2021 Breretons of Bedford

The Brereton Family of Bedford England Page 1 of 39

THE BRERETON FAMILY OF BEDFORD

The Brereton Family of Bedford, England

Author: Faye Brereton-Goodwin, Ontario, Canada

INTRODUCTION

I was born in Canada, daughter of Albert (Bert) Lionel Brereton and Mabel Doak. Dad’s paternal grandparents, James Westropp Brereton and Ursula Harnett (along with four children) arrived in Canada from Listowel, Ireland in 1878, after the Captain had been appointed a Dominion Commissioner of Police by Queen Victoria.

Dad’s maternal grandparents were Dan Martin of Northern Ireland and Julia Crowley, identified as of the Province of Munster, Ireland. My mother’s great grandparents, both the Willis and Doak families, also immigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland. So, it is little wonder that I went in search of my Irish ancestors.

As my great-grandfather Captain James W. Brereton kept a diary and there were family tales and newspaper clippings of Brereton and Handford Halls, I became intrigued with my Irish Brereton ancestors at an early age.

I began my journey with the Breretons of Cheshire and I continue to be fascinated with this family who travelled the world, were knighted and held positions of power. Also, as with many Landed Gentry families, their sons went into the clergy (some rising to senior positions), became involved in local politics and certainly there were many in the military throughout the centuries. So, there is lots of interesting reading which is becoming so much more available thanks to the digitization of many library collections.

In the summer of 2001, I attended the Worldwide Brereton Reunion, in Cheshire, England, which was coordinated by Pamela and Derek Brereton of Michigan, USA.

Cover of booklet prepared for our visit to St. Oswald

The attendees, who came from the United States, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada and Zimbabwe visited many sites, including Brereton Hall, Handforth Hall, Bowden Church, Altrincham, St. Marys, Church Nantwich, St. Oswald's Church, Brereton Chapel, St. Mary's Church, Astbury and Gawsworth Hall. What an amazing experience.

Actually, this was my second of three visits to Brereton Hall. The first time occurred, in 1993, when my husband and I visited England and had the privilege of touring the Hall with the owners, Mary and Derrick Creigh. At the time, they were considering transitioning the Hall from the its former life as a private girl’s school to a venue for hosting weddings and other events. The Brereton Hall property was still intact; however, it required significant upgrading. Since that time, Brereton Hall changed ownership at least twice and in 1999 the owner severed the Hall from other properties on the site. You can find more information about the Hall and its inhabitants in my histories ‘Brereton Hall, Cheshire’ and ‘The Breretons of Cheshire’.

While I have always been interesting in learning about my own Brereton family, it was the Reunion of 2001 that sparked my interest in writing and resulted in my initial history, ‘In Search of My Family’. Twenty years have passed since I completed the first history; there are currently fifteen histories on my website www.breretonhistory.ca. Some of the histories, such as The Descendants of David Brereton of Killurin, Ireland, were written in response to a personal search for my Irish ancestors, while others were in response to emails from Breretons looking for their personal story. As many old genealogical records follow the male line, I initially followed suit; however, over time I have added stories about the female Breretons, including those who married into the Brereton families.

While a lot of time has been spent searching for source documents and writing the histories, my husband Bob and I have travelled extensively in Ireland, England, Wales and Canada, taking photos, visiting sites, visiting archives and gathering information. Our visits to England were key to writing my early histories. However, walking along the shore of Cross Lake, Manitoba, on the site settled by my great-grandparents provided a real sense of connection. Our trips to Ireland where I visited so many Breretons sites, including the birthplace of my great-grandparents and my great-great-great-grandfather, David Brereton of Killurin, Co. Offaly (born 1732), felt like coming home.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

While travel and research played a critical role in developing my understanding of the breadth and scope of the Brereton story, and in the development of the histories I have written, I also want to acknowledge the help I received, early in the process, from Ann Beverly Coltman. We met in 2001, at the Brereton Reunion in Cheshire and it was through her that I learned about the genealogical research and stories gathered by Patrick Montague-Smith. Anne shared some of his written notes with me and they allowed me to gradually build my initial family history.

For those who have not heard of Patrick Montague-Smith; he was a genealogist, editor of Debrett’s Peerage and a Brereton on his mother’s side. Patrick had planned to track the Brereton Hall title and so, in the spring of 1948, letters and articles appeared in major newspapers throughout the British Empire and its former colonies appealing for information to help solve the mystery of the unclaimed title of Lord Brereton, Baron of Leighlin, created by King James I. Patrick was interested in biographies, life stories and reminiscences as well as pedigrees, and over the years he gathered a significant amount of information from Breretons all over the world. Apparently, he also had visits from some who hoped to discover where they fit into the Brereton lexicon. Patrick died in 1986, and to the best of my knowledge never published his planned Brereton book. By incorporating some of his research into this volume, Patrick’s typewritten notes will not be lost and I sincerely hope he would be pleased to see the information shared with his Brereton kin.

Anne, who is a descendant of the Breretons of South Africa, also shared her 1977 Master’s thesis titled A Comparative Study of the Breretons of Wisconsin and the Breretons of South Africa their pedigrees and biographies. Her thesis provided another wonderful source of information, particularly when I was writing the stories about Brereton Hall and The Breretons of Cheshire.

RESEARCH

Researching a family history is so much easier with all the information available on the ‘web’; however, the biggest challenge is in validating the data. I have often added comments related to the source of information throughout the history, and at other times have provided footnotes when I wanted to add information concerning sites, some history of families who married Breretons, or other bits of information that I thought would enhance the story.

What began, twenty years ago, as a desire to find and record my Irish ancestors has evolved into numerous Brereton histories. This occurred, as a result of my determination to capture and share all the information I gathered over the years, and as a response to the many inquiries I received from other Brereton ancestors, especially once my initial histories were uploaded to the web.

To assist the reader in following the numerous family generation and stories, individuals are identified in the history using a numbering system which identifies generations, e.g. 1) first generation, 1.1) second generation, 1.1.1) third generation etc. The numbering continues within each family only when sufficient information is available regarding family members; consequently, at times individuals are identified without being numbered.

GRAMMAR AND NOTES ABOUT SPELLING

Given the age of some the information found during my research, not surprisingly, the print was not always clear. Further, the use of archaic spelling and uncommon words (i.e. coigns), older style punctuation and sentence structure, the use of British legal terms and currencies, led to some challenges. However, I did persevere and while I often retained the archaic spelling of words, I provided footnotes whenever I thought it would help the reader to better understand the

© copyright - Written and researched by Faye Brereton-Goodwin Brereton, Ontario, Canada email: [email protected]; website: breretonhistory.ca Revised February 2021 The Brereton Family of Bedford England Page 5 of 39 information. I have also used Canadian spelling for words such as colour, and of course, my own writing style may at times not meet editorial standards.

SHARING

There are so many interesting stories to be found about the Breretons who stayed in England and those who travelled the world. The Brereton men were involved in politics and power, served in the military, were clergy, doctors, lawyers, law makers and law enforcers, merchants, vintners, scholars and so much more. I hope you find this a fun, interesting and enlightening history! For me, sharing the history and corresponding with other Brereton continues to be an important part of my history projects.

This history was written for my own family and for sharing with other interested Breretons, consequently, it must not be used for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author. While the document has been uploaded in a PDF format to discourage alteration by others, if you have information that will enhance the stories; or that contradicts information I have provided, I am certainly open to reviewing and/or updating the stories.

THANK YOU

Lastly, I want to thank all of you who have contacted me over the years; your support, interest and the new information provided has certainly helped me continue to capture the stories of our Brereton ancestors. If you find your ancestors among the many histories; I would appreciate it if you acknowledge my histories as a source, when appropriate – as I have done with earlier histories.

Faye Brereton-Goodwin, Ontario, Canada

CANADIAN CONNECTION TO THE BRERETONS OF BEDFORD

This history of the Breretons of Bedford was compiled following a conversation between Faye Brereton-Goodwin and Robert Wright of Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada. Robert sent Faye a copy of his wonderful family chart which followed the Bedford Breretons from John Brereton of Nantwich (born 1645) to Robert’s mother. Using this chart together with information already in her library and Bedford stories gathered by Patrick Montague-Smith, the author has pieced together this history.

The Bedford chart, provided by Robert, contains the Brereton arms depicted on the cover of this history and begins with the following statement:

John Brereton, born 1645 youngest son of William 2nd Lord Brereton. Brought up as son of Captain John Brereton of Nantwich and is said to have agreed to this parentage on condition of being presented to the living of Beverley, 1672, age 28, there being only a remote chance of his succession. He had twelve 12 children of whom only 2 concern the direct lineage. He was a Puritan and the absence of his name from Ormerod’s Pedigree is said to have been due to the Holte influence; who were Roman Catholic. (This statement has formed the basis for a number of John's descendants attempting to prove his right as heir to Lord Brereton of Leighton.

Note: In the notes of Patrick Montague Smith he identifies this family as the Breretons of Winchester and Bedford – Winchester is in Hampshire County (south-west of London, England and Bedford is in Bedfordshire County, north of London.

identifies the approximate location of Bedford with the County of Bedfordshire

THE BEDFORD BRERETON CLAIM

According to Patrick Montague Smith, the Brereton family of Winchester and Bedford was a prolific branch of the Breretons, some of whom settled in South Africa, trace their descent to the Rev. John Brereton, Rector of Beverly, Yorkshire, in the reign of Charles II. At the time of his writing, Patrick indicated that the Norfolk Brereton were now the principal branches in England and, like them, have produced many churchmen and some educational lists. Unlike them (the Norfolk branches) they have not been landowners, and consequently their domicile frequently has changed, but Winchester and Bedford have been their two principal centres from the reign of Queen Anne to that of Queen Victoria.

John’s descendants seriously investigated a claim to the Barony of Brereton, believing that he was a son of the second Lord Brereton (and Elizabeth Goring); unfortunately, they never were able to find any documentary evidence to prove this link with the baronial house. Family tradition suggests that John Brereton (Rector of Beverley) was brought up by his uncle Captain John Brereton of Nantwich due to Lord Brereton’s financial embarrassment resulting from the Civil Wars.

Another legend suggests that John Brereton was next in line to the Brereton title, son of the 2nd Lord Brereton of Leighlin was next in line (following the death of Francis Brereton, 5th Lord of Brereton); however his Catholic Aunt Jane Brereton-Holte denied him his right by destroying all papers that might give John any claim on the title because of his Puritan tendencies. For some reason John never attempted to make a claim to the title, deciding instead to leave Cheshire and move to Bedford.

Robert Maitland Brereton, in his history “Breretons of Cheshire, 1100 to 1904 A. D.” (Portland, Ore., Irwin-Hodson Co., 1904) also references the claim of Rev. John Brereton:

“The Rev. John Brereton, whose omission by Ormerod from the family pedigree is said to have been due to the Holte influence, was brought up as a son of Captain John Brereton, of Nantwich, his uncle, and is said to have agreed to that parentage on condition of being presented to the living of Beverley, A. D. 1672, as there seemed but a remote chance, at that time, of his succession. When, therefore, he advanced his claims, he is said to have been confronted by Lady Elizabeth with the affidavit which he had himself made as to his parentage. He was a decided Puritan, and hence an object of abhorrence to Lady Elizabeth, who, like her mother, favored the Roman Catholic religion, and who is also said to have left all her property to the Holtes, who were all known Catholics, and to have destroyed all the documents at Brereton which could possibly lead to a Brereton succession. As the Rev. John Brereton failed to establish his claim, and Thomas Brereton, of Helmingham, for some reason as yet unexplained, did not seem aware of his right of succession, or at least made no claim, the peerage was allowed to[…]”

In Anne Coltman1's history of the Breretons of Wisconsin and South Africa, she also references the split in the family: There was a real split in the Brereton family during the Civil War of 1642-1644. Once branch of the family were royalists of either Catholic or Anglican faith. Another younger branch living in Chester were Parliamentarians (or Roundheads, Puritans of Cromwellians) by inclination. This division led to the situation where Sir William Brereton of Malpas, Commander-in Chief of Crowell's Puritans invaded Brereton Hall, captured the family and held them for ransom. This conflict eventually led to the breakdown of the baronetcy.

Anne also references the issue around John Brereton of Nantwich and Brereton Hall: The South African Breretons trace their family to the Reverend John, Vicar of St. Mary's in Beverley, Yorkshire. Reverend John was baptised on 1642/3, in Nantwich, Cheshire. Confusion at this point rises from the fact that there were three John Breretons living in Nantwich at that time, all old enough to have had a son

1 ‘A Comparative Study of the Breretons of Wisconsin and the Breretons of South Africa: Their Pedigrees and Biographies; Photographs and Maps’ by Ann Beverley Coltman.

© copyright - Written and researched by Faye Brereton-Goodwin Brereton, Ontario, Canada email: [email protected]; website: breretonhistory.ca Revised February 2021 The Brereton Family of Bedford England Page 8 of 39 baptised in 1642. Family tradition has always maintained that he was the son of William, Baron Brereton II who due to financial difficulties as a result of the Civil War arranged to have his brother Captain John of Nantwich raise young John as his own son. Confusingly family tradition also says that John (later Reverend) agreed to this on condition that he was given the living at Beverley which implied that he must have been at least in his teens and well decided on a life in the clergy when he went to Nantwich. To support this tradition, the family maintained that Ormerod omitted Reverend John from his genealogy of the Brereton family because of religious differences within the family. Traditionally the Breretons had been Catholic and later Anglican. This Reverend John was a Puritan. Tradition maintained that his aunt, Elizabeth, younger sister of Baron Brereton II, had destroyed any papers that would entitle or give proof of his claim that he was in fact the heir to the title.

…. there were two John Breretons of Nantwich of the same generation as Captain John…. John Brereton, mercer, who married Dorothy Brown on June 20, 1639 and had four children: Dorothy, born 15 Marc 1640; John born 3 September 1643, William, born 18 April 1647 and Margaret born 14 January 1649 … the other, John Brereton of Nantwich married Elizabeth Maisterson at Nantwich on November 28, 1640 and had a son John who was baptised August 19, 1644. There seems to be no record of (a) Captain John ever having a family.

..In a will dated February 8, 1653/54 written by John of Nantwich, mercer, mention is made of his sons, John and William, the under age, an estate at Bartherton in the Parish of Wybunbury and tenements in Blacklow. Reverend John Brereton of Wybunbury was presumably the father of John of Nantwich and was descended of Hugh, the brother of Sir Andrew whose descendants went to Ireland and from whom the Wisconsin Breretons come. The fact that several estates are mentioned in the will indicates that probably John of Nantwich, though a mercer, did not belong to the middle-class originally, but was a younger son of the aristocracy. Also, the coincidence of the estate in Wybunbury seems to bear out the relationship between John of Nantwich, mercer, and Reverend John of Wybunbury.

…..Interestingly at the time the history of John begins in Nantwich there were two other John Breretons of Nantwich born in the 1640’s. One was a mercer who married Dorothy Brown on June 1639 and had four children: Dorothy Brereton, born 15 March 1640; John Brereton, born 3 September 1643; William Brereton, born 1 April 1647 and Margaret Brereton, born 14 January 1649. The second John Brereton of Nantwich married Elizabeth Mainsterson at Nantwich on November 28, 1640 and had a son who was baptized 1 August 1640. To add even more confusion to this lineage there is a will dated 8 February 1653/54 written by John of Nantwich, mercer, which mentions his sons John Brereton and William Brereton, then under age; an estate at Bartherton in the Parish of Wybunbury2 and tenements in Blacklow. Rev. John Brereton of Wybunbury was presumably the father of John of Nantwich. He is identified as a descendant Hugh Brereton, brother of Sir Andrew Brereton; both descendants of Sir William Brereton of Cheshire.

Anne also references a will dated February 8, 1653/54: written by John of Nantwich, mercer, mention is made of his sons, John and William, the under age, an estate at Bartherton in the Parish of Wybunbury and tenements in Blacklow. Reverend John Brereton of Wybunbury was presumably the father of John of

2 Wybunbury is a parish in Nantwich, County Palatine of Chester. It is comprised of the townships of Bartherton, Basford, Blakenhall, Bridgemere, Checkley with Wrinehill, Chorlton, Doddington, Hatherton, Hough, Hunsterson, Lea, Rope, Shavington with Gresty, Sound, Stapeley, Walgherton, Weston, Willaston, and Wybunbury. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester, in the patronage of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. The church, dedicated to St. Chad, was rebuilt in 1595; it is a spacious structure, with carved wooden ceilings and a lofty pinnacled tower, which leans a little to the north-east. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A school, founded by the late Sir Thomas Delves, Bart., is conducted on the National system, and attended by one hundred and thirty-four boys, of whom twenty receive annually a blue coat and cap each: the same individual endowed a school for ten girls, each of whom have a blue gown and bonnet annually; also four others in different parts of the parish, which afford instruction to sixty-six girls. There is, besides, a boys' school, called the Wybunbury Charity, built by subscription about two hundred years ago, and endowed by several persons for the instruction of twenty boys. A hospital, dedicated to the Holy Cross and St. George, for a master and brethren, existed here before 1464.

Nantwich and was descended of Hugh, the brother of Sir Andrew whose descendants went to Ireland and from whom the Wisconsin Breretons come. The fact that several estates are mentioned in the will indicates that probably John of Nantwich, though a mercer, did not belong to the middle-class originally, but was a younger son of the aristocracy. Also, the coincidence of the estate in Wybunbury seems to bear out the relationship between John of Nantwich, mercer, and Reverend John of Wybunbury.

WILLIAM BRERETON OF HATHERTON, WYBUNBURY, ENGLAND

While researching this history additional information was discovered regarding a William Brereton of Hatherton, Wybunbury.

1) On 22 February 1790 A Will dated 1 July 1788 and Probate of William Brereton of Hatherton, bricklayer; devises and bequeaths real and personal estate to his sons Thomas and William Brereton to be equally divided between them, remainder equally to their children, remainder in default equally to his 3 sisters Hannah Bratherton, Ann Billinge and Margaret Fox, their heirs and assigns; appoints his wife, as long as she remains his widow, and William Wrench of Nantwich, surgeon, and George Pigot of Hatherton, executrix and executors.

2) On 21 and 22 October 1796 A Lease for 1 year and deed to make a tenant to the precip?? for suffering a Recovery (Attested copy, 10. Apr. 1801) between Thomas Brereton of Hunsterson, bricklayer, and William Brereton of Hatherton, gardener; George Bushell of the city of Chester, gentleman and Thomas Austin of Hatherton, gardener --- a messuage or tenement in Stabeley late in the possession of Samuel Wolfe and now of John Oakes, and closes in Stapley called the Phoenix Lane and Phoenix Lane Meadow also late in the possession of the said Samuel Wolfe and now of the said John Oakes and also four other messuages/tenements in Stapley three of which are now in the occupations of Thomas Parsons, John Reeves and Charles Brian and the other is untenanted and also two messuages in Hatherton in the occupations of Thomas Austin and Richard Tew, and closes in Hatherton containing 10 acres now in the tenure of the said Thomas Austin, all which said messuages/tenements, lands and premises were late the estate of William Brereton deceased late father of the said Thomas and William Brereton.

3) 17 April 1797 A Common Recovery (transcript) between Thomas Austin, demandant, George Bushell, gentleman, tenant, and Thomas Brereton and William Brereton, vouchers --- seven messuages/tenements, three barns, three stables, seven gardens and thirty acres of land in Stapley and Hatherton.

4) 13 May 1807 Feoffment3 by 1) Thomas Brereton of Hunsterson, bricklayer, eldest son and heir at law of William Brereton, heretofore of Walgherton, bricklayer, deceased, and William Brereton, lately of Hatherton but now of Walgherton, farmer, only other son of the said William Brereton, deceased. 2) Rev. Sir Thomas Broughton of Doddington Hall Bt. 3) Richard Edleston the elder of Nantwich, gentleman, and Richard Edleston the younger of the same, gentleman (attorneys for the 1st party). 4)Richard Elwood of Nantwich, gentleman, and Isaac Perry of Doddington (attorneys for the 2nd party) --- two messuages/tenements in Hatherton, late in the several tenures of Thomas Austin and Richard Fox but now of John Lewis, Samuel Dobson and Joseph Billington and closes containing ten acres now in tenure of William Jervis.

Note: Other Breretons of Wybunbury married into the Billington family of Harthill; including Thomas Brereton, born 30 September 1760 and christened in Bridlington, Yorkshire who married Mary Buckley. Mary was born 24 May 1767’ also Joseph Brereton, born 1742 in Wybunbury

3 Feoffment in old England was a transfer of property that gave the new owner the right to sell the land as well as the right to pass it on to his heirs. An essential element of feoffment was livery of seisin, a ceremony for transferring the possession of real property from one person to another.

© copyright - Written and researched by Faye Brereton-Goodwin Brereton, Ontario, Canada email: [email protected]; website: breretonhistory.ca Revised February 2021 The Brereton Family of Bedford England Page 10 of 39 married Sarah Green on 8 January, 1760. Sarah was born in Mucklestone, Staffordshire on 2 November 1746

There was also a Samuel Brereton, born Wybunbury in 1762 who was the son of James Brereton (1788-1835). Samuel’s siblings were Thomas Brereton; George Brereton and 5 others.

As the assertion that John Brereton of Nantwich was a son of Lord Brereton has never been proved, this history really starts at with Reverend John Brereton of Beverly.

Map showing the Town of Nantwich – close to Brereton Hall at Sandbach also Malpas, home to the Handforth Hall Brereton family.

ST MARY’S CHURCH, NANTWICH

Sir William Brereton VIII and his wife Jane Warburton, had at least six children: William Brereton, born in 1550 and baptized on February 6, 1550 at Brereton Hall, who married Margaret Savage;

Jane Brereton, baptized July 16, 1549, who married John Leigh of Boothes; Elizabeth (who died June 1591 and is buried at Middlewich) the wife of Thomas Venables; Mary Brereton, baptized December 4, 1552 at Brereton, Susanna Brereton and Anne Brereton.

Anne Brereton married Sir Thomas Smith, Lord of the Manor of Hough and owner of considerable lands in the area of the Manor. He was Mayor of Chester in 1586 and Sheriff of that city in 1614. He died on December 21, 1614 and was laid to rest in Wybunbury Church. His wife Anne provided the magnificent canopied monument, which has effigies of Sir Thomas and his wife together with those of their two children, represented as weepers.

In 1978, Wybunbury Church was demolished and the tomb was dismantled and placed ‘in store’ where it suffered some damage. Later, after restoration, it was re-erected in the South Transept of St. Mary’s Church, at Nantwich. St. Mary’s has been called the cathedral of south Cheshire.

St. Mary’s Church which was built primarily in the 14th century of warm, red sandstone has been identified as one of the finest medieval town churches in England and the cathedral of South Cheshire.

While touring of the church (during the 2001 Brereton Reunion in Cheshire) we were told that the town and the church had a strong connection going back to the days of the Norman army, the Saxons and Rufus, Norman Earl of Chester and that for 700 years the Breretons were an important family in the area; including the Breretons of Brereton, Sandbach, the Breretons of Tatton, the Breretons of Alford, the Breretons of Ashley and the Breretons of Handforth.

During the Civil War, Royalists leaders saw the town as an important location on the road system and in 1642 they arrived and occupied the town; using the church as a prison. This occupation continued until January 25, 1644 when Lord Byron, head of the Royalist forces was defeated by the Parliamentarians. The community believed that their connection of the Brereton family saved the Town of Nantwich and St. Mary’s Church from being destroyed by the Royalists as they withdrew from the town.

Anne Brereton, (daughter of Sir William Brereton and Margaret Savage) who married Sir Thomas Smith are commemorated in the Nantwich Church by a handsome alabaster and limestone

© copyright - Written and researched by Faye Brereton-Goodwin Brereton, Ontario, Canada email: [email protected]; website: breretonhistory.ca Revised February 2021 The Brereton Family of Bedford England Page 12 of 39 memorial, dated 1614, to Sir Thomas Smith of Hatherton, Mayor and Sheriff of Chester and his wife Anne. The inscription of the tombs is as follows:

Here lieth Sir Thomas Smith of Hough and Dame Anne his wife, daughter of Sir William Brereton of Brereton who had issue one son and one daughter Sir Thomas died the 21 of December 1614. Whose ladie in remembrance gave him this monument.

Sir Thomas Smith and Anne Brereton – photo by author

On the right-hand side of the crest, displayed over the Smith-Brereton tombs, there are shields representing the Brereton, Belward, Malpas, Egerton, Corbet and, Orreby families; probably referencing the Lady Brereton-Smith. Malpas and Belward arms are exhibited on the left side.

It is interesting to note that four of the six daughters of the second Lord Brereton are buried in the Wilbraham Vault in the South Transept of Nantwich church. The Parish Registry records the burial of these aged unmarried Brereton women:

February 16, 1711/12 Hon. Mistress Frances Brereton December 1, 1716 Hon. Mistress Mary Brereton January 1718/19 Hon. Mistress Anne Brereton May 14, 1720 Hon. Mistress Jane Brereton

Before starting the story of Reverend John Brereton, I have added a little history regarding the Lords of Brereton, Cheshire as background to this interesting story.

LORDS OF BRERETON (1585 to 1722)4

Brereton Hall was built by the 1st Lord William Brereton5 and his wife Lady Margaret Savage, circa 1585. Following his death in 1630 his title and estates passed to their youngest son William (a youth of 19 years of age). William’s four older brothers had all predeceased their father. In 1632, at the age of twenty—two years William, the second Lord Brereton married Elizabeth Goring, the daughter of the famous Civil War Cavalier leader, George Goring6.

The fireplace mantel-piece, in Lord Brereton’s dressing room (located just off his bedroom) celebrates the marriage of Elizabeth Goring to William, 2nd Lord Brereton. Lord and Lady Elizabeth Brereton had at least eleven children;

William Brereton who became the 3rd Lord Brereton

Henry Brereton who is buried at Brereton

George Brereton, who was baptized at Brereton August 26, 1638 and died in 1672

Thomas Brereton7 who was baptized June 1639 at Brereton and married Christiana in March 1668

Margaret Brereton

Anne Brereton who was baptized November 7, 1633 and died January 4, 1718, at Nantwich

Mary Brereton married Sir Michael Hutchinson. She died 1 December 1716 and was buried at Nantwich

Elizabeth Brereton (said to have occupied Brereton Hall after the death of the 5th Lord Francis) died in 1736

Jane Brereton married Sir Robert Holte. She was buried May 14, 1720

Frances Brereton buried at Nantwich in 1711-12

John Brereton, born 1645 and known as the son of Captain John Brereton of Nantwich. married Elizabeth

4 The following information which following the family of the 1st Lord Breretons of Leighlin, is taken from Faye Brereton- Goodwin history 'Brereton Hall', which can be viewed on the website www.brereton.org 5 In 2002, Faye Brereton completed a history of the Breretons of Cheshire, titled In Search of my Ancestors. Most of the information in this history has been expanded and a number of separate histories, including the Breretons of Ireland, Brereton Hall and the Cheshire Breretons can be found on the Brereton.org website. 6 At some point, Elizabeth’s father took over the Mulberry Gardens in London from Lord Aston; this house eventually became known as Buckingham Palace 7 The history of Thomas Brereton and Christina has been included on page 34 – as an Appendix

In 1664, upon the death of the 2nd Lord Brereton8, his son William became heir and the 3rd Lord Brereton of Leighlin. This William9, said to be a man of learning and influence married Frances Willoughby, daughter of Lord Willoughby of Parham. They had three sons; William Brereton, John Brereton and Francis Brereton. Following his father’s death in 1679, son John Brereton became the fourth Lord Brereton; his older brother William Brereton had predeceased his father.

John died in 1718 without issue and his remaining brother Francis (a bachelor) became the 5th and last Lord Brereton. Francis died in 1722 and upon his death, after 600 years of male ownership, the Hall passed through Jane Brereton (daughter of Sir John Brereton and Anne Fitton) in right of the female line to the Holte family of Aston, Warwickshire. The Holte-Brereton connection arose with the marriage of Jane Brereton (sister of the second Lord Brereton and great-aunt of Francis, the last Lord Brereton) to Sir Robert Holte10. Their marriage, which began in 1646, was brief; she died two years later after giving birth to a son Charles; who following the death of Francis, Lord Brereton of Leighlin, became the second Baronet, Sir Charles Holte11. While Jane Brereton’s marriage to Robert Holte was short lived, the impact of this event and the legacy of the Brereton estate passing through a female relative were significant and very interesting. According to George Ormerod12 the facts of the will of the last Lord Brereton were as follows:

John, fourth Lord Brereton, and Francis, fifth Lord Brereton, his brother having died issueless (the latter in 1722) Brereton passed to the Holtes of Aston in Warwickshire, in right of Jane, wife of Sir Robert Holte, daughter of Sir William Brereton and great-aunt, and finally heir of Lord Francis, which Jane died in 1648. Under the will of Sir Lister Holte, Bart., (died October 12, 1769) the manors of Brereton and Aston with other estates were settled on his brother Sir Charles Holte, for life, remainder to his issue, remainder to Heneage Legge Esq., with similar remainder; remainder to Lewis Bagot, clerk (successively bishop of Norwich and St. Asaph, who died without issue) with similar remainder; remainder to Wriothesley Digby, Esq. with remainder to the right heirs of Sir Lister Holte, with authority to the persons successively seized to grant leases of the Cheshire estates for one life and 12 months after.

Sir Charles Sir Charles Holte left issue one daughter, Mary Elizabeth, representative of the families of Holte, Brereton, and the eldest line of the Egerton or Egertons, and her husband Abraham Bracebridge, Esquire, held leases of Brereton Hall and demesne, and of other parcels of the estate (to which Mary Elizabeth was ultimately heir) from Heneage Legge, Esquire, who had succeeded on the death of Sir Charles Holte to the estates comprehended in the will of Sir Lister Holte.

8 He died in London, in 1679 and is buried in St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields. 9 He is considered to be a founder of the Royal Society 10 Sir Robert Holte was the grandson of Sir Thomas Holte, a Knight and Baron, who began building the Elizabethan Manor, Aston Hall in Warwickshire, in 1618 moving in to the Hall in 1631 11 Charles was succeeded by Sir Clobery Holte, and later his two sons Charles and Lister. 12 George Ormerod (20 October 1785 – 9 October 1873) was an English antiquary and historian. Amongst his writings was a major account of the history of Cheshire.

Crest - BRERETON OF NANTWICH AND BEDFORD

REVEREND JOHN BRERETON OF BEVERLY (1642/3- 1705) married Elizabeth Lockwood His father, Captain Brereton of Nantwich died in 1656 when John Brereton was only 11 years of age. On 2 June, 1659, at the age of sixteen years13, John Brereton was admitted to St. John’s College, Cambridge, England.

In 1665, Rev. John Brereton became Curate of Oldham, Lancashire and married Grace Lockwood,14 daughter of Thomas Lockwood of Kirkburton, West Yorkshire. The Cheshire Marriage License is dated 2 November 1665 and indicates that the marriage would take place at Prestwich15, Lancashire. John and Grace had issue:

1) Rev. John Brereton (1674 – 1740) of Lincoln College, Oxford also Fellow & Sub Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford

Grace Brereton, died at birth in May 1673

Susannah Brereton baptised 1675

Bridget Brereton baptised 1676

Elizabeth Brereton baptised 1679

Anne Brereton baptized 1683

2) Canon Thomas Brereton (6 August 1684 – 1705) of Winchester married Susannah Coxe

Mary Brereton died within 1st year

William Brereton baptized 1688

13 While some reference including the Family Chart show a birth date of 1645 – if Patrick Smith records are correct and John was admitted to St. John’s College in 1659 at age 16 then the birthday would be 1643. 14 At the time Grace was 21 years of age 15 As there is no record of the marriage at Prestwick the ceremony may have occurred elsewhere.

In 1672, King Charles II presented John the valuable living of Beverly, Yorkshire. His charges at Beverly included the parishes of St. Nicholas (destroyed during the Civil Wars) and St. Mary’s. Apparently, his sermons created a good impression and were printed and his generosity to the town and its inhabitants became a byword.

In 1683 he was also granted the living of Wetton, Yorkshire evidence of his popularity and prominence. His sermons were printed regularly and in 1684 the Town Corporation of Beverley recorded its thanks to, Mr. John Brereton, (who) hath been very beneficent to this towne and Corporation. It is this day ordered that the said Mr. Brereton is esteemed one of the great Benefactors, and that John Jackson, Clerk to this Chamber, do in the name of the said Corporation, give unto the said Mr. Brereton their hearty thanks. Brereton's gifts to the town and corporation included a large silver tankard, one large Common Prayer Book for the use of the Mayor for the time being in his pew within the said Church of St. Maries. The King's Arms set up in a large frame, the Prince's Feathers in another, and the Town's arms in a third, all in the Guildhall of Beverley.

As John Brereton was a Puritan16 by religion but also a Royalist (as were the majority of his family) the deposition of King James II and the acceptance of his nephew, William of Orange as King displeased John and he found himself at loggerheads with the Council - so much so that on 19th April 1689, the Beverly town records states that: Four aldermen are desired to prosecute Mr. John Brereton, Minister of St. Maries Church, for purloining as well a considerable sum of money collected in the town for relief of French Protestants, as also other moneys collected at several sacraments in the church, in case he refused to make a legal resignation of his benefice. As a result of this accusation, on 23 April 23, 1689, John Brereton resigned his right and title to the churches of St. Mary and St. Nicholas unto the use of the Archbishop of York.

Did he purloin these proceeds? At this point in history we will never know whether John withheld items in lieu of money due to him, or if there was more to the dispute than is now known.

In 1693, Rev. John Brereton was granted the living of Wetton in Yorkshire; however, at some point the family moved to Bishopsgate Street, London. John died there, in 1705, and his widow Grace, described as aged died on 5 February 1718. She was buried at St. Botolph’s in Bishopsgate.

1) REVEREND JOHN BRERETON of Lincoln College, Oxford (1674-1740) John was the eldest son of the Rector of Beverly. He was elected to a Fellowship at Lincoln College17 and remained there for 45 years, becoming the Sub Rector; Lord Crewe was the Rector. At times he was known to officiate at Olney, Buckinghamshire where he had friends.

According to the writings of Patrick Montague-Smith, John, who was said to be pompous (and enjoyed being so) was treated with great deference during his time at Lincoln College. At some point the Fellows at Lincoln decided to purchase the living at Great Leigh18, Essex for John Brereton, their Sub Rector; however, they had to wait eight years until the property fell vacant. In 1734 the living at Great Leigh was presented to John; apparently it was a more valuable preferment to the living provided with the Headship of the College.

John kept a carriage and had a large quantity of family plate, always lived in ‘great state’ being ever conscious of his noble descent (from Lord Brereton). He was held in awe by his parishioners. A High Church Tory and an ardent supporter of the Stuarts he apparently was known to comment

This accusation came soon after Brereton and the Council had disagreed about the deposition of James II and the acceptance of his nephew, William of Orange. This was the Huguenot flight when the ancestors of Ellen Huleatte Brereton, who married George Henry Brereton in Ireland 160 year later, came to England. 17 John Porter who became Bishop of Oxford and later Archbishop of Canterbury had been a Fellow of Lincoln College and contemporary of John Brereton 18 Much of Great Leigh lies six miles to the north-east of Chelmsford.

© copyright - Written and researched by Faye Brereton-Goodwin Brereton, Ontario, Canada email: [email protected]; website: breretonhistory.ca Revised February 2021 The Brereton Family of Bedford England Page 17 of 39 that it made him mad to think of his family being estranged from his younger brother Thomas ‘a rank Whig’ who like his father was puritanical in outlook.

Although there may have been some tension between the brothers, Susan Brereton the daughter of Thomas kept house for John until he died in 1740. It was during her time with John that Susan learned of their alleged descent from Lord Brereton – which she eventually passed on to her brother. Her nephew, the future Rector of Alton Barnes, took up the issue in earnest.

Twenty-four years after John’s death, Susan Brereton married John Rosier, Clerk of The Fees at the House of Commons. Her Uncle John never married.

2) REVEREND THOMAS BRERETON, Minor Canon of Winchester (25 July 1686 – 28 December 1752) married Susannah Coxe Having experienced one rebellious son (John Brereton) the Reverend John Brereton of Beverly was anxious that his second son, Thomas Brereton, would follow his principles. So, in 1699, Reverend Brereton enrolled Thomas in the Merchant Taylors School19 which a few years previously had come under the jurisdiction of an extreme Whig20. Although there were only three vacancies for eight candidates at the time, Thomas’s father was able to secure him a placement by preaching a series of appropriate sermons from all available Whig pulpits in the city where influential Merchant Taylor members worshiped.

In 1704 (age 17 years) Thomas graduated from the Merchant Taylor School and entered St. John’s College, Oxford. He became a Fellow of All Souls in 1711 and remained there until 1714 when he married, Elizabeth Court of the parish of Midhurst, Surrey (at St. Martin’s Ludgate). Thomas was identified as of the Parish of Long Ditton21, Surrey.

According to a manuscript preserved by the family: Thomas Brereton of Winchester the Minor Canon went to reside at St. John’s Oxford, he married a young woman who lived only 10 to 11 months.

Following his wife’s death Thomas left for America possibly visiting his sister in the State of Virginia, USA. Shortly afterwards he became engaged to Susannah Coxe, daughter of Daniel Coxe22, Governor of West Jersey, a celebrated physician and herbalist. It appears that Thomas and Susannah may have met in America however; they were married in 1716, at St. Matthew Friday Street Church23, London, England. Apparently, Susannah ruled her husband with a rod of iron.

19 Founded in Founded in 1561, The Merchant Taylors School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. In 1933 it was moved to Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire . 20 The Whigs were initially a political faction, and later a political party, of the Parliament of Scotland, later the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule. The Whigs played a central role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and were the standing enemies of the Stuart kings and pretenders, who were Roman Catholic. 21 Long Ditton is a village which lies on the boundary with Greater London. 22 The Coxe family traces their lineage to a Daniel Coxe of Somersetshire, England who lived in the 1600’. His son another Daniel Coxe, born in London, became a Doctor of medicine in 1669. He was appointed a physician to the court of King Charles II of England and later to Queen Anne. Coxe never left England, however he served nominally as governor of New Jersey, by purchase of land; he also bought land in the Mississippi Valley. He attempted to settle a colony of Huguenots in Virginia but this failed. Coxe opened the earliest commercial-scale pottery in New Jersey. He sold most of his land there to the West New Jersey Society of London, in 1692. Later in the 1690s Coxe acquired a grant of land in 1698 known as Carolana which had been given by Charles I to Sir Robert Heath. The Carolana holdings remained in the Coxe family until 1769 when it was exchanged for land in the Mohawk valley of what is now New York State. 23 The church was located in the City of London on Friday Street, off Cheapside

After the birth of their first child, John, who was christened in St. Martin’s in the Fields, they moved to Wheathampstead24 and Saffron Walden, Essex County where they remained until 1719, when Thomas was appointed a Minor Canon of Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, Hampshire.

From 1724 to 1735, Thomas was Rector of St. Peter’s, Winchester and Rector of St. John’s from 1717 to 1735. He became Vicar of Preston, Candover, Hampshire on 23 June 1726; a living which he held until his death on 28 December 1752. Rev. Thomas Brereton was buried in St. Thomas’s, Winchester.

On 8 April 1753, his wife Susannah moved to Morley’s College, Winchester. It was a residence, founded by a former bishop of Cathedral precinct, expressly for the widows of clergy.

Rev. Thomas Brereton and Susannah had issue:

2.1) Dr. John Brereton (1717 – 1784) Winchester married Elizabeth White

Anne Brereton (1719 –?) married Thomas Harding

Susan Brereton (1721 - ?) married R. Rosier

2.2) Thomas Brereton (1722 - 1783) married Mary Holgate

2.3) Captain William R. Brereton (1728 – living in 1795)

Captain Boulter Brereton (1731- April 1771) the youngest surviving son died a bachelor, in Calcutta

Elizabeth Brereton

Daniel Brereton

Jemima Brereton

2.1) DR. JOHN BRERETON (1717 – April 1784) married Elizabeth White John's mother Susannah was devoted to her eldest son and when the family came into possession of her brother-in-law’s (John Brereton) effects she sold the greater part of the family plate to help finance her son’s education.

Susannah was admitted to Morley’s College, Winchester on 9 April 1753. The college was founded by a former bishop in the Cathedral Precinct for widows of clergymen. At the time Susannah was described in the parish register as ‘old’.

John Brereton inherited the Coxe taste for medicine and became a Doctor. His practice was in Winchester.

In 1743, John married Elizabeth White (1722 - 23 January 1778) of Dumfries at St. Cross Church, Winchester. She had many noble connections in Scotland her mother having been a member of the Ducal House of Douglas. He and his Scottish wife inherited the traditional Jacobite25

24 A large village within the City and District of Hertfordshire 25 Jacobinism refers to the political movement in Great Britain and Ireland to restore the Roman Catholic Stuart King James II of England and his heirs to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland.

tendencies of the family and in 1745 made all preparations to support Bonnie Prince Charles if he came south.

John Brereton inherited some property in Worcestershire, near Droitwich which consisted of several wyches26 which he signed away to a Mrs. Lytton who lived on the Isle of Wight. Apparently, Mrs. Lytton was interested in uniting her daughter to John’s eldest son.

John and Elizabeth had issue:

2.1.1) Rev. John Brereton (12 June 1744 – 12 March 1811) Rector of Alton Barnes married Mary Longland

Captain William Brereton, Royal Navy (died young)

Susan Brereton (died young)

Jane Dymock Brereton (8 July 1746 – 1829) married Rev. H. Blackstone Vicar of Adderbury. They had a daughter Alethea Blackstone who married Major Groves

Samuel Brereton

Anne Brereton (13 February 1752 – November 1818)

Jemima Brereton (12 February 1756 - ?)

2.1.1) REV JOHN HENRY BRERETON (12 June 1744 – 1811) Rector of Alton Barnes married Mary Longland John was born in Winchester on June 12, 1744 and christened at St. Peter’s Chishill, in the Diocese of Winchester, on 23 June 1744. He was the only surviving son of John and Elizabeth of Winchester. John followed other members of his family by attending Winchester College before becoming a Fellow at New College, Oxford. He received his BA in 1767 and his MA in 1771.

He became engaged to Mary Longland of Easton, near Winchester in 1771; however they had to wait until he received a living before being married. In October 1779 after he had received the living of Alton Barnes and Alton Priors, Wiltshire (a gift from Winchester College) John and Mary were married in Holborn, London. The village of Alton Barnes is described as a tiny brick and thatched village lies in the picturesque Vale of Pewsey, under the Marlborough Downs. The church, like the village itself, is very small. At the time of their marriage Mary was living in Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in that parish. She is described as having a comfortable fortune, good sense and fine accomplishments and of most estimable virtue.27 In 1778 John also became Rector of Stoke Abbot, near Beaminster, Dorset, a Prebendary of Salisbury and a Magistrate for Wiltshire. John and Mary had issue:

Mary Brereton married her cousin Rev Francis Swanton (son of E. W. Swanton and Elizabeth Brereton)

2.1.1.1) Rev John Brereton (1782 - September 7, 1862) married 1st Elizabeth Humphries and 2nd Laura Abbot

26 The following definition of this early Britain Anglo-Saxon work may be what is referred to: Salt was procured from the wyches or pans of the coast, and also from the inland wyches or brine wells of. 27 Ref: Her daughter, Mrs. M. B. Swanton in a letter to her brother John, in 1843

2.1.1.2) Rev. Henry Brereton (1 December 1783 – 1867 at Acton) married 1st Theresa Cowdray an 2nd Anne Willis

2.1.1.3) Rev. Thomas Brereton (1785 – 1865) married Louisa Milbourne Dyson

Francis William Brereton (1788 – 1864) died unmarried

Charles Brereton (9 July 1792 - ?)

2.1.1.1) REV JOHN BRERETON (1782 - September 7, 1862) married 1st Elizabeth Humphries and 2nd Laura Abbot Reverend John Brereton, Headmaster of Bedford College married twice. He married his first wife, Elizabeth Humphries, in 1810 and his second Laura Harris Abbot on 20 December 1816. John and Elizabeth had issue:

2.1.1.1.1) John Brereton (1812-1866) married 1st Emily Edwards and 2nd Eleanor Parker

Elizabeth Brereton married George Andrews

2.1.1.1.2) Charles Henry Brereton (1840 – 1898) married Emily Hill

2.1.1.1.1) JOHN BRERETON (1812 – 1866) Vicar of Poddington, married 1st Emily Edwards and 2nd Eleanor Parker. John Brereton, eldest son of Dr. Brereton, became Vicar of Poddington, Bedfordshire. In 1836 he married Emily Edwards, daughter of John Edwards. When Emily died eight years later, she left issue:

John Brereton (1838-1844)

2.1.1.1.1.1) Charles William Brereton married 1st Lambert and 2nd Amy Abdy

2.1.1.1.1.2) Hugh Brereton (born 1841)

2.1.1.1.1.3) Ashley Francis Brereton (born 1842)

Edward Brereton (1844-1859) died at sea

Emily and some of her children were buried at Poddington. There is a small brass to their memory in the south aisle of the church which is engraved with the words that Emily was possessed of saintly virtues, being meek, gentle, self-denying and of a forgiving temper, but although devotedly attached to her husband and children, for whom she cheerfully sacrificed her own comforts she never allowed her care of a family to interfere with her religious duties.

In 1845, John Brereton resigned the living at Poddington and became Curate of St. Barnabus, Kensington.

2.1.1.1.1.1) CHARLES WILLIAM BRERETON (1839-1917) married 1st Marion Lambert and 2nd Charlotte (Amy) Abdy Apparently after leaving Winchester, Charles became a solicitor although he did enter the Royal Artillery and serve in India. He was the only surviving son of Rev

John and Emily to marry and have children. Like his father, he married twice. In 1867, while living in Bangalore he married Marion Lambert, daughter of John Lambert of Aggard, Co. Galway. Charles and Marion had issue one son:

John Brereton (born 1867)

Later Charles married Charlotte (or Amy) Abdy, daughter of Lt. Colonel Charles Hayes Abdy, Madras Army, Staff Corps and they had issue:

Rev. Charley Abdy Brereton (born 1872) married Ethel Christina Huntingford

Esther Brereton

Kathleen Brereton

Charles William Brereton retired as a Colonel, Madras Artillery in 1892. His wife Charlotte (or Amy) died at the Villa des Roses, Vevey, Switzerland in 1930.

2.1.1.1.1.2) HUGH BRERETON (born 1841) Hugh Brereton was an expert in Brereton family history and liked to mention that ‘this or that famous person’ had married a Brereton. While he was at his grandfather’s school at Bedford, he would imitate his Uncle Charles Brereton (whom he considered a martinet28) with a slight rolling of the r’s. Hugh, who was said to be extravagant, spent his later years at Charterhouse29.

2.1.1.1.1.3) ASHLEY FRANCIS BRERETON (born 1842) Ashley was in the India Office and later served as Captain in the Merchant Navy. He was known to say - There was not much home life for the second Mrs. Brereton let the first brood rather go to the wall. He never really got over the loss the lady who was to have been his bride.

2.1.1.1.2) CHARLES BRERETON (1840 – 1898) married 1st Emily Hill Charles and Emily had issue Marian Emily Brereton, born in Britain on 1 June 1873. She died in Cape Town, South Africa in 24 August 1951. Marian married William Stronach Robb on 2 September 1896.

In 1846 John Brereton married his 2nd wife, Eleanor Parker (born in Quebec, Canada) and had issue: Richard Augustus Brereton

John Rosier Brereton (1851-1912)

Geoffrey Brereton

Agnes Brereton

Mary Ada Brereton

28 In English, the term martinet is usually used not in reference to the whip itself, but rather him who would use it, a person who demands strict adherence to set rules, especially such a person in the military. 29 The author assumes the reference to Charterhouse is to the Charterhouse School which was originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply House. It is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in the Borough or Waverly, Surrey, England.

Eleanor Anne Elizabeth Brereton (1846 -1866)

All the children of the Rev. John Brereton and Eleanor Parker died unmarried, the last survivor being John Rosier Brereton (1851-1912) of Richmond or Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

2.1.1.2) REVEREND HENRY BRERETON (1 December 1783 – 1867 at Acton) married 1st Theresa Cowdery and 2nd Anne Willis. Reverend John Henry30 went to Winchester School and then to Queen's College, Oxford where he took his C.C.L. and Holy Orders in 1822; soon he became Rector of Haslebury, Wiltshire. Letters in the family indicate that he was a good scholar but extravagant and perhaps irresponsible.

In December 1804, when just of age, Henry married Theresa Eliza Cowdery at St. George’s Hanover Square and they had a daughter, Theresa Elizabeth Brereton (1807- 1835). Apparently, the marriage was not a happy one and they separated. Theresa died in November 1858, some years after she and Henry had separated.

In November 1848, his brother Francis wrote to John from Alverstoke wishing him many happy returns to dear Henry whose health I hope to drink in Kingsgate Street, to which place I propose setting out at 9:30 a.m. Their sister Mary Brereton-Swanton lived at Kingsgate Street, Winchester.

In February 1859 Henry married Harriett Willis at Hackney Parish Church. They had issue: 2.1.1.2.1) Dr. Alfred Henry Brereton (1834-1872)

Elizabeth Brereton

2.1.1.2.2) Thomas Brereton (died 1976) married Anne Minson

Annie Amelia Brereton married Robert Tate (died 24 Nov 1889)31

Laura Brereton (died Mar 14 1885) married Taylor Leeder (died 8 March 1886)

John Brereton (died 1896) married Lucy (died 1899)32

Frank Brereton

2.1.1.2.3) Francis Brereton

Mary Brereton married Mr. White

Lucy Brereton

Jack Brereton (had issue: Henry, Rose, Blanche)

30 For a short time, Harry was an Assistant Master at his brother John’s Bedford School. Harry was the only brother who was not prepared to give any money for John’s claim to the Brereton barony, (possibly he could not afford to do so). 31 A descendant of Annie has identified Susan, Laura, John, Frank, and Henry as siblings of Annie (based on Annie’s diaries s dated 1867-1880). Henry Brereton was made a Deacon of the Church by the Bishop of Brisbane in 1807. Reginald Tate (son of Annie Amelia and Robert Tate) must have moved to Canada as their son Henry Brereton Tate, was born in Victoria BC 32 They immigrated to the United States and had a son Frank Brereton

Susan Brereton

Harriet Brereton

Henry died eight years later on 2 April 1867 (he was 74) at Greenway Villa in Hillingdon33

2.1.1.2.1) DR ALFRED HENRY BRERETON 34(1834 - 1872) married Mary Anne Beets Dr. Alfred Henry Brereton trained at the London Hospital and took his M.R.C.S. in 1862. Later he became Medical Assistant to the Royal Humane Society.

He was so popular that when he died at Bow, East London in August 1872 (age of 38 years) his cortege is said to have stretched for nearly a mile. His widow, Mary Anne was left to raise four young children:

John Brereton (died very young)

Emily Brereton (19 October 1860 – 10 February 1897)

Henry James Brereton of Durban35, South Africa (27 November 1856 – 28 February 1930)

2.1.1.2.1.1) Alfred William Brereton (13 February 1862 – June 1933)

In 1886, Mary Anne and the children immigrated to Natal36 settling at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

2.1.1.2.1.1) ALFRED WILLIAM BRERETON37 (born 13 February 1862) married Daisy Taberer Alfred William Brereton was educated at St. Paul’s School in London where he became a leading chorister at St. Paul’s and often sang solos in Westminster Abbey. He sang Sterndate Bennett’s ‘’God is a Spirit” at the composer’s funeral and later assisted Sir George Martin in the Cape Town Cathedral, where he once again sand this anthem. Two older clergymen came up to him afterwards, deeply moved and told him years ago at Bennett’s funeral, we heard a little boy sing that in the Abbey. Sir

33 Near Uxbridge 34 The information regarding this Brereton family who emigrated to South Africa had been taken from Ann Coltman's Thesis, A Comparative Study of the Brereton of Wisconsin and the Breretons of South Africa: Their Pedigrees and Biographies; Photographs and Maps. 35 Henry James Brereton was the father of Henry Nevill Brereton (1904-1956), Chief Engineer of the Glendate Sugar Estates, Natal. His son Henry Peter Nevill Brereton was born in 1943. 36 Natal is a region in South Africa. It stretches between the Indian Ocean in the south and east, the Drakensberg in the west, and the Lebombo Mountains in the north. The main cities are Pietermaritzburg and Durban. 37 Reference: Historic Canterbury: St. Augustine’s Missionary School, Monastery Street, Canterbury. Listing of Students from 1850. Included - Alfred W. Brereton, Massingham, Norfolk (b. 1862) (second year) *A W Brereton, was the son of a London Surgeon. Grandson of Headmaster of Bedford Grammar School. St. Augustine's College - 1883. South Africa. Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope. *As Mr. A. W. Brereton, of St. Augustine's College, was rowing down the river towards Barton Mills, on June 8th, he overheard a conversation which ultimately led to his discovering that a boy had by some means got in the water. Brereton at once ordered the boat to be drawn ashore, and without divesting himself of his clothes, for a space of nearly half-an-hour, dived and searched for the body of the unfortunate child, but without success. The above event makes the sixth time that Brereton has risked his life for the sake of others. The Royal Humane Society sent a medal to the College, which the warden publicly presented to Brereton in the College Hall.

John Stainer and Sir George Martin tried to persuade Alfred to send one of his sons to St. Paul’s.

Alfred William entered Holy Orders and served initially at St. Matthew’s Mission, in Keiskammahoek (southern Cape, South Africa). It was run by Canon Charles Taberer. Later he became Precentor of Grahamstown Cathedral and a master at the Grammar School. Alfred married Daisy Taberer, the Canon’s eldest daughter.

In 1896, after Sir Leander Starr Jameson led his raid into the Boer Colony of the Transvaal, Brereton served as secretary for the Reformers coming into personal contact with Kruger who at the time was President of the Boer State (which gained independence from the British in 1881). At the time, Cecil John Rhodes (who did not support Kruger’s policy) was Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. After the Jameson Raid, Cecil John Rhodes was forced to resign. He left the Cape in late 1896.

During the Boer War, Reverend Alfred William Brereton was a Chaplain in the English Army. He was the first Registrar when Rhodes University was opened in 1904. Alfred and Daisy had ten children

2.1.1.2.2) THOMAS BRERETON (1840 - 8 Feb 1876) married Anne Minson38 On 16 July 1862, Thomas married Anne Minson, daughter of Joseph Dines Minson, at All Saints Mile End New Town Parish of Stepney, County of Middlesex, England. On the marriage license it show his father was Rev. Henry Brereton. Thomas died 8 February 1876 at High Street, Acton, Middlesex, England. Anne and Thomas had issue:

Anne (or Annie) Brereton (born circa 1863) in London, England married Fred Brett (Anne and Fred had issue: Grace, Eleanor, Catherine and Elizabeth)

2.1.1.2.2.1) Francis Brereton married Margaret Boyd

2.1.1.2.2.2) John (Jack) Brereton married Emily

Catherine Hannah Sophia Brereton (born 27 January 1872) in Stoke, Newington, Middlesex County England married Mr. Woods and had a son Brereton Woods

Fannie Elizabeth Brereton (born c. 1869) in Swinton, England

Thomas Brereton (born c 1874) in Acton married Mable (no issue)

Harry Brereton

2.1.1.2.1.1) JOHN (Jack) ARTHUR BRERETON (born circa 1867) in Swindon, Wiltshire, England married Emily He and Emily had issue: Edith Brereton

Arthur Brereton

Doris Brereton married Mr. Pratt

38 New information added to the history of Thomas Brereton has been provided by Joan from Ontario Canada

Francis Brereton married Bertha

George Brereton married (son Roy Brereton)

Emily Brereton

2.1.1.2.1.2) FRANCIS BRERETON (23 Nov 1875-29 Nov 1953) married Margaret Lydia Boyd. Francis (Frank) married Margaret Lydia Boyd (28 March 1875 - 1945) and had issue:

Margaret Verna Brereton married Norman Wright39

Wilma Brereton married Harry Turner

Irene Brereton married Alfred Ferguson

2.1.1.2.3) FRANCIS BRERETON According to the book ‘Brereton - A Family History’, in 1869, Francis Brereton along with three other children of Rev. Henry Brereton emigrated to the United States settling in Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.

2.1.1.3) REVEREND THOMAS BRERETON (1785 – 1830) married Louisa Milbourne Dyson. Thomas was the third son of the Vicar of Steeple Morden, in Cambridgeshire, England; and former Fellow of New College.

In December 1831 he married Louisa Milbourne Dyson, daughter of Captain James Dyson Esquire of Wilden Banor, Bedford. Some Brereton’s suggest that Thomas founded the youngest branch of the Bedford Breretons.

For many years he was Second Master at Bedford School under his brother John; however, in 1830 he, like his father, became Rector of Steeple Morden. Thomas and Louisa had issue:

2.1.1.3.1) Colonel General Thomas Willoughby Brereton (born 1838)

Francis Milbourne Brereton of Sudenham (born 1839)

Ada Louise Brereton (born 1841) married Rev. F. W. Burbridge Esq, Town Clerk in Leichester. They had three sons, Thomas Henry, Francis William & Arthur Frederick Burbridge

2.1.1.3.1) COLONEL WILLOUGHBY BRERETON (1839-1915) married Louisa Mary Beaumont Willoughby Thomas Brereton (15 June 1839-1915) was educated at Cheltenham and entered the Indian Army at the age of nineteen. He became Commanding Officer of the 19th Madras Infantry and later served in the Staff Corps. He fought throughout the Rhumpur Rebellion and the Burma Expedition from 1886-89 and in 1890 was seconded to the Political Department, Travancore, as Commandant of the Maharajah’s Body Guard.

39 Parents of Robert Wright of British Columbia

Upon retirement he lived at Bangalore, where he was a ‘moving spirit’ in the British colony, becoming secretary of the British United Service Club. Here his popularity was enhanced by building the ballroom and annex. He also was the Chief Steward of the Bangalore Race Club. He married Louisa Mary Beamont, daughter of Charles Beaumont of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. He died in Bangalore, India.

Son Henry Willoughby Brereton, born in 1867 or 69, served with the Indian Police before settling in Australia. Henry fought in Gallipoli where he was badly wounded.

2.1.1.1.2) THE REVEREND CANON CHARLES BRERETON (1814-1895) married Emily Hill Charles was curate of St. Mary’s Bedford and became Assistant Classical Master at his father’s school in 1844. Some of his pupils recorded their reminiscences40: Charlie was a handsome man with an aquiline nose and somewhat thin brown hair - refined and dignified to a degree, he inspired his pupils with love of order and method - he certainly taught us Greek grammar as no one else would. Another remembered that he knew better than anyone where to hit a leg with ‘a nick’ of a cane if you stayed out of the classroom longer than he thought fair. They also mentioned that the cane was always in evidence with Charlie. His family found him as a severe disciplinarian even by Victoria standards.

Emily Hill, the wife of Charles was considered to have been one of the beauties of Liverpool. She had her picture in a ‘Beauty Book’ of the period. Her father, Henry Hill of Ashfield Court near Neston, Cheshire was a Russian merchant at St. Petersburg and her mother Sarah (nee: Whishaw) who married him at the age of twenty was said to have already received an offer of (morganatic marriage)41 by a member of the Imperial family. As a child, her grandnephew recalled having met Mrs. Hill (Elizabeth's mother) in her old age and remarked that she was a tall good-looking woman, then nearly blind. As he stopped to kiss her, she said I am not sure who you are, but you smell like a Whishaw.

The story is told that Emily bought their five-year old daughter Elizabeth, Brereton (later Mrs. Sandbert) a pair of scarlet shoes and when Charles caught sight of the shoes his fury was unbounded. He seized the shoes from her feet and threw them into the fire, shouting that no child of mine shall wear red shoes.

In 1869 Charles Brereton retired from Bedford School, but remained at St. Mary’s where he was Rector until his death, in 1895. He became a Canon of Ely Cathedral in 1878. In his old age he became absent minded. A story is told that he took a bunch of grapes to a sick friend, but on his way plucked one to test the sweetness and then continued to eat them. On his arrival at the bedside he handed over a bag containing the stalk. Charles and Emily Hill had issue:

2.1.1.1.2.1) Charles Henry Brereton (born 1840) married Clarissa Kelly

Harold Brereton (died as infant)

40 Bedford School, by John Sargeant, and edited by Ernest Rockliffe, 1925 41 A Morganatic marriage is one that take place between a member of a royal or noble family and a person of inferior rank in which the rank of the inferior partner remains unchanged and the children of the marriage do not succeed to the titles, fiefs, or entailed property of the parent of higher rank.

Emily Helen Brereton married Rev. Feltrim Faegan

Elizabeth Brereton (born 1848) married Rev. Francis Brearley Sandbery

Maud Brereton (born 1850) married Thomas Beuttler

2.1.1.1.2.2) Herbert James Brereton (born 1854) 1st Annette Halton and 2nd Eleanor Boddan

Ethel Longland Brereton (born 1860) married Wilson Ashurst

2.1.1.1.2.3) William Henry Brereton (born 1858) married Sarah Ambler

John Francis Brereton (died young)

Mary Brereton (born 1855) married Edmond Robert Green

2.1.1.1.2.1) CHARLES HENRY BRERETON (1840 -?) married Clarissa Kelly His wife Clarissa Kelly, known as Lalla, had an interesting background. Her father, Captain Waldron Kelly of the 26th Cameroonians had fought as a volunteer for the southern army in the American Civil War. As a young man he eloped to Gretna Green with a Miss Westley, a ward in Chancery, together with her maid as chaperone. As they sped along the road northwards, the wheel came off their carriage and they were caught by the Sheriff’s Officer who had been following in hot pursuit. The Captain was ready with his fists and knocked the man out. Miss Westley became distraught and was locked up by her guardian. However, when her family realized that her mind was made up, the marriage proceeded. Captain Kelly is said to have fought eleven duels but later in life he quieted down.

Charles and Lalla lived at Plaistow, then a rural village – now an East London suburb. Like his father, he was a staunch high churchman and disciplinarian. The only time the children ate with their parents was at a luncheon each week. They were so accustomed to the liturgy that they formed the habit of chanting all their remarks at meal times even when asking for a piece of bread. This became a matter of habit so that it was accepted by them as normal. Charles kept a long cane at the table and if any of the children committed a breach of etiquette, he administered a rap on the knuckles. Being in financial difficulties his father advanced his share of inheritance which enabled him to settle his family in South Africa but in 1890 not long after his arrival he died. John (Jack) Brereton died unmarried in 1895

Violet Helen Brereton (1875-1944) 42

Elizabeth Maud Brereton, married 1st Percy Coates and 2nd Mr. McLaren

Marion Emily Brereton, married William Stronach Rob.

Stewart Brereton

42 Violet had a son Kenneth Clyde Donaldson who succeeded his father as the proprietor and editor of the “South African Who’s Who”.

Frank Brereton

Archibald Brereton

William Brereton

Madeline Brereton

2.1.1.1.2.2) HERBERT JAMES BRERETON (1854-1936) married 1st Annette Halton (Herbert), 2nd Eleanor Boddan Herbert and Annette (there is a record identifying the death of Annette Brereton, in 1867 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. They had son: Herbert Brereton43

After thirty-five-year service, he retired to Winchester in 1918 where he was a member of the Management Committee of the Royal Hampshire Hospital. Herbert's second wife was Eleanor Marion Boddam, daughter of General Welby Boddam, Indian Army. Herbert and Eleanor had issue:

Phyllis Brereton (born 1885) married Captain Otho Travers44

Marjorie Brereton (born 1890), married James Munro of Honolulu, both had issue.

2.1.1.1.2.3) WILLIAM HENRY BRERETON (1856-1936) of London, England married Sarah Ambler of Handworth William had an exceptional voice which brought some fame in the musical world. As a boy he sang in Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’. He studied under Ronconi45 and Manuel Garcia in Milan, Italy for three years. At the Royal Academy of music, he met his future wife Sarah Ambler. Both were soloists at what has become known as the Three Choirs Festivals. From 1887 until 1892 he sang bass and was Assistant Vicar Choral at St. Paul’s Cathedral. From 1887 until he retired in 1920, he was a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, St. James. William and Sarah had issue:

Dulcibella Brereton, (born 1886) married Richard Petman

Edith Mary Brereton, (born 1889)

John Francis Brereton (died at one year)

43 Herbert Brereton won a scholarship to Magdalen College School where he sang in the choir. When his voice broke he moved to St. Paul’s School. Herbert loved horses and was a good shot, in the Bisley eight. When war came in 1914 he received a commission in the King’s Liverpool Regiment but later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He died on December 1916 (aged twenty-two years), while on a reconnaissance flight, when the plane was so badly damaged that it fell like a stone. Brereton who was the observer on board was killed instantly; surprisingly the pilot survived with only slight concussion. 44 a descendent of a distinguished Anglo-Irish family 45 Giorgio Ronconi was an Italian operatic baritone celebrated for his brilliant acting and compelling stage presence. In 1842 he created the title role in Giuseppe Verdi’s Nabucco at Las Scala, Milan.

FAMILY OF THOMAS BRERETON & MARY HOLGATE OF WINCHESTER

2.2) THOMAS BRERETON (1722 – 1783) married Mary Holgate As Thomas Brereton, son of Canon Thomas Brereton of Winchester and Suzanna, inherited little from his family, he became a draper in Winchester. He married Mary Holgate at Wolvesey, Winchester, Hampshire, in 1748 and had issue:

Mary Brereton (1749-1841)

Elizabeth Brereton, married in 1783, Rev. Francis Wickham Swanton, Rector of St. Thomas’s, Winchester. Son Francis married a second cousin, Mary Brereton (born 20 July 1790)

Captain Brereton (1754 -?)

2.3) CAPTAIN WILLIAM BRERETON, Governor of Manila and Cavite (1728 - )46 Captain William Brereton, the second oldest son of Canon Thomas and Suzanna Brereton of Winchester led a fascinating life. He served in the Royal Navy and travelled around the world, leading an almost incredibly heroic life. He also served as Governor of Manila and Cavite, fought the Spanish in Cadiz, and retrieved the East India Company's settlements in Calcutta in 1756 by fighting the French at Chandernagore and Pondicherry.

His naval career started with great promise, an almost monotonous succession of brave deeds. He entered the navy in March 1746 on board the Eagle, under Lord Rodney and in October 1747 while serving as Aide de Camp to Lord Rodney, took part in the engagement between the British and French fleets in the Bay of Biscay47, when six French battleships were taken by the British and brought into Portsmouth. However, his first adventure occurred in 1752 when he again was serving under Lord Rodney on the Rainbow. This time the ship was anchored off Cadiz48 and Brereton was sent ashore in one of the boats. Customs Officers were waiting and insisted on searching the boat. Brereton resisted, whereupon the Spanish Officer gave an alarm, which brought the main guard down to the scene and Brereton was quickly surrounded by several guard boats. In response, he drew his sword and declared he would kill the first man who should dare to enter unless he produced an order from the Spanish Governor of Cadiz. After a standoff, the Spanish finally sent an Officer to see the Governor; he returned with an order to allow the boat to pass without being searched. Evidently Brereton’s ship was full of merchandise from England. Later that day the British merchants of the factory assembled at the Consul’s and gave their thanks for Brereton’s spirited conduct. If the Spanish had been allowed to search the boat, they said, it would have been serious to our commerce.

In 1754 Lord Rodney recommended Brereton to the notice of Admiral Watson; Brereton then sailed with Watson to the West Indies. The next year, when the Squadron was lying in the harbor of Trincomalee49, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) a fire started in the gunner’s storeroom of the Admiral’s ship. Brereton, an acting Lieutenant in the Kent rushed into the flames at the head of

46 The information provided in this narrative is from Patrick Montague Smith notes. While searching the internet for more information and perhaps the original document I did find a book, written by William Brereton (Commander RN) and published in London in 1779. It is 84 pages long and available on Amazon Book for under $20.00. The footnote have been added by the author to place locations, site etc. for ease of reading. 47 The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, 48 Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain 49 Trincomalee is a port city of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka

the gunners’ crew and extinguished the blaze. Once again he received the Admiral’s grateful thanks and shortly afterwards, he became a Lieutenant in The Salisbury.

This ship sailed to Bengal in 1756 where the East India Company’s settlements there had been seized by the Soubahdar50 - the location of the never to be forgotten Black Hole of Calcutta51. When the Squadron reached the mouth of the Ganges52 they were unable to enter the river because of a strong wind, which soon drove the Salisbury and three other ships out to sea. The gale increased in intensity and Captain Martin who commanded the Salisbury was faced with a critical situation. Nearly half of the troops for the expedition were on board the ships blown to the leeward of the Ganges. The Salisbury was now in a very leaky condition and with only sixteen tons of fresh water left for 525 men, including the soldiers on board. Not surprisingly, the men were growing more mutinous.

Captain Martin had a good opinion of Brereton so consulted him as to the best course of action. Brereton advised him to put the ship’s company and troops on short allowance of one quart bottle of fresh water per day, immediately; to boil all provisions in salt water; and to stand off to await a change of the moon which was entering into the last quarter. These actions were taken and everything went according to plan. The wind veered more to the eastward with the new moon enabling the Salisbury to recover the mouth of the Ganges.

By this time, they had not seen land and there was little water, so Brereton obtained leave to undertake the forlorn hope of leaving the ship in an open boat, landing in the enemy country where he would find water and food. Twelve men who were parched with thirst left under cover of night, finally reached shore after twelve hours. The party was able to steal three boats and the next day they filled them with water and provisions and returned to The Salisbury. The boat then proceeded up the Ganges to join Admiral Watson. Captain Martin gave all the credit to Brereton, which pleased the Admiral so much that when the next vacancy occurred soon afterwards, he made Brereton a Lieutenant in his own ship, the Kent.

After the East India Company Settlements were recovered the Squadron attacked the French Presidency of Chandannagar 53. During this action The Kent was set on fire by the enemy; however, Brereton was able to preserve the ship from destruction. During this memorable battle he was the only commissioned officer to escape any wounds.

At Pondicherry during action, in 1758, he suffered a setback. Surprisingly he was accused of an error in judgment by being too cautious when in command of the Cumberland. The penalty

50 Subahdar is one of the designations of a governor of a Subah (province) during the Mughal era of India. He would have been the head of the Mughal Provincial Administration. 51 The Black Hole of Calcutta was a small dungeon in the old Fort William, at Calcutta, India, where troops of the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah, held British prisoners of war after the capture of the Fort on 20 June 1756. One of the prisoners, John Zephaniah Holwell, claimed that following the fall of the fort, British and Anglo-Indian soldiers and civilians were held overnight in conditions so cramped that many died from suffocation, heat exhaustion and crushing. He claimed that 123 prisoners died out of 146 held. However, the precise number of deaths, and the accuracy of Holwell's claims have been the subject of controversy. 52 India 53 Chandannagar was established as a French colony in 1673, when the French obtained permission from Ibrahim Khan, the Nawab of Bengal, to establish a trading post on the right bank of the Hugi River (also spelled Hooghyl) in West Bengal State, northeastern India was then a province of the Mughal Empire. It became a permanent French settlement in 1688, and in 1730 Joseph François Dupleix was appointed governor of the city, during whose administration more than two thousand brick houses were erected in the town and a considerable maritime trade was carried on. For a time, Chandannagar, India was the main center for European commerce in Bengal. In 1756 war broke out between France and Great Britain, and Colonel Robert Clive of the British East India Company and Admiral Charles Watson of the British Navy bombarded and captured Chandannagar on 23 March 1757.

was a lack of pay for one year. Later, by Order in Council, he was restored to his former rang; as a result of subsequent brave deeds.

To ensure that he would not be accused again, during the next three actions he laid his ship The Tyger so near the French line that 168 men were killed and wounded; nearly a third of the loss of the whole Squadron. The Tyger was so damaged that she had to be towed into port. Brereton received a concussion during the action. The Tyger was ordered home in 1760 and Captain Brereton transferred to the Falmouth, a new ship of fifty guns.

On New Year’s Day 1761, during the Siege of Pondicherry, India the squadron was lying off shore when they were overtaken by a violent storm. Once again, his experience with weather conditions saved the day when he directed the squadron to sea; the five ships which followed his advice were saved the remaining five were lost.

By now his ship the Falmouth was also leaky and in need of repair. However, just as he received orders to proceed to Bombay to be refitted news of the declaration of war against Spain reach India and they learned that the King had ordered an expedition to be sent to capture Manila.

Troops for the conquest were to be carried in eight ships of the line and seven frigates. Despite the poor condition of the Falmouth, Captain Brereton volunteered to accompany Admiral Cornish and because of his long experience Brereton was given the task of transporting stores and cannon to the Manila waters. Despite the fact that he was delayed for four days in Madras, to load the stores, he reached the Bay of Manila a day in advance of the squadron.

Once it became apparent that there was only one position (a flat open beach on the south side) from which the troops could land with any degree of success Captain Brereton commanded the boats on the left wing to land their troops on the beach; Brereton was the first man to jump ashore. When all the men were on shore he returned to the Falmouth and moved against the Bastion wall. He was able to enfilade54 the Spanish lines and erect batteries close to the walls of Manila, driving away any enemy musketry from the tops of churches and houses by well pointed cannon shot.

On the surrender of the city of Cavite (which contained the Marine Dockyard and Arsenals) Captain (later Rear-Admiral) Kempenfelt, the Admirals’ flag Captain was appointed Governor of the Castile, Spain; the City and District. However, shortly after Admiral Cornish sent Kemperfelt home to England and Captain Brereton was appointed Governor of Castile and Commander of Her Majesty’s Ships and India Company’s Naval Forces for protecting the securing His Majesty’s Conquest. He administered the Government from 1762 until April 1764.

In 1764 Brereton received the King’s warrant that all hostilities were to cease pending the drawing up of the Peace Treaty of Paris, and that the conquests were to be handed back to Spain. At the time, the East India Company had their hands full, not only in Bengal, but also along the Coromandel Coast55. So, Brereton was faced with a dilemma. On the one hand he was commanded by Admiral Cornish to protect and support the East India Company’s agents, who were violating the capitulation by continuing the war; while on the other hand he had to preserve a settled government until the Peace Treaty was signed.

On 14 March 1764, the Spanish Governor to Manila arrived and three days later Brereton met with him in the Jesuits Garden. Brereton was told that the conquest should immediately be

54 Enfilade and defilade are concepts in military tactics used to describe a military formation's exposure to enemy fire. 55 The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point. It may also include the southeastern coast of the island of Sri Lanka.

given up and the troops removed. The Spanish Governor also told Brereton that because of the great animosity between British and Spanish troops, he would not or would not be answerable for the consequences if any of the British troops were left in Manila.

Brereton decided evacuation was the only possible course; however, he had insufficient ships to accommodate everyone; instead of the eight ships and seven frigates which brought the troops from Madras to Manila, he had two of the King’s ships the only three East India Company vessels. He did not have capacity for even two thirds of the troops let alone the Company’s family and staff. Rumours began to spread that some troops would be left behind and there was threat of a mutiny so Brereton decided to fit up the two old Spanish galleons (out of his own pocket). He left Manila on good terms with the Spanish inhabitants, the Viceroy and the priests who wrote complimentary letters to him of his justice and politeness.

Unfortunately, it was monsoon season and he was unable to sail into China Sea; he had to find a different route to Batavia (perhaps present-day Jakarta). This problem was compounded by the fact that the ships were so in very back condition. Surprising they did reach Batavia after three difficult months at sea – however, the two largest ships and the leaky Falmouth had to be abandoned; they were in such back shape that they filled with water as they lay at anchor). When the crew and the troops on board landed many were sick and had to be supported while Brereton waited for six months until he obtained a ship to transport them back to Madras, India.

Madras was held by a garrison of only 168 soldiers and as there was no vessel available Brereton had to seek passage in a Dutch Indiaman. Brereton certainly lived an eventful life and during this voyage, as the ship foundered in a violent gate at the entrance to the English Channel, Brereton’s expertise was requested by the Captain. Although Brereton was loath to make the suggestion, he did tell the Captain to throw all the guns overboard; it worked and everyone arrived safely on shore.

In 1765, after an absence of nearly 12 years, Brereton arrived back home and was welcomed by his family at Winchester. He also received the thanks of Lord Egmont and the whole of the Board of Admiralty; however, he required something more concrete than thanks. The expenses he had borne since he left Manila had crippled him.

He submitted an application for reimbursement but found that the Admiralty (the Treasury) and the East India Company were at loggerheads over the cost of the expedition to the Philippines and neither would admit responsibility. In the end all he received from the Admiralty was his pay £901-18-6 leaving £3536 – 3- 2 ¾ still owing to him.

The reason given by the Admiralty, for their refusal to provide compensation was that The Government had nothing to do with the conquest of Manila after it was delivered into the Company’s hands and therefore, I should apply to the Company. Nothing was done, so he petitioned the King for reimbursement in view of his distressed financial position. Lord Weymouth, Secretary of State, informed him that the King had spoken to the Prime Minister, Lord North about the matter but before he could obtain an audience with Lord North, he was appointed Captain of the Duke and set off to join Admiral Keppel’s fleet at Plymouth

It was not only financial worries that Captain Brereton was experiencing at this time. While he was in command at Manila, a number of small vessels were fitted up at the India Company’s expense. The Master of one of these performed his duties so negligently that he had to be reprimanded. This man deserted, although when troops were being evacuated in Manila, he came forward to acknowledge his guilt and asked for pardon in a most submissive manner.

He landed in London shortly after Captain Brereton and promptly brought an action against the Captain. The charge against Brereton was tried at the Guildhall, by Lord Camden, and despite evidence that Captain Brereton had only done his duty and that if he had otherwise, he would have been court martialed for neglect of duty, Lord Camden ordered to pay damages and costs amounting to £600. Apparently, the Master had the backing of the East Indian Company who not only were prejudiced against the Admiralty generally but resented Brereton’s restraining influence on their agents in the Philippines. Brereton applied to the Admiralty but they were unwilling to pay the damages.

In January 1778 Captain Brereton was granted a private audience with King George III who was said to be shocked at the delay of reimbursing him and assured the Captain that he would bring it to Lord North’s attention. This was followed by another Royal audience that again brought no result.

Five years passed and in August 1782 Pitt himself wrote to Brereton: I should with great pleasure receive any information that can be of consequence in the business you have…at the Treasury but as whatever is to be done must be done publicly by the Board I conceive your purpose will better answered by communicating whatever you may think necessary there. The Board will, I have no doubt, proceed to consider your case and hear anything you have to urge at a very early day, and I shall be very happy to facilitate the dispatch of it, as much as possible.”

Captain Brereton’s troubles did not end there. In May 1776 he arrived at Plymouth to take up his appointment as Captain of The Duke and awaited Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham, the port Admiral. Though not a particularly distinguished sailor, this Admiral wielded great political influence; hence his peerage. The two officers seem to have disliked each other from the start.

Just before the interview, The Torbay, had been severely damaged by fire and Brereton asked the Admiral if he could have the men of The Torbay to rig and fit the ship to make it a much better vessel. (Brereton had already promised Lord Sandwich the first Lord that he would bring her forward at the first opportunity). Shuldham did not appear to be keen on the idea and sent an express to the Admiralty stating that he must await their orders about the men of the Torbay, adding, ‘there would be time enough to equip the Duke and that it could not be expected one could be ready to act with the Fleet that summer.

Later, the Admiral’s secretary informed Captain Brereton that the Admiralty had ordered that a hundred men of the Torbay were to be turned over to the Duke, Brereton having been told by their Commanding Officer Plymouth that the full complement was readily available for the Duke indignantly wrote a letter to the Admiral asking him to forward his request for all the marines to the Admiralty. The next day the secretary returned to the Duke with a note from Lord Shuldham asking Brereton to alter his letter to make his request for half the marines only. Brereton returned it saying that he did not choose to make any alterations. A week later he received only fifty-four men instead of the hundred promised by the Admiralty. To make matters worse, the Admiral ordered him to discharge fifty men to Admiral Byron’s ship to make up the deficiencies in his squadron.

Angry at not being allowed to implement his promise to the first Lord, Captain Brereton wrote Lord Shuldham asking if Byron’s squadron could be replenished from the Blenheim rather that distress the Duke. The Admiral thanked Captain Brereton for his advice but still ordered him to discharge the fifty men. It was obvious that Shuldham had not forwarded his letter to the Admiralty so Brereton wrote a private letter, airing his grievances to Lord Sandwich. This probably was the cause of Lord Shuldman’s subsequent vindictive behavior towards him

Brereton received intelligence that there were about sixty seamen, who were supposed to have deserted Admiral Byron’s Squadron, hiding round Fowey. Although a Plymouth magistrate had agreed to grant a search warrant for any suspected houses, Admiral Shuldham peremptorily refused to give permission for the Duke’s marines to go and seize the men.

On 19th June, although Shuldham knew there was not Bo‘sun, Brereton received orders to proceed without a moment’s loss of time to join Admiral Keppel’s Fleet at St. Helena. The following day his order for the stores to be embarked was received, though postdated the 16th of June, which seems deliberately to have been delayed to make the sailing of the Duke as difficult as possible. What followed can be seen from the declaration of Robert Damarell, Pilot at Plymouth.

On Wednesday the 1st day of July 1778 I went on board the Duke in Ramoz at half past three o’clock in the afternoon to pilot her into the Sound. There was then a small breeze at N.W. Then the Captain was informed, I was on board, he immediately ordered everything to be got ready to go out, but as it was not low water till after 6 o’clock, the ship could not be moved till that time. At 5 o’clock the breeze falling, I informed the master of the duke that the ship could not be got out to sea that night and that the Duke was a new ship and in some confusion. It was dangerous so late in the evening to carry her into the sound and that it was my opinion, the Duke being so large, she was readier to go directly to sea from slipping the moorings than to get under sail from her anchors in the Sound.

The Captain yielding, as he was pleased to say, to my opinion, I went on shore, and the wind dying away, it appeared the ship might have been in great danger if she had attempted to go out that night.”

On 2nd July Shuldham required to know, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty”, the reasons why the Duke had not sailed as ordered. On 4 July 1778 Captain Brereton wrote this letter:

My Lord, I have received your letter of yesterday’s date and as you have discovered a disposition to give me satisfaction for your illiberal treatment of me on Thursday evening, I shall suspend my intentions of representing it to the Admiralty and claiming redress from their Lordships for the reflections you glance on me for supposed neglect of my duty.

In order to come to a fair and clear assessment in this business I must animadvert56 upon your Lordship proceeding on Thursday evening and your subsequent letter on His Majesty’s Service, and I must write with that freedom which has at all times distinguished my character as an honest man. In the first place your Lordship sent to the master attendant to know the cause of the Duke’s not moving, and he very impudently informed your Lordship that he had sent the pilot off two hours before and that I had permitted his to return to shore again after informing him the ship was not ready: the latter part of Mr. Robinson’s answer I must take the liberty to say was an infamous falsehood. You then examined the master attendant in person, who confirmed the above message and added in the presence of Captain Ross and your secretary, that he saw no reason to prevent the Duke’s going out of the harbor and that had he been Captain of the Duke he would have carried her out under her fore topsail and at that time (eight o’clock) she should have been as high as the Start.

Upon this vague information your Lordship summoned me into your presence on shore before various witnesses, to answer to a charge of a breach of your orders. Exhibiting me in that manner was suggesting an impeachment against me that your Lordship had not the shadow of foundation to support it.

56 To remark or comment critically, usually with strong disapproval or censure

I have fully refuted the assertions of the master attendant in my public answer to your Lordship’s first letter. I shall only add that if you had given yourself time to have considered of this matter before you had sent to me to come on shore, you would have found the master attendant egregiously imposed upon you, for, in the first place I must remark that on account of this ship’s great draft of water she could not be cast loose till half past 5 o’clock, from that time to light was only two hours and half, and then it fell calm. How then, my Lord, could the ship have run 9 leagues, which is the distance between the Duke’s moorings and the Start point? The absurdity is too glaring to have deluded an ignorant landsman and I must confess that had the master attendant taken that liberty with any officer under my command I should have given him a severe reprimand. Now, my Lord, I must observe that the imputation of neglect or even remission in my duty is an unjust reward for the vigilance I have manifested in the equipment of my ship, and I have the satisfaction to say that the first Lord of the Admiralty has signified his pleasure and approbation of my conduct in the handsomest manner.

As what has passed was in the presence of Captain Ross, a gentleman whose character I honour, and whose feelings must be similar to my own, I think, my Lord, I have a right to expect you will acknowledge to him that you have been imposed upon by the master attendant, and are satisfied with my conduct, and that you desire him to signify the same to me to make my mind easy.

I am, my Lord Your Lordships obedient servant W. Brereton

While it must have hurt the Admiral publicly to admit the misinformation received from the mast attendant and the pilot, Shuldham went fishing for information against Brereton. He contacted J. Palmer, an officer who served under Brereton and others and did not wait long before making a second attempt to ruin his family. Palmer wrote: Lord Shuldham endeavoured to bring Captain Brereton into disgrace about getting his ship out of Hamoze, but finding himself foiled in that attempt, went a more subtle way to work by forming a conspiracy against him.

On 27 July an action against the French Fleet under Count d’Or Villiers took place in the Channel. Subsequently, in the drinking houses in Plymouth, there was criticism expressed that the Duke and other ships suffered no deaths. This appeared in the newspapers. At first it seemed that this was merely the usual grumbles of men of other ships that they had borne the brunt of the battle, but in fact it was spread by two officers of Marines who were on board the Duke. They said that Captain Brereton was drunk throughout the action; on which he had to take action.

What followed is outline in another letter from Brereton to the first Lord, the Earl of Sandwich:

My Lord,

I am persuaded your Lordship will be astonished to hear I am deprived of the command of His Majesty’s ship Duke and am landed at this place. It affords another instance of the instability of human affairs.

Your Lordship will have seen that some reflections have been cast on the ships of Admiral Keppel’s Fleet that did not appear in the list of killed and wounded. General reflections I value not, as I was conscious I had done by duty, but I was exceedingly alarmed the 24th to learn from Captain Walsingham that my name had been particularized in the papers and that my behaviour was talked about Plymouth which had caused unfavourable impressions to have taken place in the Breast of my Brother Captains.

I immediately flew to Admiral Keppel and requested he would be me the favour to send for the officers of the Duke, and enquire of them if there was any foundation for the aspersions mentioned by Captain Walsingham.

The Admiral most obligingly replied he was satisfied with my behaviour and had written to your lordship that he was ready to go to sea with the same Fleet commanded by the same Captains.

Just at this time Captain Welsingham came into the Admiral’s cabin and said he had been told some officers of the Duke had spread reports to my disadvantage and advised me to apply to the Admiral for an enquiry into my conduct. The Admiral replied as there was no accusation against me it was premature and as the French Fleet was out, I should have an opportunity to confound the tongue of malice. However, several other officers being of the opinion that it was necessary I wrote for an enquiry, which was held yesterday at sea, and I had the cruel mortification to find my behavior so misrepresented that the court was induced to deprive me of my Command.

I most earnestly entreat your Lordship will suspend your opinion of my conduct until you have seen the minutes of the Court Martial, when I make not the least double but I shall be able to prove to your Lordship’s satisfaction that the principal evidence is contradicted and that a long train of my own evidence has totally refuted the charge of my drinking on which the Court were induced to found their sentence.

Your Lordship may be well informed by Mr. James and all who knew me that drinking is my aversion and the surgeon’s testimony I trust will convince your Lordship that I am both cruelly and unjustly treated.

I am now in a confused situation but I will do myself the honour to pay my respect to your Lordship as soon as possible.

I have the honour to remain with the highest consideration and Respect, My Lord,

Your Lordship’s most devoted and faithfully humble servant W. Brereton

Falmouth 26 August 1778

Brereton’s brother-in-law, John Rosier of Millbank, Westminster wrote encouragingly of the effect of this letter on the notoriously inefficient Lord Sandwich:

He has great discernment, and, if upon a mature investigation of this knotty business he finds you have been ill-treated, I make not the least doubt but he will do you ample justice, especially as you exerted yourself with such ability in fitting out the ship as expeditiously which was rendering his ever essential service at a time when he stood most in need of it, for you must recollect the many severe strokes that were given him in Parliament by the opposition of his tardiness in equipping the fleet, that he ought to remember, and to remember it with gratitude too….

Many of his friends thought that Brereton was unwise in insisting on an enquiry at sea. Rosier supposed it was improper but if I had been left to exercise my own judgment upon it I should rather incline to think you were right for the very cogent reasons you give, always thinking it much easier to refute a single charge than an accumulations of them.

Proof that Lord Shuldham was engineering the conspiracy came to light gradually. Captain Adair, Brereton’s accused, had been seen in close conference with a member of the Court in the Captain’s stern galley of the Queen the morning before the Court assembled there on 25 August. Also, a chance remark made by another member of the Court when talking subsequently to Captain Brereton proved that conversation which took place at Lord Shuldham’s table had been mentioned during the proceedings, though not refer to when the Court was open, nor given in evidence. This must have been mentioned to bias the members and prejudice them against the accused. A letter from a commander in the Fleet at Falmouth who was present at the Court, to his brother, mentioned that it was generally believed by the standers-by that Brereton had fallen a sacrifice to a conspiracy.

Palmer, in a letter to Brereton of 5 October bore this out I was some time since in company with Lord Shuldham who singled me as we were sauntering before dinner, and the discourse was about you. He began by saying I had met with a double loss in my ship and in my captain. I told him as to the first I had a better in her stead but that I was sincerely concerned for my captain. He asked how long my acquaintance had been with you and what I thought of the matter. I made no scruple of saying that the charge of drunkenness appeared to me a very extraordinary one. I told him how much I have been in your company, that during my servitude in the Navy I have very frequently been at the tables of many respectable officers and I named Lord Edgecumbe (whose house we were then in) Sir Hugh Palliser, Admiral Barrington and others and though they were all very temperate gentlemen I insisted you were more so.

Lord Shuldham said he was surprised and there might be something he did not know! But that he thought it would be a difficult matter to get the better of a sentence pronounced by so respectable a Court. Indeed, everyone I have talked to about this matter seems surprise and sorry.

What seems most remarkable is how the Court could justify their prejudice when it is considered that eight or nine gave evidence that he was not intoxicated on that particular night or on any other occasion and that only two gave evidence against him, of which one was doubtful. Also, it seemed as though the Court Martial was constitutionally illegal since there was no charge preferred against Captain Brereton, merely an enquiry into his conduct was ordered. From the evidence it appears that on the 27 June the Duke was not in close action but that was no fault of her Captain nor was there anything unusual about it. The Admiral, no doubt viewed the situation of the fleet before he made the general signal for the whole fleet to tack together at 10 o’clock in the morning.

The skirmish which happened about an hour afterwards was sudden and unexpected and if the wind had not altered two points in favour of the British Fleet not one-third of the ships would have fetched within gunshot of the enemy. The Duke did fetch within gunshot of the enemy and at two o’clock she actually weathered the whole French Fleet and was one of the nearest ships to the enemy. The whole afternoon until she was called off by the signal from the Commander- in- Chief.

All his lieutenants who were called and the mast of the ship unanimously resolved that he did everything in his power to bring the Duke into action. The Captain of Marines deposed that he was intoxicated at night on the 17th but brought no proof of it, and, in fact contradicted himself in his cross examinations towards the end of his evidence. He also stated that he understood Brereton was intoxicated the 26th at night and had to be put to bed by the master. The only person called upon to corroborate that assertion was Lieutenant Allen, who deposed that he saw it, but the master himself flatly contradicted both of their statements. William Milner, then a midshipman of the Duke, deposed that “On the evening of 25th, when Captain Brereton was preparing to leave the ship, the whole ship’s crew came upon deck determined to show him their regard by giving him three cheers, and that Lieutenant Allen endeavoured to prevent them, but that the whole crew persisted and threw their hats into the sea after him, crying out, “Now we have lost our father and protector.” He also declared that Captain Adair and Lieutenant Allen were very hard drinkers and the latter was drunk both during the action on the 17th July and that night when he

had the first watch upon deck, and that he was very frequently drunk, and was so much intoxicated in his watch that he could not walk the deck.

The Duke’s ship’s crew was so enraged with Captain Adair and Lieutenant Allen for swearing Captain Brereton had been drunk that, if he had held up his finger, the crew would have thrown those officers overboard and prevented Captain Brereton leaving the Duke and going on board the cutter off Falmouth. During the cruise the petty officers and ship’s company were always lamenting the loss of their old Captain and wishing hi back again and curing his accusers. The other lieutenants and officers would no longer mess with Lieutenant Allen and turned him out of the wardroom.

All the petty officers upon the Duke’s quarter deck signed a declaration in November 1778 that they had never seen Captain Brereton in liquor whilst he commanded the ship, nor had any of the ever heard that he had been intoxicated until the Court Martial.

Nathaniel Kentish, late Surgeon of H.M.S. Duke deposed that Captain Brereton was sober on the evening of the 26th and 27th July and that he remembers that one evening, after the ship was cleared for action, that Captain Brereton supped in the wardroom, and, being much fatigues, having been up for several preceding nights (on account of the ship’s sailing so heavily and not keeping well her station) Captain Brereton slept some little time in his chair, and when he awoke from his slumber found that the tumbler of liquor he had left was such stronger than he usually drank it and called for some water to put to it. The deponent cannot swear that he saw anyone put liquor into the glass but he well remembers the circumstance above mentioned.

John Evans, late Lieutenant’s Steward on board the Duke deposed that he never observed Captain Brereton to drink as much as gentlemen usually do, but he observed the Captain to refuse to drink a glass of wine when he was pressed by the officers to do it, and that whilst Captain Brereton was sitting in the wardroom there was not much liquor drunk by the company. Brereton usually left the ward room about 9 o’clock.

During the time he never saw Brereton intoxicated or even hear from any person in the ship that he had been until 24th August in the evening when he heard it in conversation between Lieutenant Allen and the Captain of Marines who were speaking of it in the ward room.

Captain Adair and Lieutenant Allen were very hard drinkers and often got drunk together on board the Duke. The deponent said that when Captain Brereton was on deck on the night after 27th after the action, Captain Adair and Lieutenant Allen soon returned to the ward room and by their directions he made the several bowls of grog during the night and that in his opinion they were both drunk. The Lieutenant Allen was so universally hated by the crew for his severe and barbarous usage to the in his drunken fits that when he quitted the Duke the crew in general hissed him as he went away from the ship.

William Pearce, late coxswain of the Duke voluntarily deposed on oath that in August he met the Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham57 on the road between Plymouth Dock and Stonehouse. Shuldham asked him what ship he belonged to, and when he replied the Duke and that he served Captain Brereton in the capacity of steward Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham then asked him if he could not get a better employment if he was capable of undertaking the office of gunner – adding that he was, he would stand his friend. He thanked his Lordship, who replied that he would directly apply for a warrant for him, which should be down in a post or two and that his deponent had better get his discharge from the Duke immediately as it might be a great detriment to him if the Duke sailed when the warrant should come down.

57 Vice Admiral Molyneux Shuldham was born in Ireland circa 1717, and was the second son of the Reverend Samuel Shuldham, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Molyneux of Ballymulvy, of County Longford.

When Pearce applied to Captain Brereton for his discharge it could not be granted as there was no one to take charge of stores or manage his table, but when Captain Brereton left the Duke off Falmouth in consequence of the sentence of Court Martial, Pearce applied again to Captain Brereton and obtained his discharge and repaired with all possible speed to Plymouth, where he endeavored to obtain an audience of the said Lord Vice Admiral Shuldham – this never happened even though Pearse made several applications.

When Captain Brereton obtained counsel’s opinion of the legality of the case, the Honorable Mr. Justice Morton reported as follows; I presume the question asked me is merely the legality of the trial and sentence of Captain Brereton, to which I answer that I have not a doubt but that the Board of Enquiry have exceeded the commission delegated to the by the Admiral.

There was not any charge made in writing against Captain Brereton that could be brought to trial by any of the powers delegated to a Commander-in-Chief, nor in fact has the Admiral delegated any power of trying Captain Brereton, in such a manner as warrants the Court to pass any sentence of deprivation. Nor do I conceive that Captain Brereton or any other subject by consent can submit himself to be tried by any criminal indicator which is not warranted by the law of the land.

In consequent, I think the sentence pronounced to be illegal John Morton, January 29 1779”

The Admiral enquired into the legality of the Court Martial and was informed that it had been convened contrary to regulations, and the accused had not been warned of any charge and had not been given the opportunity to properly preparing a defence. Captain Brereton, however, remained on half pay, despite various request to obtain a command. In this he was supported by Admiral Sir George Rodney (later Lord Rodney).

When he retired from the Navy, in 1788, he was residing at Belmore, near Winchester, with his sister who was ill. His financial affairs were still not been settled and although he continued to press for repayment of his disbursements in Manila, he was informed that, in view of the great lapse of time, his chances of success were remote. He lived the rest of his life with little financial means.