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OFriCIAL REPORT
Of tKo First Six Mootli\«s «,» tlw5
American Brigham ramily Association.
According to Burke, the above coat has been borne by the Briijhamaof Yorkshire, Cumberla/idshire and Oxfordshire: thus showing a tvider ancitnt dis- tribution than anil othrr of our si re rat family arms.
ChicQtgo, Illinois,
Marlboro, Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts^
1893, '94, •95. '96, '98, 1900.
EDITION LIMITED. ?» ^ PR.1CE $1.00- \ n'<^'
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- Jir///y HrsJary.
OPflCIAL REPORT
or TBI
PIR5T SIX MEETINGS
or TBI
American Brigham Family
Association
HXU» AT
Chicago, Illinois. Marlboro, Boston and Worcester. /V\ass.
IN
ia93. '94. '96. '96. '98. 1900
"Hereditary rank may be an illusion i but hereditary virtue gives
a patent of innate nobleness, beyond all the blazonry
of the Heralds' College."
BT
WILLARD I. TYLER BRIGHAA\. ESQ..
Member of the New Eng-land Historic Genealogic Society, The Southern History Association, British Record Society, Sons ot the American Revolution, Governor Thomas Dudley Associ- ation, &C-, «&c- ,•••• ; • • '.-, '
* * * 1 • • t
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. HKH). ' •■•■••..
• • • > ,
' ' » ' • • • , .
Copyright by
WiLLAKD I. TtLER BrIQHAM,
1900.
CONTENTS.
Portrait, on Stool, of Hon. C. O. Brighani, I'rosidoiit P.. F. A l-Vontispiccc
Resume of the Social Side of Our Reunions, l)y William E. Brigham.. Page I Historical Articles : —
"Lineage of Brigham" " 6
"Anglian Brighamea" " lo
"My English Trip" " 22
v^ "Thomas Brighani, the Puritan" " 31--
"Marlborough and the Second Generation of American Brig- hams" " 35
Obituaries " 41
Personals " 49
Constitution " 52
Officers " 53
Members " 53
English Notes " 58
Up in the North Country " 62
Wells Cathedral " 64
INTRODUCTORY.
This is our first bow before a lirij^diaiu reaflinj:^ aiulienec. If you shall be pleased to like what we say herein, probably we will call again after our Family Remiion of two years hence.
To most of you, this will be an initial ])amphlct ; but there ha.s been one previous effort of this sort in our family. After the first IJrij^ham Reunion, which was held in Chicaj^o during the World's J'\iir, Dr. B. A. R. Brighani (who was then the Historian of our clan) issued a published account of that gathering, whicii met with hearty approval and apj)reciation from all who were privileged to receive a copy. (It was the ])roposition, that all who should join the Association then being formed wcndd receive a copy of the proceedings gratis. For my own poor part, to help along what seemed to be a very deserving labor of love, I paid v$5.oo for five memberships. \ am sorry to say, that T was the only one of five, who thus became members, who ever received a copy of the Report, whicli was truly enough thereafter printed. I remark this with something of reluctance, in a spirit neither of boast nor animosity ; simply as a matter of fact.)
Judging from the foregoing, the circulation of the former pamphlet must have been very circumscribed. Indeed, so thor- oughly are we convinced of this, that we are herein setting out in full the Historical Article delivered at that first meeting; in the belief that this Report would not be all that it should be, were such article omitted.
We hope you may find these coming pages both inviting and readable. Some parts will surely appeal to the hearts of all who have ever identified themselves in any way with the dear old B. F. A. Is it not a joy to look upon the genial features of our veteran Family President? And the straightforward. narrative of his life and attainments is filled with hope for the yoimger members of our great family. Then, too, the able resume of the social side of our meetings, the work of our gifted "c|uill pusher," our retiring President, William E. Brigham, Esq., of the Boston Transcript, will add its peculiar pleasures to all ; reawakening tender thoughts of happy hours spent with our kindred, as well as memories of those dear ones who will never meet with us so again. Obituaries of some of the last to leave us will be found ; would that such narratives might appear at greater length, but the limited purview of this publication forbids anvthing like discursive biog- raphies. A few personals of the living, some notes on English rambles, with the several historical articles, completes the sum of our modest ofTering.
Blandishment aside, these records arc sufficient to conclusivelv prove our clan has produced numbers of exceptional men and women in divers and sundrv worthy walks of life. It is the sincere nope of the writer, that this poor effort mav lead in the near future up to something complete and enduring, touching those who have ever borne the patronymic Brigham. The Editor.
BRIGHAM FAMILY ASSOCIATION.
A Skktcii and a Few SucnEsrioNs.
By William li. Brifiham, I'rcsidcnt, iS</)-iooo.
No a(io(Hiatt' liistory i)f the IhiK'liam I-amily Association ever has been wrilli'Ti. and mhIi will hardly l)i- attciiiptrd iuTf. NeviTlliflcss, this painphlrt is (with till' exception of the report of tlic first meetitiff, in l8g.-?), the first pretentious dociinient pulilished "onicially" under tlie auspices of the Asso- ciation ; and it secnis jjidpcr that, in addition to the valiial)li- |)apers of our Historian which I'ollow, there sliouid l)e included, at least, an ontHnc of the social liistory of the H. V. A., with such su^Kcslions for the welfare of the Association, as may li.-i\c dr\ t'lopcd from the exj)eriencc of the past.
FIK.ST MI;kTI.N(,. ( IIK A(,o, oi toi;i:i< 1(S. \Va)},.
The Brigham Family Association owes its origin to Dr. H. A. R. Urigham of Chicago, who, on August lo, i8y3, issued a call to the other Brighanis of Chicago, to meet in his office August 15, to consider "the question of hold- ing a reunion of tlie Hrigham I'aniily in Chicago, sonnet ime during the Columbian E.xposition." Ik'sides Dr. Brigham, Rev. L. W. and Messrs. E. D. and G. B. Brigham attended, and took action which led eventually to a gathering of 107 persons, representing the Brigham name, held in the Illinois State Building of the Columbian Exposition, October 18, 1893. The states of Illinois, Massachusetts. Kansas, Michigan, ]\Iinncsota, Alissouri, Ne- braska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were represented.
TJic Brigham Family dissociation ivas organized, with these officers: President, C. O. Brigham of Toledo ; vice-presidents. Captain H. G. Brig- ham of Chicago, O. A. Brigham of Lowell, Hon. Johnson Brigham of Des Moines, Thomas Brigham Rice of Barre. Mass.. James R. Brigham of Curry, Pa.; secretary, B. A. R. Brigham. M. D.. of Chicago; treasurer, E. D. Brigham of Chicago; historian, W. L Tyler Brigham of Minneapolis; librarian, Emma E. Brigham of Boston ; orator. Rev. George F. Brigham of Sharon, Wis. ; and a board of trustees consisting of these and Charles W. Brigham of Lowell, Gus. B. Brigham of Chicago, H. C. Brigham, AI. D., of Grand Rapids. Mich., Colonel J. H. Brigham of Delta, Ohio, and Jerome R. Brigham of Milwaukee.
The features of the meeting were an address by Hon. Johnson Brigham (just returned from a consular residence in Aix-la-Chapellc, Germany), descriptive of a visit to the old town of Brigham, near Cockermouth, Eng- land : an address, "The Lineage of Brigham," treating of the English origin and the heraldry of the Brigham family by the Historian, W. L T. Brigham ; an address by Rev. George F. Brigham of Sharon. Wis., which included a re-statement of the known fact, that the notorious "Brigham Young" had not a drop of Brigham blood in his veins ; an exhibition of relics, deeds and other precious heirlooms, collected by Dr. B. A. R. Brigham; and the singing of a quartet. "Brigham." the words and music composed by the venerable Mavor Brigham (since deceased), father of the first President of the Association. A Constitution was adopted (under which the Association acted, until it was superseded in 1898) ; and a coat of arms received tentative individual ap- proval, although it was not formally adopted. The valuable pamphlet, ex- haustively descriptive of this meeting, issued by the Secretary, and which includes a colored plate showing the coat of arms, with crest and motto, is now out of print. The original membership of the association was 11 1.
SECOND MEETING. M.JiRLBORO, SEPTEMBER 12, 1894.
Pursuant to a vote of the first meeting, the second meeting was held at Marlboro {the family seat), September 12, 1894. with Lorimon S. Brigham as chairman of the Local Committee. The Baptist Church was utilized for the business meeting; at which an amendment to the constitution, providing for annual meetings, was proposed ; and it was voted, to adopt the boar's head crest, and the motto, "In Cruce Salus," as the emblem of the Associa- tion. Dr. B. A. R. Brigham read the Secretary's report, which showed satis-
I
factory progress; and it was voted, to continue to enroll charter members, as long as applications were received. A call for records, for use in completing a ''Lineage of Brigham," was made.
City Hall had been elaborately decorated for the dinner; at which 450 covers were laid. An enlarged copy of the coat-of-arms, in colors, adorned the platform, and at each plate was a souvenir and picture of Brigham Church in Brigham, England,* presented by the late D. H. Brigham of Springfield, Mass. Hon. William M. Davenport, Mayor of Marlboro, welcomed the As- sociation to the city. The address of President C. O. Brigham was the most memorable which has been delivered before the Association. Rev. George F. Brigham of Sharon, Wis., the official Orator of the day, read a scholarly paper, in which much of historical interest was incorporated, and W. I. Tyler Brigham, the family Historian, contributed the second ("Anglian Brighamca") of the series of fascinating essays, of which the present publi- cation is^ chifly composed. A poem by Mrs. Laura Brigham Boyce of Mont- pelier, Vt., read by the author, completed a literary and historical program of rare interest and value. Carriage drives to the Thomas Brigham home- stead and other places, were followed, in the evening, by an informal sociable and dance in the City Hall.
The Marlboro ^newspapers, of this and approximate dates, contain ab- stracts of the addresses, and other matter of value to the writer of Brigham family history.
THIRD MEETING, BOSTON, OCTOBER 9, 1895.
The most elaborate and expensive of all the meetings of the B. F. A. was the third, held in Boston. October 9, 1895, William E. Brigham, Local Chair- man. Preparations for it, involving the selection of a large and able com- mittee, were begun in May and continued, almost unremittingly, through- out the summer. All Odd Fellows' Building was utilized, where a business meeting was held in the morning, a dinner in the afternoon, and a grand ball in the evening, with music — as at the preceding and the succeeding meet- ings— by the famous "Brigham Orchestra"' of Marlboro. The day's pro- gram included an electric car excursion to the second home of Thomas Brigham, the Puritan, on "The Rocks." at Clarendon Hill, Somerville.
Not less than 500 persons attended this meeting, at one time or another. The literary features included an address by President C. O. Brigham (whose delightful humor remains one of the happiest of memories), a singularly graceful and scholarly oration by Hon. Johnson Brigham of Des Moines (the speaker officially appointed at the previous meeting), and an ex- haustive historical paper, "Marlboro and the Second American Brigham Generation," by Historian Willard L T. Brigham. An amendment to the constitution, providing for annual, instead of triennial, meetings was adopted; and the Committee on Family Badge made report (showing a pin of design, picked out from the coat-of-arms), which was formally adopted. (This piri is manufactured in quantities, and is worn, with increasing frequency, at the Reunions.)
FOURTH MEETING, WORCESTER, OCTOBER I4, 1896.
The fourth meeting of the Association was held in Worcester, Mass., October 14, 1896, Mr. L. L. Brigham, Local Chairman. Bad weather (for the first time) interfered with the attendance; but 100 persons attended the business meeting in the Y. M. C. A. Building (nearly all of which was utilized by the Association) and many more than that number sat down to dinner. At each plate was a Souvenir Poem, written by Rev. Dwight Williams of Cazenovia, New York. The "Harry Brigham Orchestra" of Marlboro was seated on the platform; the Apollo Quartet of Boston, supplied without ex- pense to the Association (by T. Brigham Bishop of Boston), gave humorous and artistic selections, which were richly enjoyed; the superb basso pro- fundo o/^_ Edward Franklin Brigham, of New York City, delighted the kins- men, as it often had metropolitan audiences; and entertaining songs were contributed, also, by the Misses Goddard, of Westboro and Morse of Oxford.
The new rule, of "five-minute speeches," was productive of a rapid-fire
*Entered upon the records of this meeting is a letter from the vicar of this parish.
discliaiK^" <>l Ki<'vt', nay, aiicl willy iiiurances ; and llie afternoon was (socially) a continuous intellectual feast. An elaborate excursion to Lake Quiusi^iniiond liad to be al)audoued. because <>i tlie rain; but, in the cv<!ning, music and danciiij; (in Salisbury llall) brou^lit to close a scries of festivi- ties wbicli made tlie weatiier an iudilTereiit matter. 77ii' ll'orccstcr meeling zvas (•xic/^linnally inif^orttiiil, frtxii st-vcrul points of t'lVtiv I'hc election of ofHci-rs, included, amonp otlier cbanRcs, a new President and a new Secretary; the Local Committee instituted a (welcome) departure, in the social pro- gram of the mcctiuR by the elimination of formal oratory, and the substitu- tion of entertainment. Tlie Worcester Reuninn was, moreover, the last to he conducted at the personal expense of kind friends, resident in the cities to which tlie .Association liad been insited.
l-IITH MKETING, M.\KU«)KO, SKI'TKMIIER I4, iR'jS.
The ne-iV administration entered ui)on its duties with a well-defined policy, prominent in which was the desire to relieve individual members of the Association of all extraordinary e.x|)ense in comiection with future re- unions. 'Jlie Boston )iieetin}i had cost local friends more than $f)O0 ; and our entertainers at Marlboro and Worcester had personally footed most, if not all, the lulls incident to the reunions held there, in iHc)4 and i8f)6, respectively. Until the Worcester meeting, the Annual Dues had been collected by the first Secretary of the Association; and. however worthy of reimbursement (for large personal outlay upon a promised "Lineage of Brigham"; he may have been, there is no doubt, a continuance of the original financial policy of the Association would have resulted, inevitably, in a suspension of the reunions. It was with great satisfaction, therefore, that the Treasurer was able to report of the fifth meeting, held in Marlboro, September 14, 1898 (Lorimon S. Brigham, Local Chairman), that all bills had been paid from the funds of the .Issociation, and nearly $100 remained to deposit in the bank.
About 300 persons attended this meeting, and there was not a break in the success of the delightful program which had been arranged. As in 1894, the business meeting was held in the Baptist Church, and the dinner took place in City Hall. A much simplified Constitution, providing for biennial instead of annual reunions, zvas adopted; the President outlined plans, look- ing to the ultimate publication of a ''Lineage of Brigham." under the auspices of the Association — npw rapidly taking form — and also urged the publication (in pamphlet form) of the admirable historical papers prepared by the Historian, which ofificial made a further contribution to the literature of the Brigham Family in his fine essay, "Thomas Brigham, 'the Puritan,' " which was read by him in the business meeting; the necrology was sub- mitted, and suitable resolutions were adopted. Election of officers resulted in comparatively little change, from the organization of 1896.
The after-dinner exercises were informal. The "Brigham Orchestra" played, there were short speeches, and entertainment was furnished by Edward Franklin Brigham, basso profunda. Miss Ada Goddard. of W'estboro (who sang "The Lost Chord"), Miss Ellen Packard Nichols (reader), and the "Alabama Troubadours." One of the most delightful episodes in the history of all the reunions was the trip to the farm of the Second Thomas Brigham, a beautiful spot, rich in historical tradition, and particularly mem- orable in its relation to the closing years of local Indian history. Here (as at Worcester) a successful group picture zvas taken, which, to many, has since be- come priceless, including, as it does, the features of some dear ones who were destined not again to attend below a Brigham Family Reunion.
SIXTH MEETING, BOSTOX, OCTOBER lO, igOO.
As a successful experiment in the direction of economj^ and convenience the last retinion zvas held in a hotel; in the American House. Boston. October 10, igoo. Rain reduced the attendance to about 150, but the meeting was of the same enjoyable character as its predecessors. It was especially at- tractive because of the presence of our faithful Family Historian, fresh from a visit to the towns of Brigham in England, and whose researches (it was hoped) would identify the birthplace of Thomas Brigham, "the Puritan." The meeting was noteworthy, besides, for the re-election to the head of the Association of its beloved first President, C. O. Brigham of Toledo, who
had made the Brigham Famliy Reunions the Mecca of his vacation-trips ever since the Association was organized. At the business meeting, the retiring President again emphasized the desirability of beginning the publication of something in the way of family history, with the result that the Association authorized the issue of the present pamphlet.
The dinner was, as usual, informal ; and the speaking included chiefly a few words from President C. O. Brigham; the interesting paper, descriptive of his trip in England, by the Historian ; a short address by Hon. William T. Forbes, Judge of Probate and Insolv.ency, of Worcester County ; and the very valuable suggestion of the faithful Librarian-Curator, Addington M. Brigham, of Marlboro, that he be supplied with photographs of Brigham homesteads, old and new, wherever situated, and with portraits of deceased and living Brighams. Printed upon the menu was a poetic illumination of the family motto, "In Cruce Salus," by Hon. Johnson Brigham of Des Moines, State Librarian of Iowa. The Historian exhibited photographs of the vari- ous Brigham places in England, which were of fascinating interest. The Apollo male quartet sang delightfully at the dinner, and a ladies' orchestra enlivened the "sociable," which constituted the attraction of the evening.
ANCESTRAL MEMENTOES.
Lack of space precludes more than bare mention of a feature of all the reunions, which has been a perennial source of pleasure — the exhibition of relics, documents, pictures and other articles intimately related to our ancestors. This was begun by Dr. Brigham at Chicago in 1893, and a list of the articles and papers displayed appears in the exhaustive report of the meeting issued by him. Thanks to Miss Emma E. Brigham (the first) and Addington M. Brigham (the present), Librarian-Curator of the Association, the general display at Marlboro in 1894, and the portrait show in Boston in 1895, constituted two of the most noteworthy exhibitions of the kind ever made under the auspices of a family association in this country ; and at subsequent reunions our scholarly Librarian-Curator has always exhibited an interesting collection. Among these family treasures, for example, are the oak box in which Mercy Hurd, wife of Thomas Brigham, the Puritan — married to him about 1637 — brought her caps from England ; the original deed, on parchment, by Benjamin Rice to Thomas Brigham, the 2d, of the Thomas Brigham farm in Marlboro ; a silver salt cup, which belonged to a daughter of Alary Chilton, the first woman to land on Plymouth Rock in 1620 (it having come into the Brigham Family Association through several generations in the Brigham line) ; the chair in which Thomas Brigham, 2d, died ; old deeds, old commissions, old books, old household utensils — scores of priceless antiquities which are among their owners' choicest possessions.
Of the portrait show, which was the feature of the Boston exhibit, in 1895, one writer says : "The opportunity to trace the Brigham characteristics, in the faces of those old portraits, was improved with eagerness, and it was clearly shown, that two or three types have come down to the present day with great persistence. The peculiar droop of the eyelids, noticed in many of the visitors, was seen also in a large number of the portraits." Such precious heirlooms have been guarded with jealous care by the officers when- ever they were entrusted to them, although some yet remain in custody of the first Secretary of the Association ; but it must be one of the functions of the Association to see that, in due time, all find their way back to their owners. The unremitting care and pains with which our Librarian-Curator has per- formed the duties of his office are worthy the highest praise.
BY WAY OF SUGGESTION.
The past of the Brigham Family Association has been such that we review it with inexpressible pride. Our greatest successes, however, must be of the future. For a year or two after its organization the B. F. A. held hope- fully to its original plan of making itself the means of the publication of a "Lineage of Brigham," which should complete the honorable work so well begun by Rev. Abner Morse, A. M., in 1859 ! but an unexpected change of circumstances rendered the immediate consummation of this project imprac- ticable, and the officers, abandoning with regret the earlier proposition, con- centrated their efforts upon a development of the social features of thie
organization; (IrpiiidiiiK iiiioii liiiic and sircii^'tli jfaiiird frrim social cfmtact to iiulicatc tlu; way towards a fr<-sh start.
This i)olicy has proved its oww wisdom. The Association owes nothinf?'. it lias a niodfst workiiif.^ ciiiiital in its treasury; its affairs arr adnnnistcrcd with system and mtt lli(.,'inic ; in a initshell, its whole machinery has been overhauled and put ni v^ood workin^^ order, and is ready for such service as may be recpiired of it. In otlier words, the liriKham l-amily Assf>ciation, as such, is in a [losition to authorize tlie pre|)aration of a "Lineage of Brigham," luider its own auspices. It is for the Association to decide, how and by whom tiiis work sli.ill \>r done; and it is tlie first duty of the ofl'icers to devise a cf)mprelKiisive plan of action, particularly, with respect to financial details. Our Historian has made a start in this direction which cannot, and should not, lie if,'nored. He, or some other suit.ibh: person, should be desi>,Miated, to befiiii iijion the work of authorship, ;ind the Association should assume custody of the family records ami other documents necessary to the task.
The Department of Necrology has been neglected, imt through individual dereliction of duty, but because friends have failid to notify the Secretary of deaths, and to provide him with appropriate obituary notices. \Vc recommend that the iinmediatc relatives and friends send to him, forthwith, complete details of deaths occurring in the Rrigham family since the organiza- tion of the R. v. A., and that it become a custom for the future. This de- partment should constitute an imi)ortant feature of our next publicatif)n (as we are recently informed it will be herein).
For various reasons (chiefly because the Secretary has been loaded with too many other cares incident to the duties of the day) the records of our reunions have not been adec|uatcly written. The Constitution provides for the appointment of an .-Issistant Secretary, and this assistant should render such service at reunions as to make a comprehensive record of the day's pro- ceedings possible. As far as practicable, the records should be "written back" to cover the full period of our existence, and to include orations, poems and other contributions. In this connection, it would be well to rei)ublish. in some ■ future book or pamphlet, the report of the first meeting of the Association — of which my present article is a skeletonized supplement.
As its story slowly unfolds, we grow prouder and prouder of the noble family which bears the stainless name, Brigham. It is the imperative duty of each and all of us to aid, by whatever means we can, in the writing of its record in letters, which shall be imperishable.
Boston, January, 1901.
HISTORICAL ARTICLES.
The following papers were prepared, year by year, as the spirit took us, without any regard to logical sequence ; so we have taken the liberty of rearranging them in this place, that they may have a more orderly following. The first paper, "The Lineage of Brigham," delivered at the Chicago organizing meeting, I have retained as the opening article in this series, as it is a general and introductory effort. Also the second, "Anglian Brighamea," de- livered at the second (Marlboro) reunion, I leave in the chrono- logical order it happened originally to follow. For my third paper, however, I place "My English Trip," being but recently delivered at our sixth (2d Boston) meeting; thus rounding out the trans- atlantic theme. Next follows "Thomas Brigham, the Puritan," which was given at our fifth (2d Marlboro) meeting; and, finally, "Marlborough and the Second Generation of American Brighams," which was offered at the third (ist Boston) meeting.
These now appear, substantially, as they were read at the Re- unions, having undergone a little judicious re-editing (such, for instance, as the cutting out of repetitions, with a few notes made or corrections indicated, such as later researches had made neces- sary). The reader will not do the injustice to think that the writer has here poured out all the richness of his historical cornucopia; for he has more, much more, which it is hoped your interest will not allow always to rest dormant in its present "note book" condition. At our"Reunions,"too great amount of detail, or length of discourse, would be impatiently entertained, if not absolutely unbearable. But here you find it, for leisure hour, so set down that "He who runs mav read !"
THE LINEAGE OF BRIGHAM.
According to Biblical ethnology, all of the inhabitants of the earth are of the house of Adam and Eve. Laying aside the matter of the putative common ancestor, it is an undoubted fact, that there came into being during creation's evolution a first human male and female, from whom are descended the countless living and dead. With the development of civilization, grew the necessity for designating individuals and families by certain fixed names. We can readily fancy how, as actually occurred, circumstances of isolation, remarkable achievement bodily and mental peculiarity, etc., etc, gave the rational cue to an inception and the progress of such nomenclature. And we gathered here today, are a small representative body of these myriads living" and dead, who bear or have borne the patronymic, Brigham.
It may not be ill-timed, to consider briefly the etymology of the tap root of our family tree. This we must needs do under two heads : Brig and Ham.
The Romans were proud of their system of family names, and so tenacious of its use, that they made us indebted not only for such of their own gens as have survived the shocks of time, but also for many a barbarous tribal name, with not a few valiant leaders, whose sagacity reinforced by savage numbers made it hard fighting or an impossibility for Roman cohorts and triremes to subjugate. During their alleged conquest of Briton, when their armies came to that region now known as North England, they encountered a warlike people whom they mercilessly fell upon — beat, killed, routed, would have exterminated, could they have done so, for they never conquered them— whom
6
tlicy calkil llic />'/;ji,';iiili'^ U'"/'' L';im(kii\ i'lntlaiiia liy ('nnmh. Vol. III.). They founded a military fortress which, accordiiiK to tlie historian I'lolcmy, they nami'd /^//\'aiitiiiin— now recf>Knized as the City of York. The root of this nanu- l'>i iKJiiitcs, ^iven to a triln- of warlike liritons, as inhospitable as was ever eiui wintered by the standards of Rome and of nriKantitiin, one of the first ei\ili/i-d jjosts in that sava^'" nortii is the same first r(jot seen in our foi ef.illurs name Jirij^h.ww. We hail from V'orksliire, by the "Ciracc of C!od" (;in<l, were we still !'".n(.,'lisli, mi^jlit a<l<I, the "(Jueen"), where our anterior .intlirntu- i ceord is In lie tdinid as remote as the anti(|Ue period of Henry I.
Hul wliat 111' llie //(/;;; end: I. el us see. In ( ierniany then- live<l a rcstle>>s tribe called Sa.xons. Once iipnn .i liiuc. "InokiiiK for more worlds to crmquer," they landed liaiil\- men from i(>u(.;!i Inil stannch vessels upon the east coast of England, the Imnie of the Angles, More i)otent than the eajjles of k'Hiie. their C(in(|nests wert' lasting. Tluy madi- their inlliience felt far and wiile; changetl customs and labeled with new names; settli'd down many of them, and, yes, interniarried. after times had grown to be |)acific. Vfjrkshire saw the worst etifects of this Saxon iinasimi. Tluy killed, pillaged and burned. Whole families (gens) were wii)ed nut. without a surviv(;r, as the historians allege. Now, (uu" Ham is Saxon. .And to luake a long tale short, I can but say, imagine an Angle yiuith, by the n.ime of "Brig." wedded to a Saxon maid, by the name of "Haiu," and to the uniting of their hearts, joining the union of their names. And so we have the .Angle and the Saxon, of the Anglo-Saxon, in our patronymic Brigh.ini. l'>rig means a bridge: and 1 Iain, a house. (For those wishing to go a little deeper into the mysteries of christening, I refer to an erudite work prejjared by I'rof. Leo, of Halle, (iermany, entitled "Nomen- clature of the Anglo-Saxons." It has neeu faithfully translated into English for English readers.)
And now for a glance at the Incus i)i quo (as the lawyers say), or the place in which, the foreign (that is, English), Brigham worked out his destiny.
First. There is the Town of Brigham, Driffield, in Dickering Wapentake, East Riding, Yorkshire. And it is frermain to say, that a large per cent of the population of this neighborhood are known by the sir-name of Brigham.
Second. There is a P.righain Parish in Allerdale Ward, above Derwcnt, Cumberlandshire. To this locality, tradition assigns the vague (because ancient) allusions to the Manor of Brigham and Lords of Allerdale. The poet Wordsworth penned a sonnet, in his ever graceful style, to the "Nun's Well" of this place.
Third. From the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland, we learn how that assembly convened at Brigham near Berwick on Tweed on two occasions, during the period while it was peripatetic, namely, in 1188 and 1289. You will also recall that there was a "Treaty of Brigham," so called from this place oi assemblage at the time of signing.
Turning to Burke, the authority upon family coats of arms, we find the descriptions of eight different armorial bearings by Brighams, viz. :
I- — Az, a chevron between three lions rampant or.
This coat is not assigned by the learned author to any specific locality; though we notice (not without a certain wonder) that the Rev. Morse in his Brigham Genealogy claims it for "Thomas, the Puritan." From the bearings, if authentic (and we know of no evidence upon which to base a doubt: au coiitrairc, as per the authority of Burke), it is unquestionably of very ancient and honorable origin. Perhaps, in consideration of the "three lions rampant," •it may be suggestive to remark that in the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland, Vol. L, it is recorded how in n88. William the Lion held an assembly at "Brigham in Lcoitis."
2 — Brigham, Yorkshire. Ar. a fesse sa. between three trefoils slipped gules. (Another of the second.) Crest, on a cloud, a crescent between two branches of palm in orle.
3 — Brigham, Yorkshire. Ar. a fesse between three trefoils slipped gules.
(These two last, it will be seen, are very similar.)
4 — Brigham, Yorkshire. Ar. a saltire engr. vert. (Another sable.")
5 — Brigham, Foxley House, Co. Chester, formerly of Brigham, Yorkshire.
Ar. a saltire engr. vert. Crest, out of a ducal coronet, gules a plume of feathers argent. Motto, i)i cruce salus.
(These last two again are essentially the same.)
6 — Brigham, Cannon End, or Cane End, Co. Oxford. Ar, a Heur de lis within an orle (that is 8) of martlets sa.
7 — Brigham, Cumberland. Same arms.
8 — Brigham (or Briggam). Yorkshire. Same arms. Crest, a boar's head bendwaj'S couped sa.
And here, we gladly note, are lastly three families in as many shires bearing the same blazons upon their escutcheons.
Now, what is the evidence of the place of family origin? There are four coats of Yorkshire families, and a iifth of Yorkshire descent. Is not that of sufficient suggestiveness to overthrow an assumption of the said Rev. Morse, the honored, A. D. 1859, genealogian of our family, that Brigham parish, Cumberlandshire, w-as the only region bearing our patronymic of sufficient extent to warrant the presumption of being the cradle of our race ? And does not this suggestion grow very tentative upon reflection, that of the other two definitel}- assigned coats both are the same as one of the Yorkshire arms? Again, considering that the Norman Conquest fell heavily indeed upon York- shire— especially the East Riding, wherein is situated the Town of Brigham, whence, after annihilating many, it drove forth myriads to seek strange homes — does not the conviction grow upon one, that at that remote age, some exiled Brighams were fated to become the original ancestry in neighboring shires (ay, and across the line in Scotland) of lines descended from Yorkshire, and bearing the Yorkshire arms? Stat Veritas!
Concerning the patent query, which of these arms is probably most ancient, we would answer, in our humble opinion, the one which is claimed by families in York, Cumberland and Oxford shires. The fact of wider dissemination — • a result which in itself, other things being equal, must argue both a common anterior nursing ground, and also some remote expatriating event, or a succession of accidents and volitions — is a very salient point. In this connec- tion, we are warranted in observing, that the oldest stock was probably most vital and productive. Had more scions with which to colonize, and actually would scatter farther than others of later ages ; especially, by reason of the unsettled conditions, the restlessness, of those early times.
Further, we would naturally expect to find more distinguished members springing from the oldest house. To put it epigrammatically, "Blood will tell." That is, a longer line of gentle descent, with its intellectual accretion- — its cumulative aggregate of heredity — ought reasonably enough to bear fruit. Now, if I am rightly informed. Sir Nicholas Brigham, graduate of Oxford, poet, barrister and jurist, who raised the tablet to Chaucer in Westminster, where he himself, with his daughter Rebecca (according to the authority of Dean Stanley), now lies buried in Poet's Corner — this man, I say, bore the arms the writer has opined to be the most ancient.
Multiplying example, let us consult one of the reliable volumes published from Manuscripts of Visitations, caused to be made by the Harleian Society of London, entitled "Visitation of County of Oxford, 1634, by Jno. Philpot & Wm. Ryley," wherein we find record of the following most important data :
"Brigham of Cannon End. Arms, argent, a Heur de lis within an orle of martlets sable.
Anthony Brigham, Cofferer of the household to [Q. Eliz. ( ?), (.)]
Thomas, patentee for the stanneries in
Cornwall under Q. Eliz., Ob. s. p. Xtofer x X brother and heire to Thomas. Mar.daur-of. .Weldon, cof- ferer to K. H. 8."
The manuscript, either carelessly written, or become illegible by lying in custody and being handled through two centuries and a half, does not express in the published volume the person to whom Anthony was "cofferer" (that is, exchequer, treasurer), but, from the context, it was undoubtedly Q. Eliz., the predecessor of K. H. 8, the daughter of whose cofferer, Anthony's son, Xtofer, afterwards wed. The fact of the heir Thomas, whose fortune, under the laws of primogeniture, had most to be considered, receiving the patent to most valuable tin mines in Cornwall, famous the world over for many centuries, is
8
jiiifrKiciit proof of liovv (U;ir juilir (iDinlias stood in llic rooM Rraccs of hi« sovereign. 'Ilu- [Kisitioii of tn-asiircr of tlic privy purs«; has always l>ccn rcfj^ardcd as In^ldy lioiiorahlc. I^it wo will not weary hy further citations Always standing ready to he ])crsiiadcd from erroneous conviction, it certainly strongly ai)itears thai the coat of CDinhined (Jxford. C'tiiuherland and Vork shires is most ancient ; therefore, in h.eraldric sense, ni(»st honorahle.
Lastly, what arin-> aic .->(•, as matter of heredity (not law) entitled to assume? 'J'o <Iecidc that, tirsi must we decide the antecedents (A onr Ameri- can first ancestor, ihuinas, called "the Puritan. " Nf>w, this point, the said Mr. Morse, in liis conscientious, hut not exhaustive, work of 1850, docs not assume to settle. Me speaks of ids fruitless efforts made to detorniinc. Anionn others, in a foot note, attention hein),; ctlled to a visit having heen made to Cannon I'.nd. O.xford. and the conclusion reached, from lack of evi- dence, that this could not have heen the home of 'I'liomas. the emigrant. Now, I for one, contest, /;/ //;<• lifiht of present knowledge, tliat our first Thomas was of Oxfordshire, and is rccorrled on tlic same jiaRe with the ff)reKoinK data already cited. According to tiie report of that visitation, Xtofer namcfl his eldest son and heir, "Thomas" (douhtless out of atTection towards his ehler brother Thomas, of whom he was the heir) ; and Thomas, Jr.. in turn named his eldest son and heir, "Thomas." This visitation was in 1634. On April i8th, 1635, according to records collated from London Admiralty and pub- lished by Jno. Camden llotten, Thos. i?rigfg)ham set sail from London on the "Suzan & Ellin, Edward I'aync, Mr.", for New England. And this Thomas Brigham, \vc opine to be, the last Thomas of Cannon End mentioned in the visitation of 1634. Mere conjecture, you may say, and yet not without some smacking of reason.* We have just seen, that for two generations, previous to the last Thomas of Cannon End, the eldest son was called Thomas, and he himself the third successive eldest son by the name of Thomas. Now, come to New England and we see history repeat itself in this form : Thomas, the Puritan, eldest son and eldest gi andson. were, as of old, still "Thomas." Suggestive, is it not? Very much so, as it appears to the (perhaps prejudiced) eyes of the writer.
If our evidence is correct, and sufficient in (luality and quantity upon which to base reasonable judgment, then by descent we are entitled to claim for our escutcheon "argent, a llcur dc lis within an orle of martlets sable." So much for the field.
How as to the crest and motto? It is a heraldic fact, that crests and mottoes are less tenaciously clung to, than the bearings upon fields of arms.
Three crests have been already given, viz.: (i) Out of a ducal coronet, a plume of feathers. (2) On a cloud, a crescent between two branches of palm in orle, and (3), a boar's head bendways couped sable.
To the writer, it seems more wise to adopt the last, inasmuch as it is the crest used by the Yorkshire family, zvliieli clai)iis the eoat of arms opined to be those to zvlneh we are heirs by deseeiit.
Concerning the motto, we find but one, "in eruee saliis." This, it seems, should be adopted (as in sooth, we must adopt it, if any), because of two reasons. First, the family who bear it, being now of Chestershire, are descended of Yorkshire, which carries it well towards the beginning when our Oxford branch and it were anciently one. Second, it is undtnibtedly of long standing — in support of which assertion, I adduce the fact, that a family of Burgh in Ireland (a name very suggestive of primal relationship) bears an almost verbatim motto — A cruce saliis. Furthermore, our relative. Dr. B. A. R. Brigham, has in his possession a letter, elicited from an English-American Brigham, who can trace his descent through very many generations, which speaks of this motto as being one ivon in Palestine, in the time of the Crusades, for acts of bravery on the part of an ancestor.
And thus the full coat of arms (in truest sense attainable from present knowledge), is before us :t "Ar, a Henr de lis within an orle of martlets sable. Crest, a boar's head bendways couped sa. Motto, in eruee salus." If error, let it be disproven, and the truth prevail !
*In a later article, it will be seen that this theory is no longer tenable. tThis "coat" is used on the cover of this pamplilet.
O
ANGLIAN BRIGHAMEA.
The present is before us; the past, distant and constantly receding from memory. Only the fittest survives. By reason of the carelessness and accidents of time much valuable matter is forever gone beyond pos- sibility of record. Therefore let us hasten to preserve whatever is left of historical and legendary lore of the race of Brigham. Here are begin- nings of what we trust shall become a long-existing valuable family society; founded, to be sure, in these United States of America, but gladly open to any of the lineage wherever in the wide world circumstance finds him resident. May we have a just pride to keep alive and briskly glowing this worthy fire of family convention and association, with its forthcoming memorials of the past, the present and the time to come.
Within the limits of this paper it is our endeavor to give a few facts of the British Brighams — impossible to find in satisfactory details and enumerations this side the Atlantic ocean. It is hoped (aye, and believed) that in the near future some enthusiastic pilgrim will from the depositories of Great Britain collate and furnish us abundant information. Another year we promise ourselves great pleasure in preparing a paper entirely American in character ; the writer feeling that this meeting, with its first journey (for him) to our American Mecca, will be most inspiring towards a wish to say something really worthy of ourselves and the theme, as already worked out in our own dearest of all countries.
The authorities consulted in preparing for this article are for the greater part found in the various libraries of Chicago; which from lack of time, are not exhaustively considered. Let it be encouragement to endeavor that there is more, surely very much more, awaiting researches of the future — you will therefore kindly believe that the "Historians" of this society will not have sinecures for a long time to come; on the contrary, will be able to occupy with profit all seasons which they can conscientiously spare to this function.
For convenience sake we have chosen to write under the following heads: (i) Orthography, (2) Etymology, (3) Places, (4) Residences of Bnghams, (5) Titles and Professions, (6) New Arms and Crests, (7) Miscellanea— i. e.. Marriages, Burials, Wills, Epitaphs and Discoveries.
First, the Spellings. These forms have been noticed by the writer— Bringeham, Briccham, Bricgham, Brycgham, Brygham, Brigholm, Briggeholm, Briggham, Bnggeham, Briggam, Brigeam, Brigeame, Brighame, Brigh'm, Brigeham,Birgeame, Birgham and (as we all spell it today, so far as the writer knows), Brigham— 18 ways in all. The tireless researcher will even find a few rnore, we venture to admit; especially of the earlier periods, when uniformity of orthography was unknown. Then, too, the Latin of anterior records varies in forms, especially in the endings of the word, as they declined their nouns into six cases, in both singular and plural' numbers. Nor should this astonish us, upon reflection that these spellings embrace the custom from the time of the famous DOMESDAY BOOK of titles to English soil (compiled by order of William the Conqueror, after his conquest of A. D. 1066) down to the present writing— i. e., more than 800 years.
These discrepancies will largely disappear if we recall a few points, viz.: (I). The Welsh, Cimbric or original Anglian language has four forms tor the equivalent of our English word bridge. They are brygc, brycg bricg and brig, the last being the shortest, most anglicized form, the one at present alone used in our patronymic.
ru ^^}' ^^^ ^^^^ '^"^'" P^^^ °^ *^^ (compound) root we have observed (besidesthe ham m present use), hame, an antique old English "North- countrie form— and holm, a form interchangeable with ham (e o- The to\yn anciently called Letham, near Brigham, Scotland, is today styled Leitholm. Yes and thereabouts this very Brigham has been called Brigholm ) (3)- J. he letter h. as you well know, is purely an aspiration (not truly vocal), so that it being gone from several of the foregoing spellings in vogue at different times, is not to be wondered at. In fact, although' we now always us the h in spelling our name, in speech it is silent, the word being pronounced Brig'am, as if the h were omitted.
10
(4)- ^ ini iiotiri- still otlu-r sarialimis. I'Or example, tin- iiiN«-rti'>n i>f an <•, tlu- elision of an </, or the douMiiin of n. I'lii- ;l.'. we recall i> doiihled in tlic ritord of niir aiiieslor, "Tliomas Mri)j;(«) liain. the I'tiritaii." a* printed in L'anukn llotlrii's l.isi of I'.miKrants from London to America, !>ctwccn
1600 and 1700. lli> 1 k was collated from London Adtniralty records; and
llotten |)iil,s the sccom! :,' 111 hrackcls, to indicate liis idea that it was Mjr- phisanc.
(5). The form I'. / 1 i^liaiu, we tiiid iiilt rchanK<-";ihly Used with MriKham of the town in Scollaiul only ll 1^ .moiualous. and to n>, at the tnne of this writing, inexplicable.
Second IC'l■^■M()l.()(;^ . I'loni an I'.nf^lish work eclited hy I . N'orthcote 'i"e!- ler, based on manuscripts of Joseph Hosworth, entitled ""An Anxlo-Saxon Dic- tionary," we liiid that hryci'. hric^. hryt^c, as well as hri^^, indiscriminately mean a /'r/(/,L,v. lirid^c. then, is the Ln^jlish i>f onr fore-name; so we arc tiot disappointed in lindin).^ "/i/fi/i^'iham" nsed freipuntly in iiindcrn times for both men and places. Wherefore, may we not trnly infer that some, if nt)t all. of these ha\H' bei'n /Uii^lidiiis of oldoi days? Whether or no, we do oi)ine that those of us still bearing the hrin arc warranted in believiuR in a grt'at anti(piit_\' ot the name, as well .lUo a^ in poinlinji with indubitable cer- tainty to its liny;uistic source.
'Vo continue. L^sagc in ccilain ]);iits of I'.nglaiul has stretched the applica- tion of this word to objects bridgc-Ukc. (a) In Lancashire. "briRgs" is the name of certain irons going over fires, (b) In north England ■"liriR" is a hridgr-sliapcd utensil, used in dairies and breweries to set the str.ainers upon. (c) In cast Yorkshire, at Flamborongh Head, the clitifs have been washed into bold outlines, some resembling rude )Hittiral bridges; whence, unques- tionably, their name, which is "The Brigs."
We continue quoting from Mr. Teller's work from another page concern- ing the word /laiii. "Ham" (short a). The Latin word which ai)pears most nearly to translate it is vicus ; and it seems to be identified in form with the Greek Koine (pronounced koh-may). In this sense, it is the general assem- blage of the d-i'elliiigs in eaeh partieular district to which the araldc land and pasture of the eonniniiiity were appurtenant : the home of all the settlers in a separate and ivell-defined loeality: the eolleetion of the houses of the freemen. Whenever we can assure ourselves that the vowel is long, we may he certain that the name implies such a village or community." The writer afterwards remarks, "The distineti(ui between the long and the short sound of the a in ham seems to have been lost before the Norman conquest."
To verify this, let us refer to R. S. Ferguson's book, "Popular County His- tories— Cumberland." where he says: "The Saxon equivalent of ton or tun (which mean, wc need hardly remind, a town) is heim and ham." The diminutive form, hamlet, is still occasionally employed to designate a small village.
From the location of the places in Great Britain called "Brigham" (which are without exception* situated upon bridgeable ri'c'crs). we can safely rest on the belief that our family name originally signified a I'lllage of freemen situated by a bridge: always, therefore, located upon streams of water. "A village of freemen !" What a glorious thought for contemplation to us in this free and enlightened country! In that age and country of slavery! Is this not enough to account for the independent manly bearing of all citizens known by the name of Brigham? One-half of our name means "a village of freemen." Bear it in mind, you schoolboy, anil you gray-haired man. Think of it, you smiling maiden, and mother training up her tlock. Let none of us forget the duties, while we exercise the privileges of freenjen. Let it be a "bridge" to bear all safely over every difficulty.
Third. Places by the name of Brigham.
In an article delivered at the meeting of a year ago, we spoke briefly of three Brighams : A town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England: a
*Brigham, Yorkshire, is not on a "river," but on a modern canal, which
has a recent turn-bridge. Either the location of this place has altered (doubt- ful), for there is a river within distance, or we may have to look to the root of the word (from Latin) "briga" (strife), for its etymology. In that case. th« sense would mean, the home of warriors. When we recall the probable deriva- tion of "Brigantes," the unconquerable foe whom the Romans found here in Yorkshire, this solution is certainly suggestive and tenable.
II
parish and town in Cumberland, and a town near Berwick-upon-Tweed, Scot- land. To tliese, we now desire to add: (4) Bricgham, Norfolk Co., Eng- land, whicli is mentioned in the Calendar Close Rolls (King Edward II., 1313- I3i'^> P- 373'- We take this to be the same locality as spoken of in the report of tlic "Historical Manuscript Commission" (London, Eng., Vol. X., prt. 3, pp. 81. KW). among the Gowdy Mss. (Norfolk Co.), as the "Royal Manor of Rridgcliam." We thus have an illustration how other Brigham towns may have l)een metamorphosed out of ready recognition, by changing the ancient spellings: for we have already seen that "bricg" is a contemporaneous form with brig; while "bridge" is an out and out modern spelling.)
15) Brigam. Dorsetshire. Eng., as mentioned in Domesday Book (p. 83b) ; (6) Briciam. Laxendena Hundred. Essexshire, Eng., from the same book (p. 6tia). where also appear (7) Bricceiam, and (8) Bricceiam Parva (that is. Little Brigham).
We look upon these last four as real Brigham towns, being vouched by the best written authority of Norman land records of England. (N. B. — Brigo. Briggo and Bricge also appear in Domesday Book; but we do not think that they embody anything of the ham of our name.)
(g) Brigholm (or Briggeholm), Giggleswick, Durham, Eng., is spoken of in the printed reports of the Surtees Society (1837-2, pp. 67, 68, 69) — four instruments concerning the Priory of Finchale, Charters of Endowment, etc., in Latin, touching landed interests at said Brigholm. (10) Brigham Waste (i. e.. desolate country), Lochbrigeam (i. e.. Lake Brigham) , Mekilbrygheame (i. e., great Brigham) and Brygheamscheils are all mentioned in the Exche- quer Rolls of Scotland (Vol. VI., pp. 540, 626, and Vol. IX., pp. 423, 430), and are at this time inferred by the writer to be in the neighborhood, and perhaps parts, of the Brigham, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, already alluded to in my foregoing article.
As for America, I know only of "Brigham Hill," near Burlington, Vt., from whose top an extensive picturesque landscape may be viewed ; Brigham, Utah and Brigham, Quebec, Canada, on the Canadian Pacific Railway.
We will take time for further reference to the three Brigham localities identified by researches of a year ago, which time and leisure have allowed us more thoroughly to investigate.
(l) Brigham, Cumberland. "William the Conqueror" gave to William de Meschines the land of Copland, between the Duden and Derwent. Wil- liam de Meschines enfoeffed Waldeve. son of Cospatrick, of all land between the Cocker and Derwent, together with five vills, among them being Brigham. Waldeve gave to Dolphin, son of Alward, in marriage with Maud, his sister, (inter alia) Brigham, with the advowson of the church of the same. (From "Annals of the Caledonians, Picts and Scots," by J. Ritson, Edbg. 1828, in Vol. II., p. 228. Based on the authority of "Cronicon Cumbriae, ex registro de IVederhale, apud monasticon Anglicanum, I., p. 400").
After a few descents, Brigham was divided into moieties between co-heirs. One rnoiety, after remaining some time in the family of Twinham, and there- after in the family of Heela, was forfeited by the attainder of Andrew de Heela, Earl of Carlisle, and given to a chapelry in the Church of Brigham. After the dis.solution of the Chapel, it was granted to the Fletchers of Mores- by, who sold it to tenants. The other moiety was successively in the families of Huthwaite and Swineburn, by which latter it was sold in 1699 to Hon. Godwin Wharton. The trustees of the Duke of Wharton in 1727 sold it to Mr. Wcffred Grisdale, under whose will (after the death of his daughter, Mrs. Lucock, and her only daughter) it passed to Mr. Wm. Singleton; on whose death in 1767. by the terms of said Mr. Grisdale's will, this and other property became vested jointly in several persons, which, being divided by virtue of a Commission of Partition, was allotted to Joshua Lucock, Esq., so that in 1849 this moiety of the Manor of Brigham was the property of said Lucock s grandson, Roisbeck Lucock Bragg, Esq. The Earl of Egremont is Lord Paramount. (From "Magna Britania").
The Domesday Book records did not reach to the very north of England; but in the work entitled "Inquisitio Eliensis," executed by the Clergy of Ely, (in order to collate those paying tribute to that corporation, and which in a large part supplies what of north England is lacking from Domesday Book), we hnd (p. 515a) there was a church in Brigham of twelve acres of free land, rated at the time, at 2 shillings.
12
Ill i,Ui), Sir Jliiiry (U- Lucy, Lord ot L'i)ckcriniunli, f^jraiilid by U-ttcr* patent to 'J'lionias dc Burp the advowsoii of the cliapcl of the Illcsscd Virgin at Briphain for life, upon condition that it sliould revert to him and his heirs upon tlie decease of said de Hur^j. This w.is wortli at tlu- time 7i, Os., 8(1. per (Diiniin. as lately before held bv Richard Kiciiardsoii. Thomas Wilson, chaphiin, in i4(/j received uf the lord one p.ireel of ar.iblc bind in IJrij^hain, by estimation one acre and a rood, called Kind's Land, valued at 20fl. ( hVoni "Historical Mss. Commission," London Eng., Vol. IIL, [). 47a. Mss. Duke Northuniberland, at Alnwick Castle.)
The said Thomas de Burs was granted license for alienation in mort- main of a moiety of the Manor of Brigham (one acre excepted) and the advow.son of the church of the same to a chaplain, to celebrate divine ser- vices daily in the chapel built by the said Thomas in the cemetery of the church, in honor of the Virgin Mary, St. Michael and St. Thomas the Martyr, for the souls of K. Ed. IL, tlte said Tlionuis, ct cetera — by a fine of 6 marks. (Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ed. IIL, 1327-30, p. 376.) In Queen Elizabeth's time, 1560, luhvard Frcers was presented to the vicarage of Brigham, vice Richard Parr, resigned. (Syllabus of "Rymer's Foedera," p. 803.) In 1607, the Parsonage of Brigham was granted in fee-farm to Richard Lidall and Edward Bostock. (Ind. Wt. Bk., p. 66.) (Calendar of State Papers — Domestic Series — 1598-1601. Vol. CLL, p. 366.)
In a S'uit of presentation to the Church of Brigham brought by Hugh de Courtenay vs. Thos. de Hothewayt, the pleadings give this ancient pedigree : Waldeve de Brigham, temp. K. Hen. III. (1216-72)
/
John
/
/ /
Alice— — Robert de Yaverwyth. Joan Thos. de Hothewayt.
Tempus K. Hen. III.
(From "The Reliquary," London, New Series, Vol. II. , p. 133. Pedigrees from the Plea Rolls. — De Banco Roll.. Mich., 2 Ed., II. , m. 220.)
The modern church of Brigham lies in the diocese of Chester, the arch- deanery of Richmond, and the deanery of Copeland. The Parish of Brigham is in Allerdale Ward, below Derwent, and somewhat extensive, including, as it does, ten lownships. besides those of the parochial chapelry of Lorton, viz : Brigham, Blindbothel, Buttermere, Cockermouth, Eaglesfield, Emble- ton, Grey Southern, Masser, Setmurtly and Whinfell. The whole parish, ex- clusive of Lorton, contained (in 181 1) 1,008 houses and 4,918 inhabitants. The town of Brigham, with several others, was inclosed under three acts of Parliament, passed in 1813. (Magna Britania.)
(2) Brigham, Yorkshire. In Domesday Book (p. 307a), a person by the name of "Gunennare" is mentioned as holding land in "Bringeham, Hunton Hundred, Yorkshire." "Kirkby's Inquest" gives, among the names of the towns in Yorkshire in 1315, in Dickering Wapentake (p. 312), "Brigham," whose lord was "Theobaldus de Brigham"; wdiercin the previous year one Robert de Sywardby had obtained a charter of free warren (that is, rabbit hunting) (p. 313). Also (p. 57 ibid), "Brygham," in which town are six carucates (about 720 modern acres) of land, of which three carucates and a half are held in fee by Menill : Menill holding of the Archbishop of Canter- bury, and the Archbishop holding of the King; and two and a half carucates are held directly from the King, of which Gilbert de Gaunt holds one caru- cate and Dervorgilla de Ballialo holds one and a half carucates in soccage in "Dryffeld ;" for ten carucates held in military tenure, there is returned, in line for the same. 3s. The same authority (p. 195), under Knight's Fees in Yorkshire (31st Ed. I., 1303), vouches that, in the Wapentake of Stain- clifife, one Willelmus de Brigham held in chief of the Lord of Skipton a half a carucate of land ; who also in another place is credited (o. 312) with land holdings in the town of Flixton, Dickering Wapentake. "Chronica Monasterii de Mclsa," an ancient work, has an account of William of Driflield, 9th abbot^. 1242-69, of an inquisition held at the "Hermitage of Brj'gham" concerning' tithes of land in Skyrne.
(Note. — By reason of the number of various coats of Brigham arms borne in Yorkshire, as well as from the abundance of allusions to this locality
13
met with in tlie records, we are inclined to impute to this locality the cradle of our family race.)
(3) Brigham,* Scotland. Now "BtVgham" (pronounced Bur-jam).
This town is situated on the Tweed River, near Norham, and a quarter of a mile from Carham, across river. The lower course of the Tweed is a rich agricultural district. The river is remarkably clear and pure, abounding in fish. As a salmon river, it is second only to the Tay. (From a "Geog- raphy of the British Empire, by Wm. Lawson.")
The salmon fishing is dealt with in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland (Vol. 9, pp. 423, 430). From the Chronicle of Roger de Hovenden, we learn that this Brigham was the property of St. Cuthbert (i. e., church property) in A. D. 883 : it is herein spelled "Bricgham."
In the acts of the parliaments of Scotland, we find some data: WiUiam the Lion, King of Scots, held an assembly at this place in 1188 (it being called at the time "Brigeam in Leonis"), where he met Hugh de Puiset, Bishop of Durham, (p. 66) (citing "Benedictus Abbas," p. 514.) Queen Margaret held a parliament there on March 17, 1289 (pp. 441-2), at which time and place letters were drafted by the magnates of Scotland regarding the rnar- riage of the Queen with the son of Edward I. John de Brigham forfeited his property for holding the Castle of Dunbar against King James III., by an act, dated at Edinburg, Oct. 4, 1479. (Ibid, Vol. XL, pp. 124, 125.)
The first published volume of the Surtees Society (p. CXV.),' speaking of the "Papal Taxation of Churches and Monasteries in Scotland," includes the chapel of "Briggeham." In the "National Mss. of Scotland," by Craig, 1867 (prt. I., facs. 7), one may see a facsimile copy of a charter of King William II. of England to Durham church of lands in Lothian, 1097-1100, in- cluding (inter alia) the "Messuage of Brycgham," with adjacent lands, woods and waters, and all tolls and wrecks of ships and other customs, to God and St. Cuthbert forever.
On July 18, 1290, the "Treaty of Brigham" was here consummated. The Scots Estates assembled, and drafted a marriage contract, between their Queen and Prince Edward, afterwards ratified by English Letters Pateiit. Provisions were therein made for the practical independence of Scotland in that there could be no trial of her interests, or subjects, outside of her terri- tory. This treaty was renounced by the Scottish King, John Baliol, about two years later. (Vide, "History of Scotland," by J. LI. Burton, Vol. II., pp. 48, 81 and 159. "Haile's Annals of Scotland." Edbg., 1797, Vol. I., p. 208. "Syllabus Rymer's Foedera," Vol. I., p. 109. Calendar Patent Rolls, Ed. I., 1281-92, p. 386.) "Brigham Park"t is referred to in the English "Calendar of State Papers" (Domestic Series — Vol. CLL, p. 518, sec. 38, 1561).
We find very valuable and interesting information in the Earl Home Mss. (preserved in Hirsel, Scotland), first published in Vol. XII. of the Historical Mss. Commis. (pp. 113, 114, 130, 131 and 132). In 1450 appears a charter from King James II. to William, eighth Earl Douglas, granting lands of Brigham and Brighamshiels (recorded in the Register of Great Seal). The follow- ing year shows a "Precept of Sasine" from said Douglas to invest Sir Alex. Hume, Knight, of the lands of Brigham, in the Sheriffdom of Berwick, Earl- dom of March ; to which is appended the earl's seal. In 1452, is a charter from King James II. to said Sir Hume, of lands of Brigham and Brigham- sheils, annexing them to the Barony of Hume, in Berwick, to be held in entail. Next follows, in 1490, a charter from Alexander Bruce of Brighame to Alex. Hume, Great Chamberlain of Scotland, of said lands of Brigham, in exchange for lands of Maw, etc. (in Fifeshire), to be held by services" due and wont, to which the Bruce seal is attached. This is accompanied by a letter of re-entry of same date, binding to defend Hume, or give regress. In 156 — (?) A. D., is exhibited a lease by Dame Marion Hamilton, Prioress of Eccles, granting to Alex. Lord Hume, heritable and principal bailie of the abbey, for his services, etc., the teind sheaves of the lands and mains of Brigham, etc., for five years, without payment.
In A. D. 16 — , was executed by King James VI. (Scotland) to Sir George Hume, a grant "in blench farm" of certain estates, formerly held by the
•Morse seems to have confused this place with Brigham, Cumberland; and to have considered the two as one locality.
tThis Is the present "glebe," situated in front of the parish manse, and contains twenty-one acres of good soil.
14
I'riory of JCcck>, aiuoiiK lliriii ' ila- luiiicrofi in tin- town ol HriKliain. " 'llic monastery was dissolved, and the free vvliole harony of Kcclcs created; to be taxed as temporal lordsliij) oidy.
I'ourtii. As to i<i;sii)i;n( K.s in (irral I'.ritani of iiriKliani^, \vc find, besidcft those localities already spoken of, more or le?<s historical HriKharn lines re- siding at l'\)xley House, Lynnn, County Chester; Cannon Mnd (or Cane P".nd). County Oxford; Ncwcastle-on- Tync. XottiuKharn, Hertfordshire, Norvvicli, Crostlnvaite. Swavesey, Mattle Manor, Soutlianijiton and Wyton, Pocklinntoii, UielinioiKJ, Carllcjii, Drypool, l-'lixton and !iunemaid)y, all in Yorksliire, and St. Paul, Covtnt (iardtii, City ><i Westminster. F.ambcth and Duke's Pl.'ice, ,all in l.ondoii.
Fifth. Lit us devott' a little space to the subject. Trri.K.s and Prokk.ssions. We shall lind many ealliii(,js exenii)litied, not ;i few piviiiK dignity ami honor to our family name.
(l) The Manor of L'lldale ( Cumlierl.ind ) was Kiven hy U'aldeve, Lord of Aller(lale, to Adam, son of Lyolf. ;iiu-e>.tor of the lUmekills, whose ances- tor married joliii Stewart, kinsman of ilu- KiuR of Scotland, and afterwards she married "Sir David Ikitjitam." (j) Theobald de BriRham certifier! i>ur- suant to a writ tested at Clipston. March 5, 1316. as one of the "lords of the town of Rrigham," Yorkshire. (.V) W'illelmus de Brigham. ditto as to town of Flixton, Vorks. (4) Richard Hrinham, Esq.,* of Lambeth, London {Comptroller of the \ousc of the Arehbishop Abbot), married Emclyn, daugh- ter of Sir Robert Hudson, Bart. Their oidy daughter, Anne, married Thf)mas, Lord Leigh; they having but one child. .Aime, who died young, d'he frjre- going four citations are from "Mai^iin Ihilania.") (5) Adam de Brigham. •Esq., of Westmoreland, appears before Parliament held at Lincoln in I.?I5, as attorney for Thomas de Lucy. (6) "Nicholas Brigham." of Cavcrsham, County Oxford, was a graduate of Oxford College, a prominent lawyer, jurist and poet, coming of Yorkshire stock. He restored the tond) of Chaucer in Westminster Al)bey. (7) Anthony Brigham was cotTerer (treasurer) of the houseliold of Queen b'lizabeth, as we learn from Philpot's & Ryley's "Visita- tion of County Oxford" in 1634. Inasmuch as it is the opinion of some that this is the family from whom our "Thomas, the Puritan," was descended, we give a reproduction of the matter as set out in Philpot's &- Ryley's book.
(Brigham of Cannon End.)
Arms; Argent, a lleiir de lis within an orle of martlets sable.
Anthony Brigham, Cofferer of the household to — (Q. Eliz.)
/
/ Thomas, Patentee for the Stanneries Xpofer, of Cannon Inde in Com. in Cornwall under Q. Eliz. — Ob. s. p. Oxen., brother and heirs to Thos.
Mar. daughter of Weldon, Cof- ferer to King Henry VHL /
/ ~/ /
Wm., 2d son. Thomas, eldest son, living Ao. 16.14. Hcdon, 3d son.
Mar. Dorothy, daughter of John Lvne of Norwich.
/
/ / / / 7
Anthony, 2d son. Elizabeth. Thomas, son and heir. Rachell. Dorothy.
(This last "Thomas, son and heir," being as had been suggested, the ver>- "Thomas, the Puritan," in whose honor we are this day assembled.!)
(8) Concerning the said tThomas, "Patentee for the Stanneries" (i. e., tin mines) in Cornwall, we find some interesting facts. In the tirst place, this was a very valuable grant. The mines were very old ; in fact, the same sought out by the Phcenecians and other inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea, before the dawn of the Christian era. In the Calendar of State Papers
*Seo abstract of his will later, under "English Notes."
tThis is erroneous. According: to the Herald's Visitation, the Thomas was living at "Cannon End" many years after our Thomas came to America. JSee abstract of his will later under "English Notes."
IS
f Domestic Series), preserved in the Public Record Office, London (VoL CLL, p. 13, sec. 4). we find:
■'June 7, 1603. Allegations against the patent granted to Thomas Brigham and Humphrey Wemmes by the late Queen, for preemption of tin." (p. 152, sec. 45) Sept. 25, 1604. _ Warrant to Sir Richard Smith, Receiver General of Cornwall, to deliver tin at a certain rate to such persons as now lend money in re-payment thereof, and to re-deliver to Thomas Brigham and Humphrey Wemmes the tin sold by them to the Company of Pewterers. (Docquet.) (p. 157, sec. 75) Oct. 14, 1604. Reply of Thomas Brigham and Humphrey Wemmes to an annexed petition to the King by the Master, etc., of the Pewterer's Company, against the monopoly granted to them of the preemption of tin. (p. 335, sec. 57) Nov. 14, 1606. Decree of the Court of Star Chamber against Richard Glover, et al., Pewterers of London, for en- deavoring to frustrate a patent granted to Thomas Brigham and Humphrey Wemmes, for preemption of tin in Cornwall and Devon."
And so, like many a Brigham before and since, he saw the clouds of threatened adversity roll away. Yet, it was not all otherwise a "bed of roses," for we see in another entry, from the same source of information, how (p. 274, sec. 26) There was a "Warrant to advance £20,000 on loan ta Thomas Brigham and Humphrey Wemmes, patentees for the preemption of tin. on their delivery of tin worth more than that, they having already dis- bursed f 60,000, and being able to disburse more. They will add £r,ooo ta their former rent of £2,000, and lend -the tinners £10,000 yearly."
(9) Robert Brigham was "Sheriff" of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in i486. (10) Robert Brigham, Jr., was Sheriff in 1540, and "Mayor" in 1550, in the same city. ("Heraldric Visitation of the Northern Counties" by Thos. Tonge, Nor- roy King of Arms.) (11) Humphrey Brigham was a "wealthy merchant"' of said Newcastle, as appears by his will, dated July 25, 1570, which we shall see hereafter.
(12) One Richard Brigham was "Coach-maker to Kmgs James I. and Charles I.," as appears by a "Grant, Sept. 13, 1619, to John Banks and Richard Brigham, on surrender of John Bank and Robert More, of the office of Maker of the King's Coaches and Other Carriages." (Calendar of State Papers — Domestic Series — -Vol. CLL, p. 77.) We get some glimpses as to- how valuable this occupation was, it being understood always that the money of those daA^s was worth far more, dollar for dollar, than our own currency. "1620-22. Third accompt. Bill of John Banckes and Richards Brigham, Coachmaker to the King. For chariots and other vehicles. A rich chariot for the King cost, in all, £15." Again, "1624-25. Two long bills (respectively 13 and 9 pp.) of Richard Brigham, for reparations of the King's caroches and chariots. He made the total £368, but took £280 in satisfaction. There were two new coaches : one is said to be of the German fashion, :vvith the roof to fall asunder at his majesty's pleasure (i. e., a sort of landau). The other was of the Spanish fashion. The like of them were never made before in England." (Histor. Mss. Commis., Lon., Vol. VI., p. 326b., Mss. of Sir F. U. Graham. Bart., Netherby, Cumb., and Vol. VIL, prt. i, p. 250a, Mss. of Lord Sackville, at Knole, Kent.) This Brigham was not at all times happy, for in the House of Lords Calendar (Dec. 16, 1643) we find account of his petition, setting out, among others, the following facts : that he had a daughter, who married one Leonard Ward, with whom a private agree- ment was made, which the petitioner will perform, so soon as Ward shall perform his part; nevertheless. Ward has caused Brigham to be arrested contrary, though the matter in dispute is altogether matter of equity; peti- tioner has no remedy, owing to the distractions of the times. Annexed is a certificate of Robt. Boys, that Brigham was and is sworn coachmaker to his majesty. The "distractions of the times" of which he speaks were the troubles arising from and accompanying the period of the Commonwealth Civil War. when the fortunes of Englishmen were very much at the mercy of parliamentary committees, to obtain funds to carry on the fight on the side of the parliamentary party. This same Richard Brigham, who resided, by the wa}', at Covent Garden, London, has his assessment of £500 for this purpose discharged on April 12, 1644; it appearing that most of his estate consisted of debts, owing him by the King and others at Oxford, and he having made wagons and done work for the army, amounting to 88£, 3s., od.
:6
But on 1 )i'i\ (), iif till" saiiu- year, we tiiul tronlilf aK^iiii lirrwiiiK for him — "On intonnatioii ot |)arrcls of moiu'y, plate, rtc, l)i-loi)^iti){ to c|i-|iiii|iu-iits hid ill the houses of Sir I'.iMwnc, Staphlon and lUixlinni, in Covcnt (ianlcn, order that Major Hen ide> Lan^risli and two other^ scareli for thr said con- cealed goods. aii<l inventory, seize and secure them till further orders ; with writ of assistanei-."
On the followinti "_7 J.iii ' he was "asscsse<l at £i5(j," for llu- piir|M)SC* ol" tJU' war; Imt the I'l illi i\\ mfj •'25 Fel)." witnesses, his assessment "respite*!" till hi^ accei)te(l dilits are p.iid, or till further orrler, "he not having iioo." (Calendar of Connnit. tor Advaiue of Money, prt. I., iii>- .?^. .V*) }
(i.^) (ieoijre lirigliain ( pi'ol)al)ly :i kinsman of Kiehard ) was also a "royal coachniaUer," as we liiul from the same .authority ( \'ol. II.. p. ^H^), as well as some other rt'adahle facts, as follows : ".Aur. i.<, i'>4V Cicorge Brigiiani. coachniaker to the late Kinj.;, »
I'honias Urigliain, his lirotlu-r and administrator, rt ill.
all of London."
riu'ii rmiu- Iwii pages of Kg.il pioeeedings. disclosing that one Thomas Rrighani resided in 1 )uke's Place, London; (ieorge Hrigham, deceased, was /;; anus and died ,il ()\ford: jiroceedings over a £200 deht owed the (jeorge Brighani estate, wlurein said I liomas Brigham will not release one Pilchard of his imprisonnienl, and s;i\ s that the committi'c shall make dirt of his bones liefore he will gi\e up the mortgage; there is order for I homas Brighani to he l)rouglu before the committee for contempt. Later. John Brigham of Ct)ttenhani. County Cambridge, as executor of 'Ihomas Brigham, deceased, was apprehended to answer contempt for not delivering up certain writings; he was disciiarged from restraint, upon performing order of the committee.
(14) Another Richard Brighani is thus happily treated; "London, Feb. 23, i6t8. Assignment by John Langley to said Richard, both being of Lam- beth, of the Keepership of the .Vrclibishop of Canterbury's Mansion House, grounds and pasture land, called Lambeth Park." ( Calend. State Papers — Domestic Ser. — Vol. CLL. p. S2^. sec. 2().) I'lhis is the same as Xo. 4 supra. —Ed.]
(15) Still another Richard Brigham. this time a "Sir" of the time of Queen Elizabeth, as evidenced by a letter preserved in the Mss. of Sir A. A. Hood, St. Andries. Somersetshire; this letter is written by Brigham him- self, who seems to be in Ireland in behalf of some military ojierations against the Scots; there is a slight engagement, the enemy retiring to the moun- tains ; but having not then reached Mayo, he following them on foot, accom- panied by Sir Donnell O'Connor, Sir Thomas de Strange and Lord Clanri- card. (Hist. Mss. Com., Vol. VL. p. ,^47b.)
(16) At this period comes another military Brigham. "George" by given name, as vouched for by a Mss. preserved in the Muniment Room of the New Town Hall, Chester, being a letter of date 26 .\pril, 1597. from W. Horwoode, High Sherilf of County StatTord. to the ^L-lyo^ of Chester, an- nouncing the ai)pointnicnt of said Brighani to conduct to Chester 36 soldiers, levied in StatYordshire. for service in Ireland. (His. Mss. Com.. \'ol. \'II., prt. I., p. 379.)
(17) In 1332. Robert de Brigham was appointed a procter of the Church of Wvcham by the prior and convent of Kly. (His. Mss.. Com.. \'ol. \T.. p. 296b. iMss.' Lord Leconfield. Petworth Hse.. Sussex.) (jS) In 1587. Thomas Brigham of Cavershani, County Oxford, was confirmed by the Bishop of Wells of his right in the advowson of Asheburie Rectory, Berks.. which he had derived from Roger Baylie of Dorchester in Dorset, to whom it had been granted for twentv-one vears by the late Bishop Gilbert. 22 Queen Elizabeth. (His. Mss. Com.. Vol. X.. prt. 2. p. 266. Mss. Wells Cath.)
(19) From the same very valuable source, we secure the following: "Grant by Richard de Kirkby." Knight, to Robert de Fereby. Rector of Egre- mont, and William de Brygiiam. "Rector" oi the Church of Wabirthwayth. of the Manor of Wabirthwayth. etc. 7 K. Hen. I\'.. Heraldric seal. 0400.) (His. Mss. Com., Vol. X.. prt. 4. p. 224, Lrd. Muncaster's Mss.. Muncaster Castle.) (20) In "Munimenta Academica Oxon." (p. 621) in the list of the Principals of the Halls, we find one "John Brigham" to have been a "princi- pal of St. Cutli])ert's Hail."
17
(21 ) Walford's (London, 1871) "County Families of the United King- dom" gives Miss Henrietta Felicia Elizabeth Brigham of "Foxley House, Lymm, County Cheshire," being the only child of the late William Brigham, Esq., who died in 1864; coming of a Yorkshire branch tracing back to the reign of King Henry I. [See my^next paper for fuller particulars.] (22) On Nov. 16, 1329, license was granted for John Baroun, to enfeofif John de Brigham of a messuage, 31^ acres, 5s. rent, in Weyleye, Cherlton and Dyn- nesfurnyval. held in chief, by fine of a half mark. (Cal. Patent Rolls, Ed. HI., p. 458.) (23) Southampton, Feb. 3, 1598, brings a grant to John Par- sons, on surrender of Francis Brigham, of the office of a "falconer:" fee, i6d. a day, and 22s.. 6d. yearly livery, payable from Xmas, 1596. (Calend. State Papers, Vol. CCLXVL, p. 17, sec. 40.)
(24) Now is our time to smile. Among the Calendar of State Papers (Domestic Series, ^Vol. CLL, p. 38, sec. 38) undated, we encounter, "A brief discourse of the corruptions, imperfections and great deceipts used in and about the making of beer, vinegar, bere-eger, lickour for mustard, aqua com- posita and aqua vita;" accompanying a suit by Thomas Brigham, et al, for a grant for the sole manufacture of such articles.
(25) Roger Brigham, Esq., of Carlton, Miniott, County Yorks., is among the list of those owning Catholic estates in the North Riding from 1717- 1781. (His. Mss. Com., Vol. IX., prt. i, p. 346b.) (26) One Willelmio de Brigham is concerned in the enumeration of the expenses of the Great Wardrobe of King Edward HI. ("Archseologica," by the Soc. of Antiq., London, Vol. XXXL, p. 93-)
(27) Nicholas Brigham, Esq., was another favored son of the line. Among the Stowe Mss., is an "Original order from Q. Mary to George Bridgeman, one of the grooms of her privy chamber, to pay to Nicholas Brigham, Esq., "whom she has appointed teller of her exchequer," the sum of £8,000, dated at St. James, the 7th Oct., 5th and 6th year of her reign, it being on vellum, with the Queen's sign manuel, "Marye the Queue." ,
"Bruxelles, Mch. 30, 1556. Confession by Thos. White, being of a pro- posal of one Dethicke to acquaint one Hinnes with a plot for seizing the treasure in the custody of Brigham (Nicholas), a teller of the exchequer, and for killing the King and Queen." * * * "Greenwich, Mch. 31, 1558. The Queen, to the Lord Mayor, etc., of London, authorizing Nicholas Brig- ham to receive the money lent to her by the city." * * * "Greenwich, Ma}' 12, 1558. The King and Queen appoint said Brigham, to be receiver of all money due or payable on any subsidy, fifteenth, loan or other benevo- lence."
"Heraldric Mss., from the Council at Westminster to the officers of the exchequer, to pay to the officers at arms, the fees of £40 for the Knighthood of the King (K. Ed. IV.), £40 for trappings and other casualties at the royal jousts and tourneys, and £100 for the coronation: and with accompanying note, that Sir John Baker, treasurer of the exchequer, command Mr. Felton to go to the tellers : and one of them, Mr. Brigham, paid the said £180 to Garter, in testers and groats." * * * "St. James, July 3, 1558. A war- rant on parchment, sealed, under the sign manuel of Queen Mary to Sir William Dunsell, to pay £800 to Nicholas Brigham, teller of the exchequer." * * * "A like warrant to the foregoing, to pay to Nicholas Brigham £1,400, to be by him paid to Valentine Browne, for the soldiers lately belong- ing to the garrison of Guisnes in France." -* ^- --^ "Feb. 1563 (Eliz.) Nicholas Brigham. by grant of Vincent, wardrobe of the beds of King Henry VIII. , entered into hall, garden and premises of her majesty's almshouse of Westminster."
(28) There are many Brighams, we understand, in Ireland; especially in the northern part, the Scotch-Irish region. Among the archives of the town of Galway, a certain Donnell McRobwcke Brimighame (whom we take to be a misspelled Brigham) is recorded as alderman in 1622. (29) From a Catalogue of the Monarchs of Ireland (Calendar of State Papers, 1603-24, Jas. I., p. 347), we read: "Milo, son of Bilius, son of Brigan (a suggestive form; perhaps nothing more), son of Brach. Hiberus, his third son, ruled jointly with his brother Hermon : rlied B. C. 1374. From three brothers of Milo all the Irish kings are descended."
Sixth. New Arm.« .a.nd Crests.
:8
In this direction we arc not able- to make virry iniiiortant adiiitious to those recorded hy us a year since, lirietly, tliis niucli may he said:
(i) The Rohert I>ri^,diani family, from wliom come tlie Sheriff arul Mayor, Ncwcastle-upon-'i'yne, liave tlie arms of one of the Yorksliire famihcs, from whom tliey are ])rol)al)Iy descended, namely: "Argent, a saltirc engrailed vert;" to whicli we find added this (|nite important hearing, "in chief, a cres- cent sable." (Note. — 'ihere is al.so mention of a l5riKliam family at Fyholmc, but tlie arms are erased from the manux-ripl.) ("Ileraldric Visitation of the Northern Counties, in iS?o, by Thos. Tongue, Norroy King of .\rm^, pp.
XVII., Lx., Lxy., Lxvi.-y
(2) In a pedigree of tlie family of Francis Jirigham of ilrdderm ■^^^•, Mid- dle Bayliwick, Vorks., showing four generations, at tlur date, Sept. 5. lf/15, to-wit : (i) Francis; (2) R.ilphe; (,i) William; (4) John — we find an r<ld friend in these arms (exactly the same as the foregoing), "Argent, a saltire engrailed vert." lint we note this addition thereto (in way of a crest), "Out of a ducal cort)net gules, a double plume of ostrich feathers argent." (Note. — This coat is likewise cpiartered with the arms of: (l) Garton of Garton ; (2) Rosse of Routhe and (3) Grimston of Grimston.) ("Visita- tion of the Co. of Yorkc, by Win. Dugdale, Norroy King of arms. ifV/j, p. 136.")
Seventh. Miscell.\nea.
It is remarkable how trivial matters will sometimes escape the han<l of oblivion (which is so grasping of all that man holds dearest) and which thus seen (after the lapse of such a period) appear even laughable — as if it were the sport of time to cut down the choicest flowers, and leave but a few weeds or homely blossoms ; to signify that plain, ordinary life was the most enduring mortals can attain. For instance, docs it not seem to smack of humor, that we should find preserved in the "Calendar of State Papers (Domes. Ser., Vol. CCLXXV., p. 492, sec. 124) "a letter dated 'Enfield, Nov. 25, 1600,' Richard Turner to Richard Oseley, Westminster," wherein he notes that he sends (among other things) by messenger to "Mr. Brigham, a fat goose, six blackbirds, and one dozen small birds." Under a former letter, of July 29th preceding, the same party writing to the same said, "Rec- ommend me to Master Brigham and his wife, and give Joan, Mrs. Brig- ham's maid, 20 shillings, wdiich I oromised her when she married. I trust to see them all again ; but I am daily sore troubled with such incommodities of age, that I trusted to have been dead and buried before this."
Another document gives us a glance at the ancient state of servitude of the English nation. From a "Catalogu ; of Ancient Deeds" (Vol. I., p. 523. c. 1372), under date "Thursday in the Octave of the Purification, 17 K. Ed. I." (A. D. 1289), Warwickshire, we note, "Grant by Sarah, late the wife of Thomas Sorel of Bermingham, to Robert de Brigham, of her bondmen and villeins, Richard, son of Peter le Bule ; Arice, daughter of Humphrey Frideau, and Agnes, daughter of Galfrida, daughter of Margaret, of the same place, with all their belongings."
Here, in the words of the poet, "If you have tears, prepare to shed them now." We have heard it alleged that there had never been a case recorded of Brigham crime, great or small ; wherefore, it was to be argued and be- lieved, either that the Brighams had been too good to do any breaking of the ten commandments, or had been smart enough to cover up undesirable footprints. But. alas, the remorseless imprint of the chronicle of time ! Under date of "March 28, 1292, Westminster, Robert de Brigeham (we are glad they spelled his name with an c). and others, broke the close (i. e., en- closed land) of Wm. de Goneville, by night, at Lirling. County Norfolk, fished in his steers, carried away fish and other goods, and assaulted his men there." (Calendar Patent Rolls. Ed. I., p. 516.) What do you suppose the penalty was? We are left in the dark.
We have notes covering some )narriagi's and intermarriages of import, from which, for brevity, we take but this: John Brigham of the City of Westminster, London, in 1637. was married in the local abbey of St. Peter, to Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Aylesbury. Her eldest sister, Frances, was the first Countess of Clarendon, and thus grandmother of Queen Mary II., and Queen Anne. ("London Marriage Licenses. 1521-1869. by Jos. Foster;" also "The Marriage. Baptismal and Burial Register of the Collegiate Church
of Abbey of St. Peter, Westminster, by Jos. L. Chester.") But stay, we will exhibit one more, for variety of spelling. "1573. the — daie of October was married Steven K'aterton & /enet foriggam." ("The Reliquary," London, Vol. II, p. 88.)
Coming to the subject of Burials, we would like the privilege of looking through the work, "All the Monumental Inscriptions in the Graveyards of Brig- ham and Bridekirk, near Cockermouth, in the County of Cumberland, from 1660 to 1876:" an Svo., published at Cockermouth by H. T. Wake in 1878, a copy of which is in the British Museum. What interesting moss-grown tales rnay it not have at hand for us all !* Lacking this, for the present, we will give instead an interesting bit, as follows: "Robert Darell, Archdeacon of North- umberland, made a covenant Oct. 9, 1537, with F. Roland Harding, Prior of the Blake Friers, Newcastle-on-Tyne, between 6 and 9 a. m. daily, devoutly to say for the souls of William Darell and John Brigham, late of Newcastle, Merchant, their wives and children, the De profundis, etc., ending Absolve quacsuuius Domine, and Sede ad dextram. (From "Brand's Newcastle.")
Of Epitaphs, we will give a single ancient specimen, being the last words over the remains of Adam Brigham, who died at Norwich, England, in 1685, asred 54:
"In youth, I poor and much neglected went, My gray and wealthy age in mirth I spent, To honors then, I courted was by many, Altho" I did in nowise seek for any ; But what is now that wealth, that mirth, that glory? Alas! 'Tis grave, 'tis dust, 'tis mournful story: Ne'erless, my soul through Christ a place enjoys Where blessed Saints with him in God rejoice." — ("Chronicles of the Tombs," by Thos. Jos. Pettigrew, p. 448.)
We promised to give the will of "Vnfray Brigham, of Newcastell, Mer- chant." Here it is :
"In the name of god Amen, on ye XXVth of Julye 1570 and of ye reigne of o'r sou'inge ladie queue Elizabeth by ye grace of god &c. the XIj yere, I Vnfray Brigham of ye towen of Newcastell vpon tyne m'chant seeke in bodie but holl in mynde & p'fytt reme'branc praysed be my lorde god do make my last will & testam't in man' & fourme ffolowinge, fifirst and afore all things I do bequithe & comytt my soule into thands of ye same god our heavenlie father into wheis hands Jesus Christ my onlye hope staye redeam'r & save- yor hanhinge vpon ye crosse did comend his sperite & my bodie to be buried in alhallowes churche. It'm I bequithe & gyve vnto Robert brigh'm my sone ye full third p'te of all my goods in default of whome I will ye same third p'te to be p'ted equallie porcion & porcion betwixt my brother Xp'ofer & my two susters. It'm I gyve & bequithe vnto my dought'r Anne the other third p'te of my goods in defauld of whome I gyve & bequithe ye same third p'te to Anne my wyffe. It'm I gyve & bequithe vnto my said Vv'yffe for a token yt goblett ye wch hir mothr did bequithe vnto me. It'm I gyve & bequithe vnto my sone Robert my gould rynge wch haitli ye horse head vpon it weyinge one unce of gould. It'm I will yt my brother geoge styll shall haue ye custodie of my said sone & of his goods vntil he come to lawfuU aidge and in default of my said sone Robert I gyve & bequithe my said ringe to my brother Xp'ofer brigh'm. It'm I gyve & bequithe vnto ye poore & p'sonrs IIJs. Illjd. It'm I gyve & bequithe vnto my brother Xy'pfo' brigh'm my beste cloke. It'm I gyve & bequithe vnto my frynde andra gofifton my blake bagg wch I had of Jerom benett. It'm I gyve & bequithe vnto my cosinge John haveloke my gylted dager. It'm I gyve & bequite vnto my wyfes thre brothers will'm diconson andro Bewicke & Xp'ofo' Cooke to etche of them Vs. It'm I bequithe to Roger berebrewer Vs. It'm to my two susters two Jewells of precious stones and to Anne ye vnicorne home. It'm to m'garett litle ye iewell of em'aude. It'm to Isabell gefton als' haveloke one old grote. It'm all my detts & fun'all expencs discharged I do gyve & bequithe vnto my sone Robert all others my goods moveable & vnmoveabl not hear above bequithed and hym my sone Robert I do constitute ordaine & appoynt
*I've since had the pleasure. There's not one Brigham name in it.
20
my full & soli- cxi-iiilor of tins my l;i>l will & totamctit. In witness whcrc- off I haue sett wtli mytu- hand niynr (iwiii- iiaiiu' to this my ij'sciit will in yc p'sence oi my hrothcr styll my cosing John havclock ^ of John mat^hray niynister yo clay and year ahovc written."
And now. a word on I )is( ovkkiks, to come to our owti country, ir» closing a somevvdiat too extended artiele. We snpjxise yon wonder what is meant by discoveries. Did you iver dream that there had heen :i HriKham in Amer- ica aliead (d' Thomas tlie I'urilau? Wtdl, there was (I do not, however, here refer to the one coming to Massachusetts Hay Cf)lony in early times — Se- bastian. I think, was his given name — who dropi)ed out (tf sight and record in a singular fashion). Here is a letter I'crlnilim from tlie "Bouveric Mss., preserved at Hrvmore." near Hridgewaler, I'"ng. (Mis. Mss. Com., Vol. X., prt. 6, p. 85.) :
"1633, Oct. _>8. Island of i'rovidence. Win. Rudyerfl, Wni. Rous. Roger Floydc & John Hriiilinm to — (probably John I'ym. the great Knglish leader). We do not tiud lure the largeness that was rejjitrted. .\t the arrival of the 5"cafiow-er (not .l/i/vllower ). tlie country was furnished with an overplus of provisions for tlie nuiiilier o! jicrsons here. In October following, the new- comers had a crop of corn. In that month 80 more came from Bermuda. who had been dissuaded by the seamen from bringing provisions. .Although they had felled a great tpiantity of ground by the end of Nf)v. and planted it with corn, the (Iry season came on so fast that little of it came to fif)od. These Bermudans ( Baremoodians) had little help of the provisions of store, which was spent in the fruitless work of Warwick Fort. Thus many have endured great hardness. The island is full of hills, and not so fertile as was reported. At New Westminster, and where Captain Axe lives, the groimd has this year twice failed in corn. This allotment of two acres a head will no more than find food. Even if tobacco were as vendible as ever, the quantities from here would never cloy the market. The tobacco that can be made between January and August may be as good as that of any other country out of the Indies, if we observe the Spaniards' course of keeping it a year before sending it home. The worms eat our rafters, and the dust falling upon our tobacco hinders the burning and makes the taste bitter. Most men will have ])laintains & papawes in their season. Pines, orange trees &: lime trees grow, but do not bear. Potatoes are the most thriving and cer- tain food we have. Fortification goes on slowly, and we are environed with enemies. From Fort Henry on the southwest to F"ort Warwick on the north- east, a distance of 7 miles, the land is inhabited. The 29 pieces of ordnance here, if fitly placed, would free the west side. The north side is not inhab- ited, and it is partly defended by breakers. 20 pieces of ordnance are requi- sits for its defence. In the harbor there is good riding for 20 ships. What- ever others may relate, this is the truth."
One other reference of kindred interest, and we, for the purposes of this article, will bid you a kind adieu. In the Calendar of State Papers, already so often quotedby us (Domestic Ser.— Vol. CLL. A. D. 1581-90. Q. Eliz., p. 146, sec. 35), we learn that Mr. Secretary (probably Walsinghain) has been informed by Mr. Anthony Brigham, that he approved of the Western discoveries in America : recommends the formation of a company, and ad- vises them to hearken to the offers of Sir Philip Sidney and Sir George Peckhani. This "Anthony" Brigham may be the very one who was treas- urer ("coliferer") to Queen Elizabeth: and' the "Western discoveries in Amer- ica." to which reference is made, are undoubtedly those in the West Indies and Bahamas. So we are quite justified in believing that the "company" rec- ommended was actually formed, that they did "hearken" to "Sir Philip Sid- ney" (or someone of good standing), and that this letter of "John Brigham" and others, we have quoted, is information returned by them as settlers of the "Companv" in the New World. (It is entirely natural that we should query in our minds what became of this John Bi;igham. who was settled and writing back to England some year and a half before our Thomas the Puritan was sailing out of London.)
We hope at a subsequent gathering to be able to give some further facts both valuable and interesting. But for this present, good-bye and God- speed.
21
^lY ENGLISH TRIP.
Dear Kinsfolk :
For a fifth time, the honorable pleasure has been given me of addressing a Brigham audience, upon some matters touching our clan's history and lineage. The writer has spent the past summer in Great Britain, during which period many facts were gleaned bearing upon our family tree. It is proposed herein, to give as thorough a peep into the note-book of the trip as the hour's limit will permit.
As you may know, there are four places in Great Britain bearing the name Brigham. One in Yorkshire, and two in Cumberland, England; while the fourth is nestled just over the border, in Berwickshire, Scotland. It is with a modest pride that the writer reflects that he is probably the only Brigham who has ever visited all of these scenes. He feels amply repaid for his pains, and hopes that the fresh knowledge gained will be a joyful satisfac- tion to the entire American clan Brigham. Views were taken of the most important features, which may be seen at this meeting, and will doubtless in due time find their way into a permanent Brigham history. Maps were likewise drafted from the ordnance survey of Great Britain, which will still further aid us in comprehending these localities.
Starting from London, a run of about four hours, finds one at York, the ancient Roman capitol of the island. Here you change cars for Driffield, which is situated in the East Riding of Yorkshire. About half way over, you are obliged to change again at Market Weighton (pronounced Weeton) ; from which it is a short run across the "Wolds" to Driffield, at one time capitol of the Saxon Kingdom, and where it is reported that King Alfred lived, died and was buried.
Seated in a dogcart, we set out for our five-mile drive to old Brigham, Yorkshire. The way lies through a landscape of level fertile farms, studded with substantial buildings, surrounded by abundant ripening crops. Much of the distance we are alongside a canal, which runs its brief course from Drif- field* towards Hull, and used, before the advent of railways, to thrive in an
*While here we took opportunity of purchasing the following- work, issued in 1S98, "Contributions Towards a History of Driffield, and the Surrounding Wolds District, in the East Ridins of the County of York," by the late Fredk. Ross, F. R. H. S. Though no reference therein is made to Brigham, it con- tains some 196 pages of very interesting matters, touching the country imme- diately adjacent, beginning at a period like 2,000 years back. Driffield, like Brigham, is situated upon the Yorkshire Wolds, a range of chalk uplands, presenting an undulatory surface, which have for unnumbered centuries been the home of various races, of whom our only knowledge has been learned from their burial mounds. The earliest races are divided into the two. known as "long-headed," succeeded by the "round-headed" (also called the "early" and "later" stone-races), who were succeeded by the Brigantes, who intro- duced the age of metals. Then came the Roman, who developed Yorkshire amazingly; York itself being commonly called "altera Roma." Later followed Angles, Saxons and Danes, all of whom left numerous sepulchral mounds upon the Wolds, wherefrom have been exhumed prehistoric bones, weapons, imple- ments, pottery, jewelry and the like.
The first certain date concerning this town comes down to us through the Anglo-Saxon Chronical: "Anno 705. This year Alfred, king of the Northum- brians, died at Driffield, on the nineteenth before the Kalends of January." In the field at Driffield, between the north end of Middle street and the Beck, are the remains of a very extensive castle, but now all beneath the soil. This is understood to be the home of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kings, as mentioned by the antiquarian Leland, three centuries and a half ago. From the death of Alfred there is no record or tradition of the place being a royal residence, though it continued to be a royal manor until the fifteenth century. Coming now to the time of the Norman Conquest, the Anglo-Danes, by their repeated unrisings, so incensed the Conqueror, that he laid in waste a tract sixty miles square between the Humber and Durham. In this devastation Driffield was included, for we read in Domesday Book, 1086, where it speaks of "Drifelt, with the four berewicks," which, "in the time of King Edward, were valued at £40." that "now the King has them and they are waste."
The greatest splendor known to this scene was unquestionably during the Saxon period, of which we know so little; thereafter it sank to the insignificance of a rural village, whose uneventful monotony was relieved only by its four markets a year. The present century has marked a wonderful "growth from about 1,300 to about 6.000 population, while its railway and canal have been the means of upbuilding considerable commerce and manufacturing. (We have purposely entered into a note of considerable length, because Brigham. being a suburb of Driffield, has participated in no small way in all these vicissitudes. M'tjori continet in se minus.
22
fxiilKnt Imal iiiiiiiiH TCI-. W'v SAW Ixil niic canal I«jat, however, and that was ht•in^J drawn hy n nitiii. wIiom- inntlicr was nlNiard tcndinf; tlic rii'lder. As till- rraft sat low in ilu- watiT, it nnisl have carried (piitc a carRo. The man, uiili Inoail stiap across his arms and chest, very slowly drew it through tlu- water. \\ lull 1 iii(li(alr<l my desire to take a view of so unusual a .spec- tacle, lie smilingly li.ilteil nntil I iiad secin'ed an rxrrlh-nt likeness.
.\t liui iiiis^ r(M(U. uc iipiiml .1 si(i?n-l)oard, oiu- of whose arms pointed towards (and mil) "I'.iiKliam" liardhy. .Soon we were cliinhitiK a slight rise, called "Hrigliain Mill," which command-, a |)leasant view in all direc- tions. .\s w r jiiocccd np " IWi^liani l.ane," we jiass the post-otVicc and an old sand-iiit on llic n^\\{, while on the left are a few low hnildiiiKs occupied by a l)lacksmitli ,iiiil liarnessmaker. In the rear is a farm called "Little Hrig- ham." Just over the brow of the hill, we reach the ".M.inor House." whose extensive bnildinjjs betoken that the i)roprietor. Mr. Stork, is a prominent breeder of h.ickiKy horses. At the foot of the hill, by the canal, stands the public house, known for fietier.itions as "The lirinham Arms." In truth, the family coat ni anus n^rd to (.jrace the si^n ; hut forty years ago. when the jdace was sold liv the l'ri).;liams. it was t.ikeii down, never aRain to he seen there.
A drawbridge spans tlu' ciiial. and just below the "Arms" is "Hri^ham Landing." Years ago it was a ihriving handet with much trade, but it is now simply a rural district, with no sjiecial marks of distinction to in<livid- ualize it. In an adjoining field (a i);irt of "Sledmere Farm"), a stone slab fitly chronicles the passing of the Brigham race out of this ncighborliood, after a continuous possession extending from the Norman Conqueror's time. The short-sighted judgment of the generous erector neglected to enclose, or even raise it above the surrounding meadows. How long it will with- stand the rubbings against it by the cattle and their occasiijnal horned as- saults, we cannot conjecture. We wish it might stand forever; but gravely fear that another half century will have witnessed its overthrow, with no friendly hand to re-erect its honored form. Ilowbcit, \vc at least have taken a likeness, together with the inscription : which in some Brigham Memorial ought to keep the annals of the sacred spot eternally green.
That you may form an intelligent idea of the extent of this ancient estate, I give an extract from Coram Rege Rolls (40 Ed. IH. — Ric. HI., p. 1104), obtained from researches in the London Public Record Office, the same being taken from an Inciuisition Post Morton held at York Castle, wdierefrom it appears: George Brigham. Lord of the M;inor of Brigham. Yorkshire, died without issue in 1576. leaving real ])roperty. which l)y marriage settlement had been entailed upon his nephew. Francis Brigham, as follows: "15 mes- suages, 20 cottages, 5 tofts, 16 crofts; 1,200 acres of arable land, 800 acres pasture. 1.200 acres meadow. 500 acres moor and marsh, 500 acres turf, in Brigham." Surely, this 4,200-acre estate is no inconsiderable property; and when we reflect that it was in the family 750 years, have we ncit just cause for pride, because of the tenacity with which succeeding generations clung to the cradle of our clan?
On our way to Scotland, we stopped over at Newcastle-l'pon-Tyne. the magnificent second city of the L'nitcd Kingdom. Our family seems to have been more prominently identified with this city than any other. Though the origin and disappearance of this branch of our family is veiled in obscurity, it is certain that for at least three generations, from i486 to 1550. they were in the lead of Newcastle families. During that period. Robert. Christopher and Robert Brigham. each in turn, became Sheriff and afterwards Mayor of this city.
Christopher B. was a merchant of means and of generous impulses, as sufficiently appears from his founding of "Brigham Hospital." which was situated near the north walls of the city, contiguous to the Pilgrim Gate, and bounded by Pilgrim Street. High Friar Lane and High Friar Chare. This institution (later mentioned by Leland. Tanner, Wallis, and other his- torians) has long since disappeared, and been succeeded by fine business blocks, which stretch along one of the leading thoroughfares of the modern city. The city walls have been demolished, while along the western boundary of the Brigham Hospital site runs Grey Street, one of the grandest avenues
in all England. Directly opposite is the towering monument dedicated to Earl Grey, the distinguis'hed parliamentary reformer of the fore part of the passing century.
In further proof of the dignity of the said Christopher Brigham, we might add that King Henry VIII. (Pat. 4 Hen. VIII., p, 2, m. 8) granted him a patent, whereby he was excused from serying on juries, etc., and had the priyilege of sitting with his hat on in the presence of the King and his heirs.
To reach Brigham, Scotland, via the east coast, you must change trains at Berwick, and go westward by another line as far as Coldstream; whence a four-mile driye is made oyer finely kept roads, through a beautiful rolling country of first-class farms. The yillage of Brigham is a single street about a mile' long, made up mostly of one-story scattered cottages, including some ale-houses and a post-office. A few cots are ruinous, and others have in recent years been pulled down. In England, as in the United States, the trend is awav from the farm to the city. The two principal farms are called "Long Birgham" and "Birghamhaugh." When the spelling and pronunciation be- came changed, I know not; but Birgham (Bur-jam) it is now altogether called. In history, however, it is known as Brigham.
The town lies" about a half mile from the Tweed, to which it runs nearly parallel. The river offers excellent trout and salmon fishing, especially at "Brigham Dub," a deep still pool between rapids.* From Birghamhaugh bend to its mouth, the Tweed is the boundary between England and Scot- land; and it is tradition that a bridge (such as the name of the village should suggest) once spanned the flood at this place ; but no trace remains. The same lamentable truth holds of the ancient chapel, the site of which is pointed out. But Birgham (Brigham) is an antique settlement whose recorded his- tory dates back more than i.ooo years; so that we may reconcile our minds to the certain fact of many unknown vicissitudes.
Its early annals were glorious; in 1188 Henry II. sent ambassadors thither, who met with the Scotch King and dignitaries, to consider whether contri- bution should be made to one of the earlier crusades ; in 1290, the Scots met here to ratify the proposed union of Prince Edward (son of King Edward I.) of England with Margaret of Scotland; in 1290, the "Treaty of Brig- ham" was solemnized here, providing for the national freedom of Scotland ; in 1 291, the twelve competitors for the Scotch throne met here, to present their claims before the English Commission. They still point out a field as the place where Parliament convened, in those bygone days when the king and his legislators were w^anderers.
In the old burying ground (some of whose stones reach back into the third preceding century) not a Brigham name is to be found. They early seem to have sought "fresh fields and pastures new." The present Lord Paramount is Earl Home, whose chief residence is but a few miles distant towards Coldstream. He now fishes in "Brigham Dub," and shoots his game in the preserve known as "Birgham Wood."
Carlisle, in his Topographical Dictionary of Scotland, speaking of Birg- ham. says : "During 1830-31. no less than ninety-four persons emigrated to America." Perhaps many years before a Brigham performed a similar act. We doul)t much, however, that there was any by the name still living there at the time when "Thomas the Puritan" began to figure in our pedigree. Let me not forget to mention the vulgar phrase, "Go to Birgham," is frequently used in the neighborhood, in the sense of our phrase, "Go to Halifax."
Brigham, Cumberland, lies to the southwest of its Tweed namesake ; like which, in the old days of inveterate border strife, it belonged now to Scot- land, now to England, as each in turn might become the victorious aggressor. Borne many a mile through purple heather, we change cars at Carlisle, from which a short run brings one to Brigham, Cumberland. Nearing the town, we see the long stone bridge (whose prototype ages ago gave name to the place) spanning the Derwent. much swollen with recent rains ; from whose flood I had the pleasure of seeing a seven and one-half pound trout pulled.
♦As we stood viewing this scene, Mr. Scott, a brother-in-law of Earl Home, came up in conventional garb, to go out in his boat fishing. We explained our visit, whereupon he became quite agreeable and offered us a cigarette of superior brand.
24 . ■
ll.iril liy llic railvv.iy st.iliim stands tin- tmu- linnorcd church, dedicated to St. l'ri(l)^ii, wlidsf iiKxk-st pile of masonry lias hrcii IarK<ly mndcrni/cd. On till' \rstiy wall llanK^ tiu- oldest tahlct oi)siTvcil, l)riin{ a small one of brass, dated i').?,<, in memory of one .Swinhnrni-, Km^lit ; svlnle m llir choir i% a mciiujrial tahlet to Mr. I'ollocU, llic viiar's son, who reeently du-d of fever in South Africa, in defense of Ladysinith. .Some interesting fraKinents of carved stone (formerly i);irts of the edifice) are jdaced .ihoiit llie altar The environiii).; eliuriliy.iid eont.iins ;i choice colleclion <if iinir|iie sjahs, ofttimcs very large and massive I luy re.ich i)ael< into the i<kk)s, l)nt no HriKliaiii name is fonnd. Near the nld vicarage, l)nt graded (|iiite over when the rail way was lunli. i^ the iiistoric location known as "Nun's Well"' t<i whose merits the poet Wordsworth composed :i sonnet. A more commonplace spot than is its present aspect, it would he hanl to tind
fefi/'aW J
*u*
f;l^'^
'k''i '
To reach the vill.iiie. von must walk a halt mile or more up a good hill. passing through "Brigham Low Houses." consisting of two country inns, the "Lime Kiln" and the "White Sheaf." .\t the latter inn, they_ recalled the visit made some years since by our kinsman. D. H. Brigham of Springfield, who at our first Marlboro meeting kindly gave us all. for a souvenir, an excellent cut of Brigham Church, taken from a jdiotograph which he had brought back. Strange to say. it so happeneil that I was unable to get lodg- ings at either public house: so. as it was a showery dav. T was very glad to board the next train and spend the night at Cockermouth.
In going up "Brigham Hill." you pass along a causeway, from which you look down on either side 50 or more feet into vast pits, the beds of worked out lime kilns, and try to realize what a great industry this must have been from time immemorial. Millions of tons have been excavated during the march of the centuries. Three kilns are in present use in the neighborhood; the output of one of the largest being usually twenty tons daily, with a maxi-
mum capacity of double that amount. Considerable unburned lime is shipped to \^^orkington, to be used in the treatment of iron ore.
Reaching the height of land, and the one winding street which forms the older village, you see at a glance what a diary of history lies about, could it but play the oracle and speak. Old farm houses and barns, with yards not always cleanly kept, are interspersed upon the thoroughfare with newer, trimmer town residences. We first turn westward, and descending grad- ually fome half mile come to the modern Brigham schoolhouse, built in solid masonry in excellent taste, surrounded by a substantial high stone wall. The merry children come trooping out to dinner, whose wooden-bottomed shoes, as they romp along, resound like a squadron of horse guards. Retracing our steps, we turn off at a private gateway upon the left leading to the Fletcher mansion, the residence of the nabob of the vicinity, whose head had died but a few weeks before.
The recently built east end of the village is on the height of ground, con- sisting of modest, but substantial and well-designed residences, whose front yards bloom with a profusion of beautiful flowers. From its proximity to a small stream by the same name, it is frequently called "Filer Beck Brigham." Bej'ond is what was "Brigham Commons ;" but about a score of years since,, it was divided up among the property owners, and is now hedged off into many a sightly field.
From the "Alpha Catalogue of Enrollment of Exchequer Pleas" in the Round Room of the Public Record Office. London (2 Vol., "Bli-By," p. 96), the record in a suit brought by one Bell vs. one Hudson (who was then "crown farmer of the Rectory of Brigham," Cumberland) shows the follow- ing interesting custom of the place : From time immemorial the inhabitants had been in the habit of paying in lieu of tythe, for every tenth lamb, if ten or more, a modus of i6d (i. e. pence) for 6, I4d ; 7, 141/26.; 8, I5d; 9, I55^d. Also for every tenth calf, if ten or more, 2s, 2d (i. e., shillings and pence), and for every number above five at the following rates: 6, 2S ; 7, 2S, ^d; 8, 2S, id; 9, 2S, i^d. Also for the tythe of hens 2d. and for eggs and chick- ens ; for each old hen, 2 eggs ; every hen-chicken, i egg." It also appears the custom to pay "A composition of 4s, lod for the tythes of what kind soever of grain, hay, hemp, linen and all kinds of fruit." Truly, this is an interesting peep into the way of raising church money at Brigham 300 years ago.
From Brigham to Keswick is a most delightful ride through the famous Lake District of England, which affords a constant succession of charming panoramas, the most characteristic features of which are the lakes, bounded by oval hills, covered with purple heather. Up the Greta River from Kes- wick a short mile, we reach the modern built hamlet of Brigham. The lower portion called "Brigham Nook," consists of a neighborhood of well-kept cottages, one ale-house, and an excellent school erected in 1851, which is attended by about 100 pupils of both sexes from the agricultural and manu- facturing population, a part of the instruction being garden-work. At this place, "Brigham tollbar" for bridge) of masonry crosses the Greta, leading towards Skiddaw, most famous of the mountains, only one and one-half miles distant.
Passing through the village, a short walk upon the left-hand road brings the visitor to "Brigham Forge," a picturesque sheltered spot, where the Greta is spanned by another staunch stone bridge, and the power from the fall drives electric and laundry plants. Keswick Brigham has no time-honored history, and was of interest to seek out simply because of the name it bears.
Returning by rail towards London, a change of cars gave us a few hours' wait at Penrith, which happy opportunity we seized to walk a few miles, and do (hastily) the famous seat of Lord Brougham's family. I do not claim any relationship (nearer than Adam and Eve), but the words Brougham and Brigham mean the same; brough (like brig), signifies a bridge. Per- haps in forgotten ages, the ancient ancestors of the Broughams once bore the Brigham name ; for there was no settled orthography, until comparatively re- cent years. This, however, would be romancing, from which we prefer to keep as free as possible our historical gleanings.
Well, at any rate, the house of Brougham is both ancient and distin-
2'3
guishcd ; wlnU its i)osscssi()ii>. art- nut far removed from llic IiriK>iams of Ciimbcrlaiul. "IJioii^'liaiii Mall," the present resi<leiice, In enclosed by for- iiiidaMi' walls, print ratiil hy a massive Rate, leading to a large inner court, niiuli like llic MiiMIc Ajje fortress-houses of tlie great; hut tlie more vcncr- aljje jiilr is T.roUKii.iiii ("astle," about a mile lli^tal)t upon the river\ hank, whose iiiiii ir\(;ils llu- mice tremeiir|(>u>, strength of its extensive ma^'>nry. This l;ii;.iiiIic st i-ucl hit, (|;iIim>^ I'mul the Normans, was dismatithvj hy Croin\\i.ll, wluii In- s\;is alnoad ii|iiiii liis tr)ur of ilestruclion atul demolition. u])on so \ast a si-alc as liad iml Ixiii ecpialed since the royal command of Henry VIII. (hssnh iiiLC llir iiiDiiasteries.
Befoii' K-asiii).; lliis >uhjiil of Mrigham lnuiis. ihon^li I hi.kIi- ii'> pd- grimace \<< tlir spot. I must not forego l)ricf .'dlusiotis to the ancient Royal Manor of Hrigham in XorfolU. In later limes, tlie spelling' has heen change*! to the modem e(pii\alenl. " lUiili^rlimii ." hut it was ca1U-d "lirigham" as late as during the niun oi" llcni\ \ Ml , i. c. after 1500 (vide "Particulars for Grants, Index l.ini.niiu ilrmy \lil. — I'ui). Rec. DfT., l-oiidon). Its an- ti(|uity is suirnirntly .ivdiulud by Us mention in I)omes<tay Book, compiled by the Ndniian CoiKiiuror before 1100. The historian, Stacy (Hist. Nor- folk Co., 1S20), says thai it was named from the hrith^f wliidi was tlie pass- age to Rowtliani Cross, and was a remarkable and much freipientefl way for all pilgrims that traveled from SulTolk and other i)arts to our "Lady of Walsinghani." I'lu' old cliureli li.is .1 "Norman North Porch;" and there being no tower, its two beds are hung in a house in the vard. Hrigham con- tains the Manor of Ilackfortl and the Rectory.
I hnd early nuiition of I'kicii .\.\i I^^MILIES at all these i.ld Brighani places. Yes, and in a volume of lii(|uisitioiis and Assessments Rebating to Feudal Aids (in Pub. Rec. Off.), it ajipears that, as early as 134^), one John de Brygham* had lands :it Faleton, in the "Hundred of Harrygg & Bude- legh," Devonshire. It is impossible for your historian to account (even conjecturally) for the origin and antecedents of this clansman. Neither can we ofYer any explan;ition of one William, son of John de Brigham. who (according to Coram Rege Rolls) was in Lincolnshire in 1.^07 (though, not unlikely, he was of York or Norfolk origin).
But little information has reached me touching the Brighams of Brigham, Scotland.! From the jirinted Fxchequer Rolls (examined in the Prin- cipal Registry Mouse. Edinburg), I learned that William Brigham. in 1525. had lands in the Lordship of Brigham ; and that .\dam Brig- ham had lands there in 1559. From another entry, it appears that Adam's male line ran out, and a daughter, Elizabeth, was his only chihl. From the Registry of the Privy Council of Scotland, it appears that this Elizabeth Brigham married one Alex. "Dicksonn." of Newton in Brigham. I might add. Dickson is a common family name about Brigham-, with stones of many of its departed scions in the churchyard. The Parish Register of Eccles, within wdiich this Brigham is situated, do not begin until alK)ut 1700; subsequent to the time when the Brighams departed, and so not of any assist- ance. Also, the Index of Wills for Berkwickshire (preserved in the New Registry House. Edinburgh), from \-,t2 to i(;70. reveals not one Brigham estate.
Concerning t)ur clan in Cumberland, there are man\' entries available, to prove their existence thereabouts for several centuries. In a Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland (\'ol. I., p. 97), John de Briggehaim of Cumberland appears as witness to a grant as early as 1210. From Notes on Coram Rege Rolls, it appears that in the reign of Henry IIL (1216-1272),
*We cannot help wondering, was the spelling' there not ehanKCil. later on. to "Bringham"? We find such an old family in County "Devon." bearing a coat of arms. It is surely suggestive!
tl have just received word from The Hon. J. Balfoin- Paul. Lyon King of Arms (Heralds' College), Edinburgh, Scotland, who says: "There is no doubt that, as you say, the name Brigham is more English than Scottish. No arms have ever been recorded here for any one of the name; but there are, here and there, scattered up and down the Records which have been printed, stray no- tices of persons of the name, such as Jolin Hrigliolm. a Seottisli merchant, who got a safe conduct to trade for a year in England, in H39. • • • I do not think any one of the name ever possessed land in Scotland, or that the family was conspicuous in any way."
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Waldeve de Brigham presented to the advowson of the Church of Brigham Thomas de Brigham, whose son and heir was John, who had but two daugh- ters, "Alicia and Johanna," coheiresses. From the De Banco Rolls (Mss. Series, Vol. XXVIII., p. 863) one finds that in 1274 John and Thomas Brig- ham, sons of Adam de Brigham, had lands in Galenter (?). From Coram Rege Rolls (p. 583, 23 Ed. III., 23 Ric. II.), Thomas Brigham was in Cumber- land in 1381. While in the same record in 1413 (14 Hen. IV.), we find this pedigree under the same county: John de Brigham had two sons, William de Brigham (who dies childless, seized of lands in Castelbrigg), and his brother, Peter de Brigham, whose heir was "Galfred," whose heir was John Smith. The family early disappeared from the neighborhood, however, for the records of Brigham Church show nothing of them during the past 300 years; nor do the wills for the Deanery of Copeland (wherein were made the probate of Brigham residents wills) disclose any Brigham estates.
That the ancient Royal Manor of Brigham in Norfolk gave rise to a Brigham family line, we may reasonably infer from numerous entries found. In Coram Rege Rolls (25 Ed. I., p. 289) we hear of one Alande Brigham in Norfolk, as early as 1297. In Parkin's Topographical History of the County of Norfolk (Vol. 6, p. 144), the heirs of one William de Brigham are named, as being part owners in a knight's fee of land in Bradenham Manor in 1347. And in the same history is record of one Adam Brigham, who died at Nor- wich in 1685.
The most persistent Brigham line occurs in connection with the annals of Yorkshire. Paulson's History of Holderness* gives the following re- markable pedigree of nineteen Brigham generations: i, Walter Brigham of Brigham, in the time of Henry I. (1100-1135) ; 2, Robert; 3, Hugh; 4, Theobald: 5, Sir William (whose will was dated in 1277) ; 6, Theobald; 7, John; 8, John; 9, William ; 10, Sir John; 11, George; 12. Ralph ; 13, Fran- cis ; 14, Ralph; 15, William; 16, John; 17, Roger; 18, John, Esq., and 19, Dr. William Brigham, who was "living in 1786," says Poulson, who adds, "this family is now become extinct." This last statement is shown to be error, in Sheahan & Whellen's History and Topography of the City of York and the East Riding of Yorkshire (1856). The said Dr. Wm. Brigham moved from Brigham to the city of Manchester, whereby the family became "extinct" upon the estate of Brigham, which probably accounts for Poulson's .statement, for it is certain that Dr. Wm. Brigham had, among others, a son Wm. Brigham, Esq., whose residence was Foxley House, t Lymm, Cheshire. He it was, who sold the very last Brigham property in Brigham, Yorkshire, removed the "Brigham Arms" from the Inn, and erected the monument here- tofore referred to at length. Said "Squire" Brigham had but an only daugh- ter, who had the misfortune to marry an unscrupulous Frenchman, to whose criminal actions her death was doubtless due. She had a child, whose whereabouts ' and descendants (if any) are to the writer unknown. t The
*We had the good fortune to procure, at reasonable price, a new (uncut) copy of this, now rare and valuable, treatise, the full title of which is: "The History and Antiquities of the Seigniory of Holderness, in the East Riding of York, Including the Abbies of Meaux and Swine, with the Priories of Nunkeel- ing and Burstall; Compiled from Authentic Charters, Records and the Unpub- lished Manuscripts of the Rev. William Dade, Remaining in the Library of Burton Constable; with numerous embellishments; by George Poulson, Escfuire, * * * Hull, MDCCCXL." It is composed of two quarto volumes, aggregating more than 1,000 pages, and by far the most valuable book which has been writ- ten of this part of York, wherein is situated Brigham. The pedigree and notes of the Brighams occur in the second volume, on pages 268, 269. It should be set out in full in any complete Brigham history.
tl have had a letter from the present owner of Foxley House, L. Clark, Esq., who has very kindly promised me a picture of the house and chapel.
jl have had some very pleasant correspondence with Rev. I. Kennedy, Vicar of Foston-on-the-Wolds. situated only a mile from Brigham, who promises later to send me some notes from his parish records. He also kindly cited me to the records of the Leet Courts, which used to be regularly held at Brigham, up to about forty years ago. From a newspaper clipping (enclosed in one of his recent letters) I am able to glean a few more points about this unfortunate Brigham marriage. It appears the Frenchman's name was Henri Dieubonne Pierrau de Tourville, that he shot his wife at Foxley House, in the dining- room, about 1867; she died soon after, leaving an only child, Henri de Tourville, Jr.. who was supposed to have been placed under a false name in London. The fnther married a second time, and pushed this wife over a precipice, for which crime he was undergoing an eighteen years' penal servitude in Austria at the time of his death. The Brigham property descended to his son, and
2b
aiins UTonlcd of iliis hi.nirli arc-: "ArKnit. a -^allirc ctiK'railr.l vm \ u- riniis nolis hc.niiiK mm iluir liiu- arc prt-si-rvrd in iln- M>v k<M.m .,» the Urit- isli Miisi-mn.' iiid pidinrrc^ vvoic Iwici- m-i>r<lf(l in ilir I.Mrii|..ii Hcr.-ild^' Colk'jjc, ill i(>i J ,111(1 i(i(i().
It was loriiiirly my iiiiiii csmi .n ihai |i(iiia|)s all llic ltriKliaiii'> sprariK from a ininiiion HiiKliaiii aiiri->i,,r, wlio^r ..lium I wa>. iiicliiu-il to attrii.iitr to ■S'orkslmr. I.atd- riscanlits, liowi-vcr. lead im- In the iliaiiKt-tl iHrlicf that tluMT wen- III) less ihaii li'iii tlisliiut liiiKliam liiu-s. fiiuiidvil liy individiiah, wliu assmiu-d this smiiaiiu- in tlu- early days, wlicii it I.ecanu- tin- ijrop.-r tiling ti' li.ive ,1 suniaiiie : ;iiid that they assiiine<l this partiriilar iiamr Im:- cause lluy lived at one i<v another of the four HriKliain place,
I'Voni wliieli hiaiieli defended oiir "riioinas the I'lintan" 1 regret my present inahility to say, thoiinh I ineliiu- to the opinion that it was Yorkshire. I made llioron(,fli serireh .iiiionn wills in the Prerogative Court of Canter- bury, the Prerogative ,ind l.xeheipier Court of \'ork, ami the Durham Pro- bate Court, in hopes of KUaiiing some elue which would lead to an intelli- gent solution of the \e\atious prol)leiu, hut in vain. In the Canterbury Probate, from 15(.S to K.Oo, occur luii eleven Brif,cham wills, the residences of four being iu l-oudoii, three in \ Orkshire, and one each in O.xfnrd. Surry, Sussex and Kent ct)unties. At I )mhaiu Probate. I was disappointed in not finding a single firigliam will. .\s its jurisdiction extended (until recently) over Northumberland, as well as DurJiam County (both of which lie just above Yorkshire). I was prepared to find many Brigham estates.
York Probate, however, makes a better showing; in fact, the largest. I fancy, of any court in the Kingdom. I'rom 1437 to 1602, I found thirty-two Brigham wills. This latter year was the one at which I began to make careful search, which 1 made to embrace the [leriod between l(X)2 to iWkj; during which time I found eighteen Brigham estates. The. will books here are sim- ply enormous, frequently aiipro.ximating 1,000 pages (piarto in size, upon parchment, vvhicli, with heavy binding, Iiaudles and clasiis. weigh, perhaps, not less than seventy-tive pounds. It llius became a manual (as well as cler- ical) labor to examine them. My regret was poignant, that not a clue was found tending to point out the origin of our "Thomas the Puritan." From correspondence hereafter to be carried on. it is earnestly hoped that the mys- tery will be solved.
You will be interested to know that the British Museum Library has a fine collection of books by Brighams ; thirteen different authors being repre- sented, more than lialf of whom are Americans. It was a pleasant surprise to find among them a nieilicil treatise by my own father.
Perhaps as good an end as any, to this rambling narrative, may be made in a brief accttunt of the person who seems (^from the records) to have been most distinguished of all the Brighams. I refer to Nicholas Brigham, poet, jurist and historian, whose untimely end forestalled full fruition of his genius. By tradition his birth was from the prominent family at Caversham, Oxford, the founder of which, .\nthony Brigham. was BailitT of the King's Manor there under Henry VIII. Nicholas is reported to have finished his education at Hart Hallt (now Hertford College), one of the oldest institu- tions of learning at Oxford. (The registers of these early years are missing from the school records). He ajjpears to have removed thence to one of the Inns of Court, where he made a thorough study of law and history. His love for poetry, however, was a lifelong passion, as manifested in many flights of
upon conviction of the father the moneyed income was paid to the lad's cus- todian; but from Iiis aliduction in 1SS2 to IS.ST the tenants were not called upon for any rent. T liope later to be able to give .the whole story.
♦Additional MS. No. 18.011, folio 103 b.— Harleian .MS. No. IM'M. pp. li:?-ll.'. 349— Hari. MS., No. 1.4S7. fol. 30i>— Hart. MS., No. Si*5. fol. 75— Harl. MS.. No. 1,557, fol. 13, contains the pedigree of the Oxford braiuh (printed), to which I have often alluded.
tHart Hall (Aula Cervina) was founded in 12S4 by Klias de Hertford, and is one of the oldest institutions at Oxford. It was created a College bv royal charte' in 1740. as "Hertford College." but had only a brief career on Its new foundation. In 1S74 it was reincorporated under the original title. Its buildings are fine modern structures situated near the Hodleian I^ibrary. Some remains still exist of tlie ori.ginal Hall, of which many were distinguished members, such as Sir Matthew Hale and Charles James Fox.
his Pegasus. Biographers say he died in December, 1559, but from the pro- bate of his estate, into which I examined, it is determined that he passed away on the "20 Feb. 1558." He was buried in "Poet's Corner," Westmin- ster Abbey, beside his daughter Rachel, whom he lost at the age of four. Camden in his work (published in 1606), upon those intombed at Westmin- ster, gives the full inscription upon the grave of the daughter, but he does not mention anything of the sort concerning the father. Frorn the forego- ing, we might possibly infer that Nicholas never had any epitaph, though historians agree that he was herein buried near the tomb of Chaucer, father of English poets, to whom Brigham had caused a monument to be erected. Chaucer's tomb yet remains, dim with hoar antiquity and slowly crumbling away : but the exact spot of Brigham's grave cannot longer be made certain.* He left no will, his estate being administered by his "widow Margaret" in the Commissary Court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster ("Bracy," fol. 272). The names of his surviving children, if he left any, do not appear; and as there are no contemporary registers preserved at Westminster, it is impossible to decide whether he left issue. He did, however, leave children of his brain, in several notable works, namely:
(i) Rerum Quotidianaruni Venationes (or a Diary of Memoirs in 12 Bks. (2) Venationibus Rerum Memorabilum, in i vol., being biographic in character, from which Bale (in his "Scriptores" published in 1559) makes extract touching two (now obscure) English writers.t (3) Diversorum Poe- matum, in i vol., being a collection of poems from his own pen.
The biographer Pitts intimated that Brigham was author of other works ; but if so, we of this day are ignorant even to their very names. The early writers give one the impression that the works named were published by Brigham ; yet, strange to say, not a single volume is to be found, either in the mammoth collection, of British Museum Library, or in the historic col- lection at Oxford (which I visited), where (being his alma mater), it would seem Nicholas Brigham would have been actively interested to preserve these offspring of his erudite talents. What a text,' from which to preach a sermon upon the uncertainty of posthumous fame! Nicholas Brigham,$ poet, histor- ian and jurist, the publisher of ambitious and voluminous treatises, the erector of the Chaucer monument, the greatest of our clan, buried in West- minster (that most honored spot in which an Englishman can iie) ; and here we, some three and a half centuries later, seek in vain for the works from his pen, and must even remain ignorant as to whether he left a posterity! "Vanity, vanity ; all is vanity !"
Perhaps the prettiest compliment of all is paid him by the biographer Pitts, a part of whose laudation I will here freely translate from the Latin, in which it is published. "Nicholas Brigham. * * * j^ poetry, above the common crowd; eloquent as an orator; an experienced jurisconsult; a
*From attending an afternoon service at St. Paul's one Sunday we set out for Westminster in the evening'. Being rather late, the nave had become filled, so that we were informed at the front (west) entrance, that we must go round to the transcept door, entering through Poet's Corner. We were fortunate in obtaining a seat almost opposite Chaucer's tomb, and, possibly, just above (certainly not far from), the remains of Nicholas Brigham. It was a most awe-inspiring moment! Soon the services began; the light of burning candles, while abundant for the worshipers, was lost in the distances of the vast structure; while the choir and organ, outpouring, though they did, a tremendous volume of thrilling sacred music, re-echoing through many a shrine and chapel, having resounded to the remotest portions of the great edifice, finally died away into the inky depths of the high loft, now and then returned in softest resonance, like that of a heavenly "Choir Invisible."
f'Guilhelmus [William] Wickham" and "Bartholomaeus [Bartholomew] Florarius."
JDo not confound this Nicholas with the one spoken of in my Anglian Brighamea, as "Teller of the Exchequer" to Queen Mary. The fact that they both bear the same name, are prominent, and in London at the same period, makes it a question of easily mistaken identification. In fact, the best modem English biographer of Nicholas, the poet, falls into this very error, of making these two parties one. It is clear, however, that Nicholas, the "poet," died in 1558, and that his estate was administered upon in the Commissary Court of the Dean & Chapter of T\^estminster; while concerning Nicholas, the "Teller," I find him living as late as "1563," at which time he "entered into hall, gardens and premises of her Majesty's [Q. Elizabeth] Almshouses of Westminster." Very likely, the two were nearly related; but in what degree I am unable to say, save that I do not believe the relationship could have been that of father and son. '
30
siRiially siuciNsliil liisi..ii;m; as jiii ;iiiii.|iiarian rt•^t•ar<•|l<■r iiit". tlic lore »l aiuiciit .\ll)i()ii, vi-ry diliKH-iit." Siirily, this \-, an cjntaiili any man luiKfU wrll feci proud to have written of Iiinisclf after dcatli.
In closinj^, I mii>t not omit to express my sincere tlianks to those v. geiuTous contrihnlioiis aided materially m making the pilKrunaue to lli- .... cieiit BriKliam seats. Their names will iiereaftcr appear in n«Jt in'^rc fitting, but more eiuluriiifj:, connection.
iMiially, let me appeal to the pride of all our kindred— since it is now I)roposed to finish a Hri^rliam I'amily History— that each individual renew his eiierjiy to the end that comi)lete records of our clan mav he Kroiudit fou'.ihrr as sjiecdily as possible.
Hoping to meet you all at sul>se(|uent reunion^.
Very sincerely, your historian.
W. I. TVLKK 1!KI(.H.'\M
IllOMAS llkl(,il.\M. IHE Pl'KITAN.
For a fourth time 1 have the pleasure of .iddressiug a representative I'. ham audience, and I have chosen a subject which mu^t interest all, "Th' : Brighani," connnonly called "The Puritan."
Who was our common ancestor, this Thomas Brigham. the first of hii name in America? In a sense, the question is easily answered, like most of his fellows, he was undoulitedly an Englishman. Farther than thi^. we can- not positively decide. But we will speak briefly of three sources, from any one of which he might have come ; and from one of which it is most reason- able to suppose he actually did spring.
F'irst. There are some who pin their faith to a certain Thomas Brig- ham, who was living about 1634 at Caversham, near O.xford. England, as is conclusively shown by a printed report of a herald's visitation, published by the Surtees' Society. His father's name was Thomas, and he had had a great- uncle Thomas. The facts of this suggestive date (1634), the recurrence of the given name '"Thomas," as well as the conspicuous position occupied by this family at that time, seem to be the principal grounds upon which be- lievers stand.
Now, there arc some patent hindrances to so easy an inference. The great-grandfather of this youngest Thomas had been Anthony Brigham (treasurer to the household of Queen Elizabeth), whose eldest son. Thomas, was one of the grantees to the famous tin mines of Cornwall. (The magni- tude of these mines may be seen from the single fact that they soon after- wards spent $300,000 upon their development : which, of course, would in these days represent a sum several times larger.) This "patentee." Thomas, died without issue; and his brother, Christopher (who was grandfather to the youngest Thomas, of whom we have been speaking), fell heir to his large estates. .Vccording to the laws of the country, his estate would have descended to the father of Thomas; and Thomas, Jr.. himself, in due time, have become the possessor. Now, will some one tell me why would he run away from so good a start in life? This family supported a coat of arms, and Thomas' grandmother was a daughter of one Sir Weldon. Treasurer to King Henry \'ni. Why wasn't this coat established on this side the water, if he is the one? Wouldn't the heir to so proud a line be likely to raise quite a stir in the new land to which he came? Would not there be some record of the fact on the other side ?\. Rev. Abner Morse (in his Brigham book, published in 1859) tried to establish, in quasi fashion, that our Thomas, the Puritan, was of noble origin : and he "spreads it on so thick" that I guess the clan has been holding its aggregated head higher ev.-r since. He shows, for instance, that the Puritan possessed "joint stools." etc.. etc.. which seemed sufificient proof, in those early days, of high birth. But Mr. Morse (in a footnote) himself implies a negative to the idea that the Puritan came from the Oxford family.
Second. Near Great DrifVield. Dickering Wapontake. East Riding, York- shire, is a hamlet called Brigham. In this vicinity, the history of the Brig- hams dates back to the time of King Henry I. Brigham as a sirname in certain parts of east Yorkshire is to this day quite common. Many of the
31
New England Puritans hailed from Yorkshire. Says a recent authority, "There are words and phrases current in America, as taken by the Pilgrirns, which are now obsolete in England, save in Holderness," — a district in which is located the Brigham country. For myself, I admit an inclination to think our Thomas came from this region ; which I also believe was the cradle of the Brigham family. Sir Richard Saltonstall's homestead, in Watertown, Mass., was bounded on the east by the homestead of our ancestor; he came on the same boat (the "Suzan & Ellin"), but at a different time. Perhaps Thomas Brigham belonged to the Saltonstall party — their locating side by side they might have been acquainted across the water, not unlikely lived in the same part of the country. Saltonstall is known to have come from Yorkshire ; it is reasonable to suppose, that Thomas Brigham was from the same region.
Third. There is a "Cumberland" Brigham district in England; two, in fact, but one of them has sprung up since the departure of our "Puritan." During the past year, I have corresponded with the Vicar of the parish of the historic Brigham, who sends among other'things, the following item :—
"The Manor of Uldale, near Brigham.
Sir Ranulph Bonekill had issue, Alexander, whose son Adam gave Aiverth- waite. parcel of his Manor of Uldale, to the Priory of Carlisle. The said Adam had issue, another son Alexander, whose daughter and heiress was married to John Stuart, kinsman to the King of Scotland, and afterwards married to David Brigham, a Scottish knight renowned for his prowess and bravery : and by this marriage the Manor of Uldale passed to the Brigham family. This David Brigham was a companion of Sir William Wallace, who was executed at London, for treason against his king Edward L, against whom (with Robert Bruce) he took part. Wallace was a ,man of extraordi- nary' strength, and David Brigham an exceeding good horseman ; whereupon the Scots made this rhyme : —
The man was ne'er so wight nor geud. But worthy Wallace durst him bide ;
Nor ever horse so wild or weud. But David Brigham durst him ride.
Ihis and other things tend to confirm the tradition that your ancestors went from here to America. And the account of Thomas Brigham's mar- riage with Mercy Hurd is a further confirmation. There are plenty of Hurds, or Hirds. still in this ncigliborliood. The scent becomes stronger and stronger the farther we advance upon our search. But it is more than ever clear, that you should follozv it up here in person."
And so it may be that Cumberland is the first home of our Thomas*
To pass from speculation to known facts. The first item about "The Puri- tan," which we have thus far seen, is to be found in Camden Hotten's book, entitled, "Lists of Emigrants from England to America, 1600-1700." This book was compiled from reliable London Admiralty reports. From it, we learn that on the "18 April, 1635, Tho : Briggham" embarked from England on the ship "Suzan & Ellin, Edward Payne, Master," for New England. The same year, Paige (in his history of Cambridge, Mass.), assigns the arrival of our Thomas (and 36 other males) in Watertown, Mass. This Water- town was the fourth settlement in Massachusetts Bay Colony, being made in July. 1630. Salem (begun in 1628). Charlestown and Dorchester alone being older. Surelv. we may claim that our antecedants trace back to the founda- tion stones of the Old Commonwealth. On the 18 Feb., 1637, Thomas Brig- ham had become a "freeman." His homestead was situated in the southeast- ernmost corner of Watertown, being bounded on the east by Cambridge-town- line. In truth, in the year 1754, Cambridge absorbed his homestead, and hun- dreds of other acres originally a part of Watertown.
This is historic ground, my brethren; and as (one showery morning pre- ceding our Boston reunion) I walked along through this beautiful region, my heart filled with emotion, to think that 260 years before, my seventh lineal ancestor, "Thomas Brigham, the Puritan," had stood upon that very ground and been working out his lifework. Near by was Mount Auburn, made sacred by the ashes of a nation's heroes and heroines. Nearer ye<r,
*In the light of my recent researches this is very improbable.
.32
witliiii nIoiu-'s tliiow nl' wliorc oiici- sinod 1 limiiaN' lo^ In.
lli)si)it;il .111(1 ample i);irl< ; at the soiitli. tliroiiKli low laiul 1
diaries River. I felt like laying my liaiwK ii|)OU its placul waters, and
sayiiif?:
"Old frieiul, it was a long time to wait ; luit I have, at la^t, come to pay yiui my siiuere regards, too profound for speech, Ifero I .nm, dear old t'liaiies, afti'r two eenturies and ;i half, a little .nllered like yourself; hut neither the worse, we'll trnst, for the iiievitahle ehanKes. I'm just .V), the s.ime age as "the I'liritan' after he h.id hecn your constant cofupanion hcr<- f"r four years. Much such ;i looking chap, 1 guess, hut dressed in other There are more of us now, thousands in fact, scattered far and wide all true Hrigh;mi>, |)rou(l of our line:ige, proud of their .\nuTican cr In their name 1 greet you with joy and tenderness. And s<>, frienrl Charles, (iod hless you and farewell!"
Those ancient "homcstalls" were cut up into all sorts of shapes and si/es ; to suit the influence of the grantee, I sujjpose, or the depth of his wallet. The outlines of Thomas' homestead suggests vividly the shaiic of an old-fash- ioned cofVm. ( I'rohahly Thomas didn't think of this; if he did. it didn't interfere either with his sleep or his prosjierity.^ In extent it was 14 acres, just J^ the size of his next door neighbor's. Sir Richard Saltonstall's. This contiguity and ample domain vouched well for the standing and means of our Thomas. Though not a consi)icuous m;in. he held offices ; was constable of Watertown in it),^y and 1042. and selectm;in in 1040 and lf)47.
(^I think this aversion to i)ublic life is hereditary. It certainly is an excep- tion to find a Brigham holding a leading office. In sjjcaking with a Jvidge of Court in Watertown about our kinsman Charles Brigham, the Boston architect, he remarked: — "Tt was the hardest thing in the world to get him interested in our political life. One vcar, we did finally get him to take a little otitice ; but that was all. That's all, too, I or the neighbors have against him. He sticks to his own business about as closely as any man I know.")
Concerning the exact location of the Puritan's homestead, it is my duty to enter a conflict of opinions. Paige's History of Cambridge (one of our very best town histories) says, "Thomas Brighan\, about the year 1638, resifled at the easterly corner of Brattle and Ash Streets." This is the only publi-hed authority upon the question which I have seen. But the records do not seem to justify our holding with this stand. This much is certain; a part of Thomas Brigham's eastern boundary line was in the east boundary line of the original limits of Watertown. Now, ancient mai)s of Watertown make this boundary to come about in the line of present "Spark Street." During the past year, I have had correspondence with Wm. R. Richardson, Esq., a lawyer of standing in Boston (who has had much experience with the land titles and ancient monuments, metes and bounds in this locality), and he gives his opinion: "I think it very certain that up to 1730. the origijial line between Cambridge and Watertown was substantially upon the line of present Sparks Street. In any event, Thomas Brigham's lot was bounded on the east by Cambridge town line, not only during his ownership, but during the owner- ships of many of his successors in title. It is also bounded on the south by the Charles River : I have no doubt, therefore, that the southern boundary was the northern bend of Charles River." This last is further proof, for the "northern bend of Charles River" comes right at the foot of Sparks Street. Indeed, we may safely say. Mr. Paige connnitted himself without sufficient research, when he says Thomas lived at "Ash" Street, which is something like a half mile farther eastward.
The south side of his fourteen acre tract is at present a poor Irish settle- ment; but the north runs through to Brattle Street, along which it extends many hundred feet, right in the heart of Cambridge uppertcndom. Going along this street to the east, we soon pass one of those bulwarks of .\merican liberty, the public school, upon which is ceramically written. "Washington School : descendant of the 'Faire Grammar Schoole.' First School in Cam- bridge." And so we realize, our clan had its beginning amid choice and scholarly haunts; the literary .home of a metropolis, which from that day to this has done more than any other in wisely shaping and dominating our national policy. s>^ Thomas Brigham had several v;iluable grants outside of Watertown. One
33
in 1652 was of 180 acres in "Shawshine," since incorporated under the recog- nized name Billerica. Another was of 72 acres in present Somerville, which had considerable legal discussion at the hands of his representatives after his death. To this latter grant, he moved in middle life; and there resided until the time of his death, December 8, 1653, at the untimely age of fifty. Underlaid by a superior bed of argilaceous slate, the site has partly been owned by Cambridge for a long time, by which it is treated as a valuable stone ledge. The yawning chasm shows the long continued work of many landscape vandals. Otherwise, it is mostly built up quite citylike, with many trim residences, streets and modern public improvements. To the eastward, however, one may yet look over virgin meadows, across to Tuft's College, not far distant; or turning westerly may gaze at the historic "Powder Tower." Surely our Thomas was blessed with good landed judgment, and, had his life been spared to the length of many of his descendants, he might have left an even more enviable fortune.
Rev. Morse says Thomas Brigham was probably buried in Medford. What particular reason he has for saying so, he does not add. It would seem as if he would turn with greater affection to old Watertown, whose burial plot was almost, or quite, as near. It is much to be regretted that we are never likely to positively know the spot, since it was one of those early graves long since returned to undistinguishable mother earth. But as it is the best we can do, let us spend a moment upon both of these ancient reposi- tories of the dead.
I first quote from Usher's History of Medford.
"The places used by the Urst settlers of Medford for the burial of the dead is not positively known. Whether from unwillingness to follow Eng- land's example in providing expensive and well-secured grounds, or from their inability to do so, we cannot say; but the fact is clear, that such pro- visions for the dead were not made. The oldest gravestone in the present graveyard near Gravelly Bridge bears date 1691." (That is, almost a half century after the death of our Puritan.)
Bond's History of Watertown, says :
"The earliest mention of a burial place in the town records is July 5, 1642. (That is over eleven years prior to the death of our Thomas.) When was ordered up a sufficient fence about the burying place, with a five-foot pale and two rails well-nailed, by the 15th of the seventh month ; the town to pav for it. * * * The location is not described, but is doubtless what is known as the Old Burying Ground of Watertown. * * * There are only extremely few, if any, older graveyards in New England, and it was the only one in town for more than seventy years."
And Harris says, in his "Epitaphs from the Old Burying Ground of Watertown :"
"The Burying Ground of Watertown, one of the oldest in the country, and second to none in interest, is situated not far from the present geograph- ical center of the town, on the corner of Mt. Auburn and Arlington streets. * * * It was in use as early as 1642, and probably the only one, until the one in that part now Waltham. * * * fhe oldest legible stone is that of Sarah Hammond, 1674. (Only twenty-one years after the death of our Thomas.) * * * a probable tradition tells, the earliest, soon abandoned, was on the opposite side of Mt. Auburn Street, and on land owned in 1869 by Mr. Joseph Bird. * * * Depressions may still be seen covered with stones ; an old custom to protect graves from wolves. * * * Excavations might prove the truth."
This is about all that can be said. Does not Watertown seem to be the more probable resting place of our ancestor?* Though we find no tablet raised by devoted hands, no moss-covered inscription, it is not to be mar- veled at. Contemporaries who had filled greater niches in their lives, also lie in their unmarked unknown graves. Leaving ample estate and family which upheld a good name, it is reasonable to suppose that Thomas Brigham had the conventional slate slab used in that day, bearing its death's head or cherub at the top, below which were plain lines of birth and death, and not unlikely at the bottom a Biblical text' or stanza from the well-worn hymn-book. If
•Some of Thomas' friends were buried in Cambridge's old burial ground; and he may rest there.
34
y
SO, like many of far more rccciil erection, i. has eitlier irumMcl to <llt^l, or 1> careless hands of later day laljorers been put (like lu:n I'-.r whom it w;t raised) underneatii llie sod, wlierc nature's sad, yet knidly i: trations liave lonj? Iiofore tlii> elTaced an inscri|»tiun, wlucli i ever must remain a blank.
And now, as we mentally i)ass from sacred shadows out upon the high- way of life, let us exemplify the wholesome sentiment of our LonKfclluw :
"Trust no future, hosve'er i>leasant ; Let the dead i)ast Imry its dead : Act, art in the livinj,; present. Heart witliin and God o'erhcad."
MARLHOROUr.H AXU TIIF. SECOND (.KXKRA 1 lO.\ i )l AMl.Kl
CAX liRIUliAMS.
"Is your name Brigham? Is your wife's, or mother's name lirigham? Was Brigham the euphonious surname of either oi your Rrandmothers, a great-aunt or cousin german ? Very well, sir (or madam), here are the keys of old Marlborough : enter forthwith into the joys prci)ared for the elect." Such, and similar, were the dialogues acted and re-enacted upon the occasion of the second meeting of the Brigham Family Association, September 12, 1894. The day was perfect; the (iod of Puritans has always held a warm spot in his heart for the descendants of uur "Puritan,' who was an early pioneer of the Old Bay State. Most loyal was the town to its traditions of hospitality, royally lavish and cordial in preparation and entertainment of the hundreds of "kith and kin." who from near and far joyfully assembled upon the appointed day.
It is obviously fitting tiiat this article of your historian should dwell some- what upon the records of this town of Marlborough (our family Mecca), add- ing a few salient features of a generation of our family which was among the earliest and most prominent of its colonizers, and whose descendants in myriad numbers have age after age continued to people and animate a scene from wdiich they drew, and upon which they have conferred honors.
Marlborough — situated in the westerly part of Middlesex County, its west- ern boundary being territory of the County of Worcester — lies alx^ut twenty- five miles west of the "Hub." Although not incorporated until the year 1660, it was considerably earlier opened bv squatters ; for Sudbury. Marlborough's eastern boundary, and from which removed most of its earliest settlers, was incorporated as early as 1639. i. e.. only nineteen years from the date of land- ing of the Mayflower. The geographical Marlborough of today is by no means commensurate with that of the past, a fact which nuist needs be borne in mind in speaking of these early Brighams. From its ancient widespreading territory have sprung other municipalities, locally known as "The Boro Towns," as follows: In 1717. Westborough was taken from the western por- tion of the present town: in 1727 Southboro was created from the south- ern part of the town: in 1766 Northboro, which, after 1744 had been locally known as the "North Precinct" of Westborough, was created into a self- government : finally, .n 1866, Hud.son was for the greater part carved out of the northern part o^ Marlborough. Thus five towns have sprung out of the bosom of the one. in all of which living scions, as well as numerous head- stones, with many an unmarked grave, in their old and newer burying grounds, testify to the thrift and perpetuity of the Brigham name.
Seeking the rich natural-meadow marshes, the earlier settlers came to make new homes: filled with thoughts of God. and acting out the stirring events of their period with a characteristically intelligent manhood, whose type is without a peer in the history of our country. The first petition con- cerning Marlboro to the General Court of the Old Commonwealth came from certain of the inhabitants of Sudbury, and was headed by Edmund Rice, Sr., who subsequently married the widow of Thomas Brigham. the Puritan : wherefore, wc may proudly assert that a Brigham matron rocked the infant giant Marlborough in his cradle. The town grant was made under the spelling "Marlborow :" l>ut. at a meeting of citizens, the same year changed
65
to "MarllDorough," which form again has drifted, in this age of brief direct- ness, into the recognized "Alarlboro."
Let me here state that in 1862 Charles Hudson pubHshed a valuable his- tory of this, his native, town, which is accessible for purposes of research, to whom all interested parties must feel very grateful for a medium for quickh' arriving at much of vital value. Having made this citation, time de- mands that the balance of our hour should be pertinently limited to Brighams and their deeds.
Upon the death of Thomas Brigham, the Puritan (in 1653, at Cambridge), his widow, nee Mercy Hurd, is next heard of, in 1655, as the wife of Ed- mund Rice, widower, of Sudbury. They removed soon after to Marlborough, taking with them the five Brigham children who survived their Puritan an- cestor. Mr. Rice, as a leading citizen of the new town, took up his residence by the "Great Road," on the northerly side of Williams' Pond and near the famous hostelry which bears the same name. By his former wife, "Tamazine," whom he married in England, Mr. Rice had had numerous progeny, who have long since founded large families, which (together with the Howes and Brighams) rank as the most numerous of the neighborhood. But Edmund Rice by Mercy (Hurd) Brigham (his second wife), had no sons; only two daughters, "Ruth" and "Ann." "Goodman Rice" died at a good old age and was buried in Sudbury. Thereafter his widow took for a third husband William Hunt, formerly of Concord, but at that date of Marlborough, where he died (seemingly without issue by this marriage) in 1667. His widow, Mercy (Hurd) Brigham-Rice-Hunt, died in 1693, in advanced old age.
And now, for some further consideration of the five Brigham heirs of the second generation from our Puritan ancestor. Their names in order of birth are Mary, Thomas, John, Hannah and Samuel.
Speaking of the first, Mary BrighajT> Morse (in his genealogy of our family) records (p. 8) simply this : "Born probably in Watertown ; men- tioned only in her father's will." Savage, in his Genealog. Diet, of New England (p. 253), sets down that Mary "probably died before her father." In view of the fact that Thomas, the Puritan, died the day after making his will, wherein Mary is provided for, it is evident that Savage is in error upon this point.
I now call your attention to a most important matter in this connection : Paige, in his Hist, of Cambridge (pp. 501-2), a most thorough and pains- taking work, chronicles that "Mary went to Sudbury and Marlborough with her mother, brothers and sister, when her father died, where she married John Fay of Marlboro." And he gives evidence, as indicated by a legal docu- ment on record in a court of Middlesex County (Mid. Prob. Recs., VH., 9) wherein (joining with other complainants), John Fay and Samuel Fay, cinldrcn of Mary Fay of Marlborough, and heirs of Thomas Brigham, late of Cambridge, commenced suit September 28, 1695, to recover certain lands in the possession of Samuel Hastings, who had purchased the Puritan- Brigham homestead. John Fay, Sr.'s, wife was "Mary," and there was no other Fay in Marlborough at that time of suitable age to be the father of the said John, Jr., and Samuel Fay, parties to said suit. I think Mr. Paige is correct ; and that the genealogist of the Brigham family must include in his work the descendants of these John and Samuel Fays, sons of Mary (Brig- ham) Fay. Both of whom had large families, among them being males who became the heads of very numerous branches, as one may see from the brief record given them in Hudson's said work. This Mary (Brigham) Fay had also a daughter Mary, who inter-married with Jonathan Brigham (a son of Thomas Brigham, second), by whom she had ten children, who started sev- eral male lines of Brighams. Hudson, as far as he goes, does not conflict with Paige's position. And he adds the following interesting fact, that John Fay retired (with most other Marlboroites) during King Philip's War, to Watertown, where he buried his wife and a younger son, David, just coming five years. If future researches should ever unearth the burial place of our Puritan ancestor, it is very probable that his daughter Mary, and this young grandchild will be found sleeping by his side.
Time demands expedition : therefore, let us hasten to the next child, 'i'lioMAS Brigham, Second. Before proceeding, let me say (what hardly
36
sccuis iKccssary) llial my rciiiaiU.s do uol prctciul to l)e m any sciihc ••»Jihi<i ive biograpliii's (vvliicli time docs not pcTinit>. They arc mainly in drawn from iiion- or less familiar piiMiralions, to><rtluT witli -- comimmiratioiis and ohscrvations, aildrd to results of perNonal t>
Tliomas, Sernml, canu- In Mai Ihoroii^li with his mother, From hii father, J'^dinund Rice, In- made a |)iirehase of land near Williams I'lind. v. was the starting? of tiial immense farm afterwards ae(|uircfl from the oru Indian oecupants ami liually inehided in his own ri^ht many hutHlred> (; ably thousands) nl acres, stretehinn miles away towards Chaimery 1' 'riiis siitlieid to siihdivide for several fenerations into eonifortahlc farms tor his dcscendanls. numbers of whom remain upon the soil to this day. Tin- successive owners of the "old home place," on tJlcn Street, have been a- lows: {^) Thomas Hrif::hain ; (j) (Jershom I'.ri^jham ; (3) Benjamin I'.n^ ham; (4) Warren Hri(j;liam ; (5) Henjamin ^ho|na^ I'.righam, {(1) by wIumu it was sold to I'.lislia Uoiid about 1.HO5. thenee to Hoiid's son-in-law. Bradford Latham, thence in i8<),^ to (ieor^^e F. Nichols, whose wife was Abbie A. Brig- ham (a daughter of lion. Addington Brighain, and sister to William XI. Brigliam, Es(i., of Marlluirough ). Through the kindness of Mrs. Lucy .A. (Brigliam) Brown, widow of Sidney, of Marllxirough, I am able to exhibit a photo.niaph of the last male Brigham owner, who is said to have resem- bled strikingly his paternal ancestry, having "thick, wavy black hair, black eyes and red checks; a fine-looking man." (Chas. F. Brigham, AI! Mass., owns the parchment — first deed — from Benjamin Rice to Tlioin.i^ Brigham, Jr. )
The first dwelling, a log hut, built by Thomas, the Second, wa^ burned during his absence by fiax catching fire. About i/Of), he built a frame hou^e, which was left for an "ell" by his son Gershom, who built a two-story house about 1724: this "ell" was finally taken down in 1701 by Warren Brigham. while making repairs. Through the kindness of Mrs. Lucy B. Brown, of Marlboro, Mass., you may see a reproduction of the house as it last stood,* Mrs. Brown was the last occupant (having moved out in 1889), after which it was uninhabitable for some years, and was taken down by Mr. Brown, when he became owner. "The house was clapbonrded, but never painted out- side ; only two rooms finished: the sitting-room and the principal bed- room were plastered and ])ainted."
The location has long been called the "Warren Brigh.iin Place," from its fourth owner, who died at the remarkable age of 87, over half a century ago. Up to his time there had been no Warren Brighams, and it tiiay be worthy of attention to say that our researches during the ])ast year have explained the mystery of the given, name Warren. In Tilden's History of Meilfield. Mass., (P- 505). we learn the interesting fact, that Warren Brigham's grandfather,
Gershom Brigham, Third, married in 1703 "Mehitable ( ; — , Morse has it,
but now known to be) W^arren," who was the sixth child of Joseph Warren, early settler of Medfield, whose house \vas burned in King Philip's War. Joseph Warren's wife was Experience Wheelock, daughter of Ralph Wheel- ock, the "Founder of IMedfield," who had taken a degree of A. M. at Clare College, Cambridge, England.
The greater part of this old Thomas Brigham estate >\.i- .1 portion of the old plantation "Ockoocangansett," which liad been reserved to the In- dians out of the ancient boundaries of Marlborough, ami which many con- tended they forfeited by their perfidy during Philip's War. Without the consent of the General Court, certain leaders of Marlborough, at a (we opine) nominal sum (the amount of wdiich can never be known, by reason of the subsequent disappearance of the deed) obtained title to this planta- tion of 5,800 acres, wherein all the Brigham's of the dav were interested as members of the company. Through the generosity of Miss Martha L. Ames. of Marlborough, a worthy descendant of old Brigham stock, we are permitted to look upon one of these earliest deeds, it being dated "May 10. 170:1," being conveyance of 13^4 acres of meadow land, as explained by a map. going to Thomas Brigham Second, out of "Cow common" land, and certified to by his brother, "Dr. John," who had been chosen "surveyor and clerk" by the pro- prietors.
Upon this farm, on the south side of present Forest Street (.beyond the
•We have a drawing of this for the Brigham Family History.
.^7
confluence of Glen Street), something like a score of rods from the highwaj and at the foot of Crane Hill, rest the last of the Marlborough Indians, they being of the Nipmuck tribe, whose earlier generations listened to their in- spired guide, the great Eliot. Their last chief expired in his wigwam near by Williams' Pond, and was buried at a place where the last generation of citizens could make out about thirty other individual graves. At this writing there is to be seen only a somewhat raised rectangular plor, about 30x75 feet, wherein are several grave depressions in the rough pasture soil, from whose center springs a mature native apple tree. This spot has long been sacredly preserved by successive Brigham owners; and, historically speaking, is worthy of some dignified and lasting monument. A rough stone wall might (at a nominal cost of time and money) enclose the spot; while their brief general epitaph might be very appropriately chiseled upon a rude boulder brought from near at hand. And so, a long farewell to those aboriginal ten- ants who. for countless ages, had possessed the soil, which, now for over two centuries, has yielded its bountiful harvests to such Brighams as have been "to the manor born."
Let us hasten to the third member of our second generation, namely John BRIGH.A.M. This founder of the "lost tribe" of our family (who Mr. Morse has rather curtly dismissed, perhaps in heat engendered by the comparative fruitlessness of his researches) is, so far as we can learn, a most interesting and honorable character. Speaking of him, Drake in his History of Middle- sex County (Vol. H., p. 141, ct seq.), has recorded: "It should be said in passing, that he was one of the most popular and remarkable men of his day. having considerable capacity for public affairs, unusual ability as a sur- veyor, and some ambition as a land speculator ; he was returned as representa- tive from Marlborough in 1688, and from Sudbury in 1706." Lewis in his History of Worcester County (Vol. II., p. 1332), following in like strain,, calls him : "John Brigham, the doctor, surveyor. Commissioner of the Gen- eral Court, land speculator and the most enterprising man in town."
To our mind. Dr. John Brigham foreshadows the hustling type of to- day, and w-ere he living at this moment, I think every man of us would gladly grasp his hand in welcome of "one of our kind." Indeed, it is because of the very exuberance of this John's activity, his ubiquitous absorption here and there, into this and that varying problem of the place and hour, which makes the fragmentary gleanings of him so fascinating, yet unsatisfactory. He en- joys the unique distinction of having been the first settler of Northboro, and the builder of its first (a saw) mill. He surveyed (among others) the Marl- borough Indian Plantation of 6,000 acres, in 1672 ; was granted the extensive "Coram farm" for services rendered as surveyor; in 1708 (Hudson's Sud- bury, p. 124). he surveyed and mapped Sudbury Township, and was a Marl- borough delegate to the convention called against the "Tyrant Andros." If Drake is correct (7'idc supra), he must have been a representative four years, for our indefatigable librarian and curator. Miss Emma E. Brigham, has found for me, among the State Archives (Recs. Gen. Crt. of Mass., Vol. VI., pp. 16, 220). that John Brigham represented Marlborough (again) in 1689 and 1692.
His old homestead* was situated on what is now Berlin Street, just on the edge of Northboro Centre village, across Howard's Brook, where his mill w-as built on a site still used for that purpose ; a good part of the dam is formed of native rock, attesting John's shrewd selection of an advan- tageous spot. This farm has long been known as the "Priest Whitney Place" (from the occupancy of the Rev. Peter Whitney, an honored histo- rian of Worcester County), who, having been ordained in 1767 and dying in 1816, built in 1780 a fine mansion house, still standing in half-neglected picturesqueness. In 1839 Silas Haynes came into possession, who was suc- ceeded in 1852 by Mr. S. McClure, with whom, in September, 1894, the writer had an interview. North of the residence at the orchard end, opposite some fence-bars, two rods distant, is a level piece of meadow plowed over many times by Mr. McClure, who remembers well the spot where the plow touches "the white sand," which was filled into the cellar of the original John Brig- ham house. This spot is about 18x20 feet. In the rear, it slopes dow-n quickly
*I have taken photographs of this and manv other places.
38
to lowtT marshy niriiind, wluic \%.i^ .1 ^piiiin 1 piMliahly first U'»r(l l(y John H.) four (»r \\\v rods oast; now fillrd up, Iml rcconiii/cfl in an indmtalion of tile rouiuk'd slope.
Ill 1(184, Jolm was one m ihr grantees from llu- Indians of land from wliicli was formed llic " I'laiilation of Sii'lhnry" (lluds(»n's Siidlmry. Way- land \' Mayiiard, im .|. 5). wIntluT he rnnovrd from N'nrtlilMiro, and long lived on the nM SikIIhuv .iihI Marllioroiit^li road near Sndlmry town linr, 'llie old lionu'stea<l liuiidiiiK (ulure Ahii.ili I'lrif^li.im onrc livfd) s» ■lit
ten rods west of the presi-nt Lueiiis Hnnham's hoiise, and was a . 'd- fashioni'd red huildiiiK with lon>,r slopiiif^ roof illnd. p. 71 ). Hin last day» wore spent with his dan(,chter Mary l'"ay of Nortlihom, where he died, at the rcmarkahle ajje of S,?, and was |)rol)alily Imried in the altogether iieKlectcd gri)\vn-ii]) old hurying grcunid of the vieinity. It is worthy of note, that the given names of his seven eiiildrt'U recall tliose dearest to his heart: Sarah, after his wife; Mercy, after his mother: Mary and Hannah, after his sister* ; Thomas, after his father and ehlest hrother : Saninel and John, after hi* other hrother and himself. Sinj^ularly enongh, he had jnst enotiKh children ill .-ill. and just eiion);li nt' each sex, to go around the heloved circle.
Concerning Hannah, fourth child of the '"I'liritan," I can pause at this time for oidy one (a most important) coiisideratiini. Morse says (p. 8» she was "horn March y, i()5o: married Sanniel Wells of I lassenhurRh, Conn." I am unable to tiiul any "Hassenhnrg, Conn:" hut there is a (ilastenhury in that state, which is doubtless the town intended, (dastenlmry was anciently that part of Wethersficld which lay across on the east side of the Connecticut River; Wetherstield (just south i)f Hartford) having been the earliest Con- necticut town, dating back to 1635, as settled by former residents of Water- town, Mass. (Bond's Watcrtown, p. 1002). The Wells (or Welles) family was among the i)rincipal proprietors and first settlers of (jlasteiibury (Conn. Hist.. Col. Barber, p. 01 >• Thomas Wells came to Massachusetts with Sir Richard Saltonstall, uiion the ship Susan and l-'Uen, thence to Connecticut, where he became governor, and had a sdn, Captain Samuel, wdio had a son
living in Cdastenbury, who "married Ruth Rice, daughter of Rice,
of . June 20, 1693; she died March 30. 1742. age 83." Their tirst child,
which died in infancy, was named Mercy ( Hinman's First Settlers of Conn., pp. 94-95.) This is the Ruth Rice wdio was a daughter of Edmimd and Mercy (Hurd) Brigham-Rice, she being half-sister of Hannah Brigham aforesaid, from which fact doubtless our good friend Morse was led to make the above error, \vith<nit sufficiently iiKpiiring into details:*
Hudson's Marlboro (p. 431 ) correctly gives Ruth Rice's marriage to Sam- uel Wells. But who did ••Hannah" Brigham marry? Paige again sets us right, in his History of Cambridge (pp. 501-2); she married William \\'ar«I of Marlboro. This is shown by two Massachusetts public records, referred to by that tireless author — one, wherein her name is given as Hannah Ward. and another where William Ward (her husband) joins with Thoma'?. John and Samuel Brigham in i(;8i in conveying to one Xicludas Fessenden. cer- tain of the "Puritan" Brigham homestead in Cambridge. Paige says: "I do not find any Hannah Ward in that town who could rei)resent herself as a daughter of" Thomas Brigham. except the wife of William Ward, who united with the Brighams in the sale of the Cambridge land. This Hannah had been the wife of Gershom Fames; and is supposed by her descendant, .Xndrew H. Ward, in his History of Shrewsbury (p. 457) to have been a daughter of Solomon Johnson of Sudbury. But 1 think it more probable that Tlmmas Brigham was her father, and that John Brigham, who witnessed theexecu- tion of her will, October 30, 1714. was her brother." Huilson ( Hist, of Marl., p. 357) concurs with Ward that Gershom ICames married a Hannah John- son, daughter of Solomon and Hannah Johnson, but on turmng to the John- son genealogy (in the same book, p. 403) we do not tind any daughter "Han- nah" among Solomon's cmmierated offspring. This at once raises a doubt. Hannah Fames had two children: Hannah (named from herself) and also a posthumous daughter. Mary. Which raises a question, was not the second one named after her sister, Mary (Brigham) ?
Hoping to settle once for all this vexed question. I have corresponded with
*Se6 also Ward's Genealogy of the Rlee Family (IS-'.-Si. p. iti.
.-9
Miss Martha Ames of Marlboro, a conscientious genealogian, of kindred col- lateral stock to Gershom Eames. While she is unable at present to solve the mystery, it would appear we are, while waiting for more cogent evidence, entitled to hold with Paige. It is pleasing hope on which to rest, for Hannah Ward was the mother of worthy descendants, her grandson Artemus (a graduate of Harvard), having been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Revolutionary forces, whereof he was in command at the time of being relieved by Washington.
Finally, we come to Samuel Brigham, youngest son of "the Puritan." In his Inventory of estate, we find the following items : "I20 in hides in fifats [vats] ;" "los. in tools for shoemaking." To Samuel Brigham is due the honor of founding in old Marlborough the tanning and shoe trades, which latter has grown so prodigiously in recent years as to have over- shadowed all other industries of the place. Some idea of the extent of these manufactories may be had from the four Howe factories, which turn out daily 15,000 pairs of shoes, give employment to 1,500 hands, and have a weekly pay-roll of $18,000. We went through the principal one, whereof Charles Brigham is superintendent. One of Samuel Brigham's descendants began a similar manufacturing business at Hudson, which furnished myriad foot coverings for soldiers in the late Civil War. This, in the hands of its pres- ent manager, Wilbur F. Brigham, has prospered and is at this writing the leading industry of the place. George B. Brigham of Westboro had a genera- tion ago established quite a business of this kind.
The first tannery was erected about 1700 by Samuel Brigham, near his dwelling house on East Main Street, about one and one-quarter miles east of the old Village Academy, it descended to his son Jedediah, to his son Wins- low, to his son Captain Daniel, to his son Captain Daniel, and when the las' retired from active life, in the early 1850s, the tannery ceased to be used. In 1859, Daniel's son Dennison owned the site ; for many years it was being taken down piecemeal and was wholly demolished by 1876. The place is now in the possession of Mr. Francis C. Curtis, who married a Brigham.
Through the kindness of Mr. Timothy Brigham Patch, we are permitted to see the outlines of the tan yard as it looked some fifty or a hundred years ago, when it was developed to its highest pitch.* An eye witness in 1894 might have seen the following sight : A rectangular field by the roadside (Main Street) of about an acre in extent, enclosed by stone walls, wherein towered a magnificent old elm ; hard by an ancient well spring, covered by one of the stones formerly used for grinding bark (the other stone serv- ing as a back door step at the house of Mr. Curtis, a few rods distant) ; to the north of the spring were remains of the old Samuel "ffats," of smallish size, whose chestnut timbers (well preserved) were sampled for relics. Near by, used to staiid a curry shop, bark shed, bark mill, and a second curry shop, which served sometimes for a dwelling; this last has now blown out into a permanent dignity across the street under the name of "Glen Cottage." The main part of the old Jedediah (son of Samuel, from whom he inherited the old homested) house is about 20x40 feet, falling off to a lean-to on the side, which was built about 1718. Having been removed, we had to go to No. 36 School Street to see it; where, although now enjoying a period of renais- sance, it is quite true to the essential features of its birthright. An "ell," about 18x39 feet, cut off and taken to an adjoining lot, had been recently taken down.
Samuel Brigham, aside from his leather ventures, was a man of large landed possessions and a character of great weight in his community. As lieutenant in Queen Anne's War, he received from government a reward for military services. According to the State Archives (Recs. Gen. Crt. Mass., Vol. VI., p. 522; VIII., p. 116), he was thrice representative from Marlbor- ough, in 16^7, 1699 and 1705. v
This branch (as may be seen froni^Morse) exhibits a remarkable holding to the habit of transmitting the original given name from father to son. Samuel Brigham. Second, had an eldest son Samuel, Third, who had an eldest son Samuel, Fourth, who died in infancy, and was succeeded by an eldest brother Samuel, Fourth, Jr., who had an only son (posthumous) Sam-
*We have a plan of this prepared for the Brigham Family History.
40
lul, I'lltli, wild Ii.kI ;i M-ci)iii| 'nil Saimirl. Sixth, who had a second son Sam- lul, Si\(iitl:. wild li.ul all (.-Idol soti Saimiol, IukIi'I'. -'"id when ihc full (lala Is ill, ur sh.ill cxix-ct to sec aiiotlicr Saimicl, or tw<> in tlii, dirrc t Imr, tnir "'i-llipS III' the (ild lilm-k." ^
Siinitu'l UriKliaiii, Sci'dikI, lies Imricd in the Old ('rimtiry in tin- r<-.ir of ilu- Acidiiiiy, wluTc .lUn ( inidi.ilily) rest hi> lirotli'.T 'IlKnna-i an<l tlicir niolluT.
Did tiiiK' prriiiit. it wiic i)lra>ant task to spi-.ik somewhat r»f Urigharn Cenietory, Brigliain Street, and niiinerous old Hrifjliani haunts and resi- dences of M;irlI)or() and vieinily : hut now we must def.T to other important fuiuliniis. Ill idosinn, we make iiiil)Iic aekiiowledKinent of thanks to some of M.irlhoro, aside fidiu tlm^e alre.idy nientioneil, whose kindnesses furthered our researclies and iiiadt- hetler ri'sults jiossihle ; especially Sheriff Charles Morse, Winsiow Warren ;md wife, IKnry O. Russell, as well as Ashley and EuRcne Hrit^liani ;ind their wives.
And now, in llie words of our hel<)\ed I-onpfellow, "Look not mourn- fully into the past, it comes nut h.aek again: wisely improve the present, it is thine: ti'o forth to meet the future witlmnt fe;ir .'ind with a in.'inK' heart"
JX MEMORIAM.
One of the faithful has left us: DR. FRANKLIN WHITING BRIG- HAM, of Shrewsbury is no inore. He was Second Vice President of the Brigham Family Association, always present and doing his duties, none wishing us a better "God-speed," or more widely esteemed.
Dr. Brigham was a son of Dr. Adolphus Brigham of Shrewsbury, Mass., where he was born in the year 1841, and received early academic education, which was finished by a course at Leicester Academy ; he was ever devoted to liis alma mater, a regular attendant at all alumni reunions. He graduated at Harvard Medical School in 1865, and, after serving two years as Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. N., moved to his native town, wdiere ever after he continued to reside, one of its most beloved and useful citizens. His father had been known as "The Doctor of Shrewsbury," which applied with double force to the son. Not only Shrewsbury, but all surrounding towns for many miles, looked to him for health when ill. Probably no i)hysician in central Massachusetts was so often sought in consultation, or could find their loss more universally mourned. He was long conspicuous in the Massachusetts Medical Society and repeatedly at the head of the Worcester District Med- ical Society, ahvays having been a close student. Without political aspira- tions, his opinions were sought, irrespective of party lines, upon all local im- provements ; to his influence as much as that of any one man the town owed its public library; to all the poor and needy, he was a generous friend. Dr. Brigham's first wife, ncc Miss Alice Bates of Providence, R. I., died soon after their marriage, and he remarried to Miss Sarah Lewisson of Worcester. He left a brother, Frederick. The following verses, composed by the doctor, had been sung at the funeral of his mother, and were rendered, by the quar- tette of his choice, at his own obsequies :
"Father of all, to Thee returns my soul,
W'orn with the travail of the earthly strife ; Henceforth, Thy mansions blest shall be my goal, And the glad leisure of celestial life. "Friends of my heart, I will not say adieu. For you shall follow me, ere many days ; Impatient I shall there be waiting you.
Where funeral dirges change to songs of praise."
Yet another of our Brigham Familv Directory, our honored Third \'ice President, DEXTER H. BRIGHAM. of Springfield. Mass., passed to his well-merited reward, December 14, 1898. lie was son of Benjamin F. Brig- ham. farmer, of Shutesbury, Mass.. wdiere the subject of this notice was born in the year 1826, whence he removed at the age of seven, with his parents, to Wes'tboro, Mass. Al sixteen, he had the best clerkship in the town ; at seventeen, was assistant postmaster; at eighteen, received so flattering an offer to go elsewhere that his employer felt bound to make him a oartner in
41
the firm, which became hence Fay, Brigham & Co. At twenty-three, he de- termined to have a store of his own. and to become a gent's clothing dealer at Springfield, Mass., where he forthwith opened up a modest place at the corner of Main and Vernon streets. Popular and energetic, he succeeded from the first day, and had taken a leading place in local trade, when the Civil War gave him another opportunity. He began taking contracts for uni- forms, the fulfillment of which brought into his employ many scattered shops. In 1860-62, he was the pioneer in the paper collar and box industry. He had the misfortune to be burnt out in 1861, but was soon on his feet, stronger than ever. Gradually, Mr. Brigham grew into the fur trade, w^hich developed to such unexpected degree, that in 1888, he sold out his clothing interests, and devoted himself wholly to ladies' wardrobes. At the time of his demise eighty persons were on his pay-roll. He married, in 1849, Miss Lomira C. Forbush, who survives. It is a sorrowful recollection, that they were to have celebrated their golden wedding the year following his death. Two daugh- ters blessed their happy union — the present Mrs. W. M. White of Spring- field, who has two children of her own (Edith and Howard), and a de- v^ased daughter, Mrs. Emma C. Bugbee, who left two children (Ernest and Florence). Mr. Brigham left also one brother, C. A. Brigham of Westboro, and a sister, Mrs. B. N. Davis of Dayton, Ohio.
The late death of ROBERT BRECK BRIGHAM of Boston, whose will contained such munificent legacies to public institutions, recalls the passing nearly a generation ago of a near relative, Peter Bent Brigham, who also left his millions for an eleemosynary creation. Boston has rarely experienced such generosity from two members of any single family. Mr. Robert B. was not of the showy type of citizen, not brilliant socially, not ambitious politically, a plain, quiet, sensible business man ; that he had good habits and shrewd ' mind are proved by the fact, he started with nothing and acquired great wealth ; that he had a good heart and entertained broad views of human- ity, are sufficiently evidenced by his numerous bequests to relatives near and far, with this supreme gift to create a much-needed public charity.
Robert Brigham started in life as an oyster-opener, for an uncle on Court Street, Boston, and soon opened a small establishment of the same kind for himself; but, his health failing, had presently to sell out and go to Florida. Returning in i86-o, he opened a restaurant at No. 642 Washington Street, Boston, of which he continued proprietor the rest of his life, grad- ually increasing its dimensions, and about ten years ago converting it into "Brighani"s Hotel." For a long time, it w-as the sole institution of its sort in the metropolis ; and as it was always run along the same lines, it held a patronage distinctly its own, which newer places did not attract ; the old bachelors, especially, found here a congenial haunt. His great start towards fortune was made during the war, when values of real estate were at bottom prices ; at this period, he commenced to acquire realty, which at his death included many choice pieces, mainly in the heart of the city. So unostenta- tious was his daily life, that few knew, until his will spoke, how successful and magnanimous a man had been in their midst so many years. His estate, aggregating more than $2,500,000, was devised as follows : Twenty-three charitable and benevolent institutions were remembered, most of them by annuities of $i,0G0 each, his more or less distant relatives were remembered (he had no family of his own), his sister, Elizabeth, ?n an especial degree, she having long been mistress of his house. The residue and bulk of his great fortune, however, was set aside for a trust fund, the income to be used in the erection and support of an institution to be known as the "Robert Brigham Hospital for Incurables." Thus, coming generations shall have cause to bless at least one member of our clan.
HON. WALDO BRIGHAM, born at Bakersfield, Vt., in 1829, closed a noteworthy career at Hyde Park, in his native state, April 2, 1900. His father was a well-to-do farmer, who gave his son a common school education, rounded out by a course in the University of Vermont, whereat he graduated in the class of 1854. He read law and was admitted to the Lamoille County Bar in 1857; for the next five years he was associated with Hon. Homer E. Royce in Bakersfield, at the end of which time, he came back to Hyde Park and helped to form the partnership of Brigham' & Waterman (George L.), which coiitinn.Ml for twenty years doing a large practice. In 1867-68, he rep-
12.
resented Hyde I'.iik in llic I.i >ji>laHirc, and was a leaditiK spirit in yrcxir'mg a charter for iIk I'Milland & ORdeiislmrK Railway; was also Prc»idi-iit of liip Lamoille Valley Railway for ten y<ars He was a vt-ry prominrtit I >• in a state where il was never the (lommanl party; was candidate !■ tenanf-(iovernor, delej^ate to the National ('r)iivention. noinmcc l<»r I iiitcd States represenlativ e and Senator, etc., etc. l'"or twciity-tivc years he wai President of the iiiiiiinlle Centr;!! Academy, Vice I'rrsidcnt of the \'crn>ont Hat .Associ.itidii. dl wlmh he was a leailiii),; inemher, and trustee of the I'ni- versity of Wriiiniii lie lift three daiiKlitersMrs. Ii. .\I. Mcl-'arland of Hyde I'.irk ; Mrs. James Huckham (eldest son of President Hiickhaiii of the I'niversity of Vermont), and Mi'-s Hl.iiu lie BriKhain. ;i teacher in t'i<- I i- moillc Academy.
CYRUS RRICIIAM. iuad of the C. Ilnj^ham (■omi)anv milk o.ntra*!..: . died at his snmmer rt-sideiuc. ( Ireeii llill, Nantasket', Jnly U, lH</;, aft« r .i long snffcring of six years, lie was a son of the late flalloway UriKham of Westhoro, Mass., hut earl_\ went to The Ilnh and worked into a hiisiiics* wdiich hecame so extensive that it ha^ heeii called the largest distrihutors of milk, hutter and clieese in tiie conntry. He was a well-known tenor singer, one of the founders of the Apollo Clnb; in all his relation^, soeial and business, he conmianded the respect and confidence of the community. He left a widow ;ind one son. who continue to reside in the liandsome home in Roxhurv.
MOSES I'.ARll.I'yi r i'-RKillAM. horn at Bakcrsfield. Vt., September iS, 1823. t)ut since iS(S a resident of Somerville, Mass., passed away at the latter place, March 14. igoo. In early life, he was in the produce business; but later in the collection and insurance employment; in all he left a good name. I lis wife, >ii'c Almira E. Fillcbrown, shortly preceded him into the great iiereafter, having died January i", 1000. She was a daughter of James and Wellhca ( Fii)er ) iMllettrowii, Ixirn at Cavendish, Vt.. December 20, 1H3.1. Both were interred at Cavendish, in the family lot. Thcv left an only child. William E. Brighani, Esq., of the "Bosttm Transcript," two terms efficient President of the Brigham Family Association, to whose untiring services tlic family association owes very much for its present rejuvenatefl and prosper- ous condition.
BENJAMIN B. NOURSE, born in Berlin, Mass.. unto Thcophdus and Lois Nourse, died at Westhoro, Mass., September 24, 1900. aged 84. lie began life as a carpenter, turning to a special branch (plant trellises') in i860, under the firm name Nourse, White & Co., who also manufactured Nourse's folding plant stands and flower cases. He was also an accurate surveyor, and found much employment by private parties. He was the best informed on town matters of any of his contemporaries, tilled the offices of collector, assessor, and (for a longer term than any other man) selectman. In 1875, he was a])pointed Special Justice of the First District Court of East- ern Massachusetts, which he held at the time of his death. He possessed a remarkable constitution and had known not a sick day to the date of his fatal illness, notwithstanding his more than four-score years. In 1843. he mar- ried Miss Mary E. Longley, by whom he had four children — Frank (who died young) ; Henry, of literary talents (also died young) ; Miss Enmia and Walter B. Nourse, of Barker & Ncnirse, architects, Worcester.
"Uncle" CHARLES BRIGHAM, as he was generally for many years knovt'n, was born at Hudson (then called Sawyer's Mills), Mass.. December II, 1815, where he passed away January 2. 1809. having passed his 83d i"'le- stone. He was the last sun'ivor of the sixth }it-iu-ratit>ii from <nir "Puritan" ancestor. During his life, he saw the scenes of his nativity change from a hamlet to a busy commercial center; and in all this, he had an active and vital interest. Many local offices were reposed in him at various times, whose duties were ever faithfully and well discharged. In the field of temperance. he was a most zealous worker ; as a friend of the coloretl slave he had such immortals as Garrison and Emer,son, who shared in the early dangerous subterfuges then necessary to give fugitives their only chance for freedom. In such crises, his literary and forensic abilities played a most conspicuous role. The first fire company was organized largely through his influence: and he was likewise foremost in welcoming the I'nitarian Church into exist- ence within the municipal precincts, during forty years, he missed but four
43
meetings of that denomination. His generosities were universal, and large according to his means ; he would go without, rather than let another do so. The public streets and greens were scenes of his tender care and watchful thought; "to blossom like the rose" was the tune which nature sang in his wake. He attended several of our reunions, and always enjoyed with the best of us. Perhaps the finest eulogium which might be spoken would read like this : "May we all, when we come to life's end, be as sincerely mourned, as 'Uncle' Charles."
RUFUS H. BRIGHAM, a nephew of the foregoing Charles, passed away at Hudson, Mass.. March 2, 189Q, in his 62d year. He was the eldest son of the late Captain Francis Brigham, who sixty-six years ago founded the shoe factory which today is the principal industry of Hudson. This concern now goes under the firm style of "F. Brigham & Co.," of which Rufus Brigham was the senior partner. He was a conservative business man, honest and sound in judgment; of genial nature and fond of his jokes. He had been a prominent member of the fire company, in which he maintained a deep in- terest. His wife, a Miss Mossman of Sudbury, Mass., survived him, with their distinguished son, Hon. William H. Brigham of Hudson. The de- ceased had three brothers and two sisters — William, Wilbur, Waldo, Laura and Ida. Wilbur Brigham, with the son of the departed brother, now has- the burdens of this great business to carry on henceforward. The interests of the concern are in good hands, and will prosper ; but — a giant has lain "down to pleasant dreams."
CHARLES BRIGHAM, of the Boston Post-Office service, died in that city, January 13, igoo. He was born at Brownington, Vt., October 26, 1814, and thus was past eighty-five at the time of his demise. He entered the pos- tal service in Boston in the year 1837, and continued there to the time of his decease, which made him the very oldest clerk in the postal service. He was always genial, competent and faithful ; a true Brigham. He attended the first Brigham reunion at Chicago, and many later ones held in the East. He leaves a son, Charles H. Brigham of Boston.
EDWARD AMHERST STEWART met his death resignedly, as a true Christian, at Derby, Vt., June 2, 1900. He was born at Brownington, Vt., June 13, 1834, being a son of Thomas C. and grandson of Amherst Stewart, who was a pioneer in that town. His mother was nee Miss Emily Brigham, a daughter of Silas Brigham, one of the first settlers of Brownington. His early life was spent in his father's store, after his education had been com- pleted at Derby. For a few months, he was connected with Quincy Market, Boston, but soon returned home, to enter the law office of his uncle, John L. Edwards, of Derby, Vt. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, and was the partner of his uncle, until chosen, in 1865, Judge of Probate for the District of Orleans, whose duties he discharged satisfactorily for eleven years. In 1859-61, he was Assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives, and in 1862-63, Clerk of the same body. In 1872, he bought a half interest in the Express and Standard of Derby, and for nine years did the most of its edi- torial writing. From 1881, he was engaged in the insurance business and set- tlements of estates of decedents. He was long a deacon in his church, also its treasurer and deeply interested in the building of its new edifice. No man could be missed out of his surroundings more than he will be. He married, in i860, Jane Kelly of Derby, to whom four children were born — two sons, both of whom died early, and two daughters — Mrs. Emma L. Hallenborg of New York City and Mrs. Kate M. Holbrook of Newport, Vt., which latter, with their mother, survive to mourn a saddest bereavement. Mr. Stewart had attended some o'f our family reunions, in which he seemed deeply interested.
STEWART J. PARK, as we are briefly informed, died in New York, October 13, 1899. His widow, Mrs. Lizzie R. Park, is a rftember of the Brigham Family Association. She resides in Leominster, Mass., and will have tne sympathy of our whole clan.
DR. DANIEL A. CHASE died at Cambridge, N. Y., April 7, 1899. He was born sixty-nine years ago, at Athens, Vt., and graduated from the Brad- ford (Mass.) Academy in i8<^8. He came of a medically-given family and so liimself naturally followed the profession of an M. D., after graduation in 1852, at the Cincinnati (Ohio) Eclectic Medical Institution. He first lo- cated at North Greenwich, N. Y., but soon after settled at Cambridge, his
44
luiu-cfortli lionic, saving a few years clsfwlicrc called. He wat u siirKroij in tlie t . S. Navy (luiiiiK tlic Civil War, and tht-rcaftcr traveled in all the ureal siilxlivisions of the world. He was a memlier of inuny medical iratcriiitici,
and no pliv'^ician was more liif^ldy tlion>.jlit of than hitiiself in tli' ' ' ciiuiilN 111 Ills residence. Mis sunny dis|)()siti(iii niadi: his |»resence a • clieer in tlie siek ronni; the poor were j^iven of his skill, often without any payment wliatever, save that which lliey could not withhold, Kr-it'tndc. His wil\ was Elvira Rehecca Cliase. daughter of Merrick and Nlaria (. Hrif(ham) C'lia>e. who survives Iier iiT(par;d)le loss, with two dauifhtcrs — Mrs. A. L. Holland of Boston and .Mi^. II. S. Hlackfan of Slnishan, N. Y.
JOHN S. I}Rl(;il.\.\l ..I Worcester, Mas.s., died at Colorado SprinRs, Colo.. I'ohruary i<), iSijj.
l"Rl<:i) A. HRKill.AM of Spencer, Mass.. died May 26, i«<;7.
]':LIJA1I W. I'.RKill am of Waltham, Mass., did in July. iqoo.
EL1S11.\ .M.DIS I'.RK.MA.M, horn at Fayston, Vt.. in l)eeenil)er, i8jt. died at Chijipewa, Mich., in Jinie, iS(j(;. He early went West, where he was long and prominently idenlihed with his adopted home and environment. A farmer hy calling, he was of the true Yankee type, and wrote l)oth good prose and verse. He was class leader in the Methodist Church many years, and leaves a vacancy which will he sore felt. He married C'elia F.axter of More- town. Vt., who, after nearly a half century of h.'ii>py we<lded life, shortly preceded him into the hereafter, January 17, 1897. They had four children — Ziha (who goes on with the old homestead), Elisha (a prominent lumberman of Bayfield, Wis.), Dr. Edwin (a practicing physician at Indianapolis, Ind.^. and Rosina. who died in voung womanhood.
.SARAH (15RIGHAM) MANSMELD, a sister of the ahovc Aldis I'.rig- ham, was horn at Fayston, Vt.. October 17, 1836. and died at Lebanon, N. H., in April, 1898. Endowed by nature with wit. beauty, sweet disposition and literary abilities, she might, had heaven so willed it, reached a prominent posi- tion in the realm of letters ; but in her case, as in so many another, circum- stances forbade to follow ner tastes. She was an able occasional contributor in both prose and verse to periodical literature, and wrote the article upon the town of "Roxbury" for Miss Heminway's Vermont Gazetteer. A daugh- ter, Mrs. Bessie (Mansfield) Crozier, also a resident of Lebanon, passed away soon after in January, 1899, leaving a family to mourn their bereavement. Besides her husband, there survive Mrs. Mansfield a son. William, engagetl in mining speculations in South America, and a daughter, Mrs. Katherine Waterman, of Burlington, Vt.
MRS. ADA L. (BOYCE) SHERBURNE, daughter of George O. and Laura (Brigham) Boyce, met a most tragically sudden death at Kirksville, Mo.. April 27, 1899. Her husband. Dr. Herman K. Sherburne, was also vio- lently injured by the same cyclone. She was born at Fayston, Vt., Septem- ber 5, 1861 ; wed in 1884, she had a little son, Theodore, who preceded his mother to the Spirit Land. Her maturer years were passed at Barre and Montpelier, Vt., where she was highly esteemed in leading social circles. She was an attendant at the first Marlboro reunion. "Whom the Gods love, die young!"
MINERVA RISLEY CLSHING died at Dunkirk. X. V.. February 16. 1897, and was buried at Fredonia.
REV. C. A. G. BRIGHAM of Knheld, Conn., ilied at the home of his son. William, leaving a widow, October i_'. 181)7. He had attended, and highly enjoyed, three of our reunions.
News comes to us of the death, in recent years, of WILLI.\M E. BRIG- HAM. Treasurer of the Jamaica (Mass.) Pond Ice Company: but detailed in- formation is entirely wanting.
MRS. MARY A. PE.\SE (the maiden name of whose mother was Anna A. Brigham) died at Indian Orchard, Mass.. March 19. 18^)7. leaving four children — Mrs. F'rank M. Clark, Mrs. Minerva E. Miller, Erskine K. and Rosa B. Pease, all of Indian Orchard. Deceased al.so left three broth- ers— David and John Gould, of Ware, and Daniel Gould, of Springfield. Mass.
The death of GEORGE BRIGHAM. of Clayton. N. Y.. occurred Novem- ber 7, 1897, in his 90th year. He was a pioneer of the town, which he helped reclaim from its former wilderness condition. .A. native of Otsego (.N. Y.)
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County, a son of Alexander Brigham, he removed with his parent to Jeffer- son County, in 1820, where they built and kept the first Limerick hotel. He married Miss Almena Smith of Perch River, N. Y., who died in 1868. Of their two children, William died at the age of eighteen, while Theodore S. now resides upon the old homestead.
MRS. HARRIET A. (BRIGHAM) CUMMINGS passed away at her home in East Boston, Mass., February 26, 1897, being a daughter of the late Franklin Brigham. Her end came very suddenly, bereaving four sisters and two brothers. She possessed rare courage and ready sympathy, which en- deared her to a large circle of friends. She was an especially enthusiastic and punctual member of the Boston Brigham Club. Requiescat in pace.
Upon the day of our last Marlboro reunion, were held the last sad rites over the mortal remains of one of our beloved, DR. JOHN WESLEY BRIG- HAM, of Sutton, Mass. His father, Rev. Elijah Brigham, was the founder of Methodism in Worcester, Mass., and married Mary Loker of Sudbury. The son was born at Fitchburg, Mass., March 11, 1835, and, having finished an academic course at Wilbraham Academy, became a disciple of Esculapius. For fifteen years he followed his profession in Wisconsin, was also for a time a resident of Iowa and New York. Owing to impaired nervous condi- tion, he moved to Sutton in 1870, where he bought a farm, and continued to reside until the final shock which called him hence. He married in 1856 lietsy A., daughter of Capt. Alonzo S. Jelleff of Ripon, Wis., who bore him four sons — Dexter A. (chairman of the Selectmen of Sutton;, Alfonso G. and Curtis M. J. of Fisherville, and Sydney D. of Worcester.
MAYOR BRIGHAM (the father of our honored Brigham Family Asso- ciation President), born at Westmoreland, N. Y., May lO, 1806, died at To- ledo, Ohio, January 8, 1897, in his 91st year. His father was a native of Fitz- williem, N. H., who left pioneer conditions there for others as rugged in "York State." Unfortunate conditions, with, the poor health of his parent, from early years made the subject of this sketch necessarily a mainstay of the family ; he had but very limited school advantages, and at twenty-one set out upon his trade career, a carpenter. He first located at Watertown, N. Y., where he married Miss Clarissa Bill, by whom he had a little daughter at the time he went West. Reaching Buffalo by canal boat, he boarded the historic "Commodore Perry" for the locality since named Toledo, Ohio, which was to be his future home. For a short time in early career, he lived in Michigan, during the building of a church at Dundee ; while also he was member of a firm, which built a few miles of road for the Southern Michigan Railway. In 1841 he was engaged as repair agent by the Erie & Kalamazoo Railway. His wife dying the following year, leaving three small children, he took them for a time to his old New York home, where he soon after married for his second wife, Miss Malinda P. Merrell of Westmoreland, and returned to Toledo. In 1852, a severe illness of sciatica, together with the unfortu- nate loss by fire of his shop and tools, influenced him to turn to labors less physically exacting; so we find his busy nature next employed as hardware merchant and bookkeeper. From 1876, he was ever after largely confined to his house, unable to follow regularly any occupation. While unseeking of honors, his long life is replete with varied usefulness, with many a dig- nity and trust added thereunto. Especially, is his lifework indelibly im- printed upon the early history of Toledo ; here he was, at different times, Justice of the Peace, member of the City Council, member of the first Board of Police Commissioners, City Mayor, superintendent of erection of High School Building, as well as of the church of which he was so long a promi- nent supporter. Of this church (the First Congregational), he was a founder, long its choirmaster, and forty-six times elected its clerk. Indeed, this devotion to God's house is most marked in his line ; his grandfather was a deacon for fifty years, and his father for forty-six years, which, with the son's service, aggregated 147 years for the three generations. Where shall we seek a parallel ? During three visitations of cholera. Mayor Brig- ham was always found at the danger "point of relief. For some time he was Collector of Tolls of Ohio canals. He helped to form one of the earliest anti- slavery societies, at Vienna, N. Y., in 1832, and was ever an active worker in the field of temperance. He composed the words and music of a Brigham hymn, which was sung at our first gathering. Truly, his life was rich in all
46
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llu- fssciiti.il clciiiciits of success. His wife, nf fifty four years of Iompr a-.-.o- ci.itiuii. survival liiiii, witli Iht live cliildnn, Staiilc-y I'., CicofKe M , Wtlliani A., I'Vcdcrick M. and Harry C. Urinliani, who. witli the two by former niar- riaKi-, Hon. C. O. BriKliam and Mrs. Harriet E. (HriKham) Heaeh. make up llif wortliy sum of tlie luxi ^ceiieration. All honor to "The I'liritan '"
MAK'IIN h'RI':i':MA.\ BRK.ilAM (father of our most faithful late Hri^ham l-'aniily Association Secretary. Miss lunma \'.. HriKham;, entered into rest from Dorchester. Mass., October 17. 1897. upon the cvc of his Wth hirtliday, an age cxceethd Imt hy one of his HriKham ancestors Born at \\liiiiii«liam. Vt., ()ctoh( I iw. iS<x>. tlie eldest cliild of John HriKham of that town, lie (l<.\oted some years to the husiiiess of tanner in his native place; hut ill 1844 removed to Cambridge. Mass.. and two years later to Roxbury, wIkic ho opened what became an extensive l)aking enterprise. Soon taking into i)artncrshii) a brother, John A. Hrigham. the firm was known until l86t as M. F. & J. A. Hrigiiam. At tliis time, the business had so developed that the partnersliip was dissolved, and the senior took the Koxbury branch to himself, carrying it on alone until iS()8, wlien he retired. iMjr many years longer, however, he continued to actively interest himself in various ^clds. His character, while it did not lack the stern ethical self-demands of the Puritan, was sweetened by a tolerance and charitable spirit, which made him dear to all. young and old aliki'. He attended some of our Brigh;im reunions, which he much enjoyed. In 183O, he married Miss Elizabeth .Maria Smith of Phillipston, Mass., who passed away in 1876, leaving three children — Francis H. Brigham, Miss Emma E. Brigham and Mrs. Thomas 1). Cook of Boston. Mr. Brigham left two brothers ( Hosea \V. Brigham, Esq., of Winchester, N. H., and John A. Brigham of South Braintree. Mass.), and a sister, Mrs. M. E. Legate of Grove, Vl.
GEORGE OTIS BRIGHAM. tiie leader of Westboro's (Mass.) business life, suddenly departed, February i.^. 1898. In early life, Mr. Brigham was the Boston agent of the Westboro Milk Company, which passed into his hands in 1852, and proved very profitable. In 1866, he became cashier of Westboro's First National Bank, and Treasurer of the local savings bank, upon its incor- poration in 1869, which latter position he filled most ably to the time of his death. In 1867, he was chosen Town Treasurer, and continued in such office to tlie end of his days. He favored every town improvement, and was chief promoter of the Village Improvement Society ; among the municipal depart- ments, which owe so much to him. either as founder or improver, are : the water works, electric light system, fire department (a portion of which is known as the "George O. Brigham Steamer Co.") and the Humber & Co., America, Limited, Cycle Mfg. Co.. the last being the mo>t valuable industry of the place. He was also one of the earliest members of the local Agricul- tural Society, in which he never lost interest. .\t times, brusque in speech, he had the tender heart of a child, for no man was more universally helpful. "No citizen was held in higher esteem, none more trusted, none more loved for his manly virtues." Alas, that so good a type should pass away, unper- petuated ! The son of Captain Otis Brigham, he died childless, leaving only two surviving sisters — Mrs. A. A. Hutchin.son and Miss Lucy Brigham, with the latter of whom he had made his earthly home.
EDWARD L. BRIGHAM, for seventy years a resident of Worcester. Mass.. where he was the very first merchant to sell ready-made clothing, the city's senior Odd Fellow, was called to his rewanl September 13. 1898. when almost 92 years of age. Born in the old Brigham town of Marllwro. he at 19 went to Worcester to learn the tailor's trade. Though retired for some years by senility, he was once very active in the home of his adoption; a member of the original volunteer fire department, and the Worcester Coun- ty Mechanics' Association. By his three wives (Eliza Brewer. Susan Sawyer and Annie J. Sawyer, which last survived him'), he had four children — Eliza, Elinor. Edward L., Jr.. and Walter .\. Brigham. who (the last) died some years since in New \ork.
REV. DWIGHT WILLIAMS, born in Cazenovia. N. V.. April 28. 1826, passed to the realm of spirits from his native town. June 13. i8g8. He was the son of Elijah Williams. Esq. (representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families of the place) and ucc Miss Sophia Brigham of Marl- boro. Mass. He finished his academic education in 1836, at Cazenovia Semi-
4/"
nary. In 1850, he was licensed to preach in the Methodist Church, and re- ceived into full membership in the Oneida Conference in 1853. His frail health at several times caused him to be voluntarily placed upon the super- annuated list; but he did an immense amount of faithful service. His first field of labor was in the Litchfield circuit; and, thereafter, he was pastor at Mt. Morris, Madison, Camillus, Hamilton, Oxford, Clinton, Georgetown^ Trumansburg, Petersboro, Vernon Center, Montezuma, Cincinnatus, Au- burn, Canandaigua and Syracuse. He was a cordial Abolitionist ; recognizing in intemperance the greatest menace to true civilization, he was, from its birth, associated with the Prohibition Party, and, in 1873, its candidate in New York for Secretary of State. His nature was highly complex and ideal : gentleness and grace were conspicuous in his manhood ; but he had, too, the courage of convictions and unswerving integrity, combined with the consid- erate demeanor, which stamps the true Christian. He v/ed, in 1855, Keziah E. Lane of New Hartford, N. Y., and had four children, three of whom are living — Miss Susan B. Williams, Prof. Dwight Williams, Jr. (of Cazenovig,), and Mrs. Vernam Bartow. He was widely known as a vigorous graceful writer; for a time was assistant editor of the Northern Christian Advocate, and later editor of The Watchivord. It is, however, rather as a poet that we must regard him in his secular writings. He published three volumes of verse, the first in 1876, the "Beautiful City" in 1887, while his "Mother of the Wonderful" is regarded as his most finished production. Many book- lets, hymns, songs of patriotism and miscellaneous contributions likewise dropped from his pen. "His verse was pure in quality, elevated in tone, opti- mistic and helpful in spirit." As a Brigham, he was always interested in our reunions. Our 1896 Worcester meeting (at which his son was present), was a very marked illustration of this fact: for he had gone to the (considerable) expense of printing, in exceptional style (to present to each visitor) liis stir- ring poem, "Brigham!" In concluding this sketch, we cannot do better than to quote a few stanzas therefrom :
"Hail, sons of Brigham ! Loyal stock !
A chapter in our story, Whose genesis is Plymouth Rock,
Its chivalry and glory ; Hail, daughters of a sturdy band.
Who faced the sunset's beauty, To build their altars long to stand,
Dear shrines of love and duty.
What though their temples were log-hewn,
And chiming bells were wanting, Love kept their reverent hearts in tune
With heaven's high themes enchanting : Say not their creed was hard and cold.
Their hearts were never stoic. Love made their virtues manifold.
Love made their souls heroic.
^ :J< :{: ^ 3^: :^ :}c
Our sires, behind their straight-back chairs,
Made holy supplication. And we have answer to their prayers,
In this, our glad ovation : — A vision charms me as I gaze,
A long ancestral column. That reaches through the distant maze
Of silent years and solemn. Bring me a goblet from the well,*
As our first father knew it. Where to the depths the bucket fell
And sparkling forth he drew it. And we will drink the health of each
•An incident very similar actually happened at our first Marlboro Reunion.
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And fViTy l'.ri«ii;mi lnntlur, I'ar ;is the (^Dldni links niav rc;ifli. Hack tu nur Islaml niotlu-r
\'c Hiotliiis. SistiT>, l.ovtTs. ilrmk I
(.'IMS is a loyil story, I'iMiii w(P(i(l crownrd liill to river liriiik
\\ ( own a "yeoman" nlory ; Anil iiia\ Mill' sons be hravt- and true.
( )ui daiiKlilers as tlie ulntiiu-^, ()l lilly liloiini in nionnnn dcu.
In lii'auty and in hrij^litness.
•)• i- :|. + +. + ♦
We j;reetinps say and sweet farewells.
iUit life's hij^luvay is f^idden And leads to far-olT citadels.
Of an^jel-cycs beholden. Keep stej) ! Ciwv motto leads lnyoud.
Still on ! "I II , I lire sdlus." I ill. at the (.jale of diamond.
rile l)U'Ss(.'d ones shall li.iil i:-"
I'h.KSO.XAl.S.*
CHARLES OLIVER BRK.11A.\I. a resident of Toledo. Oiiio. f.,r more than si.xty years, is a son of Mavor and Clarissa ( Bill ) P>ri>jbam. and a de- scendant, in the eighth generation, of Thomas Brigh.am. "■The I'uritan." \Vc refer to an obituary notice elsewhere herein of ^L■lvor Brigham. for details of the parents' very active life, and something of the anterior line. Tht-y went from the American Brigham '"Mecca" ( MarllH)ro, Mass.) to Fitzwilliam. X. H., thence to opening "York State," and so. by short ( bnt. in those days, tedious and difticull) stages to the "Modern Mother of Presidents." But they took with them an abiding faith in New England iiistiuitions. the "meeting house and public school," which love has been handed down un- alloyed to their descendants. The great-grandfather of the subject ot this brief sketch was a Revolutionary veteran, a participant in the famous battle of Bunker Hill, where he fought under (len. Stark, in Col. Read's regiment. Charles O. Brigham was born Sei)tember gth, 1838, while his father was a temporary resident of Dundee, Michigan; for in 1840, he returned to Toledo, wdiich has since been the home of the family. The son received only the lim- ited common-school education alTorded by a then pioneer connnunity : his has been the school of men. rather than books, a school at which have been gained the brightest ideas of many of our country's most worthy citizens. At the early age of 15, he entered into telegraph service with the Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company: and upon the reorganization of the Western L'nion Telegraph Company, accepted a position in their Toledo office, and con- tinued to be identified with that company, in various capacities, until October. 1900, an uninterrupted period of more than 45 years. During the time, he acted for 20 years as agei>t and correspondent of the Wesiern .Associatetl Press for Northwestern Ohio, as well as several years superintendent of the city's electrical system. In politics, he is a Republican, though not an ultra partisan : always taking an earnest and active interest in public affairs, of the state and city wherein he has always resided. .\t the time of forming the Brigham Family Association in Chicago, in iSq.^. he was unanimously elected president: and was the general choice annually for our first three meetings, when he declined further re-election. At our recent reunion held in Boston. there were urgent reasons (without reflecting anything but great credit up«->n the retiring very efficient President) why Mr. C. O. Brigham should be again placed at the head of matters. After much solicitation, he gracefully con-
♦Don't you find anything here about yourself? We're sorry; but wt- live so far frorn most of the Hrigrliams that wo hear too little of them. When any- thing unusual happens to you or yours, sit down and write me. Then I ean bring it up another time. For. if this pamphlet is satisfaetory. we mean to get up one after the next meeting of the Brigliams.
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sented. at the sacrifice of personal feelings and interests, to allow his name to be used in connection with the office. The cordiality of his election could leave no doubt as to the universal esteem in which his kinsfolk hold him. In addition to his other good qualities, he comes of a long-lived race. Thank heaven ! His great-grandfather dying at the age of 96, while his father lived to see his 91st vear. We hope to have the pleasure of attending a Brigham Reunion twentv' years hence, and also of seeing "C. O." in the chair. Himself and wife have" missed but one of the six meetings held to date; and, when we think, they have all been held at great distances from Toledo, one can appreciate the devoted sacrifice of time and money which has been freely given, to spend a few never-to-be-forgotten hours with the Brigham clan.*
Our retiring president, William E. Brigham, of Boston, is one of the fixtures upon "The Daily Transcript." He has won his way up by hard work and proofs of his ability, and now has a prominent position, looking after the political news. He has, not long ago, taken to his home, in SomerviUe, a "help meet" from New Hampshire; though he is not yet pater familias, we hope he may soon become so. There cannot be too many such members in our clan!
Hon. William M. Brigham of Marlboro seems to be making his mark in the right sort of way. A lawyer by profession, he has for some years been upon the bench, and repeatedly has gone up to Boston's State House, to help make laws for the Old Commonwealth. Having made and interpreted the law, there's only one branch left, namely the execution of it. "Governor Brigham" wouldn't sound badly, would it.
Hon. Johnson Brigham (who had added so much to two of our Reunions), when he came back from Aix la Chapelle, where he was United States Consul, settled at Des Moines, Iowa, where he founded "The Midland Monthly." He built this publication up to a firm basis, upon strictly high-class literary lines, when he received such flattering inducements as decided him to part with it. He is now State Librarian of Iowa.
Hon. John Brigham, of Delta, Ohio, better known as "The Colonel," long at the head of the national Grange, was called four years ago to Washington, as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. We hear nothing but good of him. Is President McKinley going to "swap horses" while crossing the river? We don't believe it.
The venerabh Thomas Brigham Rice of Barre, Mass., came to the first Brigham Reunion in Chicago, and the three following ones in the East. We've missed him, the past two sessions. Is he living? We want to grasp his hand at the next meeting.
Hosea Brigham, Esq., of Winchester, N. H., has been a very regular attendant, since our Reunions have been held in the East ; but we missed ' im this time. Come, Brother Brigham. the association has recently taken on "a new lease of life," and we'll expect to exchange greetings often hereafter.
We must have the pleasure of hearing the "Brigham Band," of Marlboro, at our next meeting, even if we have to go to that dear old town in order so to do. By the way, since the association is now self-supporting, why wouldn't that be as good a place as any to reunite in next time, anyhow? Every Brigham traces back to that town, it would mean a large gathering (for which there is always ample accommodations) and interesting places of visitation all about. Besides, we have an idea in our noddle, which we're going to dis- close one of thes ; days, which needs such a spot as that, and none other, for its practical working out.
*Out of modestly meager materials sent us, we have, giving some latitude to our feelings (but not imagination), evolved the above unsatisfactory sketch. His life has not been romantic, or filled with newsy vicissitudes ; it has been a steady, faithful, intelligent, successful application of high business principles to the problems offered by his environment. He has been, and is, liked, respected, trusted, by everybody who knows him. As for his love for the "B. F. A.," we need but to quote a few lines from a recent letter: "I shall be glad to talk over with you several matters touching the welfare of our Association. I sincerely wish, that we may be able to concert plans for its growth and prosperity, a very largely increased interest, etc. I feel that we ought to make the efifort, even at the expense of time and labor on our part." —Ed.
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IIoii. AddiiiKloii RriKliain of Marlljoro, mir indefatigable Curator and Librarian, made a Rood i>()int in liis sprccli at Boston. I.ct all the Brifibains who arc autliors, or who liavc snrli writers in their families, send coplrs of their Ixjoks to Mr. I{ri(,;ham, tf) 1)C i)reserve<l in onr I'amily Library. I they will later l)e very usefnl, in tlie j)re|)aration of a chapter, "!'.: ^ Authors," in the forthcomiiiK HriKham I-'amily History. It's been so long incuhatinp:, that it'.s ^ot to hatch now!
VVc just couldn't let our recent secretary, .Miss Emma E. Hrigham of Bos- ton, "retire to private life," so she's now treasurer. She is .so full of f^ood actions that it is hard to tell when she finds time to rest. Hut for her timely intcri)osition (with that of one or two others, we might name), the H. F. A. would now he in a thorouffhiy moribund condition, if not actually in rigor mortis. There is a del>t of Kratitu<le owed by this association deeper than words; some, at least, of us know the circumstances and rejoice. VVc some- times need trials and attiictions to develop our strength!
Mr. Edmund Brigham of Chicago, for years assistant freight agent of the Northwestern Railway, has. within the past twelve month, become general freight agent. To this arduous position (one of the most exacting in the corporation) Mr. Brigham brings excellent health and habits, good humor, shrewd ideas coupled with much active experience under his former superior. He will succeed. Congratulations !
Mr. Henry Brigham of Chicago, late with Armour & Co., left that big con- cern (at which time the senior member of that house took occasion to present a beautiful watch, suitably engraved), to go with the Booth & Co. fish com- pany of Baltimore, the largest i)lant of its kind in America. He is located in the Chicago offices, where he makes contracts for the freighting of all their enormous business.
Mr. Gus Brigham of Chicago is as deeply a lover of music, as when, seven years ago, he gave us taste of his metal, at our first Reunion at the Chicago World's Fair. It would be a pleasure to hear him at some other of our gatherings. Why not the next? He has a prominent position with the Thompson Piano Co. in Chicago, and ranks well as a composer of songs.
"The Brigham Lectures," are the edifying entertainments, with which Nat M. Brigham of Los Angeles, California, is delighting audiences in that portion of our land. The titles run : "Grand Canon of .\rizona." "Land of the Snake Dance" (introducing Indian and Spanish music). "Utah and the Mormon Commonwealth." "The Apache Warpath" (with martial music). Bob Burdette says, "The mantle of Stoddard has not fallen upon Brigham; he has a better costume of his own." Success. Brother Brigham. Bravo! Will you not kindly come to our next Family Reunion and "Give us a taste of your metal?"
Rev. Prof. Albert Perry Brigham, A. M., at the head oi the department of geology and natural history in Colgate University. Hannhon, N. Y.. has just contributed a work to the Twentieth Century Series of text books, "Geo- logical Science." i2mo., cloth, price $1.40, D. .\ppleton & Co. -\n elementary treatise, well written, edited and illustrated, accompanied by suggestions to teachers. He is a grandson of Phineas Brigham, who went from Worcester County, Mass., to Madison County, N. Y.. in 1810. He preached for several years at Stillwater and L'tica. N. Y.. but in i8c2 rounded up hi^s degrees by an "A. M." from Harvard. His teaching has been mainly at "Colgate." and Cornell and Harvard Summer Schools : he is a member of many learned societies, and has been a voluminous contributor to numerous standard periodicals.
Rev. Leander Brigham of Warren, \'t.. has just celebrated his golden wedding. Never very physically strong, he has lived to good age of great usefulness. He has exemplified very radical ideas in his life: preaching a free gospel wherever the spirit called him. accepted no fixed salary, but living upon whatever might come in as purely voluntary contributions. Though not without parallel, such an undeviating practice is quite exceptional in these business-like times. He has not been a layer up of goods in this world, but his reward will certainly come. A truer Christian, according to his lights, does not now live.
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CONSTITUTION OF THE BRIGHAM FAMILY ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE! NAME. This association shall be called the BRIGHAM FAMILY ASSOCIA- TION.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this association shall be, to promote acquaintanceship and good-fellowship among the descendants of Thomas Brigham, "The Puritan ;" to collect and preserve such documents and articles of historic interest as relate to the Family of Brigham : and to assist in preparing and making public an adequate family record.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP.
Any person of the name or kin of Brigham, or related thereto by mar- riage, may become a member of this association, upon the payment of one dollar, which sum shall also include the dues for the first year.
ARTICLE IV. DUES. The annual dues shall be one dollar, payable in advance.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS. Meetings of this association shall be held biennially, at such time and place as the maiority vote of the directors taken by mail shall approve; provided, that no selection of time and place shall have been made by a majority of the members of this association present and voting at a regular meeting.
ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS. The officers of this association shall consist of a President, five Vice- Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Historian, a Librarian-Curator, and five additional Directors. All these shall constitute the Board of Directors. ARTICLE VII. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers shall be chosen by majority ballot, at every regular meeting. ARTICLE VIII. DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
1. The duties of the officers shall be such as usually appertain to those positions.
2. The Secretary shall keep the record of all meetings of this association, and shall have charge of all the books, papers and records of this association, excepting such as pertain to the offices of Treasurer and Librarian-Curator; and shall appoint an Assistant Secretary, who shall perform such duties as the Secretary may direct.
3. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all monies of this association, upon voucher approved by the President and the Secretary; and shall keep a book account of all receipts and disbursements: and a list of all members of this association, which shall also show the standing of members in the matter of dues ; and shall issue due bills annually ; and shall submit a written report at every regular meeting.
4. The Historian shall prepare a paper upon some theme of general Brigham-Family interest for each regular meeting; shall notice the demise of members of this association, as well as of all distinguished Brighams wheresoever occurring; and in connection therewith may prepare and pre- sent, for adoption by this association, such Resolutions as may seem fitting.
5. The Librarian-Curator shaii oe the custodian of all books, pamphlets, documents, heirlooms, etc.. of Brigham Family historic interest. He shall keep an accurate book record of the same, and, whenever practicable, shall prepare and exhibit the same at every regular meeting.
6. The reports of all officers made at regular meetings shall be written ; and all reports, papers, essays, orations, etc., provided for herein, or volun- tarily rendered to this association, shall be legibly written or printed, and shall be placed in the hands of the Librarian-Curator.
7. The Board of Directors shall have disposing powers in all matters of finance ; and no financial obligation shall be incurred, without the authority of the President and the Secretary. Five board members and the records at any meeting of the Directors shall constitute a quorum.
52
\
AlMK.l.l', 1\ AMI'.XDMI.N IS 1 o 11 1 1-; CONSTITUTION. 'I'his coiistilniii >ii m.i\ lie anuMidt-d ;il any tncctitiK <>( tliin a<*"»ocialion by a twii thirds voti- ol (lie imiiilnTs present aiul soling.
OFFICI'.KS ()!•■ rill. I'.i'lK.II \.\1 I. \. Ml I.N' ASSOCIATION.
Prosidi'iit, Cliarlis ( ). linnliam, rnk-dn. Olnn.
Sc'cri'tary. W. 1. TyKr I'.riKlwiiii, Chicago, III.. fiO.y IiiKli-Mdi- avenue.
Trea surer, Miss ICinina I'".. iJrinliani, 364 Cohiiiilms avmiif, Hnston. Mats.
liisturian. W. I. lyUr r.rin;li.iiii, Cliicann. Ill,
Lihrariaii-Ciiratiir, .\(lditiKt'>ii M r>ri).;liam, Marlhuro. Ma>N.
l*'irst \'icL--I*rc'sid(.-nt, I.MrimDii S. Hri(.;liam, Marllxiro. Ma->-..
SfCiiTid \'ico-Pr(.'sid(.iit. JuIihsdii I'.ri^liam. 1 )rs Moim-s. Iowa.
Tliird \'ico-IVcsi(icnt, Mi-rrill D. I'.rinliain. Worcestt-r. Mas>.
lM)urtli X'ice-l'rcsidcMit. CliarU-s \V. lirifijliain. Lowt-ll. Ma^s.
iMttii \icc-l'rc-si(!ciit. William 1). Brinliam. Dordu-stiT. Ma^s.
I)ircctt)rs. William 1'". HriKliam. Sonu-rvilli-. .Ma-.-. ; Mi-s Hficn I. llriK- hani, Cambridge. Mass.: L. l'"rcd Rice, Host. .11. .Mas>. ; Walter I ). I'.riyham, Willimanlic. Conn.; Charles 11. Brigham. Boston. Mass.
MI'LMr.l'RS OF BRICIi AM I'AMILY ASSOCIATIO.X. IRO.M iH«a^ TO
DATE.
Brigham, Chas. H., Ft. Payne. Ala. Pirijihani. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin O., Oakland. Cal. Bri.tiiiam. F>ank E.. Oakland. Cal. BrioJiam, Mrs. Mary A., Oakland. Cal. Brigham. John E., Toronto, Canada. Brigham. Elijah, Trinidad. Colo. Brigliani. Walter Damon. Willimantic. Conn. Brigham, 11., Eleanor, Hartt\)rd, Conn. Brigham. John C. Washington, I). C. Stewart. Thos. T.. Washington, I). C. Brigham, A. N.. Chicago, 111. Brigham. Dr. B. A. R.. Chicago. 111. Brigham. Chas. F.. Chicago, 111. Brigham, E. 1)., Chicago, 111. Brigham. Miss F. M.. Chicago. 111. Brigham. Geo. F.. Jr.. Chicago. III. Brigham. G. B., Chicago. 111. Brigham. Capt. Henry G.. Chicago, ili. Brigham. O. D.. Chicago. 111. Brigham, Philip ^'., Chicago. 111. Brigham, Willard I. T.. Chicago, 111. Brigham, Mrs. Willard I. T., Chicago, III. Newton, P. A.. Chicago. 111. Brigham. S. F.. Chicago. 111. Brigham. L. W.. Chicago. 111. Brigham. Jos. H.. Dover, III. Atkins. Mrs. E. C. Indianapolis. Ind. Brigham. Chas. E.. Indianapolis. Ind. Brigham. O. T.. Bancroft. Iowa. Brigham. Hon. Johnson. Des Moines. Iowa. Brigham. Mrs. Johnson. Des Moines. Iowa. Ives. Mrs. Julia Brigham, Des Moines. Iowa. Brigham. Fred A.. Topeka. Kan. Brigham. R. S.. Topeka. Kan.
Brigham. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H.. No. Bridgton. Mame. Brigliam. Chas. E.. Ashburnham. Mass. Brigham. Mr. and Mrs. E. D.. Ashburnham. Mass. Rice. Thos. Brigham, Barrc. Mass. Rice. ]\Iiss Lucy, Barre, Mass. Brigham. O. W., Barre, Mass. Hill, Mrs. Abigail (deceased). Belmont. Mass.
5,^
Brigham, Charles (deceased), Boston, Mass. Brigham, Charles H., Boston, Mass. Brigham, Chas. E., Boston, Mass. Brigham, Dr. Daniel T., Dorchester, Mass. Brigham, Edmund M., Dorchester, Mass. Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar M., Dorchester, Mass. Brigham, Mrs. Eliza, Jamaica Plain, Mass. Brigham, Elizabeth F.. Jamaica Plain, Mass. Brigham, Emma E., Jamaica Plain, Mass. Brigham, Francis H., Dorchester, Mass. Brigham, Mrs. F. M., Dorchester, Mass. Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. E., Jamaica Plam, Mass. Brigham, Geo. H., South Boston, Mass. Brigham, Helen S., South Boston, Mass. Brigham. Rev. J. W.. South Boston, Mass. Brigham, Miss JuHa L., South Boston, Mass. Brigham, Miss Margherita, Jamaica Plam, Mass. Brigham, Martyn Freeman (deceased), Dorchester, Mass. Brigham, Miss Pauline, Jamaica Plain, Mass. Brigham, Robert Breck (deceased), Jamaica Plain, Mass. Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. William D., Dorchester. Mass. Brigham, William E. (deceased), Jamaica Plain, Mass. Brigham, Will E., Jamaica Plain, Mass. Carpenter, A. E., Jamaica Plain, Mass. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. T. D., Dorchester, Mass. Cook, Walter F., Dorchester, Mass. Goodnow, A. W., Jamaica Plain, Mass. Goodnow, Joseph Wilson, Jamaica Plain, Mass. Goodnow, Miss Marion Coleman. Jamaica Plain, Mass. Green, Mrs. Martha Brigham, Jamaica Plain, Mass. Howe. Elmer P., Jamaica Plain. Mass. Hutchinson, James D. (deceased), Roxbury, Mass. Livermore, Geo. B., Brighton, Mass. Ford, Mrs. S. J., Brighton, Mass. Rice, Mrs. Edwin, Brighton, Mass. Rice, L. Frederick, Brisfhton, Mass. Rice, Henry Brigham, Brighton, Mass. cSeavey, Mrs. Alice Hutchinson, Roxbury, Mass. Andrews, Mrs. Henrietta M., Boylston Centre, Mass. Hyde, Harriet M., Boylston, Mass. Brigham, Miss Agnes Otis, Brookline, Mass. Brigham, Mrs. Joshua, Brookline, Mass. Brigham, Helen F.. Cambridge, Mass. Brigham, Miss Mary, Cambridge, Mass. Brigham, Jessie M., Chicopee Falls, Mass. Brigham, Nellie E., Chicopee Falls, Mass. Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. J. D., Chnton, Mass. Priest. Mrs. H. B., E. Norton, Mass. Brigham, Dr. H. H., Fitchburgh, Mass. Brigham, Dr. Sarah C, Fitchburgh. Mass. Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Seth E., Fitchburgh, Mass. Coolidge, Mrs. Ellen D., Fitchburgh, Mass. Fairbanks, Mrs. Elvira R., Fitchburgh, Mass. Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Irving D.. Framingham, Mass. Buck, Geo. W., Framingham, Mass. Buck, Jennie R., Framingham, Mass. Brigham, Nicholas H., Grafton, Mass. Brigham, Herbert K, Hubbardston, Mass. Brigham, Chas. E., Hubbardston, Mass. Brigham, Mrs. Annie E., Hudson, Mass. Brigham, Caleb L., Hudson, Mass. Brigham, F. W., Hudson, Mass. Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Frank E., Hudson, Mass. Brigham, Humphrey, Hudson, Mass. Brigham, Wilbur F., Hudson, Mass.
54
Ill iKliain, W . I\ , I I ml ( 111, ^I.l>^. — »l Itildcll, Ml-. .111(1 Mis ( ll.lllr,, MikImiii. .\l;l^^.
l-'aniswortli, ("liarlcs I.., Il>il<- I'.uU, M;is-<.
I\irns\v(iitli, I'.dilli M,. Ilydi- I'aik, Mas>.
Urigliam, Sidney H., l.awmico. Mass.
Hri>j;hani, Mr. and Mrs. (lias. II., Li-ominstcr, Mass.
Urigiiam. I'.nnc'iK- C, Lromiiii^li r, Mass.
liriKliam, ( has. W'., Lnwcll. .Mass.
I?ri);liaiii. I'-llcii M., Lowrli, .Mass.
Hrigliain, Juiicliiic, I.oufll, .Mass.
HriRliani, O. A., Lowell, Mass.
lirifj;liain, Sarah !•'., Loui-ll, Mass.
Cooper, Mrs. .A. C, Ldwell, Mass.
l>ri>;iiam, Addinjj;t(iii M., M.-irllmrn, M.isn.
Urinhani, Mr. :ind Mrs. .AsliKy. .Marli>i>r(p, .Mass.
lirig^liani, C. Waldo, Marlljoro. Mass.
Brighani, Charles F., Marlhuid. Mass.
Hrishani, Cyrus (deceased), Marlljoro, Mass.
]?rit,diain, VAhi A., Marlluiro, Mass.
Brighani, Mrs. Emma H., Marllioro, Mass.
lirigham, iMif^ene O., Marllxiro, Mass.
Brig;ham, Eustace H., Marlboro, Mass.
Brigham, Fred A., Marlboro, Mass.
Brighani, Mrs. Fred A., Marlboro, Mass.
Brigham, Harrison E., Marlboro. Mass.
Brigham, Harry E., Marlboro. Mass.
Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Her])ert \V.. Marllioro. Mass.
Brigham, Jonas E. (deceased). Marlboro, Mass.
Brigham, Mrs. Mary E., Marlboro, Mass.
Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Lorimon S., Marlboro, Mass.
Brigham, Morrill F., Marlboro, Mass.
Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney A., Marlboro, Mass.
Brigham, William H., Marlboro, Mass.
Brio-ham, Mr. and Mrs. WUliam M., Marlboro, Mass.
Brigham. Willis F., Marlboro. Mass.
Bigelow, Mrs. Hannah E., Marlboro, Mass.
Boyd, Miss Florence, Marlboro, Mass.
Boyd, Miss Lydia. Marlboro, Mass.
Curtis, Mrs. Carrie A., Marlboro. Mass.
Howe, Mrs. S. H., Marlboro, Mass. .s»-Morse, C. F., Marlboro, Mass. ,«-Morse, Walter B., Marlboro, Mass.
Nichols. Mrs. Abbie Brigham. Marlboro. Mass.
Perry. Mrs. A. H. Brigham, Marlboro, Mass.
Smith, Mrs. Mary F., Marlboro. Mass.
Wheeler, Mrs. L. B., Marlboro, Mass.
Wheeler, L. S., Marlboro, Mass.
Witherbee, Mrs. William Wallace. Marlboro. Mass.
Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Edmund, Medtord, Mas>
Brigham, Fred. William, Mcdford, Mass.
Brigham, Miss Mary, Medfield. Mass.
Brigham, Arthur L.. Melrose, Mass.
Boden, Mr. and Mrs. Edw. B., Melrose Highlands. Mass.
Brigham, Jason S., Milford, Mass.
Glidden, Mrs. Helen B., Natick. Mass.
Hill, Mrs. Junius, Newton, Mass.
Johonnot, Mrs. E. P. B.. Newton, Mass.
Brigham, Louis S., Newton Highlands. ^L-\ss.
Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. L. K., Newton Highlands. ^L1ss.
Kendall, Josiah Fav, Newtonville, Mass.
Kendall. Mrs. Sarah J. B.. Newtonville. Mass.
Kendall, Miss Sylvinia B., Newtonville. Mass.
Brigham, Aaron, North .\tlleboro. ^L1ss.
Brigham, Charles B., Southboro. Mass.
Buck, Helen M., Southboro. Mass.
55
Buck. Mr. and Mr?. Wallace B.. Southboro, Mass.
Buck, William Henry. Southboro, Mass.
Brigham. John Addison, South Braintree, Mass.
Butterworth, Frank H., South Framingham, Mass.
Adams, Mrs. Allen, Spencer, Mass.
Brigham. Miss Anna F., Spencer, Mass.
Linley. Mrs. Libbie Brigham, Spencer, Mass.
Axtell. Clara S., Springfield, Mass. '-Cemis. Mrs. E. M.. Spencer, Mass.
Brigham. D. H. (deceased). Spencer, Mass.
Brigham, Orlando S., Spencer, Mass.
Brigham, Dexter, Sutton, Mass.
Brigham, John W. (deceased), Wilkinsonville, Mass.
Brigham, Elijah W. (deceased), Waltham, Mass.
Brigham, Mr', and Mrs. John B.. Waltham, Mass.
Brigham, Hattie S.. Watertown, Mass.
Brigham. Edw. F., Westboro, Mass.
Brigham. Geo. Otis (deceased), Westboro, Mass.
Brigham. Mrs. Eliza A. H., W^estboro, Mass.
Rice,- Mrs. Jane M., Westboro, Mass.
Rice. Miss Jennie M.. Westboro, Mass.
Xourse, B. B. (deceased). Westboro, Mass.
Brigham, John B., West Boylston, Mass.
Brigham. Harrison G. O., West Everett, Mass.
Case. Kate A.. Westfield, Mass.
Sprague. Katherine M.. Westfield. Mass.
Allen. Mrs. A. L.. West Millburv. Mass.
Whipple. Mrs. Horace P.. Whitinsville, Mass.
Stanley, Mrs. Mary Hobart, Whitman, Mass.
Brigham. A. C, Whitman, Mass.
Brigham. C. G.. Winchenden. Mass.
Carter, F. W., Winthrop. Mass. ..^jSible}-. C. A.. Winthrop. Mass.
Brigham, Alice C, Worcester. Mass.
Brigham, Edmund R., Worcester, Mass.
Brigham, J. Augusta, Worcester, Mass.
Brigham, John S.. Worcester, Mass.
Brigham. Mrs. John S. (deceased), Worcester, Mass.
Brigham, L. L.. Worcester, Mass.
Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. Merrill D., W^orcester, Mass.
Brigham, Nathaniel S., Worcester, Mass.
Brigham, Ralph H., Worcester, Mass.
Brigham. Sarah N.. Worcester, Mass.
Barrett. Mr. and Mrs. Geo., Worcester, Mass.
Carter, Lewis, Worcester. Mass.
Forbes, Hon. and Mrs. W. T.. Worcester, Mass.
Forbes, Miss Cornelia Brigham, Worcester, Mass.
Howe. Mr. and Mrs. A. M., Worcester, Mass.
Howe. E. E., Worcester, Mass.
Knight, Mrs. Henry S., Worcester, Mass.
Leland. Anna M.. Worcester, Mass.
Rider. Carrie A.. W'orcester Mass.
Rider. Ella I.. Worcester, Mass.
Simonds. F. P., Worcester, Mass. ■».-^aft. Mrs. Cornelia A., Worcester, Mass.
Brignam. D. C, Decatur, Mich.
Fox, A. C. Dr3-den. Mich.
Brigham. Dr. and Mrs. Homer C. Grand Rapids, Mich. -"-Chaffee. Mrs. Sophronia D. Flint, Mich.
Brigham. John ti.. Duluth, ]\Iinn.
Mar.shall. Dr. and Mrs. Charles B., Stillwater, Minn.
Brown, Robert M., Lamar, Mo.
Brigham, W. A., Independence. Mo.
Brie^ham. F. M.. Kansas Cif>- Mo.
Brigham. Samuel P.. So. Omaha, Neb.
56
I'lTrv, CaK ill Hri^jliam. I\c( nc. N 1 1
llri^liain. Sila>, I .islmii. X, II
i^)ri.t;liaiii, Mr. and Mrs. iuin«.'ne C. Maiu-lii-ster, N. H.
l>iiKliaiii, l'".n)j;i-iu' \\'., Maiiclifstcr. N. H.
Doaiu', Nathaiiiil. Jr.. MaiK-Jicsti-r, N. II.
Williams. Mrs. JMank Iv. N.islma. \ 11
r.ri^hani. Mi^^s l".li/,il)olli. Kiiidnr. .\, II
I'.riKham. W ill.ii.l (' . RiiKlRi-. \. li.
liri^liain. I Ion. Ili>s(.a W.. Wiiiclioti-r. N II
liriuii.nn. Miss Maud Iv. WiiiclK'stcr. N. II
llrii^liani. I'"liiali \\ .. I'liiiKliaintun. .\'. N'.
Ilrii.;liain. l'".lint'r \\ .. I'iii).;li,iintiiii, N. ^ .
L)ri).jliani. .M I-. Karlu'l I... Ilniisdi.initdii. \, ^'
ToukT. !•;. 1)., liriar lltll. X. S'.
Williams, Rov. Duight ( deceasod I. Cazrimvia. X. \.
P.riiihani. T. S., Clayton, X. ^'.
Cn-hin,t;. Mr>. M. Kislcy ( dci-r.-isnl) , Dunkirk. X. Y.
Hrisham. I'rof. .Mlicrt iVTry. Ilainillon. X. \'.
llrisliam, Elijah \V., Lcstor.^hirf. X. \'.
Ciri'sii', Mrs. S. B., Lestersliire. X. V.
Bri^ham, .\. Ward, Xcw York City.
Brifjham. I'.dward l-Vanklin. Xcw York City.
Bri;j:liam. Silas O.. Xcw York City.
Brigham. Walter S.. New York City.
Coxford. Mr.s. Rose Brigham, X'ew York City. Aitcheson. Miss Mina Brigham. Scluiylervillc. X. Y. Aitchcson. Thos. Brigham. Schuylcrville. X. Y. Brigham. Milton, Spencerport, X. Y. Moore. Electa Brigham. t'tica. X. Y. Pratt. Henry IL. Cleveland. Ohio.
Brigham. Col. J. H.. Delta. Ohio.
Beach. Mrs. Harriet Brigham. Toledo. Ohio.
Brigham. Mr. and Mrs. C. O.. Toledo. Ohio.
Brigham. F. S.. Toledo. Ohio.
Brigham. Mavor (deceased). Toledo. ()hit>.
Brigham. S. P.. Toledo. Ohio.
Brigham, W. A., Toledo, Ohio.
Brigham. Mr. and Mrs. W. E., Tfiledo. Ohio.
MacLaren Mrs. S. K.. Toledo. Ohio.
Marks. Mrs. Sarah B., Toledo, Ohio.
Brigham, Joel. Wauseon, Ohio.
Brigham, J. R., Corry. Pa.
Brigham, Miss Clara J., Damascus, Pa.
Brigham, James L., Damascus, Pa.
Brigham, Ralph M., Franklin, Pa.
Brigham, O. \V., Galilee, Pa.
Brigham, Mrs. Mary E.. Phihulelphia, Pa.
Rice. Lewis (deceased). Philadelphia. Pa.
Bradley, Mrs. Chas. H.. Pittsburg. Pa.
Brigham. H. C. Newport. R. I.
Brigham. Chas. A.. Providence. R. I.
Brigham. John O.. Providence. R. I.
Adams. Mrs. H. T.. Hill City. S. D.
Brigham. Mr. and Mrs. Xat M.. Salt Lake City. I'tah.
Waterman, Kate M., Burlington. \'t.
Spaulding. Mrs. Wm.. Derby Line, \'t.
Boyce. Mrs. Laura B., Montpelier. \'t.
Sherburne, Mrs. Ada L. (deceased!. Montpelier, \'t.
Stewart Edw. A. (deceased). Newport. \'t.
Ni)rthrop. Mrs. D. F.. Sheldon, \'t.
Brigham. Mr. and Mrs. Bella B.. Townsend. \'t.
Phelps, Brigham T.. Westminster Sta.. \"t.
Brigham, Jerome R.. Milwaukee. Wis.
Arnold. Mrs. Fanny Brigham. Sharon. Wis.
Brigham. Rev. and Mrs. Geo. French. Sharon. Wis.
A FEW ENGLISH NOTES.* LONDON.
One who undertakes a general English genealogic research (if he does not know — and most do not — the exact spot or place he seeks) will likely begin at London, i. e., headquarters. Perhaps a few remarks will not be without a modicum of interest, at least to some.
Somerset House. The magnificent pile (whose Victoria-Embankment facade is the most imposing, though it fronts upon Wellington Street, as well as extending for a distance along the Strand) is so called, because erected on the site of the palace of the Protector Somerset. It is occupied by many public offices ; those, for instance, of the Audit, Registrar General, Internal Revenue, Admiralty and Probate. In this last division are found the records of many local and "peculiar" probate courts ; especially, those of the Pre- rogative Court of Canterbur}^ the most important in the kingdom.
"Fees, fees," is a word so often used, that an American on first going abroad is apt to be annoyed, until he speedily falls into the custom. But the advocates of "Literary Enquiry" have been so far successful, that one may "without fee" see and glean from records, down to the year 1800. To obtain permission, one must address a line to the "President of the Probate Division and the Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice, the Principal Pro- bate Registry, Somerset House, London," putting "Department of Literary Inquiry" in the corner of the envelope, stating in the communication your name, address, profession, object of search and its probable length — which must be vouched for by a property holder. (Being a stranger in a strange land, I obtained suitable credentials from our very obliging United States Consul General Osborne, whose office is in Great St. Helen's.)
Within brief time, I received official notice, "Available for Six Months," that I might enjoy the privileges sought for. Upon presenting this at the proper office, a card was issued, as follows : No. 5492.
HER MAJESTY'S HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE,
Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Division.
(PROBATE.)
The Principal Registry, London.
DEPARTMENT FOR LITERARY INQUIRY.
7th May, 1900.
Admit W. I. Tyler Brigham, Esq.,
From 7th May, 1900, to 7th Oct., igoo.
(Signed) F. H. JEUNE."
With this in pocket, I repaired to "Room 9," in the basement on the south side of the Great Quadrangle, to make appointments for labor. The work room is a double chamber, united by a great archway, wherein are four square tables, at which fourteen persons may comfortably be employed at a time. The hours are 10 A. M. to 3 :30 P. M. all week days but Saturday, when they are 10 to i :30; there is also a long summer vacation, during which the rooms are closed. The courteous clerk (still pronounced "Clarke" in Great Britain) will be pleased to assign you two days a week, where he finds vacancies upon his date-book, such as may be most convenient to yourself. (I found, that by being one's self especially favorable, one might have special favors ; so that for weeks I was there daily — after 11 A. M.— at which hour there was in- variably a vacant seat for me, with a polite permission to take it.)
As they have but two luggage assistants, and the tomes to be handled both to and from — sometimes quite a distance — are ponderous, there must be a limit to the number daily allowed to be seen ; so that you must restrict your- self to eight Registers a day — only two of which can be yours at a time —
*We take much pleasure in publishing the names and residences of those whose collective contributions went materially towards bearing the expenses of the English Brigham researches: Miss Emma Brigham, Mrs. Martha B. Green, Mrs. Edwin Rice, Miss Helen S. Brigham, L. Frederick Rice, Henry B. Rice and William D. Brigham, all the foregoing of Boston, Mass. ; William E. Brigham, Somerville, Mass. ; Miss Helen F. Brigham and Miss Mary Brigham, of Cambridge, Mass. ; Charles W. Brigham, Miss Ellen M. Brigham, Miss Sarah P. Brigham and Miss Emeline P. Brigham, of Lowell, Mass.; Seth E. Brigham and Dr. Hubbard Brigham, of Fitchburg, Mass. ; "William M. Brigham, Marl- boro, Mass. ; Mrs. D. H. Brigham, Springfield, Mass. ; Miss Nellie Brigham, Chicopee Falls, Mass.; Mrs. Rose B. Coxford and Edward Brigham, of New York City; Hon. Johnson Brigham, Des Moines, la., and Fred A. Brigham, Topeka, Kas.
though yuu ni;iy, in adiliti'm, liavc (as many) Calctulars and Act Ko^tk* a« you wish. ('1"1r- (.";ilni(l;ii s liiriiish you with the names of your fat together witli llic years wluTi-in they wcrr i)r<)l)atr<l ; '.o it is th' to go through tlicse, for the re(|uisitc period, that you may know what \>'>'>k\ and how to call for. The Act Hooks are oidy occasii>naIly useful, by Riving side lights, through certain proceedings in causes. 'Ihc Registers are lli^ book.s of hooks, as herein the wills appear at length. Instead of being ti bered seriatim, they are named from the fust, or the prmcii>al, estate v%. h;ippcns to li;i\c Ixcii pmhati-d iii that mpIuiiii-. )■".. g. "l-'airJax," rcmbrokc," "Grey.")
You make your wants known upon green slips; giving simply the years (upon the proper lines), if ycni wish either (".-ilendars or .\ct I'.ook-.; but. should you wish Registers, you must state the "name" of the volume, as well as the "folio" (or page) whereupon is to be found the estate you expect to examine into. (This "folio" is a very clastic quantity, for it contains, as a rule, anywhere from eight to twelve pages. They now make the volumes uni- formly of hfty folios, eight leaves to the folio.) Many of the calendars arc kept in the room where you work; so that, as to such, you are instructed to "help yourself." Your notes must he made in pencil, and at the end of each visit you must sign your name in a register. If you express a wish (as I did) to photograph one of these curious volumes, you learn that it must be done officially :ind at considerable expense.
Brighani wills found and examined in Canterbury Court arc as follows;
Brigham, Thomas, 1613. "Capell," folio 62, of Caversham. Oxford. (This is evidently the person set out in the Oxford herald's pedigree.) The will hears date September i, 1609, and the following persons have becpiests : His brother-in-law. "Alichaell Heydon." sister '"Dorothie, wife of John Gurgeny," brother Chrystopher Brigham. Catherine Smith, "Cozen Ffraimces J. • •■ ' widdowe," "Nephewe Thomas Brigham, sonne of my saide Brother Chr; ■ - fer," William Brighani, "another son of Xfer," a nephew, Gurgeney, Edward Reade, Thomas Manwaringe, "my Godson, George Manwaringe," Jerom I.eydon. Jr., niece Elizabeth Stone (wife of Thomas), a daughter of his sister, Gurgeny, Robert Leydon, son of Robert, cheesemonger, deceased; "my Cozen Lake's daughter," Jasper Goodwines and wife, £5 for rings; £13 6s 8d for the poor of his parish and the parish wherein he may die ; 40s to each servant in his house who has served him above three days at the time of his death; "my Cozen Alexander Hampden, knight, and his lady, a piece of plate of £10 value, and each £3 for a ring;" each of his executors has £3 for a ring. "My two sisters, namely my sister Leydon and my sister Gergeny, each £3 for rings. Still others have sums for remembrance rings; Humfrey Wymes (this is undoubtedly the person associated as partner with the testator in the great tin mines of Cornwall, of which they were grantees under^ Queen Elizalieth), a godson, Thomas Horton ; Humfrey Baker, John Cordrey. Michael! Heydon and Edwarde Reade are executors. Further proceedings de bonis nan in the above estate are found in "Soame," folios 62-64; "Swan." folio I, & "Byrde," in 1624 seems to wind it up.
Brighani, Richard, Esq., of Lambeth, Surry, "Pile," folio 47 : will dated 16 Jan., 1635. (The will of his wife. Emeline. is probated the next year. 1037, in "Goare," fol. 122; but adds nothing to the facts presented in her husband's probate.) Richard makes bequests to: St. Paul's Cathedral, the poor of Lambeth, the poor of the Parish of St. Boteham, London, also of Croydon ; tlie poor yocmcn of "His Grace's household." (i. e. — the Archbishop of Can- terbury),"his old fellow-servant, Thomas Whale; Elizabeth Billing. Robert Cornwell, his loving sister, Thoniazin Blaxton, and her eldest daughter, the widow Morman ; her second daughter, and others ; his brother Thomas Brigham (has £20 money, and £20 annual interest in the lease of Overland's Rectory) ; his wife Emeline and two daughters. Jane and Anne, brothers-in- law Thomas and Henry Hudson. William Lorde. Archbishop of Canter- bury, and his Chaplains. Messrs. Bray and Heywoods ; his loving brother. John Brigham, who is joined as "overseer" with the treasurer of His Grace's house. (This is evidently the "Richard," Controller of the Archbishop's house." set out in my Anglian Brighamea.)
Brigham, Thomas. "Citizen and Cordweyner," of Lonilon. "Fairfax." folio 134. will dated 19 September. 1649. Bequests to: His brother. John Brigham (who is given bis four houses in Wentford street. St. Afary's. Whitechapel.
59
Middlesex, also being appointed executor), to his brother-in-law, John Wright, and he mentions his "late brother," George Brigham..
Joane Brigham, widow of London, "Bowyer," folio 156, will dated 20 Sep- tember. 1652. Speaks of her "butcher's stall within Leaden Hall" (i. e.present Leadenhall St.), in London; her cozen, Thomas Peele of BRIGHAM, in Cum- berland, tailor, has i8o due her from the late Richard Brigham of St. Mar- tin's-in-the-Fields. coachman. (This is the "Royal" coach-maker mentioned in my "Anglian Brighamea"). Thomas Brigham, son of Thomas, late of ''Co- tum" (probably Gotham), and Richard Ghurchill. butcher, of London, execu- tors. (She seems to have died childless.)
George Brigham. husbandman, Eastrington, York. "Pell," folio 280, will dated 19 June. 1658: Mentions his brothers, Robert and Thomas Brigham, also Robert and Margarett, children of the said Thomas; his sister, Abigail Brigham ; his son, Robert Brigham is executor.
John Brigham, Esq., Swansey, Cambridge, 1667, "Carr," folio 114, makes his wife, Jane, executrix, and mentions his only child a minor "Harker."
John Brigham grocer, of Westminster, London, "Pembroke," folio 49, 1668, will dated 20 Jan., 1649, wishes to be buried in "Margarett Church in Westminster,'" near his former wife and child. Mentions cozens Benjamin & Josua Blaxton, Marie Brigham, daughter of his brother Thomas, deceased ; his wife Margaret and daughter Elizabeth made executors. Brother John Turner, mercer, of London, and friend Michael Arnold, Sr., brewer, are ap- pointed overseers.
British Museum Reading Room. This magnificent structure, upon classic lines, is situated in Great Russel Street, Bloomsbury (West Center) ; the particular portion thereof above alluded to being a superb circular apartment, surmounted by a dome whose diameter exceeds that of St. Peter's at Rome. Here is accommodation at once for no less than 300 workers, each with a desk, with two tables exclusively set apart for ladies (who have equal rights also in the room at large) .
To obtain admittance, you must make proper application in writing, ac- companied with stifificient sureties. (The American Embassy became my surety. It is situated upon Victoria Sti-eet — not far from Westminster Abbey — though the Ambassador's residence is in Pall Mall, the "Diplomatic neigh- borhood." Upon presenting references, the secretary of the embassy extended very gratifying consideration ; including privileges of attending sessions of the Houses of Commons and the Lords, visiting the Royal Mews at Buckingham palace, etc. The American representative is understood to be especially favored, in being allowed the disposal of two seats a session of both Houses of Parliament; while other countries are ordinarly allowed but one.)
On receiving favorable reply tne entry clerk issued the following ticket:
"NOT TRANSFERABLE. A 66999.
.4479-
This Ticket Admits
Mr. W. I. Tyler Brigham,
26 Doughty St., W. C,
to the READING ROOM of the
British Museum, for the Term of Three Months. Available from 17th May to 17th Aug., 1900." Armed with such a passport, one may, as he wills, avail himself of the enormous aggregation of books, maps, and manuscripts to be found here, upon all week days, between the hours of 9 and 7. It is indeed a busy place! Around the almost entire periphery of the apartment are arranged alcoves, filled with books of most frequent quest and general authority, touching broad subjects oftenest the subject of studious inquiry. These may be taken down in numbers, as one pleases freely to consult; the only conditions being, decent use and return to proper place. I cannot say how many most valu- able volumes are thus easily reached, but it is thousands upon thousands ; such a collection, in short, as would make many a fine library run over with joy, could they but fill their shelves with these books to the exclusion of all others.
The greatest and choicest favors, however, are arranged in excellent stacks in room after room contiguously located ; to see any of which, you must fill out a proper slip for each book, place it in a basket upon the center circular bar, wherefrom they are frequently taken by one of numerous attaches, and
60
the rc(|ucstr(l article- hrim^'lil t(j your <k-sk (winch arc Ittti-rnl in P' ntiinbori'd by scats) within a rcasoiiahlc time. Soim- rjf the larjjrsl <>r i burdens arc ncscr iirdiiKht to the main room; lo consult which, you ; by the back tluicdi, liiroiiKh a corridor, into the larKc room, of t'.: . ([uadranKular pKipi.i tions. Whrii throiiKli coiisiiltati»jn, you must return t! • - to the desk, and reclaim (to destroy) your checks. They are pcrfe. '' in givinjj: you access; but I fancy any infrin^jement ol lules would i inarily dealt with.
In another part of this <livision of the immense building i"* tin- M.ur! script Students' Room, where the liarleiau, Ad<litional, and otjicr man old seals, etc., may be examinerl into. Ik'iuK for the most part un|)Ui.i; great cire is recpiired in their iiandliuR; to which end, portable r^■-.t^. .id able to any an)j;lc, arc on all the tables, whcreui)on you will be rc(|uircd ti> keep placed whatever you may have in use. By special rerpiest, wc were l)ermittcd to look ujiou that inunortal public document, the parchment Magna Charta, wdiich lias passed tluoti^di liter;d fire and water, having, until recent times, been in ])rivate hands.
Of other departments of this enormous museum Iwill not sjieak, it being in no sense germain to luy undcrt.iking. It seems as if the curious atid the historically interesting of all countries, and all time, had here been aggregated or were represented. Perhaps, the most generally looked for. are the famous "Rosetta Stone" (from which intelligent light into the Egyi)tian hieroglyphics was first shed to us moderns) and the "Rlgin Marbles," from the Parthenon at Athens.
Public Rfxoru Office. Is between Fleet Street and High Ibjlborn, runs from Fetter Lane to Chancery Lane, with its main entrance through an im- posing gateway upon the last thoroughfare. A modern structure, to which wdien I first went there, they appeared to be building an addition ; but the ex- penses of the Boer War were so heavy, that they postponed further action. Herein are preserved many of the oldest and most valuable public docu- ments of the kingdom. First, comes the Doomesday Book of land titles, com.- piled by the Norman Conqueror more than 800 years ago; long kept in the old Norman city of Winchester, later at Westminster, now herein to be seen by such as know of it and its whereabouts. It is in two parchment volumes, of the size and thickness of common ledger books ; written in black ink, somewhat illuminated in red, whose colors are remarkably preserved.
Following Doomesday Book, and of great value, touching the sphere of subinfeudation, sale and transfer of lands, are the Pipe Rolls (partly pub- lished by the Pipe Rolls Society), Miscellanea of the Exchecpier, Hundred Rolls (jirinted by the British Record Commission), Placita Quo Warranto, Kirby's Quest (printed by the Surtees Society) and the Fine Rolls. Concern- ing Land Sale and Transfer Inter Vivos, come the Charters (a host of ma- terial, bits of which have been published at ditTerent times by various authors). Feet of Fines, King's Silver Books (from Henry VHL), Indexes to Cove- nant Books, Indexes to Concords of Fines and Recoveries. Concerning Land Legal Proceedings, are Rolls of King:'s Court (to Edward I., 1272), De Banco Rolls (from 1272, exclusive jurisdiction over land, and contain many valuable pedigrees), Exchequer of Pleas (from 1272, on "Equity" side). Court of Chancery and Duchy of Lancaster (Equity). I'nder Criminal Proceedings, come the Crown Plea Rolls (from 1272, including Rolls of Assize. Eyre. Coroners, Gaol Delivery, Parliament Rolls for Attainder and Star Chamber Records). Under State Papers, come Chancery Files, Miscellaneous Records of Chancery, Rymer's Foedera, Statutes and Journals of Parliament, Recusant Rolls, Parliamentary Surveys, Royalist Composition Papers, Plundered Minis- ters' Accounts, etc.) Under Ecclesiastical and Monastic Records, come Cler- ical Subsidy Rolls, Suppression Records. Composition for Tithes, etc. Under Fiscal Records, are Lay Subsidy Rolls, (Jueen's Remembrancer of the Ex- chequer, Custom Rolls, etc. Concerning Descent of Lands, are Inquisitions Post Mortem (two scries. Chancery and Exchequer), Eschcators' AccouiUs and Proofs of Age. Under Grants from the Crown, came Charter Rolls ( from 1199, for fairs, markets, warrens, corporations, etc.), Originalia Rolls, Calen- dar of Treasury Papers, Close Rolls. Patent Rolls, Hundred Rolls and Placita dc Quo Warranto.
The only credential needed to enter here is a presentable appearance, and you must register your name and address at once, and each time you come. Then you are allow'ed to pass on into the Round Room and the Long Room, the two wdiich are the students' resort. It is open week days from ID to 4 :
61
Saturdays, from lo to 2 only. You make out separate tickets for each article desired, of which you may have at a time but three. The rooms named are lined with alcoves, filled mainly with Indexes and Calendars, from which j'ou learn what you will require; then the assistants will bring them (on orders from the desk clerk) from the other vaults in the building wherein the original records are kept.
From around the period of 1600 (whereat my researches mainly began), English commenced to be generally written in the records ; and, as I was already familiar with the earliest records in America (which date at about the same period), it did not take long to get into full swing. But from that era backwards (towards the very properly called "Dark Ages"), when modi- fications of Law Latin, as tinctured by the Norman-French, was the sole language of public record, it becomes more and more difficult as one proceeds towards the earlier times. In fact, record interpretation at this stage must become a laborious science, in which none has attained absolute proficiency — there being abbreviations and arbitrary signs, which continue in instances to puzzle the wisest. (There have been some helps published along this line. Perhaps the best is Martin's "Record Interpreter;" of which I bought a copy, and found I was enabled to English some passages, which before had been as ''Greek" to me.)
Heralds' College. This edifice, situated upon Queen Victoria Street (near St. Paul's), is spacious and imposing, with a front court reached through an arched gateway. The college was founded by Richard III., 1483, and consists ot thirteen members — -three kings-of-arms (Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy), six heralds (Windsor, Chester, Lancaster, York, Richmond and Somerset), and four pursuivants {Rouge-croix, Blue-mantle, Rouge- dragon and Portcullis). As this is a private fee college, it was necessary for me to place a commission. Mr. T. M. J. Watkins ("Portcullis") was as- signed to care for my needs (a gentleman whom I found both reasonable and obliging, who makes a specialty of tracing Welch pedigrees).
The functions of this institution were formerly more numerous and im- portant (in some respects) than at present; still this has derogated but little from the pomp and ceremony of a conservative nation. The records preserved here form the largest genealogic and heraldic collection in the world, often re- ferred to by searchers. A former "Norroy," was Sir Isaac Heard, who was the second husband of the widow of Captain David Ochterlony, her maiden name having been Catherine Tyler, of Boston, Mass., U. S. A.
The Library of Heralds' College is divided into "Records" and "Collec- tions." The "Records" include : Visitation Books (Henry VIII. -James II., being compilations of arms and pedigrees made by Visits of Heralds to various parts of the country ; many have been published by the Harleian Society, and others). Books of Modern Records (miscellaneous pedigrees, recorded since the Visitations), Books of Pedigrees and Arms of Peers (compiled 1767), Books of Pedigrees and Arms of Baronets (compiled 1783), Funeral Cer- tificates (valuable as showing deaths, burials, marriages and children of upper families). Books of Royal Marriages, Coronations, Funerals, etc.. Earl Mar- ■shall's Books and Grants of Arms.
The "Collections" include 3,000 manuscript volumes, which are either the work of members of the college since its establishment, or such others as Tiave been obtained by purchase.
UP IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.
' PREROGATIVE EXCHEQUER COURT OF YORK. The various resi- dences of the 32 Brighams, whose wills were probated in the above court, from its inception down to 1600, are summarized as follows : Bridlington, Lepington (parish Scrayngham), York, Bishopburton, Howsom, Beverly, Foston, Attingwicke, Fisholme, Sherifhoten, Wyton, Holme (Spaldingmore), North Dalton, Sylesthorne, Butterwicke, Thirkelbie. They appear to have represented many walks of life ; yeoman, barber, carpenter, butcher, hus- iDandman,- merchant, chaplain, Esquire and Gentleman.
The estates carefully examined during the period in question are :
.Brigham, William, of Butterwicke, 1602, Vol. 28, page 823. Brigham, Robert, of Everly, 1603, Vol. 29, page 215. Brigham, Richard, husbandman, Kirkbie, 1603, Vol. 29, page 225. Brigham, Henry, of Seaton, 1606, Vol. 30, page 165. Brigham, Christopher, of Kirkbie, 1611, Vol. 31, page 736. Brigham, Robert, 1612, Vol. 32, page 260.
62
I'.riji^liain, Juliii, \(>\.[. \>A. ^i, paRC 372.
lirij^liain, ( icniKi', J()i4, \'ol. 33, page (nb.
Hrij^liain, Kuliard, idU), Vol. 34, page 95.
Krit^liaiii, Jiilm, if)i8, Vol. 33, paRi' (k
l!ri^;liaiii, Uuliard, i(yJO, Ik'vcrly ; hail son Thomas, Vol. 3^, page 6<»8.
liiiKliain. Ual>clla, If>32, Vol. 42, pa^t; 281.
I'riKliain, llrmy, 1O37, Vol. 42 paRC 3O7.
Duiliaiii I'rohalr consists of two courts — Court of tlic iK-aii and Chapters of .MIcrtoiisliirc (Noilli Ividiii^,^ of ^'orksllirl•) and the Ihirhani (Jonsi->t<)ry Court, wliich latter d(j\vn to i.H.sK, had juri.sdictioti aLso «ncr the Ci^unty of N()rllunnl)crland. As before observed, no Urigham estates arc here.
At New Castle, we found rormborative evidence of a mistake recorded at the Heralds' College in London, in the Keport of this c<dleKe renckTefl mc was reference made to " Ihinlunii Monumental Inscription" from Northum- berland. On referrinj; to the volume at the college, it proved to be record of one "Christopher Brigham of New Castle, St. Nicholas Church," which gave as Jus arois: an aniuiKl, between three horses' heads, coujied hnd ca- parisoned. As 1 had ahcaily studied up jjretty thoroughly the subject of Brigham arms, from all jjublislied authorities, and h;id never foun<l any ascrilied to our fauuly which at all approached the above description; ami knowing this "Christopher" Brigham to have been of a fine New Castle fam- ily, I determined to learn more about this matter when I reached that city. Accordingly, at first opportunity, I repaired to the said "St. Nicholas' Church," which was fouiul to be a very old and interesting structure, tilled with monuments, which the very obliging custodian was glad to i)oint out to us. On making known the exact nature of my visit, he took me to the apart- ment where the records were kept, and produced a printed book, bearing the title, "A Collection of Armorial Bearings, Etc., of St. Nicholas' Church, Etc.," from which (in Vol. I., page 5) wc took the following entry: "Tomb Stone
in the Nave. 1 531. Pray for ye soule of Horsleyie, march, aventurcr
sometime maior of this town & — — — , his wife . Arms,
three horses' heads couped bridled , an aimulet for difference."
We found no Brigluuii record or arms in the work; but here were the very arms recorded to our family at Heralds' College, London, credited to the family of "Horsleyie." Since then, I have had time to look up the rec- ords of the Horsleyie family i.i Burke; and I found that this standard author upon heraldry gives this family the above arms, but none others. (I might say that it affords a very striking instance of wdiat are known as "allusory" or "canting" arms; being such as allude to the name of the person ber.ring them. Thus, the head of the horse, in the above arms alludes to the surname of the family bearing them, i. e., "HorsXcy'ic." )
Yes, I feel positive (for even the attaches of a royal institution, like Her- alds' College, are mortal; and so liable to error), that some one connected with the above college in the past, in some "Visitation" to Northumberland, made an incorrect entry. At that time, there was not unlikely a Brigham tombstone preserved in "St. Nicholas." which might have been Jocated hard by, and contributed to the said mistake. We know that "Christopher" Brig- ham, as is recorded of the above "Horsleyie," zvas also a "march, (i. e., mer- chant) aventurer, sometime maior of this towne" (i. e.. New Castle). We would be in error to assu}ne the above coat came into the Brigham family by reason of intermarriage with the "Horsleyies," for in such event, we should have found it "impaled" with the Brigham coat.
This error of Heralds' College is all the more apparent on referring back to my article, "Angliati BrigJiamea." where are seen the correct arms of the New Castle Brighams, as recorded by "Tongue, Norroy King," whose Visita- tion was in 1530. They bear the same arms as the Brighams of Yorkshire, from whom they probabl.v descended.
We wish to thank Mr. J. M. Thomiison, Curator of the Historical De- partment, General Registry House, Edinburgh, and Sir Andrew Agncw. Cus- todian of the Scotland Parish Registers, New Register House, Edinburgh, for their very kind interestedness in behalf of our researches. Though the material there proved to be very meager, wc are sure everything possible was done by these gentlemen to further our task.
While at Wells, I took occasion to visit the Cathedral and Bishop's Palace. (As wills were formerly matter of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, my count>' re-
searches led to old cathedral towns or "cities," for ridiculous as it seems to a Yankee, only cathedral centers are "cities" in England. Just think of it. Cardiff, the modern great coal port, is only a village, while Llandaff, but two miles away, with a population of but two or three thousaand, because it has a cathedral, is a "city.") Cathedrals are the crowning glory of England; they are epitomes of local and general history from Saxon to modern times, the embodied narratives of the origin and development of insular archi- tecture, the most venerable and beautiful fabrics standing anywhere upon English-speaking soil. Perhaps I may be pardoned a few sentences, touch- ing this remarkable pile (as I must pass over many others visited in silence), as typical (to a degree) of its kind ; exceedingly complete and well-pre- served, though not among the largest, but having some features peculiarly its own.
In the first place "The Close" is still surrounded by its heavy excluding walls (quite exceptionally preserved, I found) pierced with massive gateways (usually opened, but closed often enough to preserve the legal status of a "private way"). Many similar structures have been so encroached upon, that, though they bear an inalienable air of majesty, they seem crowded; at Wells, you see the impressive spectacle from afar, and have time to let it grow upon you as you near its sacred precincts. Its west facade, composed of two corner towers connected by a walled screen of the central gable, is regarded as the finest of its period, and affords the best display of exterior sculpture to be found in Great Britain. A most uncongenial climate, added to vandalous trespasses, accounts for many an unfilled niche ; but enough remains to suggest to the imagination, the supreme effect which must have been produced by the ancient entirety. Within, the walls of delicate creamy limestone present an exquisitely chaste appearance, befitting the sanctuary. As it was about the hour for morning service our patient watch was rewarded by a most impressive spectacle, the aged prelate leading from the vestry his procession of godly assistants ; as we soon after ascended the central tower, the music from men and organ coming up from below resounded faintly solemn, like the chorus of heavenly cherubim. The steps of the stairway leading to the Chapter House are so worn that it seems like ascending a gradual incline; the crowning glory of this beautiful room is the central clustered pillar, which at the capital divides into a ribbed, fanlike vaulting elsewhere unequaled. In the north transept is the oldest clock in the world; It was made in the fore part of the 14th century by a monk of Glastonbury Abbey, where it kept time for two centuries and a half, until, on the dissolu- tion of the monastery, it was removed to Wells, where it kept the hours for a similar period, when it was replaced by modern works, the old being sent to the museum of South Kensington, where it yet ticks, and is regarded as the very oldest piece of working mechanism. The figures connected with the clock are unique ; outside on the tower two knights in armor strike the hour bells with their battle axes ; within, a figure (called by the rustics "Jack Blandiver") kicks the small bell, and on the hours four knights come out on horseback with their tilting lances, two going in each direction, and as a result of their racings one unfortunate is put hors de combat. (As the other three always come off "Scott free," it can hardly be called "fair play.") The half-ruinous cloister (wherein, it is said, Cromwell stabled his horses), surrounding a burial quadrangle filled with old tombs, a singly gnarled evergreen standing out stunted in the center filled me with a pensiveness such as did no other of the several indescribable ones later visited. Of its multitudinous attractions, we single out a few : The inverted arches (built at a later date to support the sinking central tower), old Nor- man (or pre-Norman) font, old chapels and intramural shrines, original misericords (all that remains of the first woodwork, showing as fine carving as any on the island) and grotesque corbels and capitals. A most charming natural feature is beheld from the bishop's garden, being St. Andrew's spring. Its outflow has created a little pool of such tremendous depths that no line has found bottom, which empties hard by into a moat, now nearly filled up. which quite surrounds the palace, where glide stately swans. To this, and other springs, is due the name given ages ago to the place and the church, i. e.. Wells. The palace grounds, of considerable extent, are surrounded by battlemented walls, whose drawbridge (now transformed to a more station- ary device) with its elevating-chain, the rust-eaten portcullis and bastioned gate-house, pierced with cross-shaped openings for archers, give a more complete picture of medieval ecclesiastic power and dignity than I observed elsewhere.
64
THIS mi-:ans you I
rill' iiiuKTsij^iuil lia^ iiiiilrrtalsfii In iircparr a liKi(;ii am Family Hlhtury. As il will niaki- a vdluinr i>\ from (xx) to Hon pafji-s, it uu-atis 7ci>rk, work, 1 LEN ^^' ()!'" \\'()I\K, Ijiiw can you aid in tlli^? XJy snidiiift in your family records. It lluy luloiin lluic. \vr ui^li tlu-ni; tlu* sooner tlic In-ttrr. VVIirthcr or not. \oii "(.-ail.' a straw" aliont this matter ; rvrn if you vow never to <(pcnd oiu- oi'nt upon surli a hook — noiu- tlu- los. I ^ay. iv yotk Rf',CORr).S iiKi,f»NG TiiKKi;, 1 \\.\NT TiiKM. So sfud tluiu aloujj. ilial my work may l)c (liMri-ETE.
A former wcU-nu'aut attrnipt of this sort was imdcrtakcn some ycar.s ago by Dr. B. A. R. Bricfham. Mis lualtli and spirits failed liim; so far as he is concerned, the work is already acknowledged to he a dead failure. It was a pity! It is too had! What's to he done? The work! Wliat work? The Brigh.vm F.\mii,v History. Surely, we cannot supinely allow the disability of one man to defeat the avowed aims and purposes of our entire clan, as expressed time and again through its Brigh.\x[ F.\mii,y Associ.xtio.v. \Are you a Brigham ? Then set to work ! ^Mie records sent by you to Dr. Brigham (if you sent any) do not now acrpiit you from this endeavor. Xo, indeed: the work must all thoroughly he brought together .\r,MS from the begitiniiiii.
It's a shame, you sa}'? Well, there's no help for it. So, don't "cry over spilt milk!" If you've been through it once (and survived), you can once more; and it will come easier. If you've never yet made any move in this di- rection, it's high time you did. There now : "Fall in line !"
If you are familiar with Morse's Brigham History, begin where he left off (indicating the unmher of your ancestor, as given by Morse) and con- tinue on down to this date. If you are not familiar with the Morse book, begin back as far as you certainly are able to do: then complete your record, leaving to me the task of finding out your true branch on the noble old fam- ily tree,
I'm not particular about the form of your answer, as it must all be re- written in any event. Just arrange them into families, as you see tit ; and in doing so bear in mind that I wish the following facts given : Births, mar- riages and deaths (giving dates and ])lace of each), occupations and resi- dences, military, political and church records of any members, anecdotes, etc.; in fact, anything about them which is of general interest.
Now, please take up this (your) duty and write me. Don't delay; don't doubt your ability, or the lack of general interest in your story ! Do your best; and, if you need help, I'll aid you! It's more than likely that I shall have something comidinientary to say in my next Report about those who take a promi)t and earnest interest in this subject.
Cordially and faithfully, your kinsman, \V. I. TYLER BRIGHAM,
(Secretary and Historian B. F. A.),
6034 Ingleside Avenue. Chicago, III.
THE NEXT REUNION
OF THE
Brigham Family Association
WILL BE HELD IN
1902
(Probably in Massachusetts.)
Due Moticc Thereof Will Be Given.
All of Brigham Blood are hereby cordially invited to be in attendance-
MAT 'i I 1930
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