James Wyld Brown was born in London in 1855, youngest son of John Wyld Brown and Mary Mackellar. He Attended Highgate School London. Left 1873. Qualified as a barrister St. Johns College, Oxford, but did not practice. Known to have lived at Eastrop Grange, Highworth, Wiltshire, for some time.
Married 1884 Oct/Nov/Dec Kensington, record 1a 110. Wife given on 1891 census as Primor Marinnor Brown, age 29 at the time, born Ballantine, Scotland. (I discovered later that her full name was actually Primrose Mariane Rosse Kennedy - see further on). Living in the Hamlet of Liscombe, Soulbury, Leighton Buzzard, Bucks. Children as of 1891 census:
as of 1901 census, a James W Brown shown as living at 52 Liscombe Park, Soulbury, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, living on own means, born London Kensington. Wife aged 39 shown as Primirsi M A Brown, born Scotland.
Children shown:
Nick Tranter tells me that in 1901 Gerald D and (now) Hew J were at Harrow School aged 14 and 15.
I found this entry in the National Archives of Scotland:
RefNo Title Date
GD60 Papers of the Family of Bennan and Finnarts 1451-1926
CountryCode GB
RepCode 234
RefNo GD60/198
Repository National Archives of Scotland
Title Agreement between Roland Fergussone Kennedy, Primrose Marion Rosse Kennedy, his sister, and wife of James Wyld Brown, and Gilbert Henrie Hew Kennedy, his brother, who is to come of age on 24 December next, for division of the funds bequeathed by their father the deceased Hew Kennedy and of funds due under his marriage contract, the validity of his will being in doubt and all his trustees but one being dead. Katherine Kennedy, the remaining child of the said Hew, died on 16 October 1882. Roland is to have £1000 and the remainder is to be divided equally between Primrose and Gilbert (who is about to proceed to Beunos Aires)
Date 14 Apr-7 May 1885
Description Signed by the parties respectively at Big Springs, Texas, at Broughton Lodge, Brackley, and at Ayr.
Primrose Mariane Rosse Kennedy (as her name is given in the Register of Corrected Entries) was born in Ballantrae, Ayr on 11th April 1861. Her father was Hew Fergussone Kennedy, and mother Marianne Bell. The family were Fergussone Kennedy of Bennane. There is a connection with the Earls of Cassilis.
It is interesting to note that James Wyld Brown's brother Claud Brown, my great grandfather, also married into a family of Kennedys with an ostensible connection to the Earls of Cassilis. His wife's mother was a Kennedy, Mary Emily Kennedy.
It is interesting to note that my grandfather called his first two sons (by his first wife) Patrick Douglas and Kenneth Francis. The names Douglas, Kenneth and Francis all appear in this family.
The Harrow School archivist kindly provided me with the following information, which I have supplemented with records from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Attended Harrow School Sep 1899- Dec 1904. While there he resided in The Head Master's boarding house and was a Monitor in 1904. Became a wine merchant. Was in the First World War A.B., R.N.V.R. (A.A.C.) from 1915-1919. Lived at Norrel's Close, East Horsley. Died 6 December 1934.
Attended Harrow School Easter 1900 - summer 1905. While there he resided in The Head Master's boarding house and was a Monitor in 1904. Went to Christ Church College Oxford (or Corpus Christi College according to the CWGC) and became a tea planter in Ceylon. Was in the First World War in Egypt with the Ceylon Contingent in 1914 (action on Suez Canal); 2nd Lieut. Wiltshire Regiment 1915; awarded a Military Cross in 1916 and was a Major in 1918. He was killed in action at Bailleul, while commanding 11th Lancashire Fusiliers, 14 April 1918. Became a Major.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission provides the following additional info: he was 31 at time of death. Gives his university education as Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and Caylon.
Name: BROWN, GERALD DICK
Rank: Major
Regiment/Service: Wiltshire Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn
Secondary Regiment: Lancashire Fusiliers
Secondary Unit Text: Commanding 11th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 14/04/1918
Awards: M C
Additional information: Son of James Wyld Brown, of Eastrop Grange, Highworth, Wilts. Educated at Harrow, Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and Caylon.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 8.
Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
In Memory of
Major GERALD DICK BROWN
M C
1st Bn, Wiltshire Regiment
Commanding 11th Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers
who died age 31
on 14 April 1918
Son of James Wyld Brown, of Eastrop Grange, Highworth, Wilts. Educated at Harrow, Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and Caylon.
Remembered with honour
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Primrose May Brown married Sir Evelyn Evans, Bart, known to my father as "Tubby Evans". The name "Tubby" was to do with the fact that he was the third Evans Baronet of Tubbendeny. He was not fat! Primrose May / Mary Brown died probably in the early 1950's. (This would also suggest name was Primrose not Primirsi or Primor). My father tells me they had no children. FreeBMD records show that she was married to an Evelyn Ward Evans, Jul-Sep 1909, Swindon, Vol 5a Page 9. He was born in 1883 and died in 1970 according to a Wikipedia entry. Apparently he attended Harrow School which might explain how he became acquainted with the family.
Attended Harrow School Easter 1903 - summer 1908. While there he resided in The Head Master's boarding house. Attended Brasenose College Oxford, and became at organist at Emmanuel Church, West Hampstead, 1913. Was in the First World War in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. Died 1 April 1917, aged 27.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission provides the following additional info: he was 27 at time of death. He was in the 5th Battalion.
Name: BROWN, ERIC FRANCIS
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Wiltshire Regiment
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 01/04/1917
Additional information: Son of James W. and Primrose M. R. Brown, of Eastrop Grange, Highworth, Wilts.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 30 and 64.
Memorial: BASRA MEMORIAL
In Memory of
Captain ERIC FRANCIS BROWN
5th Bn., Wiltshire Regiment
who died age 27
on 01 April 1917
Son of James W. and Primrose M. R. Brown, of Eastrop Grange, Highworth, Wilts.
Remembered with honour
BASRA MEMORIAL
Attended Harrow School 1906-1911. In the First World War 1914 - 1917. Died 13 September 1917, aged 25.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission provides the following additional info: he was 25 at time of death. He was a Lieutenant.
Name: BROWN, DOUGLAS CROW
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Secondary Regiment: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Secondary Unit Text: attd.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 13/09/1917
Additional information: Son of James Wyld Brown and Primrose Marianne Roose Brown, of Eastrop Grange, Highworth, Wilts.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 21.
Cemetery: ZUYDCOOTE MILITARY CEMETERY
In Memory of
Lieutenant DOUGLAS CROW BROWN
2nd Bn., Royal Scots
attd. , Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
who died age 25
on 13 September 1917
Son of James Wyld Brown and Primrose Marianne Roose Brown, of Eastrop Grange, Highworth, Wilts. Remembered with honour
ZUYDCOOTE MILITARY CEMETERY
Attended Harrow School 1909-1913. In First World War 1914 - 1918. Died 12th or 13th April 1918, aged 22.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission provides the following additional info: he was 22 at time of death which is given as 13 April 1918. He was in the 2nd and 4th Battalions.
Name: BROWN, KENNETH EDWARD
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 13/04/1918
Awards: M C and Bar
Additional information: Son of James W. Brown, of Eastrop Grange, Highworth, Wilts.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. A. 1.
Cemetery: HAUTMONT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
In Memory of
Captain KENNETH EDWARD BROWN
M C and Bar
2nd/4th Bn., Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
who died age 22
on 13 April 1918
Son of James W. Brown, of Eastrop Grange, Highworth, Wilts.
Remembered with honour
HAUTMONT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
To summarise, the children of James Wyld Brown and Primrose Mariane Rosse Kennedy were:
Here are some possible and likely name spelling variations for the mother:
Here are some possible and likely name spelling variations for the father:
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