Thomas Saggers – coursing at Chelmsford, Essex

“Thomas Saggers Jun was charged with using a greyhound to take a hare at Sandon.”

On the 8th he had been seen on with a greyhound and another dog on Mr. Bewers’ land. Thomas had “turned the attention of the dog to a hare”, encouraging it to chase it, and then he had taken the hare. “It being proved he had no authority for coursing he was convicted and fined £5 and costs.”

To course is to use greyhounds to hunt small game by sight (not scent) – for sport. I did have to look that up in the Oxford.

I believe this is Thomas (Junior), the son of Thomas and Mary (Turner) Saggers,  thus the grandson of Thomas Saggers and Rosetta (Dorman) Saggers. I believe I have seen the father, Thomas, named as Thomas The Younger.

In 1861 the family was living at Great Baddow with four other children, Roberts, Sarah Ann, Rosetta and Harriet. I believe though that Thomas Senior was married to two Marys: Mary Turner – mother of Thomas and Robert and Mary Daniels – mother of Sarah Ann, Rosetta and Harriet.

Quotes above concerning the coursing charge are from the “Chelmsford Petty Session – May 17”, The Essex County Standard and Eastern Counties Advertiser, Colchester, Essex, England, Friday, 24 May 1861, page 2. Located via Newspapers.com, January 2019.

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