JACK SAUNDERS

DATE: July 1984

SURREY

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                               

 

Newsletter No.1

                                                                                             

 

EDITORIAL

 

This first issue of the Newsletter of the Briginshaw One-Name Study will, I hope, be the forerunner of very many more to come and that it will keep family members up-dated with their family history as joint research progresses.

 

I cannot do better, by way of introduction, than reprint an article I wrote in 1981 and which appeared in the August issue of the journal of the East Surrey Family History Society that year for this set out clearly how some

of us became involved in the research of this family name:

 

 

Kindness Rewarded

 

                                                                                             

by Jack Saunders

 

 

Prompted by Hilda Dixon's incredible story -'Coincidence and Family History' recounted in the last issue of the Journal, and at the risk of boring Members with yet another story of almost unbelievable chance, I set out on these pages a story that has taken me half way round the world, linked relatives that descend through five or six generations and added countless names andconnections to my family tree in a sequence of events that even now I find hard to believe cold have happened.

 

                                          

I tell this story because it is a story that most be told but aIso I tell it in the hope that it may be an encourage ment, not only to beginners, but to these who have, perhaps, waited a long time for a breakthrough or seem to have come to a deadend for this story did not happen overnight. If patience be a virtue the it has been richly rewarded in this case.

 

For me it all started with the kindness of a lady back  in August 1978. Jane Jones of Bray in Berkshire had just joined our Society, was putting the finishing touches to her transcript of Bray Parish Registers, and seeing that I had research interests in the area, wrote offering to help me.  I must be ever grateful to her for writing that kind letter.  Little did either or us know how far reaching were to be the consequences.I had only been a member myself for just over year but had already carried out considerable research in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire during that year and this had taken me back to my great great great grandparents in my direct line - Richrd Saunders (born c 1157) and his wife Mary.  They had lived in Maidenhead in the parish of Cookham but Mary's maiden name and when and where they had wed eluded me and I seemed to have come to a deadend

 

I replied to June's letter with a three foolscap page epistle detailing my many connections with the area. She thought it of sufficient interest to pass it to a local historian John Brooks who had started work on his Berkshire Marriage Index. He then wrote to me and gave me some useful information including a 'gem' from a private book kept by the Vicar of Cookham at the

beginning of the 19th Century.  Not all his references to his parishioners were flattering But against the name of my great great grandafther (also Richard) were just six little words but how important they were to be - 'Nephew to Farmer Briginshaw of Taplow'.  They took me across the Thames to Buckinghamshire and to Taplow new Churchyard where I found a number of M/I's to the Briginshaw family and the address of a farm 'Amerden Bank' which I was able to visit and photograph.

 

I was at this time preparing the script and taking many photographs in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire for a tape / slide presentation on my family history which some members will remember I showed to our Society's monthly meeting in March 1979.  Searches in the Parish Registers of Taplow and surrounding parishes finally gave me, at Beaconsfield, the marriage I had been looking for -

 

Richard Sounders, Master Grocer Maidenhead, and Mary Briginshaw of Taplow on 21. 10. 1777 by licence. Buckinghamshire CRO produced the marriage licence and allegation and the Parish registers of Taplow & Bray together with a number of wills gave me many members of the family and its co-laterals, the names and location of half a dozen farms and houses and the parents of Mary – John and Mary Briginshaw and I was back to two of my great great great great grandparents.

 

Noticing in Taplow a connection with a family of Norringtons I mentioned this to our fellow members John and Jeanette Norrington an d further  research by them in Taplow. found many family connections and the burial place of my Mary in Taplow. old Churchyard amongst the resting place of the early Briginshaws - 'In Memory of Mrs Mary Saunders of Maidenhead who died August 10th 1831 aged 75 years’.  She had come home to her final

resting place with her family in that most beautiful spot beside Taplow Court.

 

Jane Jones subsequently provided endless family entries from Bray registers to add to those I had extracted from Cookham and Taplow and I was able to build up an extensive pedigree.

 

At this time I had entered into correspondance with another member, Anne Mee of Chrischurch, New Zealand and carried out a small amount of research for her. She will be mentioned again later in this story.

 

Time passed and then in June 1980 I attended the annual general meeting of the Society of Genealogists.  After the business of the meeting many of us formed little groups, met old friends and discussed family history matters over a glass of wine.  At one stage I was talking, in company with our Treasurer, Jean Tooke, to Barbara Bassil, Secretary of Windsor, Slough & District Family History Society and Jean suggested to her that as I had so many connections with the area covered by her society I should show my tape/slide presentation to their members.  This was subsequently arranged for ten months ahead, at the end of April this year.

                               

On the appointed day I arrived at Slough and presented my tape/slide programme.  Half way through this a little muffled cry of surprise came from a lady in my audience and at the end when we came to question time I was astounded when this lady,  Georgina Baker of Maidenhead, and who has a special interest in Taplow and its history, produced a file with many notes, extracts from registersand pedegrees of the Briginshaw family wich correesponded with those I had just shown on the screen!  No wonder that little cry of surprise came out of the dark!

 

 

Subsequently I learnt that Georgina had replied in July 1980 to a request which had appeared in the Maidenhead Advertiser for information and help in tracing the Taplow ancestors of Jennifer Langford of Chrischurch, New Zealand, who had written to them.  A pen-friendship ensued and Georgina carried out considerable research for her.  Here was another act of kindness taking place within a mile or two of that first one which were to be inextricably linked.

 

Yes!  Jenny is also descended from John and Mary Briginshaw and we are fifth cousins.  Small world indeed!

 

                                               


I immediately wrote to Jenny, who has been carrying out research for longer than I, and you can imagine her surprise was not less than mine had been.  A long and interesting exchange of information and family news has commenced and we look forward to meeting one day.

 

This story is not finished even now for Jenny just had to know Anne Mee and sure enough they had met several times, Jenny being a member of the Chrischurch Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists of which Anne is past President!  Already we know of Briginshaws in Australia, Tasmania and Jersey.  Many more relationships and connections are in the offing both in England and New Zealand and only this week the telephone rang to reveal another New Zealand cousin on holiday in England and we have already met, Whilst Georgina on avisit to her sister in Vancouver telephoned the only Briginshaw in the local directory and sure enough another branch of the family has been added to swell the number of descendants of John & Mary Briginshaw which already number several hundreds.

 

It would be interesting to know the odds against this story every being written.

 

This story has not included all the links in the chain which holds it together and without which it mighthave broken, I turn cold when I think - ;’If Jane had never written to me …….’,  ‘If I had not attended that AGM …….’,  ‘If Jenny had not written to the Advertiser….’,  ‘If Georgina had not attended that April               meeting …….’,

 

One finds that genealogical research is paved with good deeds and little kindnesses but rarely can two have had such far reaching consequences.

 

Of course much water has flowed under the bridge since this was written and a family history built up which is beyond the wildest dreams of those early days.  Others already carrying out research or interested were 'discovered' and have added their contributions.  This year Jenny made that long anticipated visit to England and many happy hours were spent in furter research, visits to nacestoral homes and meetings with family members included a Briginshaw ‘get-together’ at Cheam in May

 

THE EARLY BRIGINSHAWS  -  Insert excel sheet:  Letter 1 Chart 1

 

LATEST INFORMATION

 

The most exciting recent ‘find’ was the entries in a Family Bible in the possession of Alice Welsford (nee Briginshaw) and a great, great, great gandaughter of Richard and Millicent (nee Jefferies) which gave us the long sought after date and place of John of Taplow’s birth – 11.7.1706 at Halton, Bucks.  This was followed up by Jenny Langford and Georgina Baker when the Halton ParishRegisters were examined by them at Buckinghamshire Record Office at Aylesbury.  These confirmed the baptism – ‘John ye son of Wm and Sarah Briginshaw was baptisedJuly 13 1707’.  Also found was the baptism of a sister ‘Sarah ye daughter of Wm and Sarah Briginshawwas bapt on ye 16th of June 1704 – Day Labourer’.  There is a year’s difference between the bible and the register but if John was 90 when he died, as was stated at Taplow in 1797, the 1707 would be correct.  The hunt is now on for the marriage of William and Sarah.  It would appear that this did not take place at Halton nor is there anything to indicate if Sarah and John were the first or subsequent issues of this union.  The only other entry at Halton which might be relevant was the recording of a burial there of a Willisam on 18th of October with Affid entered October 22nd 1729.  This may or may not be our William.

 

I have put in a request to the Buckinghamshire Marriage Index.  This index is not complete and this particular marriage has not yet appeared but I am hopeful that it will turn up as work progresses.  We do not, of course, know that the marriage took place in Buckinghamshire and the search may have to be extended to neighbouring counties.  I have also entered a ‘Request for Information' in the journals of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and East Surrey Family History Societies.   As a preliminary to many other sources that can be searched I have started to look at Phillimore's printed marriage indexes.  Of course not all parishes are covered by these indexes but it seemed sensible to consult this easy source before progressing to less readily available ones.  So far I have searched 44 parishes in Buckinghamshire in these indexes plus some in the Challen Parish Register Transcripts but without success.  There are many more to do.

 

A recent examination by me of the up-dated I G I (International Genealogical Index) for London shows the following new entries:

 

1.     Richard Briginshaw married Millicent Jefferies 1.2-1787 at St Andrew by the Wardrobe

          Queen Victoria Street City of London

 

2    Kate Briginshaw married Horace Rainbow 20.5-1872 at St Pauls, Stepney

 

3.     John Briginshaw married Ellen Rumball  8.1-1842  at All Souls, Marylebone

 

4.     Georgina Bx!iginshaw married William Hobbs  22.11.1826  at St Anns, . Soho

 

5.     Georgina Briginshaw married James Booth 22.11.1864 at St Pancras Old Church

 

6.     Annie Maria Briginshaw married William Lewis Rumball 22.5-1866at St Pauls, Stepney

 

7.     Elizabeth Ann Briginshaw married James Badcock 16-3.1840 at St Martins-in-the-Field

 

8.     Elizabeth Brigengshaw daughter of Thomas and Hannah baptised  2.6.1762 at

      Sunbury on Thames

 

          9.   John Briginshaw son of Thomas and Hannah baptised 25.4-1759 Sunbury

 

          10. Mary Briginshaw daughter of Thomas and Hannah baptised 4.7-1756 Sunbury.

 

          11. William Briginshaw son of Thomas and Ann was baptised 8.4-1753  Sunbury

 

Note:      Most of the above events are known to those of us who have been carrying out research but they do give details not hitherto recorded and for the benefit of those whose knowledge is perhaps more limited I will deal with each in turn

 

1.             This is the most useful entry giving us the maiden name of Millicent and the date and place of marriage.  Here was another Briginshaw/Jefferies marriage and in a rather unexpected place.  One wonders what was the relationship, if any, between Mary and Millicent.  The 1787 marriage perhaps of first cousins?  One must also wonder where the Sarah Jefferies who died in 1816 aged 79 of Islington and who lies buried in Taplow Old Churchyard a few feet from the Briginshaws fits in.  Is this marriage and Islington leading us into London for the origin of the Jefferies?

 

2.             This gives us the Christian name of Rainbow, exact date and parish of marriage.  Kate was the daughter of Richard Badcock Briginshaw who in turn was a grandson of Richard and Millicent

 

3.             This gives us the maiden name of Ellen, exact date and parish of marriage.  John was a grandson of John and Eleanor (nee Neighbour)

 

4              This gives us the Christian name of Hobbs, exact date and parish of marriage.    Georgina was a daughter of John and Eleanor (nee Neighbour)

 

5·             This gives us names of groom, exact date and parish of marriage.  Georgina was a grandaughter of John and Eleanor (nee Neighbour)

 

6.             Anna Maria was the daughter of Thomas, a grandaughter of John and Eleanor (nee Neighbour) and first cousin of John who married Ellen Rumball 24 years before.

 

7.             Elizabeth Ann is not positively identified but the name Badcock must have some connection with the naming of Richard Badcock Briginshaw who was son of John Warren and grandson of Richard and Millicent.

 

8/ 9/

10//11     Not positively identified beyond the fact that they were the children of Thomas Briginshaw who died in 1763

                at Sunbury and a copy of whose PCC Will I have wherein he is described as a carpenter, leaves everything to

                his wife Hannah and makes her sole executrix.  This family may turn out to belong to a branch of the spelling

                Brigginshaw

 

      Other exciting entries in Alice's Family Bible were those for  the name Jefferies and variants.      

      These showed:

 

1.                    Mary Jeffries was born Aug 29th 1719.  Died Oct 3rd 1809 - wife of the above John Briginshaw

                       (This appeared under the entry for John Briginshaw born 1706)

 

2.               Jane Jeffries dau of Richard Jeffries w'as born April 5th 1718

 

 

Pasted in the back of the Bible is a rather curious printed list which reads as follows:

 

Thomas Jefferrey, son of John Jefferrey, bapt Sept 13th 1619.

(Taken from the Register of Chafron, at Peter Chafron.)

 

Eliza Hentn, his wife, dau of Arthur Hentn, born Jan 25, 1608

 

William Jefferrey, son of Thomas Jefferrey, Baptized April 19

 

Jane Bert, the Daughter of Francis Bert, Baptized September 27

 

William Jefferrey, Son of William Jefferrey, born March 7, and Baptized April 1 1680

 

Thomas Jefferrey, Son of William Jefferrey, Born April 8 and Baptized May 6 168(?)

 

Elizabeth Jefferrey, Daughter of William Jefferrey, Born Jan 17 and Baptized Jan 27 1682

 

                          Mary Jefferrey, Daughter of William Jefferrey, Born March 11 1682-3 and Baptized April 9 1683

 

John Jefferrey, Son of William Jefferrey, Born Sept 20 and Baptized October 12 1685

                         

                          Richard Jefferrey, Son of William Jefferrey, Born December 30 and Baptized January 22 1687-8

 

                          Francis Jefferrey, Son of William Jefferrey, Born January 31 and Baptized February 7 1690

 

                          James Jefferrey, Son of.William Jefferrey, Born January 4 and Baptized January 7 1692-3

 

                          Jane Jefferrey, Daughter of William Jefferrey, Born August 10 and Baptized September 15 1694               

 

                          Hannah Jefferrey, Daughter of William Jefferrey, Born November 2 and Bantized November 24 1696

 

                          James Jefferrey, Son of William Jefferrey, Born November 29 and Baptized December 12 1698

 

                          Joseph Jefferrey, Son of William Jefferrey, Born November 12 and Baptized

                          December 29 1700

 

                          Abraham Jefferrey, Son of William Jefferrey, Born May 31 1703

 

                          Sarah Jefferrey, Daughter of William Jefferrey, Born May 31 1703 both at a Birth

 

                          Abraham Jefferrey, Son of William Jefferrey, Born December 8 and Baptized

                          October 1 1705

 

                          Ann Jefferrey, Daughter of William Jefferrey, Born November 19 and Baptized November 21 1707

 

                          Ruth Jefferrey, Daughter of William Jefferrey, Born October 29 and Baptized

                          November 22 1710

 

                          Jefferrey, Wife of Francis Jefferrey, died Sept 1738

 

Quite a family!  But perhaps not all by the same mother.  The 'Chafron, at Peter Chafron' would have seemed likely to have been Chalfont St Peter (this spelling appears in an old map) but none of the later entries appear in the register for that parish.  It is of course possible that the reference to Chafron applies only to the first entry.  Also listed in the bible were the birth dates of the seven children of John and Mary Briginshaw which correspond with information that we already have of their baptism at Taplow.

 

JOHN BRIGINSHAW 1817-1902

 

In this first Newsletter and in accordance with my promise to produce selected articles on individuals and branches I decided to start with John whose decent is as follows:

 

                                                                Richard               =       Millicent

                                                                Briginshaw                  Jefferies

                                                                b 15.8-1752

                                                                bp 23.9-1752

                                                                Taplow

                                                                m 1.2-1787

                                                                St Andrew by

                                                                the Wardrobe

                                                                Queen Victoria

                                                                Street

                                                                Bur  4.5.1824

                                                                Taplow

 


                                                                John Warren          =     Martha

                                                                bp 17.12.1789

                                                                W. Wycombe                b

                                                                m                                  

                                                                                                        d 1856

                                                                d 1857                             Wokingham

                                                                Wokingham

 


                                                                John                       =   Hannah

                                                                bp 6.4.1817                     Dangerfield

                                                                Saunderton                    b 1817

                                                                in 23.4.1849

                                                                Kings Langley              d 1858

                                                                d  17.3.1902                  Wycombe

                                                                Maidenhead

 

Before coming to John we will take a quick look at his father and grandfather , and it will be a quick look, for little is really known of either.  Richard, we do know, was born on 15.8.1752, eldest son of John and Mary.