Brier ...



The entries for people & families with the surname Brier are gathered together in this SideTrack.

This Page does not include people with other forms of the surname.

There are many people with this surname, and it is possible that there are duplicate entries for an individual. If you discover any such duplicates, please email me and I shall correct them.


Brier, AbrahamRef 438-709
[1819-1890]
Born in Halifax.

He was a mason's labourer [1843].

In 1843, he married Ann Farnill [1818-1872] in Stalybridge


Ann was born in Stalybridge
 

Child: Benjamin Farnill (Brier)

Ann died in Stalybridge in 1872.

Abraham died in Stalybridge [27th September 1890]

Brier, AlbertRef 438-108
[1859-1909]
Son of
Joseph Brier.

Born in Wakefield.

He was a galvanizer of Haley Hill, Halifax [1882] / a wire cleaner [1891] / a wireworker's labourer [1901].

In 1882, he married Mary Ann Fletcher [1858-1931] at Halifax Parish Church.


Mary Ann, of Silver Street, Halifax, was born in Hereford, the daughter of Mr Fletcher, labourer
 

Children:

  1. Lilly Ann [b 1883] who was a worsted cap twister [1901],  a worsted twister [1911]
  2. Charles
  3. Annie [b 1886] who was a worsted spinner [1901], a  worsted twister [1911]
  4. Percy
  5. Ada [b 1892] who was a worsted twister [1911]
  6. Harry [b 1894] who was a tape sewing (worsted mill) [1911]
  7. Primrose [b 1897] who was a worsted spinner [1911]
  8. Willie [b 1900]
  9. Dory [b 1904]

They lived at

  • 31 Range Lane, Halifax [1891]
  • 10 Clement Street, Halifax [1901]
  • 13 Plymouth Grove, Halifax [1911, 1915]
  • 43 Haigh Street, Pellon Lane, Halifax [1915]

Sons Charles & Percy died in World War I

Brier, Benjamin FarnillRef 438-2332
[1845-1930]
Son of
Abraham Brier.

Born in Stalybridge.

He was a bookseller & newsagent / a bookseller at 19 Woolshops, Halifax [1874].

On 24th July 1871, he married Mary Booth [1843-1912] in Stalybridge.


Mary was born Stalybridge
 

Children:

  1. James [1873-1955]
  2. Sarah Ann [1875-1953]
  3. Eliza Hannah [1877-1886]
  4. Emily [1878-1836]
  5. Louis [1879-1950]
  6. Joseph Farnill [1881-1901]

The couple died in Halifax: Mary [1912]; Benjamin [29th April 1930].

After the death of their father, James & Louis took over the business

Brier, CharlesRef 438-130
[1885-1914]
Son of
Albert Brier.

He was a cotton piecer [1901].

Around 1905, he joined the 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).

He was a Corporal with the Regiment in Ambala, India for 9 years, returning to England on 8th January 1914.

During World War I, he served as a Sergeant still with the 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).

He went to the Regiment's HQ in Dublin, and then to Halifax Barracks.

He left for France [29th September 1914].

He was reported as missing [11th November 1914].

The family had heard nothing of him by 11th September 1915.

He was later reported to have been killed on [11th November 1914] (aged 31).

The Halifax Courier [11th September 1915] reported his death with a photograph.

He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium [Addenda Panel 57], and in the Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance.

His brother Percy also died in the War

Brier, DavidRef 438-3
[1775-18??]
Born in Southowram.

He was a farmer of (16 acres) [1851].

He married Unknown.

Children:

  1. John [b 1815] who was a farmer [1851]
  2. Ann [b 1817]
  3. Hannah [b 1842]
  4. Henry [b 1847]
  5. James [b 1850]

They lived at Siddal Hall, Halifax, [1851].

David was a widower by [1851].

Living with them [in 1851] was lodger Joseph Smith [Rochdale 1835] (farm labourer) 

Brier, DavidRef 438-4
[1809-18??]
He was a farm labourer [1841, 1851].

He married Ann [1809-18??].

Children:

  1. Samuel [b 1833] who was a carpet weaver [1841, 1851]
  2. Elizabeth [b 1835] who was a power weaver [1841, 1851]
  3. Molly [b 1837] who was a power weaver [1841, 1851]
  4. David [b 1838] who was a maker-up in a worsted mill  [1841, 1851]
  5. Sarah A. [b 1840] who was a half-timer spinner [1841,  1851]
  6. Rachel [b 1842] who was a half-timer spinner [1841, 1851]
  7. Leah [b 1842]
  8. George [b 1846]
  9. Jonathan [b 1850]

They lived at 3 Clipston Hall, Halifax [1841, 1851]

Brier, Frederick VickermanRef 438-307
[1838-1894]
Son of
Joseph Brier.

Born in Elland.

He was a boot & clog maker [1871] / landlord of the Mexborough's Arms, Elland [1886-1894].

In [Q4] 1868, he married (1) Ann Wheat [1850-1870] in Doncaster.

Children:

  1. Herbert Edward [1869-1872]

Annie died 18th October 1870 (aged 21).

On 5th September 1876, he married (2) Caroline Clegg [1846-1914] at St Michael's Church, Headingley, Leeds.

Children:

  1. Ernest [b 1879] who was a chemist [1894]
  2. Albert [b 1881] who was an electrical engineer's  apprentice [1901]

They lived at 95 Westgate, Elland [1871].

Living with the widowed Frederick [in 1871] were his sister Elizabeth [b 1840] and her husband Horatio Kitchen [b 1840] (woollen cloth fuller).

Frederick died 17th January 1894.

Probate records show that he left effects valued at £831 18/11d.

Administration was granted to his widow Caroline.

After his death, Caroline took over at the Mexborough's Arms [1894-1914].

Caroline died of heart failure from complications from a chill [19th March 1914].

Probate records show that she left effects valued at £1,054 17/6d.

Probate was granted to son Albert.

After her death, Albert took over at the Mexborough's Arms [1914-1926].

Members of the family were buried at Elland Parish Church

Brier, J.Ref 438-2206
[18??-18??]
Farm labourer at Northowram.

In October 1863, he was declared bankrupt

Brier, JamesRef 438-1496
[17??-18??]
Newsagent at 19
Woolshops, Halifax [1936]

Brier, JamesRef 438-1693
[1805-1844]
Son of
Robert Brier.

He was indentured (aged 13¾) as apprentice carpenter to his uncle Isaac Swaine [1819].

In 1828, he married Maria.


Maria [née Farrar] was the widow of James Swaine.

She had taken over from her first husband, James Swaine as licensee of the White Horse, Halifax [1829]

 

Children:

  1. (possibly) John
  2. Henry [b 1829]
  3. Mary Ann Farrar [1831] who died aged 11 weeks & was  buried at Holy Trinity Church, Halifax
  4. Robert
  5. Sarah Ann [1833-1892] who was a dressmaker [1861]
  6. Jonathan Farrar [b 1835] who served in the Royal  Navy [1855-1867]
  7. Joseph

James took over from Maria as landlord of the White Horse [1834, 1837, 1841].

He was awarded £6 9/- for damages sustained at the Pub during the window-breaking riots of 1835.

James died in 1844.

Maria again took over as licensee of the White Horse [1845, 1850].

Son John took over as licensee of the White Horse [1851]

Son Robert took over as licensee of the White Horse [1864]

Maria died 25th November 1862 (aged 67), and was buried at Lister Lane Cemetery [Plot 4000] with her children Robert & Sarah Ann

Brier, JohnRef 438-1848
[1811-1859]
(Possibly) son of
James Brier of the White Horse, Halifax.

Born in Halifax.

His mother Maria took over from his father as licensee of the White Horse [1845, 1850].

John was a beerhouse keeper at the White Horse [1851].

His brother Robert took over as licensee of the White Horse [1864]

On 26th January 1829, he married Mary [1811-18??].

Children:

  1. William David [b 1831] who was a pattern designer [1851]
  2. Mary Catherine [b 1834] who was a dress maker [1851]
  3. Ellen Ann [b 1836]
  4. Eliza Jane [b 1840]

They lived at Bull Green, Halifax [1841]

Brier, JohnRef 438-5
[1826-1880]
Born in Southowram.

He was a labourer [1860] / a coal merchant [1871, 1880].

In [Q2] 1856, he married Sophia Bradley [1825-1901] in Halifax.


Sophia was born in Southowram
 

Children:

  1. Harriet [1857]
  2. Ephraim [b 1859]
  3. Mary [b 1861]
  4. Rebecca [1863-1865]
  5. Emily [1865-1866]
  6. Sarah A. [b 1867]
  7. Elizabeth [1870-1936] who married James Marsden

The family lived at 73 Woodland Terrace, Northowram [1871].

John died 5th April 1880 (aged 54)  and was buried with other members of the family () at Lister Lane Cemetery [Plot 3675].

Sophia died in Halifax [Q4 1901] (aged 76) 


Her burial place is not yet known
 

Brier, JonathanRef 438-2824
[18??-18??]
Fire, common brick and crucible manufacturer, ground fire clay and white clay for glass manufacturers at Exley, Halifax [1861]. He supplied the bricks which line the
Corona Chimney, Dean Clough.

He lived at Siddal Hall

Brier, JonathanRef 438-476
[1808-1???]
Son of
Robert Brier.

He was apprenticed (aged 14½) to his father as cordwainer in Halifax  [1822] / a cordwainer [1851] / a bootmaker [1856] / awarded the Freedom of the City of London (by  redemption i.e. payment) [1856].

In 1836, he married Clara Puttick at St Bride's Church, London.

Children:

  1. Elizabeth Martha [b 1837] who married [Southwark 1859]  John Clarke (letter carrier) 
  2. Eliza Brier [b 1839]
  3. Clara Brier [b 1841]
  4. Lucy Charlotte [b 1843]
  5. Jonathan

The family lived in London, at

  • Garter Court, Barbican [1841]
  • Norway Street, parish of St Luke [1837]
  • 4 Angel Place, Cripplegate [1843, 1851, 1861, 1871]

Brier, JonathanRef 438-479
[1845-1927]
Son of
Jonathan Brier.

Born in Cripplegate, London.

His US Civil War service is recorded from 1864.

On 11th February 1864, he enlisted in Cadiz, Spain, as a landsman (lowest introductory rank) on the Union Navy ship USS Kearsarge. On board the Kearsarge in the battle off Cherbourg, France, June 1864 with the notorious Liverpool built Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama.

He subsequently lived the rest of his life in Brooklyn, NY

Brier, JosephRef 438-794
[1812-1886]
Born in Halifax.

He was a police constable [1871] / a retired policeman at Halifax [1881, 1886].

He married Mary [1811-1882].


Mary was born in Halifax
 

They lived at

  • Littlethorpe, Dewsbury [1871]
  • Garside Street, Halifax [1881]

Living with them [in 1871] was granddaughter Emma Foster [b  1868].

Mary died 10th August 1882 (aged 71).

Joseph died 10th August 1886 (aged 74).

The couple were buried at Lister Lane Cemetery [Plot 1035] with James Brier [1849-1874] & Ann Parker [1823-1874]

Brier, JosephRef 438-1245
[1816-1888]
He was a clog & pattern maker [1851] / a leather cutter employing 6 men [1861].

On 16th November 1836, he married (1) Ruth Ormerod [1818-1851] at Halifax Parish Church.

Children:

  1. Frederick Vickerman
  2. Elizabeth Ann [b 1841]
  3. William Henry [1850-1851]

Ruth died 4th March 1851 (aged 32).

On 2nd June 1852, he married (2) Martha Hepworth [1824-1891] at St Peter's, Huddersfield.

Children:

  1. Abraham Herbert [1853-1929]
  2. Arthur Ernest [1854-1887]
  3. Joe William [1857-1891]
  4. Mary Ann [1860-1864]
  5. Sarah Jane [1862-1864]

They lived at Westgate, Elland [1851, 1861].

Members of the family were buried at Elland Parish Church

Brier, JosephRef 438-1692
[1838-1868]
Son of
James Brier.

He was a plumber.

In [Q4] 1858, he married Anne Morton in Halifax.


Anne was born in Wakefield
 

Children:

  1. Albert
  2. Sarah Alice who married [Q3 1881] William Henry  Culpan
  3. Harry

Joseph died in Halifax [Q4 1868] (aged 30).

In [Q3] 1878, Anne married Alfred Blakey

Brier, PCRef 438-2
[1???-18??]
Police constable in Southowram [1854].

The Halifax Guardian [Saturdays 16th September 1854]


More Illicit Spirits

John Blakley a woolcomber of Bradford pleaded guilty to a charge preferred against him by the Inland Revenue of carrying and removing ten quarts of whiskey and evading payment of duty.

PC Brier, police constable of Southowram saw Blakley in Marsh Lane with something in his hand which he had not got in an honest manner. Defendant dropped the bundle to the ground, which after examination proved to be a bladder of whiskey, in a bag tied with a handkerchief.

The defendant made attempts to get at the bladder with the intention of jumping on it. The two struggled with each other for about 10 minutes before the constable who was the more powerful effected his capture and put the snaps on.

A fine of £20 was inflicted upon him but in default of payment he was committed to Wakefield for three months with hard labour

 

Brier, PercyRef 438-1447
[1889-1917]
Son of
Albert Brier.

He was out of work [1911] / employed by MacLachlan's, King Cross [1914].

In [Q1] 1913, he married Hilda Whittemore in Halifax.

They lived at 3 Tatham's Court, King Cross.

During World War I, he enlisted [May 1916], with the Northumberland Fusiliers, and then he served as a Private with the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.

He was invalided home and returned to France [July 1917].

He died 2nd October 1917 (aged 28).

He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium [Grave Ref 128-131, 162 & 162A], and in the Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance.

The Halifax Courier [17th November 1917] reported his death with a photograph

His brother Charles also died in the War.

In [Q1] 1923, Hilda married Arthur Greenwood in Halifax.

They lived at 2 Tatham's Court, King Cross, Halifax

Brier, RobertRef 438-371
[1785-18??]
He was a cordwainer / a shoemaker [1841] / a cordwainer [1851].

In 1805, he married Martha Swaine.


Martha was the daughter of
Mr Swaine
 

Children:

  1. James
  2. Jonathan
  3. Sarah [b 1809]
  4. Joseph [b 1811]
  5. Martha [b 1813]
  6. Robert [b 1815] who married (1) [London 1840] Emma  Bolton & (2) [London 1847] Charlotte Fiddimont
  7. Mary [b 1816] who married [Halifax 1843] William  Harrison
  8. twins[?] Isaac [b 1824]
  9. Rebecca [b 1824]

They lived at

  • Bull Green, Halifax [1819, 1828]
  • Archer Street, Halifax [1841]
  • 8 Barum Top, Bull Green, Halifax [1851]
  • 7 Crabtree Court, Halifax [1861]

Brier, RobertRef 438-651
[1785-1870]
Born in Halifax.

He was a cordwainer [1851].

He married Martha [1788-1864].


Martha was born in Halifax
 

They lived at 8 Barum Top, Halifax [1851].

Martha died 17th January 1864 (aged 76).

Robert died 23rd August 1870 (aged 85).

The couple were buried at Lister Lane Cemetery [Plot 3951] with grandson Robert Brier [1851-1867]

Brier, RobertRef 438-6
[1832-1898]
Son of
James Brier.

Born in Halifax.

He was landlord of the White Horse, Halifax [1864] / a waiter (spirit vaults) [1871] / a barman [1891] / a vaultsman [1898].

He married [Q1] 1855l in Halifax.


Amelia was born in Halifax.

She was a dressmaker [1861]

 

Children:

  1. Walter [b 1856] who was a boiler maker [1891]
  2. Anne [b 1860] who was a boot sewer [1871], a boot fitter  [1891] & married [Halifax Q4 1883] Henry William Rhoads
  3. Sarah A. [b 1862]

The family lived at

  • The White Horse, Southgate, Halifax (living with  Robert's widowed mother) [1861]
  • 10 Temple Street, Halifax [1871]
  • 7 Colbeck Street, Halifax [1891]

Living with them [in 1891] was granddaughter Ada A. Rhoads [b  1885].

Sarah Ann died 23rd November 1892 (aged 59).

Robert died 20th May 1898 (aged 66).

He was buried at Lister Lane Cemetery [Plot 4000] with Robert's mother Maria Brier [1795-1862] & his sister Sarah Ann Brier [1833-1892]

Brier, W.Ref 438-792
[18??-19??]

Recorded in March 1916, when there appeared an advertisement in the Halifax Courier for his


Wholesale Salt Warehouse
at 14 Winding Road, Halifax
 

Brier, WilliamRef 438-9600
[1809-1876]
Born in Southowram.

He was a weaver [1841] / a beer seller & coal miner (master) firm of 2 employing 12 men & 9  boys [1851] / a beer house keeper [1861] / a beerhouse keeper at the Colliers' Arms, Elland [1871].

In 1843, he married Sarah Cooper [1809-1895], born in Elland.


Sarah already had a child called Mary. At some point, Brier was added to her name and she became Mary Cooper Brier [1841-1919]
 

Children:

  1. Elizabeth [1843-1932] who married Thomas Noble
  2. Agnes Ann [1847-1936]
  3. Joseph [1849-1855]

They lived at

He died at the Colliers' Arms [18th September 1876]. Probate records show that he left effects valued at under £800. Probate was granted to Thomas Crompton Noble (woollen spinner) & Mary Brier and Agnes Ann Brier spinsters, his daughters.

After William's death, his widow Sarah took over at the Colliers' Arms [1876-1895].

After Sarah's death, her daughter Mary Cooper Brier took over [1895-1919].

After Mary's death, her nephew William Noble ran the pub until his death [1919-1925]

Surname

Brier surnameRef 438-1
A variant of the surname Brear

Entries for people with this and similar surnames are shown in a separate Foldout

There are 25 entries on the Calderdale Companion for people with the surname Brier, as discussed in this SideTrack.


Unattached BMDs for Brier

Marriage 1922; Death 1897

Unattached burials at Lister Lane Cemetery: Plot 2661, Plot 4000

 



© Malcolm Bull 2024
Revised 07:26 / 27th March 2024 / 32666

Page Ref: MMB764

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