John Brown and Elizabeth Perry

St Dionis Backchurch

John Brown (b. ~1710) married Elizabeth Perry (bap. 27 Mar 1714/15 in Woolwich, Kent), eldest daughter of Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming, at the church of St Dionis Backchurch, located in the heart of the City of London on 13 Feb 1734 (Julian) 1735 (Gregorian). The record reads, "John Brown of the Parish of St Dunstan Stepney in the County of Middlesex Batchelor & Elizabeth Perry of the same parish Spinster were married (by Licence) on Thursday the 13th day of Feb 1734/5."

The records of five children can be attributed to this couple:

1. Sarah Brown b. Friday, 11 Jan 1740, bap. 5 Feb 1740 (at 25 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Sarah, daughter of John Brown of Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth
2. Elizabeth Brown b. Wednesday, 3 Jul 1745, bap. 11 Jul 1745 (at 8 days old). In the records of St Dunstan's, Stepney, it says 'Elizabeth, daughter of John Brown of Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth at Poplar'. Being baptised 'at Poplar' may have been at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).
3. Susanna Brown b. Tuesday, 21 Apr 1747, bap. 19 May 1747 (at 28 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Susanna, daughter of John Brown of Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth.
4. John Ephraim Brown b. Wednesday, 14 Feb 1750, bap. 5 Mar 1750 (at 19 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. John Ephraim, son of John Brown of Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth.
5. Helen Brown b. Saturday, 12 May 1753, bap. 6 Jun 1753 (at 25 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Helen, daughter of John Brown Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth.

The baptisms all list their father as John Brown of Poplar, Brewer. Additional evidence that these are the children of this family: Sarah was the name of Elizabeth's aunt and sister; Elizabeth is obviously her own and her mother's name; Susanna was another of Elizabeth's sisters; John, clearly for his father, but Ephraim after his uncle, Ephraim Seehl, married to his mother's sister, Sarah; and Helen was the widow of Elizabeth's brother, Philip Perry.

John Brown had died before 29 Apr 1775, because a Codicil to the Will of his brother-in-law, Ephraim Reinhold Seehl, of that date stated he had died. Beyond this, Brown is not the easiest name to research. Without further clues, it isn't possible to determine which of many records are relevant. 

Stephen Bottrill and Mary Thompson

Wesleyan Chapel in West Haddon. Image provided by West Haddon Local History Group

Being located by both Baptist and Methodist Chapels in the 1840s probably wasn't conducive to business at The Bell Inn, which might account for the move to The Graziers Arms. 

Stephen Bottrill (bap. 30 Mar 1803 in Scaldwell, Northamptonshire), son of John Bottrill and Alice Farndon, married Mary Thompson (bap. 14 Dec 1807), daughter of Solomon Thompson Jnr and Maria Willis (sister of Daniel Thompson), at St Andrew's Church, Cransley, on 2 Nov 1830. 

The only children of the marriage that I can find records for are: 

1. Daniel Botterill, bap. 20 Dec 1831 in Cransley, Northamptonshire
2. Alice Botterill, bap. 4 Mar 1838 at Scaldwell, St Peter and St Paul (Died, aged 18, 1856 J Quarter in DAVENTRY Volume 03B Page 73, and was buried on 7 Jun 1856 at All Saints, West Haddon.)
3. Stephen Bottrell (sic) b. Oct 1840 (1841 M Quarter in DAVENTRY UNION Volume 15 Page 262), bap. 3 Apr 1844 in West Haddon
4. Mary Ann Bottrell b. 1844 D Qtr in DAVENTRY UNION Vol 15 242 

Mother's maiden name: Stephen's is TOMPSON; Mary Ann's THOMPSON.

In 1841 Stephen Bottrill was a Publican in West Haddon. This will have been at The Bell Inn. A later article says, "The Bell Inn no longer exists at West Haddon, although the old thatched house, with its picturesque gables, which bore the title, still stands opposite the Wesleyan Chapel." At that time, Solomon Thompson (b. 1802), brewer, was staying with the Botterills, while his own wife, Elizabeth (née York) and family were at their home in Cransley. This Solomon Thompson, must be related to Mary, but not discovered how.

Mary Bottrel (sic) (née Thompson) died on 12 Feb 1845 (1845 M Quarter in DAVENTRY UNION Volume 15 Page 207). The death notice in The Banbury Guardian of Thursday, February 27, 1845, read, "February 12, at West Haddon, Warwickshire, Mary, the wife of Mr. Stephen Bottrell, of the Bell Inn, aged 38; deeply lamented by all her friends." And in The Northampton Mercury, the notice added that, "Her illness was short, but she bore it with great firmness and contentment." Whatever that means. Mary Bottrell was buried at All Saints' Church, West Haddon, on 18 Feb 1845. 

Stephen Botterell, widower, son of John Bottrell, Farmer, married, Elizabeth Newton, widow, daughter of John Dunn, Sheep Drover, at Christ Church, Watney Street, St George in the East, London, on 24 July 1845. Born Elizabeth Dunn, she previously married Samuel Newton, on 9 May 1834, in West Haddon, who died at 45 and was buried in West Haddon, on 4 Nov 1843. Witnesses were John Blackett and Maria Blackett, Mary's sister. 

In 1847 and 1849 Stephen Bottrel (sic) was listed at the The Bell Inn. The Banbury Guardian of 13 Sept 1849, reported that at the Daventry Petty Sessions, Stephen Botterell was charged with keeping his house open after 10pm and allowing gaming. On this occasion the case was dismissed.

In 1851, Stephen Botterill was listed as Victualler Farmer of 140 Acres, with new wife Elizabeth Botterill (b. 1804), daughter Alice Botterill (13), son Stephen Botterill (10) and niece, Eliza Newton (9). 

The Graziers Arms in the early 20th century when the public house was run by Phipps Brewery. Image reproduced from the Phipps Archive by permission of Northamptonshire Archives.

In 1854 Stephen Bottrel (sic) was listed at The Graziers Arms, victualler.

Elizabeth Botterill died, aged 55 (1858 S Quarter in DAVENTRY Volume 03B Page 68), and was buried on 26 Aug 1858, also at All Saints, West Haddon. 

In 1861, Stephen Bottard (sic), Widowed, was a Farmer Of 147 acres Employing 3 men & 3 boys (In the trade directory he was a Beer retailer and farmer). Elizabeth's niece, Eliza Newton (19) was still living in his household.

The Northampton Mercury of 5 Apr 1862 reported that William Blunsom, veterinary surgeon, was claiming the sum of £13. 17s. (£1,764.89 in 2021) from Stephen Botterill in the County Court. 

The London Gazette of 30 Nov 1867, reported that Stephen Botterill was declared bankrupt. There are several reports in the Northampton Mercury of Stephen Botterill being fined for 'Unjust measures': 15 Oct 1864 (2s + 18s costs), on 15 Feb 1868 (£4), 12 Sep 1868 (fined £5 for 4 quart jugs deficient in measure), and again on 13 Feb 1869 (£5). He blamed his bankruptcy on the 'badness of trade', but one has to wonder if poor judgement was as much, or perhaps more, to blame. Did it not occur to him these things might be linked? (Rhetorical question.) Nevertheless, Stephen Boterill was discharged from bankruptcy on 7 Feb 1868 (Northampton Mercury 28 March 1868). 

By 1871, Stephen Boterill (66), Widowed, was a farm labourer and lodger in the household of Thomas Bull, in West Haddon. 

Stephen Botterill died, aged 73, in 1878 S Quarter in DAVENTRY Volume 03B Page 74. He was buried on 8 Sep 1878 in West Haddon.

With gracious thanks to Wendy Raybould, Archivist at the West Haddon Local History Group for many of the photos; for identifying the names of the pubs that Stephen Botterill was associated with and pointers towards many other records of his life. See also her: A brief history of West Haddon (PDF)

The Graziers Arms from above. Image provided by West Haddon Local History Group