Welcome to the December edition of our family newsletter. This month we will look at more early references to Brangwins and where they lived. As this is the last newsletter for the year, an index has been included.

• We take a look at William Donald Barnett, otherwise known as Don
• Margaret Brangwyn has supplied some Frank Brangwyn Christmas items
• Some more odds and ends including a look at Essex
• The Will is of John Brangwyn of Chard, Sommerset

I hope you enjoy learning more about your extended family.

I would like to thank Margaret for her input into this edition of the Newsletter.

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

"A county in the east of England, lying on the German Ocean, bounded by Suffolk, Cambridge, Hartfordshire and Middlesex; and separated by the Thames from Kent. It is about 54 miles long, and 48 broad, and is divided into 18 hundreds. Its surface is level, yet sufficiently varied not to be monotonous; but, excepting at a few points, the coast is flat and marshy. The rivers are the Thames, the Stour, the Lea, the Chelmer, the Blackwater, and the Coln. The soil is varied, but on the whole it is an admirable corn county. It has also excellent pastures; and some woods of considerable extent, such as Epping Forest. It produces in addition to farm produce, oysters called natives, and some few textile manufactures. Chelmsford is its county town, Colchester is a place of some importance."

[Barclays Complete & Universal English Dictionary, 1842-1852]

"Prittlewell an ancient village, known in the raign of King Edward the Confessor, is the mother parish of Southend, in the Rochford hundard and union. Rochester dicese, Essexarcheaconry, and Canewdon deanery, South Essex, on the road from Southend to Rochford, 1 mile north of Southend, 3 miles south of Rochford, 15 miles south-east of Billericay, and 40 miles form London. It receives its name from a well at the Prioy, feeds several fishponds. The whole parish contains 5,248 acres; the population in 1861 was 3,334. The village consists of two streets on the slope of a hill, at right angles with each other, and having the church at thejuction, on the top of the hill. " [Kelly's Directory of Essex, 1862]

"Harlow is a railway and telegraph station on the Eastern Counties (Cambridge) railway, on the borders of Hartfordshire. It is in the Hundred of Harlow, Epping union, Rochester disocese, Essex archdeaconry, and Harlow deanery, and is in the Bishop Stortford county court district, South Essex; it is 26 1/2 miles by rail from London and 23 by road, 7 miles north-west of Onger, 6 miles south of Bishop Stortford, and about 5 1/2 miles north of Epping, 10 miles north-east of Chestunt, 12 miles west of Hertford and Ware, 21 1/2 miles south from Cambridge and 18 miles west of Chelmsford." [Kelly's Directory of Essex, 1862]

This is my father's story: Lorraine Wuth

Don was born on June 25, 1920, the second of three sons of William Daniel Barnett and Winnie Maling Thompson.

Photo taken in 1928.
Don and his brothers.
Left to right: Norman, Don, Edwin

He grew up in Moorabbin on his parents’ market garden and that is where he obtained one of his passions in life - vegetable growing. [Morrabbin is part of metropolitan Melbourne these days having been swalloed up by the urban sprawl]

From some of his childhood stories it appears that Don enjoyed getting into a bit of mischief and this was obvious later in life through his practical jokes and sense of humour. He always enjoyed a good laugh.

He attended the local primary school and then went on to Hampton high. He enjoyed playing cards, a trait that he acquired from his very strict Methodist grandmother and her sister. He would often be called on to make up the numbers at cards and he said that this is probably why his school work suffered. Evidently he learnt well as he often enjoyed a game of cards and many hours were spent playing with family, friends or on his own.

On leaving school Don worked in the market garden with his father until the family moved onto a dairy farm in Hazelwood North in 1936. He went to work for Ern Fernell, forming a lifelong friendship. His father quickly established a large vegetable garden, as did Don when he eventually moved to Denison.

It would appear from stories, although there is no hard evidence, that Don was a pretty good thing on the back of an animal. He took part in numerous rodeos and was eventually banned from participating to give the other likely lads a chance.

His love of horses, developed in early childhood, remained with him all his life. In later years he gained enormous pleasure from watching and hearing of the successes of John and Rhonda’s children as they pursued their horse riding activities. He got a kick out of going to horse shows with them - travelling from the Wimmera to Canberra and all points in between. He enjoyed the mud and hospitality of Orbost (did it always rain when he went there?), the early starts and the long hauls.

After the outbreak of World War 2, Don enlisted in the army at Sale. He celebrated his twentieth birthday at Puckapunyal, his twenty first in the desert in the Middle East and his twenty second in Adelaide. Being in the Transport Division he saw a fair bit of territory in the Middle east and also served in New Guinea. As well as being a driver moving both people and supplies around, he was a cook for a time in New Guinea, a skill that he put to good use later in life. He regularly attended Anzac Day marches and reunions in Melbourne.

On February 23, 1946 Don married Irene Gray to whom he remained devoted throughout his life. They moved to Heyfield to share farm at “Broken Downs”. After 12 months they moved back to Hazelwood to help work the Gray farm with Irene’s brother Bill.

Don and Irene had six children: Jennifer, John, Lorraine, Elizabeth, Susan and Peter, who between them have produced 17 grandchildren. Many of his exploits with his grandchildren were hugely entertaining for all and sundry. Just as well he had so many as he lived for them all.

In 1954 Don was granted a soldier settler’s block at Denison: no house, no fences and almost no trees anywhere except for a large gum tree across the road, which still stands today. How things have changed. Don moved up to the block with Norm Medew. They lived in a caravan while they built a ‘temporary’ - a galvanised tin shed - on each of their blocks. The family moved into their salubrious accommodation on July 5, 1954. There was no electricity, no phone, no running water but there was a dunny - the only permanent thing there. [A dunny is an outside toilet]

Through hard work and long hours the farm flourished. Don, always looking at how things could be done better, converted his herd to Friesians from the Jersey that was then the norm in the area. Black and white cows proliferated. Harvest time was always a big co-operative effort with neighbours getting together and sharing equipment and muscle. Don was no exception, always pitching in to help.

Don was very organised. Everything had its place. In that way he could lay his hands on anything that was needed at a moments notice. Anyone who saw his workshop would have understood this need. The workshop was full of items from discarded wheels destined to become parts of billycarts through to almost every conceivable variety of nail, screw and bolt plus the tools to work them.

He was very handy with wood, metal and twine - building a variety of practical objects that will last for generations to come - whether gates, seats, wood boxes, swings, billycarts, rope things of all sorts … his family and many friends have been blessed with much of his handiwork.

His love of making things started early in life. He told a story of he and his brother norm careering around Moorabbin in a billycart they had made - behind the family pony - both in the cart (Norm and Don - not the pony) - one steering the billycart while the other handled the horse. Just as well there were not many cars around!

Don’s trademark colour was green. Almost everything he made was painted green - including the handles of tools. This way he had a fighting chance of getting back items that he so generously lent to others. In later years he preferred not to have people take his tools as they would be missing when he needed them. His workshop was always open to others and his time and tools were freely available to anyone who wished to use them there. He generally would drop what he was doing to lend not only his tools but a hand as well.

Don took much pleasure in cooking: tomato sauce, soup, pasties, pies and simply feeding visitors. He would have a go at most things and that included using the sewing machine for straightforward stitching.

As a young bloke Don played footy. Some will be surprised to learn that he played a season with Heyfield. Throughout his life he like to watch a good game of Aussie rules whether on TV or at the ground.

As the boys, John and Peter, grew up and started relieving him of much of the day to day farming activities, Don found time to go fishing. He spent many enjoyable days dangling a line with friends and was always delighted to come home with a good feed or two of fish.

Don always enjoyed a good Western - whether a movie or a book. He would go to the Drive-in with the older kids on Western nights in the days before the family got a TV. Whatever the reason, be it the horses, the guns - it certainly wasn’t the plot.

Don’s passion was his vegie garden. It was huge and always full of veggies. Each Christmas he travelled far in wide delivering fresh vegtables to friends. His special pride were his new season poatatoes which he managed to have ready for the festive period. Even in his twilight, Don continued to work in his garden and at the time of his death he was already preparing for his spring plantings.

Don passed away on June 15, 1987 at Sale, aged 76. He is remembered fondly by his family and friends as a generous, down to earth, hard working individual.

Congratualtions to Peita Catherine Barnett and Bradley Reginald Morris on their marriage which took place on November 17 at Warruk in Victoria, Australia. Photos can be viewed at http://www.hups.net/~lwuth/wedding1/Wedding.html

The following was supplied by Margaret Brangwyn

Here is a Christmas pencil sketch. The inscription is by Count William de Belleroche (a close friend of Frank). I think it says "Propert [?] de FB pour ma carte de Noel. 1937." I can't make out the first word properly, nor think of one that would make sense.

A transcript of the letter written by Frank to Knight Hammond at Christmas 1943 follows. A transcript has been used as his writing is so terrible.

This month we look at mome early Brangwin references. At this stage some of the vital records are yet to be searched so the picture is incomplete.

The following entries were found in the Parish Registers for St Mary the Virgin, Prittlewell, Essex, which can be seen at the right

• 1664 baptism: Nathaniel Brangwyn son of Nathl and Hanh
• 1667 baptism: John Brangwyn son of Nathanl and Anna
• 1668 burial: John Brangwin son of Nathanl
• 1669 baptism: Anna Brangwyn da. of nathl and Anna
• 1672 baptism: John Brangman son of Nathanl and Anna
• 1672 burial: John Brangwin son of Nathanl
• 1673 baptism: John Brangman son of Nathanl and Anna
• 1676 burial: Nathaniel Brangwin son of Nathaniel
• 1677 baptism: Elizth Brangwin da of Nathanl
• 1682 baptism: Thomas Brangwinn son of Nathaniel
• 1685 burial: John Brangwin
• 1685 burial: Anna Brangwin
• 1688 burial: Thomas Brangwin
• 1705 marriage: Bemjamin Gundy and Hanh Brangwin
• 1688 burial: Benjamin Gundy, gardener

In summary, Nathaniel and Anna had at least seven children: Nathaniel, John, Anna, John, John, Elizabeth and Thomas. Sons Nathaniel, all three Johns and Thomas died young. it would appear that daughter Elizabeth survived. Was it daughter Anna who died in 1685 or the wife of Nathaniel? I don't know. I have not found a burial for Nathaniel, yet. Who married Benjamin Gundy in 1704? If it was a widowed Anna she would have been around 60 years old. if it was the daughter she would have been 34 or 35 years old. There were no Gundy children born in the period immediately following the marriage so there are no clues as to which Anna was the bride.

It would appear that there were no surviving males so the name would not have continued in Prittlewell.

Also in Essex is Romford. Margaret tells me that it is close to where she lives and she have cycled from home to Romford on a number of occasions.

"The 'Sun Inn' building at no. 47 London Road, Romford, still flourishing in the 1890's, had stood on the same site since 1632 and much of the building was original. It is mentioned in the parish registers of 1650 and 1667. A farthing [a quarter of an old penny, one tenth of a new penny] copper token was issued by the licensee, John Jefferson, in 1657 and one of these was recently dug up at Cranham. It is likely that the Brangwins mentioned below were familiar with the Sun.

So far I have only checked baptisms and burials at Romford. It would be handy to have the marriages as will become clear below. [Hot breaking news: Margaret has just got back from the Romford Library where she was able to look at a microfilm of the Romford parish records. Her updates are included below]

The writing in the parish records is difficult to read and the name sometimes appears as Brangman while at others it is Brangwyn and yet others it is Brangwin. Samuel is the constant.

• 19 Mar 1634/5 burial: Mary wife of Mathew Brangwin
• 9 Sep 1635 burial: Mathew Brangman
• 9 October 1637 marriage: Samuel Brangwin and Mary Brunt
• 26 August 1638 baptism: Anne Brangwin daughter of Samuel
• 6 June 1641 baptism: Samuel Brangwyn son of Samuel
• 31 July 1641 burial: Samuel Brangwin son of Samuel
• 15 January 1642/3 baptism: Mary Branguin daughter of Samuel
• 9 April 1643 burial: Anne Brangwyn daughter of Samuel
• 9 April 1643 burial: Widow Brunt [is this Mary's mother?]
• 12 January 1644/5 baptism: Anne Branguin daughter of Samuel
• 25 January 1644/5 burial: Mary Brangwyn daughter of Samuel [is this actually the newly born rather than the two year old Mary? Did the vicar make a mistake?]
• 1 December 1647 burial: a male infant of of Samuel Brangwyn
• 16 May 1650 baptism: Hannah Brangwin daughter of Samuel [very unclear ... may not be a Brang..n at all!]
• 13 October 1651 burial: Samuel Brangman

Another view of Romford.

"The road to Havering village and Collier Row starts at the 'Golden Lion' crossroads. The 'Lion,' seen on the left [in the pictire to the right] dates to 1440 or earlier and the steps northward follow its outbuildings as they succeed one another along the line of the railed footway."

This appears to be another Brangwin who failed to leave sons to carry on the name. Two daughters may have survived: Anne [or Mary depending on which one did not die in 1644/5] and Hannah. Are Mathew and Mary the parents of Samuel? If not, who are they?

Just who are Nathaniel and Samuel? And how are they related? Another family mystery to be solved.

The Romford photos and comments were tracked down by Margaret Brnagwyn. She said "The buildings I chose were of buildings which were around when the Brangwins were living there. Well, they might have been in the pub or at least seen the buildings. I couldn't find one of the church, though. The quotes are from "Bygone Romford"by Brian Evans."

In the name of God Amen. The 10th day of Aprill and in the year of our Lord and God a thousand five hundred fifty and seven I John Brangwyn of the and of Chard in the Diocese of Bath and Wells being sick of body and perfect of memorie do make my last will and testament in manner and form as hereinafter followeth. First I bequeath my soule unto Almighty God and my body for holy burial in hope of
Item: I do appoint and make ?Agnes my my full and sole executor of this my Last will and Testament …………………………………………………………………….
Item: I bequeath unto …………………………………………………………….
Item: I give to …………… of Chard …….
Item: I give to Will… my eldest sonne
Item: I give to Robert my sonne my ………and Lambe… and ……… …….
Item: I give to J……… my …… sonne………………
Item: I give to Richard my sonne ………………………. and five pounds in money
Item: I give to W……… my sonne a ……..
Item: I give to my sonne John … …….. a Lambe
Item: I give to my sonne William the younger a Lambe also ………..of my goods ……….. ….able and ……………… .
I give and bequeath unto Ellenor my spouse …………………………………………………………….
In witness whereof ….. John Ey….bury my curat ……. …… ……. …… …. and ……

This is a Will dating from 1557. John mentions sons William, his eldest son, Robert, J [possibly John as a John is mentioned later], Richard and William the younger. Are William, his oldest son, and William the younger one and the same or two sons?

It would appear that a look at the records for Chard may be in order.

I hope you have found this edition of the Brangwin Family Newsletter of interest.

I would like to wish you all a happy Christmas and look forward to more family activities in 2002.

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