tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36054875156739321152009-10-14T01:18:55.287-07:00Notes on people, places and events mentioned in <a href="http://www.vincentbrooks.blogspot.com">the autobiography of Frederick Vincent Brooks</a>.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-38436472780008422942009-07-01T12:25:00.000-07:002009-07-01T13:44:53.722-07:002009-07-01T13:44:53.722-07:00

A week's holiday in the delightful Channel Island of Jersey recently allowed us to do some on-site family research. John and Elizabeth Brooks appear to have moved from London to Jersey during the 1830's. The reason for this move are far from clear. Was John's radical printing press getting him into hot water? Was it a commercial decision as John turned more to wholesale stationary? Or was it to

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-90578029471416639252009-06-12T14:09:00.000-07:002009-06-12T14:20:36.241-07:002009-06-12T14:20:36.241-07:00

The extent of our author's mistaken belief regarding his own name has been discovered on obtaining a copy of his marriage certificate. In the autobiography he writes:"The records of the Parish Church, St. Ann’s, Soho, bear witness that a little later the label “Frederick Vincent” was attached to me in solemn form, and certain promises were made on my behalf in which Miss Castell, a girl friend of

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-57329857405937558942009-06-04T12:47:00.000-07:002009-06-05T11:47:50.043-07:002009-06-05T11:47:50.043-07:00

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICECHANCERY DIVISIONCOMPANIES COURTNO. 0062 OF 1940MR. JUSTICE SIMONDSIN THE MATTER OF VINCENT BROOKS, DAY & SON, LIMITEDANDIN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 1229SUMMARY OF THE STATEMENT OF AFFAIRSAs at 25th January, 1940, the date of the appointment of a receiver for the debenture holder Submitted by Wilfred Vincent Brooks, a director on the 4th day of March

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-79099055864501155282009-02-27T10:09:00.000-08:002009-02-27T12:25:22.583-08:002009-02-27T12:25:22.583-08:00

In the previous post we saw that Elizabeth Stagoll's marriage record was witnessed by Harriet Robinson. To strengthen our theory that this 1808 wedding of John Brooks and Elizabeth Stagoll is the one relating to our family tree we now turn to examine Miss Robinson. Our first reference to Harriet Robinson came from Elizabeth's copied diary entries:"Mrs Robinson was married to Mr Taylor Jan 17 1834

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-82078512421355932462009-02-23T11:52:00.000-08:002009-02-27T12:18:15.540-08:002009-02-27T12:18:15.540-08:00

Frederick Vincent Brook's autobiography names his paternal grandmother as Elizabeth Steggall. Although we are fortunate enough to have a transcription of some of her diary entries we have always struggled to learn much about her origins or even her marriage to John Brooks. It now seems that the spelling of her surname could well have thrown us off the scent. Our first inkling that something was

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-18065808635844560202008-12-21T02:41:00.000-08:002008-12-21T14:45:57.873-08:002008-12-21T14:45:57.873-08:00

One of the more notable books published by John Brooks was an edition of Shelley's Queen Mab. The rather unauthorised appearance of this volume, how it was obtained and Shelley's amendments to it have long intrigued scholars of the subject. The text below comes from two sources. The first first-hand account was written by Thomas Medwin and comes from 'The Life of Percy Bysshe Shelley' published

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-33809738093071226422008-12-20T13:46:00.000-08:002009-01-04T06:44:11.810-08:002009-01-04T06:44:11.810-08:00

The following adds a little more to a query made some time ago regarding a menu sporting the image of Wilfred Vincent Brooks. Don Grant of The London Sketch Club was kind enough to give some suggestions as to the identity of the artists and their artwork featured on this curious occasion which may, in time, provide the answer to Wilfred's connection.Don points out that the pictures depicted

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-69624853118959070512008-11-05T10:46:00.000-08:002008-11-12T13:28:09.613-08:002008-11-12T13:28:09.613-08:00

A few months ago we were contacted by Mic Relf of the New George Baxter Society. He was keen to trace the missing 'George Baxter and his Methods' chapter from My Life's Medley. After some correspondence Mic asked if he could use some of the information on this site for a forthcoming presentation at the Society's AGM. Mic's knowledge of Baxter is superb and his work has filled in many a blank hole

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-67284360012516527312008-11-02T03:33:00.000-08:002009-03-04T07:56:09.126-08:002009-03-04T07:56:09.126-08:00

This is a copy of some notes written by my mother [Mary Jane Elizabeth Brooks] and found after her death:-27 Hornsey Rise GdnsLondon N.I don’t know if any of my children care about family history, but it has always been a matter of interest to me to know that my father’s people were old country Gentlepeople. The Bormans originally were Reading (Berkshire) people. Early in the 1700 my grandfather

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-27874001280813295022008-11-01T15:24:00.000-07:002009-03-04T07:48:25.757-08:002009-03-04T07:48:25.757-08:00

The following is a transcription of papers which appear to be from the diary of Elizabeth Brooks nee Steggall 1790-:Copy of notes from a diary found at 27 Hornsey Rise Gdns, & lent to us by Edith.I met Madame de Rausman at Mr Morgan’s 1834 Jan 6th. [poss. John Minter Morgan]Mrs. Robinson was married to Mr. Taylor Jan 17th, 1834. [Rev. Robert Taylor 1784-1844]Mr. Julian Hibbert died Jan 22nd,

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-22290902696103261732008-10-20T11:55:00.000-07:002008-10-28T04:32:59.097-07:002008-10-28T04:32:59.097-07:00

"Coming down Tottenham Court Road I was much struck by the Omnibuses, yellow then as now: they certainly appeared of a size not less than a tram-car would appear to me at the present time and I was amused to hear them described as “mustard pots” a name for these yellow vehicles that has not quite disappeared." Frederick Vincent Brooks' childhood experience of a London Omnibus from the 1850's.The

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-3450496875262841792008-09-17T13:19:00.000-07:002008-09-19T13:53:48.605-07:002008-09-19T13:53:48.605-07:00

It is always gratifying when a description or name mentioned by our author can be corroborated with the account of another. Such an example is given by Henry Havelock Ellis. In his colourful and controversial adult life he spent time as a sexologist, psychologist, philosopher, critic, author and editor, teacher, a man of medicine, long-time virgin and husband of a lesbian. At least some of his

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-13875682388891788922008-09-10T23:40:00.000-07:002008-09-19T13:56:33.300-07:002008-09-19T13:56:33.300-07:00

Following his banishment to boarding school, Frederick was fortunate to come to know the brother's McRae, MacRae or M'Rae.The 1861 census lists both brothers, their widowed mother and teacher Albert Grover boarding at the schoolhouse in Mitcham, Surrey. Archibald is roughly Frederick's age and Henry around three years younger. The boys' inevitable journey into the military would have made their

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-39911544407221215352008-09-10T23:23:00.000-07:002008-10-30T14:10:41.133-07:002008-10-30T14:10:41.133-07:00

Younger brother of Archibald Spiers M'Rae, Henry, appears to have surpassed him in terms of fame, through the saving of lives, winning medals and contributing to favourable outcomes in famous battles.Linley and Jim Hooper neatly summarise Henry's military career and further relations. An extract is below:Henry Napier MacRae CBEb. 27 January 1851, d. 18 January 1915Henry Napier MacRae CBE was born

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-61205226920274234972008-09-10T12:23:00.000-07:002008-10-28T04:45:01.589-07:002008-10-28T04:45:01.589-07:00

Frederick attends an evening at the Oxford Music Hall with a partner in the firm of John Weiss & Son, a man by the name of Foveaux. A preliminary search reveals that the once cutlers and now surgical instrument makers had their premises at 62 Strand at the time of Frederick's meeting."John’s son Frederick Foveaux Weiss also joined the company in 1831, which became John Weiss & Son for the first

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-11544000166089367682008-08-29T11:35:00.000-07:002008-09-10T12:21:40.766-07:002008-09-10T12:21:40.766-07:00

Another visit from the parents and another surprise from Grandad's attic.Object: Silver cup.Inscription: York Regatta, 1874, Won by F. Vincent BrooksFrederick's associations with the old West London Rowing club are well known and are documented in the posts below. Unknown until now have been his exploits further a field. The river Ouse still sports a York City Rowing Club with their own regatta

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-63093296122351075652008-07-05T12:45:00.000-07:002008-07-12T11:11:14.311-07:002008-07-12T11:11:14.311-07:00

THE DRAWING OFFICE MATERIAL MANUFACTURERES’ & DEALERS ASSOCIATION26/27 Farringdon Street,London. E.C.427th September, 1921.Dear Sirs, I have pleasure in quoting a copy of the Obituary Notice which appeared in “The Times” on the 11th August, which will be of interest to you. Yours faithfully, ALFRED W. FOSTER,Secretary.A Master Lithographer. A correspondent writes:-Frederick Vincent Brooks,

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-89924390730699592372008-04-24T13:39:00.000-07:002008-04-24T15:26:25.200-07:002008-04-24T15:26:25.200-07:00

Frederick Vincent Brooks intriguingly entitles chapter 11 of his autobiography 'Theatrical memories'. Sadly we do not have this entry and cannot shed light on whether a humble 'first dramatic venture', on an occasion of the West London Rowing Club, led to further board-treading by our author.The occasion referred to is documented in a programme we have found and records an address penned and

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-44147120638247920702008-03-27T13:40:00.000-07:002008-03-27T15:09:16.859-07:002008-03-27T15:09:16.859-07:00

This piece, from the trunk of ephemera, is a menu for an occasion on January 12th 1937. It is illustrated with the unmistakable figure of Wilfred Vincent Brooks. The circumstances of the meal remain a mystery, although, like many of the conferences and celebrations documented before, the inclusion of cheese, biscuits and celery is comfortably replicated. The menu itself is in French and headed

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-10576845526522946292008-03-25T13:42:00.000-07:002008-03-28T02:18:27.536-07:002008-03-28T02:18:27.536-07:00

The 'Iron Duke' believed in strong government and his opposition to parliamentary reform earned him his metallic title for reasons of a more domestic than constitutional nature; his unpopularity forced him to beef up security at Apsley House against the window-smashers. Despite this, his passing drew the crowds and the spectacle of a lavish state funeral had enormous repercussions on the arts,

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-35401811579384394992008-03-16T15:34:00.000-07:002008-03-16T15:54:04.806-07:002008-03-16T15:54:04.806-07:00

Yet another speech written by W. Vincent Brooks has been transcribed addressing those in the company of a certain Douglas Cockerell of bookbinding fame. It can be found here.The speech is clearly written in anticipation of great and somewhat unsettling changes within lithography, the print industry and the wider world. Despite this, Wilfred remains defiantly optimistic in this between war era of

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-14426810592200498122008-03-09T00:40:00.000-08:002008-06-17T08:40:56.233-07:002008-06-17T08:40:56.233-07:00

1889 saw the birth of Frederick's first child, a girl named Edith Mary Brooks. The photograph here dates from around the turn of the last century.At the age of nineteen, on the 3rd June 1908, Edith married Edward W L Jarrett. We currently know little of their early time together other than they had soon produced both a son and a daughter.By the mid 1920's Frederick's old school acquaintance Cecil

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-66030448756407765162007-12-28T07:09:00.000-08:002008-11-01T16:06:20.433-07:002008-11-01T16:06:20.433-07:00

Allan Borman was the father of Frederick's wife Mary Jane Elizabeth Borman. During 1838-39 he attended a number of courses at Edinburgh's Old Surgeon's Hall. From November 1838 to April 1839 he attended nineteen of twenty lectures on 'Nathology (?) and the Practice of Medicine'and from 1st May to July 27th 1839 he attended a ten part course on 'Practical Chemistry and Pharmacy'. Both these were

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-53994798977946258682007-12-28T04:51:00.000-08:002008-03-18T10:45:08.174-07:002008-03-18T10:45:08.174-07:00

On a rather wet Saturday we set off up to London to revisit some of the places associated with Frederick's family and the business. The first stop was a building site in Hornsey Rise Gardens. The Brooks family's old home was first given permission to divide in 1978. Then it was into three flats now, in 2007, it is five. To help achieve this the earth around the basement has been removed and the

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605487515673932115.post-50569197838234166102007-12-22T12:52:00.000-08:002007-12-28T10:57:01.502-08:002007-12-28T10:57:01.502-08:00

On Monday 29th April 1935 Wilfred Vincent Brooks gave a speech to the Lincolnshire branch of the National Council of Women. Having served as chairman of the Commerical Printing Section of the Royal Academy of Art's 'British Art in Industry' exhibition earlier that year he gave a luncheon talk entitled: "How Improved Art in Industry can help to conquer Ugliness and add to the Happiness of our

Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01092373974266371652noreply@blogger.com0