Memories
About The Brightmore Family
When I started my research, the only information I had was an old bible belonging to my grandfather, Wilfred BRIGHTMORE, which had an inscription it in memory of Edwin D'Orcy GIBSON . This referred to my grandad as Wilfred Brightmore (Gibson) which no-one could explain.
So an interesting aside to this has been finding out about Edwin D'Orcy GIBSON .
GIBSON family
I was first introduced to the GIBSON family whilst seeking grandad in the 1901 Census. He was recorded as Wilfred B Gibson and was living in Station Road, Chapeltown with Mary De Orcy GIBSON, Eliza GIBSON, Edwin De Orcy GIBSON and three lodgers.. From this I wondered whether grandad was the son of Eliza GIBSON. When I obtained grandad's birth certificate I found out that he was the son of Henry Brightmore and Sarah Brightmore from Catcliffe, both of whom had died before he was two years old. The three families BRIGHTMORE, BLUNN and GIBSON were closely entwined during the 1880's in Catcliffe and as yet, I have not sorted out the connections.* Edwin D'Orcy GIBSON was the illegitimate son of Eliza Ellen GIBSON (she is shown as mother on his birth certificate and his name then was spelled Edwin Deorsey GIBSON). He was born in Catcliffe on 14 July 1881. He died at 26 Smith Street, Chapeltown, where my Grandad also lived at the time, on 14 October 1905. On his death certificate his mother is shown as Ellen Clancy, 13 Studd Street, Islington, London. I would love to know where he is buried to see if there is any clue to who his father was. I suspect it was one of the BLUNNS (Herbert E BLUNN) as Eliza Ellen GIBSON / Ellen CLANCY was a servant with Annie BLUNN (head) Herbert E BLUNN (nephew) Maude Maria BLUNN (neice) who lived next door to Henry BRIGHTMORE.
My father's name was Wilfred Edwin BRIGHTMORE. Ever since I started I have had a very strong feeling , that there is a story from the murky past that needs to be told!.
Wilfred BRIGHTMORE, was born in Orgreave Road, Catcliffe on 06/03/1879. His father was Henry BRIGHTMORE, a warehouseman at Catcliffe Glassworks, who was born in Catcliffe on 06/05/1849 and died there aged 31 years, on 24/04/1881. His mother, Sarah HINCHLIFF, died aged 27 years on 26/07/1879. Both are buried in St Helens, Treeton.
Henry and Sarah had six children:
- Clement Brightmore HINCHLIFF, born and died 1868
- Mary Helena BRIGHTMORE, born 1870
- George BRIGHTMORE born 1873
- Herbert John BRIGHTMORE born 1874
- Leonard BRIGHTMORE born 1876
- Wilfred BRIGHTMORE born 1879.
Henry BRIGHTMORE had a sister, Lucy Anne born in1840 who married Joseph Ramsbottom BLUNN, born 1831 in Sheffield. Joseph BLUNN was shown as a glass manufacturer in the 1881 census and they lived next door to Henry BRIGHTMORE. Henry's mother, Mary BRIGHTMORE, also lived with the BLUNNs. I did notice from the TreetonWeb that the Catcliffe Glassworks were jointly owned by Henry BLUNN and Henry BOOTH in the 1830's and 40's.
Henry BRIGHTMORE's parents were John BRIGHTMORE, a butcher and Mary SHAW. This couple were married on 16/01/1839 and the marriage certificate shows John BRIGHTMORE's father as being Thomas BRIGHTMORE, a farmer. Henry BLUNN was a witness at the wedding.
I have the 1841 Census index which shows three Thomas BRIGHTMORE's, one aged 3 years and two aged 30 years (to the nearest 5 years). The 1871 Census index shows the following family; Thomas BRIGHTMORE, head, 62 years, born Catcliffe; Hannah, wife, 55 years and children Emily 26 yrs, Bruce 23 yrs, Bertha 16 yrs and John Thomas, 15 years. All the children were born in Brinsworth.
The 1881 census refers to the family detailed in the 1891 census, then living at the Farm House, Treeton :
- Thomas, 42 yrs and his wife Martha 42 yrs and children
- Alan, 14 yrs
- Betsy 10 yrs
- Thomas E, 3 years.
So my great great great grandfather was a farmer called Thomas BRIGHTMORE but I have not yet established what relationship he or I have to the Thomas BRIGHTMORE in the 1891 census.
Joseph A. Brightmore
Joseph A Brightmore was a Parish Councillor and I note he was on the guest list for the electric light dinner , what an impressive invitation that is.In 1901 he was living at Front Street, Treeton with wife Emily (nee Earnshaw) and son Allan B Brightmore aged 4 yrs. He was at that time a farm bailiff. Saw him again on the 1891 Census living with parents Thomas and Martha. He is shown just as Alan Brightmore in the 1881 Census. I am still not sure what the relationship of this family is to the ancestors I have already identified.Joseph Ramsbottom Blunn
Joseph Ramsbottom Blunn was named after his grandfather Joseph Ramsbottom who was the celebrated schoolmaster of the Hollis School run by the Unitarians of the Old Meeting House at Rotherham where the Blunns worshipped in the first half of the nineteenth century. Ramsbottom taught Ebenezer Elliott his letters while he was a pupil there. It is thought that Joseph Ramsbottom Blunn was christened at the Unitarian Upper Chapel in Sheffield. The Blunns also had a glassworks, the Victoria Works, at Kilnhurst which continued when that at Catcliffe closed in about 1884.
Refer also Deorcey/Deorcy Gibson »
If anyone can help me further, please contact the webmaster, who will forward any messages. Thank you
M.B. 2004