Thomas Brass was born in 1740, either in London or possibly in Warwickshire. His date of birth is taken from death records which give his age as 73 at the time of his decease. Thomas had at least one brother and quite possibly other siblings, as he mentions four nieces and nephews in his will of 1813. His nephew William is noted as being born in Warwickshire, so it's a mystery as to whether Thomas was born in London or there.
The earliest record we have on Thomas comes from his marriage in 1765 at age 25 to Mary Gilman (1738-1781), a widow. From that marriage he had three known children who lived to adulthood (and several that did not); Thomas (1766-?), William (1770-1813) and Sarah (1780-1815). After the death of his wife Mary, he remarried in 1782 to a Sarah Early (1753-1804), who bore him a daughter Sophia (1784-1870). During this time they lived at Wood Street, as Sarah is noted as dying there in 1804.
Thomas started out with shops in Wood Street, Cheapside, a poor area south of the Guildhalls, which were key to business and trade in the 18th century. He is in tax lists for the Cripplegate and Bishopsgate Without area of London from 1770 onwards. In 1798 and 1802, references to a 'Thomas Brass and Sons', ribbon and silk manufacturers, of 35, Wood Street can be found in tax lists and in the local business directory. It is assumed that sons Thomas and William were also in the trade, which required a skill in weaving.
There is nothing in the records which indicates Thomas was also in the building industry prior to the arrival of his nephew William (1778-1858), however he may have invested in property. More likely William created what became a family business after he arrived in London around 1797.
After 1802, it appears that Thomas retired and it's possible he moved to Pentonville at that time. The fact that there were at least three Thomas Brasses living in London at the turn of the century
means it becomes difficult to tell them apart. Juror records for a thomas Brass do not specify age, and even so all of the Brasses claimed shops in Wood Street.
Thomas and William owned a number of buildings along Wood Street, which they alternately lived in, worked from or leased out. It's quite possible that they dealt in "flipping" real estate on the side, with William assisting in renovation. No doubt Thomas sponsored William financially in his endeavors, as they shared the business - sale and leasing - in Wood Street and several other areas. Thomas also had ownership or leasing rights to the Pentonville row of houses in which he, and later William and his sons, lived.
Of note is that Wood Street in London today is unrecognizable - a mash up of prime real estate for business skyscrapers, worth trillions. The majority of damage was done in the World War II bombing of that area, which decimated all but a few landmarks. Many of the buildings and sometimes streets where the family lived in London no longer exist, so some of the references are cloaked in history.
Benjamin Flower (1758-1814) of Nuneaton, Warwickshire rented shops in Wood Street (most likely from Thomas) in the late 1700s. He was also in the business of ribbon and silk weaving, and might have been a business partner at one time. Curiously, a John Brass was married in Nuneaton in 1762, and may be a likely father of William and brother to Thomas. Benjamin Flower's son Josiah Flower would marry Thomas' daughter Sarah Brass in 1807. She bore him four daughters, dying of childbirth in 1815 at the age of 35.
Thomas Brass' son Thomas died at an early age (unknown), and there is not much known about him other than he most probably did not marry or sire children. Son William, who was a master weaver living in Hoxton, died aged 43, a scant few months after his father, leaving his widow with four daughters and three sons to raise. Sophia married and went to the Unites States in the 1820s with her husband, as did several other of Thomas' descendents over the years.
At the time of his death in 1813, Thomas Brass owned the leases for dozens of buildings, including the Wood Street lots and the Kings and Queens Row houses in Pentonville (which no longer exist), where he lived with his family at the time of his decease.
He was also an investor in stocks and bonds. His estate was valued at 3,500 british pounds, most of which was split between his three children or their heirs. Additionally he left small sums to his nephews and nieces. His nephew William Brass and a friend William Tate served as executors for his estate.
Thomas and several members of his family are buried at Bunhill Fields Burial Grounds in Islington, London.
The earliest record we have on Thomas comes from his marriage in 1765 at age 25 to Mary Gilman (1738-1781), a widow. From that marriage he had three known children who lived to adulthood (and several that did not); Thomas (1766-?), William (1770-1813) and Sarah (1780-1815). After the death of his wife Mary, he remarried in 1782 to a Sarah Early (1753-1804), who bore him a daughter Sophia (1784-1870). During this time they lived at Wood Street, as Sarah is noted as dying there in 1804.
Thomas started out with shops in Wood Street, Cheapside, a poor area south of the Guildhalls, which were key to business and trade in the 18th century. He is in tax lists for the Cripplegate and Bishopsgate Without area of London from 1770 onwards. In 1798 and 1802, references to a 'Thomas Brass and Sons', ribbon and silk manufacturers, of 35, Wood Street can be found in tax lists and in the local business directory. It is assumed that sons Thomas and William were also in the trade, which required a skill in weaving.
There is nothing in the records which indicates Thomas was also in the building industry prior to the arrival of his nephew William (1778-1858), however he may have invested in property. More likely William created what became a family business after he arrived in London around 1797.
After 1802, it appears that Thomas retired and it's possible he moved to Pentonville at that time. The fact that there were at least three Thomas Brasses living in London at the turn of the century
means it becomes difficult to tell them apart. Juror records for a thomas Brass do not specify age, and even so all of the Brasses claimed shops in Wood Street.
Thomas and William owned a number of buildings along Wood Street, which they alternately lived in, worked from or leased out. It's quite possible that they dealt in "flipping" real estate on the side, with William assisting in renovation. No doubt Thomas sponsored William financially in his endeavors, as they shared the business - sale and leasing - in Wood Street and several other areas. Thomas also had ownership or leasing rights to the Pentonville row of houses in which he, and later William and his sons, lived.
Of note is that Wood Street in London today is unrecognizable - a mash up of prime real estate for business skyscrapers, worth trillions. The majority of damage was done in the World War II bombing of that area, which decimated all but a few landmarks. Many of the buildings and sometimes streets where the family lived in London no longer exist, so some of the references are cloaked in history.
Benjamin Flower (1758-1814) of Nuneaton, Warwickshire rented shops in Wood Street (most likely from Thomas) in the late 1700s. He was also in the business of ribbon and silk weaving, and might have been a business partner at one time. Curiously, a John Brass was married in Nuneaton in 1762, and may be a likely father of William and brother to Thomas. Benjamin Flower's son Josiah Flower would marry Thomas' daughter Sarah Brass in 1807. She bore him four daughters, dying of childbirth in 1815 at the age of 35.
Thomas Brass' son Thomas died at an early age (unknown), and there is not much known about him other than he most probably did not marry or sire children. Son William, who was a master weaver living in Hoxton, died aged 43, a scant few months after his father, leaving his widow with four daughters and three sons to raise. Sophia married and went to the Unites States in the 1820s with her husband, as did several other of Thomas' descendents over the years.
At the time of his death in 1813, Thomas Brass owned the leases for dozens of buildings, including the Wood Street lots and the Kings and Queens Row houses in Pentonville (which no longer exist), where he lived with his family at the time of his decease.
He was also an investor in stocks and bonds. His estate was valued at 3,500 british pounds, most of which was split between his three children or their heirs. Additionally he left small sums to his nephews and nieces. His nephew William Brass and a friend William Tate served as executors for his estate.
Thomas and several members of his family are buried at Bunhill Fields Burial Grounds in Islington, London.
Thomas Brass was born in 1740, either in London or possibly in Warwickshire. His date of birth is taken from death records which give his age as 73 at the time of his decease. Thomas had at least one brother and quite possibly other siblings, as he mentions four nieces and nephews in his will of 1813. His nephew William is noted as being born in Warwickshire, so it's a mystery as to whether Thomas was born in London or there.
The earliest record we have on Thomas comes from his marriage in 1765 at age 25 to Mary Gilman (1738-1781), a widow. From that marriage he had three known children who lived to adulthood (and several that did not); Thomas (1766-?), William (1770-1813) and Sarah (1780-1815). After the death of his wife Mary, he remarried in 1782 to a Sarah Early (1753-1804), who bore him a daughter Sophia (1784-1870). During this time they lived at Wood Street, as Sarah is noted as dying there in 1804.
Thomas started out with shops in Wood Street, Cheapside, a poor area south of the Guildhalls, which were key to business and trade in the 18th century. He is in tax lists for the Cripplegate and Bishopsgate Without area of London from 1770 onwards. In 1798 and 1802, references to a 'Thomas Brass and Sons', ribbon and silk manufacturers, of 35, Wood Street can be found in tax lists and in the local business directory. It is assumed that sons Thomas and William were also in the trade, which required a skill in weaving.
There is nothing in the records which indicates Thomas was also in the building industry prior to the arrival of his nephew William (1778-1858), however he may have invested in property. More likely William created what became a family business after he arrived in London around 1797.
After 1802, it appears that Thomas retired and it's possible he moved to Pentonville at that time. The fact that there were at least three Thomas Brasses living in London at the turn of the century
means it becomes difficult to tell them apart. Juror records for a thomas Brass do not specify age, and even so all of the Brasses claimed shops in Wood Street.
Thomas and William owned a number of buildings along Wood Street, which they alternately lived in, worked from or leased out. It's quite possible that they dealt in "flipping" real estate on the side, with William assisting in renovation. No doubt Thomas sponsored William financially in his endeavors, as they shared the business - sale and leasing - in Wood Street and several other areas. Thomas also had ownership or leasing rights to the Pentonville row of houses in which he, and later William and his sons, lived.
Of note is that Wood Street in London today is unrecognizable - a mash up of prime real estate for business skyscrapers, worth trillions. The majority of damage was done in the World War II bombing of that area, which decimated all but a few landmarks. Many of the buildings and sometimes streets where the family lived in London no longer exist, so some of the references are cloaked in history.
Benjamin Flower (1758-1814) of Nuneaton, Warwickshire rented shops in Wood Street (most likely from Thomas) in the late 1700s. He was also in the business of ribbon and silk weaving, and might have been a business partner at one time. Curiously, a John Brass was married in Nuneaton in 1762, and may be a likely father of William and brother to Thomas. Benjamin Flower's son Josiah Flower would marry Thomas' daughter Sarah Brass in 1807. She bore him four daughters, dying of childbirth in 1815 at the age of 35.
Thomas Brass' son Thomas died at an early age (unknown), and there is not much known about him other than he most probably did not marry or sire children. Son William, who was a master weaver living in Hoxton, died aged 43, a scant few months after his father, leaving his widow with four daughters and three sons to raise. Sophia married and went to the Unites States in the 1820s with her husband, as did several other of Thomas' descendents over the years.
At the time of his death in 1813, Thomas Brass owned the leases for dozens of buildings, including the Wood Street lots and the Kings and Queens Row houses in Pentonville (which no longer exist), where he lived with his family at the time of his decease.
He was also an investor in stocks and bonds. His estate was valued at 3,500 british pounds, most of which was split between his three children or their heirs. Additionally he left small sums to his nephews and nieces. His nephew William Brass and a friend William Tate served as executors for his estate.
Thomas and several members of his family are buried at Bunhill Fields Burial Grounds in Islington, London.
The earliest record we have on Thomas comes from his marriage in 1765 at age 25 to Mary Gilman (1738-1781), a widow. From that marriage he had three known children who lived to adulthood (and several that did not); Thomas (1766-?), William (1770-1813) and Sarah (1780-1815). After the death of his wife Mary, he remarried in 1782 to a Sarah Early (1753-1804), who bore him a daughter Sophia (1784-1870). During this time they lived at Wood Street, as Sarah is noted as dying there in 1804.
Thomas started out with shops in Wood Street, Cheapside, a poor area south of the Guildhalls, which were key to business and trade in the 18th century. He is in tax lists for the Cripplegate and Bishopsgate Without area of London from 1770 onwards. In 1798 and 1802, references to a 'Thomas Brass and Sons', ribbon and silk manufacturers, of 35, Wood Street can be found in tax lists and in the local business directory. It is assumed that sons Thomas and William were also in the trade, which required a skill in weaving.
There is nothing in the records which indicates Thomas was also in the building industry prior to the arrival of his nephew William (1778-1858), however he may have invested in property. More likely William created what became a family business after he arrived in London around 1797.
After 1802, it appears that Thomas retired and it's possible he moved to Pentonville at that time. The fact that there were at least three Thomas Brasses living in London at the turn of the century
means it becomes difficult to tell them apart. Juror records for a thomas Brass do not specify age, and even so all of the Brasses claimed shops in Wood Street.
Thomas and William owned a number of buildings along Wood Street, which they alternately lived in, worked from or leased out. It's quite possible that they dealt in "flipping" real estate on the side, with William assisting in renovation. No doubt Thomas sponsored William financially in his endeavors, as they shared the business - sale and leasing - in Wood Street and several other areas. Thomas also had ownership or leasing rights to the Pentonville row of houses in which he, and later William and his sons, lived.
Of note is that Wood Street in London today is unrecognizable - a mash up of prime real estate for business skyscrapers, worth trillions. The majority of damage was done in the World War II bombing of that area, which decimated all but a few landmarks. Many of the buildings and sometimes streets where the family lived in London no longer exist, so some of the references are cloaked in history.
Benjamin Flower (1758-1814) of Nuneaton, Warwickshire rented shops in Wood Street (most likely from Thomas) in the late 1700s. He was also in the business of ribbon and silk weaving, and might have been a business partner at one time. Curiously, a John Brass was married in Nuneaton in 1762, and may be a likely father of William and brother to Thomas. Benjamin Flower's son Josiah Flower would marry Thomas' daughter Sarah Brass in 1807. She bore him four daughters, dying of childbirth in 1815 at the age of 35.
Thomas Brass' son Thomas died at an early age (unknown), and there is not much known about him other than he most probably did not marry or sire children. Son William, who was a master weaver living in Hoxton, died aged 43, a scant few months after his father, leaving his widow with four daughters and three sons to raise. Sophia married and went to the Unites States in the 1820s with her husband, as did several other of Thomas' descendents over the years.
At the time of his death in 1813, Thomas Brass owned the leases for dozens of buildings, including the Wood Street lots and the Kings and Queens Row houses in Pentonville (which no longer exist), where he lived with his family at the time of his decease.
He was also an investor in stocks and bonds. His estate was valued at 3,500 british pounds, most of which was split between his three children or their heirs. Additionally he left small sums to his nephews and nieces. His nephew William Brass and a friend William Tate served as executors for his estate.
Thomas and several members of his family are buried at Bunhill Fields Burial Grounds in Islington, London.
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