in the Seventies and Eighties. 87 



position of huntsman, and his place was filled up by the 

 appointment of George Gillson from the York and Ainsty. 

 Claxon had hunted the hounds since 1874, and in his prime 

 displayed such ability with the horn, and indeed was in 

 many ways such a valuable servant, that a brief notice of 

 his career may commend itself to readers. 



William Claxon was born at East Henningfield, Essex, 

 on August 1st, 1843, and commenced his hunting career 

 by obtaining a situation as second horseman to Nimrod 

 Long, with the far-famed Brocklesby Hounds, in 1865, 

 the very year, curiously enough, before John Bevans ful- 

 filled the identically same position. Making way for Bevans 

 in 1866, we find Claxon promoted to the post of second 

 whipper-in to the Brocklesby, a service which was continued 

 with satisfaction to his employer during the following season. 

 Wishing to better himself, Claxon next applied for and ob- 

 tained a place as first whipper-in with the Bicester, during 

 the mastership of Sir Algernon Peyton, Bart. This was in 

 1868; and for the second time his vacant place at Brocklesby 

 was filled up by Bevans, who thus became second whipper-in 

 there. Geo. Boxall was the Bicester huntsman when Claxon 

 joined that pack, and he continued to hunt the country until 

 1872, when Sir Algernon Peyton made up his mind to put 

 forward Claxon as huntsman ; unfortunately, shortly after his 

 determination Sir Algernon died (March, 1872),* and was 

 succeeded by Viscount Valentia in the mastership. The new 

 master carried out the ideas of his predecessor, and Claxon 

 held the horn in the season of 1872-3 ; as, also, in the 



• Sir Algernon Peyton, who came of a great " four-in-hand '' family died very suddenly 

 from heart disease in the " King's Arms " yard at Bicester, on March 25th, 1872, after a 

 day with his hounds ; he had previously been master of the Bicester from 1861-3, and 

 was now only in his fortieth year. His popularity in the Hunt was universal. 



