George BROWNESS, "The Enigma"^{[1, 2, 3]}

1814 - 1872  (57 years)

• Name	George BROWNESS  [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25]
  Suffix	"The Enigma"
  Born	15 Jun 1814	Maidstone, Kent, England, UK   [21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32]
  Christened	29 Jun 1814	Maidstone, Kent, England, UK   [21, 33]
  	(Christened by Chaplain Reeves) [3]
  Gender	Male
  Died	28 Mar 1872	Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England, UK   [34, 35]
  Person ID	I976	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	4 Aug 2011

  
  

  Family	Mary Ann FOSTER,   b. 10 Jun 1828, London, Greater London, England, UK ,   d. 7 Dec 1871, London, Greater London, England, UK  (Age 43 years)  [3]
  Married	5 Feb 1854	Paddington, Middlesex, England, UK   [35, 36]
  	Notes from Ian Browness: Location of the Marriage Ceremony? Paddington, St Mary, Paddington Green - has been the church of the historic parish of Paddington (see their note on Paddington St James ). See SAINT MARY, PADDINGTON GREEN, WESTMINSTER for registers at LMA.(from GENUKI). Current church address: Church of St Mary on Paddington Green - 6 Park Place Villas, London, W2 1SP, UK 020 77231968 [3]
  Children	1. Jane Emma FOSTER,   b. Abt 1848, Paddington, Middlesex, England, UK ,   d. 12 Oct 1890, Isleworth, Middlesex, England, UK  (Age ~ 42 years)   2. George Robert BROWNESS,   b. 11 Nov 1854, Kensal New Town, London, England, UK ,   d. 14 Dec 1923, Chelsea, Middlesex, England, UK  (Age 69 years)   3. Anne Amelia BROWNESS,   b. 12 Aug 1856, Kensal New Town, London, England, UK ,   d. 16 Feb 1931, Kensal New Town, London, England, UK  (Age 74 years)   4. Frederick William BROWNESS,   b. 29 Jul 1858, Kensal New Town, London, England, UK ,   d. 4 Mar 1859, Kensal New Town, London, England, UK  (Age 0 years)   5. Amy Maria BROWNESS,   b. 28 Feb 1860, Kensal New Town, London, England, UK ,   d. 27 Jul 1866, Kensal New Town, London, England, UK  (Age 6 years)   6. Arthur Edwin BROWNESS,   b. 28 Dec 1861, Kensal New Town, London, England, UK ,   d. 10 May 1902, Brisbane, , Queensland, Australia  (Age 40 years)
  Last Modified	4 Aug 2011
  Family ID	F370	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Notes from Ian Browness: 1. (2008-01) Surname spelling for this individual has been standardized to "BROWNESS" for ease of look-up within my master file and on Http://Browness.Net , although in many cases, the civil registration authorities and census takers of mid-1800's Kensington recorded it as "BROUNES" or some variant thereof. The specific surname spelling variation used by the authorities on any given record can, in most cases, be found in the specific source citation for that individual's name. 2. In 1851, at age 37, George was still single. However, staying with him as lodgers at the "Ford Villa" farm in Ampney were William Smith, a gardener age 29, from Ampney Crucis, Rhoda Smith, Mark's wife age 29, from Castle Eaton, Wiltshire, and their children Martha, age 11, and Mark, age 7 (both identified as "scholars", so not employed). 3. Re: 1861 Census Entry (Paddington). The incorrect birth information for George on the 1861 Census has several implications. (1) First, it certainly indicates that George himself was not the person who provided the information to the Enumerator; it was more likely his wife Mary Ann, who knew that George's family was from Gloucester, but didn't realize he was born while father John was working in Kent. George was quite possibly working away from Kenal Town and may have been enumerated at another location. (2) Second, it suggests that George, not surprisingly, had understated his age to Mary Ann when, at just 4 months shy of age 40, he married her. (3) Finally, as Stephen Browness describes below, it cements the link between George and John Browness. 3a. (SJB/11Apr2007) "...for years I privately referred to him as 'George the enigma'. This started from the frustration of knowing that he was definitely George Robert's father and that his father was called John but I could not for years prove that he was John the soldier's son. I was reluctant to make an assumption because I knew John was from Ampney (nr Cirencester) but George appeared to come from Kensal (London). What cracked it was coming across [Amy Maria's BMD information] and finding them living [at the same Smith's Cottage address] on the 1861 census. This showed George as being born in Cirencester which, though a mistake - he was born in Maidstone - was confirmation enough that he was John 's son. This was all in 1993 I think." 4. On 08 Feb 1862 in Kensington, George personally registered the birth of Arthur Edwin in St Mary Paddington (the births of the other children had been registered by Mary Ann). [3]

  
  

• Sources

  [S316] [Imported from FOSTER_Tmp 08Jan2010]. [S18] Ian Browness. site_manager@browness.net, http://browness.net. ©2011-07-28: The information on this Six Trees : One Family website and the underlying GEDCOM files are (except where explicitly stated) the original work of Ian Browness, Stephen J Browness and other valued contributors and researchers so recognized herein. Its contents reflect a level of research and analysis achieved only through a long-term investment of time and money. As every effort has been made to acknowledge the sources of information displayed here, please do the same in reference to any information and/or images you may take from this site. Any duplication of information contained herein without citing this site as the source, any commercial use whatsoever of the data, and the publication of information on any living person are expressly prohibited. [S251] File (merged): V:\imported gedcom\GeorgeHenryBrowness.ged. Record originated in... [S244] Census, England 1841, (as of 06/07 Jun 1841), Browness (McGuire, née --), Margaret & Family, 1841 England Census, Gloucestershire, Ampney Crucis, Dist 1, Folio 12, p. 19, GRO (class/piece): HO107/ 354 (Anc.Com –and- FindMyPast) (Reliability: 3). (FindMyPast.Com notes this page as part of the enumeration of the Crown Inn; George's surname was recorded as "Brownesf", but unclearly - see the citation and "Notes" for George's mother Margaret) [S229] Census, England 1851, (as of 30 Mar 1851), BRAWNESS (BROWNESS, tr.BRAWNER), George (1814), 1851 England Census, Gloucestershire Ampney Crucis, Reg'n dist: Cirencester, Sub reg'n dist: Cotswold, Dist: 2, Folio 541, pp. 5, GRO (class/piece): HO107 / 1968 (Anc.Co.UK) (Reliability: 3). (Written "Brawnefs" ("Brawness") in this source, but mis-transcribed by Ancestry as "Brawner") [S230] Census, England 1861, (as of 07 Apr 1861), BROWNES (BROWNESS, tr. BROWNS), George (1814), & Family 1861 England Census Middlesex, Paddington, St Mary Paddington, Dist: 4, Folio 144, p. 24, GRO (class/piece): RG9 / 1 (FindMyPast & Anc.Co.UK) (Reliability: 3). (Census Enumerator's writing is very poor, but George & Mary Ann's family can be safely identified by its members. Surname appears to have been written "Brownes", but transcribed by Ancestry as "Brow ns". Posted correction on their site. /IBB) [S239] Census, England 1871, (as of 02 Apr 1871), BRAWNS (BROWNESS, tr.BROWNS), George (1814) 1871 England Census Gloucestershire-Ampney Crucis-District 1, Folio 23, p21, Srce RG10-2648 (Anc-Co-UK) (Reliability: 3). (Written "Brawns" but transcribed by Ancestry as "Browns". Posted correction on their site.) [S308] Death Registration (Certified) Brawniss (Browness), George (1814) 1872, GRO [UK] "...Sub-district of Cirencester in the Counties of Gloucester and Wilts", (Application COL 315444, Certificate DYB 027670, 11May2006), BRAWNISS (BROWNESS), George (1814) 1872 Apr-Jun Death Registration (Certified) Cirencester, Gloucestershire Wiltshire, Age 63, GRO Index Vol 6a, p213 (Anc-Co-UK) (Reliability: 3). (Recorded here as "George Brawniss") [S306] Death Registration (Certified) Brounefs (Browness), Amy Maria, 1866 (“Certified Copy of an Entry of Death…"), GRO [UK] "...Sub-district of Chelsea North East in the County of Middlesex", (Application COL 877237, Certificate DYB 389454, 22Jan2007), [CRI Death (CERTIFIED)] BROUNESS, Amy M (1860), 1866 Jul-Sep, Age 6, District: Chelsea, County: Greater London / Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p 158 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Recorded here as "George Brouness") [S309] Death Registration (Certified) Brounefs (Browness), Frederick William, 1859 (“Certified Copy of an Entry of Death…"), GRO [UK] "...Sub-district of Saint Mary Paddington in the County of Middlesex", (Application COL 877237, Certificate DYB 389447, 22Jan2007), [CRI Death (CERTIFIED)] BROUNESS Frederick William (1858), 1859 Jan-Mar, Age -, District: Kensington, County: Greater London / Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 15[unclear] (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Quite oddly not named - identified only as "a Labourer" - on son Frederick's death registration, on which Frederick's surname appears to be written "Brouness" - and was so indexed by FreeBMD) [S310] Death Registration (Certified) Brouness (Browness née Foster), Mary 1871Death Registration (Certified) Brouness (Browness née Foster), Mary 1871, GRO [UK] "...Sub-district of St John Paddington in the County of Middlesex", (Application COL 956293, Certificate DYA 817587, 21Oct2005), [CRI Death (CERTIFIED)] BROUNESS (BROWNESS née FOSTER), Mary, 1871 Q4 Oct-Dec, Age: 42, District: Kensington, County: Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 46 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Oddly, George's wife is recorded here as "Mary Brouness... | "Wife of -[first name blank]- Brouness Labourer" - See Notes for Mary Ann) [S79] Birth Registration (Certified) Brouness (Browness), Amy Maria, 1860 (“Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth…"), GRO [UK] "...Sub-district of St Mary Paddington in the County of Middlesex", (Application COL 877237, Certificate BXCC 234226, 22Jan2007), [CRI Birth (CERTIFIED)] BROUNESS, Amy Maria, 1860 Jan-Mar, District: Kensington, County: Middlesex, Vol 1a, p. 34 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Surname here appears to be written "Brouness" - and was so indexed by FreeBMD) [S80] Birth Registration (Certified) Brouness (Browness), Frederick William, 1858 (“Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth…"), GRO [UK] "...Sub-district of St Mary Paddington in the County of Middlesex", (Application COL 877237, Certificate BXCC 234225, 22Jan2007), [CRI Birth (CERTIFIED)] Brouness, Frederick William, 1858 Jul-Sep, District: Kensington, County: Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 14 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Surname here appears to be written "Brouness" - and was so indexed by FreeBMD) [S81] Birth Registration (Certified) Brouness (Browness), Arthur E 1861, GRO [UK] Kensington; "...Sub-district of St Mary Paddington in the County of Middlesex", (Application COL877237, Certificate BXCC 234230, 22Jan2007), [CRI Birth (Certified)] BROUNESS [BROWNESS], Arthur Edwin, 1861 (Reg'd 1862 Q1 Jan-Mar), District: Kensington, County: Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 19 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Surname here appears to be written "Brouness" - and was so indexed by FreeBMD) [S254] Family Tree "Browness Family" descendants chart, Kreis, Emil "Jerry" and Muriel (née Purdie), (c.1980). [S255] Family Tree of James Brandish accompanying "John, The First Browness", Browness, Stephe n, (Mar 1985). [S82] Birth Registration (Certified) Browness, Anne Amelia 1856, GRO [UK] ("...Sub-district of Chelsea in the County of Middlesex"), (Application R12613, Certificate BXB 007770, 26Nov1984 (or 86 - unclear)), [CRI Birth (CERTIFIED)] BROWNESS, Anne Amelia, 1856 Q3 Jul-Sep, District: Chelsea, County: Greater London / London, Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 165 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Recorded here as George "Brownefs") [S307] Marriage Registration (Certified) Browness-Foster 1854, GRO [UK] ("... in the Reg'n District of Kensington, Paddington”), (Application PAS..[not recd'd], Certificate MXD 152278, 25Jan1968), [CRI Marriage (CERTIFIED)] BROWNESS, George (1814) & FOSTER, Mary, 1854 Q1 Jan-Mar, District: Kensington, County: Greater London / London, Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 166 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (George's 1854 marriage registration is nearly the only place outside his Army birth/baptism record where we actually find his surname recorded as "Browness" (both on the registration itself and the h andwritten index thereto). The marriage registration also shows that George, then nearly 40, could not write his name, which no doubt contributed to this inconsistency in records.) [S294] Marriage Registration (Certified) Browness-Howe (How) 1880, GRO [UK] ("... in the Reg'n District of East Stonehouse”), (Application 531602, Certificate MX 135488, 03Aug1967), [CRI Marriage (Certified)] HOWE, Annie - BROWNESS, George R 1880 Oct-Dec, District: East Stonehouse, County: Devon, Vol 5b, p. 571 (Anc-Co-UK) (Reliability: 3). [S311] Marriage Registration (Certified) Hollister-Browness 1874 (“Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage… in the Reg'n District of Kensington”), GRO [UK], (Application COL 877237, Certificate MXD 022302, 23Jan2007), [CRI Marriage (Certified)] HOLLISTER, James (1854) - BROWNESS, Anne A, 1874 Q4 Oct-Dec, District: Kensington, County: Greater London - London Middlesex, Vol.1a, p.220 (FreeBMD/Anc.Com) (Reliability: 3). (Recorded here as "George Brownesf", and not listed as deceased) [S312] Birth Registration (Certified) Browness, George 1814, Thirty-Sixth Regiment of Foot - Register of Baptisms, (Application: -(S.J. Browness), Certificate ## 039917 942403, 26Nov1984), [Regimental Birth (Certified)] BROWNESS, George, Place: Maidstone, Year: 1814, Regt: 36th, Vol. 13, p. 9 [p.351, Army Births & Baptisms, AB 91] (FindMyPast), 26 Oct 2008. [S69] Birth Registration (Certified) Browness, George Robert 1854, GRO [UK] ("...Sub-district of St Luke Chelsea in the County of Middlesex"), (Application PAS 1403..., Certificate BX 459989, 08Jan1968), [CRI Birth (CERTIFIED)] BROWNESS, George Robert, 1854 Q3 Oct-Dec, District: Chelsea, County: Greater London / London, Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 154 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Surname recorded here as "Brownefs") [S313] Queensland Govt Reg. of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Dept of Justice and Attorney-General State of Queensland AUS, ((http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/829.htm : 31 Aug 2009)), ). (Reliability: 3), 31 Aug 2009. (Here recorded as the father of "Arthur BRAWNIS.") [S314] Death Registration (Certified) Brouness (Browness née Foster), Mary 1871, GRO [UK] "...Sub-district of St John Paddington in the County of Middlesex", (Application COL 956293, Certificate DYA 817587, 21Oct2005), [CRI Death (CERTIFIED)] BROUNESS (BROWNESS née FOSTER), Mary, 1871 Q4 Oct-Dec, Age: 42, District: Kensington, County: Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 46 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Oddly, George's wife is recorded here as "Mary Brouness... | "Wife of -[first name blank]- Brouness Labourer" - See Notes for Mary Ann) [S315] Death Registration (Certified) Brawnis (Browness), Arthur 1902, Registrar General for Queensland (AU), ([Died 10May1902] ), [ANZ Death (CERTIFIED)] BRAWNIS (BROWNESS), Arthur, State: Queensland, Year: 1902, Age: 36, Location: Brisbane Hospital, 28 Jan 2010. "Fireman" you say? On Arthur's death registration, George is listed as having been a "Fireman". George was indeed a "man of many hats" (at least general labourer-type hats), and might have actually done this for a while (doing either what we now understand a "Fireman" to do (i.e. putting out fires), or working as the Fireman (stoker) on board one of the GWR engines). However, as neither of these is corroborated by the source records for George, Arthur may simply have made it up to disguise the fact his dad had died in a workhouse. [S244] Census, England 1841, (as of 06/07 Jun 1841), Browness (McGuire, née --), Margaret & Family, 1841 England Census, Gloucestershire, Ampney Crucis, Dist 1, Folio 12, p. 19, GRO (class/piece): HO107/ 354 (Anc.Com –and- FindMyPast) (Reliability: 3). (George's age is recorded here as "25", meaning (as ages were rounded down) in the range 25-29; this is consistent with his actual birth year of 1814. However, his birth location is wrongly shown on the census form as "I" for Ireland (further complicated at Ancestry.Com, where the "I" was transcribed as an "S" for Scotland!), indicating the enumerator may have simply assumed George was born i n the same location as his mother). [S229] Census, England 1851, (as of 30 Mar 1851), BRAWNESS (BROWNESS, tr.BRAWNER), George (1814), 1851 England Census, Gloucestershire Ampney Crucis, Reg'n dist: Cirencester, Sub reg'n dist: Cotswold, Dist: 2, Folio 541, pp. 5, GRO (class/piece): HO107 / 1968 (Anc.Co.UK) (Reliability: 3). (Listed as age 38, suggesting born c1912; location Maidstone, Kent) [S230] Census, England 1861, (as of 07 Apr 1861), BROWNES (BROWNESS, tr. BROWNS), George (1814), & Family 1861 England Census Middlesex, Paddington, St Mary Paddington, Dist: 4, Folio 144, p. 24, GRO (class/piece): RG9 / 1 (FindMyPast & Anc.Co.UK) (Reliability: 3). (George is recorded here as age 42 (4-5 years younger than he actually was), implying he was born in 1818-1819, and (even less correctly) as born in "Gloucestershire, Cirencester". This error is extr emely informative. **See "Notes", "Re: 1861 Census Entry (Paddington)" for more discusssion.) [S239] Census, England 1871, (as of 02 Apr 1871), BRAWNS (BROWNESS, tr.BROWNS), George (1814) 1871 England Census Gloucestershire-Ampney Crucis-District 1, Folio 23, p21, Srce RG10-2648 (Anc-Co-UK) (Reliability: 3). Age 61 at time of census, which would infer he was born c1810. [S308] Death Registration (Certified) Brawniss (Browness), George (1814) 1872, GRO [UK] "...Sub-district of Cirencester in the Counties of Gloucester and Wilts", (Application COL 315444, Certificate DYB 027670, 11May2006), BRAWNISS (BROWNESS), George (1814) 1872 Apr-Jun Death Registration (Certified) Cirencester, Gloucestershire Wiltshire, Age 63, GRO Index Vol 6a, p213 (Anc-Co-UK) (Reliability: 3). (Listed as age 63 at death, i.e. b.1808/1809, but actually only 57, so likely wasn't sure of his own age and/or looked older than his years.) [S255] Family Tree of James Brandish accompanying "John, The First Browness", Browness, Stephe n, (Mar 1985). (year and location, as "Maidstone", only) [S307] Marriage Registration (Certified) Browness-Foster 1854, GRO [UK] ("... in the Reg'n District of Kensington, Paddington”), (Application PAS..[not recd'd], Certificate MXD 152278, 25Jan1968), [CRI Marriage (CERTIFIED)] BROWNESS, George (1814) & FOSTER, Mary, 1854 Q1 Jan-Mar, District: Kensington, County: Greater London / London, Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 166 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). ("Of full age" - and then some! - at marriage) [S289] John, The First Browness, Written and researched by Stephen Browness, (09 Mar 1985), Certified Copy of George Browness' Birth Certificate (26 Nov 1984) (Reliability: 3). [S308] Death Registration (Certified) Brawniss (Browness), George (1814) 1872, GRO [UK] "...Sub-district of Cirencester in the Counties of Gloucester and Wilts", (Application COL 315444, Certificate DYB 027670, 11May2006), BRAWNISS (BROWNESS), George (1814) 1872 Apr-Jun Death Registration (Certified) Cirencester, Gloucestershire Wiltshire, Age 63, GRO Index Vol 6a, p213 (Anc-Co-UK) (Reliability: 3). (Informant on the death was Jno Williams, Master, Union Workhouse Cirencester) [S255] Family Tree of James Brandish accompanying "John, The First Browness", Browness, Stephe n, (Mar 1985). (year and location only) [S307] Marriage Registration (Certified) Browness-Foster 1854, GRO [UK] ("... in the Reg'n District of Kensington, Paddington”), (Application PAS..[not recd'd], Certificate MXD 152278, 25Jan1968), [CRI Marriage (CERTIFIED)] BROWNESS, George (1814) & FOSTER, Mary, 1854 Q1 Jan-Mar, District: Kensington, County: Greater London / London, Middlesex, Vol. 1a, p. 166 (FreeBMD) (Reliability: 3). (Church's full name is now (2007) the Church of St Mary on Paddington Green)