Research Forum

Thomas and Elizabeth Browning
published by on Wed, 03/02/2016 - 22:42

I am looking for information about Thomas Browning born around 1819 and his family. His wife was Elizabeth Browning born around 1824 and they had at least 5 children including Ellen Ada Browning, my great grandmother.
Thomas Browning was a coal merchant, according to the 1871 census.
He seems to have lived on West Street Banwell in Oromonde Villa?? (hard to read). His neighbours included a retired bank manager and an auctioneer / estate agent. I'm guessing the coal business was doing ok!
In 1891, my grandfather, Charles H B Colman, aged 8, was living in a household with Elizabeth Browning (his grandma) in Clifton, Bristol where he was going to school. (Ellen Browning had married and moved to Tiverton, Devon with my great grandfather Charles Colman before this time).
I'd be really interested in any info or comments about this! Thankyou.

Comments ..

Submitted by daveerasmus on Fri, 05/02/2016 - 19:24

There is a marriage of a Thomas BROWNING in Keynsham in the first quarter of 1848 (Vol 11 P107). One of the possible spouses is Elizabeth Wait HALL. This is interesting because in the 1851 Census Thomas, Elizabeth and daughter Clara Rose were living in Bristol (where Thomas was born) and living with them was Thomas's sister-in-law Matilda HALL. At that time Thomas was a Tea Dealer. (In 1861 he was a Grocer.)

If you think this might be the right marriage, I suggest you obtain the marriage certificate. Hopefully this will confirm your assumption and provide details of the bride and groom's fathers' names and occupations.

Dave Erasmus

Submitted by Pat Hase on Fri, 05/02/2016 - 21:37

You are absolutely right Dave with Elizabeth Wait HALL. The actual marriage to Thomas BROWNING took place in Bitton - see Familysearch - in 1848 and gives Thomas's father's name as well.

They were not living in Banwell in 1871 but in Weston-super-Mare in Ormonde Villa in South Side. The retired Bank Manager mentioned in the original query as a neighbour had the surname HALL - might be well to check whether there was any connection.

Albert Edward, Emma Hall, and Ellen Ada BROWNING were all christened at Emmanuel Church in Weston - see our transcriptions.

Submitted by on Sun, 11/06/2017 - 21:01

Thank you very much for all this really interesting detail, I will investigate further.
I am really sorry that I was unaware of any replies to my query and have taken over year to get back to you.
Thanks again
Clare Cheetham

Submitted by on Sun, 11/06/2017 - 20:56

Many thanks for this! Sorry it's taken me over a year to discover your reply and respond to you. I have found a marriage record that says Thomas Browning was listed as a grocer and I will investigate further using the info you've given me.
Thanks again
Clare Cheetham