Author Topic: 1864 birth records St Helena and information on Napoleon’s escort to St Helena  (Read 1540 times)

Offline Margaret Addis

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 2
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Greetings
Please can anyone advise me where I might find 1864 birth records of St Helena and information on those who were part of Napoleon's escort to St Helena?
My great-grandfather, William Henry Brann, lived and died in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Information on his death record indicates he was born on the island of St Helena (of British parentage) in about 1864, but I have not yet managed to find any record of his birth or baptism which might give me a clue to the names of his parents. I also have no idea of when he arrived in South Africa as the first record I can find is of his marriage when he was 21.
An intriguing note in my mother’s birthday book reads “Bella’s grandfather Brann came to St Helena as escort to Napoleon. Hailed from Kent.” (Bella was William Henry Brann's daughter).
I have searched the parish registers held at Wits and found the marriage of a David Brann in 1832 and baptism records of three of his children between 1837 and 1841, but have not been able to link them to my great-grandfather in any way.  I have also looked for Branns who were involved in the Napoleonic wars and found 4, but again, have found nothing that connects any of them to either my great-grandfather or to St Helena.
Any pointers would be most appreciated
Regards
Margaret

Offline avm228

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 24,827
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 1864 birth records St Helena and information on Napoleon’s escort to St Helena
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 16 February 19 14:36 GMT (UK) »
Welcome to Rootschat  :)

David Brann married Lucretia Gunnell, St Helena, 4 February 1832 - is that right?

Who do you have as their three children?
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Online Gibel

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 2,637
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 1864 birth records St Helena and information on Napoleon’s escort to St Helena
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 16 February 19 14:38 GMT (UK) »
Napoleon was taken to St Helena in 1815/16 and died there in 1821. He was taken there on the Northumberland. Apparently there was also a troop ship with men of the 53rd regiment and a detachment of artillery on two troopships www.napoleon.org

Offline Girl Guide

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 6,481
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 1864 birth records St Helena and information on Napoleon’s escort to St Helena
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 16 February 19 15:25 GMT (UK) »
Welcome to Rootschat Margaret.

Do you have the marriage certificate of William Henry to Mary Ann?  I see from his probate record that they married in Port Elizabeth although the year is not stated.  William and Mary appear to have had six children.

If you have his marriage certificate does is say who his father was?

Added: I see from the probate record that Mary's maiden name was Welch.
Ashford: Somerset, London
England: Devon, London, New Zealand
Holdway: Wiltshire
Hooper: Bristol, Somerset
Knowling: Devon, London
Southcott: Devon, China
Strong: Wiltshire
Watson: Cambridgeshire
White: Bristol
Windo - Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire


Offline Margaret Addis

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 2
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 1864 birth records St Helena and information on Napoleon’s escort to St Helena
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 16 February 19 16:38 GMT (UK) »
Thanks, avm228, Gibel and Girl Guide for your very quick responses to my appeal for help.

Still learning to navigate the website so please forgive me if I am not responding in the correct way!

In answer to your questions: avm228 - the three children of David and Lucretia Brann that I found in St Helena baptism records were John (1837); David (1839) and William Charles (1841).
I found an 1877 Cape newspaper article looking for relatives of an orphan child called John Brann whose parents William Charles and Saria Maria Brann had been found dead leaving him destitute in Cape Town. Could be same William Charles maybe.
I've also found several other St Helena references to David Brann snr - the 1832 St Helena Calendar has him as a cooper and then there are a couple of gvt gazettes referring to him as a customs official.

In answer to Girl Guide : Yes I have a copy of the marriage certificate which I requested from St Paul's Church in Port Elizabeth.  William Henry Brann married Mary Anne Welch in St Paul's by special licence on Nov 3rd 1885. He was of full age and she only 18. He was a barman. No parents' names. Witnesses John and E Ellis. 
They actually had 9 children in all, but 3 predeceased them so were not on the probate.
Their first child, May Elizabeth Goodwill Whyte was my grandmother.

I have founds loads on Mary Anne, who was from Stagsden, near Bedford and have managed to go back several generations.

Thanks again and regards


Offline Maiden Stone

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 7,226
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 1864 birth records St Helena and information on Napoleon’s escort to St Helena
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 16 February 19 17:10 GMT (UK) »
Napoleon was taken to St Helena in 1815/16 and died there in 1821. He was taken there on the Northumberland. Apparently there was also a troop ship with men of the 53rd regiment and a detachment of artillery on two troopships www.napoleon.org
I listened to a drama about it on BBC Radio 4 a few months ago.
Cowban

Online Gibel

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 2,637
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 1864 birth records St Helena and information on Napoleon’s escort to St Helena
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 16 February 19 17:15 GMT (UK) »
I found references to David  as a tide waiter, searcher and guager under Customs in 1832, 1836 and 1841 by googling David Brann St Helena I can’t yet work out where any records of Customs Officers would be.

Offline josey

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 6,710
    • View Profile
Seeking: RC baptism Philip Murray Feb ish 1814 ? nr Chatham Kent.
IRE: Kik DRAY[EA], PURCELL, WHITE: Mea LYNCH: Tip MURRAY, SHEEDY: Wem ALLEN, ENGLISHBY; Dub PENROSE: Lim DUNN[E], FRAWLEY, WILLIAMS.
87th Regiment RIF: MURRAY
ENG; Marylebone HAYTER, TROU[W]SDALE, WILLIAMS,DUNEVAN Con HAMPTON, TREMELLING Wry CLEGG, HOLLAND, HORSEFIELD Coventry McGINTY
CAN; Halifax & Pictou: HOLLAND, WHITE, WILLIAMSON