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I'm trying to find the birthplace, siblings and parents of my grandfather Stamford Brayham, born 29th October 1892, married Jemima MacKenzie Mackay, 1922, Paddington London, UK. Died 29th June 1969 Kingswood, Surrey. They had 2 children Hugh and Ena.
I suspect he may have born abroad, possibly Singapore.
Thank you!

He held a British passport in 1931 if that helps.

I believe that FMP has indexes of British subjects born abroad. Perhaps someone with an FMP subscription may be able to find his birth for you.

Father's name from marriage certificate?
Thanks

FMP just gone down for maintenance

Name: Stamford Brayham
Spouse Surname: Mackay
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1922
Registration district: Paddington
Registration county (inferred): London
Volume Number: 1a
Page Number: 235
Find Spouse: Find

Have you this Certificate ,if so who are the named parents ?

hi neil,
there is a tree on ancestry with him on it. also he seems well travelled, with arrivals from oz, canada jamaica and nz.
cant look for a birth, as gb said ,fmp gone down.
regards alan

Hi all
Ellen - that's the marriage information I have so far too but thank you. No certificate that I know of to date.
Alan - that tree is probably mine! I have various ship's manifests with him coming in and out of the country - he worked in import/export for much of his life and his final trip was probably when our family (he and his wife, my parents and me) returned form oz in c. 1956.
Jonesey - it's interesting that he had a British passport - would that be the case if he was born in Singapore? Wild guess as his middle name was I believe Raffles.
Thanks again all - much appreciated

Neil,

I make the assumption that he had a British passport based on the fact that on the various ships manifests when returning to the UK he is always shown amongst the British passengers. In order to hold a British passport as a male he either would have to:

A) Been born in the UK.

B) Been born (whether in the UK or overseas) to a British father.

C) Had been naturalised a British citizen.

As his name was quintessentially British I thought that C) was probably unlikely unless he had at some stage changed his name..

P.S. Was he associated with Stamford Brayham Ltd in Surrey?

Hi Jonesey

As you surmise, C is pretty unlikely, I'm increasingly of the opinion that A is unlikely as we'd have found something by now. Guessing again, it's possible that he came of Indian parentage.

He had a company but not that stationery importer in Surrey.

Colin - no I couldn't either just now, I hadn't heard of FMP so thanks for that.

Do you intend to get the marriage certificate, for Father's name?
Thanks

Grasping at straws but 2 things to consider.

On his arrival in Canada in 1930 his profession is indicated as "Optician, Jewellry, Watchmaker" and his place of birth is recorded as England. He states that he is on his way to see his brother Mr Edward Frederick Brayham who lives at 142 Spadima Rd, Toronto. When asked to give details of his nearest relative in the UK he names Jemina's father. This may be an indication that he had no living relatives in the UK.

I don't know but do opticians have to pass some formal exam or be part of a guild? If so perhaps they might hold records of him.

???
Name: Edward F Brayham
Gender: Male
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1899
>>>Birth Country: India (Calcutta)
Date of Arrival: 18 Jan 1929
Vessel: Alaunia
Search Ship Database: View the 'Alaunia' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Port of Departure: Southampton, England
Roll: T-14817

Religion: Hebrew
Occupation: Journalist.
Nearest Relative in the UK: Brother, Stamford Brayham, 9 Derwent Ave, London NW7
Passport: British issued in Calcutta 15/5/1919 No 2004

there are only 2 listings in the Canadian telephone directory for surname Brayham

http://www.canada411.ca/search/si/1/brayham/-

I might venture to guess there is a good chance they are related to Edward ?

I think you really do need to obtain the marriage certificate as your first step as has been suggested

did Edward and Stamford marry sisters ?

Marriages Mar 1927
Brayham Edward F McKay Hendon 3a 544
McKay Alice R Brayham Hendon 3a 544

Marriages Sep 1922
BRAYHAM Stamford Mackay Paddington 1a 235
MACKAY Jem M Brayham Paddington 1a 235

Chris,

Edwards wife was Alice and his son Ellyce A M who was born in 1927. Any tie in with the Brayham names in the phone book?

Ah yes indeed.

One is Ellis !

an artist in Vancouver

the other is just initial A


edit -- Ellis is public, google finds a lot, so no harm in posting this

http://ebrayham.applesbc.org/1_-_EB_Web_Photos.html

and this I think is the other Brayham in the telephone directory (address matches)

http://www.brayhamcontemporaryart.com/

again she is a public person so no harm in posting her name, Angela Brayham

http://www.brayhamcontemporaryart.blogspot.com/

and more

http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Cemeteries/Singapore_Memorial/B/html/br.htm


BRAYHAM, Lieutenant, EDWARD FREDERICK, EC/15870. Indian General Service Corps. 28th March 1942. Age 42.

>>> Son of Ellis and Renee Brayham; husband of Alice Reay Brayham, of Hounslow, Middlesex. Column 143.

same info at

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2099422

and

Name: BRAYHAM, MAURICE
Initials: M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 30
Date of Death: 27/10/1942
Additional information: Husband of Vera Dorothy Brayham, of 35 Kimber Road, Wandsworth, London.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: M.V. "STENTOR"

but that death is not in the GRO index

ah

Cemetery: M.V. "STENTOR"
Country: Civilian War Dead
Locality: Died at sea
No. of Identified Casualties: 16

Marriages Dec 1933
Brayham Maurice Dive Wandsworth 1d 1255
DIVE Vera D Brayham Wandsworth 1d 1255

Colin - I've been looking at those - do you mean the Boston one? I don't recognise Anton or Josef but he would have only been 17

Chrissiex - I do have family in Canada, and although I haven't met them you're probably right!

Jonesy - Well I never. If that information is correct it's been an interesting day! Until I dig a bit more I'd best keep an open mind but that NW7 address is correct.

Everyone, thank you so very much. I have to sign off for now but I've got further with your help in an hour or two than I could possibly have imagined.

Neil ..... connecting you with the Edward in Canada ...... it would have helped probably if you had said you knew about the Canadian connection ..... has found the parents' names

in Edward's memorial info

>>> Son of Ellis and Renee Brayham


the parents and siblings you were looking for at least seem to have been found through this well coordinated team effort !


but really ..... to identify parents without guessing or assuming ..... you always start with the certificate of the known marriage