Richard Brown

Biography
Richard was the son of Joseph Brown a shopkeeper and baker whose shop and house fronted the High Street in Ringwood. Joseph was Vestry Clerk to the Parish between 1800 and his death at the age of 67 in 1827, a well known local figure. His mother was Sarah Brown, nee Harding. Richard almost certainly began his working life a Clerk to Mr Robert H. Parr, Attorney, and was later to the firm of solicitors, Davy & Davy, whose office occupied Church Hatch in Ringwood. Its likely that Richard Brown was taken on, instructed and then worked as a clerk whilst being a young man -almost certainly in his teens. But by his mid twenties was making his way, being initiated as a Freemason in the Ringwood Lodge of Unity which met in the Crown Hotel. In January 1828 Richard Brown was appointed Inspector of Corn Returns for Ringwood at Southampton Quarter Sessions, his father having previously held that position. The Hampshire Chronicle reported the appointment, " At the last Quarter Sessions for the County, Mr. R. Brown was appointed to succeed his late father as Inspector of Corn Returns for the town." -January 28 1828. The Census of 1841 and Parish baptismal records for the oldest of the Brown children listed he was a 'Wine merchant' and the Census of 1851, a 'Wine Spirit & Coal Merchant'. He was in business as a wine & spirit merchant with his elder brother, William, who, with his wife and daughter, resided in a house attached to the 'Prudential Building', fronting Ringwood Market Place. William was recorded as 'Clerk to Spirit Stores', but also as once being a School Master. Auction particulars, in 1827, confirmed that the main Prudential Building contained substantial wine cellars. The brothers probably used the cellars as a store and to decant stock -for which see the flagon 'W & R. Brown', at the History Centre, Meetinghouse Lane. Regular supply may have been secured through Richard's father in law, an Excise officer from contraband seized along the South coast and sold off by the Revenue Service. That William lived in the terrace house is confirmed by the Census for 1841. Richard's partner in another enterprise -his coal business, was Joseph Riggs, a fellow freemason. Their Coal business, a commodity carried to Ringwood by the railway, was probably undertaken from out buildings in the yard of the George Inn on the Market Place, of which Riggs was the pub landlord and noted in the Census for 1841 as a coal merchant. There was a yard belonging to the sidings at Ringwood Station. Both Richard and Joseph Riggs were members of the Ringwood Masonic Lodge. John Joseph Riggs died at Ringwood -Jan.31 1861 and is buried, along with his wife in the Church Graveyard. °
The Census in April, 1861, recorded Richard at his home, Meeting House Lane, with Mary Ann. Richard was then 61, and then involved in the Civic roles -and there were to be several with which he undertook the administration. That listing recorded him as a Solicitor's Managing Clerk, Clerk to the Poor Law Board of Guardians for Ringwood Union and Inspector of Corn Returns. Then, too, he was Registrar of births, deaths and marriages. Mary Ann, born in Madeley Shropshire, was by 1861, 47 years of age. The eldest of their children at home were Marianne and Albert, both of whom were 21; the latter an able seaman in the Merchant Marine Service. He had been at sea since as an apprentice he had set out on his career at the age of fourteen. Ada, Janet and Kate completed the family -all three being at school. In the years which followed Albert would continue his career at sea and although he would have had no idea then -in 1861, of the opportunities which would arise for him in relation to his life in the Far East, he would make his mark as a seaman but as an esteemed adviser to the Meiji Japanese Government. Many remarkable opportunities would arise to him. °
Richard's remuneration as clerk to the Board of Guardians was £28 7/-, recorded March 21 1864. °
In 1871 the census listed Richard, aged 71 and Mary Ann his wife, 56. Richard was recorded as a Solicitor's Managing clerk and then Clerk to the Ringwood Union Board of Guardians. George Pritchard Brown and his young wife, Emily Jane were living in the house at Meetinghouse Lane, too. George, an accountant, aged 27 Emily, just 21. Marianne a Governess was living with them, aged 33, no doubt running the house. The Census recorded that all in the household were born in Ringwood. ° Richard died at 'The Furlong', the Brown family's home, in Ringwood on June 25 1871. The entry in the Calendar of Probate records being, 'The Will with a codicil of Richard Brown late of Ringwood in the County of Southampton, who died on June 25 1871, was proved at the Principal Probate Registry by John William Farnell, 89 Great College Street Camden Town, Middlesex'. Richard is buried alongside Mary Ann and other members of his extensive family in the Cemetery, Hightown Road, Ringwood. John William Farnell of Camden then a short distance to the north of the centre of London, was married to Mary Ann's sister, Harriet -nee Pritchard. The Census Return of 1851 for 89 Great College Street confirmed that Camden address as being that of John Wilson and Harriet Farnell. 'Farnell' was a given name to Charles Farnell Brown, Richard & Mary Ann Brown's 6th son. °
Richard Brown was buried at Ringwood Cemetery: July 1st 1871 -Grave no. V004. °
The Salisbury & Winchester Journal carried an obituary in its edn. July 1 1871, as follows:
"DEATH of Mr.Richard Brown" 'Much Regret has been felt in the Town during this week at the loss of this highly respected Parish Officer on Sunday last at the advanced age of seventy one. Mr. Brown was for many years confidential clerk to the firm of Messrs. Davy & Davy. Of late he has been intimately connected with the Parish, having been Clerk to the Board of Guardians, the Assessment Committee, Highay Board and Burial Board; Registrar of Marriages -All of which Offices he has filled in a manner that has secured for him the respect of the inhabitants of Ringwood'.

Sources:

[1] Births & Baptisms
(i) Name: Richard Brown : Christening: Mar 28 1800 : Ringwood, Hampshire, England
Father: Joseph Brown
Indexing Project (Batch) No. C15056-1 : System Origin England-ODM : GS Film no.0994051 IT 3-5
(ii) ↑ Richard Brown in Hants. England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages & Burials, 1536-1812
Hampshire Archives & Local Studies; Winchester, Hants. England; Anglican Parish Registers
Ref. 84022/1/4 - Year Range: 1782-1812
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/187202:62421
[2] Marriage of Richard & Mary Ann Brown (nee Pritchard)
"England, Hants. Parish Registers, 1538-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGQL-FYZ8 : 13 February 2021), Richard Brown & Mary Ann Pritchard, 15 Dec 1836; citing Marriage, possibly other reference information ... & Hampshire Recd. Office, England; FHL microfilm 1,041,294.
(ii) Hants. England, Church of England Marriages & Banns, 1754-1921
Mary Ann Pritchard & Spouse: Richard Brown
Record Type Marriage
Marriage Date & Place 15 Dec 1836 : Fordingbridge, Southampton, England
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/90071578:62423
[3] Census Returns 1841,1851,1861 & 1871; for 'The Furlong', Meeting House Lane
(i) 1841: Name: Albert Brown : Age: 1
Estimated Birth Year: abt. 1840
Where born: Hants. England : Civil Parish: Ringwood : Hundred: Ringwood
County: Hampshire : Country: England
Regn. Dist. Ringwood
Sub-regn. Dist. Ringwood
Piece: 398 : Book: 21 : Folio: 4 : Page No. 2
Household Members (Name) Age
Richard Brown: 40 : Mary Ann Brown: 25
Marianne Brown: 3, Albert Brown: 1
Sarah Pritchard: 14
1841 England Census : Class: HO107; Piece: 398; Book: 21; Civil Parish: Ringwood; County: Hants. Enumeration Dist. 1; Folio: 4; Page: 2; Line: 19; GSU roll: 288800
Description: Enumn. Dist. 1
Ancestry.com. 1841 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.
Original data: Census Returns of England & Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: N.A. of U.K. (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841. Data imaged from N.A. Kew, London, England.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8978/images/HAMH...
(i) England : Ringwood Census, Meeting House Lane -Richard Brown Head, 1861
Class: Rg 9; Piece: 668; Folio: 15; Page: 23; GSU roll: 542681https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/7995868:8767
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/7995868:8767
[4] Directories
(i) P.O. Directory for Hants. 1849 - Richard Brown, Spirit Merchant
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/5193650:3145?ti...
Richard Brown
(ii) UK, City & County Directories, 1766 - 1946
1828, Pigot & Co -ref. to Rbt. Parr -R.B. was Clerk; 1865, Harrod & Co's Directory of Hants. & Isle of Wight; Publisher: J. G. Harrod & Co.
Description Title: '1865 Harrod & Co´s Directory of Hants. &c.'
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/40004849:3145
[5] Eng. & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations), 1858-1995 : Will of Richard Brown
Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of Grants of Probate & Letters of Administration in Probate Registries of High Court of Justice in England. London, England © Crown copyright
↑ &c. https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10691-111060/richard-bro...
[6] Death & Burial
(i) England & Wales Civil Regn. Deaths Index 1837-1915
Name Richard Brown : Age 71 : Estd. Birth Year abt 1800 :
Regn. Quarter Apr-May-Jun : Death Regn. Place Ringwood, Hants. U.K. : Death Date Jun 1871
Inferred Death Place Hants. U.K.
Vol. 2b, p.377
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/4534497:8914?ti...
(ii) Ringwood Town Council: Burial Records: Tabulation of dates of Burial, confirmed Dec. 2021
[7] Will of Joseph Brown -Richard Brown, legatee [Joseph's Profile]
[8] N. A. U.K. Kew, Surrey : MH 12/10977 (1862-Aug.18 1871) & MH 12/10978 (Aug.19 - 1871 - Dec. 31 1876), Correspondence: Local Govt. Board & predecessors > Ringwood Poor Law Union : notification > death of Richard Brown & appt. of his son, GPB successor Clerk to Ringwood Union
[9] Notes upon Brown & Pritchard family of Ringwood [& Christchurch] -by Richard Gordon Brown
[10] Appointment -Inspector of Corn Returns, Ringwood, by Southampton Q.S. Quarter Sessions
Book 1928-36. Pages 15/16 1st week of Epiphany -held at Southampton Jan 15 1828 : Ref. Q1/36
[11] "British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPC2-CQJM : Fri Oct 27 19:25:59 UTC 2023), Entry for George Pritchard Brown & Richard Brown, 26 Feb 1870.
(ii) Obituary : Salisbury & Winchester Journal, July 1 1871
[12] England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921 -Richard Brown : United Grand Lodge of England : 1813-1836 : Register of Admissions: Country & Foreign 'B', #144-288, fols 1-279 & Folio No. 2 1825-1836 showing: His Birth Year 1800
Initiation Age 25 : Initiation Date 20 Oct 1825
1st Payment Year on Register 1825 : Year range 1813-1836
Profession Attorney Cerlk
Lodge Lodge Of Unity : Location Ringwood : Lodge Number 214, 154
Folio Number 155

Other
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1180139 >The Hampshire Family Historian - v. 22 (1995-1996), Feb.4 1996, pt.4 re: snippets from the workhouse : call no. 942.27 B2h