Service
From Private to Corporal: 11th of July 1833.
Corporal to Sergeant: 25th of October 1835.
Never served as Troop Sergeant Major.
Promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major on the 29th of November 1839.
Gazetted as Cornet in the 8th Hussars on the 17th of September 1841, and appointed to Adjutant on the 3rd of October of that same year.
The circumstances of this promotion were as follows.
Letter to the Horse Guards from Major MacCall, 8th Hussars (then commanding the regiment following the death of Colonel C.B. Molyneux, the father of Charlie Berkeley Molyneux of the 4th Light Dragoons):
"Hulme Barracks.
28th of August 1841.
As there has been of late years a great desire at the Horse Guards when the opportunity arises, to grant a commission to a deserving non-commissioned officer, and in the case of the present promotions in the Regiment, our Adjutant, (Lieutenant George Brown) who has served in that capacity with the greatest credit to himself and advantage to the Regiment for five years, will be nearly first for the purchase of a troop, and is therefore anxious to resign the Adjutancy without being obliged to purchase a cornetcy for his successor on purchasing a troop.
I take the liberty of recommending to bring to your Lordship's notice our Regimental Sergeant Major Seagar, a very respectable, smart and intelligent young man, and an excellent drill, for the vacant cornetcy.
His friends are in good circumstances, and could afford to give him four or five hundred pounds to fit out and in case your Lordship should see fit to promote him I think the Regimental Sergeant Major would be fully competent to hold also the position of Adjutant, should Lieut. Brown be given permission to relinquish it."
This was a commission without purchase, and not, as believed by the family, to have been purchased for him by his elder brother.
Lieutenant in the 8th Hussars: 29th of June 1843.
__________
Marriage
He married, on the 23rd of October 1845, at the parish church of St Lawrence, at York, Jane Emily, the daughter of John Rothwell, Gentleman.
His bride was baptised in the Church St Maryhill Senior on the 9th of June 1819, the daughter of John Rothwell and his wife, Jane Sarah (nee Brearey) who were married in the same church on the 7th of January 1817. The service was conducted by the Revd John Harrison and the witnesses were Christopher Spencer Breag and Catherine Segar.
He was then 33 years of age and she 25. His place of residence was shown as Longford, Ireland, and hers as the parish of St Nicholas, extra part. [i.e. outside the city walls].
__________
1851 Census
6, Ditchling Terrace, parish of St Peter's, Brighton.
In 1851 he is shown as 38 years of age, born in Wavertree, Lancashire, with his wife Jane Emily, 30, born at Massenthorpe, Norfolk.
There were two children in the family at this time, Jane Emily, 2, and Edward Hassall [sic], aged one year.
(Another son is known to have been born, at 2, Burfield Place, Stockwell, Ireland, on the 23rd of March 1865.)
"Life in camp before Sebastopol. No. 4 The midnight alarm, 1854"
The NAM website quotes Edward "Seager" to comment on this lithograph.
(Click on image to enlarge)
'Life in camp before Sebastopol. No. 4 The midnight alarm', 1854 (c).
Coloured lithograph after unknown artist , No 4 in the series of six prints 'Life in Camp Before Sebastopol' published by Read and Company, 22 November 1854.
The Cavalry Division was posted near Balaklava, guarding the Britisharmy's lines of communication. During October 1854, false alarms were numerous, as Lieutenant Edward Seager of the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Hussars) complained: 'The cavalry have been worked very much, as we do all the outpost duty, night and day. We cover Balaklava, being encamped in the valley leading to the town and we have to find patrols, pickets, and vedettes for all the country around our position. We are protecting the rear of our position from attack, and what annoys us the most is there is scarcely a day passes that it does not sound turn out the whole, and away we have to go to look at a few cossacks; perhaps to remain there for many hours'.
NAM Accession Number: NAM. 1981-10-110-2
Copyright/Ownership: National Army Museum Copyright
Location: National Army Museum, Study collection
Object URL: https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1981-10-110-2
Seagar took the place of Edward Tomkinson at Balaclava after the latter's horse had been killed. In a letter home to his wife, he (Seagar) wrote:
I then took command of the squadron, and placed myself in front of the centre. [Up to this time he had been riding on the right of the line of officers leading the squadrons.] About this time we discovered a large body of Russian Lancers coming up on our rear to attack us and we immediately wheeled about to show fight.
I kept with the squadron, Clutterbuck having the left troop and Phillips the right, with me in the front of the squadron, leading.
We dashed at them, they were three deep, with lances levelled.
I parried the first fellow's lance, the one behind him I cut over the head, which no doubt he will remember for a long time, and as I was recovering my sword, the third fellow made a tremendous point at my body.
I had just time to receive his lance's point on the hilt of my sword.
It got through the bow, knocked off the skin of the knuckles of my second finger, and the point entered between the second and top joint of my little finger, coming out on the other side.
I shall most likely be returned as "Wounded" in the "Gazette", but you will see I have only got a little scratch that might look interesting in a drawing-room.
I have very little pain of it and I am writing with it."
[PB: I have transcribed the complete letter, which is worth quoting in full — copy in TEXTS Database.]
CHARGE: SEAGER'S ACCOUNT
Heights of Sebastopol
Thursday, 26th, '54.
You will hear that on Wednesday 25th we were engaged with the enemy, and thank God, I have ony received a slight wound on my right hand, and am obliged to write with my left.
The enemy came out at daybreak when we were in front of our lines. The Turks who held the Heights at the rear of us opened their cannon upon them, and we went up to support.
The Russians had an immense force commanded by Price Menshikoff. The Turks soon bolted, and the Russians got the heights and turned the cannon on us. We had to retire, and then a large body of cavalry followed us. The Heavy brigade engaged them, it was a beautiful sight, they made them run in right good earnest, and such a panic took hold of them that they made all the others run as well.
10, 000 Turks were the only infantry we had with us, and they behaved very badly, running away before a man was touched. I believe Lord Raglan will have nothing more to do with them.
About 3 o'clock pm by some mistake the Light Brigade were ordered to attack the Russian Cavalry, and we had to proceed down the extent of the valley about a mile long, at the other end of which the Russians were posted in force, and [on] the hills on each side of the valley were posted the Russian guns, and also on our right a line of infantry armed with Minie rifles. The whole of this force we had to pass before we got to their cavalry.
We advanced in three lines, the 4th, the 8th, the last line, sent in support. There were only about 100 of our regiment within the crossfire from both hills, both of cannon and rifles. The fire was tremendous, shells bursting among is, cannon balls tearing up the earth, Minie balls coming like hail.
Still we went on, never altering our pace or breaking us up in the least, except that our men and horses were gradually knocked over. Our men behaved nobly.
Poor Fitzgibbon was shot through the body and fell. He was [why not "is"?] supposed to be dead. Clowes' horse was shot under him, and the last that was seen of him, he was walking towards where we started from, and we supposed he was taken prisoner.
Up to this time I was riding in front of the men on the right of the line of officers. Clutterbuck who was on my left got wounded in the right foot by a piece of shell that must have cast me, and Tomkinson who commanded the squadron had his horse shot.
I then took command of the squadron, and placed myself in front of the centre. Malta (my mare) had just previously gotten a ball through her neck, just above the windpipe. But we went bravely on.
About this time we discovered a large body of Russian Lancers coming [up?] on our rear to attack us. We immediately wheeled about to show fight, the Colonel and Major got through somehow, but I think did not come in for the shock.
I kept with the squadron, Clutterbuck having the left troop and Phillips the right, [with?] me in the front of the squadron, leading. The men kept well together and bravely seconded us.
We dashed at them, they were three deep, with lances levelled.
I parried the first fellow's lance, the one behind him I cut over the head, which no doubt he will remember for some [a long?] time, and as I was recovering my sword, the third fellow made a tremendous point at my body.
I had just time to receive his lance's point on the hilt of my sword. It got through the bow, knocked off the skin of the knuckles of my second finger, and the point entered between the second and top joint of my little finger, coming out on [at?] the other side.
I shall most likely be returned as "wounded" in the "Gazette", but you will see I have only got a little scratch that might look interesting in a drawing-room. I have very little pain of it and I am now writing with it. This is the 27th October
[PB: he started writing on the 26th with his wrong, i.e. left hand — it appears it is now the next day and is he writing with his right again.]
We to go through a tremendous fire to get through the Russians. The Colonel and the Major were ahead, batteries and rifles peppering in grand style, a great number of men and horses having been killed, we had to gallop back through the fire in a scattered manner so as not to give them as great a chance of killing us.
On looking to see what had become of my men, I found they had got through and had scattered to the left to get out of reach of the rifles, and a large body of lancers were coming on my left to cut us off. I put Malta to her speed and she soon got out of their reach, but the shot and rifle balls flew in great quantities. Shells bursting over my head with an awful crash. Through all the fire I returned, sometimes walking my horse, sometimes galloping, until I got out of reach of the fire and found the remainder of the regiment collecting gradually and counting over the missing. That any of the Light Cavalry Brigade returned through the cross fire kept upon us, was through the Providence of God, to whom I am grateful more than I can express. Many a poor fellow was laid low. We had 26 men killed and 17 wounded, 38 horses killed and a number wounded. The Light Brigade is now a skeleton, as all the regiments suffered more or less. They give us great credit for wheeling about and attacking the lancers, it enabled the other regiments who were previously broken to get through much more easily. My brave mare might have known that life and death depended on her for she dashed through the Russians in fine style, and although wounded carried me safely to our supports.
The Heavies did not do anything in this, except the Greys, who were ordered to support us, but were afterwards ordered to retire when they had got them under fire. Everyone says this was a most gallant exploit of the Light Cavalry Brigade never excelled in history. British soldiers, if ordered, ride up to the cannon's mouth. But it is a shame to sacrifice such men. Lord Raglan is very angry, he says he did not order us to go through such a fire, but the man who carried the message from him to Lord Lucan (Captain Nolan), so I suppose the blame will all be laid to his account.
Among the 26 killed were Troop Sergeant McCluer, Sergeants Williams and Reilly; R.S.M Harding, I am glad to say, was not out with us that day, although much to his annoyance. I might have had a different account to give of him if he had been. He was laid up with a boil on his leg.
That night I was glad to lie down and slept well. For the alarms of the enemy we care little, for attacking everything as it comes is a matter of course. Even our battle of the 25th is like a tale that has been told, although I hope to celebrate it in England, please God, for some time to come.
I am for a few days a non-combatant, with my sword hand being useless, but it is getting on very nicely. We are gradually approaching Sebastopol with our guns. Tomkinson got back to us, also Philips, whose horse was also shot, both unwounded.
[Sources and notes: I have augmented EJB's shorter version using Laurence Crider's transcription in In Search, pp.201-2.
What was EJB's source? Presumably R.H. Murray's HISTORY OF THE VIII KING'S ROYAL IRISH HUSSARS 1693-1927 ...vol 2 pp.442-445?
CHECK against the original or other versions.
NB — comments etc in [ ] are PB's. I have indicated where Laurence Crider's transcription varies from the (shorter) section in EJB's notes.
According to Terry Brighton's bibliography, there is a copy [?] of the letter in the NAM.
He was shown in the casualty lists as being "Slightly wounded."
He is said to have carried pictures of his wife and children, a lock of hair from one of his children, and a prayer-book and testament given to him by his mother, in his sabretache.
The horse he rode at Balaclava, a mare called "Malta", received a ball through the neck, just above the windpipe, but carried on.
She was put to stud soon after returning from the Crimea and had two foals, one named "Alma" and the other "Balaclava." A bronze bust was later made of the latter, and an oil painting of "Malta" is in existence, painted by Walter Huggins, dated 1861.
The letter from which these extracts were taken is said to be in the possession of a great-grandson, Mr E.R. Drake-Seagar, and other letters in the possession of his grand-daughters, the Misses Paynter, were used to illustrate events in the The Reason Why, by Cecil Woodham Smith in 1953.
[PB, August 2015: I have yet to find copies or other references to the painting and bronze of "Malta", or indeed of Walter Huggins (not to be confused with the marine painter, William John Huggins, who died 1845). It would be good to find them.
The State Library of South Australia catalogue mentions a collection of "Letters from Edward Seager, 1841, 1847-1864, 1877". It is not stated how many there are, or the nature of their contents. They appear only to be available on microfilm. The link is http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:80/record=b2173091~S1.
The National Army Museum London lists "Two manuscript volumes containing copies of letters written to members of his family by Capt Edward Seager, 8th Hussars, 5 Jun 1854 — 15 Aug 1855, describing his service in the Crimean War. Archives 1983-11-9.]
Colonel Shewell came up to me, looking hushed, and conscious of having fought like a brave and gallant soldier, and of having earned his laurels well. Many had a sad tale to tell. All had been struck with the exception of Colonel Shewell, either themselves or their horses. Poor Lord Fitzgibbon was dead. Of Captain Lockwood no tidings had been heard; none had seen him fall, and none had seen him since the action. Mr. Clutterbuck was wounded in the foot; Mr. Seager in the hand. Captain Tomkinson's horse had been shot under him; Major De Salis's horse wounded. Mr. Mussenden showed me a grape-shot which had "killed my poor mare." Mr. Clowes was a prisoner. Poor Captain Goad, of the 13th, is dead. Ah, what a catalogue!
[Add proper reference. This comes from Chapter IV. It is possible she mentions him elsewhere, but I have yet to check.]
Captain, 8th Hussars: 26th of October 1854.
Letters sent by him to the Asst. Adjutant General, Cavalry Division, Crimea, re men of the Cavalry Division at Scutari:
"Scutari,
5th March 1855.
Sir, I have the honour to report to you, for the information of the Major General Commanding the Cavalry Division that the party of Cavalry Workmen under my command sailed from Balaclava in the Ship "Rockliff" on the 15th February and arrived in the Bosphorus on the afternoon of the 22nd.
Some delay occured by the vessel having to shift her moorings twice, and lighters having to be obtained for landing the Saddlery, it was finally disembarked with the Men on the evening of the 28th.
Since which time I have had the whole of it Regimentally sorted and the saddles stripped.
During the last two days, the Workmen, with the assistance of twenty men of the Cavalry Depot, have been engaged in washing and oiling the different articles, and the work is progressing satisfactorily.
The conduct of the men has been very good.
I beg to state that my time has been so much occupied by sending in requisitions, seeing them executed at Constantinople, and by a constant supervision of the Men in establishing a system, that I have had no opportunity of enquiry into the state of the Depot, but hope to be able to send you a report of it, next week.
I have the honour, etc. etc.,
Edward Seagar,
Captain, 8th Hussars.
Scutari,
3th March 1855.
Sir, Since my last report, I have the honour to inform you that I have visited the Hospitals and the Hospital Ships, at this Station. also the Hospital at Kalali, and I have seen the whole of the Cavalry Men at these places.
I enclose a nominal return of each Regiment with the result of my enquiries. I beg to suggest that each Regt. may be allowed to take a copy of their returns, and if there is any Man as yet unaccounted for, I will do my utmost, on being informed, to gain the intelligence required,
The Men under my charge are very badly off for Clothing and necessaries, two thirds of those out of Hospital here have got no Kits — with the exception of a flannel shirt, pair of drawers and two pairs of socks — given to them on leaving the Hospital, Boots, Shoes and Overalls are principally wanted, as few of the Men have participated in the issue of those articles.
If the different Regiments were to send a portion of the Boots and Overalls now in Store in the Crimea it would benefit the men very much and enable them to make a more respectable appearance on parade — some have no Dress Clothing, others no Dress Caps, and in some cases it is with difficulty a man can get clothed at all on coming out of Hospital.
All the spare swords, belts and arms might be sent here to be cleaned- some of the Men are without them.
The conduct of the Detachment has been very good.
The Saddlers have been repairing, and getting the Saddlery in order since the commencement of last week, and have made good progress.
Most of the leathers in some Regts. and the whole, in others, have been washed soiled, and are in much better condition than was expected.
A great number of the Saddle Trees are broken, but I fortunately found a Saddle Tree Maker here, belonging to the Greys, and he is now at work at them, in addition to the Saddlery brought from the Crimea.
I have taken out of the Store here about 80 sacks full of Saddlery, belonging to the different Corps, and will have it put in order.
Many of the Men complain that their Kits have been lost in Store here — others did [not? CHECK ORIGINAL] bring any from the Crimea.
I have also now obtained for the men much better accommodation than they had, and I hope it will tend to keep them in health.
I have the honour, etc. etc.,
Edward Seagar, Capt. 8th Hussars.
Appointed Asst. Military Secretary to Major General Lord William Paulet in the Bosphorus on the 28th of June 1855, and afterwards to Sir Henry Storks to the 31st of July 1856.
Major, 8th Hussars: 31st of January 1858.
Second Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment: 5th of August 1859.
Brevet-Colonel: 5th of August 1864.
Acting Q.M.G. (Dublin District) from the 3rd of November 1864 — 3rd of April 1870.
Extract from the Irish Times, 9th of April 1870:
"Colonel Seagar, who has just vacated the position of Assistant Quarter-master General of the Northern Division on the termination of his Staff service, has performed the duties of that appointment since November of 1864 with great zeal and ability, derived from long experience in the Army, and with great credit to himself and the public service.
Punctual and fair in every detail appertaining to that office, kind, courteous and obliging as a Staff officer he was, not withstanding the high office he held, very accessible to the lowest in the service, and ever ready to assist those who sought his council.
He was most popular with all of his brother officers with whom he came into contact from the urbanity of his manners and his kind and genial disposition.
His superiors held him in high esteem from the satisfactory way in which he discharged his duties, and his inferiors paid him the greatest respect, not more from his high position than for his innate worth.
He has served his country long and well in both peace and war, and he has now resigned a position for which he was well qualified, with the unfeigned regret of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance."
Inspecting Officer of Yeomanry Cavalry in North Britain (stationed at York) 1st of April 1873 — 3rd of April 1878.
1881 Census
2, Higher Terrace [now The Terrace], Tormorham, Devon [near Torquay]
The 1881 Census Returns show him as a Lodger in the house of Elizabeth Westlake, a Boarding House Keeper.
He is described as a Major General, Army, no place of is birth shown, with his wife, Jane E., a Major General's wife, 52, born in York.
Three children are listed as "Children of Major-General": Emily, 25, born in Ireland, Florence, 21, born in Ireland, and Harold, 18, born in London.
Presumably the family were on holiday in Devon.
Retired (as Lieutenant-General) on the 1st of July 1881.
Medals
Lieutenant-General Seagar served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the affairs of the Bulganak and Mackenzie's farm, battles of the Alma, Balaclava (self and horse wounded) Inkerman and the Siege and fall of Sebastopol.
Medal and four Clasps and the 5th Class Order of the Medjidie.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol, the Turkish medal, Order of the Medjidie 5th Class, and the Mutiny medal without clasp.
Served in Central India in 1858-59 and was present at the battle of Boordah. (Mentioned in despatches and Medal.)
He was appointed a C.B. on the 2nd of June 1877.
Received the Reward for Good Service, with an annuity of £50 per annum on the 10th of May 1872.
His name appears on a separate medal roll, made out at Nusserabad on the 16th of September 1859 (and signed by himself) containing the names of some five officers and nineteen men who were said to be entitled to the Mutiny medal only, and then in general for being in action at Boordah on the 5th of April 1859.
Some confusion arises here, however, as Hart's Army List credits him with a mention in dispatches, and the medal only, but in two other officer instances, although with the same campaign credit, as having the medal and clasp, but the other two had seen service elsewhere.
All the other officers named on the roll had joined the regiment at different times during the latter part of 1858 and the 1st of January 1859 from other units already serving in India.
Of the other ranks, two are shown as having been in action elsewhere than Boordah (only one of these having also served in the Crimea).
None of those so listed, of any rank, are shown on the main roll, made out at Camp Seronge (and signed by Lt. Colonel De Salis) on the 28th of November 1858.
No other reason for this contingent being separated from the main body can be found, unless it can be explained by the fact that the "Central India" clasp was awarded for operations between January-June of 1858 and the recording in the Regimental History of "Marching and counter marching was the order of the day from the middle of February (1859) to the 5th of April when the regiment assisted in the defeat of the mutineers at Boordah, near Muxmoodnugger.
They lost all of their baggage and close upon 500 men, never again collecting in the same force.
Lieutenant-Colonel Seagar was honourably mentioned for his conduct that day in command of the Eighth."
The musters for the period from October of 1857 have been checked and they show that he did not embark with the regiment aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857 but was sent to the Cavalry Depot at Canterbury in command of the Regimental Depot Troop.
Just when he left for India is not clear, he being shown as "On leave" from the 1st to the 30th of June 1858.
He most probably did rejoin the Depot from leave and embarked for India on some date after its expiration, the next entry being in the Regimental muster roll as having landed at Bombay on the 8th of October and having marched up-country joined the HQ of the regiment at Camp Chupprah on the 28th of December 1858 and would confirm what is recorded in the Regimental History:
"We, (the regiment) accordingly, on the 27th of December (1858) marched north-north-east and reached Barsud on the Great Trunk Road, meeting on our way Major Seagar and thirty-four men of the Eighth, the first draft which had reached headquarters since we came to India.."
The muster rolls for the period also confirms that "30 men landed at Bombay on the 8th of October 1858 marched up country and joined the Headquarters on the 28th December 1858.") There were others who arrived later, but did not join the regiment in the field, going to the Depot at Kirkee.) It also adds: The regiment was awarded the Medal for the Indian Mutiny and the clasp for Central India.
This was given to all who formed part of the columns of Sir H. Roberts, Sir H. Rose or General Michel.
The Medal alone was given to anyone else who had been in any column under fire.
He went back on leave to England from the 7th of March 1861 to the 10th of December 1862 and returned with the regiment to England aboard the "Renown" on the 12th of January 1864 and arriving in England on the 2nd of May.
Further information
In 1960 the then Editor of the Regimental Journal was invited to a Balaclava Dinner held in Sydney, Australia, by the past and present officers of its amalgamated regiment of the former Australian Light Horse.
One of the officers present mentioned that he had a friend in Southern Australia who possessed a letter written by an ancestor in the 8th Hussars a few days after the Charge.
Seemingly in its entirety, a typewritten copy was later provided and reproduced in the 1960 copy of the Journal.
The existence of this letter must have been known before 1927 as extracts from it were printed in the Regimental History of the Regiment published in that year.
In the accompanying notes the Editor stated that "it is to be regretted that we do not know the name of the descendant", and that Edward Seagar had run away from school three times in order to join the Army.
From what is known of his attempts to join, such is feasible.
It is quite possible too, that the owner of the letter was descended from the youngest son who had been sent to Australia after leaving school.)
As late as 1979, his grand-daughter, a Miss Paynter, was still living in the Midlands, and provided the following information on the family:
Edward Seagar came from a very respectable old Liverpool family and referred to his grandmother as being one of the Norrisses [sic?] of Speke.
He had apparently first joined the Army at a very young age, but was bought out by his irate parents.
He had first met his future wife at church, when stationed at York, her father being an officer in the Royal Navy, and of Irish ancestry. [No one of the name can be found in the "Navy Lists."] She had been brought up by her grandfather, whose name she thought, was Breasey.
Four sons and two daughters were born into the family.
Their eldest son, Edward, entered the Army but was "cashiered" for forging a cheque [no regiment is known, or when he served]. /p>
The second son went to Africa, "was quite nice, but always wanted money."
The third son was the contributing cause to his father's death, as, after an argument, Edward Seagar told his son "to leave the house, and never come back." and then felt sorry for him, and although he had a heavy cold at the time followed in search of him during bad weather, and caught pneumonia, from which he died.
The youngest son was sent to Australia on leaving school, "with enough capital to start him in life." He married "a good sensible woman", and their three sons all served in the 1914-18 war, the eldest in both Galipoli and France.
One of his two daughters never married, and the other became Miss Paynter's mother, her father being drowned when returning from America aboard the "Lusitania."
His granddaughter later added that Edward (the son) was good with horses, and his father got him a job, but his mother said he must be looked after, so he lodged with a lodge-keeper and — of course, said Miss Paynter, "he had to go and marry the lodge-keeper's daughter."
He was a "bounder" of the worst type, and tricked many of the rich people of Liverpool out of their money.
After his father's death he tried to blackmail his sisters for money, but they complained to the Chief Constable of Liverpool, and a few years later they heard that he had died.
Kathleen Mary Paynter [granddaughter]
[It has been established that this granddaughter was Miss Kathleen Mary Paynter, who lived at 18, Kent Road North, Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Born on the 4th of July 1893, she died in hospital on the 14th of December 1986 aged 93 years, her obituary notice stating that she was the "youngest and last surviving daughter of the late Charles and Emily Paynter.
Service at St Wilfred's Church, Harrogate, on Tuesday at 2 p.m., followed by a private cremation."
Her will was probated at Leeds on the 15th of April 1987, to the value of £79,880, but shows no specific requests of any military memorabilia belonging to her grandfather.
It is mainly concerned with the details of her burial in the family grave in St Oswald's churchyard at Bidston in Cheshire, the bequeathing of the leasehold of her home and, apart from two or three other small bequests (one of which was the sum of three hundred pounds to the church for the upkeep of the grave) to her god-son, Edward V. Paynter Reece, but with the proviso that he would dispose of all of her personal and domestic articles in accordance with a letter to be found with her papers.
Any surplus was to be held in trust for the benefit of her god-son and also of James Michael Seagar, of Middlethorpe Park, Mount Pleasant, South Australia, but should they pre-decease her, then to any of their children in equal shares on attaining 18 years of age.
(The James M. Seagar living in Australia was probably a cousin, and descended from the younger son of Edward Seagar who was sent to Australia but enquiries made in the Mount Pleasant area of South Australia failed to elicit any response as to there being any members of the family still living in the area.)
His widow, Jane Emily, died at 42, Waterloo Road, Dublin, on the 2nd of September 1898, but her home was at Latimer House, Llandudno.
In her will, made on the 10th of July 1895 she left most of her household possessions to her daughter, Florence Wallena, but there were specific bequests of a gold watch which formerly belonged to her family to her son Harold, her husband's gold watch to her daughter to be kept by her until the eldest son of her son Edward, was, in her opinion,
"old enough to take care of it and then hand it over for his own use absolutely", my memorial locket to my daughter Florence Wallena and after her decease to my granddaughter, (daughter of Jane Emily Sophia Paynter) her jewellery went to her daughters to be divided equally and "my husband's swords and medals shall be divided by my daughter Florence Wallena amongst herself and my other children,- she knowing of my wishes in regard to them."
When the probate was granted to Florence Wallena Seagar on the 17th of November 1898 the personal effects value was shown as £331/7/5d.
(Her actual funeral was not reported in any local newspapers, but an obituary notice in the Liverpool Echo, stated that "The funeral will leave 51 Devonshire Road, Claughton, for Smithdown Road Cemetery tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1 p.m.)
Jane Emily Sophia Paynter (wife of Charles Edwin Paynter) died at 17, Kingsmead Road, South Birkenhead on the 1st of December 1912, aged 63, and her will, probated at London on the 14th of February by Charles Edwin Paynter (Timber broker) Florence Violet Paynter (spinster) and Edward Segar (Retired corn merchant) .Her effects were totalled as £2,921/4/4d.
Extracts from her will:
This is the last will and testament of me, Jane Emily Sophia Paynter, wife of Charles Edwin Paynter of Birkenhead in the county of Cheshire and of the City of Liverpool, Timber broker, which I make on the 4th day of February 1907.
Whereas I am entitled to exercise a certain power of appointment given or reserved to me by the will of my late father Lieutenant General Edward Seagar, CB. made by the settlement dated the 20th of September 1882 and executed prior to my marriage with my said husband and whereas it is my will not to exercise this power, I give and bequeath my Balaclava sword, my silver mounted hoof of Malta and any other medal or medals and other heirlooms which I now possess or may hereafter become possessed of, to my said husband for his life and afterwards to my four children equally in such shares as he shall appoint.
I also give to my sister, Florence Wallena Segar, the sum of £100 free of duty.
From the Birkenhead News for Saturday the 12th of December 1912:
"The funeral of the late Mrs Jane Emily Paynter, wife of Charles Edwin Paynter, who passed away at her residence on Sunday took place in Bidston churchyard on Wednesday in the presence of a large number of friends.
Mrs Paynter was well known and respected and was the elder daughter of the late Lt. General Edward Seager CB., late of the 8th Hussars."
The principal mourners were her husband, her four daughters, Violet, Irene, Freda and Kathleen and her sister Florence Wallena.
None of her brothers were shown as being present, only two cousins of the Seagar family being named, neither were any wreaths shown as being from them.
Her husband, also of No 17 Kingsmead Road, South Oxton, Birkenhead, and of Liverpool (in 1914 he was shown as living at No 31 Devonshire Road, Cloughton) died on the 7th of May 1915 at sea.
His will, made at Liverpool on the 9th of November 1906, was probated in London on the 12th of October 1915, when his estate was valued at £31,574/0/8d.
Everything he possessed was left to his wife Jane Emily Sophia, "absolutely for her separate use if she survives me (which she did not) and if not, to such of my children who shall survive me in equal shares as they may agree or is decided upon by my executors.
The share of each daughter of mine shall be for their separate use." No mention was made of any specific bequests or any children named.
Extracts from the Birkenhead News, 12th of May 1915:
"Mr. C.E. Paynter Drowned — Mr Charles Edwin Paynter of 17 Kingsmead Road was amongst those who lost their lives in the "Lusitania" sinking on Friday.
His remains having been recovered and identified in Ireland by friends were removed to Oxton, the interment taking place yesterday at Bidston.
His daughter, Miss Irene Paynter was with him on the boat and was rescued from the water by a trawler.
Up to the very last moments Mr Paynter was assisting the lady passengers with lifebelts, of which there was a plentiful supply.
He found his daughter packing, and without knowledge of danger, and handed her a belt.
This young lady, who is about twenty years of age, put it on at once as she was bidden but fortunately an unknown gentleman passing by noticed it to be upside down and he assisted her in its adjustment.
To this providential intervention she doubtless owes her life as the adjusted belt acted efficiently.
Persistently refusing to leave her father, Miss Paynter and he went down together with the steamer, and in the opinion of Miss Paynter her father was struck as the ship foundered and rendered unconscious, for although he was a good swimmer and told her to cling to him he did not rise to the surface and Miss Paynter saw no more of her father alive.
Her own experience continued to be more terrible as after rising gradually to the surface she floated against some wreckage and to this she clung instinctively.
In a short while her consciousness failed and she believed she was in the water for about three and a half hours before being picked up by a trawler which landed her at Queenstown.
Mr Paynter was born on the 6th of June 1851 and was almost 54 years of age at his death.
He had married in 1882 the eldest daughter of Lieut.- General Seagar CB. who rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava.
He was a member of the firm of Arthur Dobell and Company, timber brokers, and also of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
He leaves four daughters, his wife having predeceased him, Miss Irene Paynter having now returned home and seemingly no worse for her ordeal.
Florence Wallena Seagar died at Misbourne House, Calverly Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on the 24th of March 1915.
Her will, made at No 47 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, on the 8th of March 1912, was witnessed by her cousin, Edward Segar, a retired corn-merchant and her sister Jane Emily Sophia Paynter, and made probate on the 14th of July 1915, her assets being to the value of £3,360/4/4d.
Not a single one of her brothers was mentioned in this will, only the first part mentioning any actual family.
Extract from the will:
I bequeath to my niece Florence Violet Paynter, for her own use and benefit such of my amethysts, books, pictures and medals, and all other articles of personal use or ornament which may at the time of my death be in the possession or under the control of my said sister Jane Emily Sophia Paynter or of my said niece and I bequeath any residue of my jewellery, silver, and articles of household or personal use or ornament to my friend Mary Llewellyn Evans absolutely....
A group, said to comprise of the Crimean medal with four clasps, the Turkish Medal (both un-named and said to be as originally issued) the Mutiny medal with the clasp for Central India and named to "Lieut-Colonel E. Seagar, 8th Hussars." and the Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class, was known to be in the stock of a London medal dealer in 1985.
The C.B., to which he was also entitled, was said not to be with the group. The asking price was £4,300.
(This group is now known to have been retained by the dealer in question as part of his personal collection.)
This group of medals, now with the addition of a C.B., but with no Turkish Crimean medal, was offered in a Glendinning's auction held on the 23rd of September 1993.
Then stated not to have previously appeared on the market, an extract from Hart's "Army List" was printed which showed his only being entitled to the medal for the Mutiny campaign, but this was added to by the claim that "One medal roll does not confirm the Central India bar but the above extract seems to establish his entitlement." and also "Although the Crimean medal is unnamed the source from which it came gives good reason for thinking that it is the one issued to Lieutenant General Segar." The expected bid had now risen to £5,000-6,000.
Possibly not reaching the expected reserve the group was unsold, but was sold privately after the sale.
(Now known to have been for £3,600.)
(In July of 1988 a group of four related medals and decorations to him were offered in a postal bid auction by a private collector in Scotland. Said to be from a collection built up over 15 years and sold for personal reasons.
Now described as C.B. (Military) HM London 1875 breast badge in gold with claw buckle, Crimea 1854, 4 bars, unnamed, Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India and the Turkish Order of the Medjidie, 5th class (back plate missing and slight enamel damage) there was again no mention of a Turkish Crimean medal, and the "guide price" asked was £5,000.)
Some evidence as to the disposal of his medals, etc., comes from the will of his widow, in which she tells her daughter to "divide them between herself and her other children." Following this daughter's death too, reference is made in her will to the leaving of medals to another member of the family.
Could it perhaps be that the Mutiny medal is the only real awarded one known to be in existence, the others perhaps being still in the possession of his greater family.
A photograph of him in uniform and wearing his medals, is in the NAM collection (said to have been deposited there on loan by a great-grandson, Mr E.R. Drake-Seagar, and who is also said to be the possessor of the letter sent from the Crimea.) Attempts by the descendant to obtain any details of the donor or to secure a copy of the photograph have been refused by the NAM.
([1996] It is now known that the NAM has consented to the family descendant being given a print of the picture held by them.)
(This picture is so indistinct that it is impossible to distinguish any medal details.)
In 1994 a great-great grandson, descended from his second son, George William (who had emigrated to South Africa), returned to England and enquired of the Regimental HQ if they had any records or items associated with Edward Seagar.
Told they had nothing but a picture and a short record of his Army service, the letter was passed on [to EJB] and he was given a copy of this record.
Just about all of this was new to him, the family only having a framed picture, a family bible containing only the South African family details, and hearsay stories which had been handed down.
(One point arises here relating to the picture, underneath which was written some details of his military career promotions and medal entitlements.
It said that he had the Mutiny medal with the clasp for Central India. Just when this latter was made out — or when the clasp was added — it is now impossible to say, but from its appearance, some considerable time.
There is no mention of the CB which he also awarded.
(George William Seagar served during the Anglo-Boer War as a Quartermaster, being posted to one of the many POW camps, and where he died from disease on the 5th of June 1902.
(No date of birth is known for him.)
His son, L.A. Seagar, served during World War One in East and West Africa and rising to the rank of Major during World War Two in the Permanent Force, at Pretoria, died in 1980.
He was also one of the 1937 Contingent from South Africa which visited Britain for the Coronation of King George the V1. )
