11/2/2002
Dear Mr Brind, I got your address from the Guild of One Name Studies as I am researching my own family history. I am trying to fnd out as much as I can about my grandfather who is known as John Henry Brind
John was born on 6/5/1887 and died on 2/11/1952. He is buried in Longcot churchyard Oxfordshire. As far as I know he had one daughter called Elsie Margaret Brind (My note: she does not seem to have been registered under this name. Perhaps she was registered as a Gray). She was born on 10/9/1918 at 23 Elm Street, Stratton, Swindon. Elsie is my mother having married my dad at Longcot on 14/8/1937.
Elsie's mother was Clara Miranda Gray (born 14/8/1871 died 4/7/1935) and my mother was born before John and Clara were married which was a source of scandal in our family for a very long time and was not to be discussed and never was.
John Brind worked on the GWR, firstly in Worcester and later in Swindon but I'm not sure about that.
About 1923 John and Clara moved with all the family (Elsie has a total of 12 step brothers and step sisters, although some had died very young) to Longcot, Berks, Oxon. I think he moved into Primrose Cottage, Mallins Lane, which at the time was part of Kings Lane. At the time of his death he was living with a Millie burgess whose son Douglas and his children still live there.
Don Stevenson
Can't find a John Henry but there was a Henry John Brind who died in 1952 (death certificate registered 4th quarter 1952, aged 65 probably born 1887). He left a will, the index for which is as follows:
Brind Henry John of Kings-lane Longcot Faringdon Berks died 2 November 1952 at Victoria Hospital Swindon Wiltshire probate Winchester 28 November to Annie Amelia Brind widow effects £436 18s 1d/ Administration number 17195 or 17196 Annie Amelia Brind of Kings Lane aforesaid widow the relict of deceased the sole executrix named in the said will.
There was a Henry John whose birth was registered in the second quarter of 1887
More I can not tell you. I suggest you buy a copy of his birth certificate from the family history centre in Islington (I think they charge about £6, its a long t ime since I bought one). I'd be very grateful if you could send me a copy. 1887 is not really very long ago (in family history terms). You have to get back a bit further to give me a chance to find some connections. Take it back a generation (with the birth certificate) and I'm much more likely to come up with some useful information.
Jonathan Brind
Hi, Thankyou for the information. I got the christian names back to front but it is the same person. Interestingly you mention a widow Annie Amelia. I've not heard her mentioned but i get the impression that he had a colourful life with the ladies but i could be wrong. I am going to Swindon library tomorrow before the Swindon v Reading Football game which i am attending to find out if they have any details on G.W.R. employees.
Have you any information on Annie Amelia Brind , Henry's widow like any children? Any marriage dates to Annie or possibly Clara Miranda on your files. ?
My reply:
Quite a few possible marriages:
Manchester 8d 525 second quarter of 1941 to a Ms Berridge
Swindon 5a 68 third quarter of 1923 to a Ms Gray
Woolwich 1d 2378 fourth quarter of 1918 to a Ms Partidge
Monmouth 11a 79 third quarter of 1908 (in those days the index did not list women's surnames). It would probably be worth buying all four certificates, if you think he had a colourful romantic life. If you do can you send me photocopies.
Annie seems to have died in the first quarter of 1965 at the age of 72 (ie she was born in about 1893) in Wantage. She was still calling herself Brind so had not re-married or reverted to her original surname, always assuming I've got the right Annie A Brind.
I might be able to find children (if there were any) if I had Annie A's maiden surname which you could find on the wedding certificate.
I have two Clara M deaths on my records: Bristol second quarter of 1935 aged 38 (so born in 1897?) and Faringdon third quarter of 1935 aged 63 (born 1872?). I can not find any Clara M marriages.
Jonathan