In the News

Local newspapers can be a source of long forgotten stories about ancestors who are not usually thought of as "famous". One such is this story of young Thomas Chicken.
Thomas was born in 1879 in County Durham, the son of a coal miner. By the age of 12 he was working as an assistant to a newsagent, selling newspapers at the railway station.
On 14th January 1892 the big news of the day was the death of the Duke of Clarence, second in line to the British throne. Newspaper sales were brisk. Young Thomas sold a paper to a Mr Wood, a farmer. As soon as he handed over the paper he dashed away down the platform to make another sale. A little later Mr Wood approached him and said that he'd given him a shilling and expected eleven pence ha'penny change. Thomas rooted in his pockets, examined the money he had there and said that he hadn't received any shillings. Mr Wood then went to Thomas' mother and eventually brought a policeman to the door, claiming "I am doing this to stop this boy in his youth because I am afraid he is making a practice of it and will come to a bad end".
Thomas' father then brought a case against Mr Wood for damages because he claimed that the damage done to the boy's character by the publicity would harm his future.
In court the judge decided in Thomas' favour and Mr Wood had to pay damages and costs

totalling £20. In 1892 £20 would represent about 2 months wages for a skilled man.
For Thomas and his family the most important thing was that his character was restored. 
Thomas went on to work in the mine, like his father and brothers, and lived to see his 75th birthday.
#52 Ancestors

(image from Bank of England)

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