Research Forum

William Briffitt\Breffitt\Briffett\Brefat circa 1812
published by on Thu, 03/01/2013 - 22:25

Hi,

Sorry to add this I second time but I found an image of the census. The master record states St Lawrence Somerset, the image suggests something that looks like Wick prior to st lawrence.

Discovered my Great Great Grandfather on a Census return from Wales stating his place of origin being Somersetshire and what looks like it might say Wick St Lawrence. I can't see him as being Baptised there or any other reference to Briffett in Wick St Lawrence, although across other parts of the county there are a lot of Briffitt Briffett and other corruptions of the name. His father was Called George, both were farm labourers. I'm kind of stumped at this point any ideas would be cheerfully recieved.

Thanks

Paul

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Fri, 04/01/2013 - 11:03

Can you tell us on which census you found his birth place? I can find a William BRIFFET of the right age in Llantillio Crossenny in 1851 but his birthplace is just Somerset and he's unmarried so probably not your gg grandfather - he is also on the 1861 census. Most of the BRIFFET entries in Wales who are from Somerset seem to give their birth place as Bridgwater

Submitted by on Fri, 04/01/2013 - 22:39

Hi Pat

Thanks for your reply. I also have those entries and I believe that both are my William. I also have a Jpeg scan of the 1871 Census, the transcriber has coded the surname as Bruffett. Between 1861 and 1871 he's been a busy man, aged 60 he has a 35 year old wife 3 daughters aged 9, 6, and 3 and a one year old son. He's now located in Penrhos Monmouthshire, the nine year old Daughter Dinah (laterly Diana) is my great great grandmother. I tried to attach the image of the census page but I had a few technical issues (just upgraded to Windows 8) however you should be able to see the image above now, the family are on the first five rows.

Submitted by Pat Hase on Sat, 05/01/2013 - 0:12

Thank you - I've found him now - transcribed on the version I saw as MIFFITT! I would agree with you that the place of birth is certainly Week (Wick) St Lawrence. FreeBMD has a marriage registered during the September Qrt or 1861 of a William BRIFFETT and a Charlotte TYRELL (Ref Abergavenny 11a 73). The image of the marriage on the 15th Aug 1861 at Llantillio Portholey Parish Church can be seen online via Familysearch but perhaps you already have this because it gives his father's name as George BRIFFETT which you already know.

However - and I should have done this before when you first wrote but you said that you couldn't find a baptism at Wick St Lawrence - BUT - he's there on our transcripts!

13th Oct 1811 William s/o George and Diana BRIFFET

William BRIFFET (widower) married Dianah LACEY (widow) in Wick St Lawrence 3rd Aug 1805

You will also find that William BRIFFET (widower) married Mary GILL (widow) at Wick St Lawrence 4th July 1819

Under Burials in Wick St Lawrence there are

Hannah (wife of George) BRIFFET buried 14th Dec 1804

Diana (wife of George) BRIFFOTT buried 17th March 1816, aged 48

Mary (wife of George) BRIFFOT buried 3rd Oct 1820, aged 76

George BRIFFIT buried 13th March 1825, aged 60

You will need to check these yourself - I have copied them so I could have made an error - it has been known!

I didn't look to see if there were any more children

Have fun sorting it out!

Submitted by on Sat, 05/01/2013 - 12:07

Pat,

Thank you so much for your help, I looked at the baptism transcripts and totally missed it. I visited Wick St Lawrence in August 2007 unfortunately I had three small children in the car so didn't stay very long although standing outside the church it just felt like it was the right place. Now I have so much to go on, thank you so much.

Paul