The American Brettons
An old family myth related to some Bretton who emigrated to the United States. We did not know who or when – or even whether it was true or not. In 1996, however, we had a phone call from a John Bretton in Hemel Hempstead with whom we had corresponded for some time. He was researching the name throughout the world and we had sent him all the information we possessed on our branch. He was collecting an enormous amount of information and had just heard from two American Brettons (before marriage) Charlene Duncan and Beula Wilson who were trying to trace their ancestors. These ancestors, Joseph Bretton and his son Henry, along with another brother, had emigrated to the States in the 1820’s. All they knew is that they came fom Yorkshire so John Bretton asked us if we would try and find where they originated from as we were “on the doorstep”. Some work on the IGI narrowed it down to two possible families and a few minutes thought showed that it could only be one family from Elland near Halifax. Christine and I spent about four days in the archives and confirmed that it must be that family and quickly identified the Joseph, Henry and a John who were the likely emigrants. We then took the family back a few generations and were astounded to find a mention of Emley, about two miles from Flockton and, as well as tying them into a chart prepared by Rowland Bretton, we then tied them in to our own chart. Our own branch, and Henry Bretton’s branch came from two brothers Thomas Bretton (in our case) and John Bretton (in the case of the American branch) born at Flockton in 1716 and 1712 respectively
We were delighted that an old family story had at last been confirmed and since then we have been in continuous contact with Charlene and Beula, and with Billey Force and Leita Beth Nieshe , sisters, and Brettons, who both live in Washington State. Most of the family live in Kansas but, although they are far flung, they have a Bretton re-union each year in Kansas with between 60 and 120 people attending. We were very disappointed that we were unable to attend in 1997 but managed it in 1998 and had a wonderful time with some great people (over 100 people attended). Ill health stopped us going there again in 2000 but we remain hopeful for 2001……………..
The re-union we attended was held in Philipsburg, Kansas, not far from the geographical centre of the United States and, although they were in the middle of a heat wave (July) we thoroughly enjoyed the visit and treasure a plaque they presented to us.
Another of the abiding memories of that trip (and there were plenty) was when we were taken to the Bretton Cemetery, as it is known locally, near Philipsburg. This is where Henry Bretton was buried, a long way from Elland, near Halifax, (Yorkshire) where he was born, and which has been used virtually entirely for the Bretton family ever since. I believe that there are only three graves where people other than Brettons were allowed to be buried within the site. Two were locals who died in a cholera epidemic and the other was a nameless cowboy who died as he was passing through and was buried just within the boundaries of the plot.
The cemetery is miles from any habitation (presumably on Henry Bretton’s land), on top of a small rise in the prarie with endless views in every direction and three quarters of a mile through pastures to get to the cemetery from the nearest dirt road. To be there in the total quiet of that prairie was a magical experience and one I will never forget. We went back again a couple of days later to savour it again.
We have let them all have copies of the family history and are hope to add, to this web site, an article on the Wentworth family, and Governor Benning Wentworth, the first Governor of New Hampshire, to whom the Bretton family is distantly related.
We went on to the Internet in December 1997 to see if we could use it to trace the family, if any, of John Bretton, the brother of Henry who disappeared soon after arriving in America. In spite of contacting dozens of Brettons, Britains and Brittons in the States we have not yet managed to trace anyone.
Even at this late stage we keep on finding other, new, references to the Bretton family and wonder just how many more there are to discover. We fervently hope that there will be other people who will be able to, and willing to, carry on this family history.
Joseph Bretton, who emigrated to the United States in 1828
A deed in the Registry of Deeds in Wakefield, registered in the year 1813 under the reference GA 131 154.
A Memorial to be registered in the Register’s Office at Wakefield, of indentures of a lease and release bearing out respectively the first and second days of July in the year of Our Lord One Thousand, Eight hundred and Thirteen, the lease made between Edward Dickinson, of Marshall Mills, Huddersfield in the County of York on the one part, and Edward Kilner of Elland in the parish of Halifax in the said county of York, Gentleman, of the other part and the release being of four parts and made between the said Edward Dickinson of the first part, Joseph Bretton, aforesaid, Joiner, of the second part, John Walker of Newmillerdam in the parish of Sandal in the said county of York, Millwright, and Mary, his wife, nee Mary Bretton, spinster, of the third part and the said Edward Kilner by his further description of a person nominated by and in trust for the said Joseph Bretton and John Walker and Mary his wife of the fourth part. Of and concerning all that one full undivided moiety of actual half part the whole into two actual parts to be divided of and in all that messuage or dwellinghouse with the several cottages and other outbuildings, yard or fold, and gardensteads lying contiguous thereto. Also all that croft piece or parcel of arable meadow or pasture ground lying near to the said messuage and dwellinghouse containing by estimation near one acre be the same more or less and also one pew or seat situate standing and being on the north side of the side aisle in the parochial chapel in Elland aforesaid and now or now late in the possession of one Mary Ewbank her undertenants or assigns all with said tenements, hereditaments and premises are situate standing lying and being in Elland aforesaid and formerly in the tenure or occupation of the said Mary Ewbank, her undertenants or assigns together with all and every the rights to privileged hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any wise appurtaining And also containing all that the said other or remaining full undivided moiety or actual half part the whole into two actual parts to be divided of and in all that the said messuage or dwellinghouse, cottages, outbuildings, croft or parcel of arable meadow or pasture ground and of all and singular other than the premises herein before particularly mentioned and described and of their ……………… of their appurtenances the execution of which said indentured of lease and release by the said Edward Dickinson and respectively attested by Joseph Thomson of Halifax aforesaid, gentleman, and Isaac Dickinson of Marshall Mills aforesaid, cornmiller.
Signed and sealed in the presence of Joseph Thomson, sworn. The mark and seal of Isaac Dickinson
This Mary Walker, nee Mary Bretton is likely to be Joseph Bretton’s aunt and who, with her husband possibly helped Joseph with a mortgage.
A deed registered in the Registry of Deeds, Wakefield known as FZ 716 899 in 1814
A memorial of indentures of lease and release bearing dates respectively the First and Second days of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fourteen the lease made between John Walker of Newmillerdam in the parish of Sandal in the county of York, millwright, of the one part and Henry Wiglesworth of Elland in the county of York, gentleman of the other part and the release being of three parts and made between the said John Walker of the first part, Joseph Bretton of Elland in the parish of Halifax in the county of York, joiner of the second part, and the said Henry Wiglesworth of the third part of and concerning all that full undivided moiety of equal half part the whole into two equal parts to be divided and all other the part and share of him the said John Walker of and in all that messuage or dwellinghouse, cottages and other outbuildings yard or fold and gardensteads lying contiguous thereto and all that croft piece or parcel of arable meadow or pasture ground lying near to the said messuage or dwellinghouse containing by estimation near one acre to the same more or less and also one pew or seat situate staning and being on the north side of the south aisle in the parochial chapel of Elland aforesaid heretofor in the possession of Mary Ewbank, widow, her undertenants and assigne all with said tenements, hereditaments unto and promised are situate standing lying and being in Elland aforesaid and were late or heretofor in the tenure or occupation of the said Mary Ewbank, her undertenants or assigne and also all and singular the houses outhouses edifices and buildings erections stables woodshops orchards gardens ways paths passages waters watercourses hedges tithes walls rights and liberties privileges advantages hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the said moiety heraditaments and premises belonging or in any wise appertaining with said indentures and to the execution thereof by the said John Walker is witnessed by James Wiglesworth and Richard Hoyland both of Halifax aforesaid, gentlemen which said indenture of release and to the execution thereof by the said Joseph Bretton is witnessed by the said James Wiglesworth and Richard Hoyland. John Walker Signed and sealed being first duly stamped in the presence of James Wiglesworth, sworn Richard Hoyland
A deed registered in the Registry of Deeds, Wakefield bearing the number FZ 716 900 1814
A memorial of an Indenture being a mortgage by Demise bearing date the 11th day of May in the year of Our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and Fourteen between Joseph Bretton of Elland in the parish of Halifax in the county of York, Joiner, of the one part and John Walker of Newmillerdam in the parish of Sandall in the said county of York, Millwright of the other part. Of and concerning all that messuage or dwellinghouse, cottages or outbuildings, yard or fold and gardensteads lying contiguous thereto and also all that croft piece or parcel of arable meadow or pasture ground lying near to the said messuage or dwellinghouse containing by estimation near one acre to the same more or less and also one pew or seat situate standing or being on the north side of the south aisle of the parochial chapel in Elland aforesaid heretofor in the possession of Mary Ewbank widow her undertenants or assigns lying and being in Elland aforesaid and were late or heretofor in the tenancy or occupation of the said Mary Ewbank her undertenants or assigns but are now in the tenure or occupation of the said Joseph Bretton his assigns and undertenants and also all and singular the outhouses ways paths and passages waters water courses, rights liberties privileges advantages hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the said messuage and premises belonging to or in any wise appertaining which said indenture as to the execution thereof by the said Joseph Bretton is witnessed by James Wiglesworth and Richard Hoyland both of Halifax aforesaid gentlemen.
This is the first mention of property belonging to Joseph Bretton who went to the United States in 1828, and all three deeds above relate to the purchase of that property. Unfortunately in those days it was not felt necessary to register the address in deeds and so we have nothing to tell us where the house was. Because there are a lot of houses in this area which have stood for some hundreds of years and many of which have been renovated to modern day standards we tried to find the address if the house still stands by following through sales by the persons mentioned in the lease as buying from Joseph Bretton. Unfortunately it appears that parts of land were sold separately and so far we have not traced a sale of the “dwellinghouse” that gives an address. Some addresses were given but we cannot trace the “Dog Lane” in Elland that is quoted on a 1850’s map of Elland. We will keep on trying. For reasons mentioned later it may not be the first property he owned of some size. He apparently held these properties until 1820/21. His wife, Betty, died in 1819 and maybe he wished to move. He then sold the above property and moved to Shelf near Halifax. The sale of the house etc is in the :-
Registry of Deeds in Wakefield – deed number HF 54 60 1821
A Memorial of Indenture of three parts bearing date the 14th April in the year of Our Lord 1821 and made or mentioned to be made between John Walker of New Miller Dam in the parish of Sandal in the County of York, Millwright of the first part. Joseph Bretton of Elland in the parish of Halifax in the said county of York, Joiner of the second part and John Noble of Elland aforesaid of the third part of and concerning all that messuage or dwellinghouse, Cottages and other buildings, yard or fold and gardensteads lying contiguous thereto and also all that croft, piece or part of arable meadow or pasture ground lying near to the said messuage or dwellinghouse containing by estimation near one acre (be the same more or less). And also one pew or seat situate standing or being on the north side of the south aisle in the parochial chapel of Elland aforesaid, heretofore in the possession of Mary Ewbank, widow, her undertenants or assigns all with the said tenement heraditaments and premises or standing lying and being in Ellland aforesaid and now in the tenure or occupation of the said Joseph Bretton, his assigns or undertenants together with all and singular the heridaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the same premises belonging or in any way appertaining, the execution of which said indentures by the said John Walker, Joseph Bretton is attested by John Edwards the younger of Halifax aforesaid, Attorney-at-Law and Ward Dyson Hitchin his clerk.
Registry of Deeds in Wakefield – deed number HK 480 524 1821
A Memorial of Indentures of Lease and Release bearing dates respectively the 25th and 26th days of May in the year of Our Lord 1821 the lease made between Joseph Bretton of Elland in the parish of Halifax in the county of York of the one part and John Riley of the same place, shopkeeper, of the other part and the release made between the said Joseph Bretton of the first part, John Noble of Elland aforesaid, Freeman, of the second part the said John Riley of the third part and James Hiley of Elland aforesaid, Surgeon,of the fourth part.
Concerning all that messuage or dwellinghouse cottages and other buildings, yard or fold, gardensteads lying contiguous thereto and also all that croft piece or parcel of meadow or pasture ground lying near to the said messuage or dwellinghouse containing by estimation near one acre (be the same more or less) And also one pew or seat situate standing or being on the North side of the South Aisle in the Parochial Chapel of Elland aforesaid heretofore in the possession of Mary Ewbank, widow her undertenants or assigns. All with said tenement heraditaments and premises,are standing,lying, and being in Elland aforesaid and were formerly in the tenancy and occupation of the said joseph Bretton, Jeremiah Ewbank, James Wood, Alice Brooke, Mrs Haigh, and Joseph Grayson their or some of their undertenants and their assigns together with all and singular the rights (members?) and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any case appertaining the execution of which said indenture of lease by the said Joseph Bretton is witnessed by James Wigglesworth of Halifax aforesaid, Gentleman, and Robert Parker of the same place, Gentleman, and the execution of the same indenture of release by the said Joseph Bretton, John Noble and John Hiley is witnessed by the said James Wigglesworth and Robert Parker. Signed and sealed (being first duly stamped) in the presence of James Wigglesworth,sworn Robert Parker Joseph Bretton.
We followed up the question of the right of a pew in the parochial church of Elland, (where his wife, his mother and his daughter are buried in the churchyard) and found that there was a record of ownership of pews taken in 1805, well before the date of purchase of this particular property. The 1805 record shows :-
North side South Aisle Joseph Britton of Elland – pew 39 The Honourable Mr Savile – pew 33 The Honourable Mrs Savile – pews 40 and 41 Earl Mexbro (Mexborough) – 1 sitting in pew 36 There were 43 pews in the South Aisle 36 in the Middle Aisle 50 in the North Aisle
Two things need to be mentioned. The ownership of the pews did not of course have any bearing on who occupied them and went purely on ownership of property. The Saviles (or Savilles) were, like the Earl of Mexborough, land owners in all parts of the country and no doubt owned dozens of pews in the same way. Incidentally the Savilles were very good friends to Blessed John Bretton and to Francis, after John Bretton’s execution. The other question that remains unanswered is which Joseph Bretton had the privilege of this pew number 39. Was it the Joseph Bretton who is mentioned above in all these deeds and who later emigrated to the United States- or was it his father, another Joseph and the one who married Amelia Kaye from Emley ? If the latter – then where was the property that gave him the right to occupy this pew ? Every little piece of information we find seems to beg even more questions !!!
A deed registered in the Registry of Deeds in Wakefield – HN 65 54 dated 22.8.1821
A Memorial of an Indenture bearing date the 22nd day of August in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Twenty One, and made or mentioned to be made between Joseph Lister of Shelf in the parish of Halifax in the County of York, shopkeeper of the one part and Joseph Bretton of Elland in the parish of Halifax aforesaid, farmer, of the other part. Of and concerning all that messuage, dwellinghouse or tenement with the outbuildings, garden, and appurtenances thereto belonging, situate standing and being in Shelf aforesaid and now in the possession or occupation of the said Joseph Lister. And also all those three several cottages or dwellinghouses with the outbuildings gardens and appurtenances thereto respectively belonging situate standing and being near to the said messuage dwellinghouse or tenement and now in the several possessions or occupations of John Torry, Sarah Bateman and John Asquith together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises belonging or in any wise appertaining the execution of which said indenture by the said Joseph Lister is attested by John Edward the younger of Halifax aforesaid, Attorney-at-Law and Charles Barstow his clerk Signed and sealed in the presence of John Edwards Junior (Sworn) C. Barstow Joseph Lister (£5)
A deed registered in the Registry of Deeds in Wakefield – IW 344 317 dated 11.5.1827
A Memorial of an Indenture of three parts made the eleventh day of may in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Twenty Seven between Joseph Bretton of Elland in the parish of Halifax in the Counry of York, farmer, of the first part, Joseph Lister of Shelf in the parish of Halifax aforesaid, shopkeeper, of the second part and David Pitchforth of Elland aforesaid, coalminer of the third part of and concerning all that messuage or dwellinghouse or tenement with the outbuildings gardens and appurtenance thereto belonging situate standing and being in Shelf aforesaid and now and late in the possession or occupation of the said Joseph Lister and also all those three several cottages or dwellinghouses with the outbuildings gardens and appurtenances thereto respectively belonging situate standing and being near to the said messuage or dwellinghouse or tenement and now or late in the several possessions of John Torry, Sarah Bateman and John Asquith, together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in any wise appertaining the execution of which said indenture by the said Joseph Bretton and Joseph Lister is attested by George Edwards of Halifax aforesaid Attorney-at-Law and John Herbert Mitchell his clerk Signed and sealed in the presence of Geo. Edwards (sworn) Joseph Lister Jno. Herbert Mitchell