Brown, Thomas
Thomas Brown
d.1835
Wheeler Street, Spitalfields, London
No work is presently known. His will, dated 5 September 1835 identifies him as working at 50 Wheeler Street, Spitalfields, as a violin and bow maker, and leaving his tools, stock in trade and the majority of his estate to his only son, James Brown (IV), then working in Elder Street, Norton Folgate (nearby).
Almost two years before his death, Thomas Brown was called as witness to the suicide of his former servant, Ann M. Clarke. The County Chronicle, Surrey Herald and Weekly Advertiser for Kent, Tuesday 21 January, 1834 gives the following account:
On Thurs-day an inquest was held at the Bacchus public-house, Hoxton, before Mr. Baker, Coroner, on the body of Ann M. Clarke, aged 38 years. It appeared from th evidence of Ann Holland, an elderly woman, that the deceased had formerly been an inmate of the Refuge for the Destitute. Sh had latterly been in the employ of Mr Brow, a violin-maker, of Wheeler-street, Spital-fields, whose service she left on the 27th of December, and had since been lodging with witness. On the Saturday after she left Mr. Brown's service the witness accompanied the decease to Mr. Brown's for the purposes of bringing away her box, and receiving the balance of her wages, amounting to 11s 8d. Mr. Brown refused to pay the deceased, and said he would not do so unless compelled by law, and at the sam time lifted up his hands, and "prayed to God to pour the Almighty vengeance upon the deceased, and afflict her the same as his wife was afflicted." This malediction seemed to alarm the deceased very much, and she soon afterwards said she was afraid she was "done for." She had ever since been very much affected in her mind, and occasionally talked in a very incoherent manner. On Monday night last she appeared very ill, and by the advice of witness procured an ounce of Epson salts, and after she had taken the medicine went to bed. The witness slept in the same bed, and was alarmed about seven o'clock the next morning by the noise of several persons who had heard a groaning in the yard. She turned round and missed the deceased, who was immediately afterwards found dead in the water-butt. In answer to questions from the Jury the Witness sad she never observed any symptoms of derangement in the deceased until Mr. B. invoked the curse upon her head. G. Green of Essex-street, shoemaker, said he lodged near the house of the last witness, and on Tuesday morning he was awakened by several persons (neighbours) knocking at his door. They said there was a groaning in the yard, and they were afraid something fatal had happened. He got up and found the deceased in the water butt. There was but very little water in the bitt ; she was in a sitting position, and quite dead. - A jury man said he was of opinion that Mr. Brown had, by his conduct towards the deceased, and by invoking Divine vengeance on her head, caused her to commit suicide. - Mr. Brown was called in. He was not sworn, but he denied having used the words attributed to him, and said the reason of his refusing to pay the deceased was that he did not owe her so much as the same which she demanded of him. He entered into a very long statement respecting the conduct of the deceased while she was in his service, which he considered amounted to insanity. He also stated that she had led a very dissipated life before she was placed in the Refuge, when he was interrupted by the brother of the deceased, a highly respectable tradesman, who appealed to the Coroner whether it was fair to rake up the faults of his unfortunate sister, which had nothing to do with the present inquiry, and was very distressing to his feelings. - The Coroner said it was certainly unfair on the part of Mr. Brown to state anything respecting the deceased's former course of life, for it did not bear in any way on the present inquiry. - In answer to a question from a Juror, Mr. Brown said the deceased was a very good servant. - The words sworn to have been used by Mr. Brown, returned a verdict, "that the deceased committed suicide while in a state of mental derangement."
Benjamin Hebbert
www.hebberts.com
Documents
Will of Thomas Brown, Violin and Bow Maker of Spitalfields, Middlesex. PROB 11/1853/352
This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Brown residing at number 50 Wheeler [Wheler] Street Spital Fields in the County of Middlesex Violin and Bow Maker but at present an inmate of Guys Hospital in the Borough of Southwark made as follows. I give unto Alexander Young of Batemans Row Shoreditch in the County of Middlesex undertaker the sum of nineteen Guineas as a small testimony of my regard & for this I also give unto my Servant Maria Morley who has lived with me & for some time the like sum of nineteen Guineas, subject to the payment of the said two Legacies and also my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses which I request may be discharged as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I give and bequeath all my money in the funds or elsewhere my share of the Stock in Trade Book debts and other effects also all my Household Furniture and Linen and the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever unto my only Son James Brown of Elder Street, Norton Folgate in the County of Middlesex Violin and Bow Maker to and for his sole use and benefit in trusting to the uniform business and assertion which he has always [illegible] towards me to maintain and support his aged and asslicted Mother for the remainder of her life . And lastly constitute and appoint the said Alexander Young and my said Son James Brown Executors of this my Will hereby revoking any former Will and Testament made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty five. - the Mark and seal of Thomas X Brown - - Signed Sealed, Published and Declared by the said Thomas Brown the Testator and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at this request in the presence and in the preserve of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses - James Browell, Steward of Guys Hospital - Wm Falconar Walker Austin Friars Sol[icito]r.
d.1835
Wheeler Street, Spitalfields, London
No work is presently known. His will, dated 5 September 1835 identifies him as working at 50 Wheeler Street, Spitalfields, as a violin and bow maker, and leaving his tools, stock in trade and the majority of his estate to his only son, James Brown (IV), then working in Elder Street, Norton Folgate (nearby).
Almost two years before his death, Thomas Brown was called as witness to the suicide of his former servant, Ann M. Clarke. The County Chronicle, Surrey Herald and Weekly Advertiser for Kent, Tuesday 21 January, 1834 gives the following account:
On Thurs-day an inquest was held at the Bacchus public-house, Hoxton, before Mr. Baker, Coroner, on the body of Ann M. Clarke, aged 38 years. It appeared from th evidence of Ann Holland, an elderly woman, that the deceased had formerly been an inmate of the Refuge for the Destitute. Sh had latterly been in the employ of Mr Brow, a violin-maker, of Wheeler-street, Spital-fields, whose service she left on the 27th of December, and had since been lodging with witness. On the Saturday after she left Mr. Brown's service the witness accompanied the decease to Mr. Brown's for the purposes of bringing away her box, and receiving the balance of her wages, amounting to 11s 8d. Mr. Brown refused to pay the deceased, and said he would not do so unless compelled by law, and at the sam time lifted up his hands, and "prayed to God to pour the Almighty vengeance upon the deceased, and afflict her the same as his wife was afflicted." This malediction seemed to alarm the deceased very much, and she soon afterwards said she was afraid she was "done for." She had ever since been very much affected in her mind, and occasionally talked in a very incoherent manner. On Monday night last she appeared very ill, and by the advice of witness procured an ounce of Epson salts, and after she had taken the medicine went to bed. The witness slept in the same bed, and was alarmed about seven o'clock the next morning by the noise of several persons who had heard a groaning in the yard. She turned round and missed the deceased, who was immediately afterwards found dead in the water-butt. In answer to questions from the Jury the Witness sad she never observed any symptoms of derangement in the deceased until Mr. B. invoked the curse upon her head. G. Green of Essex-street, shoemaker, said he lodged near the house of the last witness, and on Tuesday morning he was awakened by several persons (neighbours) knocking at his door. They said there was a groaning in the yard, and they were afraid something fatal had happened. He got up and found the deceased in the water butt. There was but very little water in the bitt ; she was in a sitting position, and quite dead. - A jury man said he was of opinion that Mr. Brown had, by his conduct towards the deceased, and by invoking Divine vengeance on her head, caused her to commit suicide. - Mr. Brown was called in. He was not sworn, but he denied having used the words attributed to him, and said the reason of his refusing to pay the deceased was that he did not owe her so much as the same which she demanded of him. He entered into a very long statement respecting the conduct of the deceased while she was in his service, which he considered amounted to insanity. He also stated that she had led a very dissipated life before she was placed in the Refuge, when he was interrupted by the brother of the deceased, a highly respectable tradesman, who appealed to the Coroner whether it was fair to rake up the faults of his unfortunate sister, which had nothing to do with the present inquiry, and was very distressing to his feelings. - The Coroner said it was certainly unfair on the part of Mr. Brown to state anything respecting the deceased's former course of life, for it did not bear in any way on the present inquiry. - In answer to a question from a Juror, Mr. Brown said the deceased was a very good servant. - The words sworn to have been used by Mr. Brown, returned a verdict, "that the deceased committed suicide while in a state of mental derangement."
Benjamin Hebbert
www.hebberts.com
Documents
Will of Thomas Brown, Violin and Bow Maker of Spitalfields, Middlesex. PROB 11/1853/352
This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Brown residing at number 50 Wheeler [Wheler] Street Spital Fields in the County of Middlesex Violin and Bow Maker but at present an inmate of Guys Hospital in the Borough of Southwark made as follows. I give unto Alexander Young of Batemans Row Shoreditch in the County of Middlesex undertaker the sum of nineteen Guineas as a small testimony of my regard & for this I also give unto my Servant Maria Morley who has lived with me & for some time the like sum of nineteen Guineas, subject to the payment of the said two Legacies and also my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses which I request may be discharged as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I give and bequeath all my money in the funds or elsewhere my share of the Stock in Trade Book debts and other effects also all my Household Furniture and Linen and the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever unto my only Son James Brown of Elder Street, Norton Folgate in the County of Middlesex Violin and Bow Maker to and for his sole use and benefit in trusting to the uniform business and assertion which he has always [illegible] towards me to maintain and support his aged and asslicted Mother for the remainder of her life . And lastly constitute and appoint the said Alexander Young and my said Son James Brown Executors of this my Will hereby revoking any former Will and Testament made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty five. - the Mark and seal of Thomas X Brown - - Signed Sealed, Published and Declared by the said Thomas Brown the Testator and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at this request in the presence and in the preserve of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses - James Browell, Steward of Guys Hospital - Wm Falconar Walker Austin Friars Sol[icito]r.
County Chronicle, Surrey Herald and Weekly Advertiser for Kent, Tuesday 21 January, 1834.
