JOSEPH
BROWN
3 NOVEMBER 2005
I live in
Western Pennsylvania. About twenty years ago when I was told I would
probably live only a few more years because of a diagnosis of leukemia, I
took my mother and father to Yorkshire where my Dad's father was born -
one of the greatest gifts I have ever give my Dad.
I have been
blessed in my life and had a successful bone marrow transplant fourteen
years ago in Seattle, Washington. Now that I am retired I have started to
track my family history in England.
My
grandfather was Bertie Smedley, born 2nd June 1895 in Swinton,
Yorkshire. His parents were Ernest Smedley and Eleanor Seddon.
The reason I
am writing is that in the 1901 UK Census, I found my grandfather's family
and discovered that he had an adopted brother by the name of Joseph Brown,
who was 13 at the time and was born in Knottingley.
I know it's a
long shot, but I would appreciate any additional information you could
provide concerning Joseph Brown.
Jack
Smedley, Coraopolis, Pa
jlsmedley (at) comcast.net
3 November 2005
Ron Gosney's Reply
Hello Jack
In reply to your
enquiry concerning Joseph Brown, the following seems a distinct
possibility.
In the 1891
census there is a family at Knottingley; Joseph Brown aged 32, a glass
blower, born in Castleford; Maud Mary, his wife, aged 28, born at Hoyle
Mill, Yorkshire; Charles A., son, aged 5, born in Knottingley; Joseph,
son, aged 3, born in Knottingley; and Harry, son, aged 7 months, born in
Knottingley.
Joseph was born
14 February 1888 and baptised at Christ Church, Knottingley on the 11th
March 1888.
According to the
cemetery records, Harry the son, died in 1892, aged 1 year 6 months;
Joseph, the father was buried 15 November 1895, aged 35, and Maud Mary,
the mother, was buried 13th January 1898, aged 32 years. So in 1898
Joseph was orphaned.
It may be that
either Joseph brown or his wife Maud Mary (maiden name not known at this
stage) was some relative to your ancestors, and the name may be someone
you can identify to, but this certainly seems likely to be the family of
the adopted Joseph Brown.
Ron Gosney
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