On This Day – 17 November 1883

Stewart Craig BRYMER (Family A) was born on 17 November 1883 in Kinaldie, St Vigeans. His parents were Alexander Cuthill BRYMER and Matilda TOSH. The birth was registered on 7 December 1883 in St Vaughan’s by Alex BRYMER, the father.

Birth – Stewart Craig BRYMER (1883-1966)
Name Date Time Place Parents
Stewart Craig BYIMER 17 November 1883 2.20 pm Kinaldie,

St Vigeans

 Alexander Cuthill BRYMER and Matilda TOSH
Reference Births (CR) Scotland. St Vigeans, Angus. 17 November 1883. BRYMER, Stewart Craig. 319/00 0076. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 16 March 2016.

In 1891, Stewart was living in his parent’s house – Kinaldie Cottage, St Vigeans. He was a scholar at this time.

1891 Census – Stewart Craig BRYMER (1883-1966)
Address: Kinaldie Cottage, St Vigeans
Name & Surname Relation to Head of Family Condition as to Marriage Age last Birthday Rank, Profession or Occupation Where Born
Alexander BRYMER Head Married 32 Farm Servant Inverkeillor, Forfar
Matilda BRYMER Wife Married 34 Brechin, Forfar
Alexander BRYMER Son Unmarried 13 Scholar Dunblane, Perthshire
Robert BRYMER Son Unmarried 11 Scholar Monikie, Forfar
Margaret BRYMER Daughter Unmarried 9 Scholar St Vigeans, Forfar
Stewart BRYMER Son Unmarried 7 Scholar St Vigeans, Forfar
Helen BRYMER Daughter Unmarried 6 Scholar St Vigeans, Forfar
Elizabeth BRYMER Daughter Unmarried 5 months St Vigeans, Forfar
Alexina TOSH Sister-in-Law Unmarried 16 Liff and Benvie, Forfar
Reference Census. 1891. Scotland. St Vigeans, Angus. 319/00 001/00 031. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 31 October 2016

Stewart had left home by 1901 and was living in Tealing and working as a Ploughman.

1901 Census – Stewart Craig BRYMER (1883-1966)
Address: New Mains, Tealing
Name & Surname Relation to Head of Family Condition as to Marriage Age last Birthday Rank, Profession or Occupation Where Born
Andrew SUTTIE Head Unmarried 22 Ploughman Forfar, Forfar
Stewart BRYMER Servant Unmarried 18 Ploughman Arbroath, Forfar
Reference Census. 1901. Scotland. Tealing, Angus. 322/00 001/00 011. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 31 October 2016

Stewart married Mary Ann Roberts WATT on 25 June 1909 in Fullerton, Maryton, Angus. They were married after Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland by John Dawson MCLEAN, Minister of Maryton. The witnesses were Andrew Bruce CHRISTIESON and Jessie Henderson CRAIG. The marriage was registered on 29 June 1909 in Maryton.

Marriage –  Stewart Craig BRYMER (1883-1966) and Mary Ann Roberts WATT (1882-1964)
Name Date Place Bride’s Parents Groom’s Parents
Stewart Craig BRYMER and Mary Ann Roberts WATT 26 June 1909 Fullerton, Maryton, Forfar No Father shown. Margaret WATT, afterwards married to George CRAIG (Ploughman) Alexander BRYMER (Farm Grieve) and Matilda TOSH
Reference Marriages (CR) Scotland. Maryton, Angus. 25 June 1909. BRYMER, Stewart Craig and WATT, Mary Ann Roberts. 308/00 0001. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 16 January 2016.

Mary was born on 27 September 1882 in Fetteresso. The birth was registered on 21 October 1882 in Stonehaven by Margaret WATT, the mother. The birth was illegitimate. There is an entry in the Register of Corrected Entries relating to Margaret’s father who was declared to be William ROBERTS formerly farm servant at Tulls of Garvock, Kincardineshire now or lately Carter in the employment of Messr Hampton and Davidson, Contractors, Arbroath in a Decree pronounced upon the 8th day of February by the Sheriff Substitute of Forfarshire (Forfar District).

Birth – Mary Ann Roberts WATT (1882-1964)
Name Date Time Place Parents
Mary Ann Roberts WATT 27 September 1882 8.15 am Redcloak near Stonehaven, Fetteresso, Kincardineshire Illegitimate Birth

William ROBERTS (Carter) and Margaret WATT
Reference Births (CR) Scotland. Fetteresso, Kincardineshire. 27 September 1882. WATT, Mary Ann Roberts. 258/01 0099. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 31 October 2016.

Mary was living with her mother and step father in the 1891 census.

1891 Census – Mary Ann Roberts WATT (1882-1964)
Address: Netherton, Kinnell, Angus
Name & Surname Relation to Head of Family Condition as to Marriage Age last Birthday Rank, Profession or Occupation Where Born
George CRAIG Head Married 25 Farm Servant Brechin, Forfar
Margaret CRAIG Wife Married 32 Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Mary A WATT Illegitimate Unmarried 8 Fetteresso, Kincardineshire
Jessie H CRAIG Daughter Unmarried 1 Brechin, Forfar
Reference Census. 1891. Scotland. Kinnell, Angus. 296/00 001/00 002. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 31 October 2016.

By 1901 she had left home and was working as a general domestic servant in Barry, Angus.

1901 Census – Mary Ann Roberts WATT (1882-1964)
Address: Episcopal Rectory, Barry, Angus.
Name & Surname Relation to Head of Family Condition as to Marriage Age last Birthday Rank, Profession or Occupation Where Born
Joseph B JOBBERNS Head Married 32 Rector of Holy Rood Church Episcopal Church Clergyman Ireland
Jane K M JOBBERNS Wife Married 34 Clergyman’s Wife Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Jane BIRSO Mother-in-Law Widow 74 Living on Own Means England
Mary WATT Servant Unmarried 19  General Domestic Servant Stonehaven, Kincardineshire
Reference Census. 1901. Scotland. Barry, Angus. 274/00 001/00 019. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 31 October 2016

Stewart and Mary were living in Lundie, Angus at the time of the 1911 census with their first legitimate child.

1911 Census – Stewart Craig BRYMER (1883-1966) and Mary Ann Roberts WATT (1882-1964)
Address: Easter Keith, Lundie, Angus.
Name & Surname Relation to Head of Family Condition as to Marriage Age last Birthday Rank, Profession or Occupation Where Born
Stewart BRYMER Head Married 27 Ploughman St Vigeans, Forfar
Mary BRYMER Wife Married 27 Fetteresso, Kincardineshire
George BRYMER Son Unmarried 1 Lundie, Forfar
Reference Census. 1911. Scotland. Lundie and Fowlis, Angus. 306/00 001/00 007. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 31 October 2016

Mary died on Christmas Day 1964 in Errol, Perthshire. The death was registered on 26 December 1964 in Errol by Stewart BRYMER, the son, who was present.

Death – Mary Ann Roberts WATT (1882-1964)
Name Date Time Place Cause
Mary Ann Robert BRYMER 25 December 1964 7.30 pm Church Place, Errol, Perthshire Coronary Thrombosis. Angina Pectoris. Senility.
Reference Deaths (CR) Scotland. Errol, Perth. 25 December 1864. BRYMER, Mary Ann Roberts. 351/00 0007. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 6 May 2016.

Stewart died two years later, on 23 January 1966 in Errol. The death was registered on 23 January 1966 in Errol by Stewart BRYMER, the son.

Death – Stewart Craig BRYMER (1883-1966)
Name Date Time Place Cause
Stewart Craig BRYMER 23 January 1966 3.35 am Church Place, Errol, Perthshire Cardiac Asthma. Chronic Bronchitis. Senility.
Reference Deaths (CR) Scotland. Errol, Perth. 23 January 1966. BRYMER, Stewart Craig. 351/00 0002. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 5 May 2016.

Stewart and Mary had eleven children in total – one born six years before their marriage and the remainder after. There were five sons and six daughters.


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

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

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old

Remembering the members of the Brimer / Brymer families who lost their lives in the two World Wars. Poppy

Private William BRYMER (Regt No 11280) of the Kings Own Royal Lancaster 1st Battalion was killed in action in Belgium 24 May 1915. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Corporal Phillip Alfred BRYMER (Regt No 9451) of the Hampshire Regiment 1st Battalion was killed in action in France 1 July 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Picardie.

Flight Sub-Lieut Charles Torryburn BRIMER of the Royal Naval Air Service drowned (failed to return from patrol) 4 December 1916. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

Sergeant John Webster BRYMER (Regt No 252608) of the Royal Engineers died of wounds in France 22 August 1917. He is buried at the Saint Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.

Private Andrew BRIMER (Regt No 2769227) of the Princess Louise’s (Argyll and Southern Highlanders) 14th Battalion was killed in action in France 27 March 1918. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas-de-Calais.

Private Robert D BRIMER (Regt No S/23955) of the Seaforth Highlanders 4th Battalion was killed in action in France on 20 July 1918. He is buried at the Marfaux British Cemetery, Champagne-Ardenne.

Boy 1st Cl. Ernest Anthony BRYMER (P/JX 158209) of the Royal Navy, HMS Royal Oak died 14 October 1939. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

James Simpson BRIMER, a civilian, who died on 13 March 1941 as a casualty of war. He was a victim of the Clydebank Blitz – two devastating air raids on the shipbuilding town of Clydebank, Scotland which left 528 people dead, 617 seriously injured. He is commemorated at Old Dalnottar Cemetery, Glasgow.

Vera BRYMER, a civilian who died 27 April 1941 at the corner of Victoria Street and Baker Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire as a casualty of war.

A.B. Isaiah BRIMER of the Merchant Navy, S.S. Dartford died 12 June 1942. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Sergeant (W.Op. / Air Gnr.) Stanley BRIMER (Service no 1101057) of the RAF (VR) 58 Squadron died 12 June 1942. He is buried in Bilbao British Cemetery, Spain.

Major Hew R G BRYMER (Regt No 64625) of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry was killed in action in Burma 22 April 1945. He is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial, Burma.


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

A Chelsea Pensioner aged 28?

Today I came across an 1851 census record for a BRYMER family living at 2 West Port Arbroath[1]. My curiosity was piqued. What causes you to be a Chelsea Pensioner at the age of 28?

Name Relation Condition Age Occupation Where Born
Alexander BRYMER Head Married 60 Land Measurer Auchterhouse, Angus
Janet BRYMER Wife Married 50   Liff and Benvie, Angus
Alexander BRYMER Son Unmarried 28 Chelsea Pensioner Auchterhouse, Angus

Fortunately, I was able to find his army record online which detailed his career from enlistment to medical discharge[2].

Alexander was born in the parish of Newtyle near the town of Dundee. He attested for the 91st Regiment of Infantry on the 9th March 1840 aged 17 years and 8 months and gave his trade as writer – an old Scottish word for solicitor. He enlisted for a Bounty of £3 17s 6d. His description was given as 5 feet 51/2 inches, dark hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion, with a large brown and hairy mole on the back of his left thigh. His girth around the chest was 31 inches and he bore a satisfactory vaccine cicatrix on either arm.

Alexander served 5 years and 8 months in the Cape of Good Hope between 1842 and 1848. Part of the regiment fought in the 7th Cape Frontier War against the Xhosa people from 1846-1847 but Alexander is not listed in the medal roll.

He was regarded as having good conduct and was promoted to Corporal on 21 May 1843. He was jailed in 1844 and 1845 for drunkenness and remained there for two days on both occasions, being demoted to Private after the second incident. He was promoted to Corporal again in 1848 and then Sergeant in 1849.

He served a total of 10 years and 164 days before being discharged on medical grounds and put on third pay. He is recorded as having necrosis of the tibia and secondary venereal disease which had not responded to 37 days of treatment. On discharge he was described as 5 feet 71/2 inches with brown hair, grey eyes and a sallow complexion.

His pension was stopped on 12 August 1855.

[1] Census. 1851. Scotland. Arbroath, Angus. 272/00 019/00 004. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 10 November 2015.

[2] War Office (Great Britain). Discharge Papers. 24 October 1850. BRYMER, Alexander. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s) – 91st and 93rd Foot. Service Number 1241. Collection: British Army Service Records 1760-1915. http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 10 November 2015.


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

The 1939 Register

This past week saw the release of the 1939 Register causing great excitement for families researching their ancestors in England and Wales.

The 1939 Register was taken because with war imminent, the government needed to issue National Identity cards to the population. The Register was used when rationing was being planned and eventually formed the basis of the National Health Service registration system.

The Register is important as it is the only national census type resource available from 1921 – 1951. The 1931 census was burnt and the 1941 census did not take place because of the war. The Register continued to be updated until 1991.

Things to bear in mind when searching the 1939 Register:

  • The Register will tell you full name, address, date of birth, marital status, occupation and  whether a person was a member of the armed forces or reserves.
  • The Register will not tell you a place of birth.
  • The Register does not include a person who was on active military duty.
  • The Register will not show people who have not reached their 100th birthday unless they died before 1991. People who died after 1991 can be ‘opened’ by providing a death certificate.
  • The Register includes people who had already been evacuated and were therefore not at their expected home address.
  • The Register recorded name changes which took place between 1939 and 1991 such as marriage, divorce or adoption. Both names are shown on the record and index.
  • The Registers for Scotland and Ireland are not included.

The actual records from the Register can be accessed for a fee from Findmypast or for free by visiting The National Archives. The indexes can however be searched freely online and will reveal full name, birth year, borough or district and county. It has therefore been possible to identify 52 people with the surname Brimer and 59 people with the surname Brymer. This does not take into account any transcription errors which will only become obvious when looking at the actual record or when searching for a specific person. It also does not indicate how many people of these surnames cannot be viewed because their birthday is less than 100 years ago and they did not die before 1991.

The highest density of both surnames was found in Durham. The table below shows which counties the families were living in.

County BRIMER BRYMER
Bedfordshire 2 –
Berkshire – 1
Cheshire 2 –
Cornwall – 1
Cumberland – 1
Devon 2 –
Dorset – 3
Durham 21 16
Essex – 1
Flintshire – 1
Glamorganshire 1 –
Gloucestershire – 1
Hampshire 2 7
Herefordshire – 2
Isle of Wight – 2
Lancashire 10 –
Leicestershire – 1
Lincolnshire – 2
London 5 8
Merionethshire – 1
Middlesex – 3
Northumberland 3 1
Surrey 3 5
Sussex – 1
Worcestershire – 1
Yorkshire East Riding 1 –
Total 52 59

 

Only three Brimer and twelve Brymer women are shown as changing their name between 1939 and 1991. This number will obviously increase as more records are opened. There are also two men with both Brimer and Brymer names recorded and at least one case of a Brimer woman living with a Brymer man!

I am looking forward to examining the records in full to learn more about the families in 1939.


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