Tom M S Highflyer (c.1857-1870):
Woodvale Crematorium, Woodvale Drive, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 3QB.
Tucked away in an overgrown corner of the sprawling Woodvale Cemetary on the outskirts of Brighton is the grave of Tom M S Highflyer. For many years his story was unknown, but research by the Brighton and Hove Black History Group has recently uncovered how Tom came to Brighton.
An article in The London Standard on 1st September 1868 sets the scene:
“Captain TMS Pasley of the HMS Highflyer captured slave dhow for which prize money is about to be distributed and three African boys all were found on board the dhow have been brought to England and will, we hear, be well cared for by some of the officers. They had become great favourite on board and had been named respectively Tom Highflyer, Sam Oldfield, and Bob Dhow.”
Tom had been rescued two years earlier on 24th August 1866 by the crew of HMS Highflyer which had served a tour of duty as part of the Royal Navy’s East African Anti-Slave Trade Squadron. The crew named the boys after vessels connected with their rescue. Tom became Thomas Malcolm Sabine Highflyer, taking his Christian names from Captain Pasley.
Ongoing research suggests that his rescuers did indeed continue to provide for him after his arrival in Brighton. A tract published two years after his death by The Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor, entitled “Black Tommy’s Two Homes”, tells that received an education and attended bible classes. He was baptized “by his own request” on 30th March 1870, with the sister of one of the naval officers becoming his godmother. The tract reveals that he lodged with “a kind woman and her husband who were like a father and mother to him”, believed to be a retired coastal guard Henry Thompson and his wife Eliza on Great College Street, Brighton.
It was Henry who registered Tom’s death three months later on 20th June, the cause of death being given as “tubercular liver and dropsy”. On his death certificate, he is poignantly described as a “son of an African, name unknown”.
Inscription:
In memory of
Tom M.S. Highflyer
Rescued from a slave dhow
August 24, 1866
Baptised by his own request at Brighton
March 30 1870
Died at Brighton June 20, 1870
Supposed to be about 12 years old
Jesus said Him that cometh unto me will be no wise cast out
Further information:
www.black-history.org.uk
www.sussexlife.co.uk
