Person Page - 201

Thomas Sackett, son of Paul Sackett and Margaret Wheatley, was born in Margate, Kent^G, on 23 October 1764¹ and baptized at St John in Thanet^G on 24 November 1764.¹ He died in infancy and was buried at St John in Thanet^G on 21 September 1767.^2,3

Paul Sackett, innkeeper and coach operator of Margate and Ramsgate, son of Paul Sackett and Margaret Wheatley, was born in Margate, Kent^G, on 11 March 1767¹ and baptized at St John in Thanet^G on 29 March 1767.¹ He died aged 38 in Ramsgate, Kent^G, on 28 November 1805 and was buried at St John in Thanet^G on 4 December 1805.^4,5 He married at St John in Thanet^G on 12 March 1791, Hannah Bloxham.^2,3 Hannah was born about 1772.⁶ She died aged 81 and was buried at St John in Thanet^G on 11 December 1854.^7,8
     Paul was named as a beneficiary in the will of his aunt Ann Sackett made at St John in Thanet^G on 1 May 1781.⁹ He was to inherit jointly with his brother Thomas all her lands and the residue of her estate at age 21, the income from the estate being used in the meantime to provide for the boys' support and education.
     Paul owned and ran the George Inn in Margate in 1793. He was also a partner in a coaching business operating between Aldersgate Street in the City of London and Margate. Coaches ran three times each week, taking twelve hours to complete the 75-mile journey.¹⁰
     Paul later moved to Ramsgate where he had a coaching business attached to the King's Head Inn. The premises, including livery stables for 40 horses and coach-houses for 12 carriages, were offered for sale in March 1804, shortly before Paul made his will.¹¹
     Paul made his will in Ramsgate, Kent^G, on 1 May 1804, naming as beneficiaries his wife Hannah, his sons Samuel, John and Paul, and his daughter Sarah.¹² He gave his wife the option of selling all his properties to create an investment fund sufficient to provide for her and the children, or of continuing to run the business until the children all reached 21, when they would inherit. Among the properties, in addition to his dwelling house, were Assembly Rooms and the Old Yard across the road, a part share of a house in Margate, three houses in Cold Harbour, and a share in land and buildings in St Peter's and St Lawrence. In a codicil to the will, reference is made to an inheritance of an additional share in the St Peter's and St Lawrence properties following the recent death of his brother Thomas Wheatley Sackett, with the request that this be added to the estate.
     The several properties detailed in Paul's will, including the Old King's Head Inn in Ramsgate, were put up for sale by auction on 1 August 1808, with possession of the Inn from 1 December.^13,14 Although it appeared that Paul Sackett had substantial assets, the business had evidently been struggling, probably because of his ill health leading to his untimely death. A hint that the hotel was losing money was contained in the sale particulars in June 1808 when it was stated that the premises were "capable by good management of being made a most profitable concern." The attempt to sell the Old King's Head Inn as a going concern before Paul's death had failed, leaving his widow Hannah with no option but to struggle on. Her efforts were in vain and, at the same time as the hotel was put up for auction, she was declared bankrupt.¹⁵

Thomas Wheatley Sackett, draper and tailor of Margate and Deptford, Kent, son of Paul Sackett and Margaret Wheatley, was born in Margate, Kent^G, on 25 February 1770 and baptized at St John in Thanet^G on 8 March 1770.¹ He died aged 34 in Margate^G on 28 October 1804 and was buried at St John in Thanet^G.² He was unmarried.
     Thomas was named as a beneficiary in the will of his aunt Ann Sackett made at St John in Thanet^G on 1 May 1781.³ He was to inherit jointly with his brother Paul all her lands and the residue of her estate at age 21, the income from the estate being used in the meantime to provide for the boys' support and education.
     Thomas was apprenticed to master tailor Thomas Fleming of Margate^G on 29 April 1784.⁴
     Thomas made his will in New Cross, St Paul's, Deptford, Kent^G, on 25 August 1804, naming as beneficiaries his brothers Paul and Stephen.⁵ He left £60 to his half-brother Stephen and Stephen's wife Elizabeth. The residue of his personal estate and all his real property was to go to his brother Paul, who was also appointed executor of the will.

Anne Sackett, daughter of Paul Sackett and Margaret Wheatley, was born in Margate, Kent^G, on 12 August 1772 and baptized at St John in Thanet^G on 8 September 1772.¹ She died aged two and was buried at St John in Thanet^G on 24 February 1775.^2,3

Ann Sackett, daughter of Paul Sackett and Alice Reynolds, was born in Margate, Kent^G, on 4 June 1777 and baptized at St John in Thanet^G on 26 June 1777.¹ She died unmarried aged 25 in Margate^G on 14 June 1802 and was buried at St John in Thanet^G on 19 June 1802.^2,3

Stephen Sackett, law stationer of London, son of Paul Sackett and Alice Reynolds, was born in Margate, Kent^G, on 12 April 1779 and baptized at St John in Thanet^G on 29 April 1779.¹ He died aged 41 in Holborn, Middlesex^G, on 26 July 1820 and was buried at St John in Thanet^G on 2 August 1820.^3,4 He married at St Andrew's by the Wardrobe, Holborn, London City^G, on 13 October 1803, Elizabeth Hughes.²
     Stephen's widow Elizabeth married second at St Andrew's, Holborn, on 25 December 1822, Thomas Ruscoe.⁵
     Stephen was named as a beneficiary in his brother Thomas's will made in New Cross, St Paul's, Deptford, Kent^G, on 25 August 1804. He was left a sum of £50, and he and his wife Elizabeth were each left £5 for mourning.⁶
     Stephen Sackett carried on a business as a law stationer at 8 Quality Court, Chancery Lane^G, from about 1804, when he advertised for an apprentice.⁷ He took a Thomas Devonshire as an apprentice, paying the requisite duty on the indenture of apprenticeship on 10 December 1805.⁸ The business was listed in numerous city directories from 1805.^9,10,11 He was a frequent advertiser in the Times of London from about 1817. The advertisements were mainly for junior positions in the legal profession, suggesting that the business was used as a recruitment agency or perhaps as an accommodation address. The business subsequently traded under the name of Sackett & Ruscoe.

Elizabeth Sackett, daughter of Paul Sackett and Alice Reynolds, was born in Margate, Kent^G, on 6 June 1781 and baptized at St John in Thanet^G on 10 June 1781.¹ She died in infancy and was buried at St John in Thanet^G on 17 July 1781.²