Yorkshire Brighams
The family that John came from would appear to be a stray branch of the landed gentry family of Brigham, of Brigham and Wyton, East Yorkshire. At the 1612 heraldic visitation this family claimed a descent going back to the 12th Century, which you can read about here
Further research using the help of DNA results may be able to establish evidence of a link with John's Welwick/Weeton family, but the geographical proximity makes it seem highly likely.
Some members of the main branch were knights of the realm, and carried the coat of arms seen to the left.
Further research using the help of DNA results may be able to establish evidence of a link with John's Welwick/Weeton family, but the geographical proximity makes it seem highly likely.
Some members of the main branch were knights of the realm, and carried the coat of arms seen to the left.
Family Groups
There are 31 households listed in the 1672 Hearth Tax returns for the East Riding of Yorkshire - the surname index is online here. It is possible to group these families into six fairly distinct clusters, as shown on the map below:
A small grouping close to the family's supposed original English base in Brigham can be seen. at Cluster 3. Another larger cluster, number 4, is centred on Holme-upon-Spalding Moor, where the ancestor of many US Brigham descendants, Thomas Brigham "the Puritan" (1603-1653) is believed to have originated. His descendants and connections are documented in the 1907 work The History of the Brigham Family, which can be accessed online here
Cluster 5 includes the Wyton branch of the noble family - Henry Brigham is assessed for a property there, probably the manor house, where there were 10 hearths.
The cluster with which we are most concerned is number 6, which features just two households. Robert Brigham and Thomas Brigham were assessed for homes with one hearth each in Welwick parish. It is likely that both are in some way related to our John Brigham, master and mariner. A closer look at the parish registers for Welwick before and after this time indicates some of the relationships.
Cluster 5 includes the Wyton branch of the noble family - Henry Brigham is assessed for a property there, probably the manor house, where there were 10 hearths.
The cluster with which we are most concerned is number 6, which features just two households. Robert Brigham and Thomas Brigham were assessed for homes with one hearth each in Welwick parish. It is likely that both are in some way related to our John Brigham, master and mariner. A closer look at the parish registers for Welwick before and after this time indicates some of the relationships.
Brighams of Weeton and Welwick
Below is an attempt to draw some conclusions about Brigham connections and relationships from both the Welwick parish registers and the Bishop's Transcripts of those registers, which have been thoroughly researched.
The entries in green are the main family, and include Thomas Brigham, who appears to be the householder in the Hearth Tax returns from above - and who is probably "our" John Brigham's grandfather. Dates for that family gathered from other registers (Bridlington, Holy Island etc) are in red.
There are a number of other Brigham families in Welwick throughout this period, and some connections can be made. These are in blue on the chart.
The entries in green are the main family, and include Thomas Brigham, who appears to be the householder in the Hearth Tax returns from above - and who is probably "our" John Brigham's grandfather. Dates for that family gathered from other registers (Bridlington, Holy Island etc) are in red.
There are a number of other Brigham families in Welwick throughout this period, and some connections can be made. These are in blue on the chart.
The Weeton-Holy Island Connection
We know from John Brigham I's will that he still owned land in Yorkshire when he died in 1734, but the document below reveals his holding in more detail and gives clues to his life before he settled in Northumberland.
It's a memorial of a deed that conveys land in Welwick, Weeton and Skeffling in Holderness in the East Riding of Yorkshire from John Brigham's son-in-law George Lawson to a Henry Maister in 1743, several years after John's death. But in detailing how the land passed to George Lawson it reveals:
Christopher and Mary Brigham were born to John and his first wife (now known to be Elizabeth Suersby)
The land was apparently purchased by John Brigham from Thomas Harland
John Brigham owned land in three townships (two parishes) - Weeton, Welwick and Skeffling
I have attempted a transcription below the image of the document, which is at the East Yorkshire Registry of Deeds
It's a memorial of a deed that conveys land in Welwick, Weeton and Skeffling in Holderness in the East Riding of Yorkshire from John Brigham's son-in-law George Lawson to a Henry Maister in 1743, several years after John's death. But in detailing how the land passed to George Lawson it reveals:
Christopher and Mary Brigham were born to John and his first wife (now known to be Elizabeth Suersby)
The land was apparently purchased by John Brigham from Thomas Harland
John Brigham owned land in three townships (two parishes) - Weeton, Welwick and Skeffling
I have attempted a transcription below the image of the document, which is at the East Yorkshire Registry of Deeds
A Memorial of Indentures of Lease and Release bearing date respectively the fifth amd sixth days of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty and Three and made between George Lawson of the Borough of Berwick Upon Tweed Cooper of the one part and Henry Maister of Winestead in the County of York Esquire of the other part of and and containing All that Close of Meadow or pasture ground called a Seven Acre Marsh Close one other Close called One Acre and half Close both situate lying and being in Weeton in Holderness in the County of York and also all those ten acres of land arrable meadow or pasture lying and being in the East and West fields of Weeton aforesaid and also all those five acres and a steng (be the same more or less) of meadow of pasture ground in a certain place or peice of ground called Weeton Holm otherwise Weet Holm and also two acres and a steng of Meadow or pasture ground (be the same more or less) lying and being in Weeton Little Marr within the Townfields precincts liberties and Territorys of Weeton aforesaid and also all that Messuage or Tenement with the Barns Stables and Outhouses thereunto belonging with one garth or Close to the same belonging containing by estimation two Acres One Oxgang of arable meadow or pasture ground with the appurtenances to the same belonging situate lying and being in the Township Lordship precincts fields or territorys of Weeton aforesaid and also ten acres of arrable meadow or pasture ground and two acres and one Rood of meadow or pasture ground lying and being in the Little Marr in the Lordship of Weeton aforesaid Nine Acres of meadow or pasture ground lying and being in a close called the great Marsh in Weeton aforesaid ten acres more of arrable meadow or pasture ground lying and being in the West field of Weeton aforesaid and also ten acres of arrable meadow or pasture ground lying and being in the East field of Weeton aforesaid And also two acres and three steng of arrable meadow or pasture ground situate lying and being in the North field of Welwick in the County of York aforesaid near a Close called parker Close and also five acres and an half of arrable meadow or pasture ground situate lying and being in the West field in Skeffling in the County of York aforesaid and also two Beast Gates or pasture for two beast in a Close called Weeton Marr in Weeton aforesaid all which said premises were late the Lands of Thomas Harland deceased and came to the said George Lawson by Deeds and ffine from him and Mary his wife to Major pratt and which said Mary was only Sister of Christopher Brigham son of John Brigham by his first wife all deceased and which said John Brigham the father purchased the same of the said Thomas Harland and all other Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever late the estate of the said John Brigham the father deceased in Weeton Welwick and Skeffling aforesaid Together with all and singular rights members and appurtenances whatsoever to the same or any part thereof belonging both which said Indentures are witnessed by Robert Appleton and William Redman both of Beverley in the County of York Gentlemen.
Signed and Sealed in the presence of us
William Appleton Sworn
William Redman
Regd 8th August 1743 at Ten in the Forenoon in Book J page 13 No 24
Signed and Sealed in the presence of us
William Appleton Sworn
William Redman
Regd 8th August 1743 at Ten in the Forenoon in Book J page 13 No 24
