Welcome to the November 2003 edition of our family newsletter.

During October I acquired more Wills. The one for Maria Conder [see the September newsletter for information about Maria] indicated that she had another daughter, Florence Maude, who was new to me. I also had the chance to look through the parish records for the Maidenhead Independent Chapel and have included updates for various Swallows and Poultons in this newsletter.

October was family history month in the US. I don't know if any other country has a declared family history month but it does seem like a good idea. Even if you missed doing something, family history wise, this October it is never too late. Do something to promote family history this month instead. Perhaps you can commence recording a part of your family history that has not been tackled before. What about writing up all you can remember about great aunt Martha and checking with other family members to see what they can add to your recollections? Don't have a great aunt Martha? Well, anyone else will do. Each write up helps to preserve your family history as long as it is or will be shared. I'm happy to include any of your jottings in newsletters so don't be backward in coming forward with your endeavours.

Margaret received copies of another batch of letters written by Frank Brangwyn. I must agree with her that it is a surprise just how many letters he wrote. There is another Frank article in this newsletter thanks to Margaret.

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 in a newsletter or post it on the family web site. My email address is lwuth@hups.net

Lorraine Wuth

Editor

Bits and Pieces

I was looking at some birth, death and marriage index entries for British Columbia and was attempting to fill in missing dates. I came across a death entry for Margaret Ellen Smith in 1963. Was she Irene Cambridge's Granny Smith? An email to Irene confirmed that it was. Margaret Ellen Smith (nee Weeks) died on September 25, 1963 in British Columbia. She had been born on January 25, 1884 in Surrey.

Irene also pointed out the family relationship to September 11. Margaret Ellen Weeks' parents, John Weeks and Ellen Stubington [now that is where Irene's father got the Stubington from!] were married on September 11, 1883. Irene married Doug on September 11, 1965 and, to complete a triple, their daughter Viki married on September 11, 1998. It would certainly make it easier to remember everyone's wedding anniversary.

Speaking of interesting dates. My younger brother Peter was was married on January 22, 1977 which was the day of my youngest sisters 21st birthday. We did do something for Sue the next day so that she did not miss out altogether.

My father, William Donald "Don" Barnett was born on June 25 which was also his father's birthday while I was born on May 2 which was my father's mother's birthday. Some dates just keep turning up in families.

Mention of Castle Brangwin in 1659
Chris Rendle and Rosie Earl

I have a minor extract from one of the volumes of the Oxfordshire Record Society that might be of some interest.

It is taken from "The Progress Notes of Warden Woodward Round the Oxfordshire Estates of New College, Oxford 1659-1675" transcribed and edited by R.L. Rickard, Assistant Librarian, New College, Oxford and issued in 1949 for the year 1945.

Page 29 (index says 31)
HEYFORD

"In the afternoon the same day Jan. 31 1659, came into the Court George Raves, Castle Brandwin (sic) & Th. Castle & surrender'd into the hands of the Lord, one messuage, one close & 3 yard Land & in their stead there were admitted John Cocke, Jane Cocke, John Dod in trust, the ffine at first was £15, the Herriott 40s. the Licence 10s. but abated to Mr. Cocke, as haveing been of New College (though an Intruder) unto £10 viz. £8 the ffine, 30s. the Herriott & 10s. the Licence."

Footnote:
"John Cocke B.A. Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Incorporated 1649, M.A. 1650 elected Fellow of New College by the Parliamentary visitors 1652, Rector of Upper Heyford, 1656-60?"

There are a number of mentions of "Mr. Merry", who is the college's farmer of this estate, clearly a senior representative of the tenants and local adviser to Michael Woodward, Warden of New College 1658-75. Wondering if this man is the father of (or at least a relative of) Ann Myrry, wife of Castle Brangwin.

[Also, was Thomas Castle related to Castle B? There is a likihood that that is the case. Now, what is a "Herriott"? I wonder.]

HERIOT

At the death of a tenant, the lord of the manor was entitled to claim the best beast of the tenement. In some manors a portion of the crop of the best field was taken instead. According to the introductory notes to the Warden's Progress, by Woodward's time the value of the beast was commuted to a money payment.

I posed the following question to Chris: "Francis had died in 1635. Had Ann been 'managing' the tenancy following his death? Does this mean that Ann had recently died? Or was it one of the Castle family who had passed away? Ummm, I wonder." and received the following reply:

Wow! This is a million miles from my area of expertise (not that I have an area of expertise).
 
I think George Raves, Castle Brandwin and Th. Castle were joint tenants of a messuage (built property), close (enclosed field) and 3 yardlands (variable acreage of ground - possibly each man was entitled to occupy a proportion of the available land; this chunk would be a yardland) owned by New College, Oxford in the parish of Heyford.
 
The three men would have sold their holding or lease on the property for cash to the new tenants, John Cocke, Jane Cocke and John Dod.
 
Mr. Merry would, I think, have been supervising the whole estate on behalf of the college as a local agent, as well as being a major tenant himself.
 
From your BRANGWIN family tree I have Francis BRANGWIN and Ann CASTLE's second and surviving son, Castel BRANGWIN, marrying Ann MYRRY. I'm just assuming Ann MYRRY is related to Mr. MERRY.
 
Right - any wiser?

Open House Day at Temple Lodge
David Brangwyn

On 20th September Margaret and I took part in the London Open House Day at Temple Lodge, Hammersmith.

The idea behind Open House is that once a year private buildings of architectural interest in the Greater London area are thrown open to the public, free of charge. This scheme has been running for about ten years, and has proved very popular.

Temple Lodge, in Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, was for many years the home of Sir Frank Brangwyn. Built in 1819, it is a typical late Georgian villa including a vaulted cellar and corridors. Brangwyn himself added a large studio, with high windows over a viewing gallery; it was here that he did much of the work on the vast murals which were intended to be hung in the House of Lords, but which are now on view in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. Two huge doors opened onto the street to enable canvases to be moved in and out of the studio. The house is now divided into two parts occupied by a religious community and a restaurant. What was the studio is now a chapel, and the original woodblock floor and picture rails are still visible. It is claimed that there are traces of paint from Brangwyn's work on the floor!

Margaret and I have visited Temple Lodge every year since Open House started, and last year we put on a small exhibition about Brangwyn. This year we filled our car with another selection from our collection of Brangwyn artwork, books and ceramics which we set out in the chapel. We also laid out a copy of the family tree on the floor. When the appointed guides brought visitors to the chapel, we spoke to them about our connections with Brangwyn, and invited them to look round the exhibits. We had many favourable comments, including "thank you for opening your house"(!) and "do you live in Wales?". One visitor was a charming lady whom we later realised we had seen on television in a series called "Men behaving badly".

Several people who lived in the Hammersmith area had previously been unaware of the existence of Temple Lodge, and most visitors knew little or nothing of Frank Brangwyn.

At the end of the afternoon we agreed that our efforts had been appreciated, and that most of those who came to Temple Lodge were impressed by what they saw about Frank Brangwyn. It was an exhausting day, but well worth the trouble.

Updates

Chris Rendle provided the following information on death certificate of Ann Earl (nee Crook). Ann was the daughter of James Crook and Hannah "Ann" Brangwin. [See the x newsletter for more details of this part of the family]

John Buckland Earl died of cancer of the tongue (speculation is that it may have been caused by the drawing of thread through his mouth to bite off lengths for his tailoring work) at 49 St. Giles Street, Oxford, (the Eagle & Child public house) on 20th May 1885. He was 73 years old.

The Massachusetts Death Index provided the following:

• Esther Brangwynne [wife of John Gilert Brangwynne, maiden name unknown] was born on April 18, 1920 in Becket. She died June 6, 1980 in Cambridge.
• John Griffith Brangwynne [son of Francis W "Frank Brangwynne and Clara Sweeney] was born July 12, 1917 in Backet and died April 9, 1988 in Cambridge.
• Francis W Brangwynne [older brother of John G] was born March 13, 1907 in Becket and died December 28, 1993 in Malden.

Daily Review
Decatur, Illinois - July 3, 1913

The following report appeared in the Decatur Daily Review

A number of prizes were awarded at the picnic of St. Paul's German Lutheran church in Fairview park Wednesday afternoon. Many contests and races were held by the young folk and the following received prizes:
Egg race - Clara Dodwell, Alberta Heinkel.
Relay race - Lydia Tauber, Roy Butz, Albert Dodwell.
Cracker eating contest - Arthur Dodwell.
Shoe Race - Henry Showers.
One legged race - Richard Fitzpatrick.
Boy's race - Franklin Kossieck.
Girl's race - Clara Dodwell.
Wheelbarrow race - Theodore Laatch, Lillian Ottilie.
Throwing contest - Julius Ottilie.
String chewing contest - Clara Dodwell, oscar Bauer.
Hiding contest - Clara Frahiman.
About 200 or 250 people were out for the supper in the evening. The attendance at the picnic was not as large as had been expected on account of the precalence of the measles. About twenty children were out on that account and of course it kept away their parents also.

Some of the contest leave a few questions. Does anyone know what was involved in a "shoe race" or a "string chewing contest"? It looks like the Dodwell family were free of measles. They certainly appeared copiously in the winners list.

My Birthday Present
Alex Brangwyn

For my birthday this year Kate booked me a once-in-a-life time Leisure Experience, driving four classic cars which I had only ever dreamed of driving.

We arrived at a former airfield near Leicester early in the morning and I was eager to get behind the wheel of some of the cars I could see there, but before I got my hands on them I was taken to a dual-control Mini-Moke. I sat in the driver's seat with an instructor beside me. I was then blindfolded and whilst the instructor controlled the pedals I had to follow instructions and drive through gates, around cones and past other obstacles, without being able to see a thing. It was pretty scary, but then again I thought the instructor would hardly let me drive over a cliff in case it damaged the car (not that there are that many cliffs on an airfield in Leicestershire), so I thought as long as I did exactly as I was told I would be safe. I like to think I wasn't trembling when that drive was over.

Next I got into a Volkswagen Golf. This had a car tyre on the bonnet with a football (an English one - round) balanced inside the tyre. I had to drive around an obstacle course without losing the football. I am very pleased to say I managed it without a mishap.

Now I was to try the cars I had been waiting to drive. Firstly, a Jaguar Mk 2 - very smooth and great to drive. Next was an Aston Martin DB5. James Bond drives an Aston Martin and I couldn’t help but compare myself to him as I swept round the course. Of all the cars I drove that day, the Aston Martin was the one I would choose to own.

The third car was another Jaguar - an E type this time. It purred along and felt great to drive.

The final car I got to drive that day was another Jaguar - a D type which had raced at Le Mans. This was really fun and I would like to have known just how fast I was driving, but the speedometer had been disconnected so that there was no chance of being distracted by looking at the speed instead of concentrating on the road. After I had driven it I was taken for a ride in it with an instructor who really showed me what it could do.

As I drove back home in my own Fiat Punto I couldn't help thinking of the cars I'd driven that day. How long would it be before I could afford one myself? Mum, you know you were asking me what I'd like for Christmas………

[From the editor: Take care Alex, you may get your wish but it may not be as you expect. Next month I'll tell you about Antony's present list.]

Dover's Court Saga - Part 2
Margaret A. Brangwyn

In the September edition of the Newsletter we looked at the house Frank Brangwyn bought in Chipping Campden. He always referred to it as "Dover's House" but it was in fact "Dover's Court". A letter from the Gloucestershire Record Office told us that F L Griggs designed a new house for himself in the traditional Cotswold style which was called Dover's Court but sometimes known as "New Dover's House", so this probably explains the confusion.

I have received copies of many more FB letters, some of which show that Dover's Court was to prove no end of trouble for him.

Brangwyn managed to visit his house a few times, but due to age and infirmity he was unable to travel by train. Due to war time shortages, he could not get the petrol for a car to take him there, so his visits were few and far between. He could not move there permanently as Lizzie Peacock, his housekeeper, refused to move and FB felt obliged not to leave his faithful servant. Eventually in 1943 things became so difficult he decided he would have to sell Dover's Court. It was sold to another artist, Edward Canning-Freeman on the understanding that the works of art stored there would remain in place until the end of the war and Canning-Freeman would be responsible for their safety. In March 1944 Brangwyn heard from Canning-Freeman that he could no longer keep Dover's Court and that he, too, would sell it. This lead to all kinds of problems for Brangwyn, even to the extent of being threatened with legal action. Eventually the problems were resolved, but FB was very sad that his dream of a home for old artists would now come to nothing.

Here are extracts from some of the letters, telling the rest of the story of Dover's Court.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Elinor Pugh, 16 Aug 1941

I have been away some days at Chipping Campden. You would love it. A real 15th Cent. village. It was a bit difficult to get away as I could find no one to stay with Lizzie but fixed it up with the old charwoman. On my return Lizzie told me that there was a row over the charladys [sic] beer; so Lizzie cleared her out. I am glad I knew nothing about it or I should have had to return in haste.

PS my hands are filled with rheumatism so forgive the writing. Sorry I cannot get any chocolate but if I do you shall have it.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Walter Spradbery, 17 Aug 1941

I have been for a week to Chipping Campden. I wish I had know[n] you were in Oxford as it is no distance and you could have come and stayed a few days. I was afraid you would find the [?] a bit of bother the only good thing is that you can get an egg now and again and a Hen to eat? I must tell you one day how I killed a chicken in Chelsea years ago which belonged to my landlord. A terrible affair.

Letter from Walter Spradbery, The Wilderness, to Elinor Pugh, Gt Ruffins Lodge, 11 Nov 1941

I have had a letter from FB, not too depressed - but he does not seem to think he can, unless pushed by circumstances, persuade his household to shift to Chipping Campden. He says Mrs Griggs contemplates ‘getting spliced again’ and that is the reason for the alteration in his plans in regard to domiciling her at Dovers House.

I suppose FB has not been over to see you? Only someone said they thought they saw him in Chelmsford a few days ago!

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure (Temple Lodge paper, address crossed out) to Elinor Pugh, undated (22 June 1942 added in another hand - Pugh’s?)

I have had a letter from the British Officer at Chipping Campden saying that he intends to put some soldiers in the house. I have told him that it is a store for works of art evacuated from public museums etc, so I hope this will stop his little game, if not it will be very bad. These soldiers once they get into a place ruin everything.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Elinor Pugh, 25 Dec 1942

so far the Dover house is clear of soldiers. I put 2 old ladies in and with Mrs Griggs and her 3 or 4 children the house is now well stocked. The poor old gardener fractured his scull [sic]. We can never replace him, he was so good at the place without him is dead. All is very difficult. But the old ladies look well after it, but cannot get a gardener.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Elinor Pugh, 11 Feb 1943

It was a great pleasure to hear that you are going to Brighton. I wish I could put you up here, but we have no spare bed. All went to Chipping Campden. Anyway, if you will let me know the day you will come we will kill a chicken and you can stay to lunch. Lizzie tells me that she will want two or three days notice re the poor chicken, as the butcher etc have to be fixed up.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Elinor Pugh, 17 Aug 1943

Spradbery and Stiles went for a week to Chipping Campden to sort the accumulation of stuff. They sent me back a van load, and I have been for the past 3 or 4 week[s] trying to sort it out, and destroying things. It has to be done. One hates it you know what it is, but with ones work bad as it is, it is more difficult, like destroying ones children.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure to Elinor Pugh, 26 Sep 1943

I was about to go to Chipping Campden but it seems to be impossible. The old lady who lived in the house with a companion has died, and I must find a decent person who will live there. Do you know anyone no rent or anything to pay. Mrs Griggs lives in her wing, but unless someone is in the place The Government will take it for the workers on the air field near by. All is very difficult and I find it hard to cope with. Anyway one can do little or nothing. I think I told you I had a van load of drawings prints etc brought here so that I could go over them and give the best part to several museums. Spradbery and Stiles had a week at Chipping but they did not like to destroy things, so it was left to me to do it. You have no idea how difficult it has been. I have spent 5 or 6 weeks at it, so have not been able to do any work, much to my sorrow.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Kitson, 12 Oct 1943

Do you know anyone who would come to buy the fine house at Chipping Campden, I must get rid of it. It is a fine place, stone built by Griggs the etcher in the manner of a Gloucestershire Manor House, and has some ground etc. It is difficult to clear up things and so give ones Executors a lot of trouble.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Walter Spradbery, 14 Nov 1943

I have sold the Dover House to an artist Canning Freeman who undertakes the responsibility of looking after the works stored there. he will let Mrs Griggs remain, so I think all will be well. Stiles will be writing to you about it, and to the Walthamstow people and others, so it will all being well go on just as before, until the end of the war. I felt it the safest thing to do as I know this fellow - and if the place was sold after my death you would have to clear out the stuff. Now it will, if all is well remain until the end of the war, if not bombed?

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Walter Spradbery, 24 Jan 1944

I am glad the Dover House is of[f] our hands, but filled with sorrow that it was not possible to make into a home for old painters.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Elinor Pugh, 3 Mar 1944

I think I told you I had sold Dover House, I wish we had gone there but I told you Lizzie would not move. The man who bought the house tells me that he finds it these days impossible to move and will have to sell it this is a nice bomb to drop on me, it makes everything so difficult. I would buy it back, but I can find no one trustworthy to look after it.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Walter Spradbery, 6 Mar 1944

I have just had a letter from Freeman that he cannot cope with the Dover House, and that it is impossible for him to live there, and that being so, he will have to sell it. A nice bomb to have dropped on one. What is to be done? I made him sign in the agreement that in the event of him selling the place it should be a condition, that the buyer should undertake to look after the pictures etc, but I fear this cannot be reinforced, and it is very risky. I at once on hearing from Freeman got in touch with one or two friends, and I hear this morn, that it may be possible to have some room in the jail of Worcester - this belongs to the friend of my friend, who seems to be willing to take the stuff. I shall have all the particulars in a day or so and will let you have them. I have written to Stiles to know if he could go to Worcester, and have a look at the place. It sounds rather too good to be true? I would buy back the Dover House but cannot find anyone trustworthy to put in as a caretaker. The only other alternative is that the stuff is stored here in my big studio, but it is a risky spot any night we may be bombed? Anyway do not say anything to the Walthamstow people until I write to you again. Perhaps your work may take you in the direction of Worcester, and you could have a look at the place - it is quite dry and stone built. What with ill health and all these worries life is a bit difficult.

Letter from Canning-Freeman to Brangwyn, 14 Mar 1944

Dear Sir Frank

I have received a letter from Mr P Stiles to the effect that he has been in touch with the owners of the property stored here, telling them that I have suggested breaking the agreement I signed with you last winter, which was I am responsible that nothing belonging to the various Galleries etc, be removed with out the permission of Mr Stiles. Furthermore, that I should obtain in writing a statement from any person who bought the property from me that they, in turn would undertake this responsibility. I think I am correct in saying that there was nothing further in the agreement. I have letters before me now from you suggesting that the things be moved, although you will remember I told you I felt sure this would be unnecessary if I were to sell the place. As there would be many people these days willing to buy the property on condition the things remained in the house. However you will I am sure understand that I can no longer sit down under a deliberate campaign of mud slinging behind my back, and so have forwarded your letter together with that of Stiles to my lawyers to be dealt with accordingly. I have ample evidence of the disgusting letters etc etc this I am bringing to the notice of my lawyers as there is such a thing as Defamation of Character. I categorically deny ever having suggested breaking my agreement, and this, am prepared to state in Court.

[Brangwyn has added the following note to Spradbery:]

What do you make of this? All we want from him is to be put in touch with the tenant. All this bunk about mud slinging is Greek to me, a dream on his part. Let Stiles have this copy

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Walter Spradbery, 20 Mar 1944

Here we are again in trouble, I fear I fear I have brought you nothing but trouble and annoyance? But my only consolation is that it is not of my doing, and that it is for a public purpose - I hope you look at it this way - I am as I say so sorry to bother you. No doubt Stiles has informed you all about things - he was going to see Roebuck, and I trust he has arranged all with him. I have just written to Sir Frank Short. It is most fortunate that we have been able to find this place in Worcester, otherwise the things would have to have come here, which, is now and I have always said it would be, a very unsafe place. This Freeman is what the poet call the G-dy[sic] limit. I have written to him to get ready for the removal, and I trust that you will be able to go with Stiles and check the things as they leave. I have asked him to put you both up, all is in hands of Stiles. I do not know what one would or could do without the help of poor Stiles who has much worry of his own. Would it be possible when the things have been removed for you to have a look at the place in Worcester? Anyway all is now in the hands of Stiles. I have no further responsibility. I tried to buy the place from Freeman but he would not give me any answer.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Walter Spradbery, undated

I hate to give you all this bother but this Freeman is the limit, never have I come across such a d-----d[sic] ass, to go and leave the place empty with no one in it, is beyond believing. On looking at the agreement, he is responsible for the safe keeping of the pictures, but what can you do with such a fellow. I am writing to the solicitors pointing out this agreement, which I think will stop him selling. Anyway the main point for the moment is to have some one in the house. I will ring him up at his Hotel, the BERNERS Hotel, Berners St to night and get him to put a caretaker in the house - in this event you get your friend to go for a few days, until one can arrange what is to be done. Stiles has agreed in the meanwhile to go to Worcester and have a look at the County Jail. Lewis the publisher stored all his books there for some years and found it safe [and] dry. As soon as Stiles reports, we will get to work. Do I understand that your friend will act as Tenant of the Dover House in the event of my buying it back. I do not want the responsibility of the place, and if I let it to your friend for say the rates & taxes, will he see to it and keep the garden in shape which of course he would use for his own food. Will get in touch with [you] when I hear from Stiles and if Freeman is to be found.

Letter from Fitzhugh Woolley Baines & Co, 3 Pavilion Parade, Brighton 1, to Alfred W Stiles, 37 & 39 Brook Green Road, Hammersmith W6, 17 Apr 1944

Dear Sir

Mr Edward Canning-Freeman has sent on to us your letter of the 13th instant.

Mr Canning-Freeman assures us that he has never had any intention of breaking his undertaking with regard to the pictures etc.

We can tell you that on the 6th March last we informed Mr Canning-Freeman and the Agents who were handling the property for him that it would have to be a condition of any sale that the works of art which were stored at Dover's Court have to remain until the end of the war.

There are at present negotiations for letting the house furnished and it has been arranged that the rooms containing the works of art etc shall be excluded from the tenancy. You will thus see that, so far as Mr Canning-Freeman is concerned, there is no question of the pictures being removed - in fact he has made proper arrangements for carrying out his undertaking.

Yours faithfully              Fitzhugh Woolley Baines & Co

Letter from Fitzhugh Woolley Baines & Co, 3 Pavilion Parade to Walter Spradbery, The Wilderness, 17 Apr 1944

Dear Sir

Our client, Mr Edward Canning-Freeman, has consulted us with regard to the statement which we are instructed was contained in a letter written by you to Sir Frank Brangwyn to the effect that Mr Canning-Freeman has told people in Chipping Campden that Sir Frank charged him £8000 for the property.

Our client categorically denies ever having made such a statement to anyone and, as such statements can only react to our client’s detriment, we must ask you to send us a letter withdrawing the statement and apologising to our client for having made the statement.

With regard to the Works of Art etc which are stored at Dover's Court, we send you a copy of a letter we have written to Mr Stiles on the subject.              Yours faithfully,              Fitzhugh Woolley Baines & Co

Letter from Spradbery, The Wilderness, to Fitzhugh Woolley Baines & Co, 21 Apr 1944 (copy)

Dear Sirs

Thank you very much for your letter of the 17th inst and for sending me the copy of a letter addressed to Mr Stiles which is reassuring to me as a Trustee interested in the safe keeping of the works stored at Dover House.

I hope that no statement in any letter of mine to Sir Frank Brangwyn can seriously be considered to react to Mr Canning Freeman’s detriment.

When I met Mr Canning Freeman many months ago I was given to understand that he was a friend of Sir Franks, and as aware as I am of this great artists qualities, his generous character, public-spirited outlook, and of his plans in regard to the gifts of various works of art to public galleries, and concerned to be helpful in assuring the safe keeping of those stored at Dover's House.

When a report reached me that Mr Freeman was selling Dover's House so soon after his purchase of it, as a Trustee in part responsible for the works stored there I wrote to Sir Frank telling him of the report and mentioned the price I had been told that Mr Freeman was reported to have said he paid for it. I did not know nor do I know how far this differs from the actual price or if it differs at all - only that Mr Freeman is annoyed which I regret.

If necessary the person of repute and standing resident in Chipping Campden, who understood Mr Freeman to say he had paid £8000 for Dover's House can be put in touch with him to remind him of the occasion, but I do not wish to cause unnecessary bother to busy folk.

My endeavours and letters have been directed to fulfilling my responsibility as Trustee, to the end that Sir Franks wishes have the generous consideration his life, work, character, genius, age and noble intentions deserve.

I hope, therefore, that your client will be able to overcome any misunderstanding or irritation that has arisen, and with the help of your valuable advice, satisfactory understanding will be arrived at, so that all concerned may feel at ease: and that amid the horrors and dangers of our times, good people do not make conditions worse and more troublesome by falling out seriously among themselves.                Yours faithfully, Walter E Spradbery

PS I believe the desire of Sir Frank Brangwyn, Mr Stiles, the Trustees, and the owners of the pictures and works of art, is that they be put in touch with the tenant or purchaser of Dover's House so that they may assure themselves from time to time that the obligations in regard to the works stored there are understood and faithfully carried out, and that in the absence of a tenant or owner, some caretaker should occupy the place with a sense of responsibility in regard to the contents - and of course I do apologise for passing on a report (in confidence to Sir Frank) that Mr Freeman challenges and denies - but with the reservation that I believe his statement was given me in good faith and so passed on by me to Sir Frank.

[On a plain sheet of paper pinned together with the Dover House correspondence Spradbery has written: ‘He did discuss the question of selling with the local agent and we believe they advised him that they might get £10,000 for the property. Solicitors letter’].

Letter from Walter Spradbery, The Wilderness, to Elinor Pugh, Wickham Bishops, 3 Jul 1944

I saw Brangwyn a few weeks ago, and Pat Jobson has seen him since, and we both found him looking very well although complaining of ill health…I don’t know if I told you of all the trouble young Canning Freeman gave us, threatening me with a charge of defamation of character - all overcome now I hope, and agitating and disturbing FB no end.

Letter from Brangwyn, The Jointure, to Walter Spradbery, 12 Sep 1945

I have rung up Stiles and asked him to get in touch with the Town Clerk of Walthamstow, and to suggest that the stuff be stored in one of the upper rooms at the Water House during the time for the redecorations of the place, then they could be removed and the room done up. You will see what I mean, if this is not possible, I will store them in my studio here for a month or two, if they pay the expense of transit, but the putting of them in one of the rooms, in the Water House, would save a lot of expense, but I will not let them put the stuff in some damp place, as once suggested by Roebuck. All is quite simple if they will agree, but it is impossible to let them remain in an empty house. No doubt Stiles may have told you that a lot of Sir F Shorts stuff has been stolen? I am very sorry to bother you with all this but, if it cannot be done we had better break off the whole matter of the gift, and I will give the stuff elsewhere. Walthamstow has not carried out their part of the agreement one could do this no doubt? Again I am so sorry to bother you and forgive me and the pencil. I am far from well all the time being worried with these matters

PS it seems on reading his letter again that we have to clear out like it or not as we may and only have a short time to do it in

A research challenge

By now most of you will be aware that my great, great grandfather, Daniel Barnett, son of George Barnett and Mary Brangwin, married an Elizabeth Dreweatt. Elizabeth's mother was Sarah Ann Swallow and her father a John Dreweatt. While Dreweatt and Swallow keep on appearing in the Brangwin tree I have been unable to connect my Elizabeth to my Barnett-Brangwin family except through her marriage to Daniel. From time to time I go back to the Dreweatts and check to see if anything has come to light to assist me in my search.

Before going any further some background. John and Sarah Ann had married at Reading St Giles, BRK on September 14, 1818. Sarah Ann was 18 and had married with the consent of the parents [Sarah Ann's father, John Swallow of Henley, OXF, and perhaps John's father. There is no evidence to confirm just which parents were involved in the consent. Certainly, Sarah Ann was under age and her father's consent would have been natural as he was one of the applicants for the licence]. The witnesses were W P Swallow, C Swallow and E Dreweatt.

W P Swallow was William Pratt Swallow. His brother, Richard, was the father of the James Swallow who married Letitia Brangwin and the Richard Swallow who married Sarah Brangwin. From the Will of William Pratt Swallow I discovered that he was the uncle of Sarah Ann Swallow. She is named in the Will as Sarah Dreweatt one of the children of my brother John Swallow. So, there is a connection between the families. It just gets messier and messier. Also named in W Ps Will is a sister Ann Dreweatt. Now, this turns out to be the Ann Swallow who married John Dreweatt of Welford cum Wickham, the brother of Thomas who married Jane Knowles and was the father of Janes knowles Dreweatt (who married Abrahan Brangwin), Elizabeth Harriett Dreweatt (who married Francis Brangwin) and Mary Dreweatt (who married Thomas Brangwin). Was John Dreweatt Sarah Ann's cousin? This is quite possible as there is a John Dreweatt born in 1796, son of John Dreweatt and Ann Swallow who is is a likely target. Oh dear - another cousin marriage? This would also make the third witness (E Dreweatt) her sister-in-law as John Dreweatt and Ann Swallow had a daughter Elizabeth botn in 1799. The plot indeed thickens.

John Dreweatt was a nurseryman as was Sarah Ann's father.

Now to list John and Sarah Ann's children:

1. John baptised on September 4, 1819 and buried September 19, 1819 at St Giles, Oxford, OXF.
2. Sarah Ann was baptised on August 20 at Headington, OXF. She ran a school in Reading. She died on July 27, 1888 at South Brighton, VIC and shares a grave with her sister, Elizabeth, and Daniel Barnett in the Old Cheltenham Cemetery.
3. William Henry was baptised on April 28, 1822 at Headington, OXF. He died, aged 3 years, and was buried on May 4, 1825 in Reading St Giles, BRK.
4. Elizabeth was baptised on August 17, 1823 at Headington, OXF having been born at Barton, OXF. She went on the marry Daniel Barnett and died on July 16, 1901.
5. Harriett was baptised on June 29, 1825 at Reading St Giles, BRK.

But what of Harriett? She had alluded me. I finally got a fix on her using one of the indexes that is currently being built by a host of volunteers: the birth, death and marriage index for England and Wales. There was an entry for Harriett Dreweatt in the September quarter of 1850. Was there a likely match with another entry. Yes and no. A check on the actual marriage index pages showed that the marriage actually took place in the June quarter. No problem. I had noticed that the BDM index on Ancestry.com sometimes managed to have the quarter out by 1. I could live with that as I had found the actual index entry although it also highlighted that the indexed had an error in the keyed data. The page number was incorrect. It was up as 448 but was really 447.

Now for the possibles. This was a little awkward. The best searchable index database is the FreeBDM one. Lately, this has had performance problems due the the attacks of some nasty virus which keeps bombarding the site with a heap of requests. I went back to what I had and looked for a possible match. I came across an entry for Robert Day Bust. This looked promising. Back to the index images and it confirmed a match. Now, there are two marriages recorded per page so there could have been another couple involved. A seach using the actual page threw up not one other couple but 4! I don't know how this could have happened. All those involved were actually found on the index images. Quite a surprise. Among the 8 people listed in the searchable index was a absence of Harriett Dreweatt and Robert Day Bust. This was not a significant concern as I had found them by this time in the official marriage index.

Did I have any proof that Harriett had married Robert? None yet. I checked the 1881 census for England and Wales. Nothing. What about the 1880 US census. Once again I drew a blank. Next I checked Canada and their 1881 census. Nothing. 1891 in Englang. Still no go. What happened to them?

Did they come to Australia? Given that Harriett's older sister, Elizabeth, had gone to Australia in 1849 that was a possiblility. A check of the Victorian Pioneer index turned up a number of entries for BUST - not many as it is a fairly rare name. In addition, with father Robert Dry and mother Harriet(t) Dreweatt [the Victorian indexes give lots of good information] they were easy to pick from the couple of other Bust entries. What I found were:

• Sarah Ann Bust was born in 1851
• Ellen Bust was born in 1855
• William Burnley Bust was born in 1857
• In 1859 a female child was born. She died, aged 3 days, unnamed. She was buried in the Brighton Cemetery on December 30, 1859.
• Edward Dreweatt Bust was born in 1861.

A search for Robert Bust had turned up a hit against Robert Day Bust in a marriage witness index. According to the transcribed record Robert Day Bust had married Harriett Drewett [without an 'a' ... I would never have found this record if searching from the Harriett end] at Holy Trinity church, Ryde, Isle of Wight on June 29, 1850. The witnesses were Sarah Ann Drewett [no 'a' again] and Henry Kullen [actually this turned out to be Pullen]. There are not many Sarah Ann Drewe[a]tts around so almost certainly the marriage was that of my missing Harriett. I'll confirm this by checking original marriage records as soon as possible. [Done ... see below]

This yarn has been included to show how easy it is to miss vital information when it is miss keyed [the searchable marriage index with the wrong quarter and page] and the ommission of the 'a' in the witness index. I'm just pleased that I did find Harriett.

And the next step? Simple. Now I'm trying to find descendants of Harriett and Robert. They just might hold a vital clue that provides the missing link for my Swallows and Dreweatts. I've managed to make contact with a descendant of Harriett and Robert. Time will tell if this assists in sorting out any links.

In the meantime, the film containing the marriage entries in the parish register of the Trintiy Church, in the Chapelry of The Holy Trinity, Ryde, arrived for me. This confirmed that Harriett was indeed who I thought she was - the sister of my great, great grandmother. As with many documents there were a couple of surprises. Robert Day Bust was a widower and his residence was given as Bridge Street, Reading.

I'll keep you posted on progress in the search for a family link.

Family History Month
from Ancestry News: October 1, 2003

October is National Family History Month

Recognizing the massive surge in popularity of tracing one's roots, the U.S. Congress has officially designated October as National Family History Month by unanimously passing a Senate resolution (S.R. 175).

This resolution celebrates the fact that more than 80 million Americans are actively searching for information about their ancestors and also encourages others to begin their search.

"Experts say that in the United States, genealogy is now the second most popular hobby next to gardening," says Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). "It is only natural that we want to find out more about our ancestors, and what a better way to bring families closer together than by discovering more about the story of your own family?"

Hatch's bill, which was co-sponsored by Robert Bennett (R-Utah), not only commemorates October as Family History Month, but it also encourages President Bush to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the month of October with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

"By providing customers with a broad set of tools to discover the information that makes their family history come to life, we help them answer the questions, 'Who am I?' 'Where do I come from?' and 'How am I connected?'" says Tom Stockham, President and CEO of MyFamily.com. "This celebration may be just the motivation some people need to get started."

"Researching ancestry is a very important component of identity. It can lead to long-sought-after family reunions or allow for life-saving medical treatments that only genetic links will allow," Hatch says. "For all of these reasons, I encourage people across this nation to find out more about where they came from."

More on the Marlins

In September we looked at the descendants of Julia Mary Dodwell and Reuben William Marlin. Last month I provided some updates for some parts of the Malin clan. This month there are more updates.

Richard Malin the third child of Julia Mary Dodwell and Reuben Malin, married Mary Haynes on January 16, 1909 [not 1901 as reported last month]. Their marriage certificate arrived in October. Indeed, Richard and Mary were first cousins. Her parents were Frederick William Haynes and Elizabeth Patty Dodwell, Julia Mary Dodwell's older sister.

Mary was 24 at the time of her marriage and a spinster. Her residence at the time of marriage was New Iffley. Her father was listed as Frederic William Haynes, labourer. The marriage took place at the parish church, Iffley, OXF. Witnesses were Stella Agnes Haynes [Mary's sister] and Edwin William Malin [Richard's brother]. They married after the calling of banns.

For the record, Richard was 21 and a bachelor. He was a foreman of Golden Cuxham. His father, Reuben William Malin, was a farmer.

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

I would like to thank Chris and Rosie for their input, also David and Alex for their contributions to this newsletter. Once again, Margaret has provided us with insight into the life and times of Frank Brangwyn. Margaret, thank you for your continuing support.

That's it for this month.

If you have anything you would like to contribute to the newsletter it would be most welcome.

Until then next time

Lorraine