Welcome to the March 2002 edition of our family newsletter. As mentioned last month, much research has been underway in the first couple of months of this year. You can catch up with some of the results this month. Thanks are extended to David Brangwyn who has paid numerous visits to the British Library in search of Brangwin material and to Margaret for so diligently transcribing the documents.

This month we will revisit Elizabeth Cowan and her children. Quite a few readers are descendants of Elizabeth and Margaret and I have been forced to review the data from this part of the family as new documents have come to light. There were quite a few mysteries surrounding this part of the family and we believe that we can now provide some answers to the issues that previously existed.

• More early Brangwin references from Sir Frank's collection
• Background to the Frank Brangwin window at Elveden
• We meet Sir Frank's dog
• Some more odds and ends

I hope you enjoy learning more about your extended family.

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

This article has been provided by Geoffrey Brangwyn

Location: St. Andrew’s & St. Patrick’s Church, Elveden, Suffolk, UK. The church is located on the private estate belonging to the Iveagh family.

The window commemorates the 1st Earl of Iveagh, in 1920. (Lord Iveagh paid for the British Empire panels now in Swansea.)

The window is inscribed: “This window has been erected by his children in memory of Edward Cecil [Guinness], 1st Earl of Iveagh, born 1824 died 1927”

The Bishop of the Diocese (The Rt. Rev. W.G. Whittingham) dedicated the window in 1938.

The window carries the “FB” signature and date (1937) in the bottom right hand corner.

The illustration depicts children, animals, fruit and flowers.

A publication titled “Nineteenth Century Suffolk Stained Glass” by Birkin Haward (1989), gives the following information:

“The window was probably made by Alex Strachan of Edinburgh. It depicts numerous children with gifts of fruit and flowers, attending SS Andrew and Patrick. A fine example of Frank Brangwyn’s very small output of stained glass windows.”

The Elveden Church Guide provides the following details:

“The window shows Charity and Education. The former is symbolised by a tree (which blesses and is blessed by Man) and the latter by a schoolmaster and pupils, also a mother and her children. Both are guided by the saints and angels and we see SS Andrew and Patrick and several angels.”

The church is open for services twice a month but is otherwise kept locked. Anybody intending to visit (and visitors are very welcome) should first contact a member of the Parish Church Committee to arrange access. The contact point is Mr & Mrs N Turner on telephone number 01842 890297.

Car parking is available nearby but not at the actual church. Further information about location etc can be obtained by e-mail from G.Brangwyn@btinternet.com

There is also an Elveden web site at www.elveden22.freeserve.co.uk/elveden_estate.htm.

Or via www.22villages.org.

"Warwickshire, a county in the west-midlands of England; bounded N. by Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire, E. by Northamptonshire, S. by Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, and W. by Worcestershire; greatest length, N. and S., 52 miles; greatest breadth, E. and W., 32 miles; area, 566,271 acres, population 737,339. Warwickshire presents a pleasant undulating surface of hill and dale, watered by the Avon, Leam, and Tame. The climate is mild and healthy, and the soil, except some cold stiff clays on the higher grounds, is fertile. It consists chiefly of a strong red loam adapted for wheat and beans, or a sandy loam for barley and turnips. Much land is kept in permanent pasture for grazing. Formerly the county was thickly wooded (that part N. of the Avon being called the Forest of Arden), and fine timber is still abundant. Geologically it mainly belongs to the secondary formation. A coal field, 16 miles by 3 miles, extends from the neighbourhood of Coventry to the border of Staffordshire, E. of Tamworth. The principal minerals are coal, ironstone, limestone, freestone, blue flagstone, and fire-clay. The manufactures are carried on chiefly at Birmingham (hardware and silk goods) and Coventry (watches and ribbons). There are mineral springs at Leamington, Stratford on Avon, Ilmington, Southam, Willoughby, King's Newnham, &c.; The county is traversed in all directions by canals and railways." [Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles, 1887.]

This article has been provided by Margaret Brangwyn

Roger was a small, brown dog, owned by Frank Brangwyn. I first saw a picture of Roger in "Brangwyn Talks" by Count William de Belleroche. The small pen and ink sketch of him appears on page 59 and it always appealed to me, with his lop-sided, "one ear up, one ear down" look. Imagine my delight then, when looking through some Brangwyn sketches for sale at a Fine Art Fair at Olympia, in London, I found the original sketch. I just had to buy it and it now hangs in my sitting room right opposite the door so it's the first Brangwyn picture you see when you walk into the room.

"Brangwyn Talks" is a record of conversations between Brangwyn and Belleroche which took place over some length of time at The Jointure, Brangwyn's house in Ditchling. Roger was his constant companion there and is constantly mentioned throughout the book. "The little dog Roger trots into the room. He scratches his back under the Master's chair - rubs his nose on the seam of his trousers and curls up in the basket by the fire."

Frank Brangwyn and Roger

As Brangwyn and Belleroche walk in the garden FB's straw hat is blown off by the breeze and Roger chases it, thinking it a great game, but Belleroche rescues it in the nick of time and Roger's game is thwarted.

Roger jumps onto Brangwyn's knees and tries to lick his face, but is pushed away. He tries again, but is repulsed and falls to the floor. Brangwyn looks down and addresses Roger, "Hullo! Who sent you down there, my little fellow?"

Belleroche and Brangwyn are studying some papers when Roger rushes in, jumps onto Brangwyn's lap and sends the papers flying on to the floor. He then rushes out to the kitchen, barking loudly. "Poor little fellow," remarks Brangwyn, "I often wonder what goes on in his mind." "He's very affectionate," says Belleroche. "Affectionate - he's more than that … he's the best pal I've got, old Roger is. I don't know what I'd do without him as I sit here alone in the evening …and when I'm ill he's wonderful."

Brangwyn certainly was fond of Roger, who was in his turn a faithful companion.

I'm sure I've seen Roger in the odd picture here and there. Brangwyn often used models who were close at hand, like the inhabitants of Ditchling (including the British actor, Donald Sinden), so it would be highly likely that he would draw his beloved Roger. There is a small dog on the left side of the mosaic in St Aidan's and I like to think that this may be Roger, immortalised.

This article has been supplied by David Brangwyn. David has spent most Tuesday this year at the British Library researching the brangwin references held in their collection. There is an enormous amount of material and here is a start of what David has found to date.

The Brangwin Connexion

The East india Yard at Deptford about 1670

"The Persia Merchant we designed for England had she not most happely blown up in the Road. Justly what accident we can't learn, all the men aboard which were about 47 souls were sadly lost in the fatall misfortune, Capt. Brangwing [sic] and 10 of his men were saved by being a shoare and tho twas a dreadfull loss yett it hapned there were only 20 piggs of lead aboard and but little else of other."

In his instructions as Captain of his next ship, The Elizabeth, (280 tons) he was told to "take care that a sufficient number of cartridges be filled with powder to be in a readyness in case of any sudden assault." He is told not to trust the "Turks of Salley with whom there is a war" and also to beware of French ships "This being a time of war wth France."

Unfortunately The Elizabeth was captured by the French in 1692 on her first voyage. As yet we have not found whether Benjamin was captured with his ship, but the next we hear of him is when he has become the Agent for the East India Company at Ispahan in Persia in 1696. Sadly after only a few months there he died on 20th September 1696, of "ketching cold & drinking too much of those waters which had not their due operation."

I have found so much material about him at the British Library I am still working my way through it and when I have come to the end I will write a much fuller report on the life and death of Captain Benjamin Brangwin. So watch out for the next exciting episode!

Following on from the article in last month's newsletter, the following has been sent in by Bill Deane.

As I have said to you before I find the newsletter most interesting, this edition [February] was no exception, except I must correct one minor error. In the article "Cousins Marriages" you state Sarah married Edmund Brangwin January 28, 1814, in fact that was the date he died!!! The marriage date was December 22, 1756. [Bill, thanks for pointing out my transcription error].

To carry on with "Cousins Marriages" I am attaching a chart of more recent times, so recent in fact that my mother and father are cousins, Helen Bayley and Frederic Deane. I tried to describe the connections in words but found it difficult so I made the chart which sets out the Webster/Deane/Bayley connections. Involved in all this is the connection of Kate Webster to Arthur Barnett. [yet another connection to me - LW]

Of particular interest is Maurice Bayley marrying Elizabeth Webster, followed by two of his nephews - Alfred and William - marrying Florence and Ellinor, Elizabeths' sisters, thus making his nephews his brothers-in-law!!!!!

Incidentally William Mills Bayley and Ellinor Webster are my maternal grandparents, while Louis Deane and Harriet Webster are my paternal grandparents. I have recently found the family of James Webster Deane and Phyllis Bayley who all live in Canada. One of their offspring forwarded to me a newspaper cutting which appeared in the "Okotoks Weekly" in Alberta, Canada. It was published in November 2001 [see below]. The two seated ladies on the right are Harriet Deane and Ellinor Bayley, both my grandmothers. The seated man on the left is Louis Deane, the next standing man is William Bayley, both my grandfathers. Standing at the rear second from the right is my father, Frederic Deane: his uniform is slightly different from the others as he was in the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force). The photo was taken in 1919 and with the exception of the lady standing on the right were all my relatives. The one person missing from the photo is my mother who was bridesmaid, no one knows why she is missing! Isn't it amazing where things turn up particularly as I had only one other photo of my father (he died when I was very young).

As memories of big wars fade (World War I, World War II and Korea) so do the memories of those who served, died or were wounded.

Lou Deane of Okotoka, a senior member of the Turner Valley Legion, remembers his war veteran dad even though Lou was only eight when his dad died at Lloydminister mainly due to war wounds.

His dad, James Webster Deane, was born in England in 1884. He enlisted in the 17th Lancers Cavalry in 1900 for the Boer War, but was too young to go and was kept in the army.

Later he served 10 years in India as an equestrian instructor to the Gurkhas and was at Khyber Pass.

When he was discharged from the army he came to Canada and worked for the CPR at Portage La Prairie, Man.

However, when World War I broke out he returned to England to join his regiment. They were already in France so he joined the 2nd Life Guards and was sent to France where he was wounded and discharged.

Later, his regiment went to the Dardonelles to fight at Gallipoli. It should be noted that it was the Fusiliers REgiment that took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War(1854-56) which was also the first war in which women, notably Florence Nightingale, served as nurses.

James was wounded again and returned to England.He received words of commendation from his commanding officer.

James married Phyllis Bayley and they emigrated to Canada, starting a farm at Lloydminister where he was a charter member of the Legion.

He passed away in 1935 at the age of 51.

Lou Dean was young when his father died, but he remembers two events - sneaking tabacco out of his father's jacket and his first Remembrance Day service with his dad.

Lou attends all Remembrance Day services and certainly has good reasons to remember veterans of the past.

Following on from last month we look at more items from the Sir Frank Brangwyn collection. The following references are all to a William Brangweyn.

CALANDAR OF CLOSE ROLLS

7 Edward III - 14 December, 1343

memorandum that reginald de Conductu, William de Melchebourn, William Brangweyn and Simon le Armurer Mainperned for Bartholomew Deumars and John de Braghing that they would deliver the goods and chattels of men and merchants of Amiens, arrested at their suit, to the said men and merchants, so soon as their goods and chattels, arrested in parts beyond the sea, or the value thereof, with damages, shall be restored to them.

The next document is not about William but Robert.

CALANDAR OF PATENT ROLLS

18 Edward III - 1 October 1344

Commission of oyer and terminer to Ralph, baron of Stafford, Roger Hillary, John de Peyto, the elder, John de Payto the younger, William de Chiltenham and Richard de Stoule, on complaint by the Abbot of Evesham that Robert, Abbot of Alyncestre [Alcester] ... Robert Brangwyn ... Elias Pye, chaplain, and others at Wytheleye Co. Warwick broke his close, drove away ten horses, twent two oxen, four hundred sheep and sixty swine of his, worth one hundred pound, carried away his goods, and assauled his men and servants, whereby he lost their service for a great time.

CALANDAR OF CLOSE ROLLS

21 Edward III - 20 August 1347

William Brangwayn, citizen of London acknowledges that he owes to Brother Philip of Thame, Prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England two hundred marks, to be levied, in default of payment of his lands and chattels in the City of London.

CALANDAR OF CLOSE ROLLS

22 Edward III - 4 August 1348

William Brangwayn, citizen and skinner of London, acknowledges that he owes to Brother Richard de Claveryng, citizen and skinner of London forty pounds to be levied, in default of payment of his lands and chattels in the County of Hertford.

CALANDAR OF PATENT ROLLS

25 Edward III - 9 May 1351

Pardon to William Brangwayn of his outlawry in the County of Middlesex for non-appearance before the King to answer touching trespasses whereof he was indicted, on vertificate by William de Shareshull, chief Justice, that he has now surrended to the Marshalsea prison.

Notes: the Close Rolls record, amongst other things, enrolments of private deeds and other useful information such as writs of livery and seisin.

It looks as if there were a number of colourful Brangwins back in the 14th century!

The death occurred at Willows Edge, at the age of 87, of Miss rbe Dreweatt, the youngest of three daughters of Thomas Dreweatt, auctioneer and valuer of Newbury.

Miss Dreweatt was born in March 1895 at Norfolk Lodge in Speen Lane. During world war one, she nursed at the troops convalescent home at Welford Park.

Her life was destined to be of service to others, and to the elder members of her family in particular. She looked after her parents until her father's death in 1928, when she moved to Rottingdean in Sussex with her mother until the latter's death in 1935.

Her aunt Emily (nee Dreweatt) married Nathaniel Liddiard, who founded Liddiards the butchers on Newbury bridge and, on her aunt's death at the end of the second world war, Miss Dreweatt returned to Newbury to look after Nathaniel until his death in 1949.

The Liddiards lived at The Shrubbery in Oxford Street and many local people will remember Nathaniel's son, Canon Tom Liddiard, of Christ Church, Oxford, and onetime Rector of Abingdon, who returned to The Shubbery on his retirement.

Miss Dreweatt was a lady of great character and personality and will be remembered for her good humour, her ebulience and her kindness to many people. Not least will she be remembered for the excellence of her tea parties and for a voice which, to put it midly, carried well.

Sadly, her passing means that there is no-one left from her family to bear the Dreweatt name, and it is perhaps of interest to record a brief note of the family's connection in this area.

The Dreweatts were yeoman farmers, who farmed at Halfway from late the 1600s to 1882. Halfway House and farmstead - both long since demolished - were sited a few hundred yards south of the Bath Road, opposite the Halfway Inn and was sold just prior to the death of her grandfather Daniel Dreweatt in 1882. The property was bought by the Sutton trustees who were then absorbing much of the land in the locality.

Grandfather Daniel would have been a boy on the farm when the Newbury-Kitbury section of the Kennet and Avon Canal was completed in 1810, hence the naming of Dreweatts Lock.

Her father, Thomas Dreweatt was born in 1854 and soon made his mark as a prominent agriculturist. He was apprenticed to Mr J. W. Fuller, a local auctioneer, but in 1878 set up his own business as an agriculturalvaluer and auctioneer, under the patronage of his father and their many farming friends.

At that time the firm now known as Dreweatt Watson and Brown was owned by the Davis family. Thomas Davis opened the business at 22 Market Place in 1759 as a cabinet maker and appraiser. His son William was in control from 1794 to 1836, his grandson Alexander from 1836 to 1881, the aging Alexander took into partnership Harry Few, his chief of staff, but on his dinal retirement in 1884, Thomas Dreweatt was invited to join Mr Few, who himself retired in 1888.

Thomas Dreweatt was by all accounts an outstanding auctioneer and valuer who controlled the firm for almost 40 years, being joined by Arthur Watson in 1898 and Harold Barton in 1910.

Miss Dreweatt without doubt inherited something of her father's forceful personality. Latterly, on the rare occasion when there was to be a ceremonial parade or procession in the Market Place, she would present herself at the firm's offices and request a seat in the window of one of the first floor rooms overlooking the Market Place, from which to view the festivities. Although she could have been unknown to the younger staff in reception, there was no mistaking the voice of authority and arrangemetns would quickly be made to evacuate the occupier of the room above in order to offer Miss Dreweatt a front row seat.

Following Nathaniel Liddiard's death, Miss Dreweatt lived at 2 Newport Road until increasing illhealth and deafness forced her to accept the offer of a vacany at Willows Edge where, for the last three years, much kindness has been returned to her.

She will be affectionately remembered by many of the older residents of Newbury. She leaves two nieces, Barbara Slocock, nee Woodman, and Joy Edwards, and one nephew, Gerald Woodman, who farms in Somerset.

Her funeral took place at Speen last friday and she was interred in Speen churchyard not far from her parents' grave.

[This obituary was published on September 30, 1982.]

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

I would like to thank Margaret for her invaluable input yet again. Also David, Geoffrey and Bill for their input.

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