Major Problems

There are fundamental problems in developing the earliest information that we have obtained and establishing the origins of the Brecht and Somes families.

What we know

We now know that:

• There is an entry in a database of sugar refiners and bakers:
  
  www.mawer.clara.net
  
  for Jurgen Christoph Brecht who was a sugar refiner in London possibly between 1784-1822.

• Jurgen Christoph Brecht was the uncle and godfather of Heinrich Fridrich Ludwig Brecht who was christened on 7 July 1784 in Germany, when Jurgen was said to be in London.

• Jurgen was buried on 1 April 1822 (age 70 and 18 days) in Germany (and it is in the church records that it was noted that he had been a sugar refiner in London.)

• It is possible that Heinrich Fridrich Ludwig Brecht came to England and may be one and the same as my ancestor Heinrich (Henry) Frederick Ludewig Brecht born 1783/4.

• In England Heinrich Brecht anglicised his name to Henry Brecht
  

• Heinrich Brecht married Mary Somes in 1808 (and 3 of their children died young)
  

• Mary Brecht died in 1819

• Henry Brecht married Harriet Piper in 1837

• Henry Brecht died in 1838 (age 54)

• Harriet Brecht married Henry Colvin in 1838 and the family were still together in 1841:
  

1841 Census

(# denotes age to nearest 5 years)

Bonner Street, Green Street, Bethnal Green

Henry Colvin (age 25#) Colour Manufacturer
Harriet Colvin (age 35#)
Catherine Brecht (age 15) Dress Maker
Caroline Brecht (age 15) Bonnet Maker
Rose Brecht (age 14)
Elizabeth Brecht (age 12)
Eleanor Brecht (age 10)
Henry Brecht (age 8)
Christiana Brecht (age 6)
George Brecht (age 4)
Henry Colvin (infant)

1851 Census

10/11 Mint Street, Southwark

Henry Colvin Head Victualler (age 40) born Midx, Bethnal Green
Harriet (Brecht) Colvin (born Piper) Wife (Age 46) Collar (Colour?) Maker born Middx, Bethnal Green
Henry (born and later died as Brecht) Colvin step son (age 20 ) Collar (Colour?) Maker born Middx, Bethnal Green
Elizabeth (born and later married as Brecht) Colvin step daughter (age 24) Seamstress born Middx, Spitalfields
George (born and later married as Brecht) Colvin step son (age 17) born Middx, Bethnal Green
Christiana (born and later married as Brecht) Colvin step daughter (age 16) Seamstress born Middx, Bethnal Green
Harriet Colvin daughter (age 10) born Middx, Bethnal Green
William Colvin son (age 5) born Middx, Whitechapel

Note:

Thomas King (age 24) a Brushmaker born Brentwood, Essex was also staying at 10/11 Mint Street
who, it appears, became Elizabeth Brecht's husband in 1854.

1861 Census

17 Wapping Wall, Shadwell (next to the George & Vulture)

Henry Brecht Head (48) Coffee House Keeper born Bethnal Green, Middx
Harriet Brecht Wife (53) born Newington, Surrey
Harriet Brecht Daughter (19) born Bethnal Green, Middx
Rosina Page Boarder (19) Dress Maker born Wapping, Middx
William Colvin Son (15) Briclayers Labourer born Whitechapel, Middx

Notes:

Henry& Harriet had adopted Brecht (a name well-known in those parts) rather than use their married name Colvin. They were living near Harriet's son George Brecht
William Colvin was indexed in Find My Past as Calvin and the surname Brecht was difficult to read.

IGI Entries for Brecht

The IGI has the following entries:

Heinrich/Henry Brecht's Family

• Caroline Brecht married Joseph Meadowcroft 13.02.1848 (See Note 1)

• Catherine Brecht christened 13.09.1865 (See Note 1)
  (Parents: Henry & Harriet Brecht)

• Catherine Piper Brecht married Joseph Gale 09.09.1848 (See Note 1)

• Christiana Brecht christened 13.09.1865 (See Note 1)
  (Parents: Henry & Harriet Brecht)

• Eleanor Brecht married John Hall 29.03.1851 (See Note 1)

   

   

• Henry Frederick Ludewig Brecht christened 03.02.1833 (See Note 2)
  (Parents: Henry Frederick Ludewig & Harriet Brecht)

• Maria Catran Brecht christened 12.07.1812 (See Note 3)
  (Parents: Henrich & Mary Brecht)

• Rosnea Brecht married Bartholomew Meehan 14.05.1850 (See Note 1)

• John Christopher Brecht married Susannah Pardom 25.5.1795 (See Note 4.)

Notes:

1. At St Dunstan, Stepney (2 christenings on same day)

2. At St Matthew, Bethnal Green

3. At Christ Church, Spitalfields

4. At St Mary's Church, Whitechapel

Parish Records

Christ Church, Spitalfields

I have obtained details of entries from a number of sources:

12.7.1812 Bp of Maria Catran Brecht (born 16.6.1812 - parents Heinrich & Mary Brecht)- per Parish Records on microfilm

16.11.1814 Burial of Maria Catherine Brecht - per IGI & Parish Records on microfilm

3.1.1819 Burial of Mary Brecht (Heinrich/Henry Brecht's wife)- per New Family Search web-site

15.1.1819 Burial Charlotte Brecht, Fashion Street (age 9 years 7 months) - per Parish Records on microfilm

17.6.1821 Burial Elisabeth Catharine Brecht, Fashion Street (age 5 years 9 months)- per Parish Records on microfilm

24.10.1824 Burial Eleanor Brecht, Fashion Street (age 17 months)- per Parish Records on microfilm

 

Main Aims

We need to establish:

• Whether Henry Frederick Ludewig Brecht is the same person as Heinrich Fridrich Ludwig Brecht born Germany 1784

• To which industries Henry Brecht was supplying colour products

• Whether Harriet Piper is the mother of Henry's children born after 1819.

• Whether Henry Brecht knew he was dying and married Harriet Piper in 1837 so that she would look after the children.

Search for Harriet Piper

Colin Bower
30 November 2011

Links to:
Brecht One Name Study - Index:

Brecht Index