Look up plse for Thomas William Brown

[Brdtrd]

Looking for Thomas William Brown of Leominster, Herefordshire.  Most likely born 1861 ish.  He is on the 1891 Census in Llandingat, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Can anyone find him on any Census before that?

A few questions: did people in Herfordshire speak Welsh?  Close connections to Wales?  Is Brown a Welsh name?

My great grandmother, Elizabeth Fanny Brown was fluent in Welsh but her father was from Leominster.  Thanks!

[karenlee]

HI

1871 Census Wales Radnorshire Presteigne
RG10/5594/106/15
Hereford Street

BROWN
Thomas Head Marr 37 Spade Tree Maker Hereford Leominster
Fanny Wife Marr 36 Hereford Leominster
Elizabeth Dau Unmarr 11 Scholar Hereford Leominster
Thomas W Son Unmarr 9 Scholar Hereford Leominster
Margaret Dau Unmarr 8 Scholar Radnor Presteigne
Fanny Dau Unmarr 7 Scholar Radnor Presteigne
George Son Unmarr 3 Scholar Radnor Presteigne
Francis J Son Unmarr 1 Radnor Presteigne

1881 Census Wales Breconshire Hay
Rg11/5470/16/25
7 Howly ?

In the household of Rees and Catherine DAVIES

BROWN
Thomas Lodger Marr 20 Spade Tree Maker Hereford Leominster
Elizabeth Lodgers Wife Marr 27 Cornwall
Thomas Lodgers Son Unm,arr 1 Breconshire Wales

Cheers
Karenlee

[suzard]

 

Brown isn't usually associated with being a Welsh name -any more than a Scottish or English name -it's just a pretty common name.

Your great grandmother probably spoke Welsh as she was schooled in Welsh. My youngest son is fluent in Welsh -but parents are from Derbys /Lancs, but we lived in Wales during his school years and he attended Welsh School.
I don't think Hereford was particularly noted for Welsh being spoken - my older son attended school in Hereford , and when we moved to Wales he was aleays known as "English boy".

Suz

Suz

[Brdtrd]

  !!!

Karenlee and Suz
Many thanks to you both, for the info and insights: what a wonderful bunch of people I am meeting here on Rootschat!!

Now to find out what a "spade tree maker" is!!     Carol

[suzard]

Whatever "A spade tree maker" did , must have been a well recognised occupation, as dotted around the country are a few pubs called "The Spade tree"!!!

Suz

[Brdtrd]

"A spade tree was (is) a narrow (6 to 8 inches,) straight blade, spade used
for transplanting trees. It had a heavy central rib which created a
suitable hole to place the small tree in.

Secondly, it allowed one to dig a small hole which was the size needed."

Found this on Rootsweb archives - thanks for the heads up - will be on the look out for those pubs when I come over!!!

[Puffcat]

Have you got the marriage of his father Thomas to Fanny Woodward in Leominster Priory Church in 1855 ?
And a record of his father in 1851 in Midmarsh in Leominster aged 17 with his parents James [51] and Ann [57], and siblings James aged 22, Ann 20.

[Brdtrd]

Hi EBN,

Just started tracking my Browns in the last couple of days and I haven't gone back that far yet.

But judging by the 1871 Census info that Karenlee shared with me, I would say that we could be on to something here!   

Tell me about your people.  Did anyone end up in Canada? 

I hate to ask again but: Karenlee do you have anything that might confirm a connection here?

Brd

[Puffcat]

What was Thomas's occupation on the 1891 cenus ?