Did Martha BRACHER marry John EVERETT in 1805 (or not?)

[JaneyH_104]

Many thanks for getting in touch, Claire!  I found your 'Tisbury Brachers' website back in September when I first looked at this branch of my tree.  My one frustration was that I couldn't find anywhere to send you a message via the website.  I've also looked at Cathy Day's work - in five years of family history research she's the best OPC I've come across by far!  Using the Wiltshire OPC parish transcriptions I've tentatively taken my Bracher line in Stourton back a bit further:

My 3x great-grandmother, Narcissa Bracher, 1806-1877
My 4x great-grandmother, Martha Bracher, 1783-1864 (unmarried)
My 5x great-grandfather, George Bracher (1758-1831) and his wife Mary (nee Stone)
My 6x great-grandfather, George Bracher (1734-1819) and his wife Letitia (nee Bird)

Narcissa Bracher married Thomas Bishop in nearby Penselwood in 1828, and from there I am descended.  The name Narcissa was used a few more times in the family line.

Mary Bracher (nee Stone) is a very interesting character.  While I'm still a bit tentative as to whether this is "my" Mary Bracher, given how common the name is in Wiltshire, I've pieced together what looks like a story of theft, conviction and transportation to Australia.  If you're interested, I'd be happy to PM you what I have and see if it fits (or conflicts with) information you may already have.

Incidentally I visited Stourton very briefly in late October (a slight detour on the way to Bristol).  Although the headstones in the churchyard were far too old and covered with lichen to read, the church was open.  It was a very special experience standing in front of the altar and by the font where my ancestors would have been married and baptised!

[claireross177]

Hi Janey

Well, we are VERY distantly related it would seem!  My family line comes via James (1801-1870), son of George and Mary (nee Stone).  James moved from Stourton to Bristol in the mid-1820s.  As a matter of interest when did Mary get transported?  Perhaps that was a factor in James' decision to move!

regards
Claire

[JaneyH_104]

Claire,

The records I've found for Mary Bracher (nee Stone) indicate she was convicted in 1806 at Salisbury Quarter Sessions in July 1806.  Her husband George and daughter Martha (my 4x great-grandmother) were also in court but charges against them were dropped.  I should emphasise that my only reason for assuming this group are "my" ancestors is the grouping of George, Mary and Martha Bracher in Wiltshire at this time.  Your wider knowledge of the Bracher line may suggest other candidates. 

Anyway, Mary was incarcerated at Fisherton Gaol just outside Salisbury before being transported from Falmouth on the ship "Sydney Cove" in early 1807.  Obviously if this is the correct family group then your ancestor James would have been just a small child when his mother Mary Bracher was convicted.  My ancestor Martha (James' elder sister) would have been in her early 20s at this time ... and also pregnant (the baptism register shows my 3x great-grandmother Narcissa Bracher was born on 1 December 1806, baptised 26 December 1806).

Separately, I also note from the Stourton parish registers that James Bracher was baptised on 27 September 1801 - the same date as Eliza Bracher, who was the illegitimate daughter of James' elder sister Letitia.

I'll put together my records about Mary Bracher (nee Stone) into a proper timeline and PM you the full details.  In the meantime, feel free to look at my public tree on Ancestry, which is called Hough-Whittaker-Dyson-Bowdler 2014. 

[claireross177]

Hi Janey

The only other grouping of George, Mary and Martha Bracher I can find would be three siblings born in Wilton to Samuel and Martha.  They are baptised under various surname spellings - George Brasher (22 sept 1783), Mary Brazer (25 dec 1796) and Martha Brazer (25 dec 1798).  I suspect that the trialling and transportation of such young people would have occurred back then.  I cannot find anything more about any of them at present eg marriages, census records etc

I cannot say that this grouping is more or less likely than the Stourton grouping containing Mary Bracher (nee Stone) without knowing something of Mary's age upon her imprisonment and transportation.

regards
Claire

[JaneyH_104]

Hi Claire, This has gone a long way off-topic now, but I'll PM you with the details and references I have.

Janey