William and Jane BROWN, Holdenhurst 1881

At the time of the 1881 census, Abigail Courtney and her sister Edith were lodging in the small hamlet of Holdenhurst Hampshire, with a married couple named William and Jane Brown. Martha Paice nee Marsh and Henry Paice were also visiting.  Henry and Martha are half siblings to the mother of Abigail and Edith, Abigail Courtney nee Paice (wife of 'George').  A Downer family is also living next door, who may also be possible connections to the Paice family.

Why are they in Holdenhurst and where are their parents?  They are listed as scholars, so perhaps they had they been sent away to school, but where is their sister Alberta, twin to Abigail?  

This photo is believed to be George’s daughter Abigail Courtney at school in England.  Could it have been taken in Holdenhurst?  She’s said to be the one with the white scarf around her neck near the tear on the bottom left hand corner.

Believed to be Abigail Courtney at school in England


The William BROWN b1820 in Chichester, Sussex (father also named William Brown) appears to have been married firstly to a Sarah Ann BROWN, her father was Andrew Brown.  William is listed as a widower in the 1871 census so Sarah must have died sometime between 1861-1871.

Jane BROWN who is also residing at the residence in 1881 is listed as William's wife. If so, she would be his second wife, married sometime between 1871-1881.  The most likely marriage is one at Christchuch, Hampshire in 1871.  A Jane Searle married either William Brown or Nathanial Frond/Froud. To date, I have been unable to confirm which is the correct spouse. 





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This blog is dedicated to finding my second great grandfather Arthur 'George' Courtney c1841.   To see a summary of my research click here.  

If you help with any of questions raised in this post, please contact me using the contact form on this blog or send me a private message via Wikitree, Ancestry or Facebook. 

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