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THE LONG, LONG SEARCH FOR DAVID BROWN

My own ancestor Thomas was baptised at St Mwrog`s Church, Llanfwrog on 29th

February.1824. He was the illegitimate child of Elinor Roberts of Mwrog St and

Thomas Willcoxon, Holt and was brought up as Wilcoxon rather than taking his

mothers name.

On his marriage certificate dated 1852 Thomas states that his father is Thomas

Wilcoxon, a chandler. . By this time his father had a business in Chester, so there

must have been some sort of contact between him or his mother

In 1825 Thomas Wilcoxon of Cornish Hall, Holt was apprenticed for seven years to

his uncle, Jonathon Wilcoxon who was also a preacher to learn the trade of a tallow

chandler. He didnt serve the full term of this apprenticeship because in 1829 Thomas

married Ellen Jones in Liverpool. Their first son was named Thomas. Two sons =

both named Thomas. !!!!

A couple of years ago I was `browsing ` the IGI for more Wilcoxons when I spotted

an entry Id not seen before. Henry Wilcoxson, son of Thomas Wilcoxson and Mary

Brown. Christened 15 Jan 1826 Holt.

I couldnt get to the A N Palmer centre fast enough to check for myself. My eyes

nearly popped out of my head, flippin eck, another illegitimate child!!!! Sure enoughit looked like Thomas had been at it again.

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This was probably the reason Thomas didnt complete his apprenticeship, the terms ofthe indenture dated the 1st February 1825 were that he shall not commit fornicationnor contract matrimony within the full term`. Thomas failed miserably on both thoseaccounts, as was proved by the baptism of Henry in 1826 and for definite in 1829.

It would seem he stayed with Uncle Jonathon though because when Jonathon died on

16th December 1837in his will it states.`I give and bequeath to my two nephews Thomas Wilcoxon and James Wilcoxon nowin my service the sum of four hundred pounds for the purpose of enabling them to

continue jointly on their own account the business now carried on by me.I also give and bequeath to the said Thomas Wilcoxon and James Wilcoxon all the

utensils used in the manufacturing of soap and candles in he warehouse and shop

now in my occupation to and for their own use absolutely.`

Of course I wanted to find out more about the Browns, and after searching Genes

Reunited I found a lady who had a Henry Brown born 1826 Holt in her list. I

contacted her and she told me shed been searching for Henrys father David who was

a deceased broker for many years without any success. This name had been on

Henrys marriage certificate when he married at St Oswalds, Chester on 30 th April

1848.

Then I spotted that Henry was a chandler and thought `thats a coincidence`.

When I found that in every census Henry states he was born Holt, and his age

matched the baptism I had found I was convinced that Mary had been telling fibs

about his father.

Even odder I found in 1841 a Henry Brown, right age, not born in Cheshire living

next to my Thomas Wilcoxon and his family. Was there some arrangement between

them, had Thomas been made to give Mary and her son Henry some sort of support,

perhaps giving him employment in the soap boiler / tallow chandlers business.

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