I came across the grave of the splendidly named Larking John
Seager in East Hill Cemetery when recording monumental inscriptions. Intrigued
by the name, I decided to find out more about his life. He was one of
Dartford’s Victorian entrepreneurs, who founded a company that brought
employment to the town for over one hundred years.
Larking was born in 1840 in Maidstone, the fifth of ten
children born to George and Jane Seager. The 1851 census shows the family
living at St Faith’s Street, Maidstone. It consisted of George (aged 41, a
carpenter), Jane (41) with their children Emma (18, a dress maker), George (16,
a carpenter), Ann (13), Larking (10), Thomas (8), Henry (6), Ellen (4) and
Julia (6 months).
Sadly, Jane Seager died in 1856 when Larking was 16. In 1861
the widowed George Seager (aged 52, a builder) was living at 11 Church Street,
Maidstone with his children Ann (22, housekeeper), Larking (20, engine driver
in sawmills), Henry (16, assistant in sawmills), Julia (10) and Charles (7).
In 1864 Larking married Sarah Ann Dobell at St George’s
Church, Gravesend. Larking was aged 24, his wife (who was born in Bermondsey,
the daughter of a grocer) was 23. His occupation is given as engineer on the
marriage register. About this time Larking moved to Dartford to work for J
& E Hall’s engineering company. His first child Ellen Dobell Seager was
born in 1865, to be followed by Annie Eliza in 1867, Alfred Walter in 1870 (he
died in 1874 aged 4), Florence Augusta in 1877 and Frederic Henry in 1879.
(a
more detailed family tree may be found in the “seager42” database on RootsWeb’s
WorldConnect Project website)
The 1871 census shows Larking and his family living in
Shepherds Lane, Dartford. There was Larking (30, engine fitter at an iron
foundry), Sarah (30), Ellen (5), Annie (4) and Alfred (6 months).
In 1876, Larking made the bold move of starting up an
engineering business in Overy Street, Dartford. It was on land now occupied by
Wickes and its car park. The business of J&E Halls was in decline at this
time, with aging management and equipment, which may have been a factor in
Larking’s decision to leave. The following advert appeared in the Dartford
Chronicle dated September 2nd, 1876.
Overy Street, Dartford
L. J. Seager
Is desirous to inform
Mill-Owners, Proprietors of Machinery, Farmers and others that he has opened a
factory for the purpose of carrying on the business of an Engineer, Millwright
and Founder. It has been urged, during his past experience of 12 years with the
firm Messrs J&E Hall, that a business of this character, where work could
be turned out at a moderate cost, combined with first-class workmanship, has
been found wanting. He now appeals to those who have patronage to bestow their
esteemed favours, and assures them that every possible satisfaction shall be
given to work entrusted to him.
Sidney Keyes (Dartford Historical Notes, 1933) records
that “The trade carried on consisted of general engineering, the manufacture
and repair of steam engines and machinery for paper, cement and flour mills,
etc. A few years later a younger brother, Mr Charles Seager, joined him and
took over the accountancy and commercial side of the business.”
By 1881, Larking, aged 40, an engineer employing ten men and
seven boys, was living at 19 Highfield Road, Dartford with his wife Sarah Ann
(40) and children Ellen (15), Annie (14), Flossie (4) and Frederic (2).
The family moved to Overy House, 22 Overy Street near the
engineering works. The house no longer exists, the site is where the YMCA
roundhouse building now stands. A picture of the family was taken about 1890 in
what seems to be the back garden of Overy House. It shows clockwise from left,
Florence (seated), Ellen, Larking (both standing), Sarah, Annie (both seated)
and Frederic (lying on ground). They are all well dressed.
Larking Seager and his family (from Dartford Borough
Museum)
The 1891 census shows Larking (50, a mechanical engineer),
his wife, children and a governess at 22 Overy Street. His daughter Ellen (25)
is listed as a teacher of music.
I have a copy of a memo written on Seager’s company
stationery in 1895. It was headed “L.J. & C. Seager, Engineers, Millwrights
& Founders, Dartford. Steam cylinders, cold water and air pumps, and taper
holes in crank heads, rebored in their places”.
There are several road drain covers in the Newtown area of Dartford that were made by Seagers and are still in use.
There are several road drain covers in the Newtown area of Dartford that were made by Seagers and are still in use.
A drain cover made by Seagers (photo supplied by Steve Archer)
In 1898 the Dartford Urban District Council Technical
Education Committee was formed and Larking became a member of it. In 1901 his
firm subscribed £20 to the Dartford Technical Institute Building Fund.
Larking’s wife Sarah Ann died in 1900 aged 59. In 1901
Larking (59, a mechanical engineer) is listed as a widower. Also living at 22
Overy Street were his children Ellen (35), Annie (34), Florence (24) and
Frederic (22, a mechanical engineer and draughtsman).
Florence Augusta Seager, Larking’s youngest daughter,
married Herbert Scurr Nicholson in 1902 in Dartford. His other two daughters
did not marry.
Charles Seager (Larking’s brother and business partner) and
his wife Mary lived at 13 Summerhill Road, Dartford and had two daughters and
three sons. The house is still there. Mary died in 1900, the same year as
Larking’s wife. Charles died in 1905, aged 51, and Larking 17 days later, aged
65. The following item appeared in the Dartford Chronicle
DEATH OF MR L. J.
SEAGER
Within a few days both the partners in the firm of L.J.
and C. Seager, iron founders of Dartford, have passed away. The death of Mr
Charles Seager, after a short illness, was followed by that on Tuesday of his
brother, Mr Larking John Seager. Both were highly esteemed in the town, and
much sympathy is felt for the family in their bereavement. Mr Larking Seager
had been an invalid from paralysis for some time. He had rallied to some
extent, but there is little doubt that the sad news of the unexpected death of
his brother contributed to his relapse.
Manifestations of sympathy were general in the town on
Saturday, the day of the funeral, flags being hung at half mast. The employees
joined the cortege to the Dartford Cemetery, where the funeral service was
conducted, in the presence of a large number of sympathisers, by the Rev. F.
Bryan Marshall. The chief mourners were : Mr F. H. Seager (son), Mr C. R.
Seager (nephew), Mr H. S. Nicholson (son-in-law), Mr J. Jewell
(brother-in-law), Mr F. C. Dobell (nephew), Messrs W. M. Newton, T. G. Baynes,
W. Wood, T. Williamson, R. Bennett and J Turtle. Messrs J. J. Hewitt, C. C.
Light, E. Snowden, and other members of the Emulation Lodge of Freemasons were
present, the late L. J. Seager being a member of the lodge.
Larking was buried near the boundary wall in the north-west
section of East Hill Cemetery. His gravestone is still in good condition and is
inscribed:
Headstone
In loving / memory of / SARAH ANN CHAMPION / the beloved
wife of / LARKING JOHN SEAGER / who departed this life Feb 17th 1900
/ aged 59 years / “So he giveth his beloved sleep.” / No one knows how much we
miss her, / none but aching hearts can tell, / Earth has lost her, heaven has
found her, / Jesus hath done all things well. / Also the above named / LARKING
JOHN SEAGER / who passed peacefully away Oct 3rd 1905 / aged 65
years / “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” / Also of their
daughter / ANNIE ELIZA SEAGER / who died Nov 28th 1950, / aged 83
years.
Footstone
In loving memory / of / ALFRED
WALTER, / son of LARKING JOHN and SARAH ANN / CHAMPION SEAGER / who died Nov 22nd
1874 / in the 5th year of his age / “Jesus said suffer little
children to / come unto to me”
The grave of Larking Seager
The grave of his children Ellen (d
1951) and Florence (d 1957) is nearby. They are buried next to Larking’s
brother Charles and his wife Mary.
Probate on Larking’s estate was granted to Frederic Henry
Seager, engineer, and Ellen Dobell Seager, spinster. The value was £5,494
(equivalent to about £2.4M now, by comparison with average earnings).
A 1905 Directory describes Seagers as 'steam engine and boiler fitters and pump makers'. In 1915 they were 'makers of ice-making, refrigerating and compressing machines'. The expansion into the refrigerating and air-compressing side of the business was due to Mr. Henry Brier, formerly employed by J. and E. Hall of Dartford, a company of major importance in this field.
A limited company was formed in 1907 with Frederic Seager as one of the partners. He married Molly Kathleen Lightstone in 1932 and died in 1963.
Larking’s grandson Geoffrey Maurice Nicholson (1911-2000) became a director of the company in 1952 and chairman in 1965. The Dartford factory closed in 1980 and the firm went into liquidation in 1985.
If you have any further information on Larking Seager and
his family, please contact me on PhilT42LQS@Yahoo.co.uk
Philip Taylor © 2013
Sources
·
Notes from Chris Baker (Dartford Borough Museum)
·
The local studies collection at Dartford Library
for The Dartford Chronicle newspaper and Dartford Historical Notes
by S K Keyes.
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