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The Claimant: The Extraordinary Story of the Butcher Who Said He Was a Baronet
It’s 1866, and from the dusty frontier town of Wagga Wagga comes a man who sets Victorian England alight – the likes of which have never been seen before or since.
A tale so preposterous that its veracity is still debated today.
Tom Castro – or was he Arthur Orton? – an obese, toothless butcher who lives in a slab-hut with his illiterate wife and children, suddenly comes forward and claims he is Roger Tichborne, the rightful Baronet of Tichborne Park, Hampshire, and head of one of England’s oldest, most noble Catholic families.
Incredibly, the family matriarch agrees.
So sets in motion a journey that takes our unlikely nobleman on a rollercoaster ride of fame, glory, prison and penury, unleashes the Tichborne Curse, disturbs Queen Victoria, delights Mark Twain, immortalises our Claimant in wax at Madame Tussauds, and strikes at the very heart of the English class system.
And, at the end of a tumultuous life, a strange posthumous victory to the Claimant leads some to still ask the question – was he Roger Tichborne, a baronet, or Tom Castro, a butcher?
A tale so preposterous that its veracity is still debated today.
Tom Castro – or was he Arthur Orton? – an obese, toothless butcher who lives in a slab-hut with his illiterate wife and children, suddenly comes forward and claims he is Roger Tichborne, the rightful Baronet of Tichborne Park, Hampshire, and head of one of England’s oldest, most noble Catholic families.
Incredibly, the family matriarch agrees.
So sets in motion a journey that takes our unlikely nobleman on a rollercoaster ride of fame, glory, prison and penury, unleashes the Tichborne Curse, disturbs Queen Victoria, delights Mark Twain, immortalises our Claimant in wax at Madame Tussauds, and strikes at the very heart of the English class system.
And, at the end of a tumultuous life, a strange posthumous victory to the Claimant leads some to still ask the question – was he Roger Tichborne, a baronet, or Tom Castro, a butcher?
- GenresHistory
304 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2016
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73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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April 9, 2017I requested this book because I have always been fascinated by history and also historic cases of mistaken identity or questions of identity. I had never heard of the story of Roger Tichborne before at all and I found "The Claimant" to be a wonderful introduction to this mysterious case.
At first glance, the story seems simple. A butcher from Wagga Wagga in Australia makes the stunning declaration that he is actually none other than Roger Tichborne, the missing (and presumed dead) Baronet of Tichborne Park. His biggest supporter is Roger Tichborne's mother who is certain that he is her missing son though there are others who back his claim. There are also quite a few others who are just as certain that he is an imposter. Eventually this question of identity is brought to trial to be put to rest once and for all.
The author must have done a great amount of research and really has a gift for sharing the detailed information without making it a dry read.
At first glance, the story seems simple. A butcher from Wagga Wagga in Australia makes the stunning declaration that he is actually none other than Roger Tichborne, the missing (and presumed dead) Baronet of Tichborne Park. His biggest supporter is Roger Tichborne's mother who is certain that he is her missing son though there are others who back his claim. There are also quite a few others who are just as certain that he is an imposter. Eventually this question of identity is brought to trial to be put to rest once and for all.
The author must have done a great amount of research and really has a gift for sharing the detailed information without making it a dry read.
May 25, 2025
I am still thinking about this.
Yes, this is a day of no tech, internet research, etc, but due to many particulars of Sir Roger (including an abnormal body part), somehow, the Claimant manages to get quite far with people and the process.
As Aussies, we need to know more about this story.
Yes, this is a day of no tech, internet research, etc, but due to many particulars of Sir Roger (including an abnormal body part), somehow, the Claimant manages to get quite far with people and the process.
As Aussies, we need to know more about this story.
September 10, 2021
While not necessarily well-known in the 21st century, the story of a butcher from Australia who claimed he was an English baronet was publicised widely across a number of countries in the late 19th century.
In this book, the author utilises a number of resources to tell the story of Tom Castro - a butcher living in Wagga Wagga - who comes forward to claim he is Roger Tichborne, the Baronet of Tichborne Park and head of one of England's oldest families.
I found the book an interesting read that moved relatively seamlessly between locations and perspectives. It was fascinating to read the varying opinions put forward at the time about whether the real Roger Tichborne had returned, including by Tichborne's mother. The author definitely put his views forward as to whether the claim by Castro was true, but he still allows the reader the opportunity to have their own opinion on the matter.
Overall, the book is good and allows readers to view the events of the time.
In this book, the author utilises a number of resources to tell the story of Tom Castro - a butcher living in Wagga Wagga - who comes forward to claim he is Roger Tichborne, the Baronet of Tichborne Park and head of one of England's oldest families.
I found the book an interesting read that moved relatively seamlessly between locations and perspectives. It was fascinating to read the varying opinions put forward at the time about whether the real Roger Tichborne had returned, including by Tichborne's mother. The author definitely put his views forward as to whether the claim by Castro was true, but he still allows the reader the opportunity to have their own opinion on the matter.
Overall, the book is good and allows readers to view the events of the time.
October 11, 2016
Through NetGalley I came to terms with this little diamond. For me picking a book is always an obscure undertaking and I bet that I break every single 'book-picking-rule' out there with my method. In this case I saw a Victorian-esque cover and I was sold (yup that's my way of making life's decisions!).
Through the book you are a spectator into the past. You follow the life story of a man claiming to be the heir of an old and powerfull British family. Of course rich people protect their riches and the claimant end ups in a never ending story of lawsuits and hardship. Will you find out how it ended? Will you find out the actual truth? Only one way to find out.
This is one of the better books I read this year. An engaging story in a great era and background. A tip for everyone who likes to read non-fiction historical books.
Through the book you are a spectator into the past. You follow the life story of a man claiming to be the heir of an old and powerfull British family. Of course rich people protect their riches and the claimant end ups in a never ending story of lawsuits and hardship. Will you find out how it ended? Will you find out the actual truth? Only one way to find out.
This is one of the better books I read this year. An engaging story in a great era and background. A tip for everyone who likes to read non-fiction historical books.
October 11, 2017
This is a workmanlike telling of the Tichborne Case that gripped London in the 1870s. The Claimant in question is Tom Castro, a butcher from the Australian town of Wagga Wagga, who claimed he was really Sir Roger Tichborne, missing heir to a baronetcy. It's a rollercoaster of a story that puts Victorian sensation novels to shame. The case (actually two trials, Tichborne v. Lushington and Regina v. Castro) had everything: Scandal! Shipwrecks! Tattoos! Infidelity! People being sent to the workhouse! Popular songs! Retractable penises! Witnesses from Australia and Chile! Mark Twain! An incidental character called Truth Butts!
The book itself needed a good edit for repetition, but that can't hide an absolute corker of a story.
The book itself needed a good edit for repetition, but that can't hide an absolute corker of a story.
November 21, 2016
“The Claimant” is a story that is so bizarre and extraordinary you couldn’t make it up. Depending on who you believe, an obese butcher from Wagga Wagga named either Tom Castro or Arthur Orton claimed to be the missing heir and English baronet named Sir Roger Tichborne. This claim was played out through a series of long trials in England in the 19th century and Tichborne’s mother accepted that this man was her long-lost son. This historic piece of non-fiction is a well-written book by journalist, Paul Terry (who has also penned biographies about Ned Kelly and Banjo Patterson) and is a veritable rollercoaster ride of smoke, mirrors and infamy.
August 25, 2020
Purchase The Claimant here for just $8!
In 1866 in Wagga Wagga, local toothless butcher Tom Castro claimed to be an English Baronet, and the head of one of England’s oldest, most nobles Catholic families. This claim sets in motion an extraordinary journey across the world, full of fame, glory, prison and a curse with appearances by Queen Victoria and MarkTwain. Yet at the end of his life the question still stands - was he really a baronet, or a butcher?
Kelsey - The Book Grocer
In 1866 in Wagga Wagga, local toothless butcher Tom Castro claimed to be an English Baronet, and the head of one of England’s oldest, most nobles Catholic families. This claim sets in motion an extraordinary journey across the world, full of fame, glory, prison and a curse with appearances by Queen Victoria and MarkTwain. Yet at the end of his life the question still stands - was he really a baronet, or a butcher?
Kelsey - The Book Grocer
January 2, 2017
Perhaps Wagga Wagga's most interesting story. This book gives a logical account and poses some possible conclusions to this mystery. Well written in an easy to follow format while retaining the approach of a fictional format.
January 19, 2019
A wonderful little journey through a fascinating part of Australia and England's history...
May 29, 2019
Truth is often stranger than fiction and this story is a fine example with a cast of characters that beggar belief. Well researched and a great read.
February 4, 2020
What a story. It’s hard to believe this is true, but it was. A good read with a heavy dose of history.
February 9, 2022
What an incredible story. Great read.
October 10, 2016
This book is a pretty wild ride. The description sets it up perfectly, but it's basically about a man who comes out of the wild bush of Wagga Wagga, Australia in the mid/late 1800's claiming to be a long-lost English Baron. Pandemonium ensues, both from the common folk who see him as a hero and the established aristocracy who see him as a threat.
Terry clearly spent a lot of time researching this story, and you can see it in all the details he adds. I especially liked how he told the current events happening in Wagga Wagga as the trials progressed, and their evolving thoughts on the whole spectacle even though they weren't directly involved. He also does an amazing job of tracing the Claimants footsteps throughout his life without it seeming to bog the narrative down. At the end Terry even goes on to tell what happened to the Claimants family and supporters after everything was basically wrapped up. He could have ended it, but instead he goes on and gives you closure, even if the people themselves didn't receive any.
I won't spoil what happens, whether he is or isn't Sir Roger, but I will say that I don't entirely agree with the conclusion the author comes to at the end. Well, I agree with the conclusion but not for the same reasons I suppose. I wouldn't say this book is open ended as there is a very definite opinion put forth by the author, but even he concedes that there are still some questions around the case that will never be answered to the Claimants supporters satisfaction. There are even relatively modern examples of people coming forward with "new information" to prove the Claimant was Sir Roger.
This is a tale of a man who, whether he was Sir Roger or not, lead a rather fascinating life that now exists only as an exciting tale from a previous age. I greatly enjoyed his story, and only wish that his ending was better than it turned out to be.
Review also posted on my blog.
Copy courtesy of Bonnier Publishing Australia/Echo Publishing, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Terry clearly spent a lot of time researching this story, and you can see it in all the details he adds. I especially liked how he told the current events happening in Wagga Wagga as the trials progressed, and their evolving thoughts on the whole spectacle even though they weren't directly involved. He also does an amazing job of tracing the Claimants footsteps throughout his life without it seeming to bog the narrative down. At the end Terry even goes on to tell what happened to the Claimants family and supporters after everything was basically wrapped up. He could have ended it, but instead he goes on and gives you closure, even if the people themselves didn't receive any.
I won't spoil what happens, whether he is or isn't Sir Roger, but I will say that I don't entirely agree with the conclusion the author comes to at the end. Well, I agree with the conclusion but not for the same reasons I suppose. I wouldn't say this book is open ended as there is a very definite opinion put forth by the author, but even he concedes that there are still some questions around the case that will never be answered to the Claimants supporters satisfaction. There are even relatively modern examples of people coming forward with "new information" to prove the Claimant was Sir Roger.
This is a tale of a man who, whether he was Sir Roger or not, lead a rather fascinating life that now exists only as an exciting tale from a previous age. I greatly enjoyed his story, and only wish that his ending was better than it turned out to be.
Review also posted on my blog.
Copy courtesy of Bonnier Publishing Australia/Echo Publishing, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews