Brammall, JOHN

Birth Name Brammall, JOHN 1a 2a
Also Known As Bramall, John 3a 2b 4a 5a 6a 6b
Also Known As Bramhall, John 7a 7b
Also Known As Bramwell, John 8a
Gender male
Age at Death 53 years, 3 months, 8 days

Narrative

EARLY LIFE
John was born 10 months after his parents marriage. His three younger sisters died before he was 12. One sister was 9, the other two were just 1 year old. John's parents had four more children, one died aged 7, another died aged 2 months, and we don't know what happened to the other two. John enlisted in the Dragoon Guards aged 19 in March 1806, presumably to get away from home where life was clearly hard.
BRITISH ARMY
During the later part of the 18th century the British Army drew many of its raw recruits from the lowest classes. Since army life was known to be harsh, and the remuneration low, it attracted mainly those for whom civilian life was worse. The Duke of Wellington himself said that many of the men "enlist from having got bastard children - some for minor offences - some for drink". They were, he once said, "the scum of the earth; it is really wonderful that we should have made them to the fine fellows they are." A system of 'limited service' (seven years for infantry, ten for cavalry and artillery) was introduced in 1806 to attract recruits. From 1800 onwards, soldiers received a daily beer money allowance in addition to their regular wages. Unlike other armies of the time, the British did not use conscription to bolster army numbers, with enlistment remaining voluntary.
SCOTLAND
Four years after he enlisted, John was living in the army barracks in Cockenzie, where he met Janet, who was 15. Their son Joseph (named after John's father) was born three months before Janet's 16th birthday. They got married in Edinburgh amonth after Janet's 16th birthday. John was probably serving in the army away from home for the next 5 years as there are no further children. A family tree on Ancestry says of John "Family legend says an unknown ancestor sailed on the ship that took Napoleon to St Helena. Could this be the relative? The 6th Dragoon Guards were known to have fought in the Napoleonic wars." The Dragoon Guards did indeed fight in the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) including the Peninsula Campaign (1807-1814) and Napoleon arrived in St Helena on 15th October 1815, after ten weeks at sea on board HMS Northumberland. So it is perfectly possible the family legend is true.
HOME TO STOCKPORT
John is 30 when he moves back to his birthplace of Stockport with his 20 year old wife and young son. John's parents died in their forties but it's possible his mother was still alive when John returned home. John worked as a spinner in a cotton mill and the family lived in the Hillgate area of Stockport, where their second child, Abraham, was born. They moved to Sowerby Bridge, about 30 miles from Stockport, for a few years, where their next two sons were born and baptised. David (1819) was born in Sowerby, and John (1822) was born in nearby Skircoat Green. John also worked as a roller coverer, a cotton mill worker, responsible for maintaining the rollers on the machinery.
They returned to Stockport where they had 6 more children.
A SAD END
Three years after the birth of his youngest child, John committed suicide aged 53, possibly the result of his experiences in the army at a young age, and not having any parents or siblings he could turn to. He cut his own throat "being lunatic", while working alone at night.

Events

Event Date Place Description Sources
Birth 8 Aug 1786 Stockport, Cheshire, England   6c
Baptism 3 Sep 1786 St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England   6d
Military Service 18 Mar 1806   Enlisted as Private in 6th Dragoon Guards 8b
Residence Jun 1810 Barracks House, Cockenzie, East Lothian, Scotland   9a 10a 10b
Residence 26 Apr 1811 Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland   11a
Occupation 29 Aug 1811   Private in 6th Dragoon Guards (aka The Carabiniers) 12a
Occupation 16 Mar 1817   Spinner 6e
Residence 16 Mar 1817 Hillgate, Stockport, Cheshire, England   6f
Residence 5 Sep 1819 Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, England   1b
Occupation 5 Sep 1819   Cotton Spinner 1c
Occupation 10 Feb 1822   Cotton Spinner 1d
Residence 10 Feb 1822 Skircoat Green, Yorkshire, England   1e
Occupation 24 Oct 1824   Spinner 13a
Residence 24 Oct 1824 Portwood, Stockport, Cheshire, England   13b
Occupation 4 Mar 1827   Roller Coverer 13c
Residence 4 Mar 1827 Portwood, Stockport, Cheshire, England   13d 7c
Occupation 10 May 1829   Spinner 13e
Residence 10 May 1829 Portwood, Stockport, Cheshire, England   13f
Occupation 19 Jun 1831   Spinner 13g
Residence 19 Jun 1831 Portwood, Stockport, Cheshire, England   13h
Occupation 7 Aug 1836   Roller Coverer 6g
Residence 7 Aug 1836 Portwood, Stockport, Cheshire, England   6h
Occupation 16 Nov 1839   Lodge Keeper 14a
Death 16 Nov 1839 Wellington Mill, Daw Bank, Stockport, Cheshire, England Age: 53 15a 16a 7d 14b 17a

Cause: Cut his throat being Lunatic

Burial 22 Nov 1839 Stockport, Cheshire, England   7e
Death Registered Dec 1839 Stockport, Cheshire, England   18a

Parents

Relation to main person Name Birth date Death date Relation within this family (if not by birth)
Father Brammall, JOSEPHJun 1762between 1809 and 1810
Mother Bennet, Frances17651812
         Brammall, JOHN 8 Aug 1786 16 Nov 1839
    Sister     Bramhall, Elisabeth 11 Feb 1789 1798
    Sister     Bramall, Sarah 20 Feb 1791 1792
    Sister     Bramhall, Fanny 17 May 1793 1794
    Brother     Bramhall, Abram 23 Apr 1795
    Brother     Bramhall, James 8 Aug 1797 Feb 1804
    Brother     Bramhall, Joseph 8 Jul 1800
    Sister     Bramall, Mary 3 Feb 1805 Apr 1805

Families

Family of Brammall, JOHN and Stewart, JANET
Married Wife Stewart, JANET ( * 1 Jul 1795 + 11 Feb 1864 )
   
Event Date Place Description Sources
Marriage 29 Aug 1811 Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland   5b 12b
  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
Brammall, Joseph28 Mar 181125 Nov 1889
Brammall, DAVIDabout 1814Nov 1894
Brammall, Abraham18171875
Brammall, Georgeabout 1819
Brammal, John20 Jan 1822before 1831
Bramall, Fanny18241826
Brammall, Sarah1826
Brammall, Johnabout 1831
Brammall, Thomasabout 1831before 1841
Brammall, James Stewart183619 Jan 1900

Source References

  1. West Yorkshire, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910
      • Source text:

        Name: David Brammell
        Age: 0
        Record Type: Baptism
        Birth Date: 15 Aug 1819
        Baptism Date: 5 Sep 1819
        Baptism Place: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church, Yorkshire, England
        Parish as it Appears: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church
        Search Photos: Search for 'Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
        Father: John Brammell
        Mother: Jane Brammell

      • Source text:

        Name: David Brammell
        Age: 0
        Record Type: Baptism
        Birth Date: 15 Aug 1819
        Baptism Date: 5 Sep 1819
        Baptism Place: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church, Yorkshire, England
        Parish as it Appears: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church
        Search Photos: Search for 'Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
        Father: John Brammell
        Mother: Jane Brammell

      • Source text:

        Name: David Brammell
        Age: 0
        Record Type: Baptism
        Birth Date: 15 Aug 1819
        Baptism Date: 5 Sep 1819
        Baptism Place: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church, Yorkshire, England
        Parish as it Appears: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church
        Search Photos: Search for 'Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
        Father: John Brammell
        Mother: Jane Brammell

      • Page: West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP93/1/4
      • Source text:

        Name: John Brammal
        Age: 0
        Record Type: Baptism
        Birth Date: 20 Jan 1822
        Baptism Date: 10 Feb 1822
        Baptism Place: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church, Yorkshire, England
        Parish as it Appears: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church
        Father: John Brammal
        Mother: Janet Brammal

      • Citation:

        http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=2252&h=5260060&indiv=try

      • Page: West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP93/1/4
      • Source text:

        Name: John Brammal
        Age: 0
        Record Type: Baptism
        Birth Date: 20 Jan 1822
        Baptism Date: 10 Feb 1822
        Baptism Place: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church, Yorkshire, England
        Parish as it Appears: Sowerby Bridge, Christ Church
        Father: John Brammal
        Mother: Janet Brammal

      • Citation:

        http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=2252&h=5260060&indiv=try

  2. Certified copy of an Entry of Marriage
      • Page: 1858 [marriage certificate] James Stewart Brammall and Elizabeth Edmunson
      • Source text:

        James (signed). Elizabeth "X". WItnesses Joseph Walters (signed) and Ellen Bramall "X".

      • Page: 1841 [marriage certificate] David Brammall and Isabella Plant
      • Source text:

        David "X". Isabella "X". WItness Joseph Brammall (signed). Could be David's older brother?

  3. Manchester, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930
      • Page: Church: Heaton Norris. 1858 page 203.
      • Source text:

        James Stuart Bramall (signed) and Elizabeth Edmundson (X). Winesses: Joseph Watters (signed) and Ellen Bramall (X).

  4. England, Cheshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1909
  5. Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910
      • Source text:

        Name John Bramall
        Gender Male
        Marriage Date 29 Aug 1811
        Marriage Place Canongate,Edinburgh,Midlothian,Scotland
        Spouse Jane Stewart
        FHL Film Number1067744
        Household Members
        William Stewart
        Jane Stewart
        John Bramall

      • Source text:

        Name John Bramall
        Gender Male
        Marriage Date 29 Aug 1811
        Marriage Place Canongate,Edinburgh,Midlothian,Scotland
        Spouse Jane Stewart
        FHL Film Number1067744
        Household Members
        William Stewart
        Jane Stewart
        John Bramall

  6. England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000
      • Source text:

        Abraham Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        16 Mar 1817
        Event Place:
        St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        John Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Jennett

      • Source text:

        John Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        03 Sep 1786
        Event Place:
        St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        Joseph Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Frances

      • Source text:

        John Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        03 Sep 1786
        Event Place:
        St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        Joseph Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Frances

      • Source text:

        John Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        03 Sep 1786
        Event Place:
        St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        Joseph Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Frances

      • Source text:

        Abraham Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        16 Mar 1817
        Event Place:
        St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        John Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Jennett

      • Source text:

        Abraham Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        16 Mar 1817
        Event Place:
        St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        John Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Jennett

      • Source text:

        James Stewart Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        07 Aug 1836
        Event Place:
        St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        John Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Janet

      • Source text:

        James Stewart Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        07 Aug 1836
        Event Place:
        St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        John Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Janet

  7. England, Select Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1598-1900
  8. Napoleonic War Records 1775 - 1817
      • Source text:

        First name(s) John
        Last name Bramwell
        Rank Private
        Regiment 6Th Dragoon Guards
        Enlistment year 1806
        Enlistment day 18
        Enlistment month Mar
        WO25 reference 882
        Category Military, armed forces & conflict
        Subcategory Regimental & Service Records
        Collections from Great Britain, UK None

      • Citation:

        https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM%2FNAP3%2F00066106

      • Source text:

        First name(s) John
        Last name Bramwell
        Rank Private
        Regiment 6Th Dragoon Guards
        Enlistment year 1806
        Enlistment day 18
        Enlistment month Mar
        WO25 reference 882
        Category Military, armed forces & conflict
        Subcategory Regimental & Service Records
        Collections from Great Britain, UK None

      • Citation:

        https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM%2FNAP3%2F00066106

  9. The Fourth Statistical Account of East Lothian
      • Source text:

        Barrack House, Links Road, Port Seton (northwest of Robertson’s garage) is a very old building, especially the west gable. It was there during Napoleonic times as a garrison building, although probably much earlier. The stone for the flagpole for the barracks can be seen at Bay View, which lies to the west of the property.

      • Citation:

        https://el4.org.uk/parish/cockenzie-port-seton/environment/

  10. National Library of Scotland
      • Page: Map of Haddingtonshire Sheet IX.NW (includes: Prestonpans; Tranent) Publication date: 1895 Date revised: 1892
      • Source text:

        Barracks on the outskirts of Cockenzie.

      • Page: Map of Haddingtonshire, Sheet 9 (includes: Aberlady; Gladsmuir; Haddington; Pencaitland; Prestonpans; Tranent) Survey date: 1853 Publication date: 1854
      • Source text:

        Barracks on the outskirts of Cockenzie.

  11. Scotland, Church registers - Old Parish Registers Births and baptisms
      • Source text:

        JOSEPH BRAMBLE - JOHN BRAMBLE/JANET STEWART - M - 26/04/1811 - Hamilton

  12. Scotland, Church registers - Old Parish Registers Banns and marriages
      • Source text:

        JOHN BRAMALL - JANE STEWART - 29/08/1811 - Canongate
        (witnesses Daniel Brierley and William Jackson)

         

      • Source text:

        JOHN BRAMALL - JANE STEWART - 29/08/1811 - Canongate
        (witnesses Daniel Brierley and William Jackson)

         

  13. England, Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1598-1900
      • Source text:

        Fanny Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        24 Oct 1824
        Event Place:
        Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Female
        Father's Name:
        John Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Jennet

      • Source text:

        Fanny Bramall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        24 Oct 1824
        Event Place:
        Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Female
        Father's Name:
        John Bramall
        Mother's Name:
        Jennet

      • Source text:

        Sarah Bramhall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        04 Mar 1827
        Event Place:
        Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Female
        Father's Name:
        John Bramhall
        Mother's Name:
        Jane

      • Source text:

        Sarah Bramhall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        04 Mar 1827
        Event Place:
        Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Female
        Father's Name:
        John Bramhall
        Mother's Name:
        Jane

      • Source text:

        George Brammall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        10 May 1829
        Event Place:
        Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        John Brammall
        Mother's Name:
        Jannet

      • Source text:

        George Brammall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        10 May 1829
        Event Place:
        Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        John Brammall
        Mother's Name:
        Jannet

      • Source text:

        Thomas Brammall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        19 Jun 1831
        Event Place:
        Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        John Brammall
        Mother's Name:
        Janet

      • Source text:

        Thomas Brammall
        Event Type:
        Christening
        Event Date:
        19 Jun 1831
        Event Place:
        Stockport, Cheshire, England
        Gender:
        Male
        Father's Name:
        John Brammall
        Mother's Name:
        Janet

  14. The Manchester Times
      • Page: 23 Nov 1839, Saturday, Page 3
      • Source text:

        "SUICIDE - A man named John Bramall, who was generally considered a steady, sober, industrious man, and had for a number of years occupied the situation of lodge keeper at the factory of Messrs. Hole, Lingard, and Cruttenden, Wellington Road, put a period to his existence, in the lodge, about seven o'clock on Saturday morning last, by cutting his throat in a frightful manner. An inquest was held on the body at the Borough Tavern on Monday, and a verdict of "Insanity" returned."

      • Page: 23 Nov 1839, Saturday, Page 3
      • Source text:

        "SUICIDE - A man named John Bramall, who was generally considered a steady, sober, industrious man, and had for a number of years occupied the situation of lodge keeper at the factory of Messrs. Hole, Lingard, and Cruttenden, Wellington Road, put a period to his existence, in the lodge, about seven o'clock on Saturday morning last, by cutting his throat in a frightful manner. An inquest was held on the body at the Borough Tavern on Monday, and a verdict of "Insanity" returned."

  15. Certified copy of an Entry of Death
      • Page: 1839 [death certificate] John Brammall.
      • Source text:

        Cause of death - Cut his throat being lunatic

  16. The Yorkshire Herald and the York Herald
      • Page: 23 Nov 1839, Saturday, Page 3
      • Source text:

        " SUICIDE AT STOCKPORT. - On Saturday morning last. John Brammall, lodge-keeper at the mill of Messrs Hole and Co., Daw Bank Stockport, committed suicide in the lodge by almost severing his head from his body. A short time before he spoke to a friend iin a very strange and incoherent manner, asking him if he knew how to cut people's heads off, and expressing a wish that he would cut his head off. An inquest was held on Monday evening, and a verdict was returned 'That the deceased had put an end to his existence by cutting his throat while in a state of insanity'."

  17. Manchester & Salford Advertiser
      • Page: 23 November 1839 page 2 column 6 para 6
      • Source text:

        " DETERMINED SUICIDE AT STOCKPORT. - On Saturday morning last, a most lamentable occurence took place at the mill of Messrs Hole, Lingard and Cruttenden, Daw Bank Stockport. John Brammall, lodge-keeper at the above mill, committed suicide in the lodge, by almost severing his head from his body. He spoke to a friend a short time previously in a very strange and incoherent manner, asking him if he knew how to cut people's heads off, and expressing a wish that he would cut his off. Shortly afterwards a person had occasion to go through the lodge, and was horror-sctruck at finding the deceased weltering in blood. A surgeon was sent for, but his services were of no avail, as the vital spark had fled. An inquest was held on the body on Monday evening, at the Borough Tavern, Carr-green before John Hollins, Esq. coroner, and a most respectable jury; and a verdict was returned, 'that the deceased had put an end to his existence by cutting his throat while in a state of insanity'."

  18. England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index (1837-1983)