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I am looking for information on strongman Saxon Brown. I know he was born in 1911 and Saxon Brown was the name of his act. He married a greast great aunty, but unfortunately I can not find out his real name. My dad was told when he was young that Saxon's real name was Braun or similar and the family changed their name during WWII.I have tried to research Saxon but it just comes up with his ability to bend nail etc, so any further information will be greatful.

that is my problem my dad can vaguely remeber him and he thinks that he married his great aunt who was a West but he is unsure but on a photo it says born 1911 on the back and to uncle Henry(or harry) hard to decipher the handwriting

There are lots of old film clips and pictures of him on the internet but no general information.

I have just been looking at the photos again and noticed that it says 'to my best relative Uncle Will Brown(i think) from Henry Brown otherwise Saxon Brown and it is dated 12/11/1924 and think it says Sunderland.
Unfortunately i can not find a phototgrapher name on it as i think it was one of his promotional postcards.

Found 4 marriages Brown to West.
Henry to Frances C west 1934 in Hendon.
Henry R to Clara West 1921 West Ham.
Henry J to Florence M West in Croydon 1928.
Henry C to Josephine L West in 1935 Sussex.

Do any of these names ring any bells with your dad.

What area were they from?

Maryb

The West's were from Cheshire around Burland area. I know that Saxon Brown travelled around with his strongman act.

If Saxon Brown was born in 1911 would he really have been sending out promotional photos in 1924 age 13?

1911 census.
James H Brown 42 Sunderland occ general lab.
Elizabeth wife 40 Sunderland married 18 years
Mary Jane dau 17 Sunderland occ spinner
Harelus? son 16 Sunderland
Alice dau 11 Sunderland
David son 9 Sunderland
James son 6 Sunderland
Christiana dau 4 Sunderland
Henry son 4 Months Sunderland

Address 28 Nesham Sq. Sunderland

Saxon was down on record as being Britains strongest youth,so he must have started his training very early.

Maryb

Just watched one of his short films and he doesn't seem to have a accent from Sunderland area.
Are we sure he was from there?

Maryb.

James h Brown on the 1911 census was the son of hercules brown born 1845 in Shetland.
The Harelus 1895 is Hercules/Harcules born 1895.

This could be a connection Hercules legendery strongman.

There is a tree on ancestry with hercules 1845 but it is locked.
There are also some on here for Hercules and James h brown 1868-1870 sunderland

Maryb

Mary.
I found theses births

James Harclus Brown 1868 dec qt Sunderland
Hercules Brown 1884 dec qt Sunderland .

marriage.
James Harclus Brown 1893 mar qt Sunderland to possibly Elizabeth Jane Davison

Seems to fit with the 1911 census

Hello Andrea i see your post was some time ago but i have Saxon (Henry) Brown in my family tree
He was born in London 1904/5
His Dad Henry Brown
His Mum Sarah Jones b. 8. 8. 1882. Tarporley Cheshire married in Camberwell London in 1904
Sarah then married Adam Scheder in Germany?
they had 3 children
Rose Scheder 1914 b. Camberwell London
Cecily Scheder b.1915
William Scheder b.1920 Hannover Germany
Adam Scheder b. Baveria 27. 2. 1876 .
The family came back to England abt 1927 and started to use the name Brown
Family stories say your Aunt .Sarah and William used to help Henry (saxon)with his stage act
I would love to hear any info. you have on the family Regards Jean

Hello Jean, welcome to the boards.

It's 4 years since Andrea posted so she'll probably not be expecting any replies now.

You could click on her name to send a direct message and, if she has an up to date email address on her account, she'll be notified of your contact.