Richard WILLIAMS and Hannah READ/?PEAD? (General)

by Matt, Friday, January 22, 2010, 19:16 (5491 days ago) @ jimashton

As a footnote to Jim's post George READ (or Reed) b. 1785 and Ann BROWN b. 1790 did NOT marry. I have a copy of his Will dated 3 November 1844 and in it he refers to his 'Housekeeper' Ann Brown and to his children e.g 'George Reed Brown commonly called George Reed...son of my Housekeeper Ann Brown'. This indicates why the family used the name Brown on occasion e.g when her sons Richard and George and her daughter Elizabeth got married. I presume to protect their mother's 'honour' in the eyes of the church (they were members of the Bible Christian Circuit). It may also be of interest that it is quite possible that Ann Brown was the illegitimate daughter of a Betty Brown of Goodrich. Could this be a reason why, even though she was baptised, Ann could not marry in church ?