Ethel Lilian Brangwyn
6th January 1907 - 9th August, 2001
Brangwin Family Newsletter: September 2001
Welcome to the September edition of our family newsletter. This month we will look at more of the family that originated in Long Crendon, Bucks. This follows on from the August newsletter.
Other things this month are:
I hope you enjoy learning more about your extended family.
I would like to thank Margaret Brangwyn for the transcription of Edmund's Will as well as the article on money. The farewell to Ethel was provided by David and Margaret Brangwyn. Joan Deane provided the material used in the marriage settlement article and the summary of the Will of Daniel Deane. Joyce Reardon provided some wonderful photos for the Dodwell story and Alan Hudson sent me his parents' wedding photo. Bill and Leslie have provided us with their profile and some delightful images to go with it. Thank you one and all.
Our family site has been busy again over the last month. It is great to see the collection of photos continuing to grow. If you have not had a guess at how old Eleanor was when the photo was taken have a look at it on the site and put forward your views. The current best guess appears to be that she was around 60 years old. Can you do better than that?
Contributions to the Newsletter are most welcome. If you find something that you would like to share please send it to me so that it can be included. My email address is lwuth@hups.net
Lorraine Wuth
Editor
Ethel Lilian Brangwyn
6th January 1907 - 9th August, 2001
Ethel Lilian Davison was born at 21, Westbury Road, Forest Gate - then in Essex, now part of Greater London. She was the third of six children born to Charles Thomas Davison and Annie Louisa (née) Fisk. Ethel spent her childhood in Forest Gate, being something of a tomboy. She used to show the scar on her finger that was a result of the knife slipping when she was trying to whittle a bow and arrow. Having gained a scholarship to the local grammar school at the age of 11, she unfortunately had to leave school at the age of 14 to help care for her younger sister and brother whilst her mother worked as a Court Dressmaker.
Ethel then trained as a telephonist with the Post Office and at the age of 21 met Philip Brangwyn, who also lived in Forest Gate, not far from Ethel's home. They became engaged, but it was seven years before they married, on 30 June 1934 at the Woodgrange Methodist Church, Forest Gate. After their marriage they moved to a flat in Ilford, Essex. The day World War II broke out in September 1939, they moved to 26, Cranbrook Rise, Ilford, the home of Philip's parents, where Ethel was to live for 60 years.
They were to wait eight years before the birth of their first son, David Charles, on 11th June 1942. During the war Philip became a Fireman and then at the end of the war he trained as a schoolteacher under the special emergency training scheme, whilst Ethel was happily keeping house for her family. A second son, Michael Philip, was born to them on 24th December 1947.
In July 1959 Philip died after a long illness and Ethel was left to bring up her sons alone. She never remarried - no-one could replace Philip. She worked as a telephonist again to support the boys.
Ethel was remarkable in that she never looked anything like her age. The picture at the top of this page was taken when she was 91! This was the reason she was able to go on working up to the age of 69. She kept quiet and no-one guessed she was past retirement age.
After her retirement she was an active member of the Townswomen's Guild, participating in the singing group, an activity she particularly enjoyed. She and other ladies in their 70's would visit Retirement Homes to entertain the old people there. She became a member of the Salvation Army Over-Sixties Group and even when arthritis severely impaired her activities she would call the Dial-a-Ride bus to make sure she could attend the meetings.
Her one concession to old age was to move to a sheltered flat when she was 92. She lived there independently, with just a little help, until she entered hospital in May this year.
She valued her independence and although she was very reserved her family knew how much she loved them. She was very proud of her two grandchildren, Claire and Alex, and loved to tell her friends of their achievements. Her home was full of family photos, proudly displayed, along with her treasured letter from the Queen Mother that she received on her 93rd birthday.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Places introduced this month
This Newsletter will introduce you to yet more family places.
Brill lies a few miles north of Long Crendon in Bucks.
New Zealand - that little country that looks a little like a % that lies east of Australia. [Apologies to all the Kiwis].
Profile on Bill and Leslie Brangwynne
We all now know that Albert Brangwynne was one of the children of Albert Benda Brangwynne and Della Hickey.
Albert Brangwynne and Carmel Lombardo were married in Pittsburgh in 1950 and they immediately moved to Houston, Texas. Albert was parts manager for Trailmobile. Albert then became owner of a Sinclair gas station. Next he became salesman for Morgan Company, which remanufacture Auto parts. The Morgan Company transferred to Atlanta and Charlotte. After about a year in Charlotte and Atlanta the family moved back to Pittsburgh.
I, William Albert Brangwynne, was born in 1952. I had a rude awakening after being raised in the segregated South, when placed in an integrated northern school.
After 11 years in the Pittsburgh area, job changes caused us to move again. We first went to Charlotte, North Carolina, Jackson, Mississippi to Atlanta Georgia, where I finally graduated from high school. Moving so often was the reason it took me 14 schools to get through 12 years of school and finally graduate. Also, while in Atlanta, Albert was reunited with his previous employer, which in turn meant a move back to Houston, Texas.
I was accepted into the University of St. Thomas. At about the same time, Dad thought it was a good time to run a convenience store. I was working at the store, along with two other jobs, as well as going to school. This lasted about three semesters. At the end of the 3rd semester I was growing weary of going to school as well as both of us growing weary of the store. Both my father and I decided to go into the delivery service business, working for a local delivery service. I lasted about 6 months with the delivery Service Company and got fired. I thought it was a good deal, so I borrow $10 from my mother’s sister, Marie, had some business cards printed up and started calling on customers for delivery work. This was at the tender age of 18 years. This was the beginning of Al and Bill’s company or ABCO for short.
Dad continued to work at the other delivery service until we had enough business built up so he could quit. That happened at 6 months and we were off and running. By 1973 we had moved out of the home office and moved into an office and had seven drivers on the road. We got some warehousing contracts and continued to grow the business to where, in 1978, we were doing $750,000 a year in sales.
Then I made the big mistake; I married my secretary in 1979. When we got married I was worth $250,000 dollars. Two years later I was $70,000 in the hole. Through family in fighting, ABCO was forced to close down in the early.1980’s . Although, it never really closed down, only the names were changed to protect the guilty (!!!)
I finally wised up in 1987 and divorced my first wife, whose name I hate to mention, and reunited with my parents to try to get the company back on track again. Success was somewhat achieved and we were back to 4-5 drivers on the road. Dad lost his battle against diabetes, strokes and heart attacks in 1988. I ran the business by myself with my mother answering the telephones and attempting to dispatch (what an experience). Soon, loneliness took over again. I started looking at personal ads in the newspaper.
I sent my resume off to 3-4 of the lonely hearts, two of whom responded. One was an oriental girl who was much younger who wanted me to find a home for her and her friend. The other was the lovely and gracious Leslie.
Bill and Leslie
As you can tell from our registration, the ad must have worked since we were married on Jan 1, 1992. And business and relationship flourished. Leslie has worked in Labor and Delivery for almost 20 years. One of the largest accounts is a department store named Foleys, which allowed us to be involved in most of the prominent activities of the Houston area. This included the Thanksgiving Day parade; parades for the Rockets championship and getting to meet the celebrities brought into town by Foleys. We even got to be in the studio audience for the Wheel of Fortune since we delivered the clothing for Vanna White to wear on stage. My motto had always been "We will deliver anything except furniture and babies". Once Leslie and I married, my motto needed to change since Foley had talked me into delivering some of the smaller pieces of furniture and Leslie helps deliver babies.
In 2000, I became tired of self-employment and started seeking employment elsewhere. I closed ABCO and began working for some other delivery services here in town. I then was offered a position in a start-up company opening a new Houston station. At the same time Leslie was diagnosed with serious back problems which involved the disc in her lower back as well as a pinched nerves going to her left leg. She needed immediate surgery. She had surgery December 22, 2000 and I started my new position December 26, 2000.
I had a good position with good income but the company finally realized that they had made a mistake trying to open numerous offices at the same time. I was laid off in April. We found out at this time that Leslie would never be able to return to bedside nursing. She was told that she could only do light duty with no twisting, bending or lifting anything over 20 lbs.
Fast forward to the present, I answered an ad in the local newspaper for a manager for drivers for a pharmacy. I am attempting to computerize the procedure as well as hire drivers and keep everyone happy. Leslie was joined me in the office to provide us with the data entry we need. It is not nursing, but still somewhat in the medical scheme.
Leslie is also very involved in my mother’s care at the nursing home. Carmel has been battling dementia and a history of strokes for years. January 2001, Carmel became very sick and was hospitalized. She was diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer’s, congestive heart failure and Parkinson’s disease. Leslie has been instrumental in keeping the nursing home in line with the care of Carmel.
A final note from Leslie. I grew up about 27 miles northwest of downtown Pittsburgh. I moved with my first husband and three children to Houston in the 1980’s. I waited until my children were all in school and then went to work in Maternal-Child nursing, first in the doctor’s office and then in the hospital. After 20 years of marriage my first husband chose to leave to play around. I tried my best to raise 3 teenagers.
Do y’all believe in fate? When I placed the ad for dates, I never intended to answer any of them. I placed the ad to prove to a friend that it was better to place an ad and be able to pick and choose who you respond to. This is because she was answering ads and ending up with many different men calling her. I received about 40 responses. I placed them in a bag in my closet after looking at a couple. About a week later, I took them out and looked through them. I was appalled at the choices - letters written in pencil, like an elementary school child. I also received many arrogant responses - like they were God’s gift to women.
The one which stood out was from a man with just his bio, picture, and general information. I couldn’t understand why he answered my ad since I had 3 teenagers - he never had any children. His idea of camping is the nearest Holiday Inn. I had grown up in scouting and travel to Canada for primitive camping and canoeing trips. But he did and I am glad.
What stood out was that he was from the Pittsburgh area (so was I), was Catholic (so was I). Something in his response just kept me interested and I finally called him. We spent over 2 hours on the telephone talking about Pittsburgh and how close we actually grew up to each other.
I had dated a few other guys after my divorce, but my kids got the better of them - to be exact - my son tried to scare them away!! He was successful with a few but it didn’t work with Bill!!
Bill and I met after I finished work at the hospital once evening. He gave me a single rose for friendship and asked if he could hold my hand. I knew when he touched my hand that he was special and we would be together. We actually found out that one of the houses he lived in while in the Pittsburgh area was within 5 miles of a farm my family visited almost on a weekly basis. So after both of us growing up in the Pittsburgh area, many years later, we both end up in Houston Texas, meet and fall in love. We were married in 1992 and will celebrate our 10th anniversary on Jan 1, 2002.
Our "Kids"
Bill and I don't have any kids and my kids are now all grown. When we married, two of my kids were living with us and we saw an ad for exchange students. We thought it would get my daughter out of her room and off the couch.
It didn't work but Bill and I had the best year. Tiina is from Finland and was a real doll. she was very active and became close friends with my daughter. This started our involvement with exchange students. This was 1992- the year we were married ( just what you want to do soon after your wedding - add ANOTHER teenager to your home.) But since that time we have had Richard, (Germany) Essi (Finland) Erik (Brazil) Dimity (Russia) Stacie (Sweden) Alan (Switzerland) Olli (Germany) Bastian (Germany) Marika (Germany) Winnie (Hong Kong) In addition we became representatives for several groups and also placed kids in other's homes and were responsible for them. Last year we ended up with one of the proverable "bad" kids and when I had to have major surgery we quit but we are again toying with it again.
In addition we also have a feathered family known to "bird people" as fids - feathered kids! We currently have 7 parrots.
Long Crendon revisited - part 2: the Dodwell connection
This month we pick up a family memeber who were listed last month with a note that they would be looked at in coming newsletters. Here is the first of the follow up articles.
Generation 1
Elizabeth Brangwin was born about 1809 in Long Crendon, the second daughter of Richard Brangwin and Elizabeth Winter.
Elizabeth married Richard Dodwell on September 30, 1829 at St Mary's, Long Crendon. Richard was the son of John Dodwell and Mary Fenemore. He was born in 1805 in Long Crendon. The Dodwell family is prominent in the Long Crendon area with quite a few members of the family still living there in 1881. Many were farmers although a number were involved in other activities.
According to a letter written by Joyce Reardon's mother, Elizabeth Brangwin and Richard Dodwell were her ancestors. A descendent of Elizabeth and Richard, Richard Brangwin Dodwell, is Joyce's great grandfather. The Dodwells farmed at Brill Manor, Brill Village. Brill is a few miles north of Long Crendon.
Brill Manor home of Edmund Brangwin Dodwell and then Richard Brangwin Dodwell
photo courtesy Joyce Reardon
At the time of the 1851 census, Richard and Elizabeth were living in Oddington, OXF where Richard was farming 603 acres.
Richard died on July 27, 1867 in Oddington, OXF, aged 62. When and where Elizabeth died is currently unknown.
Elizabeth and Richard had six children:
Generation 2
Edmund Brangwin Dodwell was born in 1830 in Long Crendon, the son of Elizabeth Brangwin and Richard Dodwell. He married twice. Firstly, Emma White on May 8, 1856 in Ashendon, BKM and then Emily Caroline Osborne in 1884 at Thame, OXF.
In 1851 Edmund was living with his parents in Oddington. He was 21.
In 1881, Edmund was living at Manor House, Brill, BKM and he was a farmer and it was at
Manor House that he died on September 13, 1894.
Headstone of Edmund Brangwin Dodwell and his wife Emma at Brill
Photo courtesy Joyce Reardon
Emma White was the daughter of Thomas White and Mary Spiers. She was born in 1833 at Pollecott, BKM, and died on May 10, 1882 at Brill Manor House, Brill, BKM.
Edmund and Emma had ten children:
Edmund and Emily had a child, John Percy Dodwell, born in April 1886.
Elizabeth Brangwin Dodwell was born 18 January 1842, daughter of Elizabeth Brangwin and Richard Dodwell. She married Thomas Edwin Johnson in 1860. She died on December 18, 1870, aged 28. She was buried in the Holywell Cemetery, Oxford and the monumental inscription reads:
Elizabeth Brangwin / the beloved wife of Thomas Edwin JOHNSON / born Jan 18 1842 died Dec 18 1870 / also of Thomas Edwin JOHNSON / born June 12 1829 died Jan 15 1914
Elizabeth and Thomas had seven children:
Generation 3
Richard Brangwin Dodwell was born on April 18, 1862 at Touchbridge Boarstall, BKM. He was the third child but first son of Edmund Dodwell and Emma White. At the time of the 1881 census, the 18 year old Richard was living at Charlton On Otmoor, OXF where he was farming 102 acres and employing 3 men and 2 boys. His sister Elizabeth was also listed at this farm.
Richard Brangwin Dodwell - photo courtesy Joyce Reardon
Martha Mary Franklin - Photo courtesy Joyce Reardon
Richard married Martha Mary Franklin on February 15, 1883 at Oddington, OXF. They had eight children:
Richard died on February 12, 1940 at Ulcombe, Kent.
Edmund Brangwin Dodwell was born in 1863 at Boarstall, BKM, the fourth child and second son of Edmund Dodwell and Emma White. in 1881 he was living with his parents at the Manor House, Brill and was aged 17.
Edmund married Lizzie Alexandra Pargeter, daughter of William and Charlotte, in 1887. They had eight children:
Edmund died at Brill on June 20, 1948.
William White Dodwell was born in 1876 at Boarstall Brill, BKM, the tenth and final child of Edmund Dodwell and Emma White. He and Ada Nellie Mead had seven children:
Thomas Bertie Johnson born July 13, 1868. He was the fifth child of Elizabeth Brangwin Dodwell and Thomas Edwin Johnson. He married Ada Fowler and had eight children:
Generation 4
Martha Mary Dodwell was born 4 March 1885 in Oddington, OXF, the second child of Richard Brangwin Dodwell and Martha Mary Franklin.
She married Herbert Edward Lowe on May 17, 1915 in Waverley, NZ. He was born 14 January 1892 in Manaia, Taranaki, NZ, and was a farmer. He died 1983 in Lepperton, Taranaki, NZ.
They had one child: Gladys Lowe who was born on May 14, 1922, at Manaia, Taranaki, NZ.
Martha died 10 June 1963 in Tokanui Hospital, Te Awamutu, NZ. She was buried in the Lepperton Cemetery, Taranaki, NZ.
Elsie Julia Dodwell was born on January 8, 1887 in Oddington, OXF. She was the third child born to Richard Brangwin Dodwell and Martha Mary Franklin. She married Thomas York on July 24, 1911 in Waverley, NZ. He was born 23 October 1881 in Oundle, NTH, and died on October 30, 1963 in Hawera, Taranaki, NZ. He was a farmer.
They had three children:
Elsie died on May 22, 1965 at Duthie Road, Eltham, Taranaki, NZ. She was buried on May 24, 1965, at Hawera, Taranaki, NZ.
Mabel Dodwell was born in 1889 in Oddington, OXF.
She was the fourth child born to Richard Brangwin Dodwell and Martha Mary Franklin.
She married twice. Firstly, Frederick Ernest Gordon Spencer on April 10, 1912
at Boughton, NTH. he was the son of Albert Spencer and was was born in 1885 at
Stratford, ENG. He died 1913 in Brackley, NTH. He was a Queens Horse Guard.
She then married George Gall in 1920 at Towcester, BKM.
Mabel died in 1922 and was buried at Maids Morton, BKM.
Photo courtesy Joyce Reardon
Mabel had two children:
Florence Annie Dodwell was the fifth daughter of Richard Brangwin Dodwell and Martha Mary Franklin. She was born on July 27, 1892 in Arngrove Boarstall, BKM. She married Chrales Edward Crews on June 24, 1914 in Waverley, NZ. he was the son of Charles Crews and Esther O'Kane. He was born on February 1, 1888 in Owaka, NZ, and died May 10, 1954 in Auckland, NZ. She married Alfred Evan Griffiths in 1951 in Hastings, NZ.
Florence and Charles had two children:
Florence died on November 18, 1966 in Hastings, NZ, where she is buried.
George and Eileen Crews [uncle and mother of Joyce Reardon]
Photo courtesy Joyce Reardon
Gladys Helen Dodwell was born on September 26, 1894, at Oddington, OXF, the sixth daughter of Richard Brangwin Dodwell and Martha Mary Franklin. She was baptised there on November 17, 1894. She married Benjamin Walker on August 2, 1920 in BKM. He was a civil engineer. He was born in 1890 and died on November 12, 1962 in LEI. They had one child: Phyllis Margaret Walker who was born on June 5, 1922.
Gladys died 22 June 1975 in LEI.
Theodore Egbert Dodwell was born on June 22, 1890 in BKM. He was the second child and first son of Edmund Brangwin Dodwell and Lizzie Alexandra Pargeter. He died 1936 in BKM.
Theodore married Florence Kathleen Emily Hall. She was born on March 29, 1900 and died on May 19, 1990 at 16 Temple Street, Brill, BKM. They had 4 children:
Kathleen Gertrude Dodwell was the fourth child and third daughter of Edmund Brangwin Dodwell and Lizzie Alexandra Pargeter. She was born on December 23, 1894 in BKM and died on September 3, 1973 in NZ. She married James W Mossman on November 27, 1918. They had three children:
Fred Dodwell was the seventh child of Edmund Brangwin Dodwell and Lizzie Alexandra Pargeter. He was born on February 9, 1900 in BKM and died 19 May 1985 in Warks, ENG. He married Nellie Coles in 1926 in OXF. She died 1991. They had four children:
Gladys Irene Johnson was the first child of Thomas Bertie Johnson and Ada Fowler. She was born on August 23, 1891 and died on March 6, 1965 in the Radcliff Infirmary, Oxford, OXF, aged 73. She married John Druce Hudson in the Wesleyan Chapel, Witney, OXF. He was born on April 14, 1884 and died on May 19, 1963 at Fairholme, 89 Woodstock Road, Witney, OXF, aged 78. They had two children:
Wedding photo of Edwin and Audrey
Photo courtesy Alan D. Hudson
Ruby Brangwin Johnson was born on December 5, 1895. She was the third child of Thomas Bertie Johnson and Ada Fowler. She died about 1997 in Stroud, GLS. She married Roy Saunders and they had three children:
The Will of yet another Edmund Brangwin
This will was dated May 18, 1772 and was made by Edmund Brangwin of Hambleden, Bucks. Edmund had been born in Long Crendon in 1705 and was the son of John Brangwin and Eliner Towne. He had moved to Hambleden, the start of the Hambleden branch of the family, and married Sarah Deane. Here is his Will.
Edmund Brangwin LS [encircled] Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Edmund Brangwin the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our Hands as Witnesses in the presence of each other in the sight and at the request of the said Testator ~ Ann Argles ~ Henry Allnutt Atty Great Marlow Bucks
I Edmund Brangwin the -------- named Testator do make publish and declare this Codicil to my last Will and Testament within written and desire and direct that this Codicil and addition to my said Will shall be taken as part and parcel of my said Will and of the same force and validity therewith I give and bequeath unto my youngest Son Francis Brangwin the Sum of Two hundred pounds over and above the sum of three hundred pounds given to him by my said Will and I direct that the said two hundred pounds shall be paid to my said Son Francis by my within named Executors at his Age of Twenty four Years and all in other respects I do ratify and confirm my said Will as it is within written In Witness whereof I the said Edmund Brangwin have to this Codicil to my said Will set my hand and seal this Nineteenth day of March in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and seventy four Edmund Brangwin LS [encircled] Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Edmund Brangwin as a Codicil to the Will within written in the presence of us Henry Allnutt Atty Robert Goldsmith his clerk
This will was proved at London with a Codicil the first day of July in the year of Our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty three before the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor of Laws Master ?Reeve or Cou------- of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of Sarah Brangwin Widow the Relict Francis Deane and Daniel Deane the Executors named in the Will of the deceased to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels Credits of the said deceased they having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer
(The following is written in the margin, but is barely legible)
On the eighth day of Jany 1829 Admon with the -------------------------------------- of the ------------------- of Edmund Brangwin late of the Parish of Hambleden in the County of Bucks --------------- by Sarah Brangwin Widow dec’d ----------------- being the Relict one of the -------------one of the residuary Legatees In Trust and the Residuary Legatee for Life who by ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to Edmund Brangwin his Son and Residuary Legatee ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sworn [omission mark - the word “by” then something illegible written above] duly to administer the said Sarah Brangwin ----------------- Francis Deane & Daniel Deane --------- and died intestate
Just who were all the people mentioned in this Will? We have covered Edmund himself. His wife, Sarah Deane, was a Hambleden lass having been born there in 1729. Her parents were Daniel Deane and Mary Denham. Daniel was a yeoman of Colstrop in the parish of Hambleden. Sarah was one of ten children and it is likely that the Daniel Deane and Francis Deane who were named as Executors by edmund were brothers of Sarah. Francis died in 1809 and Daniel in 1800. Sarah died in 1814.
Edmund and Sarah had three children:
So, in 1772, when he wrote this will his children were all quite young. They were still relatively young when he died in 1783.
How much is it Worth?
From time to time mention is made of £ which is all well and good. But how much is £10,000 worth today if it was quoted in 1850? The article below was published by the Lincolnshire Family History Society. Of course, if you want to convert this to Aussie, NZ, US or Canadian $ you will need to apply the approapriate exchange rate.
Lincolnshire FHS June 1998 (Vol 9 No 21)
WE ARE GRATEFUL ONCE MORE TO ALLAN W ROBINSON, 15 ILFORD AVENUE, Northburn Glade, Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 9LE, for the following comparative values of British money. Following the great success of the listing published in this magazine last year Allan has once more contacted the Bank of England which has supplied this information from its retail price index. The valuation shown against each year is its relative value compared with £1.00 in 1997 (e.g. £1.00 in 1900 would have the buying power of £51.76 pounds in 1997 [£1.00 x 51.76], or an estate valued at £1,000 in 1850, would have been worth £45,840 in 1997 [£1,000 x 45.84]). Members will notice that the values sometimes fluctuate and did not always increase over the years.
| 1997 = 1.00 | 1996 = 1.03 | 1995 = 1.06 | 1994 = 1.09 | 1993 = 1.12 | 1992 = 1.14 |
| 1991 = 1.18 | 1990 = 1.25 | 1989 = 1.37 | 1988 = 1.47 | 1987 = 1.55 | 1986 = 1.61 |
| 1985 = 1.67 | 1984 = 1.77 | 1983 = 1.85 | 1982 = 1.94 | 1981 = 2.11 | 1980 = 2.30 |
| 1979 = 2.78 | 1978 = 3.15 | 1977 = 3.41 | 1976 = 3.95 | 1975 = 4.61 | 1974 = 5.73 |
| 1973 = 6.77 | 1972 = 7.39 | 1971 = 7.91 | 1970 = 8.66 | 1969 = 9.20 | 1968 = 9.71 |
| 1967 = 10.17 | 1966 = 10.43 | 1965 = 10.82 | 1964 = 11.36 | 1963 = 11.72 | 1962 = 11.96 |
| 1961 = 12.45 | 1960 = 12.89 | 1959 = 13.01 | 1958 = 13.09 | 1957 = 13.48 | 1956 = 13.96 |
| 1955 = 14.68 | 1954 = 15.34 | 1953 = 15.64 | 1952 = 16.11 | 1951 = 17.57 | 1950 = 19.22 |
| 1949 = 19.75 | 1948 = 20.35 | 1947 = 21.71 | 1946 = 21.88 | 1945 = 21.88 | 1944 = 22.23 |
| 1943 = 22.36 | 1942 = 22.29 | 1941 = 22.36 | 1940 = 24.25 | 1939 = 28.19 | 1938 = 28.52 |
| 1937 = 28.87 | 1936 = 30.32 | 1935 = 31.16 | 1934 = 31.51 | 1933 = 31.83 | 1932 = 30.86 |
| 1931 = 30.23 | 1930 = 28.11 | 1929 = 27.04 | 1928 = 26.78 | 1927 = 26.52 | 1926 = 25.81 |
| 1925 = 25.30 | 1924 = 25.44 | 1923 = 25.60 | 1922 = 24.37 | 1921 = 19.69 | 1920 = 17.88 |
| 1919 = 20.66 | 1918 = 21.86 | 1917 = 25.17 | 1916 = 30.42 | 1915 = 36.06 | 1914 = 44.57 |
| 1913 = 44.57 | 1912 = 44.57 | 1911 = 45.84 | 1910 = 47.19 | 1909 = 47.19 | 1908 = 47.19 |
| 1907 = 48.62 | 1906 = 53.48 | 1905 = 50.14 | 1904 = 50.14 | 1903 = 50.14 | 1902 = 50.14 |
| 1901 = 51.76 | 1900 = 51.76 | 1899 = 53.48 | 1898 = 53.48 | 1897 = 53.48 | 1896 = 55.33 |
| 1895 = 55.33 | 1894 = 53.48 | 1893 = 51.76 | 1892 = 50.14 | 1891 = 50.14 | 1890 =50.14 |
| 1889 = 50.14 | 1888 = 51.76 | 1887 = 51.76 | 1886 = 50.14 | 1885 = 48.62 | 1884 = 45.84 |
| 1883 = 44.57 | 1882 = 43.37 | 1881 = 43.37 | 1880 = 42.22 | 1879 = 44.57 | 1878 = 41.14 |
| 1877 = 40.11 | 1876 = 41.14 | 1875 = 40.11 | 1874 = 39.13 | 1873 = 37.31 | 1872 = 38.20 |
| 1871 = 40.11 | 1870 = 40.11 | 1869 =40.11 | 1868 = 38.20 | 1867 = 38.20 | 1866 = 40.11 |
| 1865 = 42.22 | 1864 = 43.37 | 1863 = 42.22 | 1862 = 41.14 | 1860 = 40.11 | 1860 = 41.14 |
| 1859 = 42.22 | 1858 = 42.22 | 1857 = 38.20 | 1856 = 36.47 | 1855 = 36.47 | 1854 = 37.31 |
| 1853 = 43.37 | 1852 = 47.19 | 1851 = 47.19 | 1850 = 45.84 | 1849 = 43.37 | 1848 = 40.11 |
| 1847 = 35.66 | 1846 = 39.13 | 1845 = 41.14 | 1844 = 43.37 | 1843 = 43.37 | 1842 = 38.20 |
| 1841 = 35.66 | 1840 = 34.88 | 1839 = 34.88 | 1838 = 37.31 | 1837 = 38.20 | 1836 = 39.13 |
| 1835 = 43.37 | 1834 = 43.37 | 1833 = 40.11 | 1832 = 38.20 | 1831 = 35.66 | 1830 = 39.13 |
| 1829 = 37.31 | 1828 = 37.31 | 1827 = 35.66 | 1826 = 33.43 | 1825 = 32.09 | 1824 = 37.31 |
| 1823 = 40.11 | 1822 = 43.37 | 1821 = 37.31 | 1820 = 32.75 | 1819 = 29.71 | 1818 = 29.17 |
| 1817 = 29.17 | 1816 = 33.43 | 1815 = 30.27 | 1814 = 27.20 | 1813 = 23.60 | 1812 = 24.31 |
| 1811 = 27.20 | 1810 = 26.74 | 1809 = 27.20 | 1808 = 30.27 | 1807 = 31.46 | 1806 = 30.86 |
| 1805 = 29.17 | 1804 = 34.14 | 1803 = 34.88 | 1802 = 32.75 | 1801 = 25.47 | 1800 = 28.15 |
| 1790 = 50.14 | 1780 = 55.33 | 1770 = 55.33 | 1760 = 66.85 | 1750 = 76.40 | 1740 = 76.40 |
| 1730 = 76.40 | 1720 = 72.93 | 1710 = 66.85 | 1700 = 69.76 | 1690 = 76.40 | 1680 = 72.93 |
| 1670 = 72.93 | 1660 = 66.85 | 1650 = 66.85 | 1640 = 76.40 | 1630 = 80.23 | 1620 = 84.45 |
| 1610 = 84.45 | 1600 = 114.61 | 1590 = 133.71 | 1580 = 160.45 | 1570 = 145.86 | 1560 = 178.29 |
| 1550 = 267.45 | 1540 = 267.45 | 1530 = 320.90 | 1520 and every | 10 years to | 1380 = 401.17 |
| 1370 = 320.90 | 1360 = 320.90 | 1350 = 401.17 | 1340 = 534.80 | 1330 = 401.17 | 1320 = 320.90 |
| 1310 = 401.17 | 1300 = 401.17 | 1290 = 534.80 | 1280 = 401.17 | 1270 401.17 |
Who's Who?
While Margaret and I and other Brangwin researchers have been very diligent about our activities, mistakes still happen. From time to time we have drawn conclusions based on known (note that little five letter word) facts which have later turned out to be incorrect. This is confession time.
We have previously concluded that the William Brangwin who married Elizabeth Cowan on April 11, 1862 was William Castle Brangwin. After all, he was born about 1823 and his father was John, a farmer. We had a perfectly good William son of John. He was the only candidate.
Then came the Michigan data. Oh, dear. William C turned up in Michigan. It was still possible that he could have married Elizabeth Cowan until we confirmed his marriage to Charlotte Rundle on April 23, 1862 at Battle Creek, Calhoun Co, MI.
So, it would appear that there is another William born in 1822 or 1823 to a John. We are looking for more information on this William. He stated that he was a pensioner which implies that he was probably an ex-serviceman so Army and Navy records would appear to be the next step. In addition, we will be checking out the Johns who could be the father of William.
We will keep you posted on progress in solving this mystery.
A marriage settlement
This is from Joan Deane
John Deane had a son Abraham by his wife Mary baptised at Hambleden, Bucks, on June 6, 1645. John's first wife appears to have died and he married a second time: another Mary. Then on 27 Oct 1646 a marriage settlement was signed between John Collins (alias Deane) of Colstrope and Mary, daughter of John Laurence of Cookham, Berks, yeoman. [Bucks CRO D79/1/2-3 Hambleden. Deeds of Colstrope Farm Box 1]
Summary: Indenture between George Collyns (alias Deane) of Coulstropp (alias Coustropp) of the parish of Hambleden, yeoman, and John Collyns (alias Deane) his youngest son AND Robert Collyns (alias Deane) of Medmenham and Robert Lawrence of Bray, yeoman.
In consideration of a marriage, already had, between John Collyns and Mary, one of the daughters of John Lawrence of Cookham. Also in consideration of £160 marriage portion. The land and premises mentioned below are made over to George and John Collyns and their descendants as indicated below in the document, and provided they keep all the conditions.
All the farm and premises called Coustropp where George Collyns now lives.
An acre of arable land called Stonylands.
1½ acres of arable land, lately a coppice, known as Harrowfield coppice.
3 roods of arable land in a common field called Newcrofts. (All four pieces in the parish of Hambleden and leased and occupied by George Deane)
When George Deane dies ½ of everything above goes to Sarah his wife for her lifetime. On her death it is joined to the other half and goes to John Collyns. When John dies all 4 pieces of land go to eldest legitimate son of John and Mary Collyns, to continue down through the line of the eldest son. If eldest son has no male heir, then to John and Mary’s second and their heir, and so on to their 3rd 4th etc son so as not to split up the estate.
If John and Mary have no male heir then to go to Abraham Collyns, John’s existing son and heir apparent.
If Abraham Collyns has no son and heir, then the property goes to George Collyns and his heirs through the line of his sons providing they keep all the conditions.
Also George and John must promise to pay 20 marks per annum for the maintenance of Mary Collyns if she survives her husband John - to be paid quarterly as soon as she is widowed, for the rest of her life, in lieu of her third or dower of John Collyns property.
The surnames seem to be very changeable don’t they!
Will of Daniel Deane
Will of Daniel Deane of Colstrop in the parish of Hambleden, yeoman dated 18 Aug 1764. Left farms and lands to sons Abraham, Daniel, George and John Deane as Tenants in common. To daughter Sarah wife of Edmund Brangwith [sic], Mary wife of John Hussey, Ann wife of Zachary White and Elizabeth wife of William Lowis, he left £400 each including what they had already received. Daughter Martha to receive £400 when 21 or married, whichever earlier. Son Francis Deane the lands at E---mont. Wife Mary to have annuity of £40 a year to be paid by son Francis. Executors: Wife Mary Deane, sons Francis and Abraham Deane.
Proved 2 Oct 1769 on oaths of Francis and Abraham Deane at London.
Daniel seems to have been a man of some substance! He was the one who built some of the farm buildings at Colstrop and carved the date 1739 on a door frame. Did you visit the farm when you were in Hambleden?
Daniel settled a goodly sum of money on each of his daughters. £400 in 1764 was a princely sum.
The sinking of HMS Hood
The following article has been provided by Mike Collins
My father, Ralph, like his father, Alfred, joined the Royal Navy as soon as he was able at sixteen as a boy seaman. Prior to that he had attended Clatford Primary School and Andover Grammar School.
Another family that had a (much older) connection with Goodworth Clatford, was my mother, Dorothy Eileen Dew’s family. Although living with her parents and siblings at Lee in southeast London, my mother spent some time visiting relatives in Clatford and there met my father in 1937 when she was sixteen. They married on 6 July 1939 at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Lee, London, two months before the outbreak of WW2. My father was based at Portsmouth, Hampshire, and my parents rented the top half of a house at 18 Edgerly Gardens, Cosham (a suburb of Portsmouth). They lived in this house from August 1939 until December 1940 whilst my father was on leave, with my mother moving back to stay with her in-laws at Clatford when he was at sea.
My father was posted from HMS Vernon to HMS Hood on 25 April 1941 two months before I was due to be born. HMS Hood with HMS Prince of Wales sailed from Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands just north of Scotland, on 21 May 1941 to hunt for the German Battle Cruiser Bismarck. The enemies met in the Denmark Strait, between Greenland and Iceland and commenced battle at about 5.50am 24 May 1941. At 5.55am HMS Hood was hit and was sunk at 5.58am. There were only three survivors from HMS Hood and 1418 men, including my father, were lost. The Bismarck was sunk by the Royal Navy three days later with the loss of almost 2000 lives. [As a member of the HMS Hood Association, I accepted an invitation from the Association President, Ted Briggs, who is now the only living survivor, to attend the AGM, the formal dinner, and carry and lay the official wreath at the Memorial Service at St George’s Church, Portsea on Sunday 23 May 1999. I considered this a very great honour and had the privilege to march along side some truly marvellous men, one of whom was 99 years of age at the time - he is now 101, and served on HMS Hood in 1922.]
HMS Hood
On May the 24th 1941, the two titans located each other..
At 05.52 AM, Hood opened fire on Bismarck. Two minutes later, DKM Bismarck responded to Hood's gunfire and the Battle of Denmark Strait began.
At 06.00, a gigantic explosion with a thunderous flame ripped the Hood into two and Hood dissappeared. In less than ten minutes of battle, Hood was lost.. Only 3 men survived, and more than 1400 died aboard the battlecruiser.
Hood was a very powerful, fast and beatiful ship. She had 8 X 38 cm. main guns and a top speed of 31 knots, but her armor was not as thick as a battleship armor. When Bismarck's heavy 38 cm. shells hit and penetrated her citadel armor and detonated inside an ammunition store, this battlecruiser's end came quickly.
Within 1-2 minutes, the massive 42.000 ton battlecruiser sunk due to a thunderous explosion.
If you would like to read more about the battle go to http://www.voodoo.cz/hood/hunt.html.
What is A 'Hundred'?
From time to time documents will refer to something called a 'Hundred'. Just what is it? Below is the full definition of a Hundred, copied from the Oxford English Dictionary on-line (to which the University of Oxford subscribes). You will notie that hundreds have been used in a number of countries, including some areas of the US, however it is in English records where we would expect to come across it most.
5. a. In England (and subseq. in Ireland): A subdivision of a county or shire, having its own court; also formerly applied to the court itself: cf. COUNTY1 4. Chiltern Hundreds: see CHILTERN.
Most of the English counties were divided into hundreds; but in some counties wapentakes, and in others wards, appear as divisions of a similar kind. The origin of the division into hundreds, which appears already in OE. times, is exceedingly obscure, and very diverse opinions have been given as to its origin. ‘It has been regarded as denoting simply a division of a hundred hides of land; as the district which furnished a hundred warriors to the host; as representing the original settlement of the hundred warriors; or as composed of a hundred hides, each of which furnished a single warrior’ (Stubbs Const. Hist. I. v. §45). ‘It is certain that in some instances the hundred was deemed to contain exactly 100 hides of land’ (F. W. Maitland). The hundred, OHG. (Alemannisch) huntari, huntre, was a subdivision of the gau in Ancient Germany; but connexion between this and the English hundred is not clearly made out.
c1000 Laws of Edgar I. (title) is is seo erædnyss, hu mon æt hundred healdan sceal. Ibid. c. 3 And se man e is forsitte, and æs hundredes dom forsace..esylle man am hundrede xxx peninga, and æt am æfteran cyrre syxti penea, half am hundrede, half am hlaforde. c1000 Laws of Ethelred I. c. i. §2 Nime se hlaford tween etreowe eenas innan am hundrede. ?a1143 WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY Gesta Reg. 11 §122 Centurias quas dicunt hundrez, et decimas quas thethingas vocant instituit [Elfredus]. 1292 BRITTON I. i. §13 En counteez et hundrez et en Court de chescun fraunc tenaunt. Ibid. iii. §7 De amercier nul homme en court de baroun ne en hundred. c1325 Poem Times Edw. II 469 in Pol. Songs (Camden) 344 And thise assisours, that comen to shire and to hundred Damneth men for silver. 1450 J. PASTON Petit. in P. Lett. No. 77 I. 107 In the courtes of the hundred. 1465 MARG. PASTON Ibid. No. 510 II. 201 Endytyd..by the enquest of Fourhoo hunder. 1480 CAXTON Descr. Brit. 20 In Yorkshire ben xxij hondredis. 1559 in Strype Ann. Ref. (1824) I. II. App. vii. 409 There is..in every houndrethe one head counstable. 1588 FRAUNCE Lawiers Log. I. xii. 52. 1632 MASSINGER City Madam I. ii, Thy sire, constable Of the hundred. 1656 EVELYN Mem. 8 July, [Dedham] a clothing town, as most are in Essex, but lies in the unwholesome hundreds. 1748 De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. I. 7 (D.) From hence [Tilbury Fort] there is nothing for many miles together remarkable but a continued level of unhealthy marshes called The Three Hundreds, till we come before Leigh. 1765 BLACKSTONE Comm. Introd. iv. 115 As ten families of freeholders made up a town or tithing, so ten tithings composed a superior division, called a hundred, as consisting of ten times ten families. 1806-7 J. BERESFORD Miseries Hum. Life (1826) II. xxx, On a visit in the Hundreds of Essex. 1874 STUBBS Const. Hist. I. v. 96 The union of a number of townships for the purpose of judicial administration, peace, and defence, formed what is known as the hundred or wapentake. 1876 DIGBY Real Prop. i. 3 It is impossible to trace the exact links of connexion between the hundreds of warriors who constituted the sub-divisions of the Teutonic army and the territorial hundred of later times; there can however be no question that the two are connected. 1886 Act 49 & 50 Vict. c. 38 Whereas by law the inhabitants of the hundred or other area in which property is damaged by persons riotously and tumultuously assembled together are liable in certain cases to pay compensation for such damage, and it is expedient to make other provision [etc.]..§5..the amount required to meet the said payments shall be raised as part of the police rate. 1888 Act 51 & 52 Vict. c. 41 §3 There shall be transferred to the council of each county..The making, assessing, and levying of county, police, hundred, and all rates. Ibid. §100 The expression ‘division of a county’, in..this Act..includes any hundred, lathe, wapentake, or other like division.
b. A division of a county in the British American colonies or provinces of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, which still exists in the State of Delaware.
1621 Ordin. Virginia 24 July in Stith Hist. Virginia App. iv. 33 The other council..shall consist for the present, of the said council of state, and of two burgesses out of every town, hundred, or other particular plantation. 1637-8 in Archives of Maryland III. 59 Whereas the west side of St. Georges river is now..thought fit to be erected into a hundred by the name of St. Georges hundred. 1683 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 21 Power to Divide the said Countrey and Islands, into Townes, Hundreds and Counties. 1888 BRYCE Amer. Commw. II. xlviii. 224 note, In Maryland hundreds, which still exist in Delaware, were for a long time the chief administrative divisions. 1896 P. A. BRUCE Econ. Hist. Virginia I. 210 At certain intervals..houses were put up, the occupants of which formed a guard..for the population of the Hundreds.
I hope you have found this edition of the Brangwin Family Newsletter of interest.
I would also like to thank Bill and Leslie for their profile. Also, thank you to David and Margaret, Alan, Joan and Joyce.
That's it for this month. Next month we will look at another part of the family. There will be another family member in the spotlight. And who knows what else will be featured!
If you have anything you would like to contribute I would like to hear from you.
Until then next month
Lorraine