One of the more tragic stories in the Brinsmead tree is that of the family of William Brinsmead, the son of Henry Brinsmead, the older brother of John. Both Henry and John were piano makers, but John's growing fame and fortune overshadowed his brother's achievements. Henry had a son William who left England for New York taking two of his children with him. However, William left other children at home. One was William's oldest son, Henry.
Henry's first marriage was on Christmas Day, 1892, to Rose Phoebe Martin age 19, spinster, of 14 Parkfield Street, the daughter of George Martin, a Plumber. Henry shows as a bachelor, age 24 also living at 14 Parkfield Street, a Pianoforte Maker, the son of William Brinsmead, pianoforte tuner, deceased. Henry and Rose had a daughter, Ada Rose Brinsmead who was born in Islington but who died (or at least was buried) on September 21st, 1894 at age 8 months. The burial entry shows them living at 79 Pentonville Road. Henry is again listed as a Piano Maker (journeyman).
Henry and Rose then had another child, John Henry, born on Nov 5th and baptized Dec 8th 1895 at St. Stephen's Church, London. He is the subject of this page. Rose Phoebe then died, in the March ¼, 1897. (Brinsmead, Rose Phoebe, 23; Islington 1b 231).
A year later, Henry, now aged 29, remarried – on October 1898 at St. James’ Pentonville, in Clerkenwell to Elizabeth Harriett Harpham, spinster, age 23. Both are listed as living at 37 Henry Street. She was the daughter of Edward Harpham, Labourer, deceased. Henry is listed as a pianoforte manufacturer.
Then Henry died, at age 31, by which time young John Henry was about 4. It appears that the widow Elizabeth Harriot did not or could not look after him because, on the 1901 census, they are in different places. In 1901, essentially an orphan, he is in a foster home in Burns Green, Great Totham, Essex, with Sarah Agatha Crumpen, a widow aged 69, and her Authoress daughter, single, Alice E. Crumpton. The daughter was deaf. There was a second boarder there as well, age 6. In 1911 John is no longer there, but there is another foster child, so we presume Alice the daughter took in foster children from time to time.
On September 29th, 1904, a young lad listed as J. Brinsman, age 8, left Liverpool in England aboard the SS Southwark destined for Toronto, Ontario via Quebec City. He was part of a Dr. Bernardo's party of young boys. He arrived on October 9th. We have been unable to locate John on the census for 1911, or in any war records.
On June 18th, 1919, a John Brinsmead of Bracebridge in the Muskoka District of Ontario married Agnes Jones. The marriage took place in Toronto. He is listed as Anglican, a clerk, and having been born in London, England.
He listed his father as John Brinsmead and his mother as Mary Edwards. However, we have no other loose ends for a John Henry Brinsmead of that age. We hope to obtain some confirmation from the Dr. Bernardo's Home records in England.
John and Agnes moved to Hamilton, Ontario where they lived at 102 East 34th Street. John died there on June 11, 1921, of T.B., at age 25. We have not found any record of children. His death certificate indicates that he worked as a clerk in a general store.