Henry Brockett of Lanchester - The Broket Archive

Henry and Ann Brockett
of Lanchester and Durham St Oswald parishes
1720-92 and 1724-94

You’ll be surprised at the many intriguing features of this Brockett family and clan. To give just two examples:

When John Brockett, the youngest son of this rural tenant-farming couple, was about 35 he was recorded as a Shoemaker in the small rural settlement of Witton Gilbert, west of Durham City. Yet within a decade he had become Prothonotary—senior clerk—in the Court in the flourishing port of Gateshead, c 12 miles north, and was using the title ‘Gentleman’. Then over the next 70 years members of his family spread around the world—to Havana, China, Jamaica and New Zealand, see the separate page.
John actually started life in 1764 as John Brock—son of Henry and Ann Brock—and is an exception to the rule that the surname Broket did not evolve from Brok, see the discussion on a separate page. This also proves—without the need for DNA evidence—that not all Broket clans are related.

A headstone in Durham St Oswald parish churchyard, facing on to the highway into town, reads:

“In Memory of HENRY BROCKETT who died June 16th 1792 Aged 72
Also ANN BROCKETT his Wife who died Novr 30th 1794 Aged 70 Years
And to William Son of the above who died on the 13th of Sepr 1821 Aged 77 Years.¹

The Will of Henery Brocket of Croxdale Yeoman, written 14 June 1792,² +Read more

and the Will of William Brockett of Redhouse Gentleman, written 5 Jul 1821,⁴ +Read more

“This is the Last Will and Testament
of me William Brockett of Redhouse in the
Township of Broom in the Parish of Elvet in
the County of Durham Gentleman. I give and
bequeath unto my Brother John Brockett of
Gateshead in the County of Durham Gentleman
his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns
All my Household Furniture plate Linen and
China Leasehold Farmhouse Fields Closes and
Premises situate in the said Township of Broom
and in the parish of Esh in the said County of
Durham and all other my Estate and Effects
whatsoever and wheresoever real and personal of
which I am possessed to which I am entitled or
over which I have any disposing power in possession
Reversion Remainder or Expectancy To hold the
same unto and for the only Use and Benefit of
my said Brother John Brockett his Heirs
Executors Administrators and Assigns according to
the respective Natures and Tenures thereof respectively
But subject nevertheless to the payment of my just
Debts and funeral and testamentary Expenses
And also to the payment of the following Legacies
and Annuity, that is to say, To my Nephew
Henry Brockett son of my late Brother
Hugh Brockett the Legacy or Sum of fifty
pounds To my Niece Mary Furnace Wife
of Joseph Furnace of Wooley in the Parish of
Brancepeth in the County of Durham
Farmer the Legacy or Sum of Eighty pounds
and to my Nephew Samuel Wild and to
my Niece Mary his Sister Son and
Daughter of my late sister Deborah Wild
the Legacy or Sum of fifty Pounds each
All which said Legacies I order and
direct to be paid within twelve Calendar
Months next after my Decease and to my
niece Deborah Hunt Wife of Michael
Hunt of Redhouse aforesaid Farmer
the Annuity or yearly Sum of five
Pounds to be payable half yearly
and the first payment to be made at
the End of six Calendar Months
next after my Decease And I do hereby
constitute and appoint the said John
Brockett sole Executor of this my Will
and hereby revoking all Wills by me
at any Time heretofore made I declare
this to be and contain my last Will
and Testament. In Witness whereof
I have to this my last Will and Testament
set my Hand and Seal this fifth day of
July in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and twenty one.”

Witnesses: William Hardy, Robt Coron Young, William Mc. DonaldD
Probate 17 Sep 1821 by the Executor “under £1000”.

Notes about William: He was Henry and Ann’s only child mentioned on their memorial stone in Durham St Oswald. He was clearly single when he wrote his Will, and had no childrn of his own, so apart from his baptism and burial doesn’t appear in parish records. The assumption is that he never married. Other records of him so far found are:

1. 1798 12 May: His lease of Red House estate on Ushaw Moor, see under Names of places below.
2. Land tax returns:

Esh Chapelry, 1813, 14, 17, 19, 21: On Property of William BROCKET occupied by William BROCKET.⁵
Broom township, 1812: On Property of William BROCKETT occupied by Joseph FURNACE [his nephew-in-law], and by himself in 1817 and 1819.⁶

+ provide the following details of the family:⁷

Research history: +Read more

Images of the Bishop’s Transcripts of some of the actual Lanchester parish registers are now—in 2021—accessible online. But they weren’t in 2002 when I was first researching this family. I had located the 1792 Will of Henery Brocket of Croxdale, Co Durham, from Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, which recorded a couple with 5 children. Croxdale was in the parish of Durham St Oswald, and the IGI at that time had a transcription of only one relevant Broket entry for Co Durham—the marriage of a Henry Brocket and Ann Aynsley in 1742 in the adjacent parish of Lanchester. This was with little doubt the same Henry as in the 1792 Will but why weren’t any of the 5 children recorded in records of either parish, or indeed in Co Durham as a whole?
++
I consulted 2 indexes in the Durham County Record Office (DCRO): Books #93 (marriages 1561-1837) and #131 (baptisms, marriages and burials 1560-1781). Book #93 had just the one Brocket entry: Henry and Ann Aynsley 1742, as transcribed in the IGI. Book #131 was an older Index and provided folio references to the actual Register Books (available then in the Record Office on microfilm M42/687). It had 3 Brocket entries with folio references, which when looked up on the microfilm revealed:
++
Henry Brocket & Ann Aynsley married 27 Dec 1742 both of this parish
William baptised 28 May 1745 son of Henry & Ann Brocket of Broom-house
Deborah baptised 23 May 1748 daughter of Henry & Ann Brocket of Langley Lane
++
Why though weren’t there records of any earlier Brockets in the Lanchester registers, and why only the baptisms of two of Henry and Anne’s five children? His Will mentioned Hugh, John and Mary too.
++
A glance through preceding and following frames of the microfilm provided a remarkable answer. While there was only one Brocket recorded in Lanchester of Henry’s generation and before—himself—there was a good number of Brocks stretching back to earlier generations and forward to the next. Moreover, these Brocks had names which tallied with Henry’s family, like Hugh, Deborah and Henry. For instance, there was a 1772 marriage record of a Deborah Brock to a Samuel Wild. Henry’s Will showed that his daughter Deborah married a Wild.

Name change

Combine the details in the tree above with an outline of the parish records of the wider family and the evolution of the name change becomes apparent. The following descendants of Heugh and Emme Brock of High Longly, both buried in Lanchester churchyard in 1710, are recorded:+Read more

(All events in Lanchester registers unless otherwise stated. Fuller details are in the chronological list below.)

1. Margaret Brock married 1712.
2. William Brock married Jane Proud 1716. William Brock buried 1737. Jane Brock buried 1760. Children:

1. Hugh Brock baptised 1719. Hugh Brocke buried 1722.
2. William Brock baptised 1719 or 20. William Brock married Elizabeth Moor 1743. Children:

1. William Brock baptised 1744.
2. Elizabeth Brock baptised 1746.
3. Anthony Brock baptised 1748.
4. John Brock baptised 1752. John Brock buried 1753.

3. Henry Brooke baptised 1721. Henry Brocket married Anne Aynsley. Henry Brocket buried Durham St Oswald 1792. Children:

1. Hugh Brock baptised 1743.
2. William Brocket baptised 1745. William Brockett buried Durham St Oswald 1821.
3. Mary Brock baptised 1746. Mary Brockett married Charles Neasham in Hurworth 1773. Children:

1. Mary Neasham married Joseph Furnace in Hurworth 1802.
2. Deborah Neasham married Michael Hunt in Durham St Oswald 1819.

4. Deborah Brocket baptised 1748. Deborah Brock married Samuel Wild 1772. Deborah Wilde buried in Tanfield 1813. Children:

1. Samuel Wilde baptised in Tanfield 1779.
2. Mary Wilde baptised in Tanfield 1786.

5. John Brock baptised 1764. John Brockett married Frances Sophia Trotter in Durham St Nicholas 1787.⁸ John Brockett died 1827 in Gateshead and Frances in 1832. For more of their family, see the separate page.

1. John Trotter Brockett baptised in Witton Gilbert 1788. Resided Newcastle, died there 1842.
2. Margaret Brockett baptised in Witton Gilbert 1791. Resided Gateshead, died there 1841.
3. George Brockett baptised in Witton Gilbert 1794. Died Havana 1818.
4. Mary Brockett baptised in Witton Gilbert 1799. Resided Gateshead, died there 1846.

4. John Brock baptised 1723. Married Margaret Horseley 1759. Children:

1. Jane Brock baptised 1760.
2. Margaret Brock baptised 1761.
3. Stephen Brock baptised 1770.

5. Robert Brooke baptised 1729; Robert Brooke buried 1731.
6. Jane Brock baptised 1733. Jane Brock married John Brigs Walton 1753.

3. Elizabeth Brock buried 1716.
4. Ann Brock married George Myers 1719.

The burials of Heugh and Emmy Brock of High Longly [Langley] in 1710, were the first Brock records in Lanchester All Saints parish register—which dates from c 1560. And subsequent and associated records are few enough to suggest that at the beginning of the 18th C there was a single Brock family there, and that between 1742-70 there were three housesholds—each a son of the earlier family. There can be no doubt, for example, that Heugh and Emmy were the parents of William of Langley East House and Broomhouse, married 1716, recorded 4 times as Brock and 4 as Brooke, and buried 1737. Similarly, the three families recorded in the 1740s were doubtless married children of that William, buried 1737. No other possible parents were there. As suddenly as Brocks appeared in Lanchester, they disappeared some 62 years later. After 1772 records of only 3 further Brocks in Lanchester have been found, between 1879-93, but they will have been unrelated incomers. Indeed, apart from this small clan, no records of Brocks have been found in County Durham records as a whole before the late 19th C.⁹ So where might the single Brock family of Heugh and Emme Brock have come from? See below.

Somewhat similarly to the Brothwoods/Brockets of Bedfordshire, the alias wasn’t adopted as a single event, but coexisted with the original surname for some time:

Henry’s father William was recorded in Lanchester 8 times as Brock, 3 as Brooke, the latter probably just a variant written by the parish clerk. He was buried in 1737 as William Brock, when Henry was aged about 16.
Although Henry was recorded under the name/alias Brocket at his marriage in 1742 and burial in 1792, he was recorded as Brock as well in the 1740s, 1764 and at least until 1783, as shown in the Witton Gilbert auction notice below.
Three of his five children were baptised as Brocks in Lanchester parish, including the last one, John, in 1764.
Similarly, his younger daughter Deborah, although baptised as a Brocket, married as a Brock 24 years later in 1772.

Lanchester and Durham St Oswald parishes

The adjacent parishes of Lanchester and Durham St Oswald were both large and contained a number of townships and rural areas at some considerable distance from the actual village of Lanchester and city of Durham. And it was in rural areas of both parishes to the NW, W and SW of Durham City that Henry and his relatives lived and farmed, mostly in the parish of Lanchester, in whose church he and Ann married in 1742 and baptised their children over the next 22 years.

Of Lanchester parish, Surtees said, “The extensive Parish of Lanchester is bounded on the North by the Parish of Ryton and by the Chapelry of Tanfield; by the Parish of Chester-le-Street on the East; by Witton Gilbert, and by St. Oswalds, in the suburbs of Durham, on the South-East ; by Brancepath and Wolsingham on the South and South-West; and by the Parishes of Stanhope and Muggleswick, and by the Darwent (forming the boundary of Northumberland) on the West and North-West. … The Parish includes eighteen Constableries: 1. Lanchester; 2. Greencroft; 3. Holm-side; 4. Langley; 5. Burnop and Hamsteels; 6. Eshe; 7. Hedleyhope; 8. Cornsey; 9. Butsfield and Satley; 10. Heleyfield; 11. Kyo, which includes Bursblades; 12. Iveston with Crook; 13. Collierly; 14. Billingside; 15. Medomsley; 16. Benfield-side; 17. Consett and Knitsley; 18. Ebchester.”¹⁰

Of St Oswald’s parish, Whellan said, “This parish includes the borough and barony of Elvet, and the township of Broom, and formerly comprised seven constableries, viz. :—1 The borough of Elvet; 2, the barony of Elvet; 3, Shincliffe, which comprised Croxdale and Butterby; 4, Crossgate; 5. Framwellgate; 6. Broom; and 7. Witton Gilbert“.¹¹ And Page said, “The ancient parish of St. Oswald lay around three sides of the city of Durham and occupied all the right bank of the Wear… It thus included the modern districts of Finchale, Framwellgate and Framwellgate Moor, Broom, Neville’s Cross, Crossgate, Old and New Elvet, Old Durham, Shincliffe, Croxdale and Sunderland Bridge“.¹²

During the lifetimes of Henry and his children—and indeed of his parents and grandparents—the 3rd to 5th generations of an extended Durham City Broket clan were living in the City itself and had originally also been parishioners of Durham St Oswald, see the separate page. However, despite Henry, Ann and William’s burials in Durham St Oswald churchyard there can be no confusion between their clan and this Durham City clan for the following reasons:

Apart from the names William and John, those of the other males of Henry and Ann’s clan—Hugh, Henry, Anthony, Robert and Stephen—didn’t occur in the Durham City clan, and the last known William and John of that clan died in 1754 and 1757 respectively.
The single Durham City record found of a William there later—“William Brockett, yeoman, of the city of Durham” in 1798—concerned his lease of Red House. So he was without doubt Henry’s son William 1745-1821. But although this shows he resided in the City for a period, he was the only one of Henry and Ann’s clan recorded doing so and he had no children of his own.
Finally there was the name change from Brock. No record of a Brock has been found in any Durham City parish before the 20th C, nor has any Will or Administration of any Brock been found in the entire Durham Diocese before 1858, apart from that of William, Henry’s father in Lanchester parish in 1737. Before 1858 Durham Diocese included the large territory of Tyne and Wear, County Durham, most of Northumberland, 2 Yorkshire parishes and a Cumberland one.¹³

The same applies with other Co Durham Broket families and clans, like the one in Aycliffe c 1735-1817, as little as 9 miles S of Croxdale on the main highway, see the separate page, the one down in Headlam in the Tees valley (an offshoot of the Durhan City clan), and the one in Sunderland c 16 miles to the NE of Croxdale, see the separate page.

Names of places and parishes can change, as can their extent, but following are the places in the vicinity of Durham City recorded for Henry and Ann’s clan, with some discussion of where the actual properties might have been:+Read more

Broomhouse 1721-2, Broom-house 1743-5. This appears to have been a single property, as opposed to a settlement, and is not to be confused with the township of Broom (see Redhouse below). The 1856 OS map of County Durham recorded a Broomhouse Quarry in Langley township,¹⁴ see High Longly below. It may have been an earlier house on the site of the modern-day Broom House Farmhouse (dated c 1840), a Grade II Listed Building in Burnhope between the villages of Lanchester and Witton Gilbert.¹⁵ Burnhop[e] was then in Lanchester parish, although c 3 m N of Langley Park.

Croxdale 1792. The Will of Henery Brocket shows that he was a Yeoman from Croxdale, where he farmed fields called Ontherin Closes. Croxdale is c 4 m S of Durham City, and was a Chapelry in Durham St Oswald parish. His burial record said he was a Farmer of “Sunderland-bridge-closes“, as opposed to “Sunderland-bridge-town” where others were recorded.¹⁶ Sunderland-bridge-closes—presumably another name for Ontherin Closes—would have been near the c 14th C bridge over the River Wear, less than a mile NW of Sunderland Bridge village and c 1 mile north of Croxdale village.

Durham City: St Oswald parish 1792-4, 1821. The burials of Henry and Ann and their second son William in Durham St Oswald graveyard not far from the City, might suggest that they resided in the City. However, as mentioned above, St Oswald parish included many of the outlying rural areas listed here. A record from 1798, see above, shows that William did reside in the City at that time at least, however, this was his lease of Red House, where he presumably then relocated to, see below. He had no family of his own.

Hamstels 1770. Hamsteels Hall is a farm a couple of miles SW of Langley Park. Henry’s brother John Brock lived in the settlement, then in Lanchester parish, and no doubt near Broomhouse, see above.

High Longly 1710. i.e. High Langley. Heugh Brock—Henry’s probable grandfather—is recorded here. The record of Deborah’s baptism in 1748 called her “daughter of Henry & Ann Brocket of Langley Lane”. This was only 3 years after the 1745 Broomhouse reference above, so it may have been the same property. ‘High Langley’ as such wasn’t mentioned by Whellan, but at the end of his section on Lanchester parish he said, “The Hamlet of Langley is about five miles north-by-west of Durham. The ruins of Langley Hall are situated on the southern slope of a hill, which commands a rich and varied view over the vale of the Browney, having the cathedral and the Durham hills in the distance.”¹⁷ It is now called Langley Park and is c 1 mile SW of Witton Gilbert, near Broom township and Bear Park, see Redhouse next. Langley Park is to be distinguished from Langley Moor, not mentioned by Whellan, and c 4 m S of Langley Park/township.

Redhouse, in the township of Broom 1798, 1821. William Brockett’s Will of 1821 (see above) shows that he was a Gentleman of Redhouse, in the township of Broom in the parish of Elvet, County Durham, and had “Farmhouse, Fields Closes and Premises situate in the said Township of Broom and in the parish of Esh”. Broom was a township in Durham St Oswald parish, c 3 miles W of Durham City centre and Esh was a chapelry in the parish of Lanchester a couple of miles due west of Broom. William leased the “estate called Red House on Ushaw Moor, Durham” for £820 on 12 May 1798.¹⁸ Interestingly, the third of the 3 assignees was “John Brockett, schoolmaster, of Witton Gilbert“—William’s younger brother. There are a couple of Red House farms just north of Durham city but William’s was clearly in Broom township and on Ushaw Moor to the west of th e city. There is a Red House Farm there now, however it is dated to the 1860s: “This farm is a short way west of the village of Bearpark. It was built in the 1860’s for Ushaw College.” So it may be a rebuild of or near William’s house.¹⁹ See also High Longley above.

Stobbilee 1764. Henry and Ann Brock were here when their youngest child, John, was baptised. ‘Witton Gilbert A History’ mentions Stobbilee as an early nearby settlement.²⁰ There are 3 properties in 2021 with this name in the Durhham/Lanchester area. None of the current buildings may date from as long ago as 1764, but the site at least of one is likely to be the one Henry and Ann lived in.²¹ One is Stobbilee Cottage, postcode DH7 9TR, on the northern edge of Langley Park, see High Longly above, where they were recorded before. A second, c 8 m further west of of Langley Park and c 4 m W of Hamsteels, is Stobbilee Farm, postcode DH7 0SZ. And a third is 3 m from Durham City centre, now called the Coach House, postcode DH7 6TW.

Witton Gilbert 1783, 1810-. Like Lanchester, Witton Gilbert was both a small village and a parish. The village is c 4 m NW of Durham City, half way along the road to Lanchester village. As a parish, the 1851 map shows it stretching between the parishes of Chester-le-Street to the north, between Durham St Margaret to the east, Durham St Oswald to the south and Lanchester to the West.²² It was sometimes referred to as in the parish of Durham St Oswald, although its own parish registers survive from 1570. An auction notice shows that Henry was a tenant farmer in Witton Gilbert in 1783:

“Lot 2d. Two eligible freehold farms, with proper and suitable Houses, and other Buildings thereon; the one of them situate at Witton Gilbert, in the county of Durham, and now let to Henry Brock, at the clear yearly rent of 74l. and the other of them at Fulforth, near Witton Gilbert aforesaid, in the possession of Joseph Nixon, … The Seams of Coal under these Farms are very valuable, … The premises are well inclosed and supplied with water, and there is a fine spring of young wood now growing thereon. They are also intitled to an unlimited Right of Common upon Charlaw and Findon Hill Commons.”²³

In his Will of 1810, Henry’s son John Brockett of Gateshead mentioned: “all my freehold Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate or being in the Parishes of Witton Gilbert and Lanchester or elsewhere in the County of Durham”.²⁴

Summary: Henry’s father William was recorded at Broomhouse 1721-2, Langley East House 1731, and finally at Broomhouse again 1737. Broomhouse appears to have been in Langley township, so it’s possible that Broomhouse and Langley East House were the same property. Similarly, Henry himself—in addition to his baptism in 1721—was recorded at Broom-house 1743-5, and barely one year later at Langley Lane 1746-8. So again, it’s possible that Broom-house and Langley Lane referred to the same property. Moreover, the same may apply to Henry’s grandparents’ home in 1710 called High Longley [Langley]. If so, Henry would have grown up in his grandparents’ and parents’ home, and carried on living there with Ann 1743-8 during the time of the baptisms of their children Hugh, William, Mary and Deborah and probably longer. By the time of the baptism of their last child John, 16 years later, Henry and Ann were at Stobbilee, and their final residence was in Croxdale. Apart from Croxdale, which was in Durham St Oswald parish, they appear to have lived their lives in Lanchester parish.

Manorial court records may show to what level Henry, his father, brothers and children, owned the land they farmed, but judging from houses possibly occupied by Henry’s sons and the properties that were still owned by the next-generation Gateshead family, Henry or at least his son William were probably Yeomen of substantial means. Henry’s father’s estate in 1738, however, had been estimated at only £50—half the penalty for not administering it.²⁵

Local parish records

Following are transcriptions in date order of all the relevant register entries found, firstly in Lanchester parish and then in nearby parishes.²⁶ Surname spellings are highlighted in bold, and square brackets contain comments not in the actual records.

1. Lanchester parish records:+Read more

1710 29 Oct: Heugh Brock of High Longly, buried.²⁷ [Probable father of William.]
1710 6 Dec: Emmy Brock of High Longly, wife of Heugh, buried.²⁸ [Probable mother of William.]
1712 n d: Margaret Brock married.²⁹ [Daughter of Heugh?]
1716 29 May: William Brock married Jane Proud.³⁰ [Probable parents of Henry.]
1716 30 Nov: Elizabeth Brock buried.³¹
1718/9 25 Jan: Ann Brock married George Myers.³² [Daughter of Heugh?]
1718/9 17 Feb: Hugh son of William Brock, baptised.³³ [Brother of Henry d 1792.]
1719 26 Mar: William son of William Brock, baptised.³⁴ [Brother of Henry d 1792.]
1721 9 Jul: Henry son of William Brooke of Broomhouse, baptised.³⁵ [See marriage entry 1742, and burial at Durham St Oswald 1792.]
1722 10 Jul: Hugh Brocke of Broomehouse, buried.³⁶ [Brother of Henry d 1792.]
1723 22 Jul: John son of William Brooke, baptised.³⁷ [Brother of Henry d 1792.]
1724 9 Aug: Ann daughter of Gawen Ainsley, baptised.³⁸ [See marriage entry 1742.]
1728/9 6 Feb: Robert son of William Brooke, baptised.³⁹ [Brother of Henry d 1792.]
1731 21 Jul: Robert son of William Brooke of Langley East House, buried.⁴⁰ [Brother of Henry d 1792.]
1732/3 6 Mar: Jane daughter of William Brock, baptised.⁴¹ [Sister of Henry d 1792.]
1737 16 Jul: William Brock of Broomhouse, buried.⁴² Administration of the estate of William Brock granted to “Jane Brock of the parish of Lanchester Widow” 4 Mar 1737/8, penal sum £100.⁴³ [Father of Henry.]
1742 27 Dec: “Henry Brocket & Ann Aynsley married 27 Dec 1742 both of this parish”.⁴⁴ [See baptism entries for 1721 for Henry and 1724 for Ann.]
1743 2 May: William Brock married Elizabeth Moor.⁴⁵ [Henry’s brother.]
1743 27 Dec: Hugh son of Henry Brock of Broom-house, baptised.⁴⁶ [Henry’s son.]
1744 27 Mar: William son of William Brock, baptised.⁴⁷ [Henry’s nephew.]
1745 28 May: “William baptised 28 May 1745 son of Henry & Ann Brocket of Broom-house”.⁴⁸ [Henry’s son.]
1746 15 Apr: Elizabeth daughter of William and Elizabeth Brock, baptised.⁴⁹ [Henry’s niece.]
1746 13 May: Mary Brock daughter of Henry & Ann Brock of Langley Lane, baptised.⁵⁰ [Henry’s daughter.]
1748 24 Apr: Anthony son of William and Elizabeth Brock, baptised.⁵¹ [Henry’s nephew.]
1748 23 May: “Deborah baptised 23 May 1748 daughter of Henry & Ann Brocket of Langley Lane”.⁵² [Henry’s daughter.]
1752 10 Mar: John son of William and Elizabeth Brock, baptised.⁵³ [Henry’s nephew, bur 1753.]
1753 21 Jan: John son of William & Elizabeth Brock of Langley Lane, buried.⁵⁴ [Henry’s nephew, bap 1752.]
1753 5 Dec: Jane Brock married John Brigs Walton.⁵⁵ [Henry’s sister.]
1759 5 Dec: John Brock married Margaret Horseley.⁵⁶ [Henry’s brother?]
1760 29 May: Jane Brock buried.⁵⁷ [Probable mother of Henry.]
1760 14 Aug: Jane daughter of John and Margaret Brock baptised.⁵⁸ [Henry’s niece.]
1761 7 Dec: Margaret daughter of John and Margaret Brock baptised.⁵⁹ [Henry’s niece.]
1764 26 Nov: “John Son of Henry & Ann Brock of Stobbilee”, baptised.⁶⁰ [Henry’s son.]

1770 3 Oct: Stephen son of John and Margaret Brock of Hamstels, baptised.⁶¹ [Henry’s nephew.]
1772 8 Aug: “Samuel Wild of the Parish of Chester-le-Street, & Deborah Brock of the parish [of Lanchester, were married by] Lic[ence]”.⁶² [Henry’s daughter.]

2. Other local parish records:+Read more

1773 6 Jul: Mary Brockett married Charles Neasham in Hurworth All Saints, County Durham.⁶³ [Henry’s daughter.]
1779 13 Jan: “Samuel Son of Samuel Wilde Priest Field” baptised Tanfield.⁶⁴ [Son of daughter of Henry, mentioned in William Brockett’s Will 1821.] Tanfield is a former Durham mining village c 7m due north of Lanchester village and c 7m west of Chester le Street.
1786 16 Apr: “Mary Daughter of Samuel Wilde” baptised Tanfield.⁶⁵ [Daughter of daughter of Henry, mentioned in William Brockett’s Will 1821.]
1788 21 Sep: John Trotter Brockett son of John and Frances Brockett baptised in Witton Gilbert.⁶⁶ [Henry’s grandson.]
1791 25 Dec: Margaret Brockett daughter of John and Frances Brockett baptised in Witton Gilbert.⁶⁷ [Henry’s granddaughter.]
1792 19 Jun: “Henry Brocket, [of] Sunderland-bridge-closes, Farmer” buried Durham St Oswald.⁶⁸ [There is no burial record for his wife Ann recorded in the Bishop’s Transcripts, nor in the IGI or FMP databases, as of 16 Feb 2021.]
1794 21 Dec: “George, Son of John and Frances Brockett” baptised in Witton Gilbert.⁶⁹ [Henry’s grandson.]
1799 30 Jun: “Mary Brockett, born 20 May, 2d Daugr. of John Brockett Shoemaker native of Lanchester, by his Wife Frances Trotter native of St. Andrews Auckland” baptised in Witton Gilbert.⁷⁰ [Henry’s granddaughter.]
1802 11 Nov: “Mary Neasham of Hurworth [married] Joseph Furnace of West Harrington in the Parish of Houghton le Spring in the County of Durham, Farmer, in Hurworth All Saints, County Durham, by Licence”.⁷¹ [Daughter of daughter of Henry, both mentioned in William Brockett’s Will 1821 as “of Wooley, Brancepeth”.]
1813 28 Feb: Deborah Wilde buried Tanfield, aged 70 [i.e. b c 1743].⁷² [Daughter of Henry, mentioned as deceased in William Brockett’s Will 1821.]
1819 19 Apr: Michael Hunt, Widower, of the Chapelry of Esh, co Durham, married Deborah Neasham, Spinster, of Durham St Oswald in Durham St Oswald, by Licence.⁷³ [Daughter of daughter of Henry, both mentioned in William Brockett’s Will 1821 as “of Redhouse”.]
1821 6 Sep: William Brockett, Farmer, of Red-House, buried Durham, St Oswald.⁷⁴ [Henry’s son.]

Wensley parish, Yorkshire

It so happens that up to 1695—fifteen years before the burials of Heugh and Emme Brock in Lanchester churchyard—a couple with the same names were recorded having a family in the village of Preston [under Scar] in Wensley parish at the head of the Yorkshire dale of that name, c 50 miles south of High Langley, Co Durham. Neither Hugh nor Emme were common names at that time and of course as a couple even less so. So to be living at the same time within a a couple of days’ journey from each other is probably beyond coincidence. It becomes definitely so when the same names of the other Brock burials in Lanchester in the decade that Heugh and Emme Brock died are to be found as children of theirs baptised in Wensley, namely:

Margaret Brock married Lanchester 1712. Margarett Brock baptised Wensley 1684.
William Brock married Lanchester 1716. William Brock baptised Wensley 1685.
Elizabeth Brock buried Lanchester 1716. Elizabeth Brock baptised Wensley 1687.
Ann Brock married Lanchester 1719. Anne Brock baptised Wensley 1695.

Here are the Wensley parish records of Brocks found:⁷⁵

“Hugo Brocke et Elizabetha Littlefaire” were married 13 Feb 1624/5.⁷⁶ “Hugh Brock” was buried 9 Feb 1656/7.⁷⁷ “Elizabeth Brock” was buried 5 Mar 1656/7.⁷⁸ Children:

1. “Elizabetha Brocke filia Hugonis Brocke” was baptised 25 Mar 1626.⁷⁹ “Elizabeth Fillia Hugh Brocke” was buried 25 Oct 1655.⁸⁰
2. “Gulielmus Brocke filius Hugonis Brock” was baptised 7 Nov 1630.⁸¹ “Willam’ Brocke et Margerere Todd” were married 5 Jan 1655/6.⁸² “Margerere vxor William Brock” was buried 5 Sep 1656.⁸³ “William Brock and Dorothy Chapman” were married 12 Nov 1656.⁸⁴ No burial record of either William or Dorothy in Wesley or the vicinity has been found. Children:

1. “Hugh Fillius William Brock” was baptised 31 Oct 1658.⁸⁵ Hugh Brock & Emme Robinson both of Preston 7ber pmo'” [i.e. 1 Sep] 1683 were married.⁸⁶ That they were from Preston is recorded in each entry in the Wensley parish register hereafter. Both were buried in Lanchester 1710, see above.

1. “Margarett Filia Hugh Brock June the 8 Preston” was baptised 1684.⁸⁷ Married in Lanchester 1712, see above.
2. “William filius Hugh Brock December the 13 p[reston]” 1685 was baptised.⁸⁸ Married Jane Proud in Lanchester 1716, and both buried there 1737 and 1760, see above. Parents of Henry b 1720 d 1792.
3. “Elizabeth filia Hugh Brock De preston” was baptised 16 Oct 1687.⁸⁹ Buried in Lanchester 1716, see above.
4. “Hugh the son of Hugh Brock of preston” was baptised 19 Apr 1691.⁹⁰ No further record found.
5. “Dorothy the Daughter of Hugh Brock of preston” was baptised 19 Aug 1694.⁹¹ “Dorothy the Daughter of Hugh Brock of Preston” was buried 22 Aug 1694.⁹²
6. “Anne Daughter of Hugh Brock of Preston bapt:d August 25th” 1695.⁹³ Married in Lanchester 1719, see above.

2. “James Fillius William Brocke” was baptised 1 Jan 1664/5.⁹⁴ No further record found.
3. “Jacobus filius Will’m Brock” was baptised 15 Nov 1667.⁹⁵ No further record found.

3. Robartus Brocke filius Hugonis Brock” was baptised 31 Mar 1633.⁹⁶
4. “Ann Fillia How brocke” was baptised 17 Sep 1637.⁹⁷

Between 1695 and 1710 Hugh, Emme, Margaret, William, Elizabeth and Ann removed to the parish of Lanchester, c 50 miles north.

This therefore was the male-line ancestry of William Henry Brockett, Mayor of Gateshead, the amateur genealogist and publisher of the fine 1860 Gateshead pedigree, see the separate page:

The male-line ancestry of William Henry Brockett of Gateshead

Page Last Updated: March 10, 2021

Footnotes

For full bibliographical details please see the sections Publications or Glossary.

Expand

[1] William's details are in slightly different lettering, so probably added later. For a photo see Findagrave Memorial ID 158746183.

[2] DUASC DPRI/1/1794/B6/1---the original Will with Henery's mark signing it---transcription by AAB 10 Feb 2021. DUASC is Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections. There is also a registered copy of the Will: DPRI/2/31 p158-159.

[3] The DUASC catalogue transcribes this 'Ontherim'. In the original Will it is clearly 'Ontherin'.

[4] Proved 17 Sep 1821, DUASC DPRI/1/1821/B23/1-2 (original Will), DPRI/2/33 p 327 (registered copy) transcription by AAB from the original 10 Feb 2021. Signature reproduced from the original Will courtesy of DUASC.

[5] Land Tax Returns for Chester Ward West 1759-1830, Durham Co Record Office Q/D/L 25-35.

[6] Land Tax Returns for Chester Ward Middle 1759-1830, Durham Co Record Office Q/D/L 17, 18, 19.

[7] Henry's Will spelt the name with one 't', William's with two. For brevity the one 't' spelling is used here.

[8] DUASC NDFHS Reference 8960319; NDFHS is Northumberland & Durham Family History Society transcription, accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[9] Online catalogues of both Durham County Record Office and Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections searched 22 Feb 2021.

[10] 1828, at British History Online, tinyurl.com/47l9m9vz, accessed 23 February 2021. Bold font mine.

[11] 1856 p 266. Bold font mine.

[12] 1928, at British History Online, tinyurl.com/4jkh3a2p, accessed 23 February 2021. Bold font mine.

[13] Durham Probate Records database information at tinyurl.com/5zt52edu, accessed 24 Feb 2021.

[14] tinyurl.com/44g35hyx, accessed 22 Feb 2021.

[15] British Listed Buildings Online: tinyurl.com/1ea8bksk, accessed 14 Feb 2021.

[16] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/248 p 2, image accessed from FMP 15 Feb 2021.

[17] 1856 p 905.

[18] Ushaw College Administration: Estate Records now part of Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, ref: GB-0298-UC/AC7/15/3. Many thanks to Richard Brockett for this reference, 15 Jan 2021.

[19] Grid Reference: NZ22854326 with an image of the farm house by Robert Graham at tinyurl.com/ynt3xxyn, accessed 24 Feb 2021.

[20] Under the 'History' tab at witton-gilbert.org.uk/, accessed 25 Feb 2021.

[21] Images of all three can be found on the internet as of 25 Feb 2021.

[22] tinyurl.com/n11yfrie, accessed 22 Feb 2021. See also under the 'History' tab at witton-gilbert.org.uk/, accessed 25 Feb 2021.

[23] The_Newcastle_Weekly_Courant 15 Nov 1783_p_2.

[24] DUASC DPR/I/1/1827/B22/1-2.

[25] With thanks to Durham University Library Archivist Francis Gotto for this explanation, 23 Feb 2021.

[26] As of 11 Feb 2021.

[27] Northumberland & Durham Family History Society transcription, accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, no image; NBI.

[28] Northumberland & Durham Family History Society transcription, accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, no image; NBI.

[29] Boyd's marriage index, 1538-1850, accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[30] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[31] Northumberland & Durham Family History Society transcription, accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, no image; NBI.

[32] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[33] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[34] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image. The year began 26 Mar.

[35] Microfilm M42/687 of Register Books C and D of the Lanchester parish register at Durham County Record Office, consulted 2002. Also IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[36] Microfilm M42/687 of Register Books C and D of the Lanchester parish register at Durham Co Record Office, consulted 2002; Northumberland & Durham Family History Society transcription, accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[37] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[38] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[39] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[40] Northumberland & Durham Family History Society transcription, accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, no image; NBI.

[41] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[42] Microfilm M42/687 of Register Books C and D of the Lanchester parish register at Durham Co Record Office, consulted 2002. 25 Jul in NBI transcription 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[43] DUASC DPRI/3/1737/B234; image of original accessed on FamilySearch 23 Feb 2021.

[44] Microfilm M42/687 of Register Book C f19 (via Index Book #131) of the Lanchester parish register at Durham County Record Office, consulted 2002. Also IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[45] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[46] Microfilm M42/687 of Register Books C and D of the Lanchester parish register at Durham Co Record Office, consulted 2002. Also IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[47] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[48] Microfilm M42/687 of Register Book C f27 (via Index Book #131) of the Lanchester parish register at Durham County Record Office, consulted 2002. Also IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[49] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[50] Microfilm M42/687 of Register Books C and D of the Lanchester parish register at Durham Co Record Office, consulted 2002. Also IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[51] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[52] Microfilm M42/687 of Register Book D f21 (via Index Book #131) of the Lanchester parish register at Durham County Record Office, consulted 2002 (Book #131 had mistakenly transcribed the entry as 'Deborah Brocket daughter of Anthony' perhaps by dittography with the 24 Apr entry). Also IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[53] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[54] Microfilm M42/687 of Register Books C and D of the Lanchester parish register at Durham Co Record Office 2002, consulted 2002; Northumberland & Durham Family History Society transcription, accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, no image; NBI.

[55] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[56] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[57] NBI, accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[58] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[59] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[60] Bishop's Transcripts 1773, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/164/3. The previous page in the Bishop's Transcripts is entitled 'Baptisms in 1764'. Image accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, snip reproduced courtesy of DULASC. Also, Microfilm M42/687 of Register Books C and D of the Lanchester parish register at Durham Co Record Office, consulted 2002.

[61] Bishop's Transcripts 1773, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/164/23. Image accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021.

[62] Bishop's Transcripts 1773, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/164/40. Image accessed from FMP 10 Feb 2021, snip reproduced courtesy of DULASC. Also, Microfilm M42/687 of Register Books C and D of the Lanchester parish register at Durham Co Record Office, consulted 2002.

[63] Northumberland & Durham Family History Society transcription, accessed from FMP 14 Feb 2021, no image.

[64] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/248, image accessed from FMP 15 Feb 2021.

[65] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/248 p 2, image accessed from FMP 15 Feb 2021.

[66] IGI transcription accessed 10 Feb 2021, no image.

[67] IGI transcription accessed 16 Feb 2021, no image.

[68] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/87/11, image accessed from FMP 15 Feb 2021.

[69] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/277/5, image accessed from FMP 16 Feb 2021.

[70] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/277, image accessed from FMP 16 Feb 2021.

[71] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/146, image accessed from FMP 15 Feb 2021.

[72] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/248, image accessed from FMP 15 Feb 2021.

[73] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/87/272 p 48, image accessed from FMP 15 Feb 2021.

[74] Bishop's Transcripts, DUASC DDR/EA/PBT/2/87/302 p 83. Image accessed from FMP 14 Feb 2021. Note the headstone has 13 Sep.

[75] Images of the actual register---North Yorkshire County Record Office PR/WEN 1/1 ( pages in footnotes after each entry)---werw accessed for all the following entries 18 Feb 2021 from FMP.

[76] p 190.

[77] p 208.

[78] p 208.

[79] p 48.

[80] p 207.

[81] p 48.

[82] p 207.

[83] p 208.

[84] p 209.

[85] p 68.

[86] p 234.

[87] p 94.

[88] p 97.

[89] p 98.

[90] p 101.

[91] p 103.

[92] p 243.

[93] p 104.

[94] p 74.

[95] p 81.

[96] p 51.

[97] p 53.