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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Toni Bracher on Saturday 25 June 16 16:21 BST (UK)
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I recently did a course in Convict Ancestry and had to choose a convict to research.
I chose Mary BRACHER (nee Stone) of Stourton, Wiltshire, convicted of Larceny 17th July 1806 and was transported to New South Wales. I don't know if she will turn out to be related to our line of Bracher's at some stage but I have found quite a few records and of course have saved them for the study I did for the course.
She actually ended up remarrying in New South Wales, Australia in 1830 at the age of 60 to a younger man Thomas Porter (also a convict who was transported for Life) and it is quite a story.
From what I have learned so far she was married to George Bracher and she and George and their daughter Martha appeared in Wiltshire Q Sessions charged with Larceny. George & Mary were discharged by bill but Mary was transported for 7 years. She had a large family and her youngest was only about 5 when she was charged and sent to goal.
I became quite involved with this - I cannot imagine how awful it must have been as a mother to be sent off half way round the world and never see your children again.
So I would love to know more about her family in England - What exactly did she actually do to be charged with larceny - Is anyone able to find out? Did they communicate with Mary by letter somehow back in those days? Probably wasn't possible.
If anyone would like to know what happened after she was transported to Australia - she left on a mainly female convict ship "Sydney Cove" on 11 Jan 1807 and arrived June 1807. I have quite a few records that I have saved during my study - please contact me - I would be happy to share these and my story freely with anyone researching this particular Mary Bracher.
Regards :)
Toni Bracher (I live in Australia) - my Bracher Family ancestors so far come from the London area - Spitalfields.
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Hello & welcome
You probably have all of this but I'll put it up anyway for others who take a look.
Married in Stourton at St. Peter's on June 4th.1781.Both OTP the witnesses being Robert Bracher & Robert Tabor.They had the following children Christened there:
Laetitia Bracher 8 July 1781 m Joseph Dommett 1805 Stourton.
Fannetta Bracher 21 November 1785
Clarissa Bracher 15 July 1788
Stephen Bracher 29 August 1790
John Bracher 29 August 1790
Sophia Bracher 9 June 1794
Willm Bracher 26 February 1797
James Bracher 27 September 1801
So do you want to know what became of them & George or are you looking for Mary's parents?
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Hello,
It is very nice to have a reply already :)
Because I was drawn right in with this one - finding a convict with the same family name and transported in 1807, not long after it all started. I would like to know what became of her husband George and her family. She most likely was a grandmother but she wouldn't have had the opportunity to see her grandchildren. I also wonder what George's occupation was and I am a bit unsure of Mary Stone's actual birth date.
I would like to try to clarify the family members and your information was so helpful. Do you know if there was also a baby called Clarissa christened 1788 ? I found this little one had parents George Bracher and Mary (but some times there could be more that one couple named George and Mary. The time line of having children every 2-3 years in those days - (and still today) fitted.
Are you aware of where I could look to find a transcript the trial from the Wiltshire Q Sessions? (Like the Old Bailey trials which has each trial transcripted - which has been very meaningful with researching the convict history of some of my ancestors.
Once again, thank you for your help and perhaps we will communicate again.
Regards
Toni Bracher
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Possible connection
another marriage in Stourton - 3 years after Mary Stone - is this a sister of Mary ?
Name Robert Bird
Spouse's Name Martha Stone
Event Date 20 Apr 1784
Event Place Stourton, Wiltshire, England
IF - and it is a big IF Mary and Martha are related I have scoured the area and Mary Stone births - a possible 6 - but this one looks a possible because of the names of Marthas children - NOT Marys children - so it is just a stab in the dark
Name Mary Stone
Gender Female
Christening Date 08 Apr 1759
Christening Place SAINT MARY,WILTON BY SALISBURY,WILTSHIRE,ENGLAND
Father's Name Christopher Stone
Mother's Name Eleanor
maybe another member can either find the same Mary /Martha and come up with the same - or - tell us they are NOT Marys parents and that is the wrong Mary ....fingers crossed
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See http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/forum/topic12419.html :
"Mary appears in several of the censuses, as Bracher, Bratcher and Bradshaw. These early censuses were essentially musters of the population for victualling purposes. How many people does the fledgling colony need to feed?
The Biographical Database of Australia (BDA) has attempted to bring together the various records of disparate spellings. To get the full details a subscription is needed - cost $30 per year, but will try and copy details below. URL is: http://www.bda-online.org.au/
1807 Jun
Mary Bracher ([variant] Mary Bracker), Convicted: Quarter Sessions 17 Jul 1806 Wiltshire [WIL ENG] 7 years; Transported per Sydney Cove, Arrived 18 Jun 1807 Sydney [NSW AUS]
1811 Feb
Census &c: NSW General Muster 1811 (SRNSW copy)
Mary Bradshaw; Convicted: Jly 1806 Warminster [WIL ENG] 7 years; Arrived per Sydney Cove, Status: Convict; Occupation/Residence &c, NSW [NSW AUS]
1814 Oct Census &c: NSW General Muster 1814
Mary Bratcher; Arrived per Sydney Cove, Status: F (Free); Occupation/Residence &c: Householder, Mustered at Windsor [NSW AUS]; Victualling: Off Stores
1822 Sep Census &c: NSW General Muster 1822
Mary Bradshaw; 7 years; Arrived per Sydney Cove, Status: FBS (Free by Servitude); Occupation/Residence &c, Windsor [NSW AUS]; Additional Information: Widow
1825 Sep Census &c: NSW General Muster 1823/4/5
Mary Bradshaw; 7 years; Arrived per Sydney Cove 1807, Status: FS (Free by Servitude); Occupation/Residence &c: Widow, Windsor [NSW AUS]
1828 Nov Census &c: NSW Census 1828
Mary Bradshaw, Age: 61, Protestant, Arrived per Sydney Cove, 7 years, Free by Servitude; Housekeeper; Householder; Household Return district: Windsor [NSW AUS]
1828 Nov
Thomas Porter, Age: 42, Protestant, Arrived per Admiral Gambier 1808, Life; Tailor; lives at Mary Bradshaw; Household Return district: Windsor [NSW AUS]"
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What exactly did she actually do to be charged with larceny
FindMyPast has some indexes. I dont have access and im not even sure how much info would be recorded. Maybe someone who has access could have a little peak.
BRACHER Mary — — 1806 Wiltshire Quarter Session Calendars
BRACHER Mary — — 1806 Wiltshire Quarter Session Calendars
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The Wiltshire Family History Society has published a helpful research tool called “Goodies & Baddies, 1722-1820.” This is an index for the Calendars of Prisoners in the Wiltshire Quarter Sessions and includes not only the prisoners (baddies), but also the victims, witnesses, and court officials (goodies). This index is available at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham and at the Calne and Chipphenham Libraries, but the original record can only be viewed at the History Centre.
https://familysearch.org/node/1230
ALSO
Quarter Sessions 1722-1849 (Goodies and Baddies) Criminals and witnesses. Summary convictions 1698-1903 (Minor crimes before justices). Also available on FindMyPast
http://www.wiltshirefhs.co.uk/index.php/research-material
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hi all
I had a look at those 2 Wiltshire convict records yesterday but they don't have any more info than what is already known , also tried prison hulk registers but cant find anything for mary in those ,
regards
trevor
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hi all
I had a look at those 2 Wiltshire convict records yesterday but they don't have any more info than what is already known , also tried prison hulk registers but cant find anything for mary in those ,
regards
trevor
Thank you for letting us know :)
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Do you know if there was also a baby called Clarissa christened 1788
Yes she's another child. Don't know how I missed her.
I notice in 1841 there's a John Bracher b.1791 living in Spitalfield. Is he one of yours?
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There are 2 people who have "claimed" her on the claimaconvict website. You can contact them direct and they may have some more information.
http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/claimaconvict/convictDetails.php?convictId=1338
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There's no guarantee that this is your Mary Bracher, but there were undelivered letters for her at the Sydney GPO in May 1825.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2184001?searchTerm=%22mary%20bracher%22&searchLimits=l-state=New+South+Wales|||sortby=dateAsc
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Thanks, and yes quite likely that John Bracher of Spitalfields is one of our line - looks I have some work to do!!!! There is always more,
You are all so helpful
Toni
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Thank you so much, that is interesting. I would never have thought of looking in Trove. I have much to learn! I wonder - maybe they were for her - she was still alive in 1825. She didn't become Mary Porter until 1830. She passed away in 1852 - coroner's inquest "accidently killed"
Regards
Toni
There's no guarantee that this is your Mary Bracher, but there were undelivered letters for her at the Sydney GPO in May 1825.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2184001?searchTerm=%22mary%20bracher%22&searchLimits=l-state=New+South+Wales|||sortby=dateAsc
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Do you have access to findmypast, seems there are members of this family on the Wiltshire Court Removal Orders. These seem to be those that are living in another parish and fall on hard times, are removed back to a former parish or parish of birth.
Clarissa Bracher, head of house single with child, was removed from parish Mere to parish Stouton 5 July 1820
Household 2641 Wiltshire & Swindon record office ref 438/42
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbprs%2fo%2f453006514%2f1
The name also appears as BRADSHAWE
Cas
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Thank you, I will take note of this and try looking tomorrow.
I am still trying to work out how to reply to people correctly on this RootsChat site. Hope I am doing it correctly,
:) Toni
Do you have access to findmypast, seems there are members of this family on the Wiltshire Court Removal Orders. These seem to be those that are living in another parish and fall on hard times, are removed back to a former parish or parish of birth.
Clarissa Bracher, head of house single with child, was removed from parish Mere to parish Stouton 5 July 1820
Household 2641 Wiltshire & Swindon record office ref 438/42
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbprs%2fo%2f453006514%2f1
Cas
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Your doing great, Welcome to Rootschat 😀
Have you checked www.familysearch.org, there are 10 children to George and Mary in Stourton.
Also a child for Fannella Bracher, called Thomas and possible death around 1840 this is also on www.freebmd.org
Cas
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https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1BF-YXV Thomas Bracher
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2CQ-G4N Think the same mother
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JW92-3H4
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NX9-G6Z Possible likely death
Deaths Sep Qtr 1840
Bracher Fanata Mere vol 8 page 235
http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/reg/districts/mere.html
http://www.wiltshire-opc.org.uk/Items/Stourton/Stourton%20-%20Removal%20Orders%201701-1863.pdf
http://www.wiltshire-opc.org.uk/Items/Stourton/Stourton%20-%20Baptisms%201781-1800.pdf
Family tree but cannot understand it hope it helps. http://tisburybrachers.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/4/4/12441838/d-j-edward-stourton-1631.pdf
Homepage http://tisburybrachers.weebly.com/bracher-genealogy.html
Cas
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This is Leticia Bracher.
26 Apr 1806
Joseph DUMMETT, about 24 years of age
Born in North Curry, Somerset. His late father was named Joseph DUMMETT, a shoemaker. The Deponent is also a shoemaker, as is his brother. On 26th Dec last he married Letitia, by whom he has one child born a fortnight ago.
& is this Stephen Bracher b. 1790:
4 Jan 1815
Ann BRATCHER (wife of Stephen BRATCHER, gone from her) Also their son John (aged 4 months). Illegally at St Peter’s Bristol.
Stephen again:
14 Mar 1820
Stephen BRACHER and Ann his wife
Also their child Mary Ann (about 3). Illegally at St Michael, Bristol. Belong to Stourton.
52nd. Regt. 1st. Batt:
In 1815 the regiment fought at Waterloo and helped break the final advance of the Imperial Guard. In November 1818 it became the last British battalion to leave France at the end of the Allied occupation.
Fought for King & Country & they threw his family out of the Parish.
& is this brother John b. 1790:
10 Aug 1818
Ann STONE otherwise BRACHER, wife of John STONE otherwise BRACHER
She is now pregnant. He is a private with 52nd Regiment of Foot now in France. Illegally at St Peter, Bristol. Belong to Stourton.
Stephen:
1841:
HO107; Piece: 1183; Book: 7; Folio: 5; Page: 4;
1851:
HO107; Piece: 1850; Folio: 130; Page: 26;
1861:
RG 9; Piece: 1323; Folio: 96; Page: 8;
1871:
RG10; Piece: 1966; Folio: 20; Page: 6;
William Bracher
ch: 31 Dec. 1815
a child of Sophia Bracher;
STOURTON,
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Hello Toni, and other contributors to this discussion.
Mary Bracher (nee Stone) is my 5x great-grandmother, and I've also traced her convict history from Wiltshire to Australia. I'm descended through her daughter Martha Bracher and, in turn, her daughter Narcissa.
I have some more details of the Bracher family going back a couple of more generations if you're interested; there are some very unusual and comprehensive sources for Stourton in Wiltshire which I can point you to. I visited there in Autumn 2014, and would be happy to share a couple of photos of the church there if you'd like to message me via this website.
Best wishes, Janey
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Hi Janey,
Thank you for your reply.
Wonderful to hear from a descendant of Mary Bracher.
I would be interested in some information on the Bracher family going back a few generations. I am sure there is a link to my Bracher family (my husband's name, and of course our children's. There is some 'heresay' I have come across regarding some very early members of the Bracher family who came from Wiltshire to Spitalfields area of London and I am thinking that with such large families back then that there will be a link. Another piece of heresay via my husbands father was that he recalled ancestors spoke of coming over from Brussels ? a Hugenot link. Unfortunately, Like many of his generation he was not keen to speak of the past.
Janey I won't go on much more, but some of your information may help me in my research. I would also like to know about those sources in Stourton in Wiltshire too. Next time I travel to UK I may be able to take a look if I know where to go.
Janey, have you ever found out what exactly Mary Bracher did to be transported? The entry in the Wiltshire Q Sessions just said 'larceny' - and the length of her sentence, but I wonder what she actually allegedly stole.
Thank you again for replying and I hope to hear from you again.
When I look at her story, so very sad that she was sent off to the other side of the earth away from her family and her youngest was just a little boy.
They were harsh times.
Kind Regards
Toni Bracher
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Hi Toni,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you - work has been busy of late and I haven't had a chance to sit down at the computer properly! I've just sent you a PM via this website with my email address, so that I can send more information to you.
Sadly I don't know any more about what Mary stole to cause her being transported to Australia, other than the reference to larceny. The Wiltshire Quarter Sessions on Ancestry show that the crime was a family effort, since other family members were tried the same day. The names of George Bracher (Mary's husband), Martha Bracher (George and Mary's daughter, also my 4x great grandmother) and Joseph Dummett (married to George and Mary's daughter Letitia) appear on the same page. They all got off, but Mary was convicted. I've not found any newspaper articles about this - I assume the relevant titles are not yet digitised as a case like this seems highly newsworthy. There may be other records held at the Wiltshire archives, but I've not visited (I live in Kent).
I don't know about a link to Spitalfields in London but it' more than possible that someone left Wiltshire for London. I can email you the wider part of the family tree to see if there are any people that we have in common.
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Isn't it odd how things transpire sometimes.... I remember following this thread last year and what do you know, now I'm involved in it!
I've had my James DUNSFORD, convict of 1829 on the backburner for a while. Thought I'd have another look at him and his family tonight. His wife Mary Ann DUNSFORD along with his sister Amelia DUNSFORD, a Mary CHUBB, Margaret WOOD, and Jane DUMMETT were locked up in the 'Bristol House of Corrections' for a month in October 1828 for assault! Jane DUMMETT was his wife's 15 year old sister.
Now, Mary Ann DUNSFORD nee DUMMETT and Jane DUMMETT are the daughters of Letitia BRACHER!!!
Another sister of James DUNSFORD, Elizabeth / Eliza came to Australia as a free settler and married William BRADGATE at Newcastle. She later married the convict James GARSIDE.
bitzar.
EDIT: Elizabeth / Eliza came to Australia WITH her husband William BRADGATE and children. She later married John GARSIDE, convict, at Newcastle NSW.
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Hello Bitzar,
That is so interesting!
Thank you for letting me know some of the information you have found.
You must have had some sort of inkling when you were following the thread last year!
This is a wonderful website with helpful people - hope I can provide more help at some stage sharing bits that I find.
Once again, thank you
Toni Bracher
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Just to add, I've just viewed the criminal register for the charges applied to George, Mary, and Martha BRACHER.
The following name is Joseph DUMMETT, also discharged. Joseph had married Letitia BRACHER the year prior.
Colourful isn't the word for it... ;)
bitzar.
EDIT: Soz.... Just realised JaneyH has already stated this!
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How interesting! I didn't have Jane Dummett (daughter of Letitia Bracher) in my tree as my focus was very much on Stourton / Kilmington. However I've now found her details. I see that Mary Ann Dummett married three times: James Dunsford (1826), Stephen Moore (1834) and William Pell (1861).
What I've been unable to track down though are the criminal records you mentioned - could you point me to the sources for this please?
Many thanks, Janey
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JaneyH
Someone found that ref in 'The Bristol Mirror, Saturday 18th October 1828'.
bitzar.
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Hi everyone, i am descended from Narcissa Bracher, (b. Dec.1806) who was Martha Bracher's (b. 1783) daughter and so i think Mary Bracher grand daughter. I have read, with interest, all the different research material that people have found about her conviction and transportation in 1807, following a trial in July 1806 involving Mary, her husband George Bracher and daughter Martha Bracher (who was pregnant with Narcissa at the time).
I cannot understand why Mary, the mother/wife was transported and George the husband and her daughter Martha were spared (discharged by bill). I see Mary went on to build a new life for herself and remarry (as a widow?!) and I am pleased to see her family continued to thrive back in England.
If, as the original post was over a year ago, anyone has found anything further about the family in Australia or the one left behind in Stourton Wiltshire, i should be grateful to read it. Thank you.
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Hi Linda,
Was it you that I was in touch with about a year ago via email, having made a connection through the Lost Cousins website? We exchanged some information about Bishop ancestors as well as me sharing what I knew about the Brachers. Do let me know, as I have a photo that I took just yesterday for you!
Janey
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Hi Janey,
Yes that was me. I am so sorry to have lost touch with you, but have had several surgeries last year and not had a healthy 2017. However, I am feeling a bit better for a while so I thought I would dive back into the family history folders, which are a mess as you can imagine, having been abandoned due to illness last year.
I am excited to see and hear if you have found anything for me and can't believe you took a photo for me yesterday, how spooky is that?
Love Linda
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Email coming your way!