Thread: help needed please with Philadelphia Brown

Try as I might, I have not been able to find any birth details on Philadelphia Brown born, according to her death certificate, abt 1806. She died in 1845 in Islington, London.
Married William Braine on 11 Nov 1833 by banns at St Dunstans in the West, London. I dont have any parent information therefore cannot continue looking for her birth record. I dont know where she was born even though her banns record states that she was of the parish of St Dunstans in the West.

Can anybody help me locate Philadelphia's parents? Many thanks in advance

Originally Posted by vavoom

Try as I might, I have not been able to find any birth details on Philadelphia Brown born, according to her death certificate, abt 1806. She died in 1845 in Islington, London.
Married William Braine on 11 Nov 1833 by banns at St Dunstans in the West, London. I dont have any parent information therefore cannot continue looking for her birth record. I dont know where she was born even though her banns record states that she was of the parish of St Dunstans in the West.

Can anybody help me locate Philadelphia's parents? Many thanks in advance

Just to quickly add that in the 1841 census she is recorded as being born in county (Middlesex).

Hi Vavoom,

I found the marriage record for her. This gives her birth at around 1812, and when I looked at the 1841 census, it gives her birth at around 1811. Their marriage does come up on the London Marriages and Banns, which may give parents names, but unfortunately I'm unable to view these. Maybe someone would be willing to look for you.

I have found 3 records for a christening of a philadelphia brown, but they are in 1810 and 1813, and none of them are in Middlesex.

Sorry I couldn't help more,

Mrsp

Thank you for looking mrsp, any bit of extras do help! Especially with this young lady.

I just had another quick look at my copy of the 1841 census and it does say she was born in 1811, however with her death certificate giving her age in 1845 as 39 it did confuse me a little but I went with that so have been looking for a Philadelphia Brown born abt 1806. You say that their marriage comes up on the London Marriage and Banns - if Im not mistaken, I got my copy of their banns record off that database. I havent seen anywhere on that copy a birth date/year. And there is no mention of parents names.

I suppose my other problem is not knowing where she was born, but at least if I do have a fathers name (and mothers) I would be able to pinpoint a bit better.

Thanks alot again mrsp

Marion, thank you very much for that information. Im not sure why but I havent come across Browns (or any variation of that surname) born in St Dunstan so this information is very very helpful.

Cant wait to see where these people may lead me and again, thanks a lot, I appreciate your help

witnesse were W Braine & Mary Symons

Starting point is the church records in which they married...then moving out to the neighbouring parishes.....

People did not move far from their place of birth / Parish....if they needed parish relief it is the parish in which they were born that provided it!

Thanks Elsabels. I have a copy of the banns (there are 6 banns records all up on the page) and Mary Symons seems to be a witness on most of the marriages on that particular page. I did get quite excited when I saw that name and thought 'hmm who is this person' but then when I looked at the other marriages and saw her name again I thought maybe she is a 'professional' witness (stood in for you incase you didnt have someone to witness for you?) Did that kind of thing ever happen?

I dont think parish relief was needed for this particular branch, infact, on William Braines marriage certificate to his next wife after Philadelphia died it states his father John Braine was 'gent, out of business'. I took it to mean that he is retired - or he could have been a pauper but Im not convinced of the latter. Ive tried to search the Kellys directory but there are none for the period where he may have had a business.

My main focus is to find the name of Philadelphia Browns father. And unless the church records for that parish are online Im afraid its going to be a little difficult to have a look at them.....unless I fly over.....which I would love to!