The header for each year is preceded with an @ sign to facilitate searching
@1900
15 January, Aston district Harold Cecil Branscombe born. Birth registered March Q, Aston district.[1] [d.15 January 1902. Ninth child of glass manufacturer Edward Henry & Emma (Bennett - m.1880 Aston Brook). Siblings Maud Mary (1881 Birmingham), Elsie (1882 Birmingham), Beatrice Alice (b.1885 Aston, m.1915 Aston, Herbert Green (d.1964 Erdington), d.1972 Bangor), Margaret Emma (1887 Birmingham), Constance Elizabeth (1889 Birmingham - 1891), Edward Bennet (1890 Birmingham), Constance Gertrude (b.1898 Aston, remained a spinster, d.1972 Pontllyfni), Muriel (1897), Cyril Tom (1905-1909)]
? February, Mudgee?: Emma Branscombe [b.1877], third child of Henry "Harry" William & Susannah Burrell, marries Andrew Hartcher [b.1871].[2]
March quarter,
March quarter, Hendon district: Winifred Branscombe's birth is registered.[6] [Married 1927 Willesden to Dodman]
March quarter,
March quarter, Romford district: Mary Ellen Branscombe marries ? [8] [poss widow of Charles Alexander Branscomb, d.1899? Poss m. Marott? cf: marriage of daughter Ettie Marianne, 1911]
March quarter, Bethnal G district: Mary Ann C Branscombe marries ? [9]
2 March: The Relief of Ladysmith. `
April, Kumasi, West Africa: Death of William Harcourt
Branscombe, of Cape Coast Castle, West Africa, born in Bristol 1873, son of
William & Emma (Bigwood - m.1860 Bristol?). Probate of his will is granted
in
1 April, Christ Church, Notting Hill: Eleanor May, daughter of labourer William Hambridge & Emma Elizabeth (Rogers - m.1889 Notting Hill) of 84 Southam Street, baptised. Born 20 February.[12]
June quarter, Camberwell district: Leslie Branscombe's birth registered.[13] [Married 1924, West Ham, to Winifred G Sellick]
June quarter, Camberwell: Frederick Branscombe marries ? [14]
September quarter, Rochford district: Florence Maud
Branscombe's birth is registered.[15] [married
1922,
September quarter,
September quarter, St.Thomas district: Robert Douglas Branscombe marries ? [17] [son of John, grocer of Heavitree (b.1841 Morchard Bishop, d.1888 Heavitree) & Ellen (d.1911), m. Maud Wakeham. Children: Winifred E (1905), Douglas John (1907)]
September quarter,
September quarter,
September quarter, Richmond S district: Ada Branscombe marries
? [20] [according
to Suzanne Langford letter of
23 October, Maitland, N.S.W: Doris Irene Branscomb, daughter of George
Arthur & home,
13 November: Ann Branscombe, wife of William, dies, aged 81.[21] An extract of death certificate[22] says she was buried on the 14th. It gives the
place of death as
Mary
A. 57
Harry W. 50
Jane L. 47
Sarah 43
December quarter, Holborn district: Grace Branscombe's birth is registered.[1]
December quarter,
December quarter, Godstone district: Clement
Cecil Sharp, formerly director of the Adelaide Conservatorium, becomes a collector of English
folk songs. According to his assistant, interviewed in The Theatre Magazine, his first encounter was an impromptue soiree at the house of a
A Mr. Brownscombe, carpenter, has a workshop in the
outbuildings formerly belonging to the late William Abbot, wooldealer, (d.1871)
at Bradiford, Pilton,
John Sims Reeves [b.1818], famous English tenor and teacher of Edward George Branscombe [George Edward Salmon], dies.[28]
Harry Stanley Branscombe appointed Rector of Pulford,
Approximate year Frederick J Halsey (Grandad's brother -
"Uncle Fred") is born, fifth child of Frederick & Annie (Halsey -
m.1881 Kensington). [siblings: Beatrice
Annie (1882),
The Central Line opens, .
@1901
22 January, Osborne: Reign of Queen monarchsVictoria ends at
`No-one then alive will forget the mourning for Queen
March quarter, Kensington district: Alfred Branscombe's birth is registered.[32] [may have died 1901]
March quarter,
4 April: The first permanent public electric tramway in
June quarter, Kensington district: Alfred Branscombe's birth registered.[35] [duplication of March entry?]
June quarter, Holborn district: Arthur Claude Branscombe's birth registered.[36]
June quarter,
William Branscombe, son of William & Emma (Bigwood -
m.1860 Bristol?) was murdered by African natives in Ashanti (Gold Coast?), in
April 1900, generating what is described as a `thick file' of correspondence,
held in the government archives in (Accra?). This reportedly includes a letter
from Joseph Chamberlain, asking for information. The following letter is dated
July 1901,
`Sir,
I have the honour to
forward the following report on the murder of the late Wm Branscombe, an
Engineer in the employ of the (Adanti?) Goldfields Co. for the information of
H.E. the Governor. In April 1900 it appears that Wm Branscombe was on his way
from (Lusomah?) to
purpose of signing some
concessions his Company were in negotiation for. He was unaware that the
hostilities had commenced and arrived at the village of (Emalim?) in (Ahafo?)
where he was well treated by the Chief called (Gimmah?). He then continued his
march to the village of (Impasafelna?), near where he was attacked by an armed
party sent out by (Elfilfa?), one of the native Committee of Kumasi, under the
command of one (Akwisi Gewoo?). 11 of his carriers were killed, but Wm
Branscombe himself managed to escape into the bush while the (Ashanti?) were
busy breaking open his boxes, where he wandered for about two days, ultimately
walking into (Emalim?), the village he had left the morning he was attacked.
Unfortunately for him, messengers from (Elfilfa?) were in the village, telling
the Chief what had happened, and ordering him to search for the whiteman and
kill him.
Chief (Gimmah?) was
disinclined to do this, but consented on threats being made that (Elfilfa?)
would (look?) him as friendly to the English and would attack him later on if
he failed to carry out his orders. Chief (Gimmah?) now gave orders that he
should be killed and (Elfilfa?) his neighbour was the principle person who
wished him to do so and it was this man who first actually attacked Wm
Branscombe. Cutting him down with a machete, he struck him five times and then
some of the crowd beat the body with sticks. (Elfilfa?) now ordered two of them
called (Amanguah?) and (Guume?) to cut off the head, which was done by them, and
the head given to (Elfilfa?).
From the evidence it
seems that Wm Branscombe was quite dead when this was done by them and so to my
regret, these men could hardly be hanged for murder, but they were sentenced to
twenty years penal servitude each, and another man called (Akwesi Mensah?) who
was present, and assisted them, to ten years penal servitude. The two Chiefs of
the village of (Emalim?) called (Gimmah?) and (Kofi Afo?) undoubtably gave the
order for, or (...?) sanctioned the death of Branscombe but were not brought to
trial as the (senior?) chief called (Gimmah?) was a very old man and died
before I could arrest him. Chief (Kofi Afo?) hung himself to avoid arrest.
(Elfilfa?) in his
defence stated that he received news that an Officer with Hausas was advancing
from the West and he sent an advance party under (..?) to attack them, and this
was done, but he had nothing to do with the murder. He (...?) he attacked the
whiteman in fair fight. Of course it is possible and very (probable?) that Wm
Branscombe may have been taken for a Haussa Officer, as we had Officers and men
in (Sufurlie?) and British (Samian?) District, to the west of
Chief (Elfifa?) has
since been deported to
Wm Branscombe was killed
by blows form a machete and was not tortured in any way. I state this clearly,
as many stories have been spread about that he was brutally tortured before
being killed, and I'm sure it will be some comfort to his relatives to hear
that it is not correct.
All Wm Branscombe's boxes
were looted, and I was able to recover only a few trifles of little or no value
which I forwarded to Wm (Champion?), the manager of the (Adansi?) Goldfields.
Wm (Champion?), while at
It has been a long and
(..?) business to get to the bottom of, as everyone shielded each other. But I
can safely say that the actual murderer has paid the penalty for his crime, and
those by whose authority it was done are either dead or deported. Of course,
many other people were in the village looking on, and no doubt some of them
beat the dead body with sticks, but it was difficult to prove this, and I fancy
many were in it. The principals, however, have been taken and suffered, justice
at last being done, and I hope that H.E. the Governor will take my view of the
case, in not executing more than the actual murderer, though the others were
accessories, no doubt. I felt (..?) in all fairness that there ought to be some
difference (...?) between the actual murderer and those that mutilated the body
after death.
(Ampoful?) was hung this
morning, all troops in the garrison being present and large crowds of (
I have the honour to be,
Sir, Your Obedient Servant...'[38]
17 August, Chalvey Grove, Slough: Martha Branscombe dies, aged
84. She is the widow of William Branscombe, `Rent Collector'. Dr. J.Blackwell
certifies her death from `exhaustion, age, congestion of lungs & (croup?).
Registered 17 August,
William Branscombe, shoemaker of Torquay (b.1796 Dawlish, m.1865, Newton Abbot district). This is the first time William is referred to as a Rent Collector. Previously he was described as a shoe or boot-maker, a cordwainer, or a gentleman]
September quarter, Holborn district: Frederick Dradge Branscombe's birth registered.[40] [cf:1879 March quarter, Shoreditch district, Frederick Drage Branscombe's birth registered - poss father? cf also:1909, William Drego b. Holborn - sibling?]
September quarter, Aston district: Jessie Branscomb's birth registered.[41] [poss daughter of Harry, grand-daughter of glass bottle-maker Samuel & Phoebe Louise -?. If so, she remained a spinster. Poss siblings of Jessie: Samuel, George Henry (1903) & Evelyn][42]
December quarter,
December quarter,