Can anyone help find information on William Brown Esq.?

Question

He was born around 1730 either in Bonavista, Newfoundland or Poole area of England and died in 1793 in Bonavista, Newfoundland.  He was married to a Mary (unknown). Brown-81226 Has been searching for 40 years trying to find information on where he was born and I have been searching for half that time.  We have found lots of leads and many dead ends but we have nothing that definitely says who his parents were or where he was born.  Any help would really be appreciated.

Answer 1

If you want another probable dead end I did find a Bank of England will for George Brown, gentleman, of Bonavista Island. This is not the same George as the son of William as this George died in 1819 or 1820 and was married to Elizabeth. Interestingly his will states that Elizabeth (I think) was from Poole, Dorset and his main beneficiaries are James and John Bristowe - a surname which crops up with the other George Brown.

The image is moderately legible but behind a paywall. If you send me a private message with your email I can send you a copy.

First name(s)    George
Last name    Brown
Date    1820
Entry year    1820
Place    Bonavista Island of Newfoundland
County    Overseas
Description    BROWN George. Gent of Bonavista Island of Newfoundland
Reg    2881
Record set    Bank Of England Wills Extracts 1717-1845
Category    Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory    Wills & Probate
Collections from    Great Britain, UK None

Comments

Really? Doesn’t the open offer by you of paid services offered by a company open you to having your membership there cancelled (and is strictly speaking possibly unethical)? I suppose that’s why you don’t specify the company in your reply, but as the information you have copied and pasted from it shows the copyright format used by the company, this is probably easily traced back to its source.

Just a thoughtful caveat.

Regards, Upton

---

It's one image fragment from a filmstrip several hundred pages long. The terms and conditions are about the systematic harvesting and republishing of content, not showing one record to an interested party.

---

Thanks for the information.  Looks like another lead to follow up on.

---

This George Brown has No known family connection to William Brown Esq. family but it’s interesting to note that his parents were named William and Mary Brown nee Sherry I have extensive research material on both families.

Answer 2

Have you searched Poole area wills and documents for traces of your man? If not, that would be something to pursue, as would such documents relating to his associates.

Comments

I haven’t but will definitely look into it.  Thanks!