Hi,

I'm trying to trace my Great Grandfather. I think his name was William, I know for sure he was a Brain. He came from Ruardean Hill and left for America (I think Ohio) in around 1920. He visited the Forest again some years latter, about the 1950's/60's. When he visited he called on a Brain family living in Victoria Street Cinderford who I think were relatives. Can anyone help me find out more?

With thanks'
Claire Edwards

The surname BRAIN was very common in the Ruardean and surrounding areas and there were many with the first name of William. If you enter Brain in the forum search box you will find numerous postings about Brain people of the Forest of Dean

You need to first determine from records or relatives in the US, if in fact your great-grandfathers first name was William. If you can also gather further information of the names of other relatives that emigrated with him together with any approximate ages (dates of birth) and let us know, then we maybe able to assist you in finding the family when they lived in the Forest.

1st candidate

William Brain
Ruardean aged 28
May 5th 1909 arrived NY / Ellis Island
on Caronia from Liverpool

1930 ?
William Brain city, Lasalle, IL abt 1882 location info

1901 Newnham Bottom / Ruardean Hill
James Brain abt 1841 Hope Mansel, Herefordshire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma Brain abt 1858 Hope Mansel, Herefordshire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
George Brain abt 1865 Hope Mansel, Herefordshire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
William T Brain abt 1882 Ruardean Hill, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
James Brain abt 1883 Ruardean Hill, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Mary Ann Brain abt 1885 Ruardean Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Alsice Brain abt 1887 Ruardean Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire

1891
James Brain abt 1841 Hope Mansel, Hertfordshire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma Brain abt 1858 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
George Brain abt 1866 Hope Mansel, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Ellen Morgan abt 1880 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Stepdaughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
William Brain abt 1882 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
James Brain abt 1883 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Margart Brain abt 1885 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Alice Brain abt 1887 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Elizth Brain abt 1890 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire

possible birth
Name: William John Brain
Year of Registration: 1881
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 260

1881 Ruardean Hill
James Brain abt 1841 Hope Mansell, Hereford, England Head Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma Brain abt 1857 East Dean Wife Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
George Brain abt 1865 Hope Mansell, Hereford, England Son Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Albert Brain abt 1867 Hope Mansell, Hereford, England Son Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma Brain abt 1871 Hope Mansell, Hereford, England Daughter Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Ellen Morgan abt 1880 Hope Mansell, Hereford, England Daughter Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire

possible marriage ?
Name:Emma Green
Name: James Brain
Year of Registration: 1880
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Ross
County: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Hereford and Worcester
Volume: 6a
Page: 941

possible death
Name: Elizabeth Brain
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842
Year of Registration: 1874
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 32
District: Ross
County: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Hereford and Worcester
Volume: 6a
Page: 286

1871
James Brain abt 1841 Hope Mansel, Herefordshire, England Head Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
Elizabeth Brain abt 1841 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Wife Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
Mary Ann Brain abt 1864 Hope Mansel, Herefordshire, England Daughter Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
George Jas Brain abt 1865 Hope Mansel, Herefordshire, England Son Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
Albert Brain abt 1867 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
Emma Brain abt 1870 Hope Mansel, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Hope Mansell, Herefordshire

1861
James Brain abt 1801 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Head Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
Mary Brain abt 1806 Walford, Herefordshire, England Wife Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
James Brain abt 1841 Hope Mansell, Herefordshire, England Son Hope Mansell, Herefordshire

1851
James Brain abt 1793 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Head Walford, Herefordshire
Mary Brain abt 1801 Walford, Herefordshire, England Wife Walford, Herefordshire
William Brain abt 1826 Weston, Herefordshire, England Son Walford, Herefordshire
John Brain abt 1830 Hope Mansell, Herefordshire, England Son Walford, Herefordshire
James Brain abt 1841 Hope Mansell, Herefordshire, England Son Walford, Herefordshire

1841
James Brain abt 1801 Herefordshire, England Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
Mary Brain abt 1806 Herefordshire, England Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
John Brain abt 1830 Herefordshire, England Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
James Brain abt 1830 Herefordshire, England Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
Thos Brain abt 1806 Herefordshire, England Hope Mansell, Herefordshire

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

1871
Joseph Penn abt 1831 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Head Ruardean, Herefordshire
Ellen Penn abt 1841 Newtown, Gloucestershire, England Wife Ruardean, Herefordshire
Emma Green abt 1858 Newtown, Gloucestershire, England Niece Ruardean, Herefordshire

Name:Ellen Morgan
Name: Joseph Penn
Year of Registration: 1861
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 376

1861 Newtown
Hannah Davis abt 1825 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Harriet Davis abt 1852 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Matilda Morgan abt 1836 Lea Hamlet, Gloucestershire, England Niece East Dean, Gloucestershire
Ellen Morgan abt 1840 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Niece East Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma Morgan abt 1859 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Grand or Great Niece (Great Niece) East Dean, Gloucestershire

possible birth
Name: Emma Ellen Morgan
Year of Registration: 1858
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 201

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Year: 1862
Month: Jun
Day: 16
Grooms_Surname: BRAIN
Grooms_Forenames: James
Grooms_Age: 22
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: East Dean
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Brain
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: James
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: MATTHEWS
Brides_Forenames: Elizabeth
Brides_Age: 22
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: East Dean
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Matthews
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: George
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: He signs She marks
Witness_1: Richard Buffery
Witness_2: Ann Meredith
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Tho[ma]s Gosselin Smythies
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes: Entry number 377 written in
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 188
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Johns

1861
George Mathews abt 1812 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Head Ruardean, Gloucestershire
Tarrema Mathews abt 1814 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Wife Ruardean, Gloucestershire
Bertha Mathews abt 1859 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Ruardean, Gloucestershire
George Mathews abt 1846 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean, Gloucestershire
James Mathews abt 1849 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Ruardean, Gloucestershire
Mosses Mathews abt 1844 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean, Gloucestershire
Richard Mathews abt 1852 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean, Gloucestershire
Tram Mathews abt 1857 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean, Gloucestershire

1851
George Mathews abt 1813 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Head Ruardean, Gloucestershire
Jemima Mathews abt 1814 Walford, Herefordshire, England Wife Ruardean, Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Mathews abt 1842 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Ruardean, Gloucestershire
Moses Mathews abt 1844 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean, Gloucestershire
George Mathews abt 1847 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean, Gloucestershire
James Mathews abt 1849 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean, Gloucestershire
Catherine Mathews abt 1850 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Ruardean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1842
Month: Jan
Day: 30
Parents_Surname: MATTHEWS
Child_Forenames: Elizabeth
Fathers_Forenames: George
Mothers_Forenames: Jemmima [sic]
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Ruardean
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: John Knight
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes: Ruardean Chapel
Register_Reference: D2598 5/3
Page_Number:
Parish_Chapel: Forest of Dean Bible Christian

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

John Brain
Ruardean aged 38
June 3rd 1909 arrived NY / Ellis Island
on Caronia from Liverpool

I suspect a return journey :-

John Brain
Ruardean aged 44
Sept 18th 1914 arrived NY / Ellis Island
on Lusitania from Liverpool

several candidates for John, in Ruardean / Crooked End

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Simeon Brain
Ruardean aged 29
Dec 12th 1914 arrived NY / Ellis Island
on Lapland from Liverpool

is this Simeon's family

1901 Ruardean Hill
James Brain abt 1857 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
{ALICE ?} Mrs. Brain abt 1858 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Cornelius Brain abt 1884 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Simeon Brain abt 1888 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Annie Brain abt 1891 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Lily Brain abt 1893 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Minnie Brain abt 1896 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Cyril Brain abt 1900 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>