Bryant & Potter - Bristol & Essex

[Robertb99]

I am trying to find information on my maternal grandparents, Fred Bryant (who was a carpenter by trade) and his wife, Rose Ellen Potter, who came to Canada in the early twentieth century.

My mother and some of her sibs were born in West Ham, although others were born in Bristol, around the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries.

I remember my mother making up packages of goodies to send to "Aunt Potts" in England during WWII, and hope to make contact with someone who remembers that side of the family.

I have applied to the Ontario Gov't to obtain a copy of Fred and Rose's death certs, so that I can begin to make the necessary links.  However, although they cashed my cheque in October, I'm still waiting for the requested certs to arrive.   

If anyone on this list can give me a leg up on my research on this side of the family (while I'm waiting for the gov't to get its act together), it will be greatly appreciated.

Robert in Kanata

[Robertb99]

Further to my original posting, I am posting additional family data that I have gathered to date, following a suggestion from a Senior on the Essex Board.   

Here is the family data that I have gathered so far; some of it has been validated from reliable sources; some of it is still tenuous.

Grandmother Rose Ellen was probably born in April of 1872 in Westminster to George & Elizabeth Potter (not yet confirmed).  Rose Ellen may have had a brother, John R. (b. Marylebone, 1863) another brother, Fred (b. Chelsea abt. 1871) and a sister, Emily E. (also b. Chelsea abt. 1871) - but these are not confirmed. 

I believe that Fred Bryant and Rose Ellen Potter were married in Farnham in 1890, but have not confirmed that - waiting for death certs before I start to spend money on cert copies!

The UK-born children of whom I am aware are:

Fred b. Mar 1895 in London

James A. b. Apr 1896 in Bristol.  He served with the CEF and was killed at Ypres on Jul 25, 1916. 

Mary b. Aug 1897 in Bristol

Caroline D. b. Nov 1899 in Derby

Olive G. b. Mar 1904 in West Ham (confirmed by Birth cert - my mom)

Ellen I. b. jul 1906 in West Ham

There were also four other sibs, including a George, but they may have been born in Canada, following their emigration. 

If these data trigger any links to families being worked on by researchers in Glous or Essex, I will be ecstatic!

Robert in Kanata

[criggy]

Hi Robert

You may have the information below already but just in case you haven’t!

Potter 1881 Census

1 Perseverance Cottages, Battersea, Surrey, England
Family History Library Film    1341147
RG110638 / 11 page 17

George Potter Head M 44 General labourer bn Ashington, Sussex
Elizabeth H Potter Wife M 44 born Windsor, Berks
John R Potter Son U 18 born Marylebone, Middlesex, Carman
Frederick Potter Son 10 born Chelsea, Middlesex Scholar
Emily E Potter Dau 10 born Chelsea, Middlesex, Scholar
Rose Ellen Potter Dau 8 born Westminster, Middlesex, Scholar

BMD site:

Marriage: Frederick Millet Bryant - Rose Ellen Potter 
Registered Farnham Mar 1890 2a 164
(be aware - there is another Rose Ellen Potter registered Farnham Mar 1890 ref 2a 162)

Birth: Frederick Millet Bryant Registered Wandsworth Jun 1895 1d 624 (son of the above obviously)

Birth: Rose Ellen Potter Registered St Geo H Sq Registered Jun 1872 1a 393
(Note – this district covers parts of Westminster (St John, St Margaret & St Peter) so is very likely to be the Rose Ellen Potter in the census)

Regards

criggy

[Robertb99]

Thanks for the response and the data, Criggy!  I have been immersed in completing the first edition of a book on my wife's ancestry, which was printed at the end of last month, and was forced by a deadline for that tome, to drop further work on my own Bryant and Potter ancestry, until now. 

I have also received the Death Certs on both Rose Ellen and Frederick Millet from the Ontario government (following a couple of e-mail rockets sent to the Minister's office), and agree that your data on their marriage appears to be correct.  I'll know better after obtaining the Marriage data from the UK gov't.

Grandfather Frederick was the s/o a George Bryant and Mary Millet, which explains his middle name.  He was born in January, 1868 somewhere in England - the city or county are not provided on the Death Cert.

Grandmother Rose was born in April 1872 to George Potter and his unnamed wife, again, somewhere in England.  Strangely, my mother, who provided the data for the death cert did not provide either name of her maternal grandmother.

That's where I am, at present.  Now that I have a bit more time to pursue my own maternal English roots, I'll see what I can find.

Thanks again for your help.

PS: I placed a couple of photos in the June 2005 issue of Family History Monthly of my grandparents in the Pictures & Stories section on page 44.  So far, I've heard nothing in reply.   

[sarape]

I am a decendent of the Milletts and Bryants also. I can give you quite a bit more information about Frederick Millet Bryant and his brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents in England, before he moved to Canada. Your last message was a few years ago, so please first confirm that you are still reading this site. Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Robertb99]

Hello cousin? sarape;

Yes, I'm still working on my maternal ancestry and have managed to locate a number of additional BMD records for the Bryant side, but am still pretty much in the dark on the Potter side, although I am aware that g-grandfather, George was a private soldier in the G. Guards for most of his adult life.  When I paid for the Death cert on the lady I believed to be his wife, it came back with the name of her father as that of her husband, which has really got me puzzled!!!

I'm most anxious to continue the exchange of information, so please reply, as I'd love to contact a living rellie on the other side of the pond!

Robert in Kanata

[sarape]

Hi Robert,
I am the great-granddaughter of Frank Millet Bryant, the older brother of your Frederick. Frank was born in Bristol, Gloucester and 5 years later Fred was born in Doncaster, York. There was another brother, George and a sister Caroline. I do know that Caroline remained in England. Frank also emigrated to Canada and therefore I do not live in England, but rather the U.S. by way of Canada, sorry to disappoint. However the information I have will fill in a couple of earlier generations in England for you.

Frank and Fred's parents were (as you already know) George Bryant b. 1825 in Bedminster, Somerset and Mary (Millett) Bryant b. Oct. 10, 1825 in Bitton Gloucester.

Mary's parents were Joseph Millett and his wife Hannah (I have no maiden name for her.) Be cautious in researching Mary Millett, for she had a sister 3 years younger with the same name! This holds true through several censuses, two young Marys in the same family. I suspect the younger one was foster child, but haven't confirmed. I can list the other children in the family if you are interested.

Mary's father, Joseph Millett was born in Bitton/Bristol Gloucester in either 1779 or 1781 (not sure). I have a copy of a letter written by him July 11, 1795. He was writing to his mother as he was marching around England, Scotland and Ireland with the army, though he was rather young.

I have more material on this, copies of censuses etc. Many pics of Frank but none of Fred. I was told by a cousin that Fred had lived in St. Thomas, Ontario was married and had children. She said he then moved to London and then the countryside outside of London (Stratford?). That is all I know of Frederick and would be interested to learn more.
Sarape