There were three generations of medical Thomas Searancke practising in Newmarket during the 18th century, father, son and grandson, their careers spanning about 100 years. This website refers to them as Thomas Searancke 1, Thomas Searancke 2 and Thomas Searancke 3! (but note Thomas Searancke 3 died in 1777, yet Thomas Searancke 2 was still in practice in 1791, and likely right up until his death in 1794).
However, the first Searancke in the Newmarket area was not a medic, but he was another Thomas Searancke, a cleric. This Thomas Searancke had gone to Westminster School followed by Cambridge University, after which he was ordained at London in 1677. He married Dorothy Rookwood the same year at Kirby Bedon in Norfolk. The following year they appeared in Kirtling, a few miles south east of Newmarket, where a Thomas son of Dorothy and Thomas Searancke was baptised on 9th June 1678. However, this Thomas died and was buried only a month later, after which Thomas Searancke 1 (the first medical Thomas Searancke) was baptised at Kirtling on 4th July 1679.
Thomas Searancke the cleric’s role in Kirtling is not yet known, but presumably he was a minister of some form. However, from 1682 it’s known that he was Rector of Ashley, also south east of Newmarket, and likewise of Ashley and neighbouring Cheveley from 1703 until his death in 1730. The Searanckes also had a daughter Elizabeth, who died in 1686, and another son Rookwood (born about 1681 according to his later Cambridge University details) who became Rector of Roydon in Norfolk. Dorothy their mother died in 1698 when Thomas Searancke 1 was about 20 years of age. His father appears to have remarried to an Amy, who died in 1704.
So Thomas Searancke 1 grew up in villages a few miles south east of Newmarket in the late 1600s, the eldest son of a local rector. See the page on Thomas Searancke 1 for more details about his family and career (with more references than those below) but here is an account in summary form. At some point he would have served an apprenticeship to an apothecary, perhaps to Newmarket’s Gilman the apothecary? Although only ever referred to as an apothecary in the surviving records, Thomas Searancke 1 might well have had surgical skills too, since someone passed such skills on to his son, Thomas Searancke 2, who continued to practice in Newmarket after Thomas Searancke 1’s apparent retirement to Bury St Edmunds in about 1750 in his early 70s. It’s of note however that this first medical Thomas Searancke returned to be buried at Newmarket’s St Mary’s church in 1754. So Thomas Searancke 1 likely ran the Searancke practice from about 1700 until 1750, when Thomas Searancke 2 (by then in his mid 20s) would have continued his father’s business. Simon Clements the apothecary and possibly even Edward Harwell the surgeon perhaps worked alongside Thomas Searancke 1 in the first half of the 18th century (see the pages on these individuals for more details). Their main rivals at that time would have been William Raby, followed by Wotton Braham then William Sandiver 1 (the latter being an alternative possible source for Thomas Searancke 2’s surgical training).
As mentioned above, Thomas Searancke 2 was very definitely both surgeon and apothecary. Again see the page on Thomas Searancke 2 for more details about his family and career (with more references). Here is an account in summary form. During his time the Searanckes occupied a building referred to as ‘the workhouse’ (possibly overlapping with Thomas Searancke 1 there). It’s unclear whether this was an historic name for the building or perhaps the Searanckes role included poor law work – interestingly the building was owned by Simon Clements’ brother in law, hence the possible professional connection between the Searanckes and Simon Clements mentioned above. His career was long, like his father’s, spanning at least 40 years. The main rival practice during that time was that of the Sandivers, but towards the latter part of Thomas Searancke 2’s career the practice of John Edwards / Walter Norton began to flourish, eventually essentially replacing the Searancke practice as the main rival to the Sandivers. The poorly documented Elijah Robinson was also active in Newmarket during the career of Thomas Searancke 2. The Searancke practice came to an end in the 1790s with the death of this second medical Thomas Searancke, since although Thomas Searancke 3 was apprenticed to his father, and even went on to Cambridge University (likely with the aim of gaining a university medical degree) this third medical Thomas Searancke died in 1777 during his first year at university, when he must have been about 21 years of age.
Note: see the specific pages on Thomas Searancke 1, Thomas Searancke 2 and Thomas Searancke 3 for many more references relating to these individuals.
1677, 24th August: Thomas Searancke (Clerk) married Dorothy Rookwood, St Andrew’s church, Kirby Bedon, Norfolk. Reference: Microfilm of Kirby Bedon parish register (microfilm 1682), (Norfolk County Record Office, Norwich).
1678, 9th June: Thomas son of Thomas and Dorothy Searancke baptised. Reference: An indexed transcription of the parish registers of Kirtling. Cambridgeshire Family History Society; 2007, (Cambridgeshire County Record Office [called Cambridgeshire Archives], Cambridge – subsequently relocated to Ely).
1678, 13th July: Thomas son of Thomas and Dorothy Searancke buried. Reference: An indexed transcription of the parish registers of Kirtling. Cambridgeshire Family History Society; 2007, (Cambridgeshire County Record Office [called Cambridgeshire Archives], Cambridge – subsequently relocated to Ely).
1679, 4th July: Thomas son of Thomas and Dorothy Searancke baptised. Reference: An indexed transcription of the parish registers of Kirtling. Cambridgeshire Family History Society; 2007, (Cambridgeshire County Record Office [called Cambridgeshire Archives], Cambridge – subsequently relocated to Ely).
1686, 15th January: Elizabeth daughter of Thos Searancke (clerk) buried. Reference: An indexed transcription of the parish registers of Ashley cum Silverley. Cambridgeshire Family History Society; 2007, (Cambridgeshire County Record Office [called Cambridgeshire Archives], Cambridge – subsequently relocated to Ely).
1698, 5th January: Dorothy wife of Thomas Searancke (clerk) buried. Reference: An indexed transcription of the parish registers of Ashley cum Silverley. Cambridgeshire Family History Society; 2007, (Cambridgeshire County Record Office [called Cambridgeshire Archives], Cambridge – subsequently relocated to Ely).
1704, 1st August: Amy wife of Thos Searancke (clerk) buried. Reference: An indexed transcription of the parish registers of Ashley cum Silverley. Cambridgeshire Family History Society; 2007, (Cambridgeshire County Record Office [called Cambridgeshire Archives], Cambridge – subsequently relocated to Ely).
1723, 2nd January: Thomas son of Thomas and Mary Searanck baptised, St Mary’s church, Newmarket. Reference: J552/9, microfilm of Newmarket St Mary’s parish register, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds). [Note: it’s not entirely clear whether there’s a small superscripted ‘e’ on the end of Searank here.]
1730, 4th January: Mr Thomas Searancke (rector of this parish, died 1st January) buried. Reference: An indexed transcription of the parish registers of Cheveley. Cambridgeshire Family History Society; 2007, (Cambridgeshire County Record Office [called Cambridgeshire Archives], Cambridge – subsequently relocated to Ely).
1750, 13th September: The will of John Scotman of Newmarket… Clerk (probate 27th September 1750). Reference: IC500/1/204(46), (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds). [Note: this mentions a house he owned in Newmarket known as ‘the workhouse’ occupied by Thomas Searancke, apothecary and surgeon. This could have been Thomas Searancke 1 or Thomas Searancke 2, but was probably the latter who was likely the Thomas Searancke junior witnessing the will (possibly both lived and worked there – were they perhaps medical officers to the workhouse?). In his will this property was left to Simon Clements the nephew of John Scotman, son of Simon Clements the apothecary, possibly an apprentice of Thomas Searancke 1?]
1754, 27th November: Thomas Searancke buried, St Mary’s church, Newmarket. Reference: J552/9, microfilm of Newmarket St Mary’s parish register, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds).
1756, 13th February: Thomas son of Thomas and Susannah Searancke baptised, St Mary’s church, Newmarket. Reference: J552/9, microfilm of Newmarket St Mary’s parish register, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds).
1770 7th August: ‘Thomas Searancke Son of Thomas Searancke of Newmarket in the County of Cambridge apothecary bound to his said father’. Reference: Apprentice Binding Book 1694-1836, The Society of Apothecaries Archives, Apothecaries’ Hall, Black Friars Lane, London EC4V 6EJ. [Note: see the page on Thomas Searancke 3 for an image of this.]
1777, 2nd February: Tho Searancke buried, St Mary’s church, Newmarket. Reference: J552/9, microfilm of Newmarket St Mary’s parish register, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds).
1791: Thomas Searancke, surgeon, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (listed under ‘Physic.’). Reference: The Universal British Directory of Trade, Commerce, and Manufacture. London: Printed for the patentees, at the British Directory Office, Ave Maria-Lane; and sold by Champante and Whitrow, Jewery-Street, Aldgate; 1791.
May P. The changing face of Newmarket 1600 – 1760. Peter May Publications; 1984.
Nichols JG. The topographer and genealogist. London: John Bowyer Nichols and sons; 1853; Vol II, pg 392. Under Catalogue of Sepulchral Munuments, &c. Lackford Hundred, Suffolk. Newmarket, St. Mary. Monuments: ‘3. Mural, large, of stone, for Mary Searancke, late wife of Thos. Searancke, and daughter of Wm. Sandiver, both of this parish. She died June 2, 1735, aged 35. Also the said Thos. Searancke, who died Nov. 23, 1754, aged 76. Also Susanna Searancke, who died Nov. 2, 1765, aged 36. Also Thos. Searancke, surgeon, who died Feb. 5, 1794, aged 72. Also Dorothy Holmes, relict of the late Wm. Holmes, Esq. of Thetford, Norf, who died 6th June 1802, aged 82.’ [Note: there is also a transcript on J562/69 (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds). It shows that the above transcript is not word for word, since it reads, ‘Large mural monument in stone “In the middle of the Chancel resteth ye body of Mary Searancke late wife of Thos Searancke and daughter of Wm Sandiver both of this Parish she departed this life June ye 2d 1735 aged 35 Also ye Body of ye said Tho Searancke who departed this life novr ye 23d 1754 aged 76 Also ye Body of Susanna Searancke who departed this life novr 2d 1765 aged 36 years” On a piece of stone below “Also the body of Tho Searancke Surgeon eminent in his Profession and much Respected by all who knew him He departed this life Feby 5th 1794 Aged 72 years”’.], [Note also, this memorial is no longer visible (in 2013/14), presumably having been removed or covered over in later renovation works?], [Note also, both transcripts give Susanna Searancke’s year of death as 1765, but clearly this is incorrect since she is recorded in the 1763 burial register (see Thomas Searancke 2 references). Whether it’s the transcripts or the original stone that have the error on is not known, since the original stone is no longer visible, but the fact that two apparently independent transcripts have the same error suggests that the error is on the stone, or that the stone was damaged and poorly visible at this point.]
S.H.A.H. Biographical List of Boys Educated at King Edward VI Free Grammar School, Bury St. Edmunds. From 1550 to 1900. Bury St Edmunds: Paul & Matthew; 1908. Entry 61: ‘SEARANCKE Thomas. Son of Thomas Searancke of Newmarket, druggist. One year at Bury under Wright. Elected to Hewer exhibition May 1776. Adm. to Caius Coll. March 1776 aged 20. He was dead by March 1777, when William Nesfield was elected to his vacant exhibition.’
The research notes of Peter May. Reference: HD1584, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds).
Venn J, Venn JA. Alumni Cantabrigienses. Cambridge: At the University Press; 1927; pt 1 (vol IV), pg 38: ‘SERANCKE, ROOKWOOD. Adm. sizar (age 17) at TRINITY, May 28, 1698. S. of Thomas (below), R. of Ashley, Cambs. School, Bury St Edmunds (Mr Leeds). Matric. 1699; B.A. 1701-2. Ord. deacon (Lincoln) May 23, 1703. R. of Roydon, Norfolk, 1709.’
Venn J, Venn JA. Alumni Cantabrigienses. Cambridge: At the University Press; 1927; pt 1 (vol IV), pg 38: ‘SERANCKE, THOMAS. Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 15, 1671. School, Westminster. Scholar, 1672; Matric. 1674-75; B.A. 1674-5; M.A. 1678. Ord. priest (London) Dec. 23, 1677. R. of Ashley, Cambs., 1682-1730. R. of Cheveley, 1703-30. Died 1730. Father of Rookwood (above).’
Venn J. Biographical history of Gonville and Caius College 1349-1897. Cambridge: At the University Press; 1898; vol II, pg 96: ‘Searanke, Thomas: son of Thomas Searanke, druggist, of Newmarket, Suff. Born there. School, Bury, one year, under Mr Wright. Age 20. Admitted sizar, March 1 1776. Scholar, Michs 1776 to L.Day 1777.’
Wallis PJ, Wallis RV. Eighteeth century medics. [2nd ed.]. Newcastle Upon Tyne: Project for Historical Biobibliography; 1988. [Note: this references two Thomas Searan(c)kes, one as apothecary and subscriber London and Newmarket before 1735 and after 1783 appearing to have merged the different Thomas Searankes, but Thomas Searancke 2’s bishop’s licence is listed separately as Thomas Searancke surgeon.]
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