Category: Genealogy

In 1825, my 4 x great grandmother Ann Lowcock travelled from the West Country to London to seek Poor Relief for herself and three young children – Thomas, Sarah and James – because her husband, James Richard Brereton, was ill. James Richard Brereton was a skilled metalworker, and London was his parental home – hence the journey.

Thankfully, James Richard Brereton recovered and his family returned to the West Country. There, he resumed his trade working as a goldbeater and a travelling tinker. James also fathered three more children: Elizabeth, Maria and Francis. Sadly, Maria and her elder brother James died in infancy.

When, in 1834, James Richard Brereton fell ill again, his wife Ann Lowcock and her surviving children Thomas, Sarah, Elizabeth and Francis travelled to Portsmouth, where the family had lived, in the hope of obtaining Poor Relief. However, they were then sent to London. The Breretons were travelling around in circles, both figuratively and literally, trying desperately to keep the family together.

Eventually, Ann Lowcock returned to Somerset where, on 3 April 1833, she baptised my 3 x great grandmother Fanny Brereton. Tragically, James Richard Brereton died the same year. The date of his death has not survived in the records, but it’s possible that he did not live to see the birth of Fanny. 

Now a widow with five children in tow, Ann went on her travels again. Her comfortable upbringing no more than a distant memory, she had to find a way to survive.

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Early married life for my 4 x great grandparents Ann Lowcock and James Richard Brereton saw the birth of three children: Thomas, Sarah and James. 

Thomas was born late 1818/early 1819. The records for him are scarce, and his baptism record has not survived.

Sarah was born on 29 March 1820 in Bristol and baptised on 29 April 1821 in the church of St Philip and St Jacob, Bristol. Her father James was working as a highly-skilled goldbeater at that time, producing gold leaf.

Baby James was born late 1824. Again, there is no record of his baptism. One reason for the lack of Thomas and James’ baptism records could be that the family were moving around Somerset as James Brereton sought employment. 

No child was recorded born to James and Ann c1822. In common with most women of the period, Ann gave birth every two or three years, so the four year gap is unusual. My suspicion is that their baby born c1822 died in infancy, and the records have not survived.

Although James had a good trade, working in metal, his health failed – possibly due to metal poisoning. And his family found themselves in London, seeking financial support. Almost certainly, James had returned to his birth city to connect with his family. However, by this time his father Thomas had died and his mother Sarah did not have the means to offer financial support.

Seeking poor relief, James, Ann and their children were evicted from St Dunstan in the West, London. What would happen to them next?

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I’m researching my 4 x great grandmother Ann Lowcock and her family.

On 17 May 1818 Ann married James Richard Brereton in her home town of Martock, Somerset. James was born on 19 November 1793 in Shoe Lane, Fleet Street, London, and baptised on 22 December 1793 in St Dunstan-in-the-West, London. How and why did he make his way to Martock?

James was the third of nine children born to Thomas Brereton and Sarah Wright. In 1807 he became an apprentice cutler, learning the skills required for metalworking. Apprentices usually served a seven-year term and, as with James, commenced their learning at the age of fourteen.

James’ father, Thomas, paid £30 – the equivalent of around £3,000 now – so that James could learn a trade. Thomas was a clerk in Fleet Street, and earning a decent living.

The apprentice became an extra worker in the master’s household. He or she was subject to the absolute authority of the master and by the terms of their ‘indenture’ could not gamble, go to the theatre or a public house, play cards or dice, marry or fornicate. Little wonder that some of the apprentices ran away from their masters.

In 1814 James qualified as a cutler. His skills allowed him to work with various metals, including gold. 

James travelled across southern England, plying his trade. In Martock, he met Ann Lowcock, and they married. Ann, from a secure family had, seemingly, secured her future. Now, she was expected to raise a family. More about that next time…

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