Here we go folks with an update on what I've managed to find (thought you all might like to know as this as caught all our imaginations!)
Two songs sprung from this event- "God save Ireland"- which you can actually listen to on the following link-
www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/troubles/music/trad-shtml and "Smashing of the van" (Manchester version no less! You can see the lyrics at
http://celtic-lyrics.com/lyrics/579 (apparently Chumbawumba did a cover of it on their "Rebel Songs" Album!!!
I found another copy of Kens print at -www.movinghere.org.uk/search/catalogue.asp?sequence=10&resourcetypeID=2&recordID=57515 (you can blow it up to A4 & yes we have!)
From the articles in the Times newspaper that Prue has very kindly been sending me & which I've now managed to access there is the following description:-
" When the van left the city it had to proceed over Ardwick Green & along Hyde Road, a fine open street leading to the gaol & nearly a mile in length.........
The van had proceeded about a half a mile up this road when, on passing under the viaduct which carries the London & North Western Railway across,with an open field on the right, a volley of shots were fired at it"
An open field around there? Must've been a long time ago!!!!!
I had a look on the 1901 census for a Hannah Kempster (obviously not the one we are looking for but...could be her mum) living at 15 Benson Street, GORTON (which is where some of his family are from) Hannah Kempster age 3- that search will continue............
I also worked my way back last night & found that Charles father (William Brett- name kindly provided by Ken from his cemetary crawl!) also had two other sons James christened 14 Dec 1817 in Macclesfield & William ch. 19 Sept 1819 also in Macc- both at Christ church & Ellen born circa 1830 on the 1861 census with both her parents still in Macclesfield. Pleased to say that William's occupation was a (mad!) hatter & I've always said that Tony is as mad as a hatter!!!
Now I'm presuming that there must be a number of other little Bretts between William born 1819 & Ellen (1830) but can't find any so maybe she was somewhat of a (happy?) accident!
At this point I'll just say that the fact that we are all in Scotland is of no relevance as we all came up here 3+ years ago- Tony's a Manc, hubby Andi is a Manc & me a good old Yorkshire lass (Tonys' family backwards,forwards & sideways have always been based in the manchester area).
What I do know is that Charles junior joined the Grenadier Guards & was based in Windsor in 1871 census- after that I can't trace him so he could have popped his clogs or have been based abroard with the guards?
I guess I'd better check the pennies & have a look at 1837- for now I'll away but before I go can I just ask is anyone else just the teensiest,weensiest bit jealous- I mean a rellie with 2 songs, numerous newspaper articles, discussed in parliament & even an engraving of the minutes before his death!!!??? noone did that for my molecatcher, N. Yorks in 1851!!!