Brown, Walter 1a

Birth Name Brown, Walter
Gramps ID I0494
Gender male
Age at Death about 52 years, 10 months, 10 days

Events

Event Date Place Description
Sources Notes
Birth [E2213] about 1839 Midlothian, Scotland, UK Birth of Walter Brown
2a
Census [E2208] 1841-06-06 McDonalds Close, Inveresk & Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK Census of Brown, Walter
2a

Parish: Inveresk

GROS Data: 689/00 0011/00 011

Age: 38

Occupation: Fisherman

Born in County: Midlothian

Name: Brown, Alison

Age: 30

Born in County: Midlothian

Age: 2

Born in County: Midlothian

Census [E2215] 1851-03-30 New Street, Fisherrow, Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK Census of Brown, Walter
3a

Parish: Inveresk

Parliamentary Burgh: Musselburgh

GROS Data: 689/00 011/00 034

Name: Brown, Elizabeth

Relation to Head: Daughter

Condition: Unmarried

Age: 6

Where Born: Midlothian, Musselburgh

House Schedule No: 154

Address: New Street

Relation to Head: Head

Condition: Married

Age: 49

Occupation: Fisherman

Where Born: Midlothian, Musselburgh

Name: Brown, Alison

Relation to Head: Wife

Condition: Married

Age: 46

Occupation: Fisherwoman

Where Born: Midlothian, Musselburgh

Relation to Head: Son

Condition: Unmarried

Age: 12

Where Born: Midlothian, Musselburgh

Occupation [E2246] 1860-09-21 New Street, Fisherrow, Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK Fisherman at time of marriage to Jane Bunthron
4a
Census [E2219] 1861-04-07 Millers Close, High Street, Fisherrow, Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK Census of Brown, Walter
5a

Parish: Inveresk

GROS Data: ED: 12; Page: 30; Line: 23; Roll: CSSCT1861_130

No. Of Schedule: 173

Address: High Street Fisherrow Millers Close

Relation: Head

Condition: Married

Age: 22

Occupation: Fisherman

Where Born: Inveresk, Midlothian

Census [E2228] 1871-04-02 24 New Street, Inveresk & Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK Census of Brown, Walter
6a

Civil Parish: Inveresk

Quoad Sacra Parish: North Esk

Parliamentary Burgh: Musselburgh

GROS Data: C1871 689/00 009/00 023

No. Of Schedule: 117

Address: 24 New Street

Relation: Head

Condition: Married

Age: 32

Occupation: Fisherman

Where Born: Edinburgh, Inveresk

Children: 2

WindowRooms: 2

Census [E2233] 1881-04-03 2 Bush Lane, Inveresk & Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK Census of Brown, Walter
7a

Civil Parish or Township: Inveresk

Parliamentary Borough: Musselburgh

Ecclesiastical Parish or District: North Esk

Relation: Head

Condition: Married

Age: 42

Occupation: Fisherman

Where Born: Edinburgh Shire, Fisherrow

Census [E2236] 1891-04-05 14 Bush Street, Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK Census of Brown, Walter
8a

Civil Parish: Inveresk

Quoad Sacra Parish: North Esk

School board District: Musselburgh

Parliamentary Burgh: Musselburgh

Municipal Burgh: Musselburgh

Police Burgh: Musselburgh

Town: Musselburgh

GROS Data: 689/00 009/00 037

No. Of Schedule: 180

Address: 14 Bush Street

House Inhabited: 1

Relation: Head

Condition: Married

Age: 52

Occupation: Fisherman

Employer: x

Where Born: Midlothian, Fisherrow

Death [E0729] 1891-11-11 Lowestoft, Suffolk, England, UK drowned off Lowestoft together with two of his sons (Walter & James)
1b

Cause: drowned off Lowestoft together with two of his sons (Walter & James)

Parents

Relation to main person Name Birth date Death date Relation within this family (if not by birth)
Father Brown, Walter [I0082]about 1803between 1861-04-07 and 1871-04-02
Mother Hay, Alison [I0083]1806-03-12
    Sister     Brown, Elizabeth [I0495] about 1828
    Brother     Brown, Alexander [I0497] about 1834
    Sister     Brown, Alison [I1189] about 1836
         Brown, Walter [I0494] about 1839 1891-11-11
    Sister     Brown, Jean [I0496] about 1841-05-31
    Sister     Brown, Isabella [I0079] about 1845 1938-02-00

Families

    Family of Brown, Walter and Bontron, Jane [F0132]
Married Wife Bontron, Jane [I0498] ( * 1837-04-05 + ... )
   
Event Date Place Description
Sources Notes
Marriage [E2244] 1860-09-21 New Street, Fisherrow, Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK Marriage of Walter Brown & Jane Bunthron
4a
  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
Brown, Jessie [I1190]about 1860
Brown, Walter [I1191]about 18631891-11-11
Brown, James [I1192]about 18651891-11-11
Brown, Alison [I1193]1868-06-21
Brown, Jane [I1194]about 1871-02-00
Brown, Alexander [I1195]about 1871-02-00
Brown, Agnes [I1199]1873-09-02
Brown, Betsy [I1200]about 1875
Brown, David [I1201]about 1878

Narrative

According to family lore (see ink graphic in ring binder of family history), Walter Brown was drowned with two of his sons (probably James and Alexander, or possibly Walter) off Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. This happened presumably on a fishing trip as, according to the census data, these three men were fishermen. They were alive in the 1891 Census, and Walter's wife, Jean (Jane), was a widow in the 1901 Census. I have no record of the name of their fishing vessel. Ancestry has apparently no record of their deaths, nor does Scotlands people, nor can I find a newspaper record of the accident in Ancestry.

Narrative

The Scotsman and Musselburgh News in November 1891 carried detailed reports of the loss of "Star of the East." ----- The 1891 season had been patchy. After a very successful start, catches from September were disappointing. Many boats fishing into Scarborough, Shields and Sunderland caught few fish, lost gear in the bad weather, and came home in debt. However, three boats, the "Mary Caird", "Jehovah Jireh" and the "Star of the East" decided to try further south, at Lowestoff. They were large sturdy Fifies well able to withstand heavy seas. They set off on the 29th September for Lowestoff. Bad weather hampered operations; their first "shot" was not made till they had been three days at sea. However, conditions gradually improved. On Tuesday, the 10th of November the "Star" left Lowestoff for the fishing grounds, and hauled about thirty barrels of fish. This was a reasonable catch, and she sailed for port at midnight. By 4.30 am, however, a gale had reached it's height and a wary approach was made to the harbour. Lowestoff in these days was regarded as dangerous to navigate. There were two lighthouses at the harbour entrance---one on a northern cliff and another to the south. These were intended to guide vessels through the port's channel which had dangerous sand-banks on either side. But the heavy rain prevented the crew from seeing the lights properly, and to make matters worse there was a break-water to avoid. Indeed , before they could take evesive action a huge wave bore down on the boat, threatening to throw it on to the break-water. They tried their utmost on the helm to guide her to safety, but sadly she was dashed with tremendous force on the masonry and quickly broke up. In a few minutes all had disappeared except James Bonthorn who lived to tell the sad tale. The other crew members, Walter Brown, 55 {Skipper}, Walter Brown, 28 (son) James Brown, 26 (son) James Ritchie, 38 John Williamson, 29 Alex Brown, 45 Robert Dickson, 27, were all drowned. The disaster evoked an enormous amount of sympathy. In previous sinkings more of the victims were single and had fewer dependants. Services were held in churches at North Esk Parish, U.P. Bridge street, and the New Street Mission. All were well attended. There has of course always been a deeply religious element in fishing communities. The "Star" sailed to Lowestoff with the Mission flag (blue ground, white star) proudly flying from the mast head. In port, fishermen often attended local church services, lustily singing the Sankey hymns with their fine harmonies.

Reported by Esther Prentice, Dunblane, Scotland on the ancestry web site

Family Map

Family Map

Pedigree

  1. Brown, Walter [I0082]
    1. Hay, Alison [I0083]
      1. Brown, Elizabeth [I0495]
      2. Brown, Alexander [I0497]
      3. Brown, Alison [I1189]
      4. Brown, Walter
        1. Bontron, Jane [I0498]
          1. Brown, Jessie [I1190]
          2. Brown, Walter [I1191]
          3. Brown, James [I1192]
          4. Brown, Alison [I1193]
          5. Brown, Jane [I1194]
          6. Brown, Alexander [I1195]
          7. Brown, Agnes [I1199]
          8. Brown, Betsy [I1200]
          9. Brown, David [I1201]
      5. Brown, Jean [I0496]
      6. Brown, Isabella [I0079]

Ancestors

Source References

  1. probably done between Alexander Nimmo & Alexander Williamson: Ink graphic of Williamson-Walker family tree [S0078]
      • Date: after 1972
      • Page: Ink graphic of Williamson-Walker family tree, probably from memory
      • Page: Pencilled remarks entered probably by Alexander Williamson
  2. 1841 Scottish Census [S0030]
      • Date: 1841-06-06
      • Page: 1841 Walter Brown 689/00 0011/00 011 Musselburgh
      • Census 1841 Walter Brown Musselburgh C1841_689_00_011_000_2_011Z
  3. 1851 Scottish Census [S0031]
      • Date: 1851-03-30
      • Page: 1851 Walter Brown 689/00 011/00 034 Musselburgh
      • Census 1851 Walter Brown Musselburgh C1851_689_00_011_000_2_034Z-1
  4. General Registry Office Scotland: GROS Statutory Marriages [S0080]
      • Date: 1860
      • Page: 1860 Walter Brown & Jane Bonthron 689/00 0066 Inveresk & Musselburgh
      • Marriage 1860 Walter Brown & Jane Bonthron Inveresk & Musselburgh M1860_689_00_0033Z
  5. 1861 Scottish Census [S0036]
      • Date: 1861-04-07
      • Page: 1861 Walter Brown Parish: Inveresk; ED: 12; Page: 30; Line: 23; Roll: CSSCT1861_130
  6. 1871 Scottish Census [S0074]
      • Date: 1871-04-02
      • Page: 1871 Walter Brown C1871 689/00 009/00 023 Inveresk
      • Census 1871 Walter Brown Musselburgh C1871_689_00_009_000_2_023Z
  7. Transcription by LDS Church: 1881 UK Census [S0044]
      • Date: 1881-04-03
      • Page: 1881 Walter Brown GROS Ref Census 1881 689/00 009/00 031 Schedule 158 page 31 Musselburgh
      • Census 1881 Walter Brown Musselburgh C1881_689_00_009_000_2_031Z
  8. 1891 Scottish Census [S0032]
      • Date: 1891-04-05
      • Page: 1891 Walter Brown GROS Ref Census 1891 689/00 009/00 037 Schedule 180 page 37 Musselburgh
      • Census 1891 Walter Brown Musselburgh C1891_689_00_009_000_2_037Z