomas Sr. for the rest of this narrative in order that he not be confused with his son.   Thomas Sr. and Mary Ann were married in 1846 at St James in Clerkenwell and they had 2 children between 1848 and 1850: Joseph Ballin Savage and Thomas George Savage.  The Savage family continued to live in the Finsbury and Clerkenwell areas where Thomas Sr. worked as a commercial traveler.  In 1871 Mary Ann and her 2 sons were living in Finsbury while Thomas Sr. was staying at a hotel in Darlington, Durham, a town 244 miles north of London.  Presumably Thomas Sr. was visiting that area on business as he was listed as a commercial traveler that year also.  Exactly what happened to this Savage family after 1871 is unknown as there were several people in the London area with the names Thomas Savage and Mary Savage and not enough information was found to determine which were the correct parents. Some data regarding their son Joseph Ballin Savage was discovered.  Although he was working as a clerk to a merchant’s office in 1871, he died 8 years later in 1879 in Islington at age 30 and left as estate of £470 to his brother Thomas George Savage.

 

Thomas George Savage as born in 1850 in Clerkenwell, the youngest son of Thomas Sr. and Mary Ann.  At age 20 in 1871 he was living with his mother and was working as a clerk in a merchant’s office, possibly the same office as his brother.  Five years later in 1875 he married Charlotte Mary Susan Brand in Hackney.  Also, by 1875 he established his stationary business at 355 Strand.   Thomas George and Charlotte had 6 children between 1876 and 1882: Thomas Raymond, Joseph Laurence, twins Gertrude Mary and Theresa Mary, Minnie Ethel Mary and Nora Wilhelmina Mary.  By 1881 the family was living in Highbury, roughly 3 miles north of St. Paul’s cathedral.  Later they moved to neighboring Hornsey.  Thomas George died in 1895 at age 45 and left as estate of £922 to his wife.  After his death, Charlotte remained at their home in Hornsey until at least 1911 with four of her children living with her.  Sometime later she moved to Maldon, Essex, at town 42 miles north east of London, were she was living in 1939 with her daughter Gertrude.  Charlotte died there 6 years later in 1946 and left an estate of £1,385 to a reverend.  The two sons of Thomas George and Charlotte chose careers in different areas than their father.  Thomas Raymond, who was born in 1876, became a clerk for a silversmith.  Joseph Lawrence was born in 1877 and he became a photographer, then immigrated to Canada where he died in 1943.

  

 

 

Thomas Savage: Images

 

Northwest corner of Strand Street and Burleigh Street, 2023.

 

359-355 Strand Street, the northeast corner of Strand Street and Burleigh Street where the Thomas Savage business was originally located, 2023.

 

Northern side of Strand Street at the intersection with Wellington Street, 2023.

 

354-351 Strand Street, another view of the intersection of Strand Street and Wellington Street, 2023,

 

 

Thomas Savage: Genealogy

 

Generation 1: Thomas Savage (c1811-??) and Mary Ann Hinde (c1826-??)

·       Born: c1811 (S4).

·       Baptized: not found.

·       1841 Census: not found.

·       Marriage: July 14, 1846 St. James Clerkenwell, Islington (S8m).  Listed as Thomas Savage a bachelor and commercial traveler who resided at 3 Sekforde Street whose father was Joseph Lawrence Savage a solicitor and Maryann Hinde a minor and spinster.

·       1851 Census: 19 Soley Terrace, Clerkenwell, Finsbury, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Thomas Savage age 40 a commercial traveler born in Finsbury, London with wife Maryanne age 25 born in Clerkenwell and 2 children: Joseph B. and Thomas G. and 1 servant. (Note: the son George’s middle initial is incorrectly listed in the census index as E).

·       1861 Census: 19 Soley Ter., Clerkenwell, Finsbury, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Thomas Savage age 50 a com. traveler born in  London with wife Mary A. age 35 born in Clerkenwell and 1 servant. (Note: the census index incorrectly lists the servant as a son).

·       1871 Census: 219 Prebend Row, Kings Head Hotel, Darlington, Durham (S4).  Listed as Thomas Savage a married visitor age 60 a commercial traveler born in London.

·       1871 Wife’s Census: 21 Oakley Road, Finsbury, Islington (S4).  Listed as Mary A. Savage  a wife married age 45 age born in Clerkenwell with two children: Joseph B. and Thomas G. and 1 servant.

·       Additional information about this family has not been found.

·       Children:

·       Joseph Ballin Savage (1848-1879).  Born: 3rd QTR 1848 St. James Clerkenwell (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Joseph Ballin Savage with mother’s maiden name Hinde.  1851 Census: with parents (S4), listed as Joseph B. Savage age 2 ½ born in Clerkenwell.  1871 Census: with mother (S4), listed as Joseph B. Savage age 22 a clerk in merchants office born in Pentonville, Middlesex.  Death: November 12, 1879 Islington (S8d), listed as Joseph Savage age 31 independent who died of phthisis at 21 Oakley Road, Islington with his aunt S. Hinde present at his death, November 12,1879 (S6).  Probate: January 12, 1893 London (S6), listed as Joseph Ballin Savage of 21 Oakley Road, Islington, Middlesex with effects £470 to Thomas George Savage a stationer.

·       Thomas George Savage (1850-1895).  – see Generation 2.

 

Generation 2:  Thomas George Savage (1850-1895) and   Charlotte Mary Brand (c1848-1946)

·       Born: 4th QTR 1850 Clerkenwell (S=GRO Online Index).  Listed as Thomas George Savage with mother’s maiden name Hinde. 

·       Baptized: not found.

·       1851 Census: Census: with parents (S4), listed as Thomas G. Savage age 6 months born in Clerkenwell.

·       1861 Census: not found.

·       1871 Census: 1871 Census: with mother (S4), listed as Thomas G. Savage age 20 a clerk in merchants office born in Pentonville, Middlesex. 

·       Marriage: April 19, 1875 Hackney (S8m).  Listed a Thomas George Savage age 25 a bachelor and stationer who resided at 21 Oakley Road, Islington whose father was Thomas Savage a gentleman and Charlotte Mary Susan Brand age 27 a spinster.

·       1881 Census: 71 Mildmay Grove, Highbury, Finsbury, Islington (S4).  Listed as Thomas G. Savage age 30 a stationer employing 7 men and 2 women born Clerkenwell, Middlesex with wife Charlotte age 32 born in Stoke Newington and 5 children: Raymond, Lawrence, Theresa, Gertrude and Minnie and 1 boarder and 2 servants.

·       1891 Census: 7 Ribblesdale Road, Hornsey, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Thomas G. Savage age 40 a stationer employer born Clerkenwell, London with wife Charlotte M. age 35 born in Stoke Newington and 4 children: Theresa M., Gertrude M., Minnie C. and Nora M., and 1 governess, 2 boarders and 2 servants. (Note: the governess’s occupation is incorrectly listed in the census index as a Goorrne).

·       Death: November 30, 1895 Edmonton (S8d).  Listed as Thomas Savage age 45 a stationer manager who died of pulmonary phthisis and influenza at 7 Ribblesdale Road, Hornsey with his son R. Savage present at his death.  November 30, 1895 (S6).

·       Burial: not found.

·       Probate: December 31, 1895 London (S6).  Listed as Thomas George Savage of 7 Ribblesdale Road, Hornsey, Middlesex a fancy stationer with effects £922 to Charlotte Mary Susan Savage widow.

·       1901 Wife’s Census: 7 Ribblesdale Road, Hornsey, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Charlotte Savage age 46 a widow and professor of dancing at home born in Stoke Newington and 4 children: Laurence, Pearl, Ruby and Nora, and 2 boarders, 1 visitor, 1 governess and 2 servants. (Note: Pearl and Ruby appear to be the nicknames for Theresa and Gertrude who were this age).

·       1911 Wife’s Census: 7 Ribblesdale Road, Hornsey, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Charlotte M. Savage age 62 a widow and professor of dancing on own at home born in Stoke Newington and 4 children: Thomas R., Theresa M., Gertrude M. and Nora M., 1 son’s wife: Hetty M. Savage, and 1 governess, 1 boarder and 1 servant.

·       1939 Wife’s Register: 3 Station Road, Maldon, Essex (S9).  Listed as Charlotte Savage a widow born February 13, 1848 living on private means with Gertrude Savage single born on June 5, 1880 living on private means.

·       Wife’s Death:  January 30, 1946 Maldon, Essex (S8d).  Listed as Charlotte Mary Savage age 97 the widow of Thomas George Savage a stationer who died of senile decay and cardiac failure at Warnes Hill, Burnham-on-Crouch.  January 30, 1946 (S6).

·       Wife’s Burial: not found.

·       Wife’s Probate: April 26, 1946 London (S6).  Listed as Charlotte Mary Susan Savage of Warners Hall Burham-on-Crouch, Essex a widow with effects £1,385 to Reverend Francis Branney clerk.

·       Children:

1.     Thomas Raymond Savage (1876-??).  Born: 4th QTR 1876 Islington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Thomas Raymond Savage with mother’s maiden name Brand.  1881 Census: with parents (S4), listed as Raymond age 4 born in Islington.  1911 Census: with mother (S4), listed as Thomas R. Savage age 34 married a clerk to a silversmith worker born in Stoke Newington with wife Hetty M. age 25 born in Dulwich, indicated they were married 5 years and had no children. (Note: his birthplace in the 1911 census appears to be a census taker error).

2.     Joseph Laurence Savage (1877-1943).   Born: 4th QTR 1877 Islington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Joseph Laurence Savage with mother’s maiden name Brand.  1881 Census: with parents (S4), listed as Laurence Savage age 3 born in Islington.  1901 Census: with mother (S4), listed as Laurence Savage age 23 a single photographer born in Canonbridge, London.   Death: July 16, 1943 York, Toronto, Canada (S=Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1948 available at ancestry.com), listed as Joseph Laurence Savage who was born October 2, 1877 in London with parents listed as Thomas Savage and Charlotte Brand of London who worked as a dept. manager for T. Eaton Co. Photography.

3.     Gertrude Mary Savage (1879-??).  Born: 1st QTR 1879 Islington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Gertrude Mary Savage with mother’s maiden name Brand.  1881 and 1891 Censuses: with parents (S4).  1911 Census: with mother (S4).  1939 Register: with mother (S9).

4.     Theresa Mary Savage (1879-??).   Born: 1st QTR 1879 Islington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Theresa Mary Savage with mother’s maiden name Brand.  1881 an 1891 Censuses: with parents (S4).  1911 Census: with mother (S4).

5.     Minnie Ethel Mary Savage (1880-??).  Born: 2nd QTR 1880 Islington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Minnie Ethel Mary Savage with mother’s maiden name Brand.  1881 and 1891 Censuses: with parents (S4).

6.     Nora Wilhelmina Mary Savage (1882-??).  Born: 4th QTR 1882 Islington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Nora Wilhelmina Mary Savage with mother’s maiden name Brand.  1891 Census: with parents (S4).  1901 and 1911 Censuses: with mother (S4).

 

 

 

Avery Style Needle Case with the “Thomas Savage 355 Strand London” Name Stamped on It

1.      Quadruple Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf: Mechanical Patent #3517 dated November 19, 1868 registered by William Avery, needle manufacturer, and Albert Fenton, machinist, from Redditch (S=British Library - Business and Intellectual Property Centre, London).