Faces from the past

It is most unusual to be able to see what people associated with your house or area looked like over 150 years ago but we have been very fortunate.

Thanks to descendants of a family who were in the square in the 1830s and 1840s we can see what these early residents looked like, and, through entries in the family bible, get an insight into the highs and lows of the family's life over a period of 43 years more than a century ago.

John Brightman Senior John Brightman and his wife Harriet Emily

First picture: John Brightman (Senior), Second picture: John Brightman and his wife Harriet Emily.

Local street directories show John Brightman as a resident of 16 Regency Square in 1832 and again in 1844 while the bible entries below detail births and deaths at 8, 14 and 16 Regency Square

The bible frontispiece shows that the bible was given to Harriet and then passed to Clara Helen, their only surviving daughter, in 1863:

"Harriet Emily Brightman from her affect. Husband John Brightman 12th June 1843" and underneath that also written by John Brightman is a note - "Clara Helen Webster from her affect. Pa JB 10th May 1863"

Thought to be Emily Jane Brightman An unidentified daughter

First picture: Thought to be Emily Jane Brightman, Second picture: An unidentified daughter.

Inside the bible are written details of the Brightman family:

Married 26th December 1827 at Calcutta John Brightman to Harriet Emily Gerrard

Born 6th Sept 1828 at Calcutta our daughter "Emily Jane -

Born 29th July 1830 at Calcutta our son "John Edward -

Born 10th December 1834 at Calcutta our daughter "Margaret Diana" -

Born 27th November 1838 at Brighton our daughter "Harriet Georgina" no 14 Regency Sq.

Born 29th Oct 1840 at Lavender Hill our daughter "Clara Helen"

Two of the daughters Two of the daughters

First picture: Two daughters, the one on the right is thought to be Jessie Raikes who was born in London and died aged 15 months at 16 Regency Square, and on the left Clara Helen, Second picture: Two of the daughters.

Born 4th May 1842 at Lavender Hill our daughter "Jessie Raikes"

Died 16th Feb. 1844 our darling child "Jessie Raikes at Brighton 16 Regency Sq.

Died 2nd April 1844 my beloved and ever to be lamented wife "Harriet Emily" at Brighton -"God bless you John I am quite resigned I hope God will receive me and that I shall see my darling Jessie" No 8 Regency Sq.

John Edward Brightman

John Edward Brightman, the son of John and Harriet, who died in Calcutta aged 20

Married at Brighton on the 12th March 1845 our daughter Emily Jane to Captain Rawson John Crozier no 16 Regency sq.

Died 29th Feb 1848 at no 4 Westbourne Place Eaton Sq. London my dear child "Margaret Diana (14th year)

Died 28th January 1848 at Bombay my dear daughter "Emily Jane" - wife of Major R. J. Crozier 26th Bombay N.I.

Died 28th October 1850 at Lahore East Indies my dear son "John Edward" Ensign 39th Bengal N. I.-

Died 12th February 1853 at 39 Western Villas Maida Hill West my dear child "Harriet Georgina" (14th Year)

Married at St Stephen's church Westbourne Park on the 8th April 1858 my daughter "Clara Helen" to James Webster Jr. Glinton Northamptonshire no 42 Westbourne Park

Died at Glinton 14th December 1870 aged 30 years Clara Helen Webster jnr