From left - Jessica (Robert's girlfriend), Robert, Sara, Tom, Victoria and Zac (Victoria's partner).
Brangwin Family Newsletter: December 2002
Welcome to the December 2002 edition of our family newsletter.
This month we look at the way in which family members around the world celebrate Christmas. Traditions have been adapted to suit climates and family circumstances. All in all there is quite a variety each adding its own dimension to family life.
Other things this month are:
Bill Deane was pointed out that there was an error in last month's newsletter. In the Francis Brangwin article, in the first paragraph under "Generation 1" it states that Francis was baptised on January 6, 1875. It should have read 1765. Bill, well spotted and thanks for pointing out the error.
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
Sara Wentworth
Lorraine has asked me to write a few lines about my branch of the Brangwin family, so here goes, a potted history of me and mine.
My father Douglas Eric Brangwin (see November newsletter) and my mother Vi Barber met when they both worked at William Whiteleys of Bayswater London. They married in 1941 and by the time I was born in October 1942 my father had already joined the RAOC. He shipped to the Far East travelling on a troop ship in one of those notorious convoys that became targets for German bombers. Fortunately he survived and took up his post in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Being that far way, he didn’t get leave, so was not able to see me until I was three years old.
My mother decided she did not want us to be evacuees so we stayed in North Finchley for the duration of the War. Once I was old enough to be cared for by my maternal grandmother, my mother joined the Red Cross helping to organise entertainment for the troops. Fortunately I have no unpleasant memories of that time, nor do I remember anyone ever complaining about shortages after the War.
Until I finished primary education we stayed in London. In those days even a six year old could walk to school with friends in safety. I remember my companion and I lingering to explore a nearby bombed-site, which had miraculously blossomed with mauve Buddleia and yellow Golden Rod flowers. Pocket money pennies were spent on sherbet dabs or when I had enough, another lead farm animal to add to my toy farmyard.
At twelve we moved to Essex living near Roydon and I went to Herts & Essex High School in Bishops Stortford. I always felt Essex was my spiritual home but our stay there was short-lived and after two years we moved to Bromley in Kent.
My work years were spent commuting to London’s West End where I was secretary to Gordon White, later to make a name for himself as one half of the Hanson White Company, and then as personal assistant to a past Lord Mayor of London. The West End of London was in its heyday and I have many happy memories of the coffee bars including the Two Eyes and the soon-to-be-famous singers who played there.
After Tom and I married in 1966, I continued working until Victoria was born.
Autumn 1973 saw the three of us leaving to live in South Africa where Tom had a job as Test Manager for African Cables. We lived on the High Veldt at Vereeniging, which is south west of Jo’burg. For any of you who don’t know South Africa believe me it is a truly wonderful country and I really believe the High Veldt has the best climate in the world. Completely dry winters with endless blue, cloudless skies. The days are warm but frost forms over night. After several months of this sort of weather one begins to want a change, so all eyes start to scan the horizon for the first cloud, which will bring rain. This, when it does come, is a deluge, but no one complains. Summer then continues with hot, sunny days. It rains heavily, but it is never long before the sun is shining again and it is always possible to plan a bar-b-q (braii) several weeks in advance!
We determined to make the most of our stay so planned as many trips as possible. My parents came out for several months and we had a marvellous holiday driving up through Northern Transvaal, into Rhodesia (as it was then) and back on the boat that plies Lake Kariba. We travelled all over, Swaziland, Transkei, and the game reserves, Durban, Cape Town. The year after Robert was born we came back to the UK for Christmas, and despite the attractions of South Africa we realised that England was our home, so made plans to sell up and return. Tom found a job in Derby and we bought a house in Shirley on the outskirts of Ashbourne.
I was then able to indulge my love of animals and soon acquired ducks, geese, chickens, a goat, two dogs and numerous cats! Soon to be followed by an aged pony for Victoria and then a horse for me. The men of the house didn’t share our love of horses! I opened a boarding cattery and really enjoyed the cats (well most of them) and the quirkiness of their owners! The cats were the easier of the two to please!
We stayed there eight years before my husband was relocated to Swansea. He practically had to drag me kicking and screaming to Wales. Well, if you have ever travelled from Cardiff to Swansea through Port Talbot on a wet, cold, foggy day in December with all the filthy pollution that pours out of Port Talbot works, you will understand my reluctance to leave the Peak District.
Anyway we found an old dilapidated cottage on the Gower peninsular, the first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where we have now been for 15 years. The longest time I have ever lived anywhere. Even after all that time and being a Brangwin, I still feel a sense of homecoming when I cross the Severn Bridge and see the sign that says, “Welcome to England”!
Robert loves it here and is an avid surfer, going out in the most appalling conditions. He has inherited my love of animals and I have lost track of the number and variety of animals that have been fostered. After various false starts, and long spells spent surfing in Sri Lanka and Indonesia he is back at University getting qualifications to teach secondary school science. Victoria decided to join the army and is now about to be made up to Major in the Royal Logistic Corp. You may have seen this photograph in the national papers when she was on duty in Kosovo.
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| Sara and her immediate family celebrating her 60th birthday last October 13th.
From left - Jessica (Robert's girlfriend), Robert, Sara, Tom, Victoria and Zac (Victoria's partner). |
Tom and I have friends in Adelaide and Brisbane and have had some marvellous trips out there. I have been trying to trace any descendants of my uncle Harold who lived in Parramatta, so make a point of looking in local telephone directories and telephoning any ‘Brangwins’, that is how I came across Kay Grainger’s parents who told her, and she is now a member of the family site too.
After our last trip I decided to attempt to trace my family tree in earnest and found the Brangwin website by accident. I went on to ‘Ask Jeeves’ and typed in “who is Sara Brangwin?”. After going down various routes and more by luck than judgement I came across the message put there by Lorraine. I have now met Margaret and David who called on me when they were visiting the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea. Margaret has sent me a hard copy of the family tree (all 30 feet of it!) for which I am very grateful. I hope they will come and stay with me when the Brangwyn Hall has its celebrations. In fact that invitation goes to any of you out there who would enjoy walking the footpaths and beaches of west Wales.
Another cousin marriage
I was crawling through the Bisham, Bucks, parish registers from 1813+ looking for various family connections and was surprised to come acorss a marriage:
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On October 25, 1877 Edmund Hobbs, full age, bachelor, farmer of Medmenham, son of Philip Hobbs, farmer married Sarah Hobbs, also full age, spinster of Bisham, father George Hobbs, dealer. They were married after the calling of banns. The witnesses were George Hobbs and William Hobbs.
Just who are these people?
Edmund Hobbs, the groom, was the son of Philip Hobbs and Mary Jane Brangwin. Philips' parents were Joseph Hobbs and Mary Deane while Mary Jane's parents were Francis Brangwin and Elizabeth Harriet Dreweatt.[See the May 2001 newsletter for more details on this part of the family]
Sarah Hobbs, the bride, was the daughter of George Hobbs and his wife Harriet. George was the son of Joseph Hobbs and Mary Deane and a brother of Philip.
So the bride and groom were first cousins.
Sarah was born in Bisham and baptised there on November 22, 1848. Her father, George, was listed as a dealer. Her older brother, also called George, had been baptised at Bisham on June 30 1847.
Why was I looking at the Bisham parish records? Simple. I was trying to establish who the parents of one Beatrice Jane Matthews were. Her father was Thomas and her mother was most likely a Shelton. The Bisham marriage entries came up trumps: On May 29, 1845 Thomas Matthews married Caroline Shelton. Along the way I came across the Hobbs entries.
And for the record. The parents of Caroline Shelton were Richard Shelton and Ann Hollyer Westbrook. Edith Annie Edmonds who was the third wife of William Henry Barnett [see Mary's Story in the July 2001 newsletter to place William Henry] is a descendant of Richard Sehlton and Ann Hollyer Westbrook. The same families just keep on turning up.
To add a little more to this part of the family, the following information has been furnished by Andy and Melba Hobbs:
As we have pondered the past, we invariably think of Uncle Philip Hobbs (1822-1894) and Mary Jane Brangwin (1828-1875), his wife, who was the daughter of Francis Brangwin. Philip was the younger brother of our ancestor, Joseph Hobbs, and they were the sons (among other children) of Joseph Hobbs and Mary Deane. The place where they lived, Bockmer House, Medmenham, and the death notice of Philip have always intrigued us. Much of the fascination of Bockmer lies in the richness of its long history extending far into the living past and reflecting the lives of the notable families who lived there, together with its significance as the former home of Hobbs ancestry. Research revealed that this well-known house and farm was where Uncle Philip lived and farmed most of this life.
The desire to visit Bockmer was one of the motivating forces that stimulated Jesse Casper and Merle Hobbs Casper to visit England in 1983. Months of diligent research preceded the journey. As they saw places where ancestors lived and worked, walking the paths they had walked, and visiting the churches where they worshiped, resulted in a greater understanding of their accomplishments, their joys, and their sorrows.
Philip was apparently admired, trusted, and well-liked by all of his family, friends, and associates. He was an active Church worker, being Church Warden of the Medmenham Parish Church for twenty-eight years. It was said that Philip Hobbs of Bockmer sacked any laborer on his farm for non-appearance at Church on Good Friday. Philip and Mary Jane were the parents of thirteen children.
The article about the death of Mr. Philip Hobbs and the pictures of Bockmer House and additional information can be attributed to Jesse Casper and Merle Hobbs Casper.
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THE
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MEDMENHAM.
It is with great regret we announce the death of Mr. Philip Hobbs of Bockmer, at the age of 72 years. The late gentleman was seized with his fatal illness at the meeting of the Board of Guardians at Henley on March 13th, and for three weeks laid insensible and at death's door at the Catherine Wheel Hotel. Fortunately he rallied and was moved to his home, where he became quite conscious, and although but slight hope was entertained of his recovery, it has been great comfort to his family and many friends in his last long illness to see him so cheerful and resigned. The illness took a fatal turn on Friday, the 4th, and in spite of the best medical aid, he gradually sank painlessly to rest on the 11th, surrounded by his beloved family. It can be truely said that he died as he lived, at peace with all men. The late gentleman will be greatly missed. As the leading agriculturalist of Medmenham, he employed a number of men who knew whatever overtook them, he would be the first to aid them, not only with kind words and cheering manner, but genuine help. Mr. Hobbs genial presence and hearty hand shake will be greatly missed at Henley and Reading Markets, where he was a regular attendant and much respected, as his actions were as straight as his figure was upright. Although not a great sportsman, he was a fine horseman, and had a madnificent seat in the saddle. He seldom went hunting, but when he did went straight; and if the hounds passed his door, the followers were always sure of a hearty English welcome at one of the most |
hospitable houses in the county. As a guardian, Mr. Hobbs was always on the side of justice and mercy. No one in trouble ever asked in vain. In popitics he was a staunch Conservative and Churchman, and for many years church-warden. He leaves a grown-up family of eight sons and three daughters, with whom the greatest sympathy is felt. The funeral took place at Medmenham on the 15th in the presence of many sorrowing friends. The coffin was of plain oak, beautifully mounted and furnished, and hung with wreaths. After the chief mourners, who members of the deceased's family and their wives, followed his workmen, and Messrs. Rance, Holloway, T. Drewett, (of Newbury), Bullock, Mellett, Roberts, Deane, Vernon, J. Sharp, White, B. Reeves, Simons, Burgess, Johnson, T. Sharpe, C. and A. Barnett, Dr. Lidderdale, &c. The Reverend Walter Hill read the burial service in a most impressive manner, and in solemn silence the coffin was lowered into its last resting place by the workmen, who were deeply affected. The plate on the coffin bore the simple inscription of Philip Hobbs
The grave, next to his wife's on the south side was lined with evergreens. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr. J. Mason, of Hambleden, and were excellently carried out. |
Feet of Fines
Fines (or final concords) were a means of conveying freehold property, and of having the conveyance officially recorded. The system evolved in the late 12th century from a legal procedure for settling disputes, and retained the form and language of a law suit between a plaintiff (or querent) and a defendant (or deforciant); that is, repectively, the person to whom the land was being granted, and the person granting it. Records of fines survive in the Public Records Office (P.R.O.), among the records of the Court of Common Pleas, from the early 1180s until the 19th century.
The mechanics of the fictitious legal process were quite complicated. The essential stages were that a concord, or agreement, was reached between the parties, and its text was copied three times on to a single piece of parchment, which was then cut up, along lines which were indented to prevent forgery. One of these indentures (or chirographs) was given to each party, and the foot of the parchment was retained in the court. For this reason, the copies preserved in the P.R.O. are called feet of fines.
Many fines have been published, some of the earliest in collections covering the whole country, but the majority in county editions by local record societies. In using these, it is worth remembering that although the bulk of the records are arranged by county, there are also series involving land in more than one county, called 'divers(e) counties', and other series of 'unknown counties' and 'various counties'. Older publications are likely to be Latin transcripts, and so may present some problems of language. Beyond this, although the feet of fines specify the property concerned, and the 'consideration' (the price, often fictitious in later fines), it can sometimes be difficult to interpret the real nature of the transaction - for example, the conveyance may be to trustees.
Feet of Fines for Essex
1398.
Trin[ity]. Giles Botiller, parson of Legh, pl. Nicholas Brangweyn of Waleden and
Alice his wife, def. 3 messuages, 22 acres of land and 1 acre of wood in Waleden.
Def. quitclaimed to pl. and his heirs. Cons. 20 marks.
Divers Counties
1373.
738. Eas[ter]. Richard Norhampton, 'heraud,' and Katharine his wife, pl. John
Neuport the younger and William Coldham, def. 1 messuage, 210 acres of land, 28 acres of
meadow, 4 acres of wood and 8d. rent in Theyden atte Mount and Theyden Gernon, co. Essex,
and 1 messuage, 170 acres of land, 8 acres of meadow, 16 acres of pasture, 8 acres of wood
and 26s. rent in Little Hormad, Great Hormad, Braghyng and Alswyck, co. Hertford. Def. and
the heirs of William to hold of the chief lords. Cons. 200 marks - Essex, Hertford.
Divers Counties
1384.
107. Oct. of St. J. B. John Cokyng, Robert Somersed and Thomas de Kent, pl. Richard
Norhampton, 'heraud,' and Katharine his wife, def. 1 messuages, 210 acres of land,
28 acres of meadow, 4 acres of wood and 8d, rent in Theyden atte Mounte and Theyden Gernon,
co. Essex and 1 messuage, 170 acres of land , 8 acres of meadow, 16 acres of pasture, 8 acres
of wood and 26s. rent in Little Hormed, Great Hormed, Braghyng and Alswyck, co. Hertford. Pl.
and the heirs of Robert to hold of the chief lords. Cons. 200l. - Essex, Hertford.
1388.
255. Hil[ary], 3 Richard II.. and Hil., II Richard II. William de Kirkeby, chaplain,
Robert Bernham of Hadham and Richard Braghyng, pl. Thomas Blount of Sabricheworth and
Cecily his wife, def. 1 messuage, 240 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow, 30 acres of
pasture and 40s. rent in Great Herlawe, Lawefare Maudeleyn and Northweld, which Alice late
the wife of James Welde holds for life. Pl. and the heirs of Richard to hold the remainder of
the chief lords. Cons. 100 marks.
Explanations and notes:
Legh = ?Leigh (on Sea) [Essex]
Waleden = Saffron Walden [Essex]
Theydon atte Mount = Theydon Mount [Essex]
Theydon Gernon = Theydon Garnon [Essex]
Little Hormad = Little Hormead [Herts]
Great Hormad = Great Hormead [Herts]
Braghyng = ?Bragbury End [Herts]
Alswyck = [Herts]
Hadham = Hadham Cross or Hadham Ford [Herts]
Sabricheworth = Sawbridgeworth [Herts (on the Essex border)]
Great Herlawe = ?Harlow [Essex]
Lawefare Maudeleyn = Magdalen Laver [Essex]
Northweld = Northweald [Essex]
def. = deforciant
pl. = plaintiff
cons. = consideration
quitclaim = [noun] a renunciation of right or claim; a deed of release; [verb] to
release or discharge; to renounce claim or title to.
Note the spelling of the name Braghyng which may well be one of the early variations of the more modern Brangwin.
Family Christmas Activities
Christmas With The Robert Barnett Family:
It was December 24, 1942 (Christmas Eve) when Mary and I were married in San Antonio, Texas. Mary was a teacher back in Ohio and I was an Aviation Cadet, training to become an Aerial Navigator in the US Army Air Force at Hondo Air Field. I obtained a three day pass and we were married in the Madison Square Presbyterian Church.
Needless to say, over the years our Anniversary has been overshadowed by Christmas activities. However, we did celebrate our 50th anniversary with our family at the “Windows on the World” restaurant at the World Trade Center in New York City. Being in that place will always be a memorable event for us, especially after 9-11.
Our 60th anniversary will be this holiday season and we plan to celebrate it here in Bluffton with our daughter Jayne and family & David's and Jim's families from New York State.
Bob Barnett
Congratulations Bob and Mary on reaching such a significant milestone. I'm sure your extended family join with me in wishing you a happy day on the 24th and our very best wishes to you both. I am sure that there will be many more celebrations in the years ahead.
From Dorothy Albert
Christmas seems to become more difficult each year as grandchildren have become adults and with jobs, in-laws, living farther away, it seems impossible to find a time when we can all be together. Of course Grandma gives to all either gift or money but the others just buy for the little ones.
I have bought items like paper plates, toilet paper, light bulbs, post-a-notes, candy bars, gallon of windshield washer, socks, coloring books, markers, small toys, lotto ticket, small tools, etc. They all enjoy winning but will hand the gift over to a child if it is a toy or to someone who can use it.
I am trying to set a date for Christmas this year and doubt if all will be able to come home.
From Mike Collins
I would not have thought that Christmas in Perth is much different from most mainland capital cities in Australia. In a period of 37 years, I have lived in the capital city of every State in Australia (not the Territories, ACT [=Australian Capital Territory where Lorraie lives], NT [=Northern Territory where Kay G lives] etc) and spent at least one Christmas in each. Brisbane is the only capital city of a State further north (closer to the equator) than Perth at 28° south: Perth 32°, Adelaide and Sydney 34°, Melbourne 38° and Hobart 43° south. I have also lived in Malaysia (3 years) and England (24 years), locating me 5° and 52° north. So my experience for Christmas weather varies from northern hemisphere winter to southern hemisphere summer in a spread of temperature ranges.
I can remember being snowed in with drift snow up to the upstairs (1st floor) window sills (over 3 metres), in Hindhead, Surrey, England in 1947, and having to tunnel our way out of the front door, when the daily maximum temperature hovered around 0°C. Compare this with tropical Penang where every day was 32°C maximum with either 100% or 90% humidity depending on whether in the wet or dry seasons (two monsoons each year). Christmas fell in the dry season. Perth, Western Australia, has a dry climate where 70% of its 869mm (34inches) annual rainfall arrives between May and August. Summers (and hence Christmas) are dry with little or no rainfall. The maximum temperature for Christmas has varied between 28°C and 43°C. For eight months of the year the daily temperatures average in the human comfort zone of 18-28°C and neither heating nor cooling is required. This is not so in December and air-conditioning is used in most public and private buildings throughout Perth.
Christmas Day, for my family, usually starts with an early swim at a local beach (about 6am before it gets too crowded or too hot). Many families take their children to the beach early Christmas morning either before or after the opening of presents. Both the temperature and the ultra violet index (skin cancer) dictate avoiding the beach between 10am and about 5pm at this time of the year, although many ignore this commonsense limitation. Christmas lunch is spent at one of the family’s homes. I am lucking in that my five children and fifteen grand children all live in the Perth metropolitan area and we take it in turns to host the rest of the family. Lunch is based on northern hemisphere traditional fare with a few exceptions. Roast turkey and ham are the basis but normally taken with fresh garden salads (not roast vegetables). Often the turkey and ham are served cold rather than hot as well. Christmas pudding is usually served cold with ice-cream or cream but is only one of several sweets which might include pavlova and fresh fruit salad. One thing which is totally in common with all other first world countries is that we tend to over-eat. If the temperature is not too hot (28-34°C) we generally eat outside on the patio under the shade, but once it gets above 35°C we have the meal inside in the air-conditioning. Most Perth houses have ducted evaporative air-conditioning which is highly efficient in our dry climate (humidity varies from 30-60% generally). Reverse cycle air-conditioning is also very popular because it provides both heating and cooling and needs much smaller volumes of air being pumped through the house. Christmas dinner (or tea) is almost a non-event in my household. Most of us have eaten too much at lunch and are disinterested in further food. So nibbles and drinks are the order of the day and time spent outside again in the cool of the summer evening, playing with the kids in the garden or around the pool.
One cousin of mine, visiting from England, complained about Perth people saying they didn’t take life seriously enough and all seemed to be in holiday mode. That about sums Perth up. We live a quiet layback and carefree lifestyle where nothing is too serious and that includes Christmas.
Mike Collins
Perth, Western Australia
23 Nov 2002
and now from the other side of the globe ...
My Christmas celebration in recent years has been much more "low-key" than in earlier years, when I used to join my family in Connecticut at Alden and Pat's home. Since I am a single person and do not live near my family, I and several other friends in similiar circumstances have developed a "family of friends". We are supportive of each other on an on-going basis. We do many things together and we celebrate the holidays together.
My home is usually the "hub". On Christmas I will have lots of tiny, colorful lights and a small tree decorated. In the morning three of us will go to church together, which we do regularly and which has a lot of meaning for us. Then three or four others will join us here in the afternoon. We include anyone we know who would be alone, plus we'll have Poppy, a border terrier mix who immigrated from England, and Smokey Bear, a Skipperke mix, and Bernie, the resident cat. We'll have a fire in the fireplace and prepare the dinner together. Last year we had tenderloin steaks prepared on an indoor grille, and they were delicious! Of course we have vegetables and side dishes! We exchange small gifts, but gift giving is not as prominent a focus for me as in earlier years. Our focus is more on trying to open ourselves to the real meaning of Christmas. We always have a good time.
Gloria Brangwynne
Some recollections of Christmas from Kevin Gibson
Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia, (Approximately 50km south east of Melbourne)
Firstly to set the scene our Christmas is in the first month of our summer and temperatures could range from the mid teens (this would be a very cool Christmas) to the low 40’s (degrees Celsius) a rather hot Christmas day (40c is 104 F). We are in the south eastern part of the country and temperatures will be higher in the northern and western parts of the country, not conducive to a white Christmas.
The earliest Christmases I can remember were at my Grandpa Gibson’s at Tyabb just a few kilometres away in what was then a rural area. My grandparents lived on an apple orchard and the house was an old homestead style with a detached kitchen. The household veggie patch was about an acre. There would be the extended family of Uncles, Aunts and cousins making it a great family day. Presents would be exchanged in an informal sort of way. I can't remember much in the way of decorations or even a tree.
The main Christmas meal was dinner (lunch time) and was usually roast chicken, pork, lamb and beef with veggies (you would have some of each) and the main event of the meal was the Christmas pudding, a very fruity steamed arrangement which was laced with threepences (small silver coin) and the more pudding you ate the more chance you would have of collecting a few. Needlesstosay the little tackers who were struggling to collect some were helped out by the older folk. Then after you were full to puss’s bow from dinner there was the cherry plum tree to raid and the huge, sweetest, wateriest water melons I can ever remember to finish of on. It was always a huge day but a great one.
After Grandma passed away mum continued the tradition at Moorooduc, another farming property with lots of bush around. We still had the hot roast dinner (lunch time) and the steamed Christmas pudding and the threepences (that was up until Australia changed over to decimal currency and the mint, in their wisdom, reduced the silver content of the current 5 cent coin and they were not suitable to be cooked in a steamed pudding). A Christmas tree with all the decorations was added in later years. Common sense also prevailed and the hot roast meal was replaced with a selection of cold meats and salads which could be prepared at a more leisurely pace in the days leading up to the big day. Still the same extended family and casual exchange of gifts. Being one of the lucky ones who has a birthday just two days before Christmas the two events merged into one, so I never really knew a birthday until the love of my life came along and sorted that out. Maureen and I married in 1967 and two families traditions were easily merged but did it double up on the day! Two big main Christmas meals!!! We would go to my folks for the lunch time meal and then to Maureen's folks for the evening meal. Maureen's folks traditions were more formal than ours: the tree took pride of place and was adorned with multiple sets of blinking lights, some of the decorations were old and by tradition had to be included as well as the newer items and all the tinsel etc. The tree had to remain up for exactly the twelve days of Christmas. The Christmas presents were all placed under the tree and at the appointed time, usually later in the afternoon when all had arrived, they would be distributed one at a time. The present would be unwrapped and a list kept of from whom to whom and what - then in the new year the thank you letters would be sent. The meal again in the earlier years would be a hot meal, in later years this was changed to a collection of cold meats and salads with, of course, the steamed Christmas pudding flooded with brandy and set alight for the affect and then served with brandy butter. In all cases over the years there has always been a huge selection of extra niblies, lollys, dried fruit and nuts etc available just in case you got a little peckish.
Now that my parents and Maureens dad have passed away and Maureens mum is too old to manage we have taken on the same traditions except that our family has grown considerably and the sit down meal is now a smorgasbord style. There is still far to much lovely food to have.
It was always great to have our children around and now that we have them as well as their children it is really special.
There are lots of stories I could tell about our children and Santa coming on Christmas Eve. Ee didn’t have a chimney so had to improvise there. The usual glass of milk and biscuits would be put on the kitchen table. You would step into a tray of powder and leave foot prints on the carpet and not to mention the cow pat that would appear on the front lawn, left by the reindeer, of course.
On Christmas Eve the nearby township of Mornington shuts the main street off and the street becomes like a big fairground. Its really a great time for everyone and the kids get to see Santa, all the farm animals, the carols piped through the streets' audio system and lights and everything is just a great kick start to Christmas Day.
Over the last few years I have been decorating the front of our house with lights and in conjunction with my next door neighbor I think the display looks rather nice and certainly makes the street a bit more Christmassy. Now others have joined in so that makes it even better. I’m afraid I can't compare ours to our Robert Barnett’s display in Ohio of which there are some photos in one of the earlier newsletters. Robert's is such a magnificent display and it must take a huge amount of work through the year to get ready.
With two of my three daughters marring navy chaps we don’t always get every one home at the same time but this year we will as our number one daughter and her family will be flying over from Western Australia and staying with us for about a month so we will have all of our family and grand children together.
They say that Christmas is for the children. Don’t believe that. Or is it that I have never quite grown up??!
Happy Christmas everyone. I hope it is a wonderful time for you all. Have a happy, prosperous and healthy New Year and 2003.
Kevin and Maureen Gibson
Christmas In Our House from Margaret Brangwyn
December is a very busy month for us. David, being in the Salvation Army Band, is out carolling every Saturday as well as some evenings, too. Then there are four Carol Services at various venues, the Toy Service and the Christmas Eve Candlelight Carol Service. I run the Children's Choir, with Claire as my accompanist, so from October we have been learning Christmas songs to sing at the services throughout December. (This year one of our songs is a South American carol, in Spanish, because the young people have been raising money for the children's home in Argentina where Claire and David went this summer.)
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Claire's first Christmas: 1974 |
| Alex's first Christmas: 1977 | 
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The carol service I most enjoy is the Candlelight Carol Service. It begins at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve, by which time the presents are all bought and wrapped, Christmas dinner is organised as far as possible, the shops are shut and if there's anything I've forgotten there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. It's always getting on for one in the morning when we get home and it was so hard to send Claire and Alex to bed when they were younger - they were so excited and sleep was the last thing on their minds. So a few years ago we decided to open our Christmas stockings when we got home from the service, rather than trying to wake up early after a late and exciting night. Though I call them "stockings" we always put the presents in a pillow case - a tradition from my childhood to which I introduced David when we married.
There is, of course, another Service on Christmas morning, but having been to the Christmas Eve one, we stay home and take it easy, having a leisurely breakfast and getting things ready for the family Christmas dinner. Traditionally it's turkey, with all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pudding and mince pies. I never seem to have room for the pudding - so I usually just opt for a mince pie. This year we will be thirteen at dinner - but that number doesn't worry me. How we'll all fit round the new, smaller dining table we bought this year - that worries me! It will just be very friendly with everyone sitting very close together.
My brother prefers to eat dinner early - about 1 o'clock. I would prefer to wait until early evening and as this year I'm doing the cooking it will be later rather than earlier. It takes a couple of hours to get through Christmas dinner, but I enjoy the chatting, eating, laughing and giggling that accompany it.
After everyone has finally finished eating and the table is cleared, it's present time again. This time we open the presents that are stacked up under the tree, brought by all the family members who've joined us for dinner. Then there's some time to sit round the log fire (yes, we really do have a log fire) and there's more laughter. Some of the more energetic ones might want to play a game or two, but mostly it's just enjoying the company of the family. Family gatherings are rare, as people live in so many different parts of the country, so I enjoy this day when I can be with my family and we share the joy of celebrating Christmas together.
and from Andy and Melba Hobbs
As to the Christmas traditions in our family, there is not much to say. On Christmas Eve we have a buffet and family members come and visit and eat as they desire. Then on Christmas Day we meet again and exchange gifts between families. Our Hobbs family in Utah is growing, with thirty-two members at present and three babies on the way.
Our very best to you and your family for the Holiday Season.
Parish Records - what are they?
"Parish Records" is a general term encompassing all records kept by a parish. This therefore includes Parish Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials but also a number of other documents such as Churchwardens Accounts, Charity Books and Vestry Minutes etc.
There is actually a book published on this subject, entitled "The Parish Chest" by W.E. Tate.
In very very general terms Parish Records cover the period from the mid 1500s to the present day. However, what still exists and for what dates will vary considerably from parish to parish.
Most parishes in Buckinghamshire have deposited their surviving records (that is those not current) at the county archives (Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies). Similarly, records have been deposited with County Record Offices throughout England and Wales.
Some Parish Records which have survived, have, unfortunately, ended up in private hands, and, consequently, may be inaccessible. An example of this is that numerous documents for Great Horwood parish, such as Overseers accounts etc (but not the Parish Registers), these were kept by one of the parish officers, and when he moved from the area he took them with him. Subsequently the family emigrated (1800s), and they are now in the possession of a descendant on the other side of the Atlantic.
The Long Crendon Baptist records seem to have done a similar disappearing act, more the pity.
So what sort of things were recorded in the parish records and by whom?
At a minimum, the Parish Records are a record of the christenings, banns, marriages and burials which took place at the parish church - usually completed by the vicar or curate, but sometimes by the Parish Clerk, who might have had only a rudimentary education, and wrote down in the book what he thought he heard! Spelling was not always a strong point neither were the names always recorded accurately.
The amount of detail given varies - sometimes a vicar would add a date of birth, for instance, or some other comment about the alledged parentage of a child or the mother's maiden name and, sometimes, her place of birth.
As stated above, most of the records are now kept at County Record Offices, but originally they were kept in the church, and so they were susceptible to mice and damp and other hazards (including fire and straight out and out vandalism) - and so some early records may have perished. However, in many cases the records go back to the 1600s.
How can you access the parish records? A number of indexes are available such as the IGI which includes many of the records. The IGI can be searched at www.familysearch.org. However, as this is just an index, and is not complete. You should always check back to the original which, hopefully, has been filmed and available through various family history groups.
Medmenham - a Buckinghamshire Parish
"Medmenham is bounded, on the North and the East, by Great Marlow; on the South, by the
Thames, which separates this parish from Berkshire; and on the West, by Hambleden; being
about four miles long, and in the widest part two miles in breadth: containing 1700 acres of
land, of which, 891 were computed to be arable, 277 meadow, and 592 woodland. In 1797, there
were only about fifty-five houses, containing 270 inhabitants. It was then assessed to the
land-tax, at 197l. 3s. 4d., being about 1l. 9s. per ann. on the rent."
[The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham, by George Lipscomb, 1847]
Medmenham was described in 1806 in "Magna Britannia" as follows:
MEDMENHAM, in the hundred of Desborough and deanery of Wycombe, lies about three miles from Marlow, on the road to Henley. At this place was an abbey of Cistercian monks, founded by Hugh de Bolebec, as a cell to the larger monastery at Woburn, which was also of his foundation. The royal charter was not obtained till the year 1200, which was after the founder's death. Its revenues, which consisted chiefly of the manor and rectory of Medmenham, were valued in 1536, at 20 l. 6s. 2d per annum. The abbey, with its possessions, was then given to the abbot and convent of Bisham; the general dissolution of monasteries, taking place shortly afterwards, the manor of Medmenham, and the site of the abbey, were granted in 1547, to Thomas and Robert Moore; this estate was conveyed by the Moores in 1558 to the family of Duffield, who resided at the abbey, and continued in possession till 1778, when the site of the abbey was purchased by John Morton esq. chief justice of Chester, and was sold by his widow, in 1786, to the present proprietor, Robert Scott esq. Browne Willis speaks of part of the north aisle of the conventual church, as standing in his time; part of a single column only is now to be seen. Some buildings, in imitation of ruins, have been of late years erected on the site of the abbey, and are now almost overgrown with ivy.
Danesfield, the seat of Robert Scott esq. so called from an ancient circular entrenchment of that name near the house, was the property of John Morton esq. above-mentioned. It stands in a beautiful situation, on a bank which over-hangs the river.
The manor of Brock, or Medmenham, which was retained by the founder, passed by female heirs to the families of Vere, Warren, Fitz-alan and Beauchamp. It was afterwards in the Poles; and after having been several times forfeited and restored, was given, in 1553, to the Rices, of whom it was purchased, in 1560, by John Borlase esq. Having passed with Little-Marlow, to Sir John Borlase Warren K.B. it was sold, in 1781, to the guardians of William Lee Antonie esq. the present proprietor. The Borlases had a seat at Bockmer, in this parish, now a farm.
An estate in Medmenham, called Whittington farm, was forfeited to the crown in the reign of Charles I. and at the instance of Archbishop Laud given to the university of Oxford, for the maintenance of scholars from the islands of Guernsey and Jersey: it is now held on lease by Sir William Clayton, at a reserved rent of 20 l. per annum.
In the parish church are some memorials of the Duffields. The impropriation of the great tithes, and advowson of the vicarage, have passed with the abbey estate, and are now the property of Mr. Scott. The vicar has the great tithes of 500 acres of land. At Hallowick, near Wood-end, a hamlet of this parish, was formerly a chapel.
The name of Medmenham derives from the old english words medeme + ham, and means 'moderate-sized homestead'.
Nearby places to Medmenham in Buckinghamshire unless otherwise denoted.
| Distance (in miles) |
Place | |
| ~1 | NNW | Wokingham, BRK |
| 1.8 | NW | Hambleden |
| ~2 | SE | Hurley, BRK |
| 3.0 | ENE | Great Marlow |
| ~3 | W | Remenham, BRK |
| ~3 | W | Bisham, BRK |
| 3.3 | WSW | Fawley |
| ~4 | ESE | Pinkneys Green, BRK |
| ~4 | SWS | Henley, OXF |
| ~4 | SE | Holloway, BRK |
| ~4 | SE | Woolley Green, BRK |
| ~4 | SW | Harpsden, OXF |
| 4.4 | NNW | Fingest |
| 4.5 | N | Lane End |
| 4.7 | ENE | Little Marlow |
| 4.7 | NNW | Turville |
| ~5 | ESE | Furze Platt, BRK |
| ~5 | SSW | Wargrave, BRK |
| ~5 | ESE | Maidenhead, BRK |
| ~5 | SSE | Waltham St Lawrence, BRK |
| ~5 | SW | Shiplake, OXF |
| Census Year | Population of Medmenham |
|---|---|
| 1801* | 284 |
| 1811* | 323 |
| 1821* | 369 |
| 1831* | 384 |
| 1841 | 385 |
| 1851 | 401 |
| 1861 | 380 |
| 1871 | 310 |
| 1881 | 336 |
| 1891 | 320 |
| 1901 | 387 |
Next month we will look at Medmenham and why it is important to our family.
The 2002 Index
| Category | Contents | Month |
|---|---|---|
| A coat of arms | October | |
| Brangwyn and its variations - the possible origins | June | |
| Casa Cuseni | August | |
| Cause of death: apoplexy | October | |
| CHristmas celebration customs | Decebmer | |
| County map of Britain | July | |
| Dates: the Julian and the more accurate Gregorian Calendar | July | |
| Differences in Travelling | May | |
| Documents from Cumner, Berkshire | June | |
| Ends | September | |
| Fell monger | January | |
| Growing up in Post-War Britian | May | |
| HMS Implacable | October | |
| Items from the Moorabbin News | April | |
| Living Remote | November | |
| Roger | March | |
| Rules of the School | February | |
| Summer Fete in Le Theron | October | |
| Temple Lodge Open House Day | November | |
| The Brangwyn Panels | July | |
| The Calendar of Patent Rolls | February | |
| The East India Company | April | |
| The fair sex and the census | May | |
| The Frank Brangwin stained glass at Elveden | March | |
| The Hearth Tax 1662-1688 | September | |
| The Story of Branwen, the Daughter of Llyr | July | |
| Three weeks in Argentina | October | |
| Washing St Aidan | November | |
| Family | Cousin marriages | February |
| Family detective - in search of the Green connection | August | |
| Francis Brangwin | November | |
| George Brangwin | October | |
| John Brangwyn, Vicar of Kingsey | July | |
| Long Crendon revisited, again | February | |
| More early Brangwin references | February | |
| More early Brangwin references | March | |
| More Cousin Marriages | December | |
| More on Cousin Marriages | March | |
| More on the Castle Brangwin part of the family | January | |
| The Brangwins of Illinois - part 1 - Mary Ann | May | |
| The Brangwins of Illinois - part 2 - Ann | June | |
| The Elizabeth Cowan Story | April | |
| Weston Brangwyn Saunders | September | |
| Obituaries | Arna Mae Hall nee Wittes | August |
| David Alden Brangwynne | November | |
| Hugh Whitmore | June | |
| Miss Rebe Dreweatt | March | |
| Thomas Dreweatt | February | |
| People | 84th Annual Barnett-Pollock Reunion | November |
| Benjamin Brangwin and Thomas Major - a further note | September | |
| Captain Benjamin Brangwin and the East India Company (part 1) | April | |
| Captain Benjamin Brangwin and the East India Company (part 2) | June | |
| Captain Benjamin Brangwin and the East India Company (part 3) | July | |
| Captain Benjamin Brangwin and the East India Company - a final note | August | |
| Catching up with Mary and Bob | January | |
| David Brangwyn turns 60 | July | |
| John Brangwin | April | |
| Some of the Deanes of Hambleden and their relatives | August | |
| The English East India Company | March | |
| Places | Great Marlow - a Buckinghamshire parish | October |
| Haddenham, Buckinghamshire | August | |
| Hambleden - a Buckinghamshire parish | September | |
| Hampshire | February | |
| High Wycombe - a Buckinghamshire parish | November | |
| Kingsey, Buckinghamshire | July | |
| Life in Woodcote | February | |
| Medmenham - a Buckinghamshrire parish | December | |
| Middlesex | May | |
| Shropshire | April | |
| Waltham St. Lawrence, Berkshire | June | |
| Warwickshire | March | |
| Wiltshire | January | |
| Profiles | Dorothy Albert | May |
| Harley Barnette | July | |
| John and Nelda Brangwin | January | |
| Kay Brangwin Grainger | October | |
| Sara Wentworth | December | |
| Sarah Dale-Jones | September | |
| Wills | Francis Brangwin 1752 | April |
| John Brangwyn of Chad, a refinement | February | |
| Richard Brangwin of Haddenham, 1651 | August | |
| Richard Brangwin of Long Crendon - 1854 | January |
I hope you have found this edition of the Brangwin Family Newsletter of interest.
I would like to thank Sara, Bob, Dorothy, Gloria, Kevin, Melba, Andy and Margaret for their contributions this month. It has been really great to learn about how families around the globe celebrate Christmas. Also Margaret for her generous contributions, yet again.
To all the generous people to have provided articles, photos, material and feedback during 2002 I would like to express my thanks and gratitude. Without the assistance of a whole range of people it would not be possible to have achieved the level of documentation of matters family that we have. I would particularly like to single out Margaret (who contributes items for most newsletters), David (for his research and articles on Captain Ben and the East India Company - I'm sure we have not heard the last of this), Dorothy (for the wealth of Illinois material she supplied) and Gloria (for her constant support). Thank you all very much.
That's it for this month and 2002, too.
If you have anything you would like to contribute to the newsletter it would be most welcome. If you didn't send in something for the Christmas round this month feel free to contribute something for the January newsletter.
Until then next month
Lorraine