Welcome to another edition of the Brangwin family newsletter. I am glad that so many of you are enjoying finding out about our extended family.

In this edition:

• I would like to thank Larry Brangwin for agreeing to be our profile person this month. What an interesting bunch our family is!
• The feature family is the Castle Brangwin group. Many of you belong to this part of the family.
• There is another Will to mull over.
• This month we look at a family letter. It provides some valuable insight into family members.
• We take a look at one of the many doctors in the family. Thanks to Rob Brangwin for providing this profile on his grandfather.
• In addition, there are a number useful of odds and ends.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter.

Lorraine Wuth

lwuth@hups.net

Greetings to all my new extended family from the middle of the USA, Le Mars, Iowa. My name is Larry Brangwin. Where do I begin? I suppose that we will go from when my family came from England in 1881. William Castle Brangwin and Elizabeth Cowan of Scotland were married on April 11, 1862. They had four sons during their marriage, the youngest being my great-grandfather John Griffith Brangwin. We do not know what happened to William Castle or the other three boys: Alfred John, Thomas and William Cowan. Elizabeth remarried to a man named James Taylor in 1873. They, along with Elizabeth's son John Griffith, came to the USA in 1881 settling in the Le Mars area. We know from the Le Mars history that this area was settled by many from England. William Close and his brother, land speculators, bought a large area of land at that time from the railroad who owned all the land around. The Close brothers recuirted the second sons of rich English families. They came here to learn how to farm and become gentleman farmers. Also they where promised good, cheap land. All of which was true as we are still a farming community. It is a good possiblity that James and Elizabeth heard of the good land here and that is why they came.

John Griffith Brangwin married Isabella Murphy of Ireland on June 17, 1887. To them were born four children: Andrew, Elizabeth, Margaret and my grandfather John Henry Brangwin who was born August 21, 1890. He married Mathilda Becker on August 11, 1917. To them five children were born: Velva, Donald, Earl, Joe and my father John Edwin Brangwin. John Edwin married Viriginia Downing on Februry 26, 1950. To them three children were born: David, Janet and myself, Larry. I was born October 3, 1950. I married Lisa Greear on August 5, 1972. We have three children: Sara, Jason and Shaun. My wife and I are now awaiting the birth of our first grandchild to be born sometime in July. We will let you all know when this happens.

You now have a short history of the one hundred and twenty years of Brangwins in Le Mars. So now a little about myself. As I said earlier, I was born in Le Mars. I finished all my schooling here including college in 1973. I have a BA in speech and dramatic arts degree with a minor in history - maybe why I am looking for my roots. I thought about being a teacher but soon found that I am more of an outdoor person and did not like being in a class room everyday. I have worked in the family business since I was 16 yrs old. We have a construction company, which my father started forty-five years ago. We now own several apartment buildings that we also built. It is now my job running and maintaining these places. I have done some international traveling and have seen a large part of the USA. Some of my hobbies are painting, gardening, traveling, acting in community theater plays, and now genealogy.

Here is my parents 50th wedding anniversary get together family picture taken in Le Mars July 2000. Their anniversary is in February - thought this way you could meet most of my immediate family.

I will start on the left of the picture and go all the way across.

First, seated are my parents: John Edwin Brangwin and Virginia (Downing)Brangwin

Mark Skidmore husband of Janet, Janet (Brangwin) Skidmore, David Brangwin, Kara Clayton daughter of Janet, Lisa (Greear) Brangwin wife of Larry, Kristine Brangwin daughter of David, Sara (Brangwin) Jones daughter of Larry, Kevin Clayton son of Janet, Laveda (Powers) "Ray" Brangwin wife of Joe, Shaun Brangwin son of Larry, Joe Brangwin twin brother of John, Jason Brangwin son of Larry, Velva (Brangwin) Ford sister of John, Tonia (Thill) Brangwin wife of David, Larry Brangwin

In last months newsletter there was the obituary of Maxine 'Bonnie' Fahrenholz. She was my aunt. She was married to my uncle Earl Brangwin who was my sponsor or god father at my baptism. A very nice lady with a great family. I attended her funeral. Was surprised to see the obit. in the newsletter.

My genealogy experience is very limited having only been at it for a few years but I am learning more about it as time goes by. I have joined a genealogy group here "Computer Genies of Northwest Iowa". We have a home page in case anyone would like to look us up http://www.acsnet.com/genies/. I was at a point where I couldn't find what I needed until Lorraine contacted me by e-mail. What a God send. Thank-you Lorraine. I have been to the Morman Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. All that I really acomplished was to look the place over. Having the new and larger family tree now I would love to go back and spend a longer period looking for more of our history. Someday I hope to go to British Isles and get a closer look at my roots and see where our family came from. It is great to see the photos of places our family lived, worked, and died. Keep them coming. Thanks to all who make this place such a great place to visit. I am glad to be a part of this family and hope to meet more of you, even if only in cyberspace, but maybe even in person someday. If anyone would like to contact me directly my e-mail address is brangwil@pionet.net as we say at the Computer Genies goodby and good hunting.

Larry

• Alfred John was born on July 22, 1862 and does not appear on the 1881 census. No-one seems to have found anything further on him.
• Thomas was born on April 17, 1864 and died on February 7, 1952 in Alamedo County, California, aged 87. He married twice. No death has been found for his first wife, Margaret Jones. His second wife was May Woods. There are no known children although they could be scattered around the world.
• William Cowan was born on November 7, 1865. The 1881 census found him in Scotland where he was working as an Ag Lab (agricultural labourer). There are no further known records for William.

From time to time you will see dates written as 1623/24. What does this mean? Well, it is quite simple. It wasn't until 1752 that January became the first month of the year in England. The year used to change on March 25. To ensure that the date is truly understood, most researchers record the dates between January 1 and March 24 as 'double years' which is why you will see dates such as January 25, 1713/14. This date is actually for January 25 in the year leading up to March 25, 1714. I hope that has clarified the funny dates that you will see from time to time.

Special codes have been allocated for identify places around the world. These are known as Chapman Codes probably because someone named Chapman invented them. Below are the codes that apply to English Counties. These codes will be used in Newsletters from now on to identify English counties, so when you see OXF attached to a place name you will know that it is located in Oxfordshire, England.

The states in the US are identified by the common two character code in use today throughout the country. So, for California the code is CA, MI for Michigan, GA for Georgia, and so. There are also codes for Australian states: NSW = New South Wales, VIC = Victoria, QLD = Queensland, SA = South Australia, WA = Western Australia (which is a double up with Washington state in the US), TAS = Tasmania, ACT = the Australian Capital Territory and NT = the Northern Territory.

I'll include more codes in the next newsletter.

I encourage everyone to use the correct place code against all entries submitted to our on-line family tree.

"Buckinghamshire, or Bucks, an inland county of England, bounded on the North by Northamptonshire, East by Bedfordshire, Herts, and Middlesex, South by Surrey (for the distance of about 1 mile) and Berks, and West by Oxfordshire; greatest length, N. and S., 50 miles; greatest breadth, E. and W., 24 miles; average breadth, 17 miles; area 477,151 acres, population 176,323. It is intersected by the chalk range of the Chiltern Hills, which extend NE. from Oxfordshire to Bedfordshire, the highest point being Wendover Hill, 905 ft. The country here is beautifully wooded, chiefly with oak and beech. To the South there is much excellent grazing land. The fertile "Vale of Aylesbury" lies in the centre of the county, verdant with rich meadows and pasturage. Further North the heavy arable land is now being brought under steam cultivation, and excellent crops of wheat, beans, &c., are produced. Farms are generally of small size, and are leased on a yearly tenure. Pigs and calves are largely reared on the numerous dairy-farms, and great numbers of ducks are sent yearly to the metropolis from the neighbourhood of Aylesbury. The quantity of butter, besides cream cheese &c., send annually to market, averages between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 lbs. The making of wooden spades, brush-handles, bowls, &c., from beech is a considerable industry. Numbers of the female population are employed in the manufacture of thread-lace and straw plaiting." [Bartholemew's Gazetteer of the British Isles, 1887]

The following is an paraphrased extract from the will:

…bequeathed to his son Francis Brangwin properties at Calcott and in Kurtlington and Harbrook and Charlton upon Otmore and Dunstow all in the County of Oxford

Said son Francis to pay his widow Alice one-third rents and to pay his son James sufficient to provide for him. To his daughter Elizabeth £100 and to his daughter £200

To his son John BRANGWIN lands and tenements at Middle Barton Steeple Barton and Westcott Barton – subject to his widow Alice having one-third of rents and profits from land

To his daughter Sarah £200

(Oxford Probate Records 1733-1857 Will 96.50)

[Castle Brangwin baptised in 1656 Lower Heyford, OXF, the son of Castle Brangwin and Ann Myrry - see the feature family for further details]

Many wills commenced with very similar phases, such as: "In the Name of God Amen the fifteenth day of September in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty and five I Edmund Brangwin of Haddenham in the County of Buckingham yeoman beinge sicke in bodye but of good and perfect memorie thankes be given to Almightie God and knowinge the uncertaine estate of this life on earth do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following First I commend my Soule to Almightie God my Creator believing that I shall receive pardon and free remissions of all my sinnes an be saved by the Passion death and merritts of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ my Redeemer And my bodye to be buryed in such decent manner as my Executors hereinafter named Shall be thought meete and conveniente And nowe for the settlinge of my temporall estate and goodes and chattells and debts as it hath pleased God to bestowe upon me" and Castell's will was no different.

The terms are very quaint but no different to many of the odd terms that turn up in legal documents today. Most wills of the period also paid respect to the Almighty as is evidenced by the words that Edmund used.

Next month we will look at some of the terms used in Wills in the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries.

Mention has previously been made of Haddenham and Long Crendon, two parishes in Bucks. Both lie a few miles, about 5 to be precise, south west of Aylesbury. A short distance north of Oxford can be found the parishes of Westcott Barton, Middle Barton, Steeple Barton, North Aston, Middle Aston, Steeple Aston, Upper Heyford, Lower Heyford and Caulcott. The distance between Long Crendon and Upper Heyford is not great. If you would like to see where these places are, a copy of a map with the parishes for Oxfordshire and surrounding parishes (so it includes the ones in Buckinghamshire that we have an interest in) can be downloaded by clicking on the link Oxfordshire parish map. Don't be surprised if you are presented with a blank screen. Simply use the arrows at the edge of the screen to move across the map. I suggest that you save the map for future reference. It also prints nicely onto a single A4 sheet.

Please be aware that this is quite a big file so it will take a bit of time to download.

In 1605, an estate at Lower Heyford was conveyed to Richard Brangwin of Kingsey, BKM. Kingsey lies sort of next to Haddenham. This estate passed to Francis Brangwin. Francis lived at Upper Heyford for part of his life. His wife Rose was buried at Caulcott, OXF on March 1, 1625/26. He then married Ann Castle on March 3, 1627/28 at Upper Heyford. It would appear that Ann's family name became part of the family naming and was retained for many generations.

Francis Brangwin died at Upper Heyford in 1635 and he was buried there on December 20. He was described as a gentleman.

Francis and Ann had four children:

1. Castel - baptised September 4, 1628 at Lower Heyford. He was buried on September 7 of that year. It would appear that he was born and died at Caulcott.
2. Jone was baptised at lower Heyford on September 6, 1629. What happened to Jone is unknown.
3. Ann was baptised on March 25, 1633 at Lower Heyford and was buried there on April 27 of that year. She, too, appears to have been born at Caulcott.
4. Castel (see below for more details).

What happened to Ann after the death of Francis is unknown. She was a widow with two young children although she was probably well provided for by Francis.

Castel Brangwin was born in 1634 at Upper Heyford and baptised on May 4. He married Anne Myrry on June 7, 1655 at Lower Heyford. By the time he died in November 1710 he was described as Mr. Castel Brangwin, snr and he was a gentleman.

Anne Myrry was the daughter of Gabriel Myrry and she was born in Lower Heyford in 1631. She died in March 1673/74.

In 1660 Castle Brangwin of Caulcott bought an estate of 7 yardlands in Middle Barton and land in Sesswells Barton, which later became Whistlow Farm, from Robert Dormer of Rousham.

Castel and Anne had at least eight children:

1. Castell born at Lower Heyford in 1656
2. An unnamed child who was not baptised but "dyed in ye birth" and was buried on March 11, 1657/58.
3. Francis born at Lower Heyford in 1659
4. Joane born at Lower Heyford in 1660, baptised on December 23, 1660 and buried at Lower Heyford on March 24, 1660/61.
5. Anne born in 1662 and baptised at Lower Heyford on July 16, 1662. She died in 1674, aged 12 and was buried at Lower Heyford on December 14, 1674.
6. Martha was baptised at Lower Heyford on February 10, 1664/65. Nothing more is known about Martha.
7. John was buried at Lower Heyford on April 10, 1668.
8. Christopher was baptised on April 10, 1670. He died aged 52 and was buried at Lower Heyford on April 22, 1722. He was described as a gentleman.

Castell Brangwin was born in 1656 at Lower Heyford. He was baptised on May 10, 1656. He lived to the ripe old age of 81. The burial entry stated that he was buried on December 2, 1737 and was a gentleman.

Castell married Alicia Silverside at St Peters in the East, Oxford, on May 7, 1695. Like many families who had farming roots, Castell married late in life probably leaving family until he was well established. Alicia had been born in 1666 in Bletchingdon, OXF and she died in April 1740.

Castell and Alicia had seven children:

1. Francis born in Lower Heyford in 1696. It would appear that Francis did not marry. He was buried on November 10, 1752 at lower Heyford and he was described as a gentleman.
2. James was baptised on September 5, 1697 at Lower Heyford and buried there on November 20, 1697. He was described as the son of Mr. Castle Brangwin, jnr.
3. Elizabeth was baptised on December 22, 1698 at Lower Heyford. She married John Coles at Bicester, OXF, on December 11, 1723, by licence. John was of Ickford.
4. John was baptised at Lower Heyford on December 1, 1700 and died at Middle Barton in November 1766. More later.
5. James was baptised at lower Heyford on October 11, 1702. He died, aged 24, and was buried at Lower Heyford on February 4, 1727/28.
6. Sarah was baptised on June 25, 1704 at lower Heyford. She married Francis Newil on December 5, 1736 at Bloxham, OXF.
7. Ann was baptised on February 24, 1705/06 at Lower Heyford. She married John Norton at Buckingham, BKM, on May 9, 1740, by licence.

Castell's younger brother Francis, born in 1659, also married. His wife was Mary Edmonds and they married by licence on September 26, 1720 at Stoke Lyne, OXF. Francis died in 1729 and was buried at Lower Heyford on November 19, 1729. Francis and Mary had two children: Mary who was baptised at Lower Heyford on June 26, 1721 and Ann who was baptised on February 23, 1722/23 and buried on January 19, 1735/36 at Lower Heyford. Mary, the wife of Francis, was buried at Lower Heyford on August 20, 1738.

John the son of Castell Brangwin and his wife Alicia, was born in 1700 at Lower Heyford. He was baptised on December 1, 1700. He married Mary Beal, who had been born at Middle Barton in 1721, on April 17, 1745 at Deddington, OXF. At the time of the marriage, John was of Middle Barton, in Steeple Barton, of age 40 and upwards while Mary was from Middle Barton, was 26 years of age and upwards. A marriage licence was issued on April 17, 1745 for a marriage in the parish church at Deddington.

Manor Farm House was built by the Brangwins about 1730 and named by them Manor House. It stands in Mill Lane and was originally two storied and fronted by ashlar. It remained in the Brangwin family until 1806 when it was sold to Samuel Churchill of Deddington.

John died, aged 66, in November 1766, and was buried at Steeple Barton on November 23, 1766. The burial register states that he was a gentleman.

John and Mary had five children:

1. Ann baptised on April 25, 1746. She married William Hopkins on June 23, 1768 at Steeple Barton. She had at least two children both of whom died as infants. There could have been other children.
2. Elizabeth was baptised on April 20, 1747 and was buried at Steeple Barton on April 9, 1748.
3. Francis was baptised on August 13, 1749.
4. John was baptised on June 11, 1753
5. William was baptised on January 12, 1758

Francis, the son of John Brangwin and Mary Beal, was born in 1749. He married Ann Rowland on March 3, 1774 at Kidlington, OXF. At the time of his marriage Francis Brangwin was of Steeple Barton, a farmer, aged 23 and upwards. Ann was of Kidlington, 19 years and upwards, daughter of Richard Rowland. Unfortunately Ann died in 1779. Francis died in 1819 at Chawley, BRK, aged 70.

Francis and Ann had at least one child: Castle was born in 1774 and baptised at Steeple Barton on December 11, 1774. He was apprenticed as a surgeon at 16 to his uncle William Brangwin but died soon after, still aged 16. He was buried on October 13, 1790 at Steeple Barton.

According to the 1812 Poll Book, Francis held land at Appleton & Eaton with abode given as Chawley.

Administration for the estate of Francis Brangwin was granted to his brother, John of Wheatley, OXF, next of kin, and others in 1819. Francis was late of Chawley, BRK. He was a widower, without a child or a parent.

John, the son of John Brangwin and Mary Beal, was baptised on June 11, 1753 at Steeple Barton. He married Martha Lankford on September 13, 1779 at Charlbury, OXF. He died in 1822 at was buried at Cuddesdon, OXF, on December 26, 1822. John and Martha had thirteen children:

1. Mary was baptised on October 25, 1780 at Lower Heyford
2. Martha was baptised on January 27, 1782 at Lower Heyford
3. John was born in 1783 (more on him later)
4. Elizabeth baptised September 26, 1784 at Westcott Barton. She married Thomas Curtis on June 1, 1809 at St Ebbe, Oxford.
5. Alicia baptised January 29, 1786 at Westcott Barton. She married Samuel Shaw on August 27, 1821 at Cuddesdon, OXF.
6. Francis was baptised on November 4, 1787 at Westcott Barton and buried at Steeple Barton on may 11, 1788
7. Amelia was baptised on September 13, 1789 and buried on November 24, 1789 at Charlbury, OXF.
8. Castle was born in 1790 (more on him later)
9. William was baptised on November 1, 1792 and buried on August 18, 1793 at Charlbury, OXF.
10. Hannah was born in 1794 and baptised on September 28 at Charlbury, OXF. She was also known as Ann. She married James Crook on February 4, 1811 at Cuddesdon, OXF. She had at least one child: Ann born about 1812 who married John Buckland earl in 1853.
11. Francis was baptised on March 27 and buried on July 23, 1796 at Cuddesdon, OXF.
12. Sarah was baptised on July 24 and buried August 7, 1797 at Cuddesdon, OXF.
13. Maria was baptised on April 16 and buried September 28, 1799 at Cuddesdon, OXF.

William, the son of John Brangwin and Mary Beal, was baptised on January 12, 1758 at Steeple Barton. He was a surgeon by profession but is also listed as a gentleman and apothecary. He died in October 1813 and was buried at Islip, OXF on the 12^th. He married Susanna Cook at Upper Heyford in 1779. They had five children:

1. Ann was baptised on April 27 and buried on August 6, 1780 at Upper Heyford.
2. Mary was baptised on April 27, 1780. She was a twin of Ann. She married John Wells on September 9, 1820 at St Bride, London.
3. Susannah, baptised on January 6, 1782 at Islip, OXF. She died, aged 13, and was buried on February 13, 1795 at Upper Heyford.
4. Anne was baptised on September 25, 1783 at Islip and buried at Upper Heyford on January 11, 1784.
5. Elizabeth was baptised on October 3, 1784 at Islip, OXF. She married Stephen Walker on November 7, 1814 at Islip. She had at least 3 children: William (born and died in 1815), William born in 1816 and George Stephen born in 1823.

So, now we arrive at the sixth generation having started with Francis, followed by Castel, Castell and John and his children.

John, the son of John Brangwin and Martha Lankford was baptised on June 29, 1783 at Westcott Barton. He married Mary Holmes on November 17, 1811 at Cuddesdon, OXF. They had three children:

1. John Francis baptised at Wheatley, OXF, on May 12, 1816
2. William Castle (more later)
3. Thomas baptised July 23, 1826 at Wheatley, OXF. In 1894 he was recorded as being in Barry County Michigan, aged 68, with his wife Matilda, 53

Castle, son of John Brangwin and Martha Lankford was baptised on November 28, 1790 at Charlbury, OXF. He died, aged 69, on April 5, 1859 at 17 Lee Place, Lee, Kent. His occupation was given as gentleman in the probate index. He married Charlotte Bell on July 4, 1830 at Deptford St Paul, Kent. They had seven children:

1. Charlotte baptised July 12, 1831 at Deptford St Paul, Kent. She married in 1856.
2. Martha baptised December 16, 1832 at Deptford St Paul, Kent. She married in 1855.
3. Castle baptised April 13, 1834 at Deptford St Paul, Kent. He died in 1897 in Scotland (more later)
4. Sarah baptised April 17, 1836 at Deptford St Paul, Kent. She died in 1838, aged 2.
5. Julia baptised January 28, 1838 at Deptford St Paul, Kent. She married in 1860.
6. Mary baptised October 2, 1839 at Deptford St Paul, Kent. She married in 1863.
7. Amelia was baptised on July 4, 1841 at Deptford St Paul, Kent, and she died in that year.

William Castle was the son of John Brangwin and Mary Holmes. He was born in 1823 at Wheatley, OXF and baptised there on April 6. He married Elizabeth Cowan on April 11, 1862 at Woking, St John the Baptist, Surrey. In 1867 his occupation was given as railway porter. When William died is unknown but it would have been before August 25, 1874 as Elizabeth remarried on that date as a widow. Equally, William was supposedly a widower and pensioner when he married Elizabeth. If there had been an earlier marriage it does not appear in the GRO index.

William and Elizabeth had four children:

1. Alfred John born on July 22, 1862 in England.
2. Thomas born April 17, 1864. He was baptised on July 17 at Stepney, St Peters, Middlesex. He married twice, firstly Margaret Jones on September 18, 1889 and then May Woods on August 10, 1898.
3. William Cowan was born on November 7, 1865 in England.
4. John Griffiths was born 21 November 1867, The City of London Lying-in Hospital, London and died on August 25, 1918, Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa, USA

Castle, son of Castle Brangwin and Charlotte Bell, was baptised on April 13, 1834 and died in Scotland aged 63 in 1897. A number of printed reports inform us of Castle and his activities. The following report was published in the Times, London, on May 13, 1857:

Castle married Fanny Tucker in 1854. They had ten children:

1. Fanny Julia born 1855, married Harry Holman Adams on April 15, 1893.
2. Castle born and died in 1859
3. Alice Mary born 1860, married John William Batchelor on August 21, 1890
4. Rose Charlotte was born in 1863 and married Alfred Charles Brown on June 14, 1885.
5. Florence Ada was born in 1865 and married Henry Thomas Harvey on October 28, 1894.
6. Castle John was born in 1867 and died in 1869
7. Frederick Lloyd was born on January 8, 1870 and died on September 20, 1935, at Sandown, Acton Lane, Harlesden, Middlesex
8. John was born in 1872 in Fulham, Middlesex and died in Scotland in 1916.
9. Ellen Louise was born in 1875 and died in Scotland in 1906.
10. Ethel Jane was born on March 27, 1877 and died on October 19, 1954 in Contra Costa County, California, USA. She had married someone by the name of Logan.

John Griffiths was the son of William Castle Brangwin and Elizabeth Cowan. He was born on November 21, 1867 in The City of London Lying-in Hospital, London, and died on August 25, 1918 in Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa, USA. He married Isabelle Murphy on June 17, 1887 in Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa, USA. She was born 29 December 1865 in IRL, and died 15 January 1937 in Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa, USA. John and Isabelle had four children: Andrew in 1888, John Henry in 1890, Elizabeth in 1893 and Margaret in 1896

Frederick Lloyd was the son of Castle Brangwin and Fanny Tucker. He was born in Fulham, Middlesex on January 8, 1870 and died on September 20, 1935 in Sandown, Acton Lane, Harlesden, Middlesex, aged 65. He married Emily Jane Aldington in 1894. They had eight children: Winifred Emily in 1895, Francis Frederick in 1897, John Henry in 1899, Rosalie Alice in 1902, Kathleen Ethel in 1906, Robert William in 1908, Reginald George in 1912 and Phyllis Mary in 1916

That is where this outline will stop. However, some general comments will help put the above outline in perspective.

Firstly, the outline has concentrated on the male lines. While much more research is needed into some parts of the family, it should not be assumed that all the female lines are unresearched, although many are.

A number of inconsistencies exist in official records. In some cases individuals have stated that they were widowed when there is no prior marriage, although the missing marriage may have taken place and is yet to come to light.

A number of individuals did not die at least not where family researchers have currently searched.

The relationship between the Castle line and the Long Crendon and Hambleden parts of the family is still to be established. With good fortune, one day we will learn exactly how these groups are connected. In the meantime, I hope you have discovered a bit more about your family.

The value of information contained in family letters should never be underestimated. The following letter illustrates the point. Mary Hobbs, daughter of George Barnett and Mary Brangwin, wrote it to her brother James who was living in Ohio, USA.

My very dear Brother!

I hope better late than never. I have pen in hand with this arrangement in mind. I will write an hour tonight, tomorrow night, and the next night until I have written you a good long letter, to make up for my past neglect. It has pleased God my dear James, to pass on this many trials, since we last met but by his grace I am enabled to say, I believe it as all coming from him who is to just to be unkind and never afflicts willingly and by such assurance I have been enabled to bear it. My Blessed Husband how was he aware of the trouble that would come upon us after he was taken and had I wanted bread he should never have had a hard thought of mine. He was one of the most unselfish men that could be, and what he did was purely for the benefit of his wife and family, but it pleased God to remove him just as he had made a large speculation in poor land at Brownsfield which he had laid out like his own estate, by grubbing chalking and such permanent improvement which had cost him a great outlay, and he was taken before he had any return. You see my dear James, while in life and health, his own personal actions brought in a handsome livelihood, but his judgement could not be conferred to no one. Neither of his sons could take to it, because Henry had never given the least heed to it and the other two were not old enough to have confidence placed in them. You therefore see what was lost to us beside his precious self. I was stunned with the loss of him and I think all thought I would never look up again. But my dear Brother who could lose such a Husband as him and not be cut down? He that had been all kindness, not only to me, but to my dear sister and all my friends, because he loved me so dearly he delighted to do that that seemed to make me most happy. He denied me nothing and to be kind to my friends he could always be …me a … of joy which he delighted to behold. He was as much a lover the last years of his life as he ever was in his life. Dear man I often wonder how I could ever smile again without him. But God began after much lamentation and grief to show me the sinfulness and to teach me his will

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as if he had spoken to me. Be still and know that I am God, and with his grace from … I was enabled gradually to say from my heart (for what is word of mouth) thy will be done. And then came the rousing thought. You are not left here to be idle but to be up and stirring. You have your girls to look to and on your decisions must they at present depend. I am willing to leave all with him, who has done so much, follow in the track he points out and I know he will never forsake me. A … I am my dear Brother anxious to give you. I hope I shall not tire you, but tomorrow I shall tell you all about when I am how I am getting on and other matters. Tonight I shall say goodnight. God bless you and yours.

Nov 6th According to my last nights arrangement I resume my pen to write another hour. I hope, as I said before, I shall not tire you now I have begun. I must give you a little idea of my present abode and such like. I am residing in a snug little cottage near the farms and close to Cookham church. You know that is not far from Mr. Peto’s Cannon Court where Julia is gone today to accompany Mrs. Peto to Mr. Langtons sale. You recollect undoubtedly Mr. Langton the … at Maidenhead. He died a short time since. His affairs were in very bad shape his sons having gone on in the most extravagant way and in the next few days all his effects are to be sold. The business I hear will be carried on as members of the family have come fort and intend arranging in some way by taking a partner with money and other arrangements with the creditors. To continue the business it is such a good thing that will worked with … right things in time. I am therefore all alone, at least only my little Agnes and she is gone into the kitchen to get servant to make her a doll frock. … child has been quite a solace in my bereavement. My other two girls go to school at Brighton. I have just returned from seeing them. Emily has not been well, and I am anxious about her. Her ailment ended in an attack of jaundice. I left her much better. She is a nice looking girl most people say a handsome likeness of her Aunt Eliza. But pray don’t say I said so, I may be thought biased, but I may say with impunity they is something better than mere good looks. They are warm hearted well disposed children, and I thank God for them. For what a solitary being I should be without them. I thank you a thousand times for saying in your letter to Eliza those words (be nice and kind.) That had your dear nephews gone out to you would have shielded them from hardships. They have

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different characters. As much so as if not born by the same parents, but of course to me each had my special care and love. My poor Henry was very roughly used. I make no doubt Eliza told you about it. If not and you would like to know, I will tell you in my next, but it would take a solicitor to explain the harsh treatment he experienced. But my dear James if the ordeal had not been in some wise needful it would not have been allowed to happen. And …ing then, I can find peace and wait Gods appointed time. … for the … Undoubtedly you are in all probability have been in position of that great that was made in the settling of the affairs. But his dear father had spoiled him and how could it be expected all at once he could see the necessity of such an effort? Now my dear James he … too late, but nothing but his past experience could have taught him the lesson. Tho I have written the above few lines in the … against my child I still believe it did not happen by chance and it was Gods providence it should be so. Tho I never write to him such … I know … trying on to make his own personal … Julia is just come in from Cannon Court and wants to tell me all about poor Mr. Langtons sale. Will therefor say good night again. … you will be … scrawl.

Nov 7th Mine must be a very short hour tonight, for I have been all day engaged at the appeal … meeting about taxes and this evening have been obliged to call the collectors in to make me understand which is most difficult to do. Tomorrow I must have a little more of it as it is not settled. You I think he … about all such annoyances I must confess a little more about my dear Husbands affairs, as I want you to know the rights of it and to tell how I stand now.

This solicitor of course had to be paid. They will not work for nothing. Then there was a values and auctions and I can see how they thought. They must not … the money too short or they should come badly off I will allow he was a clever man, and without hesitation, he called all parties together and promised me he would offer … in the pound but instead offered 10/-. The bank and all landlords to be paid in full, and at the first meeting with his ability got all parties to agree to it. It was but tryfling the house bills for that I always looked after and dear Husband never refused me money when wanted that I took pretty good care at all times bills should never be in arrears. Therefore that was not the difficulty. But it was long standing unsettled … in business we know nothing about and were people chose could claim what we could not dispute. To give you an instance. One party, it was a mere chance we got between 3 & 4 hundred pounds of and undoubtedly there were many that took the advantage. Dear Husbands acct. were not properly kept and how could it be otherwise. He had writing enough for a clerk and poor Dear, he came home tired at night and away early again in the morning. We could not therefore confidently rely on anything. I dare say settling it at once was the best, before people had more time to think or perhaps I might had very much more trying things. At least I will now think so, but at the time it was almost a heart breaking affair. … had advanced some money on … But I thank God he will not be a looser as I am paying him in full. Mr. Peto was also owed something and he I have paid in full. All borrowed money disturbed me most about, and one other friend Papa had had some money of he I offered to pay, but he is so generous and good he will not take it. He has taken his half and says unless he … and he should be poor. He will not take another shilling, and added to that he is always doing something to promote mine and my children interest, there are but few such people as that are there, but I know you will be pleased to hear all most all people are kind to me and show me even more attention than before, and those that do no we know are not to be numbered with mine friends. Adieu again, Julia looks sleepy.

Nov. 8th My dear James a few more lines. Aunt Swallow is spending the day here and sleeping the night with us. I have not seen her for many years. She looks very thin. She lives in London. Lucy keeps a school and helps support her with money. Julia has been to see Phill Jacobs today about your money, and there still seems some difficulty. Mr. Mercer, all Lawist … must delay settlement.

I was prevented last night writing more than the few above lines. Today Julia, Agnes and myself go to Slough for Sunday as we often do, therefor goodbye until we return.

9th Returned from Slough. Found Trew and Eliza in capital spirits. Trew thinking of going into business in a large business in London. This shows us dear James the folly of all earthly positions making us satisfied. He is just come into a large fortune thru the death of his father. But you see he is not satisfied. They are dear friends to me and … I cannot divest myself of … that he has as you know been over fortunate in business matters, and now he has J. Bale in his trouble. I wish he could be content. When you write to Eliza be careful not to say any thing I have said in my letter to you about it or what I said about dear Husband’s settling of affairs, for Trew perhaps wont like it. He is a dear fellow but does not in all things see eye with eye with me. He is certainly … trouble very dis… and the solicitor I before mentioned is a great friend of his and he wont hear but in all the business he did the best. You don’t therefore want telling more.

Ever since I have been a widow and the affairs settled, things have wonderfully turned up for me. Ever since the farms were valued to me, things have doubled almost in value, which of course have a most capital help for me. I attend them myself and am now beginning to find the management comparatively easy. Nothing is done without my approval, but to make it short, I now act as if I had always been brought up to attend to it. I see all do?? Fields cultivated, cattle attended to, men at work, pay men and all such like … my own opinion about my corn sending it to market and … have been …ful my judgement. Have much cause to thank God for his ever … towards me. I have still more harvest before the … are out. Don’t know if … want … whether the landlord will let them me again. But if not something will turn up for my support.

I have seen Tom Barnett lately. He found me out now where I am living. I had not seen him for more than twenty years. He lives Camden Town, I believe where he did when he left England. He is an odd fish, but poor fellow not a bad hearted one. He lost two of his children a short time ago with fever and it had very much shaken his nerves. He says he is getting a livelihood, but still says he should like to leave where he is. I advised him by all means to let well enough and remain, for he is not cultivated to contend with the co… of the world as it must now a days. Uncle Joe and his wife still live in W… I heard they turned their youngest son out of doors lately. Poor thing, how much I pity their … of heart. And Aunt Moll, only think how they lived on … Uncle Francis has been very ill lately from what I hear. I hear I should think he would not live thru the winter. Mary Jane & Phill have seven children. They have not lost time have they? We never hear from Daniel and William.

It is now getting on twelve months since we lost our dear mother. But it was a happy thing for us to think she was surrounded by every comfort in her last, and that her end appeared peace.

I will now conclude this long epistle, for I fear I must have tried your patience to read it. I should much like to see you and yours, but that for the present I suppose must be denied. Now do not think because I have not corresponded with you I have been unmindful of you. Far from it. My heart has often yearned to see you, for really you are the only brother who seems brotherly. In my married life, I had a great many duties to attend to and hearing of you through Eliza detained me from writing because I had always my time wholly occupied. And in the loss of my dear husband I know you will believe I have had enough to do. I hope this will reach you safely, and may not be the last of our correspondence. Julia joins me in most affectionate love to you and yours. Believe me dear James. Your ever attached sister Mary

Notes on the letter compiled by Lorraine Wuth – September 2000

1. Mary Hobbs wrote the letter to her brother James Barnett. It was dated November 5, 1861 and was written over a number of nights.
2. Mary mentions that she is living in a snug little cottage in Cookham {Berkshire, England] near the farms [she was managing her late husbands estate] and next to the Cookham church.
3. Mary’s husband, Joseph Hobbs, had died on September 17, 1859, aged 50.
4. Joseph had made a large speculation in land known as Brownfields shortly before his death. He had been working to improve the property but it had been a financial drain or, as Mary states, had cost him a "great outlay". While Joseph, through his personal endeavour, brought in a handsome living, he had been unable to teach his sons. Henry, who was 24 when his father died, was ill prepared to take over from his father. He seems to have got into some difficulty and was not residing in the Cookham area in 1861. [Joseph Overton was 18 and Walter 15 when their father died.]
5. Henry, poor Henry, was very roughly used. His father had spoiled him and he did not understand the necessity of effort. He obviously learnt his lesson the hard way. Wherever Henry was by 1861 he was not close by as Mary mentions writing to him rather than speaking with him.
6. In settling the estate of her husband, a number of problems came to light. Mary mentioned that Joseph’s accounts were not properly kept. The reason given was that he came in tired at night and left early in the morning. There was no way that creditor’s claims could be disputed.
7. Trew Jegon, the husband of Mary’s youngest sister Eliza, had just come into a large fortunate through the death of his father. A solicitor referred to in Mary’s letter [name not transcribed] was a great friend of Trew’s and Trew "won’t hear but in all the business he did the best" implying that the solicitor was the one who got the best deal. [Was he the solicitor who later drew up Trew’s will which left Eliza in such a difficult financial position later in life? Given the details of Trew’s business dealings as detailed in letters after his death it would appear that Mary had assessed his business acumen correctly: he was not as good as he thought!]
8. Mary mentions seeing Tom Barnett, the first time in almost twenty years. He was living in Camden Town, where he did when he [or should it be you] left England. Tom had lost two of his children in the recent past with fever and this had very much shaken his nerve. Tom is either the son of Thomas Barnett and Caroline Bassigny or the son of Joseph Barnett and his wife Hannah Olivia. I suspect the former is Thomas was much more their age being born in 1834 and grew up close to where their father farmed [at Shiplake a short distance from Upper House farm at Harpsden where George Barnett had his farm]. The latter Thomas was living in Remenham in 1858 quite near where the Hobbs family lived. I would have though that they would have seen them from time to time. In addition, this Thomas was much younger than James and Mary [having been born in 1834 shortly before James went to America for the first time and after the marriage of Mary]. On balance it is likely to have been the Shiplake Thomas who was very much their age.
9. Uncle Joe is probably Joseph Barnett youngest brother of their father George. In 1861 he and his wife, Hannah Olivia, were still living at Common Barn Farm, Horseshoe Common in Remenham. The youngest son would have been Arthur George who was living with his parents at the time of the 1861 census. It looks like his parents turned him out sometime between the April and November of 1861.
10. Uncle Francis would be Francis Brangwin, brother of their mother. Francis was married to Mary Anne. He died February 7, 1872 at Hambleden.
11. Mary Jane and Phill will be Mary Jane Brangwin, daughter of the Francis, brother of their mother referred to in the previous note, and Elizabeth Harriet Dreweatt and Philip Hobbs son of Joseph Hobbs and Mary Deane.
12. Daniel and William are the brothers of Mary and James who went to Australia. It appears that there was no contact with the family in England, or elsewhere for that matter, until the late 1880s when two of Daniel’s sons visited England and one went on to visit the family of James in Ohio.
13. Mary Brangwin, their mother must have died in late 1860 or early 1861. Mary says "it is getting on twelve months" since their mother died.
14. The Peto family of Cannon Court employed Julia, their sister, as a companion to old Mrs. Peto.
15. I have no information about Mr. Langton of Maidenhead but he was obviously fairly well known to Mary and James.
16. Mary refers to her daughters: Mary (born 1847), Emily (born 1849) and Agnes (born 1852). The two older girls were at school at Brighton. Emily had been unwell. Her mother describes her good looks in glowing terms.
17. Sister Julia is mentioned a number of times. It would appear that she may have resided with Mary although, given the close proximity to the Peto’s place, she may just have popped in from time to time and resided at the Peto’s.
18. Aunt Swallow would be Letitia Brangwin, their mother’s sister, who had married James Swallow. Her daughter Lucy never married and ran a school in London.
19. Mention is made of Eliza and Trew. Eliza was the youngest sister of Mary and James and she had married Trew Jegon. Eliza lived at Slough

In the above letter, mention is made of grubbing and chalking. What does this mean? Here is an explanation.

Grubbing was the digging up and removal of trees and hedges or more probably shrub, to make plough land or hay meadow from rougher land. The land that resulted was often not very fertile as trees can thrive on poor soils. Perhaps it had previously been common pasture? Given the relatively late date, presumably it would have been enclosed some years before, although some enclosure did go on quite well into the 19th century. Or perhaps it was farmland which had become neglected? Hard work too, for someone!

In Bucks it was common to improve arable land by marling it with the addition of lime created from the chalk dug up from the Chiltern hills. Marl pits are a feature of the landscape in the area today.

Nowadays, chalking would be called liming - applying a material rich in lime (calcium carbonate) to fertilise the soil.

In the days before cheap artificial chemical fertilisers, fertilising land was difficult and expensive. You can recycle nutrients by using manure, but you can't easily raise nutrient levels permanently with manure from your own stock, as the nutrients have come from your own land itself. Other people would not sell you their manure because they needed it themselves. However, on an acidic soil lime can raise the productivity quite a lot without having to put other fertiliser on, and it would be a good investment as one good go can last for quite a few years.

In many parts of southern England (including the Chilterns and the Downs) the underlying rock is chalk, which is almost pure calcium carbonate. However, the chalk is usually only exposed on slopes. On the flatter land on the hilltops you get a layer of "clay-with-flints", an acidic sandy clay, with (you guessed it) flints. This is usually the result of weathering of the top layers of the chalk over many thousands of years.

On such land liming is very useful - and there is always a nice little chalk quarry on a hillside somewhere near. Hard work though, with horse, cart and shovel.

Barney Tyrwhitt-Drake, a knowledgable Bucks resident and genealogist, provided the following background information.

A knowledge of geology comes in handy here. The Chiltern hills are one of the final ripples in the landscape in the same family as the Alps, formed when Africa collided with Europe a long time ago. The Chilterns and the Downs have similar origins and structures. Underneath they have a bedrock that is impervious to water. In the Chilterns this is greensand that surfaces in several parts of the Vale of Aylesbury. On top of this is a huge mass of chalk that is itself covered with a thin layer of clay with flints. Come and dig my garden for evidence of this! The Chilterns have always supported arable farming where the acidic clay gets only lightly mixed with chalk. You don't have to dig deep to find the chalk anywhere in the Chilterns. Converting the chalk (calcium carbonate) into lime (calcium oxide) and then liming the clay soil reduces the acidity in the clay and this improves fertility. The action of lime is therefore to raise the pH of the soil not to 'lighten' it. Lime is spread on top of the land, not dug into it. Lime hating plants like rhododendrons flourish in the Chilterns as long as they are planted in the clay.

When it rains in the Chilterns the chalk mass acts as a giant sponge and takes up all the water that cannot seep through the greensand below. The Chiltern rivers such as the Misbourne and the Chess are therefore artesian at their source. The Chiltern escarpment to its NW exposes the chalk/greensand junction from which streams 'weep' towards the Vale of Aylesbury. When they built the Wendover Arm of the Grand Junction Canal along the escarpment there was a surveying snafu and they dug it too high and in the chalk. As a result it leaked and was useless. They tried to mend it by lining it with clay, but this didn't succeed and cost a fortune. I recommend Hepple and Doggett's excellent book 'The Chilterns', published by Phillimore, for an explanation of this.

Once again an understanding of local history helps in the understanding of Bucks family history.

I never met my paternal grandfather Charles Harold Brangwin. He died in China before I was born and his life, while not a mystery, was remote and isolated from his family. It is curious that we know more about the circumstances surrounding his death than we ever did about his life. What I have gleaned about him is from discussions with my father and aunts and uncles, and I have some family memorabilia including a few photographs and letters. The following is the virtual extent of my knowledge on the subject.

CHB was born in 1877 one of a number of children of George William Brangwin and Sophia Sarah Green. I have no knowledge of his early life but it appears he followed his father’s profession and qualified in medicine. I have in my possession some of his certificates and diplomas, which reveal he qualified in surgery, dental surgery and general medicine in 1900.

CHB did his medical training at Guy’s Hospital in London and during his period as a medical student also served in South Africa during the Boer War.

In 1911 CHB travelled to Swatow China where he took the position of Port Medical Officer. Now known as Shantou, Swatow was one of the Treaty Ports on the Chinese mainland about 200/300 kilometres north of Hong Kong.

A few years later he met and married Dorothy Swan who had been an English governess in Hong Kong. There were five children - Betty told me one died in infancy and was buried at Kakchioc - the location of the foreign community across the Han River from Swatow. The others children were Betty, Peter (my father), Sidney and Pamela.

In about 1921 Dorothy took the children to England for their education and this obviously meant that contact between CHB and his family became infrequent as he stayed on in his practice in China. He continued to provide for his family at a distance and through long sea journeys returned every few years for a visit. Inevitably, the time apart led to estrangement from his family and their eventual separation and divorce in the mid 1930s - at the time this was a rare and newsworthy event.

CHB was dedicated to his practice but also was fiercely proud of his children. In a letter to my father for his 21st birthday was revealing as to the man’s character when he wrote:

“That you have a useful and happy life is my sincere wish. That comes only from a judicious mixture of your time between work and play, never putting work in second place”.

In his obituary he was described as a vigorous man, at times brusque of manner but one who was extremely conscientious who had the capacity to be very gentle. He was said to have an abiding love of all things English and loyalty and affection for Guy’s Hospital where he qualified. He was also known for his intense family pride and a quaint Victorianism. He was noted also for his devotion to duty - a man of no half tones - but of sharp contrasts and strong likes and dislikes. At times hasty and sharp of temper in the ordinary affairs of life, but of great kindliness to those that were sick or in trouble.

Despite his busy schedule as Port Doctor he maintained a free clinic for indigent Chinese from the surrounding villages and in later years there grew round him a large contingent of Chinese who regarded him with respect and affection.

On 29th January 1939 he set off in the morning to see two patients - he was rowed across the harbour in his gig to the main town and then took a rickshaw to his patients address at Swatow. Letters from a colleague and the local police chief state that en route he felt unwell and asked the driver to go immediately to a colleague, Dr Worth’s, house. On his arrival Dr Worth reported that CHB was faint and complained of feeling unwell and then suddenly lost consciousness and died from a cerebral haemorrhage.

He was buried in the small foreigners cemetery at Kakchioc. His funeral was described as a simple but impressive affair, which demonstrated the high regard in which in which he was held by foreigners and Chinese alike. All the ships in the harbour held their flags at half-mast and the police provided a guard of honour. The whole population of Kakchioc village lined the road to the cemetery in single file as a token of their respect and affection. One of his Chinese employees Chengle wrote (sic):

“It is reportable that only do those European in Kakchioc and Swatow grieve of your fathers death but all of your fathers employees all Chinese in Kakchioc and the neighbouring villages also feel deeply grieved to your fathers death because your father was very kind and familiar to all Chinese residents here and in the neighbouring villages. Please accept my and all the other Chinese employees hearty condolences”

Following his death the forces of history swept over Swatow with the Japanese invasion followed later by civil war and then the Cultural Revolution. While several of the grand old colonial buildings still exist in Kakchioc the headstones of foreigners were removed from the cemetery during the Cultural Revolution (although the Christian Chinese ones remain). English and other foreign influences in China virtually finished at that point with the exception of Hong Kong and Macao.

Christine Brangwin (my cousin and the second of Sidney’s daughters) went to Shantou with a friend about 12 years ago. However, they were unable to locate the cemetery. Inspired by Christine’s efforts I went myself in 1993 and, armed with a photo of the headstone and Betty’s instructions about landmarks, with the help of locals managed to locate the position of the cemetery - and said a prayer for the man.

Rob Brangwin

Charles Harold Brangwin was born in Peckham, Surrey, England in 1877. He was the son of George William Brangwin and Sophia Sarah Green and belongs to the Hambleden part of the family. (He was a great, great grandson of Edmund Brangwin and Mary Deane.) He was the fifth child of eight within this family and the first surviving son.

That's it for this month. I hope you enjoyed learning more about your family, what they did and where they lived. Next month we will look at some of the women who played an important part in the family. Deane and Dreweatt are two families that are worthy of further study. There will be another family member in the spotlight. Who will it be next? Another part of the family will be put under the microsope. Which one will it be? Has your part of the family been featured yet? Maybe it will be next month. Until then

Lorraine