One of the first Brinsmeads to leave North Devon was Hugh, the youngest of five sons of Thomas and Susanna Brinsmead of St. Giles in the Wood. Hugh moved to Exeter where he set up as a bricklayer and builder. His children scattered thereafter, two ending up in Australia.

Hugh was born in St. Giles in the Wood in 1788. He married Mary Ann Rowe in Exeter on July 8th, 1815 at St. Paul's Church, Exeter. The couple had seven children between 1816 and 1830 all of whom were baptised at St. David's Church, Exeter:

Mary Ann (Rowe) appears to have died in Exeter in 1847. Hugh is listed as a widower in the 1851 Exeter census. Hugh lived to age 84 and died in Exeter in 1872.

Thomas Brinsmead b. 1816

Thomas Brinsmead moved to London. The 1851 Census shows him at age 34 living at 2 St. Anne's Place, Limehouse, Tower Hamlets. He is living there with his wife Mary Ann age 32 and their newborn daughter Mary. Also living with them in the same house are his two single younger brothers William age 23, a joiner, and Hugh, aged 20, a tailor. 

Mary Ann Brinsmead b. 1819

A Mary Ann Brinsmead died in Stepney where Thomas was living, in 1848. We assume this was his sister, but have not confirmed the fact.

Elizabeth Caroline Brinsmead b. 1821

Elizabeth Caroline Brinsmead moved to London and went into service. She worked at 3 Cadogan Place, Chelsea where she died in 1884. She left a will and John Brinsmead, the piano man, was one of her executors, which suggests she must have remained in touch with that branch of the family.

This is the last Will and Testament of me Elizabeth Caroline Brinsmead I give and bequeath to my executors and trustees  hereinafter named all my stock and interest in the London and North western Railway Upon trust to pay the dividends and annual produce thereof to my sister Susan Tancock for her use and benefit during her life and after her decease direct my said executors and trustees to divide such stock between the two children of my said sister I give and bequeath the sum of fifty pounds to each of the daughters of my brother Thomas I give and bequeath my Madras Railway stock to Alice the daughter of my brother Hugh and to the two daughters of my said brother Hugh by his second marriage I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds each All the rest residue and remainder of my estate and effects I give and bequeath to my said sister Susan Tancock to and for her own use and benefit And I nominate and appoint my two Cousins John Brinsmead  of Wigmore Street London and Ann Way of 14 Carlton Road Kentish Town Executors and Trustees of this my Will.

John Brinsmead b. 1824

As a young man, John Brinsmead got into trouble with the law.  He was with another youth in a bar in Exeter.  It appears, after the two left the bar, the attempted to rob the brother of one of the women they had been drinking with; a Nathanial Bennett.  A fight ensued, as a result of which the man ended in the river and drowned. John Brinsmead and William Pitts (age 18), were each charged with wilful murder.  After three days in custody, John Brinsmead turned Queen's evidence.  We have some newspaper accounts from the time. The jury found Pitts guilty of robbery but not murder. A few weeks later Brinsmead was convicted of the lesser offence. John Brinsmead was given a seven year sentence and, two months later, was given a Ticket of Leave and left for Van Diemens Land.  He arrived in Hobart after a 112 day journey and was taken to the hospital in New Norfolk, just up the river from Hobart. In 1853, after his sentence was served, John Brinsmead married Catherine Lochead in Victoria in 1853. They went on to have a family and left relatives living in Australia to this day.

Susan Brinsmead b. 1825

Susan Brinsmead lived with her parents until at least 1851. In 1863 She married, in the Exeter registry office, a Samuel Tancock. They had two children; Elizabeth C. B. Tancock born 1864 and Hugh Tancock, born 1867.

William Brinsmead b. 1828

In 1851 William is living in Limehouse with his older brother Thomas. He is a joiner. William left England for Australia.

Hugh Henry Brinsmead b. 1830

In 1851 Hugh is living also living in Limehouse, London with his older brother Thomas. He is shown as a tailor.

Hugh married a Carolyn Perry in 1860 at the Exeter Wesleyan Chapel. They had at least one child, Alice Elizabeth born 1862. Hugh also had  Mary Susannah born 1869, Hugh Henry born 1871 and George born 1874. Hugh appears to have remarried a Hannah who presumable was the mother of the last three children.

Hugh went north.  He died in 1887 in Doncaster and Hannah died there the next year in 1878. Young Hugh Henry died there age 3. George went to see and died in 1891 on the ship Per Ardua  off Staten Island rounding Cape Horn.

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