| HO107/1417/15; No 75; Folio 4; Scd 30 | |||
| Capel Llanilterne | |||
| Name | Occ | Age | GLA? |
| BEECH William | Shepherd | 45 | No |
| do Mary | 40 | No | |
| do Mary | 20 | No | |
| do Ellinor | 10 | No | |
| do John | 10 | No | |
| do George | 5 | No | |
| do Thomas | 5 | No | |
| do Sarah | 5 | No | |
| do Ann | 20 | No | |
| do Hopkin | 5m | Yes | |
Hopkin's birth certificate shows that she was formerly Ann Hopkins and that his father was David Beech:
In 1851 Ann and Hopkin are now living with Joseph COMLEY and are in Tretower, near Crickhowell in Breconshire:
| HO107 Piece 2490 folio 40 page 9 | |||||
| Parish of Llanfihangel Cwm-du including Tretower | |||||
| Name | Relationship | Cond | Age | occupation | Birth Place |
| COMLEY Joseph | Head | Mar | 56 | gardener | WIL nk |
| Ann | Wife | Mar | 33 | GLA Bridgend | |
| Hopkin | Son | 10 | GLA Bridgend | ||
| Mary | Dau | 8 | GLA Bridgend | ||
| Jonah | Son | 2 | MON Pontypool | ||
So what happened to David BEECH? Chris Beechey's research has never found a 'David'.
An email from Andrew Walford solves this:-
There seems to be confusion over Hopkin Beech and a David Beech which I have
solved. Basically David Beech dosen't exist!
You mention that the birth cert' of Hopkin gives parents as David Beech and Ann
Hopkins. I believe the surnames are around the wrong way!
The following is taken from Llaniltern parish records:- Hopkin Beeche c 7 Feb
1841 the son of David Hopkin and Ann Beeche.
Ann was the daughter of William Beechey
and Mary (Hill), she was living with William and family in 1841 along with her
son Hopkin Beech aged 5 months. She later married Joseph Comley. I have information
given to me which was most probably from Chris Beechey back in 1994 that she was
born 11 November 1817 at Maindee, Newport. But if it was Herefordshire this dosen't
surprise me as William Beechey married Mary Hill at Brampton Abbotts, Herefordshire
12 February 1816 and Ann could have been born before the family moved to South
Wales.
Hopkin died in 1853, aged 12. Brian Beeche Comley has obtained his death certificate
- see 'certificates' section!
So Ann would appear to be Ann BEECHEY, and not Ann HOPKINS, but there is, as yet, no proof that she is the daughter of William.
Where was she born, and where was she baptised?
These are the places of Ann's
birth from the census sheets:
1841:
This only gives her as born out of county (Glamorgan) - see above
1851:
The transcription has her as born in Bridgend, Glamorgan - which does not agree
with 1841 where she was born outside Glamorgan!
1861:
1871:
1881:
1891:
No baptism has yet been
found.
Assuming she is the daughter of William BEECHEY and Mary HILL, we believe that
their first child, William, was base born in Brampton Abbotts, Herefordshire
(just North of Ross on Wye). William and Mary married there in 1816, and there
is a baptism on IGI for William Hill in 1815, mother Mary HILL, no father given.
It was not uncommon for the first birth to be back at the wife's home, where
she would be with her mother, however, Ann would have been the second child.
Brockington does not seem to exist as a place - Brockington Hall is near Bodenham,
Grid Ref: SO545513 and is brick built, about 1920! Brockington Farm was a part
of Bodenham Parish - it is now a housing estate. Nothing was found in Bodenham
Parish registers.
Brockington may also be/have been an area in Hereford - the Council offices
are in Brockington House. The 1891 census is the most promising, with her birth
place given as Brampton, where it is known that William and Mary were living (and were
married) at about the right time. Their next child, James was born in Coedkernew
or Bassaleg in 1819.
The assumption is that:
Ann is William and Mary's daughter
She was born in Herefordshire - probably Brampton Abbotts