Mary Pitkin, blog author from the website My Genealogy Research, has shared this blog as part of our ongoing “How I Solved It Series”.

This blog describes how she finally figured out why the name Brice kept showing up as a middle name through family generations. Where did it originate? A relative in Australia had the missing piece that led to the documentation proving the Brice relationships.

When I began doing research on my Rundle line, I quickly noticed that many Rundle families had at least one child with the first or middle name of “Brice”. The name “Hugh Brice” was very common. My 3x Great Grandfather was named “Hugh Brice Rundle”. It made some of my research easier than most. For instance, when I saw a name like “Jeremiah Brice Rundle” in Australia, I knew that he had to be related to my Rundles. I tried to find out where the name came from, but ran into a brick wall.

I was able to ascertain when the naming pattern started. John Rundle married Eleanor White in St. Neot. They were the first couple on the Rundle side to use the Brice name. I also found that Eleanor had a brother, John White, who married Mary Pomeroy in St. Neot and they also named children Brice or Hugh Brice. I knew that their father was John White, the Vicar in Pillaton, Cornwall but I was not sure of their mother’s name. I assumed that her maiden name was probably “Brice”, however, I could never prove it… until now. This discovery is doubly important, since the descendants of Elizabeth White Rundle and her brother, John White, intermarried a few times, strengthening the Rundle – Brice connection.

I recently found a Brice family tree on Ancestry researched by Rhona Brice. I noticed that she had Eleanor White’s mother as Margaret Brice. There was mention of a will that proved it. I was able to download the will from the UK National Archives and now know for sure that Eleanor’s mother’s surname was in fact Brice and that her first name was Margaret, not Eleanor, as Richard Crow had stated in his book, The History of Hole Farm (St. Neot). Richard Crow hadn’t listed a surname for Eleanor White’s mother.

The will that I downloaded was for Margaret’s brother, Hugh Brice. Margaret’s children John White, Margaret White and Eleanor White Rundle are mentioned in the will dated 1793. Margaret is listed as his “late sister” at that time the will was first written. Based on the fact that in that when the original section was written, Eleanor was not yet married to John Rundle, it would mean that Margaret died prior to 1761.

Here is the early section mentioning his “niece”, Eleanor White daughter of his “late sister” Margaret and John White. Hugh left Eleanor a diamond ring. This portion of the will was written prior to Eleanor’s marriage.

Hugh Brice will

Click to enlarge

 

Here is the later section of the will that mentions Margaret’s children. It reads “Eleanor Rundle, formerly White, wife of John Rundle, Margaret, formerly White, wife of Edward __ and John White… nieces and nephew of the deceased”.

Hugh Brice will part 2

Click to Enlarge

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Here is an abbreviated report for the family of Margaret Brice White. It includes her parents, siblings, and children. Since I am in the middle of finishing up my Rundle research, I haven’t had time to really fill out the rest of the Brice line.  For now, this gives you a basic idea of the Brice – Rundle connection

 

1. Peter1 Brice M.A., b. c. 1673 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, (son of Hugh Brice Gent. [1631 – 1703] and Grace (maiden name unknown) Brice), d. 30 Jul 1740 in Netherbury, Dorset, England, occupation Minister; Vicar of Netherbury, Dorset, England, buried 4 Aug 1740 in Netherbury, Dorset, England. 1673 Peter Brice baptized at Crewkerne son of Hugo Brice.

Brice, Peter, s. Hugh, of Crewkherne, Somerset, gent. Wadham Coll., matric 7 April, 1690, aged 17; B.A. from New Inn Hall 8 March, 1693-4, incorp. at Cambridge 1708, and M.A. from Peter House 1708, vicar of Worth Matravers 1696, rector of Church Knowle 1708, and vicar of Netherbury, Dorset, 1709.
Source: Oxford, University Of. Alumni Oxonienses. 1891. Reprint. London: Forgotten Books, 2013

There is a land record in 1725 for 500 acres in Pendomer, Somerset that is recorded as being owned by “Thomas Brice, Peter Brice, Jane wife of Thomas”. A later amendment has Peter scored out and “Son Thomas” added. I don’t know who this Thomas is.

Peter Brice, M.A., died July 30th, 1740, aged 70; he was interred in Netherbury Church. A mural tablet there, in the chancel, states that he was the Vicar for thirty years.

Peter was married to Katherine Pocock, b. 1677, d. 1742 in Netherbury, Dorset, England,4 buried 21 Sep 1742 in Netherbury, Dorset, England.4 Katherine was mentioned in her husband’s will. There is also a mention of Rev. John Pocock, who I assume is probably her brother.
Burial record lists her as “widow”.

Children:

i. Elizabeth2 Brice, b. 1711 in Netherbury, Dorset, England, baptized 25 Sep 1711 in Netherbury, Dorset, England.5
ii. Grace Brice, b. c. 1712 in Netherbury, Dorset, England,5 d. 1738 in Netherbury, Dorset, England,4 buried 27 Dec 1738 in Netherbury, Dorset, England.4
2. iii. Margaret Brice b. 1713.
iv. Ann Brice, b. 1715 in Netherbury, Dorset, England,5 baptized 1 Oct 1715 in Netherbury, Dorset, England,5 d. 1730.
v. Hugh (Rev.) Brice, b. 1719 in Netherbury, Dorset, England,5 baptized 1719 in Netherbury, Dorset, England,5 d. 1793 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, buried 10 Jan 1793 in Netherbury, Dorset, England.4 It seems as if Hugh may have been his grandfather, Hugh Brice of Crewkerne’s, heir.

Hugh Brice, son of Peter, matriculated at Oxford 5 Dec 1738, age 19.

In 1741 Rev. Hugh Brice of Netherbury, Dorset subscribed to a collection of sermons.
Generation Two

2. Margaret2 Brice (Peter1), b. 1713 in Netherbury, Dorset, England,5 baptized 22 Feb 1713 in Netherbury, Dorset, England,5 d. pre 1761. I can’t find marriage for Margaret and John yet, however at the time of her father’s death in 1640, she did not seem to be married yet. I based marriage on that and age of first child.

Margaret’s children John White, Margaret White and Eleanor White Rundle are mentioned in her brother, Hugh Brice’s, will in 1793. Margaret is listed as his “late sister” in the early section of the will, and daughter Eleanor is not married at that time. That would mean that Margaret died prior to 1761.

I could not find a burial for Margaret in either Pillaton or St. Neot.

She was married to John (Rev) White, on c. 1742, b. 1673, d. 1759 in Pillaton, Cornwall, England, buried 8 Dec 1759 in Pillaton, Cornwall, England,7 occupation Vicar of Pillaton. John: According to Richard Crow, this was a prosperous family, a part of which had come to St. Neot to settle at Woodland.

John’s children were all baptized in Lanteglos by Camelford, Cornwall between 1744 and 1747. He may have been vicar there before moving to Pillaton. St. Julitta is the parish church for Lanteglos by Camelford.

John was the Rector at Pillaton from 1746 to 1758. Burial record says “The Rev’d John White”.

Children:
i. Eleanor3 White b. 1744 in Lanteglos by Camelford, Cornwall, England,5 baptized 7 Jul 1744 in Lanteglos by Camelford, Cornwall, England,5 d. 10 Oct 1808 in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG,8 buried 18 Oct 1808 in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG. Could be the Eleanor Rundle bur. in St. Neot 10 Oct 1808. In Richard’s Crow’s research, she is listed as “daughter of John White, Vicar of Pillaton”.

She was married to John “Gent” Rundle, on 14 Apr 1761 in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG,9 b. c.1733 in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG, (son of Jonathan “of Hole and Pengelly” Rundle [1676 – 1740] and Jane Rowe [1710 – 1788]), baptized 3 Feb 1736 in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG,10 d. 12 Feb 1806 in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG, , ,6 buried 17 Feb 1806 in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG,9 resided “Little Gent” in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG.11 John: Witnesses to marriage of John and Eleanor were Charles Danger and Millicent Thomas. The couple were married by Banns which were read March 15, 22 and 29th.

Obituary says that John “was beloved and respected by all who knew him, particularly the poor of that neighborhood, to whom he was a most charitable friend”.
Obit says that he was 73 yrs old, so there is the possibility that he was baptized at age 3.
Sons Jonathan and Brice were his heirs with note that “widow having renounced her right”.

ii. John White b. 1745 in Lanteglos by Camelford, Cornwall, England,5 baptized 16 Jan 1745 in Lanteglos by Camelford, Cornwall, England,5 d. 1795 in St. Neot, Cornwall, England,9 buried 26 Jan 1795 in St. Neot, Cornwall, England,9 resided in St. Neot, Cornwall, England.9 The couple was married by License. Witnesses were John Parson and Phillip Hillman.

He was married to Mary Pomery, on 11 Sep 1769 in St. Neot, Cornwall, England,9 b. c. 1744,9, d. 1829 in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG,9,13 buried 10 Jul 1829 in St. Neot, Cornwall, ENG.9 Mary: Mary (Pomery) White was age 84 at the time of her death at Treddinick.

iii. Margaret White baptized 21 Sep 1747 in Lanteglos by Camelford, Cornwall, England,5 b. 1747 in Lanteglos by Camelford, Cornwall, England,5 d. post 1793. Margaret was mentioned in her uncle, Hugh Brice’s, will in 1793. She is listed as “Margaret, formerly White, wife of Edward ___?”. I don’t have that marriage info yet.
iv. Jerome White b. 1747 in Lanteglos by Camelford, Cornwall, England,5 baptized 21 Sep 1747 in Lanteglos by Camelford, Cornwall, England,5 d. 1751 in Pillaton, Cornwall, England,7 buried 14 Aug 1751 in Pillaton, Cornwall, England.7

Sources:

[1] Oxford, University Of. Alumni Oxonienses., 1891. Reprint. London: Forgotten Books, 2013.

[1] Richard Hine, The History of Beaminster.

[1] Parish Printout Braunton, Devon, England; 1538-1812; Baptisms.

[1] Dorset, England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812.

[1] England Select Birth and Christenings 1538 – 1975.

[1] Wills : National Archive Download.

[1] Parish Registers for Pillaton, Cornwall, England.

[1] Richard Crow, The Hole Story: The History of a Cornish House , Self Published; 1996, Based on extensive research including: Parish Registers; Cornwall Diocesan Records (vital wills and inventories for probate), Manorial Records, National Census, Deeds to property of Hole, interviews with relatives of past owners and neighbors and misc documents.

[1] Parish Registers for St. Neot, Liskeard, Cornwall, Eng, Baptism to 1812;Baptisms 1813-1835; Baptisms 1836-1855; Burials and Marriages 1550 to 1900.St.Neot Parish Records; Church of England & Ireland; Bapt. 1549-1837. 1593-1600 Missing.

[1] Bishops Transcripts for St. Neot, Liskeard, Cornwall, Eng.

[1] Research by Arthur Runnells;.

[1] Obituary (newspaper clipping).

[1] FindaGrave.com: Collection of Headstone Inscriptions and Photos.

If you have a story idea or a blog that you’d like to share as part of this series, please let us know about it in the comments.

Mary Pitkin

Mary Pitkin

Mary started her genealogy journey about 40 years ago when her father handed her a pile of papers and said “See if you can do something with this”. The pile consisted of some notes from her father’s aunt and other research that her father had done in New Haven, CT, where his family had settled upon immigrating to the US. Over the years she has been able to get extensive information on all of her paternal and maternal lines as well as some of her husband’s (and children’s) lines. She's connected with other researchers and distant family members all over the world. For some lines, like the “Kieft” family, a group of researchers worked together via email, resulting in major breakthroughs for that family history. Visit Mary's Website