Richard Sidney Sadler biog
Richard Sidney Sadler biography.
Obituary
[presumably from a newspaper local to Basingstoke, shortly after the death]
Death of a Former Resident of Basingstoke in New Zealand- Those of our readers who remember Mr. R. S. Sadler will regret to learn that he died at New Plymouth, New Zealand, on Christmas Day. Mr. Sadler left Basingstoke about 16 years ago [after 23 Aug 1879, it seems]. He had a somewhat varied career, and the following particulars of his life and character, contributed by one who knew him well, will doubtless be read with interest. Mr. Sadler was born in London, in 1829 [actually 1827]. Early in life he entered the mercantile service. On three occasions he was ship-wrecked. On the last occasion, he, with three others, after being three days in an open boat, was picked up by a Spanish ship and taken to Buenos Ayres. There he remained for some years engaged in various occupations. Subsequently removing into the country he became engaged in sheep farming. In the enterprise he had considerable success, and in the year 1874, he left the Argentine Republic, and, in order that his family might have the advantage of an English education, came over to England. He took up his residence in Basingstoke, having relatives in the neighbourhood. Being naturally of keen observation, and having seen much of the world and men and things, Mr. Sadler was a man of much intelligence and of broad sympathetic views, taking much interest in social, political, and religious movements, hence he soon became identified with the various forms of social and religious work then in progress in Basingstoke. With a well informed mind and good conversational powers his conversation was always stimulating and instructive. In the early days of Wesleyan Methodism in the town and neighbourhood he took an active interest in the establishment of the Church, in which, during his residence here, he held several of the offices open to laymen. He was also an acceptable local preacher. Hospitable to a fault, he not infrequently shared his table with wayfarers whom he met in returning from his Sunday morning school work in a neighbouring village. Misfortune, however, befalling his business interests in America, it became necessary for him to turn his attention to some other sphere of business, and after a visit to Buenos Ayres, he determined to go to New Zealand. Early in 1879 [this must have been after 23 Aug as this is when he reported the death of his daughter] he, with his wife and family, left England for that far-distant land. One instance might be mentioned as showing the genuine faith and self-sacrificing spirit of the man. The day previous to his leaving for New Zealand the writer met him in the street, and after some conversation respecting certain church work in which he was interested, and notwithstanding that he had recently sustained heavy financial losses, and was about to embark on a costly voyage, he handed him a sum of money to be used in the interest of a neighbouring village church. Mr. and Mrs. Sadler experienced much of the tragedy and pathos of life. During his residence in South America he had witnessed many stirring revolutionary scenes; just before leaving England for the last time they laid their eldest daughter in the Basingstoke cemetery, and the day following his landing in New Zealand their eldest son passed away. It is not too much to say that Mr. Sadler was an essentially good man, ever ready with hand and heart for every good work; and the message received by his friends last week indicates that though he had suffered long and painfully, his end was peace. The cause of death was internal cancer. He leaves a wife and large family to mourn his loss. Letter from cousin James Squire Thursday 20 Nov 1845
Addressed to:
Richard Sydney Sadler
On board the Brig “Resource”
- Johnson, Commander
Shoreham
Sussex or Elsewhere
Answered
Leather Lane, Holborn, November 20th [18]45
My Dear Cousin Dick,
Your Mother & Sister, or my Aunt & Cousin, whichever you please, had the kindness to call here on Tuesday last, on the morning of which they received your letter, which you may be assured, afforded them & us a great deal of pleasure, in fact if Dear Cousin Elizabeth had have received one from our Friend George Peain, or had beheld the said Individual himself, her felicity would have been compleat, Oh! By the bye, Dick, do you remember the conversation we had yon Saturday, on Mount Pleasant, the sum & substance of which was, that if I could win her (Elizabeth) I might wear her, now, Dick, I have been swaying away on all top ropes with Love yarns, paying ‘em into her, at the vale of knots but tis all of no avail, what argufies[?] laying on the same Tack for everlasting thinks I, I shall never gain the winds eye, so I pipes “Bout Ship” and pretended I had not the least regard for her, nay, ever tried to persuade myself so, but however, ‘twas “no, go”, I was compel’d to haul down my false colours & hoisting my house flag, with first distinguishing Pendant over it, do you wish to know what’s the colour of my House Flag, tis Blue Border, white centre Piece with a yellow circle, meaning Chastity & Marr[?]- (ih! Cupid! Sparemy blushes,) battened down with Truth, my Private Signal is a pair of Tulips on a white ground, infer what you can, I have known some chaps compare courting to stropping a double strop threefold Block, but I know that the latter is much the easiest, at any rate
I’ll ask you cousin Dick, to stop,
Lend me a hand to strop my block,
For if you do not stop with speed,
I cannot strop my Block indeed.
The strop (my humble self) is quite ready & willing to be bent to the Block (our dear Elizabeth) all that is required of you is to give the former a heave (figuratively)round the latter, then at some future period we will get a nice old Fugleman[?] to pass the seizing. Of course I should not think of that went taking place untill I was able to maintain her, I am happy to say that she is relenting, be king enough to write me your sanction and advice upon the subject, Bear a hand and write me back with the particulars of you stay among the “Rouska Matchka’s”, The day you sailed I went to work at this Mr Day’s, staid with 7 weeks without any remuneration, when that noble Gent turned Bankrupt, last Tuesday I went to a Mr Starters’ Carpenter, I don’t know yet what wages I shall have.
As I know that Elizabeth will have given you all the best of the news and as my Mother is in a deparate “hoovedosh”[?] to have the shop closed I will conclude, by acquainting you with something which will be, I [leave?] no [doubt?] greatly to your advantage to know, 'tis not a "next of Kin conc..... simply that I remain, with a long raft of lovele[ss?] [-]onumerous [mention?]
Yours Affectionately
Until the Resurrection Gion[?] fires[?]
James Squire
PS. Pray do not fail to write me soon. JS
I am to remember Jack to you
you musn't put your self in a stew
for as soon as ever he has time
he will send you up a line
Kindly remember me to Jack,
Tell him I'm glad he's got safe back,
Ask him to send me up a letter
To fill it up the more the better.
JSquire
Chronology
- 1827- Richard Sydney Sadler was born on 30 March 1827 and baptised at St Margaret's Westminster on 22 Apr [source, Parish Register]. Parents Richard [Sidney] Sadler + Elizabeth Sadler [nee Squire], of Emanuel Gardens, Book-binder.
- He entered the merchant navy early in life
- Probably Tuesday 27 Sep 1845- Richard set sail on the Resource
- 20 Nov 1845- on board the brig “Resource” under Commander Johnson, in Shoreham (Sussex) "or elsewhere". Cousin James calls him 'Dick'
- James says "Your Mother & Sister, or my Aunt & Cousin, whichever you please", which suggests that Richard and James were cousins. I haven't yet worked out this family arrangement. [Text updated 13/11/09]
- James had his heart set on cousin Elizabeth, which seems to be Richard's sister, my g-g grandmother
who seems to have been keen on a George Peain[?] at the time. Then she would have been 16. She married my g-g grandfather George Tew in 1859. [Text updated 13/11/09] - James was perhaps in the navy or merchant navy, going by his knowledge of naval language, but this is yet to be confirmed
- James wants Richard's approval and help in wooing Elizabeth
- On the day Richard sailed (perhaps Tuesday 27 Sep) James worked for a Mr Day for seven weeks, without pay as Mr Day went bankrupt. 'Last Tuesday' he went to Mr Starter's, Carpenter. [I have assumed no break in employment, but this may be wrong]
- James's mother is currently wanting to have the shop closed [why?]
- Richard's mother and sister Elizabeth called on James on Tuesday 15 Nov 1845
- James signs off with what appears to have been a religious reference
- James says that 'Jack' will write as soon as he has time, but then says to 'remember me to Jack'. Who is Jack?
- He was shipwrecked three times
- He lived for 'some years' in Argentina until 1874
- In 1874 he returned to England, settling in Basingstoke
- He was involved in the establishment of the Wesleyan church in Basingstoke, holding many lay offices
- His business in America failed, so in about August 1879 he (aged ca. 52) and his family left for New Zealand ('about 16 years ago')
- They left for New Zealand very soon after their daughter Jane's death in 1879
- [Note that Richard's occupation is given as bricklayer on Jane's death cert in 1879]
- Their eldest son died the day after they landed in New Zealand in 1879
- Richard would have been one month short of 69 when he died in New Zealand
4 Apr 1859: Richard Sadler, born in England, married Agnes Johnstone in la Iglesia San Andres del Centro, Buenos Aires.
| Name | Born | Died | Age 25 Dec 1895 | Other |
| Jane Sadler | Aug 1859- Aug 1860 | 23 Aug 1879 | [35-36] | Died 23 Aug 1879 of Phthisis Exhaustion, aged 19 at the family home Victoria St. Basingstoke. Her father, now a bricklayer, notified the same day [ref. death cert.]. Buried Basingstoke cemetery [ref. newspaper article] |
| boy | 1862 | 33 | ||
| girl | 1863 | 32 | ||
| Elizabeth Sadler | b.31 Jan 1864 chr. 28 Feb 1864 |
pre 1895? | residence Rincon de Noario chr. at the church, Rincon |
|
| Ninian Johnstone Sadler | b.26 May 1866 chr. 28 Oct 1866 |
pre 1895? | fa: Richard Sadler, b. England mo: Agnes Johnstone, b. Buenos Aires chr. at the Laguna de los Padres |
|
| Agnes Ann Sadler |
born 14 Sep 1868 chr. 1 Jul 1870 |
27 | residence Brava, Balcarce chr. at Estancia de las Ninas |
|
| girl | 1870 | 25 | ||
| boy | 1872 | 23 | ||
| girl | 1874 | 21 | ||
| boy | 1876 | 19 | ||
| boy | 1877 | 18 | ||
| boy | 1883 | 12 |
25 Dec 1895: Richard's death certificate- he died at New Plymouth, New Zealand. Richard Sydney Saddler [sic], Settler, Male, 68 years. Cause of death: Cancer of bladder 8 years. Duration of last illness: Cancer of stomach, 3 months. Certified by: Pop? Carrall, who saw the deceased on the same day. Father: Richard Sydney Saddler, bookbinder. Mother: Elizabeth Saddler formerly Squire. Buried 27 Dec 1895 Hewin(?) cemetary by J Assay(?), Wesleyan. Born: London, England. 15 years in New Zealand. Married Buones Ayres aged 31 to Agnes Johnstone. Living issue: 5 males (33, 23, 19, 18, 12) 4 females (32, 27, 25, 21). Informant: WT Brorting, - - - - -, New Plymouth. Registered 31 Dec 1895.
New Plymouth is on the west coast of North Island in New Zealand.
Chronology