35 Consolidated Chronology

 I'll attempt to make some sense of the research documented in these blogs, with comments on the guesses and what alternatives there might be.

pre1799 Blog 7 has some speculative research for the Swain ancestors of William Brown

1791 Potential birth year for William Brown (father of Richard Walter Brown) based on 1851 Census. See Blog 9

1792 Potential birth year for William Brown (father of Richard Walter Brown) based on 1861 Census. See Blog 9

1796 Potential birth year for William Brown (father of Richard Walter Brown) based on 1841 Census.  See Blog 9

1816 Potential birth year (in Ellstree Middlesex) for Catherine Gooch (mother of Harriet Gooch) based on 1851 Census.

See Blog 5

1811 Potential birth year (in Canterbury Kent) for Henry Gooch (father of Harriet Gooch) based on 1851 Census.

See Blog 5

1815 Marriage of William Brown and Elizabeth Collins 14 May 1815 Hemel Hempstead. Unverified as the parents of Richard Walter Brown

See Blog 5

1816 Potential birth year for Henry Gooch (father of Harriet Gooch) based on 1841 Census.

See Blog 19

1816 Potential birth year for Catherine Howell (mother of Harriet Gooch) based on 1841 Census.

See Blog 19

1821 Potential birth year for Maria Brown (elder sister of Richard Walter Brown) based on 1851 Census.

See Blog 21

1828 Potential birth year for Henry Brown (elder brother of Richard Walter Brown) based on 1851 Census.

See Blog 21

1830 Richard Walter Brown born 26 Jan Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire, father William Brown, mother Elizabeth. 

See Blog 19

1831 Marriage Catharine Howell and Henry Gooch

“I can confirm that Catherine Howell married Henry Gooch (gunsmith) in St Albans Abbey 14/12/1831 Witnesses were Ann Dirton, John Nott & Thos. Brown.” See Blog 5

(Likely that Thomas Brown is related to one of the William Browns).

(Lorraine Tebbutt identifies Henry Gooch as being born 1800 and Catherine Howell being born 1805 and the date of their marriage as 14 Dec 1831.  Lorraine has parents of Henry Gooch as James Gooch (b1751) and Sarah Harvey (b1774) and parents of Catherine Howell as Henry Howell (b?) and Catherine Kaye (b?).)

1832 Potential birth year for Georgina Gooch (elder sister of Harriet Gooch) based on 1841 Census.

See Blog 19.  Same for 1851 Census.  See Blog 5

1833 A William Brown buried. 4 Nov 1833 aged 36 (c1797) Place of Burial St Albans. Dedication Dagnall Lane (Baptist). I don't think this is the father of Richard Walter Brown as there is no evidence of Richard Walter being Baptist).  Also Richard Walter's marriage certificate says father is a Baker, it doesn't say father deceased. Also the IGI identifies the following as children of parents William and Sarah Brown.  If William husband of Sarah dies 1833, that might explain no more children baptised after 1832. 

Children christened Abbey St Albans
Sarah Elizabeth 31 Mar 1820
Charles William 10 Aug 1821
Henry 26 Dec 1832
William Henry 26 Dec 1832
Robert Arthur 26 Dec 1832
Cicerly Sarah 26 Dec 1832
Louisa Caroline 26 Dec 1832

See Blog 9

1835 Harriet Gooch born 13 Dec Saint Peter, St Albans Hertfordshire, father Henry Gooch, mother Catharine. 

See Blog 5

1835 Birth of Emma Gooch (sister of Harriet Gooch) based on 1841 Census.

See Blog 19 Emma b.21/4/1835 and Sarah Ann b.18/11/1843 were baptised 31/7/1844. See Blog 5

1838 Birth of Emma Gooch (sister of Harriet Gooch) based on 1851 Census. See Blog 5

1841 Census, Residence Dagnall Lane St Albans, William (Head), Occupation Baker, Age 45, Born  Hertfordshire; Elizabeth (Wife), Age 50, Born Hertfordshire; Sarah (Dau), Age 20, Born Hertfordshire; Maria (Dau), Age 20, Born Hertfordshire; William (Son), Age 19,

Born Hertfordshire; Henry (Son), Age 15, Born Hertfordshire; Richard (Son), Age 10, Born Hertfordshire.

See Blog 19

1841 Census, Residence St Peters St Albans, Henry Gooch (Head), Occupation Gun maker, Age 25 Catherine (Wife), Age 25, Georgina (Dau), Age 9, Harriot (Dau), Age 6, Emma (Dau) Age 6. 

See Blog 19

1843(4) Birth of Sarah Ann Gooch.  Emma b.21/4/1835 and Sarah Ann b.18/11/1843 were baptised 31/7/1844. See Blog 5

1845 3 September Marriage Sarah Brown and George Gooch

Groom George Gooch Gunmaker Father William Gooch, Bride Sarah Brown Father William Brown.

[I'm guessing this is Sarah Brown, dau of William and Sarah Brown mention in the 1833 entry above.

See Blog 6

1851 Census, Residence 182 Dagnall Lane St Albans, William (Head), Occupation Baker, Age 60, Born  Luton Bedfordshire; Eliza (Wife), Age 59, Born Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Maria (Dau), Occupation Staw hat Maker, Age 30, Born Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire; Henry (Son), Age 23, Occupation Plumber, Born Hertfordshire; Richard (Son), Occupation Baker, Age 19, Born Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire

See Blog 19

1857 1 Nov 1857 Groom Richard Walter Brown, Bride Harriet Gooch, Old Church, Saint Pancras, London, England.  Marriage certificate identifies witnesses as Charles Stevens and Fanny Stevens, Minister CH Andrews and residence as Dextore St or Deutur St or Denton St (Wandsworth?).  Richard Walter Brown occupation Baker.  Father William Brown occupation baker, Father Henry Gooch occupation gun maker.

See Blog 5 or 21

1858 Walter Henry Brown christened Abbey, Saint Albans, Hertford, England.  Son of Richard Walter Brown (Baker) and Harriet Brown nee Gooch.  

See Blog 11

1860 Death Catharine Gooch March 1860 District St Albans Vol 3a Page 210 See Blog 5 

See Blog 11

1861 Census, Residence 151 Spicer St, St Albans, William (Head), Occupation Baker, Age 69, Born  Luton Bedfordshire; Eliza (Wife), Occupation Dress maker, Age 70, Born Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Maria (Dau), Occupation Staw hat Maker, Age 41, Born Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire; William (grandson), Occupation Scholar, Age 10, Born St Albans Hertfordshire.

See Blog 19

1861 Census, Residence New England Field St Albans, Richard (Head), Occupation Baker, Age 29, Born Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire; Harriet (Wife), Occupation Bonnet Maker, Age 25, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Henry (Son) Occupation Scholar, Age 2, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Emma Neale (unmarr), Occupation Lodger, Straw Bonnet Maker, Age 28, Born Wheathampstead Hertfordshire.

See Blog 11

1861 Census, Residence Fishpool St St Albans Hertfordshire

Name                             Status                  Occupation                Age            Birthplace

Henry                             Widower             Gunmaker                  49               Canterbury Kent

Georgina                        Dau (unmar)       Bonnet sewer              28              St Albans Herts

Sarah A                          Dau (unmar)       Bonnet sewer              27              St Albans Herts

See Blog 5

1864 18 July Horace John Brown Born England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 christening: 1865 ABBEY,SAINT ALBANS,HERTFORD,ENGLAND father: Richard Walter Brown mother: Harriet.  I haven't sighted the certificate yet
See Blog 19

1865 Richard Walter Brown and Betsy Rudd cease their partnership as straw hat manufacturers in St Albans Hertfordshire.

See Blog 14

1866 Birth Registration 

When and where born; 23 December 1866, St Peters Street, St Albans

Name; Frederick

Sex; Boy

Name and Surname of Father; Richard Walter Brown

Name Surname and Maiden Surname of Mother; Harriet Brown formerly Gooch

Occupation of Father; Strawhat Manufacturer (Master)

Signature, Description and Residence of Informant; Richard Walter Brown Father St Peters St St Albans

When Registered; 14 January 1867

See Blog 22 for image of registration

1870 Kate Brown born.  Dau of Richard Walter Brown and Harriet Brown nee Gooch.  Depending on the Census records, Kate was born in either St Albans or Poplar. See Blog 28

1870 A William Brown died. 20 February 1870 aged 73 (c1797), Place of Burial St Albans. I think this is the father of Richard Walter Brown

See Blog 9

1871 Census - Brown Family

Schedule Type Household

Registration District Poplar

Sub-District Poplar

Parish Poplar

County London, Middlesex

Father Richard W Brown, age 32 (b1839), born Hampshire. Mother Francis Brown, age 35 (b1836), born Herefordshire. Son  Walter H Brown, age 13 (b1858), born Herefordshire. Son Horace Brown, age 6 (b1865), born Herefordshire. Son Frederick Brown, age 4 (b1867), born Herefordshire. Dau Kate Brown, age under 1 (1870), born Poplar.

This information from Familysearch.org index.  Looking at the digitised record on Ancestry.com, the script is very poor and hard to read.  For Richard W the birth place looks closer to Herefordshire or maybe Hertfordshire.  All the other mentions of birth place are "do" that is same as above (except for Kate which is clearly Poplar).  Mother "Francis" could be Harriet poorly written.

1871 Census, Residence 31 Fishpool St St Albans, Henry Gooch (Head), Occupation Gun maker, Age 58, Catherine (Dau), Occupation Straw hat maker, Age 37.

See Blog 5.

1878 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 33 Avenue Rd St Mary Stratford Bow Tower Hamlets.

See Blog 20.

1881 Census, Residence 105 High St Poplar London, Robert (Head), Occupation Journeyman Baker, Age 49 (b1832), Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Harriet (Wife), Occupation, Age 45 (b1837), Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Frederick (Son) Occupation Plasterer, Age 17 (1865), Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Martin (Son) Occupation Baker, Age 21 (1860), Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Kate (Dau) Occupation Scholar, Age 11 (1870), Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Lottie (Dau) Occupation Scholar, Age 7 (b1875), Born St Albans Hertfordshire. 

This information is problematic - birth years, locations, names. Father "Robert" not Richard, son "Martin" not Walter, dau Kate and Lottie born in St Albans not Poplar.

Location and occupation correspond.  It is the best fit of the entries available. Maybe 11 year old Kate filled it out as both her parents were working?

Also in Blog 10  a Robert Brown bapt 1832 St Albans (parents William and Sarah) is identified.  It could be that Robert Brown married a Harriet Brown and then moved to London, and had children called Frederick and Kate as did Richard Brown and Harriet Gooch.  A bit of a coincidence? 

See Blog 9 for more on this problem. 

1881 Census Gooch Household

Residence 2 Fishpool St St Albans Hertfordshire

Name                             Status                  Occupation                Age            Birthplace

Henry                             Head                   Gunmaker                  72              Canterbury Kent

Catherine                       Dau                     Straw hat maker         45              St Albans Herts

1883 Henry Gooch aged 73 dies St Albans

See Blog 20.

1888 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 29 Aberfeldy St Dee St Tower Hamlets Poplar. See Blog 28.

1889 Horace John Brown  Son of Richard Walter Brown and Harriet Brown nee Gooch, married 7 July 1889 Elizabeth Annetta Sharp (Horace attended his brother Frederick's wedding 7 September 1889 in Victoria).   See Blog 27

1889 Frederick Brown Age 22. Batchelor B. 1867, St Albans Essex, England, Married 7 September1889, Ida Wild, Christ’s Church, Hawthorn Victoria, Witnesses Thomas William Joy and A H Brady

1891 Gooch Household 1891 Census

Residence 2 Fishpool St St Albans Hertfordshire

Name                             Status                  Occupation                Age            Birthplace

Catherine                      Dau                       Straw hat maker          59              St Albans Herts

1893 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 48 Ettrick St Tower Hamlets Poplar.  See Blog 28.

1891 Census Catherine Gooch age 59 Straw Hat maker.  Address 2 Fishpool St St Albans Hertfordshire. 

See Blog 20.

1893 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 48 Ettrick St Tower Hamlets Poplar.
See Blog 20.

1895 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 41 Ettrick St Tower Hamlets Poplar.  See Blog 28.

1899 Death Richard Walter Brown  Registration District Poplar, sub district Bromley

When and where died - 22 February 1899, 41 Ettrick St
Name - Richard Walter Brown
Sex - Male
Age - 66 years (b1833)
Occupation - Journeyman Baker
Cause of Death - Pneumonia, Exhaustion
Informant - Kate Brown daughter in attendance 41 Ettrick St Bromley

See Blog 26.

1901 Census, Residence 41 Ettrick St Poplar London, Harriet (Head), Occupation Widow, Age 64, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Walter (Son) Occupation Breadworker Baker, Age 42, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Kate (Dau) Occupation Forewoman confectioner, Age 30, Born Poplar (plus three boarders - one cooper and two gas stokers).  See Blog 11 0r 28.

1902 Walter Brown (baker) Emigrates from London to Melbourne.

See Blog 11.

1911 Census, record 41 Ettrick St Poplar, London, Harriet (Widow), Occupation Old age pensioner, Age 74, Born St Albans Hertfordshire (for the last three years paralysis; Kate (Dau) Occupation Boys trouser machinist (wkr), Age 30, Born Poplar (plus one boarder).  See Blog 11 or 28.

1911 Harriet Brown 

Place of Death; 41 Ettrick Street
Age; 74 years (born c1836/7)
Occupation; Widow of Richard Walter Brown, Journeyman Baker
Cause of death; Hemiplegia, Senile debility.  Certified by GR Young MD
Informant; Kate Brown, daughter in attendance, 41 Ettrick St Bromley

See Blog 15.

1915 Walter Henry Brown dies

Name              Date                         Location

Walter Henry   26/1/1915 (age 57)   153 A’Beckett St Melbourne

Occupation     Married                   Children

Labourer          Unmarr                     Nil

Parents             Richard Henry Brown, Baker Harriet Brown nee Gooch

Cause              Fibroid disease of the lungs, cardiac dilation of the heart.  Post mortem held by Dr Mollison 27/1/1915 no inquest requird

Residence of Informant G Millar Const 5624 Bourke St Police Station

Where buried   Springvale

Born                England 13 years in Victoria (c1902)

See Blog 11.

1920 Frederick Brown dies Church St Richmond, Oedema of lungs, Arterio Scleroris and Heart failure.  Treated for 2 years, last treatment 22/4/20 Dr Matheson.  Buried Springvale Cemetery 22/4/20.

See Blog 22.

1930 Horace John Brown  Son of Richard Walter Brown and Harriet Brown nee Gooch, died 19 July 1930 East Fremantle.   See Blog 27

1932 or 1934 Kate Brown
Death Sept 1932
63 yrs, Hackney, 1b, 342
or
Death Dec 1934
64 yrs, Fulham, 1a, 320