This is very confusing I warn you now.

My gg grandmother was Harriet Meek born 1846 Lea Bailey. As far as I am aware Harriet was the illegitimate daughter of Ann Meek. There is an IGI entry showing only Ann Meek as the parent.

Harriet's mother, Ann Meek married Thomas Adams 1 November 1846 and on the 1851 census Harriet appears age 6 and is described as Stepdaughter. Sometime before 1861 Thomas Adams died. Ann Adams is a widow on the census and her daughter Harriet Meek is now called Harriet Adams age 17. Living with Ann and her mother are Charles Meek age 25 unmarried and William Meek.

There is a marriage of a Harriet Meek age 17 to Charles Hodges age 23 on 28 December 1862 shown in the Drybrook Parish Marriages. Witnesses are Charles Meek and Ann Meek. I believe this to be the first marriage of my gg grandmother Harriet. Charles Hodges died in June quarter 1864.

Then there is a marriage of a Harriet Hodges to James Griffiths in 1865. James Griffiths and Harriet Meek were my gg grandparents and I believe that Harriet Hodges was previously Harriet Meek daughter of Ann Meek.

My query is:

On the details shown of the marriage of Harriet Meek to Charles Hodges in 1862 it shows a father for Harriet. His name was Enos Brain and he was a collier. This is the only reference I have found for a father for Harriet Meek as so far I haven't found her birth certificate. So is it possible that Enos Brain was Ann Meek's first husband or just the father of her illegitimate daughter Harriet?

I am going searching now but if anyone could help it would be appreciated.

Thanks

Jenny

This may throw some more light, however it s not clear who the spouse is (with the cert or a trawl through the BMD's)

The 1851 Ruardean entry for Enos 1823 suggests she may be Mary GAGE [GAGG?] 1811 with a daughter Mary Ann 1838

Name: Enos Brain
Year of Registration: 1845
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Ross
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 26
Page: 369

Year: 1822
Month: Feb
Day: 13
Parents_Surname: BRAIN
Child_Forenames: Enos
Fathers_Forenames: James
Mothers_Forenames: Sarah
Mothers_Surname:
Residence:
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister: Jn HORLICK
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born: 1821/11/08
Notes:
Register_Reference:
Page_Number:
Parish_Chapel: Ruardean Independent

Thanks Slowhands,

It looks likely then that Harriet was illegitimate. She was born around 1845-1846. Her mother Ann didn't marry Thomas Adams until Nov 1846 and Enos Brain is shown with a wife in 1851. At the moment I can't find a definite birth date for Harriet but it looks as though her assumed father Enos Brain was a married man. So either Ann Meek already had baby Harriet when she married in 1846 or was pregnant with her at the time. Enos doesn't look to have been too satisfied with his new bride does he!!

Would it be usual to give the father's name when an illegitimate child marries?

The Brain family looks to be a new line for me to research.

Jenny

Hi again Slowhands,

I can't seem to find Enos Brain on the 1851 census that you refer to. I have found a death for an Enos Brain in 1857 on Ancestry so if it is the same Enos he should be around in 1851. Where did you find him?

I have found the marriage entry on Ancestry and I see what you mean about the other people on the page. I have since checked again and there is a marriage entry for Enos in December quarter 1845 with a corresponding entry for Mary Gagg in the same quarter so it looks as though Enos did marry Mary. She was a lot older than Enos so perhaps this is why he strayed. Ann Meek would be around his own age.

I have found Enos on the 1841 census age 15. He is shown with a Giles Brain, Farmer age 25, Abia, age 20 and Cornelius age 10. Are Giles and Abia old enough to be the parents of Enos?? They are all living in the Hundreds of St Briavels.

I have just found out that Giles Brain is Enos Brain's brother as is Cornelius. Abia is Giles's wife. It looks as though the parents of the Brain children are James Brain and Sarah Drew who married in Ruardean 17 Oct 1808. Enos himself was born 8 November 1821 and baptised 13 Feb 1822.

I shall keep looking

Jenny

1851

Registration district: Ross
Sub-registration district: Sollershope
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Household schedule number: 49

Enoch Brain 28
Mary Brame 40
Leah Brame 3
Sarah Brame 2
Mary Ann Gage 13

1841 Ruardean Hill

Source information: HO107/364/7
Registration district: Ross
Sub-registration district: Ross
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Folio: 35
Page: 10
Line number: 10

Giles Brain abt 1816 Gloucestershire, England Dean Forest
Abia Brain abt 1821 Dean Forest Gloucestershire
Cornelius Brain abt 1831 Gloucestershire, England Dean Forest Gloucestershire
Enos Brain abt 1826 Gloucestershire, England Dean Forest Gloucestershire

1841 Street Ruardean ( nr Towns End and Back Lane)
Mary Gagg abt 1811 Gloucestershire, England Ruardean Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Gagg abt 1835 Gloucestershire, England Ruardean Gloucestershire
Mary Ann Gagg abt 1837 Gloucestershire, England Ruardean Gloucestershire
William Gagg abt 1840 Gloucestershire, England Ruardean Gloucestershire

Thanks for the info regarding Enos marriage to Mary Gagg, I didn't have that. I assume she must have been a widow at that marriage having 3 children surname Gagg.

I have Enos Brain as being the son of James Brain & Sarah Drew who married 14.10.1808, as stated elsewhere. They had 9 children including Cornelius baptised 16.11.1811 - he married Abiah Roberts daughter of Moses at Newland on 23.9.1837, but she must have died before 1851 - see following census :

1851 Census East Dean
CHIVERS John Widow/er 71 Blacksmith Somerset Teinsbury ?
Jane 37 East Dean
Miriam 28 East Dean
Eliza Grand Daughter 8 East Dean
BRAIN Giles Lodger Widow/er 39 Coal Miner East Dean
James Lodger 8 East Dean
Cornelius Lodger 23 Coal Miner East Dean

1861 Census East Dean
Simeon Brain 41 Coal Miner East Dean
Ann 37 East Dean
Ellen 15 East Dean
Cornelius 12 Coal Miner East Dean
Elizabeth 10 East Dean
Lydia 7 East Dean
James 4 East Dean
Anne 2 East Dean
Giles Brain Lodger 48 widower Coal Miner East Dean
James 16 Coal Miner East Dean

The Simeon Brain in 1861 was Enos & Giles's brother. Simeon Brain my 3rd cousin 4 times removed married Ann Marfell my Great Great Great Aunt ****.

Another of Enos's brothers Cornelius born 7.3.1827 baptised 31.7.1834 married Leah Rich born 19.1.1822, baptised 16.3.1822. Leah's parents were Charles Rich & Sarah Brain - here's where it gets interesting,Leah's mother Sarah Brain baptised 14.10.1781 to parents Giles Brain & Ann Vaughan - also parents of her brother James Brain father of Enos. I can trace this line back to one of my 7 times grandfathers Giles Brain.

**** Challenge for Slowhands which would help me. Ann Marfell baptised 25.1.1825 was the daughter of Cornelius Marfell 1779/1850 & Tamar Herbert baptised 10.8.1792 Oxenhall to parents John Herbert & Nancy Morgan, died 1877. Cornelius & Tamar Herbert married 20.6.1818 Newland and they had 9 children. Tamar was Cornelius's second wife, his first being Rosanna Herbert she was born 1789 and was buried 26.10.1817 Ruardean. Cornelius & Rosanna married 24.7.1811 Westbury on Severn Register Office and had 3 children. I have found the baptisms for 8 children to John Herbert & Nancy Morgan but cannot find Rosanna. I would really like to find her parents.
Jim

Teinsbury ?

Timsbury near Midsomer Norton / south of Bath I suspect

Hi Jim,

It looks as though we could be distant "cousins". Using the wonderful information provided by this site I have also managed to trace back to a Giles Brain and Ann Vaughan who married in Ruardean 4 Feb 1772. There is Giols Brain baptised in Ruardean 14 May 1749 to William Brain and Margaret who I think is the Giles above married to Ann Vaughan. This is as far as I have managed to get so far.

Just one thing, in your message you have put Cornelius as being born 1811 and married to Abia Robert. I think you meant to put GILES. The non-conformist records for Ruardean have Giles baptised 16 Nov 1811 and Cornelius born 7 March 1827 and bap 31 July 1834.

Regards

Jenny

Hi Jenny
When following parish records to establish ancestry, there is inevitably some subjectivity and unfortunately before 1841 there is no confirmatory evidence. The following therefore is my interpretation of the records:
As you have said Giols Brain baptised in Ruardean 14 May 1749 to William Brain and Margaret is the Giles Brain married to Ann Vaughan.
Giles 1749 father was William Brain baptised 22.2.1717 buried 1.12.1764 married Margaret and had 5 children.
William Brain 1717 father was Giles Brain baptised 28.11.1686 buried 4.8.1749 married Joan Mutlow baptised 23.6.1691 at Hope Mansell 9.2.1714 and had 9 children.
Giles 1686 parents were Giles Brain and Elinor.
Joan Mutlow parents Richard Mutlow & Mary had 7 children.
All events Ruardean except the marriage between Giles Brain & Joan Mutlow.
I apologise that as shown in your reply I did show Cornelius where I meant to put Giles baptised 16 Nov 1811
I have more information that I could share and vice versa if you reply to my email address.

It is interesting that the gate at Ruardean Church bears a stone dated 10.5.1743 (which I have a picture of) with text endorsed by the then churchwardens James Mutlow & Hendry Heane. Joan Mutlow's brother James was baptised 12.5.1689.

Jim

Just to let everyone know. I have now got the marriage certificate of Harriet Hodges and James Griffiths.

Married in the Register office, Westbury on Severn District 8 April 1865. James was 19 and a bachelor. Harriet was 21 and a widow. Her father is named as Enos Brain.

Jenny