Brown, Family
Brown family
Spitalfields and Norton Folgate.
Alexander Brown Glasgow
Anthony Brown Clerkenwell & Australia
James Brown (I) Wheler Street, Spitalfields
James Brown (II) Wheler Street, Spitalfields
James Brown (III) Wheler Street, Spitalfields & Australia
James Brown (IV) Elder Street, Norton Folgate
J. Brown (V) Manchester Street, Huddersfield
Thomas Brown Wheler Street, Spitalfields
Simon Andrew Forster recalls on pp.354-55 of The History of The Violin, his own recollections and acquaintances with the Brown family, but they are a little complicated, and it is difficult to understand who was related to whom. He is certain that there were three generations named James. James (I) died of mortification of a broken ankle in 1830 or 1834 at his house in Wheler Street. His son, James James Brown (II) born in 1786 died in 1860 and a further generation, James (III) was trained as a maker but left violin making to become a double bassist, and latterly an Australian. Presumably his departure at the time of the Gold Rush makes it likely that Anthony Brown was also a relative, as he moved from violin making in Clerkenwell to Australia in about the same time.
This seems relatively simple were it not for the will of Thomas Brown 'violin and bow maker' of Wheler Street, Spitalfields, who died in 1853, bequeathing his estate and stock in trade to his son, James Brown of Elder Street in Norton Folgate (within 100 meters of Wheler Street). The rational conclusion at the moment must be that Thomas Brown was the brother of James (I), and that makes James Brown of Elder Street, who we now identify as James (IV) the cousin of James (II). All in all, a pretty typical family working in the violin trade at the time and somewhat less complicated than the Furbers.
Sandy's and Forster give a brief biographical account of the family, written first hand in The History of the Violin published in 1864 (pp.354-55). The family history excludes Thomas Brown, as presumably James IV, although it is clear that they were working closely as an extended family group.
"Associated with the name of Kennedy, as fiddle makers, are James Brown, the elder and younger, both of whom, in early life, were silk-weavers, particularly the father, and lived in the locality of Shoreditch. About 1804 an intimacy arose with the Kennedy family, whereby James Brown the elder acquired some knowledge of fiddle-making; and, being made more perfect in the use of the tools by Thomas Kennedy, he at length became a repairer and maker of instruments for future support. About 1830 he slipped down the stars of his dwelling-house, in Wheeler [Wheler] Street, Spitalfields, and broke one of his ankles; the fracture being most severe, the relatives were advised to take him to the hospital. Within a week of the accident, mortification set in, and he died at the age of seventy-five years, in September 1830 or 1834; the son does not remember the date accurately, but he thinks the former year ; and he says they (father and son) resided in Wheeler Street for forty-six years, but not always in the same house. James Brown, the younger was born November 1786, and learned to make fiddles of his father ; but, to assist in other branches of the trade, he was mostly employed in making the various bows for the instruments. Since the death of his father, the greater attention has been given to the manufacture of violins, violoncellos, and double basses. This person died in 1860 at his residence in White Lion Street, Norton Folgate, in his seventy-fourth year. The father and son were good average workmen, but of no marked style or finish. A son of this last person learned to make instruments of his father ; but, when about twenty years of age, he quitted the business to play the contra-basso at theatres ; and it is believed he now has some professional engagement in Australia."
In addition, there are further Browns,
Spitalfields and Norton Folgate.
Alexander Brown Glasgow
Anthony Brown Clerkenwell & Australia
James Brown (I) Wheler Street, Spitalfields
James Brown (II) Wheler Street, Spitalfields
James Brown (III) Wheler Street, Spitalfields & Australia
James Brown (IV) Elder Street, Norton Folgate
J. Brown (V) Manchester Street, Huddersfield
Thomas Brown Wheler Street, Spitalfields
Simon Andrew Forster recalls on pp.354-55 of The History of The Violin, his own recollections and acquaintances with the Brown family, but they are a little complicated, and it is difficult to understand who was related to whom. He is certain that there were three generations named James. James (I) died of mortification of a broken ankle in 1830 or 1834 at his house in Wheler Street. His son, James James Brown (II) born in 1786 died in 1860 and a further generation, James (III) was trained as a maker but left violin making to become a double bassist, and latterly an Australian. Presumably his departure at the time of the Gold Rush makes it likely that Anthony Brown was also a relative, as he moved from violin making in Clerkenwell to Australia in about the same time.
This seems relatively simple were it not for the will of Thomas Brown 'violin and bow maker' of Wheler Street, Spitalfields, who died in 1853, bequeathing his estate and stock in trade to his son, James Brown of Elder Street in Norton Folgate (within 100 meters of Wheler Street). The rational conclusion at the moment must be that Thomas Brown was the brother of James (I), and that makes James Brown of Elder Street, who we now identify as James (IV) the cousin of James (II). All in all, a pretty typical family working in the violin trade at the time and somewhat less complicated than the Furbers.
Sandy's and Forster give a brief biographical account of the family, written first hand in The History of the Violin published in 1864 (pp.354-55). The family history excludes Thomas Brown, as presumably James IV, although it is clear that they were working closely as an extended family group.
"Associated with the name of Kennedy, as fiddle makers, are James Brown, the elder and younger, both of whom, in early life, were silk-weavers, particularly the father, and lived in the locality of Shoreditch. About 1804 an intimacy arose with the Kennedy family, whereby James Brown the elder acquired some knowledge of fiddle-making; and, being made more perfect in the use of the tools by Thomas Kennedy, he at length became a repairer and maker of instruments for future support. About 1830 he slipped down the stars of his dwelling-house, in Wheeler [Wheler] Street, Spitalfields, and broke one of his ankles; the fracture being most severe, the relatives were advised to take him to the hospital. Within a week of the accident, mortification set in, and he died at the age of seventy-five years, in September 1830 or 1834; the son does not remember the date accurately, but he thinks the former year ; and he says they (father and son) resided in Wheeler Street for forty-six years, but not always in the same house. James Brown, the younger was born November 1786, and learned to make fiddles of his father ; but, to assist in other branches of the trade, he was mostly employed in making the various bows for the instruments. Since the death of his father, the greater attention has been given to the manufacture of violins, violoncellos, and double basses. This person died in 1860 at his residence in White Lion Street, Norton Folgate, in his seventy-fourth year. The father and son were good average workmen, but of no marked style or finish. A son of this last person learned to make instruments of his father ; but, when about twenty years of age, he quitted the business to play the contra-basso at theatres ; and it is believed he now has some professional engagement in Australia."
In addition, there are further Browns,
