RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Essex => England => Essex Lookup Requests => Topic started by: BGB on Wednesday 02 July 08 18:03 BST (UK)
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My late uncle, Herbert Hamilton Brown became Vicar of Wix in 1934. Sadly he died in 1935 and is buried in the churchyard. For the previous 20 years or so he had held church appointments in Canada and USA. So it seems strange that he should become vicar at a small Essex parish.
I was wondering if someone might be able to visit the County Record Office to check the Diocesan records to see if the background to Herbert's appointment is mentioned? There seem to be no records of why Herbert came at Wix.
BGB
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I dont know, but it looks like he came back to England to retire. His death entry in the indexes in Oct/Nov/Dec 1935 shows he was 68. His birth can be found in the birth indexes in April/May/Jun 1867, Kensington reg district.
So if he took up office at Wix early in 1934, he would be 67 - maybe he had lived such an exciting life he found retirement boring so took up a little quiet country parish job to fill his time and be an interest.
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Lizdb's analysis has some merit but I think there is more to the Wix appointment than meets the eye. In those days parish vicar jobs were much sought after. There were more priests than parishes! Not like today.
Herbert had had a succession of 2-3 year posts in Canada and USA. This was the time of the Great Depression.
His sister, who was a farmer's wife, lived in the Wix area. I think the likely scenario is Herbert, possibly on account of age, couldn't find another USA appointment. Meanwhile, his sister or possibly some other close friend or relative, had heard about the vacancy at Wix and managed to get Herbert appointed. Church jobs in those days were for life so Herbert, at long last, would have a secure job. But sadly, he didn't live long enough to enjoy it, poor chap. I may be being fanciful - which is why I should like a check. Another interesting thing about Herbert is after being a widower for many years he married, in 1929 in Utica NY an Emily B. who was 28 years his junior and had come out from England to marry him. But when he died his sister was the signatory on the death certificate. Where was Emily, I ask?
BGB
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Hi BGB,
Possibly Emily could not face registering the death. I have a few death certs where the informant is not the "nearest and dearest" but a son/daughter or in-law.
I registered my mother's death as my dad could not face doing it.
Can you find Herbert and Emily travelling together from America?
Nanny Jan
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Hello Nanny Jan
Thank you for your comments. How do establish if Herbert and his wife, Emily B. travelled from USA to England c.1933? (There was a temporary appointment as Vicar of Thame, Oxon before taking up the Wix appointment in 1934).
I have established Emily's name is not on Herbert's tombstone and I've been in contact with the Wix historian.
With kind regards
BGB
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Hi BGB,
Is there perhaps a website listing passengers from USA to England? I know there is one for passengers from England!
Two more ideas; could Emily have died in USA? Did Herbert leave a Will mentioning her?
Nanny Jan
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Hello again, Nanny Jan
I am aware of sailing lists England to USA but not the reverse.
I suppose it is possible Emily B. died but unlikely because in 1930 she would have been aged only 35. But she might have died in childbirth in USA - who knows. Herbert's first wife did. I am checking out the marriage in Utica NY so I'll check deaths, too.
I hadn't thought about a will. Can they be obtained via the Internet? I doubt, though, the poor chap had much to leave.
Best wishes
BGB
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see
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1226.htm
for how to order a will online
or if you can get to Holborn in London, you can search the indexes free - still £5 to order a copy of the will if you find that there is one
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Hi again,
I've been looking for USA to England lists but not been successful; perhaps a posting on the Common Room board might yield an answer.
Nanny Jan
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Hi
I think I can throw some light on Rev Hamilton Browns wife Emily Baring Dumble
Emily was my great aunt and died in Keswick Cumbria in the 1970s they had no children I have a little more info on Emily if you are interested
cheers
Jan Moore
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Jan
This is a major breakthrough - to find the wife of Herbert Hamilton Brown! Very clever - how did you find out about my query? I am very interested to know more about her. Will you kindly explain how you are related to her. I have a lot of information on the Hamilton Browns if you would like a copy.
Regards
Brian Bucknall
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Brian / Jan,
Interested to note your several postings on Herbert Hamilton Brown as it provides closure on the life of my distant relative that I have been hunting for years. I have quite a deal of information on his origins and family (mainly Scottish) if anyone is interested.
Regards,
David Bailey AUS
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David
Good to hear from you. Were you the person from Australia who some years ago contacted Jesus College, Oxford University, asking for information about Herbert? When I contacted the archivist a year or so ago he said there had been a previous enquiry about Herbert from Australia.
I have got around 20 pages of data on the Hamilton Browns. I'll gladly send this if you wish. There are some mysteries to discuss and hopefully clear up.
My relationship to the HBs is Herbert's first wife (Charlotte Bucknall) was my grandfather's sister. I am in touch with his UK and US descendants.
Jan's relationship is she is the great niece of Herbert's second wife, Emily.
Perhaps you would kindly let us know how you are related?
BGB
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Brian,
Yes to the Jesus College question.
HHB's father George (sometimes + Hamilton Lowther) Brown was the brother of my 2xg grandfather Daniel Brown.
As far as I can tell the family traces back to Alexander Brown baptised Ardachuple in the ph of Kilmodan Argyll 31 March 1777 via Inverchaolain, Rothesay, Greenock and Dunbarton.
George's second family with Eliza Mary Smith was notable for the spread of births between London, Dunedin NZ, Melbourne AUS and Greenock SCT!
I was not aware of the 1908 marriage to Charlotte Annie Bucknall until today or the final fate of HHB and Emily.
I have some information on his church to church wanderings through Canada and USA (building on a letter that my grandmother received from brother Graham Hamilton B in about 1915) but this peters out in about 1922...until he appears in upstate NY in the 1930 census + Emily B. The response I received from at least one church in Canada could be interpretted to convey that HHB possibly had strong opinions that did not always sit well with his parishioners.
I have some photographs but not from George's line.
I am happy to share information but unsure how to contact you outside the chatroom.
Regards,
David.
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Hello to David in Australia.
I am interested in your "Browns". My family "Mains" farmed Ardachuple in Argyle, Scotland in the early 1800's. My ggrand father was Neil Mains who married Janet Campbell whose parents were Donald Campbell and Catherine Brown. m.1786. Isobel Mains married Donald Brown 1821 in Kilmodan.They had 11 kids including a Donald c.1834. I always wondered whether any of the Browns came to N.Z.
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I reckon David knows more about the early Browns that I do. There were a lot of Browns in that district of Scotland.
The Hamilton Browns did come to New Zealand! To Dunedin in fact. Their daughter Winifred Constance was born there in 1873. Hamilton Brown was a wool merchant. But they didn't stay but returned to England after a year or so in Melbourne.
BGB