(Not on the Great War Memorial for Thurlton)
In loving Memory of
MARY ANN
The beloved wife of
WILLIAM BRABBEN
Who died January 28th 1925
Aged 77 years
Also of FREDERICK BRABBEN
Who was Killed in France in 1916
During the Great War
Aged 37 years
Also of AGNES PURLAND
Who died November 8th 1920
Aged 38 years
Thy will be done
BRABBEN, FREDRICK JAMES
Rank:………………………………Private
Service No:……………………..300006
Date of Death:………………..28/08/1917
Age:………………………………..35
Regiment:……………………….Royal Warwickshire Regiment
………………………………………1st/7th Bn.
Panel Reference:…………….Panel 23 to 28 and 163A.
Memorial:………………………TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of William Brabben, of Thorpe, Haddiscoe, Norfolk; husband of Adelaide Brabben, of 4, Walmer Rd., Kirkley, Lowestoft, Suffolk.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/842623/BRABBEN,%20FRE...
The Soldiers Died in the Great War database records that Private 300006 Fred Brabben of the 1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was Killed in Action on the 28th August 1917. He had previously been 3699 in the Norfolk Regiment. No place of birth was recorded, but he was resident Hardley, Loddon and enlisted Loddon, Norfolk.
The Medal Index Card for Private 300006 Fred Brabben, Royal Warwickshire Regiment is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/3/23921
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1438764
No match on Picture Norfolk
There is no obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.
Frederick is remembered on the War Memorials at nearby Hardley.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Hardley.html
April to June quarter 1876 – marriage of parents
The marriage of a William Babben and a Maria Rushmer was recorded in the Loddon District of Norfolk in the April to June quarter of 1876.
April to June quarter 1879 – birth and baptism of Frederick
The birth of a Frederick James Brabben was recorded in the Loddon District of Norfolk in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1879.
The baptism of a Frederick James Brabben took place at All Saints, Thurlton, on the 25th May 1879. His parents were William, a Labourer, and Maria.
freereg2.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5510f73ee93790332e...
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXPB-P8Z
1881 Census of England & Wales
The 1 year old “Frederick” Brabben, born Thurlton, was recorded at a dwelling at Thurlton. This was the household of his parents, William, (aged 31 and an Agricultural Labourer from Toft Monks, Norfolk) and Maria, (aged 28 and from Thurlton).
It may be a co-incidence but the most likely match for the second wife of William, (and step-mother of Frederick, is a 32 year old unmarried Farm Servant, Mary ‘Anne’ Chapman, from Redisham, who was recorded living in the household of her employer at Bicks Green, St Andrew Ilketshall, Suffolk. More specifically she was working as a Dairy Servant.
July to September quarter, 1884 – birth of Agnes
The birth of an Agnes Alice Brabben was recorded in the Loddon District of Norfolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1884.
1885-86, 1888, 1889, 1890 and 1891 Norfolk Register of Electors
A William Brabben was entitled to vote as a result of being a male householder of a dwelling house at Low Road, Thurlton.
1885-86 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HBY-WXG
1888 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HY4-YYV
1889 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HBB-BNS
1890 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HB1-YKY
1891 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HBM-3KP
1891 Census of England & Wales
The family were now recorded living at Reedham Road, Loddon, Norfolk. Father William is still shown as born Toft Monks, but is only aged 39. He is now a Farm Bailiff. Mother “Mary Ann” is now, at 42, older than her husband and also gives her birthplace as Redisham, Suffolk – could this possibly be a second marriage? Living with them is the 11 year old Frederick J, born Thurlton.
(On the 1911 census, the most likely match for William and Mary Ann state they have been married 21 years – i.e. married c1890. I could not however find a likely death of a Maria Brabben recorded in England and Wales between the 1881 and 1891 censuses. However the death of a 34 Maria “Brabbin” was recorded in the Loddon District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1887.)
A family history website records that Maria died on the 15th December 1887.
donaldfamily.co.uk/37/17176.htm
The marriage of a William Brabben to a Mary Ann Chapman was recorded in the Loddon District of Norfolk in the April to June quarter of 1890.
The 6 year old Agnes Alice Brabben, born Thurlton, was recorded at a dwelling on Thorpe Road, Thurlton. This was the household of her widowed grandmother, Ann Rushmer, (aged 76, living on own means and from Thorpe next Haddiscoe, Norfolk). Ann has two of her own children living with her – Frederick, (aged 35 and a Farmer from Thurlton), and Emma, (aged 27 and from Thurlton).
The most likely match for Fred’s future wife is a 1 year old Adelaide Lay, born Norwich, who was recorded living at 81, Old Palace Road, Norwich. This was the household of her parents, William F, a 37 year old house painter from St James, London, and the 38 year old Frances from Cromer, Norfolk. Adelaide also has an 11 year old sister, Hannah M, born “Rookdale”, Lancashire.
1894 and 1895 Norfolk Register of Electors
A William Brabben was entitled to vote as a result of being a male householder of a dwelling house at Norton Road, Loddon. He is not entitled to vote in County Elections, only parish and parliamentary one, and the dwelling house also has “service” after it in brackets, so possibly this was a tied cottage, (i.e. a dwelling that went with the job).
1894 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H11-9R8
1895 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMM-S98
1898, 1899,1900 and 1901 Norfolk Register of Electors
A William Brabben was entitled to vote as a result of being a male householder of a dwelling house at Low Road, Norton Subcourse. He is not entitled to vote in County Elections, only parish and parliamentary one, and the dwelling house also has “service” after it in brackets, so possibly this was a tied cottage, (i.e. a dwelling that went with the job).
1898 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H1N-LW3
1899 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HBK-6G6
1900 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HYN-HZ1
1901 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H1V-4X6
1901 Census of England & Wales
The only likely match is a 21 year old Frederick J Brabben, a single Dock Labourer recorded as a boarder at 10 Victoria Street, Dovercourt, Essex. However his birthplace, like the two other boarders, was recorded as Harwich. (Note – in my experience the information came from the head of the household who may have either taken the information given by the boarders at face value or may simply have made up the information to get the census collector out the door!)
Parents William, (49, Steward on Farm from Toft Monks) and Mary, (51, Suffolk), were recorded living at a Farm on Low Road, Norton Subcourse, Norfolk.
The 16 year old Agnes Alice from Thurlton, was recorded living with her uncle and aunt at a dwelling “Near the Church”, Thorpe near Haddiscoe, Norfolk. They are Robert, (64) and Jane, (61), Rushmer. Robert was a Farmer from Thorpe next Haddiscoe and Jane was from Homersfield, Suffolk. Also in the household is Robert sister, (and Agnes’ aunt), Emma Rushmer, (aged 41, single and from Thurlton).
The most likely match for Fred’s future wife, the 11 year old Adelaide Lay, born Norwich, had by now moved with her family to Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex. As well as parents William F, (48, Housepainter) and Frances, (48), older sister Hannah M, (20) is also living with them. Hannah’s birthplace is now shown as Rochdale, Lancashire.
1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910 and 1911 Norfolk Register of Electors
A William Brabben was entitled to vote as a result of being a male householder of a dwelling house at Low Road, Norton Subcourse. He is not entitled to vote in County Elections, only parish and parliamentary one, and the dwelling house also has “service” after it in brackets, so possibly this was a tied cottage, (i.e. a dwelling that went with the job).
1902 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CM9-CST
1903 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H1V-V2D
1904 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CM3-JC9
1905 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H12-G44
1906 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H17-QT3
1907 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HYG-7T1
1908 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMK-X1P
1909 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H1P-G7K
1910 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMC-MG8
1911 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CML-HP3
1911 Census of England & Wales
Again there seems to be only one likely match in England and Wales – a 28 year old Horseman from Thurlton, still single, and recorded as a boarder at 5 Hall Lane, Hardley, Loddon, Norfolk. This was the household of a George and Ellen Farrow.
Parents William, (62, Farm Bailiff from Toft Monks) and Maryann, (64, from Redisham, Suffolk) were recorded living at Norton Subcourse, Loddon, Norfolk.
The most likely match for Agnes Brabben on this census is a 25 year old single woman from Norton Subcourse, Norfolk, a Domestic Servant, who was recorded as a visitor on the night of the census at 45 Orchard Street, Dereham Road, Norwich. This was the household of a 47 year old widow, Harriet S Henderson.
The most likely future wife of Fred is the 21 year old Adelaide Lay, born Norwich, who is recorded living with her parents at The White Hart, Thurlton, where her father, William Frederic, (57), is the Publican. William gives his birthplace as London, Middlesex. He and his wife Frances, (aged 58 and from Cromer), have been married 33 years and have had 6 children, of which 2 were then still alive.
According to this source, William only held the licence for 1910-1911.
www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolkt/thurlton/thurlwha.htm
Lay family tree
donaldfamily.co.uk/43/17172.htm
1912, 1913, 1914 and 1915 Norfolk Register of Electors
A William Brabben was entitled to vote as a result of being a male householder of a dwelling house at Low Road, Norton Subcourse. He is not entitled to vote in County Elections, only parish and parliamentary one, and the dwelling house also has “service” after it in brackets, so possibly this was a tied cottage, (i.e. a dwelling that went with the job).
1912 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HB4-DH9
By the time the 1913 register was compiled he had moved to a dwelling “near marshes” at Thorpe Next Haddiscoe.
1913 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMX-LWF
1914 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMN-MFJ
1915 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H17-BGF
January to March quarter 1915 – death of father William
The death of a 65 year old William Brabben was recorded in the Loddon District of Norfolk in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1915.
The 1915 Probate Calendar records a William Brabben of Low Road, Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe, who died on the 6th March 1915. Probate was granted in the London court on the 22nd April 1915 to Stephen Edmund Ford, farmer.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Brabben&...
April to June quarter 1916 – marriage of Fred
The marriage of a Frederick J Brabben to an Adelaide Lay was recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the April to June quarter of 1916.
Post August 1911 it had become compulsory in England and Wales when registering a birth to also record the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of births for England and Wales does not produces a single instance of a child registered with the combination surname Brabben, mothers maiden name Lay.
October to December quarter 1916 – marriage of Agnes
The marriage of an Agnes A Brabben to a William G Purland was recorded in the Loddon District of Norfolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1916.
A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Births for England and Wales produces only three matches for this combination of surname \ mothers maiden name, and all are potentially children of William and Agnes as they were registered in Agnes lifetime in the Loddon District of Norfolk.
Risda D……………….October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1917 (but see postscript below)
Frederick W………..April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1919
Leslie C……………….October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1920.
