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Hi Rosie,
Yes she did marry as Elizabeth Turner (1858 Victoria) and identifies as Elizabeth Turner on the birth records for several of their children. I've no reason to think she could have taken an alias, but as she would have been travelling as a sixteen year old girl with a 40 year man ( as a wife or daughter) it seems quite possible.
I've not been able to trace any travel records for their trip to Australia. Hugh Junor Browne was already fully established in the Melborne area, and had travelled widely, soi don't think he would have chosen to travel incognito.
Your suggestion of Brista was right and I can now find it on Family Search for 1851, but not on subsequent censuses. Not sure why Ancestry lists them as Brisla. I will have to hunt around to see if I can find any birth records for Elizabeth Brista or her Dad John, who was apparently born in Wheldrake Yorkshire 1817.
How intriguing
Thanks again
Drinks

I am trying to trace Elizabeth Turner’s parents and birth details to expand this interesting branch of the family. Any help or pointers would be great.
Allegedly: Elizabeth, aged 16, the daughter of a ‘respectable Devon Clergyman’ eloped with Hugh Junor Broune (Browne) and fled to Victoria Australia where they married in 1858 And founded a bit of a dynasty with 6 sons and 5 daughters.  Hugh J Browne was the son of a Presbyterian minister (b 1829 Edinburgh) and 23 years Elizabeth’s senior. Having farmed cattle in Natal and prospected for gold in Australia, Browne returned to Britain and seduced young Elizabeth And whisked her off to Oz.

In 1891 Hugh and Elizabeth Browne, along with several daughters are found lodging in St Pancras, London, and during their trip they manage to marry off 2 daughters (success!). In the 1891 census, Elizabeth is recorded as having been born in Dieppe France in 1942. This is the only clue I have of her origins.
Ancestry offers a hint here from the 1851 census:  Elizabeth Brisla, b 1841 Diappre France, parents John and Ann Brisla, residence Exeter St Paul’s, Devon.  This seemed like a link, but I cannot cross reference this Census record anywhere. I suspect the name is a transcription error as ‘Brisla’ does not appear as a surname anywhere.
Whites directory of Devon and Exeter (1850?) does have a reverend John Fisher Turner in Exeter as a potential Father, but he is well documented and had no child called Elizabeth. I’ve had to rule him out.

Fascinating Family the Browne’s, including spiritualism, death by sharks, and the first elected Australian prime minister. But so little info on Elizabeth Turner (Brisla?) and her forebears.

Can anyone help?
Cheers
Drinks

Hi Woodentop,
Oxfordshire was a real hotbed of Drinkwater’s, particularly in the 1800s when the families were really big. My Branch of the family can be traced backwards from Standlake to Brize Norton and then to Bampton, but that’s as far as I can confidently go. I have noticed a cluster of Drinkwater’s in Islip but can’t find a link with the Brize Norton bunch. Do let me know if you find the link.
Cheers
Drinks

Hello Lincolnshire,

In tracing my mother’s paternal lineage, I have arrived in Belton in Axholme (nearEpworth) in the mid 1600s. Several generations of Platts were christened in Belton, though it seems they preferred to get married in Amcotts. I have posted an enquiry on the Lincolnshire general board but have had no leads. I believe that a couple of specific look-up requests might help me sort out the Platts from the earlier part of the 1600s into family groups. Here goes:

From FamilySearch
Robert Platts marries Anne Heines in Amcotts 17Nov 1606
Is there any indication in the marriage record of Robert’s age, residence, status or fathers name?

Robert Platts marries Elizabeth Woorrall in Amcotts 29 Aug 1627
Again, age, residence, status (bachelor or widower) and fathers name could help establish whether this is the same Robert who remarries or 2 different Roberts!

Possible children from marriage 1 could be; Robert b 23 Sep 1614 and George b12Nov 1615 dies 1618. Their fathers are given as Robert but no mother/wife recorded.

Possible children from marriage 2 could be: George b13 Jul 1628; Edmond b20 Feb 1630; Charles b30 Mar 1634; John b21 May 1637 and Elizabeth b13Sep 1640. All have the Father as Robert, while John and Elizabeth have the mothers named as Elizabeth.

I’ll be really grateful for any help with the marriage details and invite anyone to speculate on how many Robert Platts there might be in Belton during the period 1600-1650!
Many thanks
Drinks