Thomas Highflyer
Thomas Highflyer (1858 – 20 June 1870) was a former slave who was born in East Africa and who later lived and died in Brighton.[1][2][3]
Rescue[edit]
He was one of 152 Africans found on an Arabian ship off the coast of Zanzibar on August 24, 1866 by HMS Highflyer.[1][2] He and several other boys were put to work on HMS Highflyer, with Thomas working as a valet before disembarking in Brighton in 1868.[1] He was named Thomas Malcolm Sabine Highflyer after ship captain Thomas Malcolm Sabine Paisley.[1][2]
Life in Brighton[edit]
He lived in a lodging house in Great College Street, Kemp Town, with Henry and Eliza Thompson, who wanted him to be educated.[1][2] He attended St. Mark's School in Whitehawk, where the headmaster encouraged other pupils to welcome him.[1][2] He attended All Souls Church, near Kemp Town, which was the first church built by Reverend Henry Wagner.[1] His life story was told in a book dedicated to teaching young people about Christianity and how the word of God was spread across the globe to such lands ad Africa and India.[4]
Death[edit]
In 1870, he died from tuberculosis and dropsy.[1]
Grave[edit]
He was buried in Woodvale Cemetery.[1] Bert Williams, co-founder of Brighton and Hove Black History, said: "The English climate didn’t suit him. But you can tell by the expensive gravestone at Woodvale that he was loved. He was treated like a son by Mrs Thompson."[1]
In January 2018 his gravestone was removed for restoration work.[1] In June 2018 a ceremony was held to lay a new gravestone for him.[2] The ceremony included pupils from Thomas' former school, Bert Williams, president of Brighton and Hove Black History, and Paul Campbell, a representative of the council.[2][3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Arscott, Jack (22 January 2018). "New grave for freed slave Thomas Highflyer who lived in Brighton". The Argus. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hsin-Li, Lo (21 June 2018). "Thomas Highflyer lived and died in Brighton". Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Brighton celebrates life of African slave boy". ITV News. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ The Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor. Seeley, Jackson, & Halliday. 1870.
External links[edit]
- Tom Highflyer - Brighton and Hove Black History