Rebecca (Ward) Brewin (1851 - 1899)

Born 1851 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

Ancestors

Wife of John Brewin — married 18 Sep 1871 in Bishop Ryder, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

Descendants

Died 1899 at about age 48 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

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Biography

Early Years

Rebecca Ward was born in 1851^[1] probably on Woodcock Street in Aston as this is where her parents were living shortly before her birth.^[2] Her parents were John Ward and Ann Hooper.

On the 1871 census Rebecca and her two younger sisters Mary and Sarah were recorded as percussion cap makers, the Ward family living at 69 Belmont Row. Percussion caps were a safety device used in firearms, and at some point in the 1870s or before, gun and ammunition makers C. G. Bonehill opened on Belmont Row, which is perhaps where the three sisters found employment.

Marriage and Children

Rebecca (19, of Belmont Row) married John Brewin (21, carpenter of Pickford Street) on 18 September 1871 at Bishop's Ryder Church in Birmingham. John was 21 and living on Pickford Street, and Rebecca was 19 of Belmont Row.^[3] The witnesses were J. H. Whithorn and Sarah Ward, the latter likely being Rebecca's sister. The couple had the following children, all born in the Aston area of Birmingham:

• Rose Brewin was born in early 1872 in Aston,^[4] but passed away at the end of 1873.^[5]
• Nelly Leah Brewin was born in about July or August 1874 at 69 Belmont Row, the address of Rebecca's parents.^[6][7]
• Elizabeth Brewin was born on 27 July 1877 at 12 Howe Street (birth certificate).^[8]
• Thomas William Brewin was born on 1 December 1879 at 69 Belmont Row, again, back at the home of Rebecca's parents (birth certificate).^[9] He later married Eva Alice Timms.

Two of Rebecca's children were recorded as being born at the home of her parent's, which suggests something that is later obvious, that there were issues in the relationship between Rebecca and John. On the 1881 census the couple were living apart. Rebecca was a boarder in a court on Cardigan Street with her two-year-old son, known as William. John was living at 196 Francis Street, nearby, with the couple's two daughters Nelly (written as Ellen) and Elizabeth, a lady called Alice described as John's wife, and a three-month-old daughter called Florence. It is uncertain whether Rebecca and John's daughters were staying with their father or living with him, but they were with him again on the 1891 census. So, whatever the circumstances of the separation, John was part of the lives of his children.

Rebecca's youngest son, Thomas William, was with her on the two censuses. The timings would suggest that Thomas had not been born when his parents separated, or, at most, was infant no more than three months. John and the Brewin family also stayed in contact with Thomas William despite him remaining with his mother as a cousin, Tom Goodman (daughter of Thomas's aunt Mary (Brewin) Goodman), was a witness at his marriage.^[10]

John remained living with Alice as husband and wife, but unmarried, and the couple had six more children over the next 19 years.

In 1885 Rebecca gave birth to a daughter who, rather oddly, was named Alice, the same as John's partner. Alice's birth certificate has not yet been ordered, but she named her father as John Brewin on her marriage record.^[11]

• Alice Brewin was born on 10 March 1885^[12] on Anderton Street.^[13][14] She later married Frank Shelly.

On the 1891 census Rebecca was living at house number 2 in court 15 Pritchett Street, with her son William, daughter Alice and two boarders, one being her sister Sarah Ward. Rebecca described herself as 'wife' although she was in fact the head of the household. About a year later Rebecca was still at the same address as this was where another son, Leonard, was born on 30 April 1892. Leonard's birth certificate has been ordered and describes his father as John Brewin, a Carpenter (Journeyman), with Rebecca signing the document with an X. John was still living with and having children with Alice, and John and Alice had a son called Tom born just over a month after Leonard, on 4 June 1892. Either John was allowing Rebecca to claim that he was the father to children that were not his to ease any disgrace, or, he maintained a relationship with Rebecca despite living with Alice.

• Leonard Brewin was born on 30 April 1892 at 2 house, court 15, Pritchett Street (birth certificate).^[15]

It seems very likely that the two women knew of each other and that John was not simply keeping two wives. The two families lived on very nearby streets and as John's two daughters were with him on two censuses they would have been aware of the situation.

Death Record

Rebecca Brewin died early in 1899 in Birmingham, and was probably buried at Witton Cemetery. She was 47 years old.^[16]

John married Alice a couple of months later.

Sources

Censuses

1861 CENSUS: 20 Catherine Street, Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire.^[17]

John WARD (Head M 48) Millwright, Coleshill Warwickshire.

Ann WARD (Wife M 39) Laundress, Birmingham Warwickshire.

William WARD (Son U 19) "invalid", Aston Warwickshire.

Emma WARD (Dau U 17) Pearl Button Maker, Aston Warwickshire.

Charles WARD (Son 12) Glass Cutter, Aston Warwickshire.

Rebecca WARD (Dau 10) Scholar, Aston Warwickshire.

Maria WARD (Dau 7) Scholar, Aston Warwickshire.

Sarah WARD (Dau 5) --, Aston Warwickshire.

Mary WARD (Dau 3) --, Aston Warwickshire.

Mary and Maria were listed the wrong way round.

1871 CENSUS: 69 Belmont Row, Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire.^[18]

John WARD (Head M 57) Fitter, Coleshill Warwickshire.

Ann WARD (Wife M 48) --, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Charles WARD (Son U 21) Garden Tool Maker, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Rebecca WARD (Dau U 19), Percussion Cap Maker, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Mary WARD (Dau U 16), Percussion Cap Maker, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Sarah WARD (Dau U 15), Percussion Cap Maker, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Maria WARD (Dau U 12) Scholar, Birmingham Warwickshire.

George WARD (Son U 9) Scholar, Birmingham Warwickshire.

1881 CENSUS: number 4 court 9 Cardigan Street, Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire.^[19]

William BOURNE (Head M 25) Railway Porter, Coalbrook Shropshire.

Martha BOURNE (Wife M 24) --, Coaley Gloucestershire.

Ada BOURNE (Dau 3) --, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Louisa BOURNE (Dau 2) --, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Rebecca "BOURNE (Boarder M 28) Laundress, Aston Warwickshire.

William "BOURNE" (Son 2) --, Birmingham Warwickshire.

1891 CENSUS: house 2 court 15 Pritchett Street, Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire.^[20]

Rebecca BREWIN (Wife M 38) Charwoman, Birmingham Warwickshire.

William BREWIN (Son 11) Scholar, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Alice BREWIN (Dau 6) Scholar, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Sarah WARD (Boarder U 27) Tin Worker, Birmingham Warwickshire.

Alice KING (Boarder U 21) Bicycle Chain Worker, Pentoville London.

References

1. ↑ England & Wales Births 1837-2006, WARD Rebecca 1851 Q 3, Aston, v16, p207.
2. ↑ See 1851 census for John and Ann Ward.
3. ↑ "England, Warwickshire, Parish Registers, 1535-1963," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGD2-7VD9 : 26 February 2019), John Brewin and Rebecca Ward, 18 Sep 1871; Marriage; citing Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom, p. , Warwick County Record Office, England; FHL microfilm 812,082; detail: John BREWIN ~ & Rebecca WARD X married 18 September 1871 at Bishop's Ryder Church, Birmingham. John was 21, bachelor, a Carpenter of Pickford Street, son of Samuel BREWIN a Farmer. Rebecca was 19, spinster, of Belmont Row, dau of John WARD a Engine Fitter. Witnesses were J. H. WHITHORN ~ and Sarah WARD X.
4. ↑ England & Wales Births 1837-2006, BREWIN Rose 1872 Q 1, Aston, 6D 312.
5. ↑ Rose died Oct-Dec 1873. Full ref needed.
6. ↑ England & Wales Births 1837-2006, BREWIN Nelly Leah 1874 Q 3, Aston, 6D, 322.
7. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7MJ-SM9 : 19 September 2020), Nelly Brewin, 9 Aug 1874, St. James the Less in Ashted, Aston, to John and "Sarah Ann" of 69 Belmont Row, father a carpenter. This was the address of Rebecca's parents so the 'Sarah Ann' is certainly a mistake.
8. ↑ Birth certificate, detail: Elizabeth BREWIN was born 27 July 1877 at 12 Howe Street, Aston, daughter of John BREWIN (a Carpenter) and Rebecca WARD. Rebecca, of same address, made her mark X.
9. ↑ Birth certificate, detail: Thomas William BREWIN was born 1 December 1879 at 69 Belmont Row, Aston, son of John BREWIN (a Carpenter) and Rebecca WARD. Rebecca, of same address, made her mark X.
10. ↑ Recent DNA matches Thomas's descendants to several of John Brewin's maternal aunt, showing that Thomas William Brewin was a son of John Brewin, so illegitimacy is not the reason Thomas was not with his older sisters on the two censuses.
11. ↑ Alice married Frank Shelley in 1906 and named John BREWIN as her father. Transcription on Ancestry.com.
12. ↑ Date of birth for Alice Brewin, later Shelley, taken from the 1939 Register.
13. ↑ This street was given as Alice's birth place on the 1911 census.
14. ↑ England & Wales Births 1837-2006, BREWIN Alice 1885 Q 2, Birmingham, 6D 10.
15. ↑ Birth certificate, detail: Leonard BREWIN was born 30 April 1892 at 15 court Pritchett Street, Aston, son of John BREWIN (a Carpenter Journeyman) and Rebecca WARD. Rebecca, of same address, made her mark X.
16. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JPC-LHW : 31 December 2014), Rebecca Brewin, 1899; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Aston, Warwickshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. Burial information from a transcription on Find My Past.
17. ↑ 1861 census of England and Wales, RG 9/2184 p18.
18. ↑ 1871 census of England and Wales, RG 10/3143 p20.
19. ↑ 1881 census of England and Wales, RG 11/3026 f37 p2[5].
20. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WLKK-VW2 : 1 March 2021), Rebecca Brewin, Nechells, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Warwickshire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.