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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: JanPennington on Tuesday 14 August 18 11:33 BST (UK)
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I have been asked to help work the identity of a lady in a portrait. According to writing on the back her maiden name is FAAB. I wondered if anyone had any ideas of where she might be from originally. I haven't been able to find any thing about the name.
She seems to have ended up in Australia. I will see if I can get permission to post the picture on the site.
Thanks\Jan
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Hi Jan,
Is it hand-written? Is it all in capitals? If handwritten, with only the initial letter capitalised, is it perhaps Fooh rather than Faab?
JM
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I think I have managed to attach the portrait correctly and also the writing on the back - there is no evidence that the writing was done at the time the portrait was painted - it was probably dome when the painting was donated to the Museum in 1960's and therefore may not be accurate.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Jan
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As you can now see from the pictures I have added it is all capitals but I was wondering whether the inscription was added at a later date and could have been copied from handwritten document. All a bit mysterious as we have been told she is not included in Bracey family bible - someone is trying to contact family if possible for access to the bible if it is still in existence. The museum has the coral necklace she is wearing. I think I will have to get someone to check the acquisition records - they are not as detailed as they should be.
Jan
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Yes, it clearly reads Rebekah Ann BRACEY nee FAAB
I have typed that into this post in the hope that a family history buff will do a google type search and find this thread, and contact you.
:)
JM
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I've found a Mary Ann Rebecca Fabb marrying a Samuel Paxel Bracey, Norfolk, England 14 Jan 1836.
It's the closest on a World search.
Gadget
Added - not followed it up.
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:) Hi Gadget, I have had skim look and nought in my NSW offline resources.
http://ryersonindex.org/index.htm The surname BRACEY brings up around 80 responses ... this is an index of many death/funeral announcements from some/many newspapers mainly east coast of Australia.
:) Hi Janet, which state for the museum... if New South Wales, I have loads of 19th century offline resources, so will take my time to wander through them ;D
JM
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This site -
http://worldnames.publicprofiler.org/Main.aspx (http://worldnames.publicprofiler.org/Main.aspx)
Gives Faab as coming from Nordrhein-Westfalia in Germany.
Regards
Chas
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The marriage register can be viewed on FindMyPast
Samuel Paget Bracey, parish of Gt Yarmouth and Mary Ann Rebecca Nabb (as transcribed), parish of Rollesby, 14 Jan 1846.
Re "Nabb" - looking at the image, don't think it's an "N" - the bride's signature is more like an "F".
But signature is clearly "abb" - double "b" not double "a".
Witness looks like "Georgiana Fabb"?
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Both Georgiana and Mary were born to Richard and Sarah Fabb, Hemsby.
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The Norfolk Chronicle, 15 Sep 1866 mentions a "Samuel Paget Bracey, a retired sailor ..."
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Baptisms (FindMyPast), parents Richard and Sarah Fabb, Hemsby, father's profession Gentleman
Mary Ann Rebecca, 21 Feb 1813; Sarah, 10 Apr 1814;Georgiana Docking, 31 Oct 1824
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If it is the one that I found in reply #5, and HT has followed up, here are some fancy frocks (and hairstyles) that can be compared with the portrait:
https://www.mimimatthews.com/2015/11/30/the-1830s-in-fashionable-gowns-a-visual-guide-to-the-decade/
Gadget
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I have looked at Samuel Paget Bracey and Mary Ann Rebecca Fabb and am almost certain that is the correct "Rebekah Ann Faab" as they have a son Horace Edward Seymour Bracey - died Lithgow NSW in 1928.
The museum is Eskbank House in Lithgow NSW. It was built for Thomas and Mary Brown and after World War 2 the local history society carried out major repairs and the local Bracey family who ran a department store in town collected together furniture etc for the house. There are several items including a till from the shop and portrait that used to belong to the family. There is photograph of Horace Bracey in a military uniform with a wonderful moustache and a 'smoking cap' with his name embroidered on it.
There are also a few things that belonged to Joseph Cook a Prime Minster of Australia who was miner in Lithgow before he took to politics.
It is worth a visit if you are travelling over the Blue Mountains - Am I allowed to advertise here? I don't work there any more.
Thank you everyone.
Jan
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It is after midnight here. :-[
I know of that family from Lithgow NSW ... I think I have info/research done by one of my ancestors when they were teaching at Lithgow mid 1950s ...
Great work by everyone.
JM
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With everything that has been found, there is a short bio and photo of Horace E S Bracey here http://mountainmistbooks.com/_assets/documents/hassans-walls-sample-pages-914.pdf
“This fine attraction has been named Bracey’s Lookout, in recognition of the services to the
town of Major Bracey, who has been identified prominently with local public matters for several years” (Mercury, 14 May 1915).
Page 12
The person behind the name: In 1886 Horace Bracey established a retail business in Main Street, Lithgow, which developed into a major department store and traded until 2007. Major Bracey served as Mayor of Lithgow 1895-96, 1903, 1906, 1910. He died in 1928 at the age of 76 (Mercury, 24 Aug 1928, p4, col 3,4.)"
Newspaper obit here https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219690192
Monica
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Hi Jan,
I have found my relative’s papers from when she was school teacher in the 1960s at Lithgow. It is in her fine long hand, but on the BRACEY family she has concentrated on the second wife for Horace Edward Seymour BRACEY, and NOT on the lass he married in Kew, London in 1875. He was widowed in London in 1876 and did not return to NSW until 1877. The second marriage was in July 1878, at St Jude’s, Randwick NSW. Alice Isabella PEARCE was the eldest daughter of a Randwick based Justice of the Peace. Alice believed she was the first baby girl born in Randwick to European parents.
Found the following at NSW BDM online.
NSW BDM marriage #1865/1878, Horace Edmund S BRACEY and Alice J PEARCE, registered Randwick district.
And this Newspaper cutting for second marriage https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13413739 SMH 30 July 1878,
Sorry, nothing for the first Mrs BRACEY, but I support the joining of the dots back to that 1875 marriage in the UK and the other pieces of the jigsaw too.
JM
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Alice Isabella PEARCE was the eldest daughter of a Randwick based Justice of the Peace.
Not really related to your topic, but Alice PEARCE's father was Simeon Henry PEARCE, the first Mayor and known as the "father of Randwick". Lots about him if you google. I know Randwick and St Jude's well - baptised, confirmed and married there. :)
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"Married ...
Lately, at Rollesby, Mr S. P Bracey, third son of the late John Bracey, Esq. to Mary Ann, eldest daughter of Mr Fabb, of the above place."
Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday, February 10, 1836
Modified to add: Also
"Died ...
Monday last, at Repps, the infant daughter of Mr S. P. Bracey."
Norfolk Chronicle, Saturday, May 13, 1837
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Not one Faab ever registered with Birth, Marriage or Death in England/Wales 1837-1983. Free BMD.
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Well found Maddy, :)
Maddy, do you have access to the parish registers for St Jude's, if so, what info did Horace give the clergy when marrying there in July 1878 ... likely NSW BDM m.c. may be a summary and not include the full details for his parents ... including his mum's given and maiden name .... :) (likely the parish register will have full details)
"Married ...
Lately, at Rollesby, Mr S. P Bracey, third son of the late John Bracey, Esq. to Mary Ann, eldest daughter of Mr Fabb, of the above place."
Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday, February 10, 1836
Modified to add: Also
"Died ...
Monday last, at Repps, the infant daughter of Mr S. P. Bracey."
Norfolk Chronicle, Saturday, May 13, 1837
It seems that it is perhaps a portrait of Rebekah Ann, nee Fabb, the mother of Horace E S BRACEY ...
NSW BDM online index has his 1928 death registered Lithgow NSW with given names for parents as Samuel and Marion R (#16633) https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history/family-history.aspx The 1928 d.c. will have her full given names, so not just 'R' but it is information given on Horace's death, and I think the information on the 1878 marriage would be first hand information given by Horace, and likely to be more reliable than the 1928 info. :)
Adding See Jan's reply #13 also :)
JM
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Norfolk Family History Society transcription of marriages at Rollesby Norfolk
By License.
Samuel Paget Bracey of Great Yarmouth to Mary Ann Rebecca Fabb on 14 January 1836
witnesses are, Georgiana Fabb, Eliza Jane Bracey, Bridget Christmas.
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NFHS transcription of Hemsby Norfolk baptisms
Mary Ann Rebecca Fabb daughter of Richard Fabb and wife Sarah, 21 February 1813.
father occupation Gentleman
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Norfolk Family History Society transcription of marriages at Rollesby Norfolk
By License.
Samuel Paget Bracey of Great Yarmouth to Mary Ann Rebecca Fabb on 14 January 1836
witnesses are, Georgiana Fabb, Eliza Jane Bracey, Bridget Christmas.
:) these dots are joining up for Jan :)
JM :) Well found by amondg :)
ADD :)
sharing, Museum is of course decades of volunteering efforts
https://eskbank.lithgow.com/eric-bracey-ldhs/
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Her father Richard Fabb possible first wife Ann Bygrave 18 February 1802 at Hemsby Norfolk
*Richard Fabb married Sarah Docking 30 November 1808 at Rollesby, this would be the mother of Mary Ann, Sarah.
Richard Fabb married Ann Fabb 26 December 1820 at Runham. This would be Georgianna' mother
These are from a list of Norfolk marriages, cannot see the details so he possibly married 3 times.
He is buried at Hemsby 29 November 1843 aged 76.
Georgianna Docking Fabb (minor), father Richard Fabb married Thomas Ireland 21, farmer, father William Ireland 25 July 1843 at Upton.
Witnesses Ezrah Marston, Samuel Paget Bracey and Eliza Ann Bracey.
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Horace Edward Seymour Bracey occupation Merchant, married Kate Louise Bailey 3 November 1875 at Kew.
His father Samuel Paget Bracey- Captain Merchant Services.
Her father George Bailey- Civil Service India.
Witnesses Ellen Maria Beauchamp, A.M. Bailey, J.W. Riddlestorffer.
ADDED they were both 24 years old.
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Horace Edward Seymour Bracey was born 3 November 1851 and baptized at Great Yarmouth 25 June 1852 parents Samuel Paget Bracey and Marianna Rebekah.
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Horace Edward Seymour Bracey was born 3 November 1851 and baptized at Great Yarmouth 25 June 1852 parents Samuel Paget Bracey and Marianna Rebekah.
:) those dots joined now !
RootsChat is the best of places :)
JM
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Hi
I need to read and digest the additional information that has been added here.
Thank you everyone.
Rebekah is not apparently included in the family bible that remains in Lithgow with the current generation of the Bracey family. That might be because it only includes events in Australia for the people who emigrated or were born there.
I have now been asked by the Museum to prepare a family tree for them and the information you have all sent in will be a great starting point. - I moved to the other side of the world, back t the UK and they are still asking me to do research. It seems I can't retire from being a volunteer at Eskbank Museum.
Again thank you all for your help.
Jan
JM - Rootschat is definitely the best of places.
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These are the parents of Samuel Paget Bracey
John Bracey married Ann Paget at St Nicholas Great Yarmouth 25 March 1800 by license,
Witness William Jacobson and Samuel Paget (notes Junior).
A copy of the license is at the Norfolk Records Office, Norwich dated 24 March 1800, both were of Great Yarmouth.
ADDED they have lots of wills for the Bracey family the name goes back to the 1600 in Great Yarmouth, plus marriage licenses and mentions in the Assembly files for Great Yarmouth.