52 Ancestors 2026 Week 17 - Working for a Living
George Alexander Butchers (1866–1938) My paternal 1st cousin 3× removed Lewes Races 1932 Some ancestors leave only faint traces in the records — a census line here, a baptism entry there. Not George Alexander Butchers , his entire working life spilled across the pages of the sporting press for half a century. His story is not just one of “working for a living,” but of living through work — through horses, racing, risk, and relentless early mornings. 🐴 From Rye to the Racing Yards Born in Rye in 1866 , George grew up in a family where work began early and never really stopped. By fifteen he was already a groom in Findon , learning the trade from the ground up: feeding, brushing, calming, and understanding horses in a way that only comes from long hours and instinctive connection. He was apprenticed to W. Bevil , trainer of the Oaks winner Placida — a prestigious start for a Marsh boy. And in 1884 , he rode his first winning mount , the earliest newspaper trace of a career that would ...
