Ann Brent and my other Brent ancestors

Ann Brent (1780-1863).
My 4th great-grandmother.

The Brents came from Hampshire in southern England and married into the Downer family, ancestors on my paternal Finch line. The surname can derive from place names but may also refer to the Old English ‘brente’ meaning steep place – the location perhaps of where a family lived.

View where the Brents are in my current family tree

Ann Brent was my 4th great-grandmother and the first of the Brents in my family tree. She was baptised on 27 March 1780 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire, the daughter of Henry Brent and Mary Guyatt (see below). Some sources suggest she was from Sutton Scotney, a neighbouring village, so perhaps the family lived there at times during her youth.

She married carpenter Charles Downer in Wonston on 9 November 1800 and moved to Winchester in Hampshire, where they raised their children. These included Mary Ann Downer, my 3rd great-grandmother, who married William Ward. They were recorded there in the census returns of 1841 and 1851, latterly living in Wales Street, with Ann described as a laundress. Charles was buried in Winchester on 13 November 1851. Ann was buried on 9 April 1863 having been in the local workhouse.

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Henry Brent (1751-1839) and Mary Guyatt (1756-1786).
My 5th great-grandparents.

Henry Brent was baptised at St Peter & St Paul Church, Ringwood, Hampshire, on 26 December 1751. His parents were Henry Brent and Ann Durnford (see below).

I suspect that Henry Jnr was the man who married at St Peter’s in Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hampshire, on 12 September 1773. However, this village was about 40 miles from the parish of his baptism – a significant distance in the 18th century. The marriage licence noted that he was a blacksmith of Sutton Scotney, a little closer to Ringwood but still many miles distant. If the records are to be believed, there were no other Henry Brents in the county who would be suitable alternatives. So perhaps Henry had travelled in order to find a village that needed a blacksmith? Alternatively, he may have moved to be closer to his wife-to-be.

His bride in 1773 was Mary Guyatt of Hurstbourne Tarrant. She was a minor who was married with the permission of her father Jacob.

Henry and Mary settled in Wonston and the neighbouring village of Sutton Scotney, where they brought up their family. Mary died young and was buried on 29 October 1786.

Henry then married Sarah Smith at St Mary’s in Hunton, Hampshire, on 28 April 1788. He was described as a widower of Wonston on the banns. Sarah’s status was not recorded and I haven’t located a baptism record I’m confident about. The couple had several children together, baptised in Wonston.

The Hampshire Chronicle of 1 November 1819 reported on an inquest into Sarah’s death. This heard that Henry had woken to find his wife dead beside him in bed at their home in Sutton Scotney. Having heard that she’d complained a day previously of having pains in her head, “and from the appearance of the body”, the jury agreed she’d died of apoplexy – a term usually used to refer to a stroke. She was buried in Wonston on 23 October 1819.

A tithe apportionment for Wonston dated 26 April 1838 referred to a Henry Brent as lessee and occupier (with his son) of a cottage and garden. Was this Henry Snr or his son Henry, born in 1799? The landowner was a Richard Bright.

Henry lived until 1839 and was buried on 27 October that year in Wonston.

Henry’s children were:

• Anne Brent (1774-1775), my 4th great-grand aunt. Anne was born to Henry and his first wife Mary. She was baptised on 9 March 1774 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire. She was buried in the village on 26 September 1775.
• Thomas Brent (1776-1836), my 4th great-grand uncle. Thomas was born to Henry and Mary. He was baptised on 11 February 1776 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire. He married Dinah Curtis there on 21 October 1802. She had actually been baptised Diana Curtis at All Saints’ Church, Barton Stacey, Hampshire, on 24 June 1781 to parents James and Rebecca but ‘Dinah’ appeared in later records. The couple settled in Wonston and Sutton Scotney and had children. Several parish records noted that Thomas was a gardener. Dinah was buried on 27 December 1821 in Wonston. Thomas died in Sutton Scotney on 20 March 1836 and the Hampshire Chronicle of 21 March noted that he had been “many years carrier between this city [Winchester] and Wonston”, suggesting he had also had a job transporting goods. He was buried in Wonston on 22 March 1836. Thomas and Dinah’s children were:
  • Ann Brent (1803-1829) was baptised in Wonston, Hampshire, and married labourer Henry Padwick there in 1822. He came from Michelmersh in Hampshire but they settled in Twyford, where they had a daugther. Ann died in Twyford in 1829. Heny lived until 1865.
  • Harriet Brent (1806-????) was baptised in Wonston, Hampshire, but I’ve not found her subsequently.
  • Eady / Edith Brent (1808-1823) was baptised and buried in Wonston, Hampshire.
  • Eunice Brent (1811-????) was baptised in Wonston, Hampshire, and married Thomas Hall in Winchester in 1835. I’ve not traced them further.
  • James Brent (1818-1885) was baptised in Wonston, Hampshire, and married Amelia Warrington in Chilcomb, Hampshire, in 1839. They settled in Wonston and had a daughter. James worked as a gardener and agricultural labourer. Amelia died in 1881, James in 1885. It’s possible that he was the James Brent of Hampshire who died in an asylum on 1 May that year, having first been admitted in 1881.

• James Brent (1778-????), my 4th great-grand uncle. James was born to Henry and Mary. He was baptised on 17 January 1778 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire. I’ve not traced him after this, doubting a 1798 wedding in Portsea as that man was described as a yeoman on the marriage licence. He may be the man involved in an 1801 marriage in Winchester but further investigation is required.
• Ann Brent (1780-1863), my 4th great-grandmother. Ann was born to Henry and Mary and married into the Downer family (see above).
• William Wilton Brent (1781-????), my 4th great-grand uncle. William was born to Henry and Mary. He was baptised on 30 September 1781 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire. I’ve not been able to locate him beyond this. An 1852 burial in Christchurch related to a man born in that parish around the same time as William.
• Edith Brent (1784-1871), my 4th great-grand aunt. Edith was born to Henry and Mary. She was baptised on 31 January 1784 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire. She married Charles Prigg from Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, at St Ann’s Church in Radipole, Dorset, on 16 May 1807. Charles, the son of Joseph and Ann Prigg, had enlisted in the 15th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons in 1801, rising to the rank of Sergeant, and was based in several parts of England during his service, judging by where their children were baptised – Woodbridge in Suffolk and Winchester in Hampshire. In 1808 the regiment was sent abroad, landing at A Coruña in northern Spain for service in the Peninsular War, which saw the British allied with Spain and Portugal in the battle against the invading French forces led by Napoleon. However, the French proved overwhelming in this part of Spain towards the end of 1808 and the British were forced into a retreat. The bedraggled forces, which had suffered significant losses, managed to escape with the help of the British fleet. Charles and his fellow men returned home early in 1809. Later in the Peninsular War, in 1813, the dragoons sailed for Lisbon in Portugal to support the Duke of Wellington’s British army in their drive to chase French forces back into France. In March 1814 the men began the advance towards Toulouse, via Monfaucon, Samatan and St Lys. On the approach to Toulouse later in the month the French launched a surprise attack of infantry and cavalry, which forced the British back. In the battle, Charles, a fellow trooper and eight horses were killed. Letters from his comrades collated in the book ‘From Corunna To Waterloo: The Letters and Journals of Two Napoleonic Hussars’ noted that Charles died later in the day from his wounds. His brother Samuel was also serving with the regiment as a sergeant on the day, according to the family gravestone. In April the French were defeated at Toulouse and the dragoons returned home. Charles was buried in the family plot at his home village of Stoke-sub-Hamdon in Somerset, the grave noting that he “fell while fighting for his King and country in the south of France 25 March 1814 aged 31 years”. Edith was left alone to bring up their children – two of whom had only been baptised in 1813 – but she married again. She wed Alexander McKenzie, a painter and decorator, on 13 January 1817 at Portsea in Hampshire. They lived in Winchester and had children together but he died in 1832 and was buried in the city on 27 April. In reporting his death the Hampshire Chronicle of 23 April 1832 noted that he had been a member of the North Hants Militia – at the time a reserve force. In 1841 Edith was living with several of her children in Colebrook Street, Winchester, working as a shopkeeper but 10 years later her occupation was given as day nurse at the county hospital in the city. In 1861 and 1871 she was living at the St John’s Hospital almshouses. Edith died on 19 June 1871. Her children were:
  • Charles Henry Prigg (1807-????), who was born to Edith and Charles and was baptised at Woodbridge in Suffolk. I’ve not traced him beyond being admitted into the church at Wonston the following year.
  • Louisa Prigg (1813-1875), who was born to Edith and Charles and baptised at Winchester in Hampshire. She married local man Joseph Williams there in 1831. He was a greengrocer and, later, a market gardener. They lived in the city and raised their children there. Louisa died in 1875, Joseph in 1878.
  • Matilda Prigg (1813-1855), who was born to Edith and Charles and baptised at Winchester in Hampshire. She married local man William Gaiger there in 1835 and together they remained in the city for the rest of their lives. They had children and he worked as a cellarman and later as a porter but Matilda died young in 1855. William remarried and died in 1880.
  • Alexander Montrose Mckenzie (1817-1853), who was born to Edith and Alexander and baptised at Winchester in Hampshire. He married Sarah Rogers in Chilcomb, Hampshire, in 1838, and worked as a whitesmith and a painter and decorator. They had children and lived in Winchester but he died young in 1853. Sarah went on to work as a nurse and died in 1875.
  • Henry Mckenzie (1821-????), who was born to Edith and Alexander and baptised at Winchester in Hampshire. I’ve not been able to trace him with any confidence.
  • Frederick Mckenzie (1824-????), who was born to Edith and Alexander and baptised at Winchester in Hampshire. By 1841 he was working as a carpenter and then followed that trade in the Royal Navy and the merchant navy. In 1844 he married Elizabeth Lewis in Portsmouth but I’ve not found them subsequently.
  • Caroline Mckenzie (1825-????) was born to Edith and Alexander and baptised at Winchester in Hampshire. I’ve not been able to trace her with any confidence.
  • George Mckenzie (1828-1833) was born to Edith and Alexander and baptised at Winchester in Hampshire (although his mother’s name was incorrectly given as Elizabeth on the parish record). He died in 1833.

• Martha Brent (1786-1788), my 4th great-grand aunt. Edith was born to Henry and Mary. She was baptised on 16 April 1786 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire, and buried there on 3 August 1788.
• Henry Brent (1791-1791), my 4th great-grand uncle. Henry was born to Henry and his second wife Sarah. He was baptised on 24 April 1791 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire, and buried there on 5 October that year.
• Sarah Brent (1793-1839), my 4th great-grand aunt. Sarah was born to Henry and his second wife Sarah. She was baptised on 16 February 1793 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire. She married George Yarlett in Wonston on 26 July 1813 and raised a family, most of whom were baptised in the village of Whitchurch, about six miles to the north of Wonston. He worked as an agricultural labourer. Sarah died in 1839 and was buried in Whitchurch on 11 July that year. George died the following year in the local workhouse and was buried in nearby Overton on 9 March 1840. Their children were:
  • William Wilton Yarlett (1817-????) was baptised in Wonston, Hampshire.
  • Mary Ann Yarlett (1819-????) was baptised in Whitchurch, Hampshire, and married John Cooper in Romsey, Hampshire, in 1846. He came from Overton in the county but they moved away, the 1861 and 1871 census returns showing them with their children in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. He was listed as a labourer at his marriage but he later worked as a carpenter. I’m unsure on their death years.
  • David Yarlett (1823-1841) was baptised in Whitchurch, Hampshire, and buried at Overton in 1841, having been in the Whitchurch Union Workhouse.
  • Jane Yarlett (1826-1839) was baptised and buried in Whitchurch, Hampshire.
  • John Yarlett (1828-1828) was baptised and buried in Whitchurch, Hampshire.
  • Caroline Yarlett (?1829-1832) was baptised and buried in Whitchurch, Hampshire. She was said to be aged four at death but was baptised in 1831.
  • Susan Yarlett (1833-????) was baptised in Whitchurch, Hampshire.

• Henry Brent (1799-1883), my 4th great-grand uncle. Henry was born to Henry and his second wife Sarah. He was baptised on 23 June 1799 at Holy Trinity Church in Wonston, Hampshire. He married Mary Liddard at All Hallows Church in Whitchurch, Hampshire, on 26 December 1821. Her ancestry is unclear. Some online sources claim she was born Mary Billet in Whitchurch, perhaps making her the woman who married William Liddard there in 1811. However, I’ve found no death record for this man and Mary was described as a spinster on her marriage record. Henry worked as a blacksmith and the couple had a number of children baptised in Wonston, although the records note that for at least some of the time they were living in nearby Sutton Scotney. At some point they emigrated to Canada and settled in Sherbrooke, Quebec, being first recorded there in the 1851 census. Mary died on 29 July 1858 and was buried two days later in Sherbrooke. Henry then married Irishwoman Mary Stewart on 4 September 1859 and had children with her. Various records note that Henry was also the sexton of St Peter’s Church in Sherbrooke, responsible for its maintenance and care of the grounds. Henry died on 5 June 1883 and was buried in Sherbrooke. Mary, who was significantly younger than her husband, died on 10 August 1905 and was buried two days later in Sherbrooke. Henry’s children were:
  • William Brent (1822-????) was born to Henry’s first wife and baptised in Wonston, Hampshire. He may have travelled to Canada with his parents but I’ve yet to find convincing proof.
  • Jane Brent (1825-????) was born to Henry’s first wife and baptised in Wonston, Hampshire. I’ve not been able to trace her.
  • George Brent (1828-????) was born to Henry’s first wife and baptised in Wonston, Hampshire. He was recorded in the 1851 census in Sherbrooke, Canada, although was in the United States at the time. It’s possible that he settled in Ontario but I’ve not been able to find proof.
  • Henry Brent (1831-????) was born to Henry’s first wife and baptised in Wonston, Hampshire. I’ve not been able to trace him.
  • Harriet Brent (1834-1913) was born to Henry’s first wife and baptised in Wonston, Hampshire. She travelled to Canada with her parents and married Quebec-born labourer Louis Lemay there in 1855. They had children. By 1901, and living in Sherbrooke, he was being described as a wheelwright in the census. Louis died there in 1907, Harriet in 1913.
  • James Henry Brent (1860-1918) was born to Henry’s second wife and baptised in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. He married Alberta May Hall there in 1882 and had a large family. Census returns listed him as a clerk. In around 1910 James and his wife left to live in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA, but he died in 1918. Alberta died in 1930 and, like her husband, was buried back in Sherbrooke.
  • Charles Edmund Brent (1864-1940) was born to Henry’s second wife and baptised in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Initially working as a clerk, he married Sarah Elizabeth Bennett there in 1886. She was from Derbyshire in England. They were next recorded with their English-born children in Preston, Lancashire, England, where Charles was landlord of the Crown Hotel. Ten years later, however, Charles was living with a housekeeper called Jeannie Jones in Liverpool and working as a lamplighter. She would go on to have his children and be listed as his wife but this may have been an informal arrangement as his first wife Sarah lived on, described as a widow in the census and with her children in tow. Divorce being so expensive and unacceptable at the time, it was easier to tell little white lies when a marriage broke down. Sarah died in 1921. Charles later worked as a railway porter and watchman at Liverpool Cathedral. He died in 1940, Jeannie in 1953.

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Henry Brent (1719-????) and Ann Durnford (????-????).
My 6th great-grandparents.

It’s most likely that my 6th great-grandfather was Henry Brent, or Brint, baptised on 5 December 1719 at Christchurch in Hampshire (now in Dorset). Unless missing from the records, there are no other candidates within Hampshire. His father was George (see below); his mother’s name was absent from the baptism record.

Henry is again the leading candidate for the man who married Ann Durnford, or Durndford, at St Peter & St Paul Church in Ringwood, Hampshire, about nine miles to the north of his home parish. The couple had at least three children. I’ve yet to find an occupation for Henry.

Ann’s ancestry is murkier. A child baptised on 27 May 1719 at St Leonard’s Church in Whitsbury, Hampshire, about 10 miles north of Ringwood, could be her but she could also be the Ann Durnford who married an Edward Read in Ringwood in 1747. Only DNA is likely to solve the mystery as many Hampshire parish records contain only the barest minimum of information.

Neither have I found a burial record for Henry. Ann’s death is as shrouded in mystery as her birth. Was she the woman who was buried in Ringwood on 25 September 1775 or did Henry die some years earlier? For a widow Ann Brent married widower Thomas Bolney there on 20 June 1762. Again, the mystery is unlikely to be solved.

Henry and Ann’s children were:

• Ann Brent (1746-????), my 5th great-grand aunt was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire, on 3 October 1746. I’ve not traced her beyond this but some parish records in the area only record deaths as “child of” without giving a first name. One child was buried on 4 August 1750 in Ringwood. This may have been Ann or her sister Betty.
• Betty Brent (1749-????), my 5th great-grand aunt was baptised in Ringwood, Hampshire on 13 February 1749 (1750 in the new calendar). I’ve not traced her beyond this but some parish records in the area only record deaths as “child of” without giving a first name.
• Henry Brent (1751-1839), my 5th great-grandfather. He was a blacksmith who married Mary Guyatt elsewhere in Hampshire. See above for details.

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George Brent (????-????) and ? Anna Huntte (????-????).
My 7th great-grandparents.

George Brint / Brent is a bit of a mystery. I have no baptism record for him and the lack of a wife’s name on his children’s baptism records makes it hard to work out when and who he married. Admittedly there are few candidates. I believe he was the man who married Anna Huntte at St Mary & All Saints in Ellingham, Hampshire, on 11 December 1706. While Ellingham is 10 miles north of Christchurch, where George’s children were baptised, this aligns well with the birth in 1708 of his first child, who was also named Anna.

Their children were:

• Anna Brent / Brinte (1708-1728), my 6th great-grand aunt was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire, on 5 November 1708, and buried there on 22 September 1728 “the daughter of George Brentt”.
• Betty Brent / Brint (1713-1741), my 6th great-grand aunt was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire, on 15 September 1713. She married Thomas Buten / Butten there on 26 December 1730 and had a number of children with him, but she died in 1741 and was buried in Christchurch on 26 February that year. Thomas’s ancestry is unclear and it’s possible that he married again as a child, Sarah, was baptised in Christchurch in 1744 listing him as the father. The parish’s records didn’t include the mother’s name at this point in time. Betty’s known children were:
  • Thomas Butten (1731-????) was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire. I’ve not been able to trace him with confidence subsequently.
  • Henry Butten (1734-????) was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire. I’ve not been able to trace him with confidence subsequently.
  • Elias Butten (1738-1815) was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire, and married Ann Troke – born locally in 1741 – in the parish in 1770. They raised their family in the area – various records link them to Sopley a few miles north and to Winkton, a tithing of Christchurch. A 1798 Land Tax record noted Elias occupying land belonging to a William Ward in Winkton, and the Salisbury and Winchester Journal of 21 September 1812 reported that a black cart mare belonging to Elias had either strayed or been stolen from a field in Winkton. Elias offered a reward for its safe return. Ann died in 1807, Elias in 1815 and both were buried in Christchurch.
  • Mary Butten (1739-????) was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire, on the same day as brother John. Were they twins? I’ve not been able to trace her with confidence subsequently.
  • John Butten (1739-????) was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire, on the same day as sister Mary. Were they twins? I’ve not been able to trace him with confidence subsequently.
  • Joseph Butten (1741-1741) was baptised and buried in Christchurch, Hampshire.
• George Brent / Brint (1716-????), my 6th great-grand uncle was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire, on 25 January 1716. He is most likely the man who married Sarah Godden there on 17 October 1745 but what happened to them after is uncertain.
• Henry Brent / Brint (1719-????), my 6th great-grandfather was baptised in Christchurch, Hampshire. Read about him and his family above.

Sources: Census, BMDs, military and other records at Ancestry.co.uk and Findmypast.co.uk. British Newspaper Archive (titles in text). Hampshire Archives marriage licence 83M76/PI4/132 Henry Brent and Mary Guyatt – refers to him as a blacksmith. From Corunna to Waterloo: the Letters and Journals of Two Napoleonic Hussars, 1801-1816 by Gareth Glover, Greenhill Books 2007.