Yearly Archives: 2016

Sailing the China Seas

William Duncan BRYMER

William was born in Dundee to Alexander BRYMER and Mary Ann SINCLAIR in 1867. He married his wife Irene Vivienne GLOVER in 1918 in Portsmouth and a year later (November 1919) had a set of twins – Mary and Kenneth. They appear to have stayed in Portsmouth when he went back to China. There are some very interesting details on William’s life in this article from the Dundee Courier on the 7 April 1924 and although there is not much information about his family relationships, the fact that his brother-in-law was James Murray makes it possible to confirm which of the two men called William born in 1867 he is:

News has been received of the death at Hankow, China of Captain William Duncan Brymer, an officer widely known and esteemed in the mercantile marine.

A native of Dundee, Captain Brymer served his apprenticeship as a ship’s joiner in the yard of Messrs Gourlay Brothers & Co., and was afterwards carpenter and A.B. on sailing and steam vessels. Qualifying as an officer he was subsequently employed on large steamers in the Atlantic and other trades, and twenty-five years ago he transferred to the China Seas, where he acted as master on coasting and Tangtse river steamers. Early in the war Captain Brymer resigned his appointment and volunteered his services to the Admiralty, and while on the way home on board the Sir Richard Awdry, the vessel was shelled and torpedoed in the Mediterranean and he was wounded by shell fire. Afterwards he saw much active service as lieutenant in command of an Admiralty vessel.

In 1919 he returned to China and entered the service of the Asiatic Petroleum Company as master of one of their vessels with headquarters in Shanghai.

During his long service in the china Seas Captain Brymer had many exciting experiences. Immediately after the naval battle of Tsu Sima in the Russo-Japanese War he picked up, destitute of food and fuel, the Russian torpedo boat destroyer Bodry with over 200 men on board and eluding the vigilance of Japanese cruisers and other craft, towed her to safety into territorial waters at Shanghai. For this service he received the special thanks of the Russian Government. In 1910 similar recognition was paid him by the Japanese Government for his rescue of the crew of a Japanese vessel disabled by a typhoon.

Captain Brymer, who was 57 years of age, leaves a widow and two young children resident at Southsea. He was brother-in-law of Mr James Murray, Oakgrove, Broughty Ferry.


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals

Research Update 2

*****Asking all male descendants of the following branches to consider doing a DNA test so that we can have the fullest picture of the surviving family in the UK possible*****

• John BRYMER and Elizabeth BRUCE ->Robert BRYMER and Margaret RENTON
• William BREMNER and Agnes JACKSON -> David BRYMER and Matilda WATSON ->James BRYMER and Margaret GREIG
• James BRIMER or BRYMER and Margaret HALL
• James BRYMER and Ann MORRIS
• Isaiah BRIMER and Margaret
• Alexander BRYMER and Harriet PARR
• James Wilson BRIMER and Elizabeth

*****If you are not sure which branch you belong to but would like to take part in the research please get in touch as soon as possible*****

To update everyone on the research so far:

All bar 3 of the 110 males with the Brimer or Brymer surname, passed on by the father, born between 1916 and 1998 in England, Scotland and Wales have been identified and placed in a branch of the family.

Eleven branches have been identified, although it is assumed that some of these will merge as the research progresses backwards. Six of the branches have people taking DNA tests.

I have managed to contact 66% of the males identified and of those 29% have responded so far. There are 11 DNA tests currently underway with the results expected between now and June.

On the documentary side, there are currently over 1700 people on the master tree. Several data sets are complete and the database has been designed and will hopefully be ready to go live on the website in the next couple of weeks. Family trees will follow a few weeks later.

The breakdown of the lines is as follows:

James Brymer and Helen Cuthill: 28 alive; 22 contacted; 8 responded; 3 tested
James Brymer and Elizabeth Bruce: 19 alive; 11 contacted; 7 responded; 3 tested
Hannah Brimer Fox: 15 alive; 10 contacted; 1 responded; 1 tested
William Bremner and Agnes Jackson: 19 alive; 18 contacted; 4 responded; 2 tested
James Brimer and Margaret Hall: 10 alive; 5 contacted; 0 responded; 0 tested
James Brimer and Helen Reddie: 7 alive; 7 contacted; 2 responded; 1 tested
James Brymer and Ann Morris: 2 alive; 2 contacted; 1 responded; 0 tested
George Bymer and Jane Jones: 3 alive; 3 contacted; 2 responded; 1 tested
Isaiah Brimer and Margaret: 2 alive; 2 contacted; 0 responded; 0 tested
Alexander Brymer and Harriet Parr: 2 alive; 0 contacted; 0 responded; 0 tested
James Wilson Brimer and Elizabeth: 1 alive; 1 contacted; 0 responded; 0 tested


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals

Shipwreck

I was contacted today by a relative of Isaiah BRIMER (1828-1871) enquiring if I had any information surrounding the circumstances of his death. Here is the information that I currently have:

Dundee Advertiser 6 January 1871:

Wreck of a North Shields Vessel near Belfast, Supposed Loss of all Hands (By Special Telegram)

SHIELDS, Thursday

Today a telegram was received in North Shields from Belfast stating that a vessel, supposed to be the brig Catherine Morrison, of North Shields, had been wrecked near Belfast, and the bodies of the crew had been washed ashore. The others of the crew, about nine in all, are also believed to be drowned. The Catherine Morrison belonged to John Morrison, North Shields and was commanded by Captain Brimer, South Shields. She was coal laden, from Ardrossan, Scotland, to Constantinople. She left Ardrossan last Thursday. The whole crew, with the exception of the captain and mate, belonged to Scotland, and shipped at Ardrossan.

Shields Daily Gazette 7 January 1871:

The Loss of the Catherine Morrison of North Shields

No doubt now exists as to the loss of the Catherine Morrison, of North Shields, portions of the wreck, bearing the name of the vessel, having washed ashore on the coast near Belfast. There is too much reason to believe that the whole of the crew have perished. The vessel was commanded by Capt. Brimer of Wellington Street, South Shields. The rest of the crew, with the exception of the mate, belonged to Scotland. Intelligence from Stranraer, of the 5th inst., states that four dead bodies, quite nude and very much maimed, have washed ashore at the place of the disaster. One of the bodies, an oldish man, was marked on the right arm with the letters “W.M.” and “G.M.”

Shields Daily Gazette 10 January 1871:

The Wreck of the Catherine Morrison, of North Shields.

Seven Bodies Washed Ashore

A Stranraer correspondent of a contemporary, writing on Saturday afternoon in reference to the wreck of the above vessel in Galdenoch Bay, Wigtownshire, which was reported in our columns last week, says that there have now been seven bodies washed ashore. There have also been large pieces of the wreck, on one of which are the words “North Shields” and on another “line Mo-.” The vessel, which, it is thought, had about 20 of a crew, is supposed to be the Catherine Morrison, of North Shields. The bodies which were washed ashore have been buried in Leswalt Churchyard by the Parochial Board. Intelligence from Campbelltown of the 8th inst., states that the staern of a longboat, marked “Catherine Morrison, North Shields,” also planking has washed ashore at Corradale.

Shields Daily Gazette 19 January 1871:

Maritime Notes

The property from the wreck of the Catherine Morrison, of North Shields, was sold by public auction, on Monday, at Galdenoch Bay, the place of the disaster. The wreckage was fast disappearing from the beach, owing to the high tides and the wildness of the weather and locality.

There is also some information, including a map of the site of the crash and Leswalt Church here:

http://canmore.org.uk/site/122496

 


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals

Congratulations to Professor Stewart Brymer OBE

Congratulations to Professor Stewart Brymer on receiving his O.B.E at Buckingham Palace last week. The award was made for voluntary service to culture and heritage in Dundee, as honorary president and former chairman of Dundee Heritage Trust.

Pr

Professor Stewart Brymer and Family

 


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals

A sad tale…

An article found in the South Shields Daily Gazette from 2 January 1911:

Fatal Fall From A Roof – Inquest at South Shields

An inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Archibald Hedley Brimer (35) who received fatal injuries from falling from a roof, was held before Mr A T Shepherd, deputy coroner, at South Shields on Saturday afternoon.

Dorothy Brimer,widow, 14 Shrewsbury Terrace, said the deceased was her son.He lost his wife and child about nine weeks ago and had been living with her since. He was originally a cook and steward but latterly had been in the employ of the South Shields Gas Co., as lamplighter. On Wednesday morning he left home saying he was going to the Seamen’s Mission. He was then in good health but depressed through having lost his work. She went out shortly after eleven to get something for dinner and returned at noon. There was a crowd of people around the house and inside she found her son lying on the couch bleeding from wounds on the head and face. He told her he had got on to the roof to open the window and had slipped and fallen into the back yard. He was taken to the Ingham Infirmary where he died the following night. She had talked about going to Newcastle and finding the doors locked he had evidently thought she had done so. It was not a difficult job for a man to get on the roof.

A woman named Mrs Rutherford, living at 9 Pembroke Terrace, said about midday on Wednesday she looked out of her kitchen window and saw the deceased climbing along the roof towards the window. His feet were in the spouting. There was snow and ice on the roof and he seemed unable to get a safe footing and eventually fell headlong off the roof. She raised an alarm.

Another neighbour, Mrs MacBeth, 12 Shrewsbury Terrace, said between 11 and 12 she saw the deceased knocking at his mother’s door but could not get in. He passed the compliments of the day and was all right. A few minutes after twelve she heard a fearful thud in the backyard and looking out saw the deceased lying in a pool of blood.

P.C. Wade deposed to rendering first aid and having the man taken to the Infirmary. There was a very large wound on his head and his wrist was severely injured. He would fall 28 or 30 feet.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

In the same paper, on the same day, the death notice was published:

Deaths

BRIMER – South Shields, Ingham Infirmary, on 29th ult. aged 35 years, Archibold Hedley Brimer, the dearly beloved son of Dorothy and the late Thomas Brimer. Interment from 14 Shrewsbury Terrace at Harton Cemetery on Tuesday 2.30 – Deeply mourned by his sorrowing mother, orphan children and friends.

It appears that 14 Shrewsbury Terrace was an upstairs flat, with number 12 downstairs. The terrace is still standing and can be seen on Google Streetview


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals

Research Update

It has been a busy couple of months with lots of data gathering, including visits to the ScotlandsPeople Centres in Hawick and Edinburgh. I am now assimilating the data into individual family trees within one big master tree, which allows branches to be joined together as links are found. There are currently 1323 people on the master tree – a number which is growing by about 60 people a day at present!

I have also managed to identify all the living males bearing the BRIMER or BRYMER surnames within Scotland and am trying to contact them all to invite them to take part in the study. If you receive a letter please do share with your male relatives as it has not been possible to identify an address for everyone.

There are only seven surviving males of the BRIMER surname over the age of 18 and they are related, descending from one line:

  • James BRIMER and Helen or Ellen READDIE/ REDDIE/ READY.

There are thirty five surviving males of the BRYMER surname over the age of 18. They descend in three lines:

  • James BRYMER and Helen CUTHILL – 27 living male descendants
  • William BREMNER / BRYMER and Agnes JACKSON – 2 living male descendants
  • James BRYMER and Ann MORRIS – 2 living male descendants

There are also 4 living  BRYMER males born in Scotland who have Northern Irish connections – I would be very grateful if anyone could give me any further details on this family and whether it is related or not to the Scottish families.

I am now performing the same exercise on the English and Welsh families – more details to follow.


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals