Wittersham PR's - Richard Sims & Jane Brann

[Rob - Leicester]

Hello All

Way back in 2008 when I first started my family history research I was amazed to find a lot of background information about the Sims and Brann families online. My g-g-grandmother was Mary Sims, daughter of Richard Sims and Jane Brann of Wittersham. I have verified this far back myself.

I have recently been going through all of my family research and have found a gap in my 'evidence'! I cannot find baptism evidence for Mary's parents. I originally confirmed the online information that I had found using by the IGI (Yes - I know I should always verify this!). I do have census information for the family and both of Mary's parents say they are from Wittersham.  But now I cannot find the baptism for either parent.

I am hoping to confirm the following :-

Richard Sims - baptised 7 Nov 1813, Wittersham, Kent. Parents John Sims and Elizabeth (nee Benbrigg?).
Jane Brann - baptised 16 May 1815, Wittersham, Kent. Parents Thomas Brann and Ann (nee Wilson?).

Hopefully it is correct - otherwise I might have to do some serious pruning!

Many Thanks

Rob Grant (Leicester)

[Dyingout]

Ancestry has this one
Name:   Jane Brann
Gender:   Female
Baptism Date:   16 May 1815
Baptism Place:   Wittersham, Kent, England
Father:   Thomas Brann
Mother:   Ann Brann
FHL Film Number:   1835873

[redtonyt]

Family Search has transcribed the following baptism, at Wittersham,

1813 Nov 7 Richard Simel s/o John and Elizabeth

Date is what you have, the only thing wrong is the surname!

Tony 

[BettyofKent]

Hi Rob

I have a tree with this family in, (we are ancestral neighbours & possibly distantly related  ) & also a CD of Wittersham PRs.

The baptisms you have show the correct dates.

A Thomas BRANN married Ann WILSON in Wittersham 3rd April 1804.

I also have a note to say there could possibly be two couples with the names Thomas & Ann Brann, as I found a christening for a John BRANN, parents Thomas & Ann, 23rd Jun 1822, in the Weslyan Chapel, Rye, Sussex.

My grtx2 grandparents had their children christened in the Weslyan Chapel Rye, although they were all born in Wittersham, so not that odd for a Wittersham family to 'cross the border'


Betty

[Rob - Leicester]

Hi Dyingout, Tony & Betty

Many thanks for that - that's what I call a joint effort - I feel a lot happier now - no pruning needed!

First I did a search in FamilySearch for 'Sims' and Film Number 1835873 supplied by Dyingout - there are a lot (Including 'my' Mary)... but NOT Richard.

Then I did the same search for Tony's 'Simel' instead of 'Sims' and bingo - just one result for Richard!

(I also repeated it for 'Brann' and got nearly 200 records!)

And of course Betty has the Wittersham PR's and verified that the dates are correct.

I visited Appledore, Wittersham and Rye a few years ago. I really felt at home there. Mary Sims from Wittersham married Samuel Green from Rye so yes they often moved back and forth...

There's a baptism for Henry Brann at Wittersham 16 June 1822 with parents Thomas & Ann so the Rye couple are almost certainly not the same ones as the Wittersham couple.
 
I really appreciate your help - I shall carry on verifying it all bit by bit. There has been so much new information put onto the Internet in the last few years I'm finding lots of new things!

Thanks once again.

Rob

[Rob - Leicester]

For some reason there's no 'Modify' button with these posts so I've had to reply to myself so I can add 'COMPLETED'! - Sorry!