Brockbank Brookbanks Brooksbank family

5 September 2008

 

 

 

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Dr Geoffrey Mann

geoff.mann@btinternet.com

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5 Richard BROOKBANKS 1770-1851

 

spouse's records

1m Eleanor ASBURY 1803
2m Ann WOODWARD 1819
3m Rebecca ROBERTS 1830

 

 

 

 

Richard BROOKBANKS was born in the small Worcestershire village of Pendock in 1770, but moved to London as a young man where he became a baker, leasing a bakers shop at 38 King St, Seven Dials. He and Eleanor ASBURY baptised a son Christopher at St Martin in the Fields in 1800, but they did not marry until 1803.

 

Six more children were born and baptised at St Martins or nearby St Giles in the Field before Eleanor died in 1813.

In 1819, Richard married Ann WOODWARD and shortly after, his eldest son Christopher completed his apprenticeship as a baker and moved to the baker’s shop with his wife Arabella.

 

Richard’s second wife died in 1827 and, three years later, he married a widow Rebecca ROBERTS at St Paul Covent Garden.  At this time Christopher moved from his father’s bakery to set up in the City.  Rebecca died in 1834 and some time afterwards, Richard moved to a house in Chelsea. He visited his grocer brother in Stourbridge, Worcestershire in 1841.

 

Richard died in 1851 aged 81 at the home of his married daughter Elizabeth in Kensington.  He was buried in the family grave at St Giles along with his three wives.  His will left everything, including the rent from the baker's shop, to his surviving children, Elizabeth HALL, Richard, and William who had emigrated to Philadelphia.

 

 

 

click to open a map of Worcestershire for location of Pendock and Stourbridge

click to open a map showing location of the London bakery

 

EVENTS

C=Christened

           age

     DATE RB EA

 

                       EVENT

27May1770

15Nov1800 30 33

....?1802 32 35

24Oct1803 33 36

16Feb1805 35 38

21Jun1807 37 40

.4Jul1808 38 41

14Sep1810 40 43

 1Mar1812 42 45

 5Nov1813 43 46

28Jan1814 44

 1May1815 45

28Feb1819 49

 4Mar1827 57

20Jun1830 60

19Apr1834 64

13Jul1834 64

 6Jun1841 71

    c1842 72

20Oct1848 78

30Mar1851 80

30Oct1851 81

C at Pendock Worcestershire

son Christopher born and C at St Martin in the Fields 26Dec

dau Eleanor born?

m Eleanor Asbury at St Mary le Strand

dau Isabella born and C St Martin in the Fields 4Mar

dau Elizabeth born; C 13Jul St at Giles in the Fields

son Richard born; C 26Jul at St Giles

son William born; C 5Oct at St Giles

dau Mary born; C 2Mar at St Giles

wife Eleanor died and buried at St Giles

dau Mary buried at St Giles

son Christopher apprenticed; Richard was a baker of King St, Seven Dials

married Ann Woodard at St Giles in the Fields

wife Ann died; buried at St Giles

married widow Rebecca ROBERTS at St Paul Covent Garden

wife Rebecca died; buried at St Giles

witnessed m of son Richard at St Martin in the Fields

census; visiting his brother in Stourbridge, Worcester

son William emigrated to USA

made last will at Elizabeth Terrace Chelsea

with daughter Elizabeth HALL at 25 Earl St Kensington

died of erysipelas of the head at Earl Street; buried at St Giles

 

 

PRINCIPAL RECORDS

b=born  m=married  d=died

C=Christened        B=Buried

BIRTH

 

from the 1851 census, Richard was born c1770 in Pendock, Worcestershire.  There is just one suitable baptism there:

 

C 27May1770 Richard  s Christopher & Ann BROOKBANKS

 

note that Richard named his first son Christopher

 

MARRIAGE

 

Christopher-4 was born Nov1799 and baptised at St Martin in the Fields in Dec1800, son of Richard & Eleanor.  The only suitable marriage found took place 3 years later at adjacent St Mary-le-Strand:

 

m 24Oct1803 Richard BROOKBANKS bch otp & Eleanor ASBURY spr otp by banns; wit: Alexander FORREST; David W PALMER [frequent wit]

 

Despite the timing, the unusual combination of names suggests that this is the correct marriage

 

An MI in St Giles Church (see below) refers not only to Richard’s first wife Eleanor, but to his second wife Ann and his third wife Rebecca.  These marriages have also been found:

from register of St Giles in the Fields:

 

m 28Feb1819 Richard BROOKBANKS wdr otp & Ann WOODARD spr otp; wit: Robert ARTHUR; Jane ARTHUR; by lic. from Abp of Canterbury [both signed]

 

from register of St Paul Covent Garden (Harleian Soc transcript):

 

m 20Jun1830 Richard BROOKBANKS wdr of St Giles in the Fields & Rebecca ROBERTS wid otp by licence; witness: Martin NANGLE; Isabella NANGLE

 

 

 

DESCENDANTS

 

from register of St Martin in the Fields:

 

C 26Dec1800 b 15Nov1799 Christopher  s Richard  & Eleanor BROOKBANKS    [m Arabella DACKOMBE]

C  4Mar1805 b 16Feb1805 Isabella     d Richard  & Eleanor BROOKBANKS

 

from original register of St Giles in the Fields:

 

C 13Jul1807 b 21Jun1807 Elizabeth  d Richard  & Eleanor BROOKBANKS    [m1825 John Emanuel HALL]

C 26Jul1808 b  4Jul1808 Richard    s Richard  & Eleanor BROOKBANKS    [m1834 Rachel CHALLENGER; 2m1856 Eleanor HARGRAVE]

C  5Oct1810 b 14Sep1810 William    s Richard  & Eleanor BROOKBANKS    [emigrated to USA]

C  2Mar1812 b  1Mar1812 Mary       d Richard  & Eleanor BROOKBANKS    B 28Jan1814 Mary BROOKSBANK age 2 King St Seven Dials

 

It seems possible that there was also a daughter Eleanor probably born around 1802, as Eleanor BROOKBANKS married at Holborn St Andrew in 1822:

 

m 30Aug1822 William GAISFORD otp & Eleanor BROOKBANKS otp by banns [both signed] witness: Elizabeth x DUSTON; Geo HICKS [frequent w]

other marriage records

m 28Nov1821 Christopher BROOKBANKS bch otp & Arabella DACKOMBE spr otp by banns;wit:Charles CHANNON Lewis TROUGHTON; Christchurch Blackfriars

m  6Nov1825 John Emanuel HALL & Elizabeth BROOKBANKS at St James Westminster [IGI]

m 13Jul1834 Richard BROOKBANKS otp & Rachel CHALLENGER otp by banns [both signed]; wit:Richard BROOKBANKS snr; E CHALLENGER;St Martin/Fields

 

m 14Dec1856 at St Pancras Old Church after banns

Richard BROOKBANKS wdr X full baker Harmood St & Eleanor Hargrave wid X full Harmood St

fathers: Richard BROOKBANKS dec; John Sullivan dec; witness: C R BROOKBANKS {good handwriting}; Eleanor Thomas

 

DEATH

 

gravestones at St Giles church have been removed and lined against the wall, but their inscriptions were recorded in Cansicks MSS (in Guildhall Lib).  The original gravestone was not found:

 

Eleanor  wife of Richard BROOKSBANKS d  5Nov1813 aged 46

Mary     their daughter              d 12Jan1814 age 2y

Ann      2nd wife of Richard         d  4Mar1827 age -

Rebecca  his 3rd wife                d 19Apr1834 age 65

Richard  their husband               d 30Oct1851 age 82

from St Giles register:

B  9Mar1827 Ann BROOKBANK age 65 King St, Seven Dials

 

the burial records of Eleanor, Rebecca and Richard have not been found

 

certificate

 

d 30Oct1851 Richard BROOKBANKS M 82 at Earl St labourer cause: ersplipilas in head [erysipelas]

r 31Oct1851 at Kensington Town, Kensington MDX by Susan x BRANT pad Earl St Kensington

 

name on certificate was John; corrected in margin on 4Nov1851 by Elizabeth CARRINGTON, and Susan x BRANT

 

will

 

Richard Brookbanks: transcription of PCC will (all punctuation except periods and dashes is added) PRO ref: PROB11 2152, 377

 

In the name of God Amen - with much thankfulness for sound mind and understanding, I Richard Brookbanks residing at Elizabeth Terrace in the Parish of St Lukes Chelsea in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do make my last will in manner following: First I desire that I may be buried in my Family Grave at St Giles New Burial Ground, and after my funeral expenses and all my lawful debts are paid, I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Hall or her heirs the improved rent of Five pounds 5s pr annum arising out of a Bakers shop situated No 38 King Street Seven Dials London, on Lease to Mr Turner for Twenty one years untill the expiration of the said lease; I also give and bequeath my leasehold house No 3 Alfred Street, formerly Thornhaugh St Bedford Square, on lease to Mr William Ellis at Forty Pounds pr annum, and also all other the residue of my Personal Property I give and bequeath the same to my two sons Richard Brookbanks residing in Ann Street Waterloo Road and William Brookbanks now residing in Philadelphia in the United States of America and also my daughter Elizabeth Hall of Earl Street Kensington, to be equally divided betwixt them as tenants in common or their heirs; And I hereby appoint my friend Mr William Harrington of Edward Square, Executors and also my daughter Elizabeth Hall of Earl Street Kensington, Joint Executrix; and desire that the above property may be sold as soon as convenient after my decease and divided as directed; and also my Will is that my said Executor and Executrix named may at all times reimburse and indemnify themselves and deduct all such costs, charges, damages and expenses as either of them may occur or expend, and that neither of them shall be answerable or accountable for any loss that may happen to the said trust premises; And I hereby revoke all other wills as heretofore made and so declare this present will to be my last Will and Testament; In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20 day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight - Richard Brookbanks - Signed sealed published and declared by the said Richard Brookbanks the testator in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereunto.  - Charles Smith 13 Elizabeth Terrace Christ Church Chelsea.  - Hannah Cooper 13 Elizabeth Terrace Christ Church Chelsea.  October 20 1842.

 

Proved at London the 26th May 1852 before the Worshipful John George Middleton Doctor of Laws, and Surrogate by the oath of Elizabeth Hall, Widow, the daughter, the surviving Executor, to whom admon was granted having been first sworn duly to administer.

 

On the 2nd Novr 1852, Admon (with the will annexed) of the goods chattels and credits of Richard Brookbanks formerly of Elizabeth Terrace in the Parish of St Luke Chelsea in the County of Middlesex but late of Earl Street Kensington in the same County, deceased, left unadministered by Elizabeth Hall, Widow, deceased, whilst living, the daughter and the surviving Executor named in the said Will, was granted to Richard Brookbanks, the son and one of the residuary legatees named in the said Will, having been first sworn duly to administer.  The said Executor died Intestate.

 

CENSUS

 

1841 not found at any known address in London (Earl St Kensington, Elizabeth Terrace,  King St St Giles).  An 1841 index was searched extensively and found two possible entries only:

1841 New Rd Stourbridge WOR HO107/1198 Bk12 dist 5 f15

 

Christopher BROOKBANKS  71 1770 ind          y

Ann         BROOKBANKS  40 1801 ind          n

Richard     BROOKBANKS  70 1771 ind          y

Elizabeth   BROOKBANKS  15 1826 ind          n

/  

Martha      GROVESNOR   30 1811 ind          y

Ellen       JEFFRIES    13 1828 FS           y

 

Richard-5 was born in 1770 and in the county of Worcester; as a former successful baker, he could be of independent means.  Moreover it seems likely that Christopher in the above census was Richard’s elder brother (known to their parents and baptised as Caster – see Christopher-6).  15 year old Elizabeth could well be Richard’s granddaughter born in London in 1825 (see Christopher-4).  It is concluded that Richard-5 was indeed visiting his brother in Stourbridge with his granddaughter at the time of the 1841 census

1841 Lourday St, West Bromwich, Staffs  HO107 977/5 dist 4 p7

Richd BROOKBANKS  75 1766 lab  N

Richard was on his own between Joseph WARWICK and family, wheelwright, and Rich KEENING and wife Jane, independent.  It seems very unlikely that a baker from London would be here as a labourer

 

1851 25 Earl St, Kensington, Parish of St Barnaby    HO7/1468 f406

 

Elizabeth  HALL        he wid 42  1809    monthly nurse                                   St Giles

John       HALL        so unm 21  1830    lab                                             Southwark St Georges

Isabella   HALL        da unm 14  1837    scholar                                         Lambeth MDX

Richard    BROOKBANKS  fa wdr 81  1770    retired baker                                   Penduck WOR

 

Elizabeth HALL was Richard’s daughter

 

OTHER

 

census 1841 King St, South St Giles, (1st house after Castle St) HO107/673 Book2 f12

 

    John       TURNER             40  1800    baker     n

 

      [this is Richard BROOKBANKS’ bakers shop]

 

List of Immigrants seeking American citizenship in Philadelphia Courts; New York public library R-APK 82-1747 vo

 

Wm BROOKBANKS gas fitter, 5 Beck's Court Philadelphia, from Gt Britain; 31Oct1842 declaration of intention;  31Oct1844 oath of allegiance

Philadelphia Trade Directory seen in New York public library

 

    1842 BROOKBANK  & LEWRY, gasfitters, below 3d Willow St

    1844 BROOKBANKS & LEWRY, Plain & Ornamental Gas Fitters and Candelabra Manufacturers; one door below 3d Willow St

 

    William BROOKBANKS not found in Philadelphia census of about 1850

 

 

ASBURY FAMILY

 

From her gravestone, Eleanor ASBURY was born about 1767, but no baptism has yet been found (not in IGI or VRI).  The surname ASBURY is common around Worcester/Shropshire/Lancashire, but is relatively uncommon in London and the home counties.  It is possible therefore, that Eleanor knew Richard in his home town of Pendock and followed him to London.  Registers of Pendock and nearby parishes have not yet been searched for the ASBURY name.

 

 

 

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