BRANWHITE family, Chelsea / Kensington

[JacobeaM]

Just stumbled across the thread as well as the other one. I wasn't quite with it last night!

Having a read through, if Thomas Edward Branwhite was indeed 51 when he died in 1830, that would give a birth date circa 1779.

I've had a look at the skeletal tree I've built and there are a number of Branwhite couples having huge family around that time in Lavenham, Suffolk - but no Thomas that fits that date The closest I have noted (keeping in mind there are probably missing people and incorrect data, so I apologise now) is Thomas Branwhite born in 1783, second son of Roland and Susanna, nee Westrop.   

Possibly him, possibly not him!

There is another man, Brooke Branwhite, who had at least twelve children, including several in the late 1770s and early 1780s, who could also have fathered Thomas Edward. Indeed, there is a five year gap between Priscilla (1777-1865) and Charles (1782-??) that could have had another child in it, but alas, if Brooke did have a son called Thomas, I have no record of such

[James - Cornwall]

Thank you !!

I shall keep your findings on file ... you never know, someone on here might find the missing bit of evidence that might confirm the links.
Thank you so much for your help.
James

[JacobeaM]

Found a bit more info whilst trawling the FamilySearch website. I confess I don't know how accurate the transcriptions are, but they seem fairly good. There is this record:

Thomas Edw. Branwhite
christened 30th June 1779 in Lavenham, Suffolk
Father: Thos. (Thomas)
Mother: Mary Branwhite
Batch Number: C044442

I have no idea which Thomas or what Mary's maiden name is, but I hope that's of some help    

[smudwhisk]

Well I'll be d***d, it is correct as I've just checked my Lavenham transcripts done many years ago from the original parish registers (not Cosford Database).  I suspect I'd missed it 'cos hadn't been able to tie him in with any of the Thomas Branwhites in the Lavenham area at the time.  My suspicions are that Thomas and Mary could be the pair in Bocking but I need to look into this a bit further.  It would tie in with my theory that the Bocking Thomas is the son of Edward and Susan Branwhite, hence first child baptised in Lavenham.  I'm sure I've got a date and place of marriage for the Bocking couple, need to check it out.  They went non-conformist in Bocking.  Names of the Bocking children would tie in, they had a Susannah, and Sarah Ursula, among others.

Nicola

[JacobeaM]

Coincidentally I posted a request just yesterday asking after the Bocking parish records in search of Thomas Branwhite of Bocking's parents  I wondered where he fit in. I would presume his possible parents are Edward Branwhite who married Susan(na) Dansie? There are several entries on both IGI and FamilySearch for both couples and their children including the marriage of Thomas Branwhite and Mary:

May 26 1778
Thomas Branwhite, of this Parish of Bocking, Bachelor
and
Mary Polley (Garret?), of the same, Widow

I'm not sure if she is Polley/Garret - being a widow, Garret could quite possibly be her first husband's surname. Also, interesting that they went non-conformist, as that would explain why four of their children are recorded at the Independant Church, which I thought was odd.

[smudwhisk]

Unfortunately SEAX don't yet have the marriages online for Bocking that for far enough forward.

However, from Boyds:

1778 Bocking
Thomas Branwhite and Mary Polly

The 1795 baptism of Susannah does state her maiden name is Garrett.  However there are some big gaps between baptisms so its possible she could be a second wife.

There is, having just checked, a marriage of an Isaac Polly and Mary Garrett in Braintree in 1774.  Could be she was widowed young.

I think I can place the William Branwhite born Bocking in London in 1802, as I believe he may well be the William Branwhite son of brother Thomas mentioned in the 1802 PCC Will of Edward Branwhite (son of Edward and Susan Dansie).  

Needs more research but I think James that is your Thomas Edward Branwhite, just need to confirm exactly who his father is.  There is no marriage in Lavenham for a Thomas and Mary.  Thanks to JacobeaM for spotting it!

Nicola

[smudwhisk]

I think we had an overlap in posting!

I can confirm that the Bocking baptism on the IGI are correct at that they are only ones there.  I've also checked Bocking parish church itself and there are no more there either.  Unfortunately due to being a bit wary with a certain website that hosts the non-confirmist registers, I am reluctant to post any more of the details I have on that family on rootschat.  It isn't a lookup as such since I've got the information for my own research but ...

Nicola

[smudwhisk]

JacobeaM

Bit off topic, where did you get the details of the 1783 birth of a Thomas Branwhite to Roland and Susan(na) please?  I haven't come across that unless its been missed and I've been through Lavenham, Long Melford, and their respective non-conformist churches too. 

Thanks

Nicola

[JacobeaM]

I believe it was my Aunt who found Thomas' birth, although where I cannot say, unfortunately  I haven't had the means to get to Suffolk to get search the original registers personally, whereas she might have. I think there may have been a mention on the Cosford Database? I have Thomas down as my g-g-g-g grandfather's (William, born 1782) second brother, between him and Charles (born 1786).

Having checked FamilySearch again (believe it at will!), it appears Mary Polley, nee Garret, was born in 1757 - more than old enough to have married in 1774 as the minimum marital age then was, as far as I can recall, about fourteen for girls. There seem to be unusually big gaps between her and Thomas' children (of which I count about five, if we take Thomas Edward as their firstborn); either missing records or they were especially cursed when it comes to loosing children.