20. Richard Walter and Harriet Brown - Strawhat Manufacturers

While the information in the preceding post is slim, a few assumptions and conclusions can be made or drawn. 

Its worth noting the social and economic conditions from 1870s to 1900. 
The Long Depression (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Depression) was significant though just one of a long line of financial crises "The United Kingdom, which had previously experienced crises every decade since the 1820s, was unusually insulated from the effects of this financial crisis, even though the Bank of England kept interest rates as high as 9 percent in the 1870s"

Strawhat manufacturing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_plaiting) "The plaiting of straw in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire and Hertfordshire formerly gave employment to many thousands of women and young children; but this had largely ended by the beginning of the 20th century: the number of English plaiters, all told, was not more than a few hundreds in 1907, as compared with 30,000 in 1871.^...The English industry was eventually killed by free trade from 1860 which allowed cheap imports of plait from Italy and later China and Japan."

Richard Walter Brown changed his trade from Baker to Strawhat manufacturer in the 1860s.  In the 1861 census, Richard is by trade a Baker.  By 1865, he has ceased his partnership with Betsy Rudd as strawhat manufacturer.  In 1866 Richard is described in the birth certificate record of his son as a strawhat maker.  By 1881 Richard is back working as a "journeyman" baker.

Without having any specific information about what happened - it was a bad time to start working in the strawhat industry.  Not only was the overall economy in England poor through out the 1870s, but competition was intense from 1860.  Richard and Harriet would have struggled to have any success.

19. Richard Walter Brown Harriet Brown nee Gooch and Children c1830 - 1930

Chronology

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

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

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.

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.

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

1857 Richard Walter Brown marries Harriet Gooch, Old Church St Pancras London.  Groom's occupation Baker, father William Brown (Baker); Bride's father Henry Gooch (Gun maker), witnesses Charles and Fanny Stevens.

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

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.

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.

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

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

1866 Frederick Brown Born 26 Dec, St Peter Street St Albans Hertfordshire. Father Richard Brown (Straw Hat Manufacturer (Master)), Mother Harriet.

1870 Kate Brown born.  Depending on the Census records, Kate was born in either St Albans or Poplar (more likely).

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

1871 Census - Brown Family
Schedule Type Household
Registration District Poplar
Sub-District Poplar
Parish Poplar
County London, Middlesex
Father Richard W Brown, age 32, born Hampshire. Mother Francis Brown, age 35, born Herefordshire. Son  Walter H Brown, age 13, born Herefordshire. Son Horace Brown, age 6, born Herefordshire. Son Frederick Brown, age 4, born Herefordshire. Dau Kate Brown, age under 1, 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.

1873 Couldn't find any Lottie Brown, but a Louisa Brown, Born 24/5/1873 Workhouse St Pancras Bapt 25/6/1873 Old Church St Pancras London Mother Harriet Brown, No evidence that this person is Lottie Brown dau of Richard Walter and Harriet Brown.

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

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

1883 Henry Gooch aged 73 dies St Albans

1886 Lottie Brown Death June 1886, 14 yrs, Mile End, 1c, 321.  Not sighted this certificate so I can't be sure that this person is the daughter of Harriet and Richard Walter Brown - I now have this certificate and she is not the child of Harriet and Richard Walter

1888 Frederick Brown resident in Melbourne Victoria. According to his son, Frederick Brown made a number of trips to Victoria, before he settled in Melbourne.  He was described as visiting South Africa as a ship’s baker.

1888 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 29 Aberfeldy St Dee St Tower Hamlets Poplar

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

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

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

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

1899 Richard Walter Brown Death March 1899, 66 yrs, Poplar, 1c, 421.   Not sighted this certificate so I can't be sure that this is the correct person (pretty confident though).

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).

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

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).

1911 Harriet Brown dies 41 Ettrick St, Poplar, Tower Hamlets, London.

1915 Walter Henry Brown dies 153 A’Beckett St, Melbourne.

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.

I haven't searched for Kate Brown's death yet.

18. Lottie Brown Daughter of Richard Walter and Harriet Brown

Couldn't find any Lottie Brown, but a Louisa Brown
Born 24/5/1873
Workhouse St Pancras
Bapt 25/6/1873
Old Church St Pancras London
Mother Harriet Brown
No evidence that this person is Lottie Brown dau of Richard and Harriet

17. Richard Walter Brown - Electoral Records

There are a number of Richard Walter Brown named electors, butthe following are those who are name in and around Poplar
1878 33 Avenue Rd St Mary Stratford Bow Tower Hamlets
1888 29 Aberfeldy St Dee St Tower Hamlets Poplar
1893 48 Ettrick St Tower Hamlets Poplar
1895 41 Ettrick St Tower Hamlets Poplar

16. Further Research for Richard Brown

Lottie Brown
Death June 1886
14 yrs, Mile End, 1c, 321

Richard Walter Brown
Death March 1899
66 yrs, Poplar, 1c, 421

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

15. Harriet Brown Died 8 April 1911

Attached is a copy of the death certificate for Harriet Brown.  Key information from the certificate:
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

This information is important as it confirms that the husband/father in this family is Richard Brown, not Robert Brown.  So, it is now almost certain that the family Richard and Harriet Brown plus children can be pinned down for:
1911 Death (Harriet)
1911 Census (Harriet and Kate)
1902 Emigration (Walter)
1901 Census (Harriet, Walter and Kate)
1891 Census - nil found
1881 Census (Robert, Harriet, Frederick, Martin, Kate, Lottie).  Although the information is odd (names, dates discrepancies it is likely that this is the same Richard and Harriet Brown plus family)
1871 No clear record
1867 Birth (Frederick)
1861 Census (Richard, Harriet and Henry (Walter))

14. Betsy Rudd and Richard Walter Brown Straw Hat Manufacturers 1865

The birth certificate information for Frederick Brown, 23 Dec 1866, notes that father Richard Brown's occupation was Straw Hat Manufacturer (master). The London Gazette July 11 1865;
"Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned Betsy Rudd and Richard Walter Brown, carry on business in St Albans in the county of Hertford as Straw Hat Manufacturers as Rudd and Brown, was this day dissolved by mutual consent - As witness our hands this 7th day of July 1865
Betsy Rudd
Richard Walter Brown
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/22990/pages/3501/page.pdf