Thomas Hames Savory

Thomas (Tom) Hames Savory was born in 1828, the eldest child of John and Martha Savory and older brother of Charles Harley Savory. He was baptised on 17 September 1828 at St Mark’s Kennington.

He was apprenticed to his great uncle, Thomas Field Savory, in 1844. As the eldest son he was destined to take over the family business from his father. He thus became a partner in Savory & Moore at the early age of 26. He married Elizabeth Durlacher in 2 May 1854 at St James Piccadilly. Elizabeth was the daughter of Lewis Durclacher of 15 Old Burlington Street. Lewis was a chiropodist who was appointed as surgeon-chiropodist to the royal household in 1823 and served under George IV, William IV and Queen Victoria.

They had five children: John Field; Henry Charles; Allan Edward; Ronald George; and Maude Mary.

Tom died at the early age of 33 on 22nd March 1862 and was laid to rest in the Savory Vault in catacomb B at Kensall Green Cemetery on 29th March 1862. If Tom had outlived his father, the family line would have descended through his eldest son, John Field Savory, instead of his brother Charles Harley.

Tom and Elizabeth had lived, while he was alive, at 143 New Bond Street. After his death Elizabeth (described by Reginald Savory as “my aunt Lizzie, a grand old lady”) lived at 26 Harewood Square (now Marylebone Station).

Little is known of Tom, beyond the fact that, like his brother Charles Harley, he was an officer in the 11th Middlesex (St George’s) Rifle Volunteer Corps.