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----- Original Message -----
From: maria mercer
To: Bruce Brereton
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 2:41 AM
Subject: Re: John Brereton - Australia

Thanks for your message on 14.4.05 Yes, would you please include my e-mail details on your Website. Yes! I think that my William Thomas Brereton would have been born c1820+/- and the WTB you found is not the one. Thank you for looking for me. My William Thomas Brereton was in the British Army, so will try to search out the PRO site for army service records in the meantime. Many thanks for your help.

John Brereton
C/- Maria Mercer
Brisbane. Aust.

----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce Brereton
To: maria mercer
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: John Brereton - Australia

I did a search and only came up with a match for a William Thomas Brereton.

If you would like, I could put your e-mail out on our www.brereton.org website. Then, other Breretons could contact you, if they see a match.

Here's what I found, but it doesn't look like the dates match well. He is not old enough:

WILLIAM THOMAS BRERETON
Event(s): Birth: 27 JUL 1837
Christening: 03 SEP 1837 Old Church, Saint Pancras, London, England

----- Original Message -----
From: maria mercer
To: brereton@whidbey.com
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 8:27 PM
Subject: John Brereton - Australia

Hi Bruce
Just saw your great website for Brereton emails. What a good idea.
I am looking for any connection to:

William Thomas Brereton - Soldier/Planter who married Augusta Doyle.
They had 2 sons William Augustus Brereton b.1846 Middlesex London, and Thomas Andrew Brereton b.1847 Trinidad.

The father William was apparently a British Soldier who went to Trinidad and either owned or worked on a Plantation there. The 2 sons apparently came to Australia around 1878.
KInd regards
John Brereton
Brisbane
Australia

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If anyone has information about General Brereton, get back to Buzz:

----- Original Message -----
From: Buzz Wojecki
To: Bruce Brereton
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 2:13 PM
Subject: Re: Barksdale

Hi, Bruce,

Thank you for your reply. I am seeking to make contact with any of his surviving children who might have attended Bossier High School here in Bossier City at the time the General commanded Barksdale Field here.

Brereton's illustrious career brought him here twice to Barksdale. Many of his pilots and crew who made a career of the AF after WWII would pass through here as Cold Warriors, and then Hot Ones as Vietnam drew away the B-52 squadrans to the Pacific.

Thank you for posting the informative website.

My email address is rpm@bayou.com

6 East 2400 Old Minden Road
Bossier City, LA 71112
318-741-911

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Thank you so much for your help.

Regards,
Gwen Sperry

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----- Original Message -----
> From: Beth brereton
> To: brereton@whidbey.com
> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 1:12 AM
> Subject: English Brereton connection
>
>
> Hi Bruce
>
> I never realised that there was a Brereton Website, by the way it looks cool. I am a Brereton through my Grandmother Alice Brereton, she married Harold Healey, but i would have to look up the details, i do have photos of the wedding and many Local family members. This part of the family live in Sandbach Cheshire, where my parents still live and like many Breretons, my mothers middle name is Brereton. My mother is a big familly History Buff, but she doesn't really like computers. I noted all the Breretons all over the world but none or not many from Cheshire it'self. So here you go. More information to follow once i find my family history book. I am not sure how far my mother has gone back in history but will let you know.
>
> I grew up in Sandbach and we visited Brereton Hall and Church often, but mainly we went to swim in Brereton Pool (used to be a sand quarry) which is now a recreational pool. My mother probably didn't know about the Brereton get together in 2001, but if you do another reunion in 2006 please let me know as i am sure she will love to attend and maybe tell people a bit of local history.
>
> Well take care
>
> Elizabeth (Beth)
>
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I was so happy to see your website! My father was Benjamin Bowen Brereton. He had 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Oscar, Alanso, Woodrow, Evangeline, Lucille. I cannot remember the others as they were older.

My fathers family was from Missouri and moved to Oklahoma. The family farm stood where Fort Sill is today.
I have the original wood trunk used by my fathers father when they came to America. My mother has a pencil drawing of the family castle that was purchased in 1986. I believe they had a family reunion that year. My aunt Lucille had traced the family tree back to 1011. There were several copies in the family. I am trying to find one. All the brothers and sisters are now deceased. Alonso had one son a Daniel Brereton, who lives in Colorado Springs. Lucille has two daughters, one in the Los Angeles area and one in Dallas Texas. Benjamin had one daughter, myself Beverly Ardys.We have a book written by John Brereton and also there was a book called Trelanny, which my aunt told me refereed to the Irish side of the family. We also have a copy of a picture which is of John Brereton and Jane Drew. Not sure how that relates to us other than my fathers mother had it. I believe Jane was a sister to my fathers mother.I will visit my mother and see what information she can share and pass iit along.

Thanks
Beverly Ardys Brereton Friesen

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>Hi there Bruce, just thought I would check in with some information about where I am up to now with my research. My Aunt who lives in England has been advised that our name may have originally been spelt BRIERTON and changed after my Great Grandfather's marriage, as my Grandfather, Joseph Patrick, was registered as Brierton but was Brereton on the 1891 Census when he was 5yrs old. We are now in the process of getting a Birth Certificate for James as this may enlighten us further as to his Father. Regards Fran Wright Australia.

Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 12:05 AM
Subject: Re: Brereton family tree

Sorry its taken me so long to get back to you I would like you to post this email on the Brereton Family web site. I am looking for my Great Grandfather JAMES F BRERETON. He is mentioned on my Grandfathers birth certificate dated 5th December. 1885. My grandfather was Joseph Patrick Brereton. His Mother was Sarah Ann Brereton (nee Clancy) and the address was 42 Britain Street, Granby Row. County of Lancaster Manchester. An Aunt sent me a photo of his Grave stone in St. Josephs Roman Catholic Cemetery Moston Manchester and he died on 15th November or May 1907. I cannot find any trace of him on the 1881 Census would appreciate any help, thank-you

Fran Wright.

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Have you read the book written by Eugene Brewington about the Brewington/Bruington Families? It was published in 1991 and probably is out of print. I have heard that Gene Brewington can answer almost any question about the Brewingtons, Bruingtons, etc.

According to the Mormon Church's web site, they had a copy of the book, but indicate it is missing.

I hope you will keep in touch. Thanks again for responding. Mary Ann B. Burgess

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Lutheran Publishing House
205 Halifax street
Adelaide S.A 5000

If you would like to any more info I can scan the book for you, I cant see any copyright on it and don't think anyone would mind now that its been 22 years since the one and only run was printed.

Cheers !
Rich
----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce Brereton
To: Richard Brereton
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 1:42 AM
Subject: Re: hi from Richie Brereton

Thank-you for the message. It is great to hear from other Brereton's around the world. On our www.brereton.org website, we have an e-mail section. Would it be okay for me to include your e-mail? This way other Brereton's can read about you and your family line.

Thanks,
Bruce

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Brereton
To: brereton@whidbey.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 2:23 AM
Subject: hi from Richie Brereton

Hi Bruce,
My name is Richard Brereton and I live in Australia. Thankyou for taking the time to make the website, looks great and very informative. I have traced my ancestors back to William Brereton born in 1740 Cheshire and he married Mary Ledsham in 1769. From there it was his son William of woodend who had a son Thomas. Now Thomas was the one who set off for Australia with his wife Martha and her brother Samual and his three nephews John, George & William Brereton. From ther it goes from William & Sarah then to Ernest & Annie and then to my grandparents (deceased) Don & Ruby then to my mother and father Don & Val and to my siblings brother Don and sisters Debbie and Shelley who all have children.

I am immensly proud of my Brereton name and heritage as I am sure you are. I would welcome any correspondence. And I also got this info from the Brereton book called "The Brereton Story" Cheshire to Australia 1852 1983.

Cheers from Oz !
Richard Brereton

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I don't know whether you can help me or not, but I shall ask anyway !

I found your website after a visit to Cheshire chasing my ancestors.

My family farmed one of the estate farms - Bagmere Bank Farm - from the 1840s until around 1882. I know quite a lot about the individuals, some of whom are buried in St Oswalds - but what I don't know is what farming was like at that time.

Do you have access to, or know anyone who has access to any Hall records which detail the tenant farms, the farmers, the rent that they paid etc etc ?

A long shot I know - but every-so-often these long shots pay off !!

Regards,
Adam Adshead.

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I was given a picture of St. Oswald's church by my grandma. So, I started to look that up on the internet and found your web site. My grandma has often talked about being related to the Queen. Not sure what else to say. I wll send your web site to my aunt in hopes she will be of interest. Maybe she can give you some more of our genealogy.

Looking forward to your response.
Michelle Kjelland
Footville, WI USA

Michelle sent some additional Brereton information:

----- Original Message -----
From: Michelle
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 12:16 AM
Subject: Breerton family tree

I was lucky enough to find a letter written to my grandmother in 1963. At the time my grandmother Rebecca Brereton, was living in the United States, but was born in Horton Green, Cheshire, England. She was in trying to help a researcher of the Brereton family with some information before he completed his book on the family.

Some of the people documented in his response letter are:

William Brereton of Wood End, Harthill, born about 1774.
William Brereton of Harthill, Cheshire 1818 buried at Overton.
Hannah Warburton, died 1851
Mary Bate, died Oct 1884
Martha Hughes
George Brereton
Edward Brereton
Frances Hopley
John Brereton died 1896
Benjamin Darlington of Morley Hall, Barrow

References to Utah, USA, Australia, Wrexham, Harthill England, Boleswroth Hill

If anyone would like a copy, please email me at tawnymarie@earthlink.net and reference 103A and 103B. (This is how it is saved on my computer).

The file takes about 30-40 minutes depending on your line speed, but if you have any of these names, it is probably well worth the effort.

Tawny Press
California, USA

Then some additional information on Brereton genealogy:

----- Original Message -----
From: Michelle
To: Michelle
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 1:06 AM
Subject: Margaret Smale

Margaret Smale
PALMYRA - Margaret Smale, 105, of Palmyra, died Sunday, Aug. 26, 2001, at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital.

She was born Jan. 19, 1896, in Farndon, England, to William and Ellen (nee Bird) Brereton. She was the oldest of 10 children, Thomas, Nancy, John, George, Carrie, Harry, Rebecca, James and Nellie. In 1900 she attended school in Tilston, England, for the equivalent of eight years. As the eldest of 10 children, she went to work at age 13, as she needed to earn her own way in life. She worked on farms for the next 11 years. Her starting wage was our equivalent of $25 per year and was paid once a year, getting small raises each year. She was able to save enough money to pay her way to America in 1920.

Margaret married Frank Smale on Nov. 30, 1922, and they lived the next 48 years in Little Prairie as farmers. They retired to Palmyra and spent seven winters in Florida. She loved doing fancy work, reading and knitting, as well as visiting with her family and friends.

She is survived by three children, Phyllis Bogie of Whitewater, Vera (Gordon) Wargowsky of Beloit and Frank Wesley (Rebecca) Smale of Palmyra; 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Rebecca (Oliver) Carr of Janesville and Carrie Hewett of England; and one brother, Harry (Nancy) Brereton of England. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; one son, Marvin; six brothers and one sister.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the Little Prairie United Methodist Church; the Rev. Lucinda Alwa will officiate. Friends may visit on Wednesday at the church from 1 p.m. until the 3 p.m. service. Burial will be at Little Prairie Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Rainbow Hospice, 147 W. Rockwell, Jefferson, WI 53549, or Little Prairie Methodist Church are appreciated.

Mealy's Funeral Home of Eagle, 594-2442, is serving the family.

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Thanks for your interest in my family of Brereton's. Yes, please post my inquiry to your web site ...

My name is Sherre Brereton Burnett. My dad was Jack Thomas Brereton b. 1923 in Milwaukee, Wi. (only child ). His dad was Carl Clifford Brereton, b. Feb., 1899. He had a sister Della and possibly a half brother, George. Their father was John Brereton b. 1867 in England and his wife was Sophie Miller. This is all that I have on my dad's grandfather; is this part of your family? I cannot go any farther in my research since I do not know where in England he came from. I cannot find to much on Della or George, and my dad, Jack, has been passsed away for 15 years.

If this is part of your family, I sure would appreciate ANY info as my research is at a stand still. Thank you and Happy New Year to you and your family.

Regards,
Sherre

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----- Original Message -----
From: Leenkate@aol.com
To: brereton@whidbey.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 12:24 PM
Subject: Disowned daughter.

Hi, my name is Katy Williams, I've heard a lot about the Brereton family through my Mothers' family.

When I was younger she told me that there was a daughter of the DeBrereton family who ran off with the gardener and married him. His surname was Pemberton. They then had seven children, one of which was my Mother's grandfather, Leonard Pemberton. As far as I'm aware he was born around 1900. I'm afraid Idon't know either the lady or the gardeners name.

Now I know my aunt has researched the family but I don't know what she came up with. In my opinion someone has been winding my Mother up, but I'm just curious to know if you know anything of this? The family are said to have disowned the daughter so if it is true there may be no record of her.

If you have any information that would be great.
Many thanks.

Yours, Katy Williams

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----- Original Message -----
From: Ford Family
To: Bruce Brereton
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 2:26 AM
Subject: RE: Breretons

Hello Bruce,

My line traces back to Mary Brereton who married John Dew in 1773. Mary was the daughter of John Brereton and Bridget. I live on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

I would be most grateful if you placed my e.mail on the Brereton web site. Only too happy to hear from anybody!

Regards,
Peter

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Ford
To: brereton@whidbey.com
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 5:46 PM
Subject: Breretons

Dear Bruce,

My Breretons hal from Brinton, Norfolk. My wife an I unearthed a lot of graves a St Andrews Church, Brinton.

What is the best way to track down the brereton heritage of this area?

Peter Ford

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----- Original Message -----
From: kghancox@onetel.com
To: brereton@whidbey.com
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 9:57 AM
Subject: PATRICK AND BARBARA BRERETON

Dear Bruce
I have lost contact with my dear friends Pat and Babs Brereton who I have known for fifty years.My last contact with them was over two years ago by email from Jordan where they had lived for many years, suddenly the emails stopped and I made contact with the British Consulate only to be told that they had returned to England without leaving a forwarding address.

They may be somewhere in the Coventry area, where we first met when working for Massey Ferguson.

If you can help me to find a way of locating them I would be eternally grateful.

Kind Regards Keith Hancox

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I was recently reading through some notes that my great aunt, Emma Gertrude Brewington, (b.1886 d. 1978) wrote and wondered if you might shed some light on what she said:"Among the early settlers who came from England and landed in Virginia where two Brereton brothers who were granted by the King of England a tract of land in Somerset County , then known as Brereton's Chance which is now known as the Dr. Jarman Farm located near Princes Anne, Maryland. One of the brothers moved to Delaware and one of the decendants settled in Milford, Delaware and had a drugstore known as Brereton's Pharmacy. My brother, Hammond, called on them when he travelled for the Crescent Candy Company in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Brereton had a book on the Brereton family which had been printed in California and traced the family to Henry Scott Brewington in Baltimore , Maryland who was a cousin of my father. The other brother, who was our ancestor, remained in Maryland and later the name was changed from Brereton to Brewington. My father's parents died when he was a boy. When he was grown he and Henry Scott Brewington were in business on Main Street, Salisbury, Maryland......Later he bought a boat as all the freight at that time was carried by boat and later was employed by the BC &A Railway Company and worked on the steamer from Salisbury to Baltimore."

There is some more, but I've been unable to get very far back from her grandfather, Edward A. Brewington (b.1831), but feel there must be a connection to William Brereton of "Brereton's Chance". Any ideas about how I can make that connection?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

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It appears I am related six generations ago to the Brereton family. Anne Brereton, daughter of Henry was married to John Noblett around 1731. The Noblett chateau (Chaisneys de Tersillac, later changed to Chaisney de Taincourt) was apparently near Falaise in Normandy. The info I have (www.nobletthistory.fsnet.co.uk) says that the Brereton chateau was a few miles away from Chaisneys. Since I will be in Normany this summer, I am anxious to learn anything I can about the location of the Noblett or Brereton chateaux. Do you have any informantion for me?

I am also eager to lay hands on any of the four books that have been written about the Noblett family:

Noblesse Oblige by Charles robert Noblitt
From Whence Ye Came by Leyla Grant Carruth
Down the Centuries With the Noblitts by Loren Scott Noblitt
Three Centuries of the Noblett Family.

Have you any knowledge of how to obtain these books or any others relating to the two families.

Sincerely,
Judy Woods
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Brereton Mark, US" <Mark.Brereton@us.pirelli.com>
To: <brereton@whidbey.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2004 8:19 AM
Subject: Introduction

Bruce,

Excellent website, very intresting. Just wanted to introduce myself. I am originally from the NW of England, but now live in Rome, GA. My parents and extended family all live in the Liverpool/Cheshire area. I would love to hear about future reunions, or events, so if you have a mailing list, I would like to be put on it.

Thanks,
Mark Brereton
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----- Original Message -----
From: Caramelqt244@aol.com
To: brereton@whidbey.com
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 2:33 PM
Subject: ~* The Brereton Family *~

Hi Mr. B. Brereton,

My name is Jaede Brereton. I live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and my family and I are very interested in visiting your next reunion if you have one, which I hope you do! I was browsing the Internet one day and just happen to stumble across this website. I can't believe there is so much history behind our family name. That is amazing! You will also be surprised at how far the name Brereton has gotten. It has even entered the Caribbean, Trinidad & Tobago to be exact, which is where my immediate family is from. Trinidad & Tobago was a British Colony before getting it's independence, so maybe that explains how our name has been so well-traveled. Please send me more information. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,
Jaede Brereton & Family

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Dear Sir,

I was born Jennifer Brereton Shelley in Bryn Mawr PA on November 17, 1954. I was adopted after that, and never knew where the name Brereton came from. I'm in the middle of a search for my mother, and have learned that her mother was named Ruth Brereton and was from Wilmington, Delaware. She would have been born in the early 20th century. She was deceased by the time that I was born. Do you have any information on this line of Brereton's? I would appreciate it so much.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Munday

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My Brereton connection is through my paternal great-grandmother “Lily May Brereton”.

Lily’s daughter ‘Irene Mavis’ was my grandmother. She died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital (on 22 March 1999) and was buried at Hallett with her first husband, my grandfather – Howard Beavis Mudge. My father Stanley Edward Mudge was born in the Burra Hospital. After my grandfather died Mavis (as she was known) remarried and later taught kindergarten and played organ for the local Uniting Church at Jamestown.

Cheers

Elizabeth

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Dear Mr Brereton,

Love your sites and information on the great Hall and family history (with a name like Brown I can only envy your history).

Having recently moved to live in nearby Holmes Chapel I have been trying to research the local history. Brereton Hall and the Brereton family are very high on my levels of interest. I have reasearched all of the sites and snatches of information on the internet and made several visits to the Hall and parkland. I was very excited when my friends got married at the house, although I now believe the Hall has been sold again and is now to be used as private residence and small offices for a small consultancy.

I have however, not been able to find any of the history for any of the parkland, old coach house, kitchen gardens or other service buidings that would have formed part of the original estate. It is no suprise that these are now also all converted to private homes. Would you be able to advise any sources of information?

Kind Regards

Barry P Brown

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FOUND YOUR WEBSITE TODAY. VERY INTERESTING. MY NAME IS MARK BRERETON FROM DUBLIN, IRELAND. I NOW LIVE IN CINCINNATI OHIO. TRYING TO DO A FAMILY TREE FOR MY KIDS. ALL I KNOW IS MY GRANDFATHER WAS FROM TIPPERARY. HIS NAME IS FRANCIS BRERETON. PROBABLY BORN AROUND 1912. MOVED TO DUBLIN AND MARRIED JOSEPHINE. ANY INFO ON HIM AND HIS BACKGROUND...THX

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Hi

I am trying to get started tracing the Briarton family. I don't have much to go on but seem to be finding Brereton or Brierton as possible surname. My father's name was Joseph William Briarton and his father was Clarence Briarton. I have heard we are English or Irish decent. I hit your web site so I though I would send a Email just to ask if you have ever heard of different spelling of the last name.

Thanks for any info or tips you might have, Steve

Steve Briarton
AGCO Dekalb Ops
Office 815.754.8415
Cell 815.703.4092
Steve.Briarton@agcocorp.com

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my name is dan brereton and I live in reno, nv. my son recently came to me with a question about traditional english foods our ancestors may have enjoyed. he has an assignment in class and it was a good opportunity for us to delve into some family history, so I checked out the brereton hall website but didnt really find anything helpful. would you happen to have any information to help us in our research?

thanks very much, and happy 2004!

best wishes,

dan brereton

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My name is Steven Brereton. I was born in Birkenhead on the Wirral peninsular (Part of Cheshire, England but designated Merseyside after boundary changes in the 70's). I lived there until recently, having now moved to Cambridge, England.

Thanks for putting together such a great resource. ... I thought you might be interested in the following references to other notable Breretons for possible inclusion on the site.

A book I have, 'Old Cheshire Families and their Seats (L.M. Angus Butterworth - Morten)', contains a great deal of information about the Brereton family and includes the following mention:-

"One very curious association of the Brereton's, about which details are lacking, is in connection with the murder of Thomas à Becket. It will be recalled that this savage deed was done by four courtiers of Henry II, named respectively Reginald Fitzurse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton or Brereton. It has not been shown that this Richard Le Breton was related in any way to the Breretons of Cheshire, but it is not a little remarkable that at an early date there existed a painted window in the chancel of Brereton Church representing the murderers of Thomas à Becket. The window was probably destroyed by Cromwellian Troops.

Also, from the 'Dispatches and Letters of Lord Nelson' and various books on Nelson history...

Lieut Gen Richard Brereton
Was a Governor of the Bahamas who gave Nelson an erroneous report of the movements of the French fleet. This meant that he could not bring them to battle until much later at Trafalgar.

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Hi Bruce,

My name is Glen Brereton and I'm originally from county Offaly in Ireland. I found your website very interesting and informative. I'm wondering if you have come across any history of Breretons in Ireland and how they came here. I had heard a French knight by this name had come to fight for an English king in the 1600's and thereafter he was given lands in the County Longford region of Ireland. Could there be any truth to this I wonder? Either way, it's fantastic to be able to read through your site, Brereton is a very unusual name in Ireland and it's good to know a little bit more on where the name might have come from.

I hope you keep updating the site, I know I'll be checking back.

Regards,
Glen Brereton

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I am writing to you in the hope you will be able to assist me with a request for information. My name is Spencer Smith and I am an archaeologist currently writing a paper on the structural development of Shocklach Church, Cheshire.

I was wondering if you could assist me with a date of a marriage. I have read in Raymond Richards book "Cheshire Churches" that there was a marriage between the Brertons and the Egertons and wondered if you had a date for this. I'm sorry I cannot be more precise but that is all the information I have. As I am sure you are aware their coats of arms are carved on the church on the west wall, and this will help with the dating of parts of the building.

If you need to ask anything please do hesitate to e-mail me.

Thank you for your time

Spencer Smith

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I am french but my father is italian, merci de me repondre à bientôt..

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Thanks for sending me a copy of your reply to Marjorie Berigan's e-mail. This is tremendous news, to find someone so closely related who may have new information. I will send her an e-mail immediately with what I know. There is no doubt that her "Aunt Helen" is my grandmother, Mary Helen Brereton McCormick, who always went by Helen (I think we should change the "Nellie" on the web site as it is confusing -- as you recall, she also had a sister who was named Nellie who died as an infant). Interestingly, my mother and her other in-laws always called her "Aunt Helen" although she was not their aunt.

I only have one other bit of news. In a listing of freeholders in Queens County, Ireland, from 1758 to 1775 I found George Brereton of Cloniny, Co. Tipperary, residing at Kilmartin, occupation farmer; John Brereton of Clonline, Kings County, residing at Kilmartin; and Thomas Brereton of Clonline, Kings County, residing at Kilmartin, occupation farmer. These are clearly the ancestors of the Kirkings, Coltmans, and Jane. According to them, George had three sons, John, George and Francis, all about the right age to be Arthur Brereton's father. John came to Canada at about the same time Arthur did. My theory is that Arthur was the son of one of his brothers -- George or Francis. Not sure how much further this landholder listing gets us, but at least the records match exactly what Duane was telling us.

Keith

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Here's the information I have on my line:

Arthur Brereton, born 1792, Kings County, Ireland. His children: John, Eliza, Jane, Thomas Arthur, Henry, Dora, Phoebe.

Thomas Brereton: born about 1821, Bolton, England (married Jane Mossgrove and then Mary Smith). We also have one record that says that Thomas was born in Quebec, Canada. We are thinking that possibly the line moved from Cheshire to Bolton, then went to Ireland. Arthur possibly came back to Bolton (where Thomas was born) and then the family immigrated to the United States and Canada. Or, possibly they immigrated directly from Ireland.

Thomas' sons (via Jane Mossgrove): Henry Arthur and William Edward.
- Henry Arthur Brereton: born 12 Apr 1860, St. Albans, Franklin, Vermont
- William Edward Brereton: born about 1862, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
(this Henry Arthur was my great grandfather)

If you have any more information on this line, please contact me.

Thank-you,
Bruce Brereton

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<< Here is an e-mail from a Brereton Hall resident. The story of the ghost was quite interesting. >>

Dear Bruce,

I came across your Brereton reunion pages whilst checking to see if the Brereton Hall School for Girls website had had any work done to it. Alas nothing done on the old girls site but what a pleasant surprise your site was. I have to commend you on your excellent pictures. It sure brings back a whole host of memories of the Hall. It appears your reunion was very well attended. And that the weather seemed beautiful and sunny.

The Hall has gone through quite a few cosmetic changes but it still stirs many many many memories. My sisters and I attended the Hall during the mid to late 70’s during that time our parents were living in Ghana in West Africa. I had attended boarding school in Johannesburg in the early 70’s, but when it came to boarding school Brereton was the best. So many hiding places. My favourite alone place was in the turret room on the 2nd floor but the most fun was to be had down in the “dungeons” under the headmistress’ study (that would be the sitting room in the front at the side where St. Oswald’s Church is. We spent hours searching for the tunnel that would lead us to the church graveyard and then…freedom. Trust me we spent many hours searching for it… we were doomed to be trapped until end of term. We had such vivid imaginations. We saw the Grey Lady ghost on a couple of occasions when we were in Rossetti dorm (front side peaked roof room opposite side to the church) and we heard the crying child while were in Van Gogh (back side peaked roof room opposite to the church). I am not really one to believe in ghosts but Brereton Hall had more than its share.

I was thinking that it’s a shame that the Brereton crest, with the bears head is different from the crest that was used for the school. Ours was an embroidered crest with the schools main building on it and the words “Loyalty Binds Me” along the bottom. The reason I say it’s a shame is I wished I had kept my blazer or at least removed the crest, that is my greatest disappointment. I wish I knew some way to replace it. And there is no where here in BC to track a replacement down; actually I suppose they are nearly irreplaceable.

Oh well enough tramping through the halls of time. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your reunion website.

I hope you have another reunion and I hope that you have twice the turnout.

Thank you for letting me ramble on, maybe next time you are at the Hall you can go searching for the tunnel or if you listen very hard in the middle of the night you too can see the Grey Lady.

As one of the lines in Brereton school song says, “And though we scatter far and wide, our roots will still be here.”

Take care,
Erica A. Brannon (nee Nurse)
A proud former resident of Brereton Hall
Source: Used by permission from Erica Brannon.

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For information concerning this site:
  -Email: Bruce Brereton or
  -Write: Bruce Brereton, 55-471 Naniloa Loop A, Laie, Hi 96762