The Bower & Collier Family History
Research by Colin Bower
Brecht One-Name Study
Search for Harriet Piper
It appears that Harriet Piper was the mother of George Frederick Brecht, my Great Grandfather.
What we know
Certificates Held
Full Name:Henry Frederick Ludewig Brecht of: 8 Bonner Street, Bethnal Green (Age:54)
Occupation: Color Manufacturer
Died at: 8 Bonner Street, Bethnal Green (Date:28 May 1838)
Cause: Asthma
Informant: Thomas Kendrick (of: 4 Weaver Street)
Full name: Henry Colvin (of: 9 Type Street, Bethnal Green)
Occupation: Colour Manufacturer (Age: Full)
Father: William Colvin, Calico Printer
Married at: St George in the East (Date: 16/9/1838)
Spouse: Harriet Brecht, Widow (of: 8 Bonner Street, Bethnal Green)
Occupation: Colour Manufacturer (Age: Full)
Father: John Piper, Harness Maker
Relevant Witnesses: William Richard Colvin, Elizabeth Colvin
Marriages & Deaths of Harriet's children (?)
Full name: Josiah Meadowcroft (of: Stepney)
Occupation: Paper Stainer (Age: Full)
Father: William Meadowcroft, Coal Miner
Married at: Parish Church, Stepney (Date: 13/2/1848)
Spouse: Caroline Brecht (of: Stepney)
Occupation: (Age: Full)
Father: Henry Brecht*, Colour Manufacturer
Relevant Witnesses: Catherine Brecht
Full name: Joseph Gale (of: Stepney)
Occupation: Servant (Age: Full)
Father: Joseph Gale, Carpenter
Married at: Parish Church, Stepney (Date: 9/9/1848)
Spouse: Catherine Piper Brecht (of: Stepney) (see Note)
Occupation: (Age: Full)
Father: Henry Brecht*, Color Manufacturer
Relevant Witnesses: Henry Colvin, Rosnea Piper Brecht
Full name: Batholomew Meehan (of: Stepney)
Occupation: Tailor (Age: Full)
Father: John Meehan, Tailor
Married at: Parish Church, Stepney (Date: 14/5/1850)
Spouse: Rosnea Brecht (of: Stepney )
Occupation: (Age: Full)
Father: Henry Brecht*, Colour Manufacturer
Relevant Witnesses: Henry Colvin, Elizabeth Brecht
Full name: John Hall (of: Stepney )
Occupation: Paper Stainer (Age: Full)
Father: William Hall, Mariner
Married at: Parish Church, Stepney (Date: 29/3/1851)
Spouse: Eleanor Brecht (of: Stepney)
Occupation: (Age: Full)
Father: Henry Brecht*, Colour Manufacturer
Relevant Witnesses: Bartholomew Meehan, Elizabeth Hall
Full name: Thomas John King (of: Civic Street, Liverpool)
Occupation: Weigher in the Customs (Age: 29)
Father: Thomas John King, Carrier
Married at: St Alban's, Bevington, Liverpool (Date: 19/11/1854)
Spouse: Elizabeth Piper Brecht (of: Civic Street, Liverpool ) (see Note)
Occupation: (Age: 25)
Father: Henry Brecht, Colour Maker
Relevant Witnesses:
Full Name: Henry Brecht of: 67 High Street, Shadwell (Age: 22 )
Occupation: Paper hanger
Died at: 67 High Street, Shadwell (Date: 26/7/1855)
Cause: Phthisis 12 months
Informant: Elizabeth Hall, Sister (of: )
Full name: Charles Waterman (of: King's Somborne)
Occupation: Carpenter (Age: 27)
Father: Henry Waterman, Carpenter
Married at: Parish Church, King's Somborne (Date: 5/11/1856)
Spouse: Christianna Piper Brecht (of: King's Somborne) (see Note)
Occupation: (Age: 22)
Father: Henry Brecht, Colour Maker
Relevant Witnesses: Harriet Brecht (yet married 1838 to Henry Colvin)
Full name: George Frederick Brecht* (of: Shadwell)
Occupation: Milkman (Age: 21)
Father: Henry Brecht*, Chemical Colour Maker
Married at: Christ Church, St George in the East (Watney Street, Shadwell) (Date: 12/12/1856 )
Spouse: Mary Ann Walland* (of: Shadwell)
Occupation: (Age: 18)
Father: Edward Walland*, Milkman
Relevant Witnesses: Susan Walland
Full Name: Harriet Colvin of: 23 Cross Street, St George in the East (Age: 22)
Occupation: Daughter of Henry Colvin, Painter Journeyman
Died at: 23 Cross Street (Date: 5.9.1865)
Cause: Phthisis Pulmonalis(?)
Informant: William Colvin (of: )
Full Name: Harriet Colvin of: 37 Dean Street, St George in the East (Age: 70)
Occupation: Wife of Henry Colvin, Painter
Died at: 37 Dean Street (Date: 1.10.1871)
Cause: Bronchitis
Informant: Emily Colvin (of: 23 Patterson Street, Mile End)
Note
3 of Henry Brecht's children had adopted the middle name Piper (Harriet's maiden name)
- I have found a note that girls in particular sometimes acquired a middle name between birth and marriage.
Census Entries Obtained
1841 Census
Bonner Street, Green Street, Bethnal Green
Henry Colvin Head 25 Colour Manufacturer
Harriet (Brecht) Colvin Wife 35
Henry Colvin Son 11M
Catherine Brecht Step Daughter 15 Dress Maker
Caroline Brecht Step Daughter 15 Bonnet Maker
Rose Brecht Step Daughter 14
Elizabeth Brecht Step Daughter 12
Eleanor Brecht Step Daughter 10
Henry Brecht Step Son 8
Christiana Brecht Step Daughter 6
George Brecht Step Son 4
1851 Census
10/11 Mint Street, Southwark
Henry Colvin Head Victualler (age 40) born Midx, Bethnal Green
Harriet (Brecht) Colvin (born Piper) Wife (Age 46) Collar (Colour?) Maker born Middx, Bethnal Green
Henry (born and later died as Brecht) Colvin step son (age 20 ) Collar (Colour?) Maker born Middx, Bethnal Green
Elizabeth (born and later married as Brecht) Colvin step daughter (age 24) Seamstress born Middx, Spitalfields
George (born and later married as Brecht) Colvin step son (age 17) born Middx, Bethnal Green
Christiana (born and later married as Brecht) Colvin step daughter (age 16) Seamstress born Middx, Bethnal Green
Harriet Colvin daughter (age 10) born Middx, Bethnal Green
William Colvin son (age 5) born Middx, Whitechapel
Note:
Thomas King (age 24) a Brushmaker born Brentwood, Essex was also staying at 10/11 Mint Street and
who, it appears, became Elizabeth Brecht's husband in 1854.
In 1861 Thomas King, Weigher in Cutsoms and Elizabeth King were living in Everton, Liverpool
1861 Census (see Notes beloe)
17 Wapping Wall, Shadwell (next to the George & Vulture - in 1841 14 Wapping Wall)
Henry Brecht Head (48) Coffee House Keeper born Bethnal Green, Middx
Harriet Brecht Wife (53) born Newington, Surrey
Harriet Brecht Daughter (19) born Bethnal Green, Middx
Rosina Page Boarder (19) Dress Maker born Wapping, Middx
William Colvin Son (15) Bricklayers Labourer born Whitechapel, Middx
Notes:
Henry & Harriet had adopted Brecht (a name well-known in those parts) rather than use their married name Colvin. They were living near Harriet's son George Brecht.
William Colvin was indexed in Find My Past as Calvin.
The appearance of another Mrs Brecht in 1861 may tie in with a Mrs Brecht quoted in 1856:
I was sent an extract dated 16.7.1856 from the Times by the researchers FONS:
"The sale was of two substantially and newly built dwelling houses with shops, Nos 65 and 67 High-street, Shadwell."
The properties were let on lease to Mrs Brecht.
It appears that this may have been Harriet (Brecht) Colvin.
In Kelly's 1856 Trade Directory Henry Brecht is listed as having Coffee Rooms in High Street, Shadwell
- I have thought that this was Harriet's son Henry Brecht but instead this may be Henry Colvin who as shown above adopted the name Brecht.
102 High Street, Shadwell
George Brecht (age 24) Head Master Dairyman born Bethnal Green, Middx
Mary A. Brecht (age 22) Wife born Shadwell, Middx
George Brecht (age 3) Son Scholar born Ratclif, Middx
Edward Brecht (age 2) Son born Ratcliff, Middx
Mary A. Brecht (age 2 months)Daughter born Shadwell, Middx
1871 Census
24 Patterson Street, (Stepney) Mile End Old Town
William Colvin Head (26) Painter born Poplar, Middx
Emily Colvin Wife (26) born Poplar, Middx
Parish Records Obtained
St Mary Lambeth
(?) 8.9.1782 John Piper married Mary Hunt
St Mary, Newington
24.1.1802 Harriet Piper born 6.1.1802
(Parents John & Mary Piper)
Christ Church, Spitalfields
24.10. 1824 Burial of (?) daughter Eleanor Brecht, Fashion Street born 1822
St Dunstan & All Saints
13.9.1865 Bp Catherine Brecht born Nov 1822
Henry Brecht, Paper Hanger, Stepney & Harriet
13.9.1865 Bp Christiana Brecht born 1835
Henry Brecht, Paper Hanger, Stepney & Harriet
Elizabeth Piper Brecht born 13.1.1830 (Spitalfields) bp 12.10.1881
(Parents Henry Frederic Ludovic Brecht, Colour Maker of Spitalfields at time of birth, & Harriet Brecht)
St George in the East
21.4.1837 Henry Frederick Ludewig Brecht married Harriet Piper
St Matthews, Bethnal Green (also in IGI)
3.2.1833 Bp Henry Frederick Ludewig Brecht born (?) 14.1.1833
(Parents Henry Frederick Ludewig Brecht, Color Manufacturer & Harriet)
Misc Information Obtained
London Metropolitan Archives
12.6.1838 Harriot Brecht was granted the administration of the estate of Frederick Ludewig Brecht
Record of Old Bailey Trials on the internet
A court case was held at the Old Bailey on Saturday 2 December 1848 at which Harriet Colvin appeared as a witness.
Harriet said that her husband Henry Colvin kept the Brass-founders' Arms, Whitechapel (In 1841 255 Commercial Road) . Her son Henry Brecht and daughter Eleanor Brecht were also living there and gave evidence
Harriet Piper - Timeline
The above information has been summarised into a Timeline with events in chronological sequence:
Colin Bower
8 August 2021
