occupation

Gentleman Farmer

dates

Born: 1845 in Quainton, Bucks

Married: 1867 to Sarah STRATFORD, daughter of John STRATFORD, chair turner, and Rebecca DAVIS of Chinnor at the Independent Chapel, Chinnor, Oxon

Died: 1918 in Chinnor, Oxon, buried at the Parish Church of St. Andrew's, Chinnor

residence

Chinnor, Oxon

submitted by

Paul BRAZELL (great-great-grandson)

Background information

Herbert Stockwell BRAZELL was born 9 January 1845 in Quainton, Bucks. His father Joseph, recorded in the 1841 census as an apprentice to harness maker Thomas COCK of Chinnor, was probably the first BRAZELL to settle in the town.

In 1842, Joseph married Martha STOCKWELL of Henton. By 1851, the family was living next door to Martha's uncle, William STOCKWELL, a farmer owning properties in Chinnor and neighbouring Henton. Herbert and his sister Ann were recorded in William's household and it is likely that father Joseph, now an agricultural labourer, was working for William.

William STOCKWELL died in 1856, leaving most of his property to Joseph and Martha and bequeathing to Herbert the property that became known as Elderdene. The farm - if was a farm, not simply a house with gardens, orchards and outhouses - is said to have been destroyed by fire and replaced with a house, also named Elderdene, where Herbert lived with his family after he passed on his grocery business in Bledlow to son Herbert Stratford and retired.

Throughout his life, Herbert was closely connected with the Independent Church of Chinnor, where he married Sarah STRATFORD in 1867. An 1895 directory recorded him as honorary treasurer of the Chinnor Reading Room & Working Men's Club, and his will included the following instructions and bequest: “I desire that my body shall be buried in the Churchyard of Chinnor near to the spot where the remains of my parents are interred and that the ceremony shall be conducted by the Minister for the time being of the Chinnor Congregational Church no flowers to be used at my funeral or grave … I also give a legacy of Twenty pounds to the Deacons or Trustees of the Chinnor Congregational Church to be used for any purpose in connection with God's services.”

A pious, simple man who became a wealthy gentleman farmer somewhere on the road from Buckinghamshire to Oxfordshire.