I have subscribed just to post this message. I came across this article in a book of bound magazines called The Captain and published in 1903, and wondered if it might be of interest to anyone. I have no idea of the truth of it! I hope I have posted to the correct list, please let me know off list if not so I can correctly post, and apologies if so. Carol The Fat Boy Perhaps an account of the Fat Boy, who lived in Willingham years ago, would interest readers of The Captain. This wonderful boy was born on October 31st, 1741, and was of an extraordinary size for his age. He did not become well-known outside the village until a surgeon, Mr. DAWKES, of St. Ives, Hunts, examined and measured him upon hearing about him. The surgeon went to see the boy, who was named THOMAS HALL, when the youthful wonder was two years and ten months old. These were his measurements. Height, 3 ft. 8½ ins.; neck 14 1-5 ins.; waist, 23 1-5 ins.; thickest part of thigh, 14 3-10 ins.; his weight in his clothes was 4 st. 2 lbs. He was extremely strong. Mr. DAWKES saw him take up, and throw from him quite easily, a blacksmith's hammer weighing 17 lbs. The parents said that he went to school with other children, and if a boy made him angry, he did not fight him with his fists, but collared the offender and dashed him to the ground by sheer strength. He served boys three times as old as himself in this manner. His voice was like a man's, and his brain power was equal to that of a boy years older. Mr. Thomas HALL, his father, was a small man, and Mrs. HALL, his mother, was of middle size. The boy did not live many years, but died on September 3rd, 1747. Some of the inhabitants proposed that a monumental stone should be erected in memory of him, so one was placed over his grave, with an inscription in Latin on it. The following is a translation:- Stop traveller, and, wondering, know Here buried lie the remains of THOMAS the son of Thomas and Margaret, HALL; who not one year old, had the signs of manhood; not three, was almost four feet high; Endowed with uncommon strength, a just proportion of parts, and a stupendous voice: before six Died, as it were, of an advanced age. He was born in this village Oct. xxxi., mdccxli, and in the same departed this live Sept. iii., mdccxlvii. EDWIN L. READ