I think M P Griffiths means Jun qtr 1943. There is a registration under F of Dean 6a 707 during that quarter between Christopher Brain & Gladys M Cook.

I have a Christopher Benjamin Brain born 15 May 1896 in my tree, son of John Brain 1855 & Sarah Ann Yemm 1860. The father of John Brain 1855 was Benjamin Brain 1810 who married Elizabeth Meek 1816. I have nothing to corroborate that this is the Christopher Brain who married Gladys M Cook in 1943, my bet would be someone younger. However it is a line of enquiry for you and I have shown the census details below. Christopher Benjamin Brain 1896 would be my 4th cousin twice removed, so if you prove this Christopher married Gladys, please let me know.

Elizabeth Meek 1816 who married Benjamin Brain was the daughter of Joseph Meek 1782 & Hannah Cooke 1792, there is much written on this web site about the Joseph Meek 1782 who married Hannah Cooke 1792 being confused with Joseph Meek 1771 who married Hannah Baldwin 1779.

Benjamin Brain 1810 Census :

1851 Census East Dean
HO107, piece 1959, folio 186, page 29, GSU roll 87359
Address: Looks like Quarry Hill
Benjamin Brain Head occ: Collier age 39 born abt 1812 Ruardean
Elizabeth Brain Wife age 34 born abt 1817 East Dean
James Brain Son age 7 born abt 1844 East Dean
Edwin Brain Son age 7 born abt 1844 East Dean
Elizabeth Brain Dau age 5 born abt 1846 East Dean
William Brain Son age 4 born abt 1847 East Dean
Anne Brain Dau age 3 born abt 1848 East Dean
Joseph Brain Son age 1 born abt 1850 East Dean

1861 Census East Dean
RG9, piece 1754, folio 99, page 3, GSU roll 542863
No address given
Benjamin Brain Head occ: Collier age 50 born abt 1811 East Dean
Elizabeth Brain Wife age 45 born abt 1816 East Dean
Edwin Brain Son age 17 born abt 1844 East Dean
James Brain Son age 17 born abt 1844 East Dean
Elizabeth Brain Dau age 15 born abt 1846 East Dean
William Brain Son age 14 born abt 1847 East Dean
Anne Brain Dau age 13 born abt 1848 East Dean
Joseph Brain Son age 11 born abt 1850 East Dean
Benjamin Brain Son age 9 born abt 1852 East Dean
Mary Ann Brain Dau age 7 born abt 1854 East Dean
John Brain Son age 4 born abt 1857 East Dean
Alice Brain Dau age 5 born abt 1856 East Dean
Thomas Brain Son age 3 born abt 1858 East Dean
Clara Brain Dau age 1 born abt 1860 East Dean
(Living next door to Benjamin and his family is William Cowmeadow and family. A William Cowmead was a witness at the marriage of Benjamin and Elizabeth)

1871 Census East Dean
(Please note, surname on this census is Beary, should be Brain)
RG10, piece 2597, folio 23, pg 10, GSU roll 835277
Address: Harry Hill
Benjamin Brain Head occ: Collier age 59 born abt 1812 Harry Hill
Elizabeth Brain Wife age 54 born abt 1817 Drybrook
Joseph Brain Son occ: Collier age 21 born abt 1850 Harry Hill
Benjamin Brain Son occ: Collier age 18 born abt 1853 Harry Hill
John Brain Son occ: Collier age 15 born abt 1856 Harry Hill
Tom Brain Son age 13 born abt 1858 Harry Hill
Clara Brain Dau age 11 born abt 1860 Harry Hill
Thomas Brain Visitor age 4 born abt 1867 Harry Hill

1881 Census Westbury on Severn
RG11, piece 2521, folio 101, page 24, GSU roll 1341608
Address: Harry Hill
Benjamin Brain Head occ: no occupation age 69 born abt 1812 Ruardean
Elizabeth Brain Wife age 65 born abt 1816 Ruardean
Benjamin Brain Son occ: Coal Miner age 29 born abt 1852 East Dean
Joseph Brain Son occ: Coal Miner age 31 born abt 1850 East Dean

John Brain 1855 Census :

1881 Census
Dwelling: 8 Harry Hill
Census Place: (Westbury On Severn) East Dean, Gloucester, England
Source: FHL Film 1341608 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2521 Folio 97 Page 15
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
John BRAIN M 25 M East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Head
Occ: Coal Miner
Sarah Ann BRAIN M 21 F East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Wife
Gilbert J. BRAIN 4 m M East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Son

1891 Census East Dean RG12/2004/190
John Brain 35 Drybrook CM
Sarah Ann 31 Drybrook
Ronald G 8 Drybrook
Ivor W 6 Drybrook
Albert T 3 Drybrook

1901 Census East Dean
John Brain 45 CM Harry Hill
Sarah A 41 Harry Hill
Rowland 18 CM Harry Hill
Ivor 16 CM Harry Hill
Albert 12 Drybrook
Clara 6 Drybrook
Christopher 4 Drybrook

Jim Ashton

FreeBDM

Marriage F.of.Dean

A/M/J Qtr 1843 (correction! 1943)

Gladys M COOK/Christopher BRAIN

Be wary that you have the correct Charles Brain, you say born 1871. I have the Charles Brain that married Amelia Meek in my Family Tree,he was the son of John Brain 1832 & Belinda Harris 1836. This Charles Brain was baptised 22 Aug 1869. I also have another Charles Brain born 1871 who was the son of John Brain 1834 & Elizabeth Harrison 1836 :

1881 Census
Dwelling:
Census Place: (Westbury On Severn) East Dean, Gloucester, England
Source: FHL Film 1341609 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2522 Folio 11 Page 16
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
John BRAIN M 46 M East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Head
Occ: Coal Miner
Elizabeth BRAIN M 44 F East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Wife
Mary A. BRAIN U 15 F East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daur
Charles BRAIN 10 M East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Albert BRAIN 6 M East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Suchanah BRAIN 2 F East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daur
Harriett HARRISON 38 F East Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Sister

In regards to other queries in this thread. George Thomas Meek 1848 who married Hannah Barnard 1844 parents of Amelia Meek 1874 was the son of Thomas Meek 1819 & Elizabeth Boughton 1819.

George Thomas Meek 1848 was born in Prison :

Prison Records Feb.1848
Thomas Meek. No,. 2309 from Mitcheldean aged 26, height
5ft.6. hair lt.brown grey eyes, visage long, fresh complexion.
Charged with feloniously receicving at East Dean 16 Feb.1848 a quantity of mutton, the property of Cornelius MARFELL. Found not Guilty.
His is a native of M/Dean, single worker for Mr. Thos Bennett for 16 yrs but of late working for himself. Conduct Good.

Glos.Quarter Sessions Feb.18 1848 Thos Meek not guilty, so obviously released. (offence took place Feb.16.1848).

Elizabeth Boughton exactly the same.

20 days later
Mitcheldean P.Records Feb.18 1848 BAP. Thomas George
son of Elizabeth Boughton, abode, Glos County Prison, by Asst. Chaplain ? Heaton (and noted according to certificate).
So seems Eliz MAY have re-offended and was back inside.

Thomas Meek 1819 was baptised 11 Apr 1819 Drybrook. Census data shows how unreliable indicated ages are :

1851 Lea Bailey
Thomas Meek abt 1825 Lea Barley, Head . woodcutter
Elizabeth Meek abt 1824 Mitcheldean, Wife
Edmund Meek abt 1850 East Dean, Son
George Meek abt 1848 Mitcheldean, Son
James Boughton abt 1844 Westbury On Severn, Nephew {SON illegitimate]

1861 Census East Dean Harry hill
Thomas Meek 41 Coal Miner Lea
Elizabeth 41 Mitcheldean
George 13 Coal Miner East Dean
John 10 East Dean
Sarah 8 East Dean
Elizabeth 4 East Dean
Mary 2 East Dean
William 4 mths East Dean

1871 Census East Dean Harry hill
Thomas Meek 49 Collier Miner Bailey Hill
Elizabeth 40 Mitcheldean
Elizabeth 15 Lea Bailey
Mary 13 Lea Bailey
William 11 Lea Bailey
Charlotte 9 Drybrook
Caroline 6 Drybrook

1881 Census
Dwelling: Factory Row
Census Place: (Westbury On Severn) East Dean, Gloucester, England
Source: FHL Film 1341609 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2522 Folio 95 Page 40
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Thos. MEEK M 50 M Bailey Hill, Gloucester, England
Rel: Head
Occ: Collier
Elizth. MEEK M 51 F Mitcheldean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Wife
Elizth. MEEK U 25 F Drybrook, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daur
Occ: No Occupation
Charlotte MEEK U 21 F Drybrook, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daur
Occ: Works At Tin Works
Caroline MEEK U 19 F Drybrook, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daur
Occ: Works At Tin Works
Edwin MEEK 6 M Cinderford, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daurs Child
Occ: Scholar
Mary MEEK 3 F Cinderford, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daurs Child
Eliza MEEK 1 F Cinderford, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daurs Child
William MEEK 2 m M Cinderford, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daurs Child

1891 Census Upper Bilson
Thomas Mak abt 1817 Lea Bailey Head
Elizabeth Mak abt 1818 Mitcheldred, Wife
A Davis Mak abt 1817 Vopes Hill, Glos Lodger
William Mak abt 1881 Cinderford, Grandson
Charles Mak abt 1861 Rose, Herefordshire, Cousin

To indicate that the Charles Brain who married Amelia Meek is indeed the son of John Brain & Belinda Harris; on the 1901 Census entry, his parents John Brain & Belinda
were next door and next door again was his brother Amos Brain 1867. A further "clue" now that Dai Jones has shown the additional children on the 1911 Census including Flower. John Brain 1832 & Belinda Harris 1836 had a son Flower born 1872.

To add to the confusion, I also have a Charles Brain 1873 !! Son of Charles Brain 1839 (son of Charles)& Mary Apperley 1843

Dai could you post the 1911 Census entry for Charles Brain 1869 please.

Jim Ashton

I cannot place George among my many Meek ancestors - a common name unfortunately and his baptism does not appear to be in any of the Parish registers and so it is more difficult to trace his parents.
The 1851 census has a George aged 3, son of Thomas and Elizabeth in Mitcheldean which is a possibility. They could possibly be George Meek m Elizabeth Boughton 4May1848 in Mitcheldean but beyond that I am stuck!

Regards

-Colin

Flower Brain c 1903
Wilfred Brain c 1905
Eva Brain c 1908

Amelia was the Daughter of George Meek & Hannah Barnard.

Charles Brain m Amelia Meek Westbury on Severn Q3 1893 6a 485

1901 Census The Rookery Holy Trinity Parish

Charles Brain 30 Coal Hewer b Horsepool Bottom, Glos
Amelia Brain 25 b Plump Hill
Ivy Brain 5 b Horsepool Bottom, Glos
Louis Brain 4 b Horsepool Bottom, Glos
May Brain 2 b Horsepool Bottom, Glos
Alma Brain 5 Months b Horsepool Bottom, Glos

Baptism for Amelia Meek in Parish records
10Jan1875 Drybrook, parents George and Hannah - residence - The Plump

I can't immediately find more on Amelia Meek (c1875) but check this prior thread too
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=16121

Regards

Colin