In Search of a Glemsford Family

Further Developments and Additions

Inevitably - in fact, it was what we hoped - since going "live" with the results of our investigations into the Brown and Savage families, more information has come to light.
There is not enough to justify a complete re-write, but enough to warrant this "extras" page.

 		  

Of particular note have been the availability online of the 1851 and 1841 Census materials.
Although the recording of the 1841 Census was very limited in its content, compared with later years, and even with all the reservations about the empty "years in between", these facilities are a very positive addition to our resources.

 

The 1851 Census shows Joseph (42, Ag. Lab.)and Keziah Brown (44, Straw Plaiter) - parents of John, grandparents of George, who was father to Araminta etc. - living at "Seldon Waver", Glemsford, with their children:
  • Thomas, 24, Ag. Lab.
  • Harriett, 16, Silk Winder
  • Joseph, 13, Ag. Lab.
  • William, 11, Ag. Lab.
  • Ellen, 6, Scholar
  • James, 5, Scholar
  • George, 3, Scholar
    (the census form is a little faint: these are "best effort" readings, but 99% confidence exists!)

    • "Seldon Waver" is well known to Glemsfordians, standing as it does overlooking the Stour Valley, just beyond Grove Farm on one of the old paths to Cavendish, near the point known as Hanging Hill.
    A "Waver" is a pond, and the waver at this point has, in recent years, been rescued and restored by Gilman Game.

John (21, Ag. Lab.) and Ellen (21, Straw Plaiter) Brown, and son George (4 months) were, at the same time, living on Egremont Street.

 

In 1841, Joseph (30) and Keziah (30) Brown were living with their family:
  • Thomas (14)
  • John (12)
  • Samuel (10)
  • Harriot (6)
  • Joseph (4)
    and
  • William (2)
    • at "Gravel Pit Hall", Lower Road. Only Joseph's occupation is recorded - "Ag. Lab." - and only the youngest three children are shown as having been born in Suffolk.
    It is only guesswork, but it leads us to believe that this branch of the Brown family moved to Glemsford between 1831 and 1845.
It is tempting also to see some significance in the fact that Gravel Pit Hall is virtually opposite the Brick Kiln area which became so important in "our story" at the end of the 19th Century.

Ellen Dowsett, John Brown's wife-to-be, was, in 1841, aged 10, living with her parents, Joseph and Sarah, and siblings, John, william, Harriot and Lucy, at Work House Cottages, Belchamp St Paul.

 

In 1861, Joseph and Keziah, together with William, Ellen, James and Jane (aged 9) on Hunts Hill, immediately next door to John, Ellen and their growing family.

 

In 1871, Joseph and Keziah, with James still at home, were again living next door to John, Ellen and family on Egremont Street.
It is possible they had not moved but that street naming was an inexact science. The "return" shows them as the last houses before Hunts Hill begins.

 

The 1881 Census shows Keziah, a 74 year old "Invalid", suffering from "chronic rheumatics", living with 35 year old, unmarried James, on Hunts Hill. In the same house was 77 year old "nurse", Sarah Gridley. Sarah is recorded as a widow, Keziah as "wife", but of Joseph her husband there is no sign.

 		  

Next Update Page

What we know about the
Brown Family History
and something of their progress later
in the 20th Century

 		  

Follow the search for the
Savage family
of Cavendish,
with several twists and turns,
or go
straight to the start of our findings.

   
 
   

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© Tracey Foulds, Sandra Poole and Stephen Clarke
December 1 2005
None of this material may be published in any form
without the express permission of the authors
with the exception of material to be used for single copies for personal research