The Bower & Collier Family History
Research by Colin Bower
Brecht One Name Study
Progress 2007
This must have been one of the best years ever.
Visit to London
I visited the Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives in Bancroft Road, near Stepney Green underground station. At the Archives I found out the following:
John Christopher Brecht
My cousin had traced in the IGI the 1795 marriage of John Christopher Brecht at St Mary's, Whitechapel. I was hoping to find out more by looking at the Parish Records themselves, the main reason for the visit. I did not learn anything new and unfortunately there do not appear to be any other records to help.
Maria Catharine Brecht
I had traced her burial at Christ Church, Spitalfields in the IGI and wanted to look at the Parish Records. To my surprise I found another burial for a Charlotte Brecht, also of Fashion Street, who died in 1819 age 9. Neither Charlotte's baptism nor her burial had previously come to light before.
Catherine & Christiana Brecht
Again in the IGI, there appeared to be two adult christening at St Matthew's, Bethnal Green in 1865. The adult christenings were confirmed in the Parish Records and birth years were given: Catherine (born 1822) & Christiana ( born 1835).
This was one of the best sessions I have ever had.
After a walk down to Whitechapel I went on to the London Metropolitan Archives where I had one of the biggest finds to date. Heinrich (Henry) Brecht was associated with 3 churches:
Christ Church, Spitalfields
St Matthews, Bethnal Green
St George in the East, Stepney
It was in the Parish Records of Christ Church, Spitalfields where I surprisingly found the burial of Henry Frederick Ludewig Brecht of St Matthew's, Bethnal Green on 3 June 1838 (Age 54). Wonderful!
Contact with Second Cousins
The web-site attracted an enquiry from a second cousin in Australia and it was good to learn about another branch of the family.
I had an article published in Cockney Ancestor the journal of the East of London Family History Society about my research into the Brecht family name.
Article in Cockney Ancestor Autumn 2007
It elicited one of the most fascinating responses imaginable.
Not only was it from a second cousin but gave me the history (and the murder) of George Henry Brecht, the nephew of my Grandfather!
Colin Bower
31 December 2007
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