Rushden Research Group: Thomas Sanders

Thomas Sanders - currier & farmer

William Sanders, a currier, with his wife Catherine and six children, was living in Wood Street at Higham Ferrers in 1841. The two oldest boys, George and Thomas were already working in the business. The younger children were Charlotte, William, Charles, Mary Ann and Elizabeth,

Thomas Sanders was born on November 9th 1825 at Higham Ferrers, and he had married Ann Shelton (daughter of Thomas Shelton, butcher, and Martha) and they were living in Spring Gardens with their little daughter Charlotte Ellen in 1851, and three more daughters were born in the next decade.

The currying business was on the corner, opposite the old Rushden and Higham toll gate house, at the boundary of the two parishes. The business was devastated in a fire in 1882, but he soon rebuilt, and entertained his employees to a dinner in his "new warehouse". In 1890 he added another warehouse as his business flourished.

Prospect House

This postcard is captioned
The Late Alderman Thomas Sanders
It was printed by Charles Cross of the "Echo" Office, Rushden

In 1881 the family was living at Prospect House on Higham Hill. Thomas was "a currier employing 35 men and 4 boys, and farmer of 292 acres employing 8 men and 3 boys". He farmed at Rushden Lodge, later known as Sanders' Lodge, and suffered a haystack fire there in 1882 and again in 1890.

In 1896 and 1902 he was Mayor at Higham Ferrers.

In 1903 when the new Higham Ferrers Methodist Chapel was opened, "the privilege of opening the doors to the Church was by universal consent given to Mr. Thomas Sanders, one of the oldest and most distinguished Methodists in the district. He had been Superintendent of the Higham Ferrers Sunday School for fifty years, and also for fifty years a Circuit Steward. And by a pleasing coincidence as Mayor of Higham Ferrers in that year, he was able to Head the civic procession which led the way into the new chapel at 11a.m. on that Easter Monday." [extract from the book produced for the 60th anniversary]

Book - daughter Florence

Thomas at Higham

His Memories of Methodists at Higham Ferrers

Obituary