William Brinsmead
The largest contingent of U.S. Brinsmeads descended from William Brinsmead, a son of Henry Brinsmead, John Brinsmead's elder brother and also a piano maker.
William Brinsmead's descendant tree (The USA Brinsmeads) pdf.file
William Brinsmead left England for the United States, taking with him two of his sons, William and Arthur. They had a younger brother John Charles who immigrated to Canada in 1888. William Brinsmead's family data is recorded in the documents below, written in 1932. Soon after their arrival in the United States it appears that William placed his two children in the care of the Children's Aid society. Brian Huseland contacted the Society in 1994 and received the following detailed reply from the files of the Childrens' Aid Society giving the history of these two young boys:
November 15, 1881, William Brinsmead, England, 12. H.Q. (H.Q. refers to the CAS [Children’s Aid Society] main office at this time—which probably means this is where William’s father surrendered the boys to CAS for placement in homes in the West).
Father at 121 – 3rd Avenue. Consent (by William’s father) given last month when his brother went west. (97) (This number refers to the ledger page on which Arthur’s history was noted).
Goes West with E.H. Trott (CAS staff member who took children to homes in the West). Placed with L.F. Morical, Sidney, Freemont County, Iowa. A home visit was made on January 14, 1882, and the initials of a CAS local visitor appears before July 20, 1883, meaning a home visit was made again. A letter was written December 5, 1889 and another on March 19, 1889 [sic]. (We don’t know if William wrote to CAS or visa versa).
On April 22, 1889, Mr. Morical wrote from Stuart, Iowa that William is a soldier and a musician in Company D, of the 2nd infantry at Fort Omaha, Nebraska. He enlisted for five years, has served two, and is well satisfied. He heard from Europe that his father is dead. William came to see his brother who was hurt, but has since recovered.
March 20, 1890, William writes that he is in the Army and likes it very well. He says any young man can do well if he behaves himself. Plays in the band and get(s) $13 per month. Says his brother is doing well.
W. October 20, 1891. W. November 12, 1895. Again, we don’t know who wrote, William or CAS. We suspect that William wrote to CAS to inform us how he was doing.
That is the extent of the record [for William].
It should be noted that these ledger sheets generally contain a brief preface—name, age, religion and origin of both parents, as well as the occupation of the father and the reason for the surrender of the child. William’s history contains none of this usual information. We don’t know why.
Arthur’s sheet reads as follows:
Brother to William, page 153.
Arthur Brinsmead, 10 England, H.Q. Father, 121 Third Avenue, City. Goes West with E. Trott. Placed with J.A. Moore – Fisk P.O., Adair County, Iowa. Visited February 28, 1882 and on April 29, 1882, Mr. Moore writes that Arthur is going to school and is very happy. The (CAS) visitor wrote on July 20, 1883 that Arthur was well, going to school and is well satisfied. He would like to hear from his father. Visited by Mr. Fry (CAS staff member) February 1884, who reports Arthur is still in his place and is doing well. February 27, 1884, Arthur writes that he is well and likes his home very much. W November 19,1885 W February 28, 1889. On March 13, 1889 Grant G. Oliphant, Fisk P.O., Iowa writes that Arthur is now making his home with Mr. M. Tiffany’s family, in Fontanella, Iowa. Mr. Oliphant also states that Arthur was seriously hurt while jumping from a horse on Monday, March 11th. The horse was running and Arthur in some way came in contact with a tree. He crushed his parietal bone on the right side very badly and also cracked his skull around to the base. Death may result at any time.
Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany are very fine people and are doing their utmost for him as far as kindness, treatment, etc. are concerned. Any aid that kind friends with willing hearts and money can bestow are given to him. Arthur has many warm friends who are willing and anxious to render any needed comfort. Mr. Oliphant wishes us to inform him of Arthur’s people. April 22, 1889. See attachment of William on page 153.
Arthur has recovered and is farming, March 12, 1890. William writes that Arthur is doing well. W. April 21, 1891. Letter of April 12 returned on May 15, 1891. Wrote May 10, 1894. August 25, 1894 Mr. d. Moyer of Fontelle [sic], Iowa, writes that Arthur died on the 22nd of August of diabetes. He was sick but 24 hours. During the last summer, he hauled milk to the creamery and lived with Mr. Moyer at the time of his death.
I wish we could provide more information for you, but you now know as much as we do about William and Arthur Brinsmead; perhaps more.
The only fact that we have turned up is that William and Arthur were surrendered by their father several years before his death. He probably was sick and poor and unable to care for his sons, so he left them with us so they might have better lives. I suspect this is the case, because as I have indicated, our sheets generally contain more information about the parents. This is significantly missing, lending credence to my theory.
In any event, William and Arthur were remarkable men. Left without parents, moved to new environs, they both grew up into fine, productive, independent adults and while Arthur tragically succumbed to diabetes after courageously recovering from a near fatal accident, William led an exemplary life. I’m sure you’re proud of both of them.