Briki History

Our Family from Czechia

BEFORE KNIN

The Brichacek family are not of the orginaly from Knin, and their origin cannot be determined. Our earliest ancestor that has been identified in the second half of the 18th century is Jan Brichacek from Kunratice.

Jan Brichacek was a manor shepherd. Manor shepherds were experts in sheep breeding at manorial estates. They provided the entrusted herd at all stages of production. They were divided into different degrees or ranks. The sheep master, also called the field master, stood at the top. He was the manager and responsible manager of the entrusted sheepfold. The sheepfold crew was subordinated to him. Among the employees of the manor, he had a special position on the border between the family and lower lordly officials. It was a relatively well-respected and well-paid profession. The master shepherd received above all the so-called deputy, ie rewards in kind from what the manor estate produced. The master usually had accommodation provided by his employers with a house near the sheepfold. He could keep a smaller farm of his own, including a small private flock of sheep. The shepherd could develop the rank of master only after many years of experience in lower shepherd positions. --- Sheep craft was often inherited in quotation marks. From an early age, children helped their parents with work and acquired the necessary skills from them. This created whole sheep families. Shepherds formed a cohesive community, which manifested itself in frequent marriages between members of the sheepdog families, as well as in the selection of godparents and wedding witnesses.

He had married Anna Pincova. She came from TreSovice near Strakonice, perhaps Jan Brichacek had been grazing there for some time.

THE BRICHACEKS FROM KNIN

First generation: Thomas and Anna

Tomáš Břicháček (1784/85?–1829) = Anna (maiden name Prachejlová) (1793/94–1861)

Manor Master Shepherd

Thomas is the only known descendant of Jan Brichacek.

Thomas and Anna got married on 4 October 1813 in Dobřichovice. They both originated from Manor Master Shepherd families. The information about the marriage in metrics is the oldest document found about our family.

Anna was born in Dobřichovice (sometime between 1793 and 1794). His father was Master Shepherd of local landlord Knights of the Cross with the Red Star.

Thomas came here from somewhere (perphaps area round Březnice, Drahenice) and became employee in the sheephold. He felt in love with his chief’s daughter.

Later the landlord (Knights of the Cross with the Red Star) sent Thomas to their another sheephold in Mokrsko, where Thomas became Master Shepherd. In 1816 (12 October) Thomas and Anna had their first child there – daughter Anna.

Sometime in late 1816 or in early 1817, Thomas and Anna with their little daughter Anna moved from Mokrsko to Starý Knín (Old Knin) to local sheepfold, which also belonged to Knights of the Cross with the Red Star.

The sheepfold stood here: [49.7897383N, 14.2735611E|https://www.google.com/maps/search/49.7897383N,+14.2735611E?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQhK-f_8ruAhX2CRAIHYsnD94Q8gEwAHoECAIQAQ]

Thomas was Master Shepherd of the local landlord till his death in 1829. The family lived in the sheepfold area till then.

CHILDREN

This first child Anna unfortunately died on 25 April 1817. The information about this sad event in local metrics is the first document proving the presence of the Brichaceks in Knin!

After that Thomas and Anna had 4 more children:

Václav (* 7 September 1820)

Marie (* 9 October 1823)

Josef (* 28 November 1825)

Jan (* 31 March 1828) – our ancestor

FAMILY PROGRESS IN 1820s

Thomas apparently had enough money from the lucrative job in Old Knin sheepfold. Sometime in 1820s he bought a big house in Novy Knin (New Knin), number 50, to which also some fields belonged. But the family during his life still lived in the Old Knin sheepfold. As regards the house number 50 in Novy Knin they rented it.

THOMAS DEATH

Thomas died on 9 November 1829 – the cause of – it seems – a kind of accident (fall from a high place)

AFTER THOMAS’S DEATH

Anna with her children moved to the house 50 in New Knin. She lived there till her death. She died on 30 March 1861 (aged 68 years).

Second generation:

Jan Břicháček - butcher and innkeeper, an important personality of Nový Knín

(31 March 1828, Starý Knín – 16 February 1899, Nový Knín)

Anna Břicháčková, née Nevařilová

(21 April 1829, Sedlčany – 21 April 1891, Nový Knín)

Marriage:

30 June 1858, Nový Knín

Children (sons):

Jan (born 1858 - our ancestor)

František (born 1860)

Antonín (born 1865)

Karel (born 1870 - but died as a child in 1873)

CHILDHOOD

Jan was born on 31 March 1828 on a sheepfold in Starý Knín (house number 16) – the youngest child of the shepherd master Tomáš Břicháček and his wife Anna Břicháčková

Jan spent the first months of his life in a sheepfold area, but the death of his father brought a turning point in his life. Let us recall that the father died as a result of an accident on 9 November 1829. The mother then moved with her children to Nový Knín, house no. 50 -which, as we said last time, Tomáš Břicháček (who was probably quite rich) bought sometime in the 1820s.

This moment marked a radical turning point in family history. The ancient shepherd tradition was broken. Little John and his brothers, although their father's mother's blood was circulating in the shepherd's blood, parted ways with this craft, and none of them ever pursued it again.

So Jan spent his childhood with his mother and siblings in house no. 50 in Nový Knín. The family probably did not suffer in need. They could lean on the property that teh father had amassed. They rented part of the house no. 50 to a tenant and also probably their fields provided livelihoods.

He attended the basic school in Novy Knin probably between 1834 and 1840.

ANNA'S CHILDHOOD

Anna was born on 21 April 1829 in Sedlčany (a near town). She was daughter of butcher Jan Nevařil and his wife Karolína (née Matoušková). While mother originated from Sedlčany, the father originated from Nový Knín and he was in Sedlčany only temporarily.

When Anna was only a small child, the family moved to Novy Knin and they started to live in the house of Jan Nevařil´s father – number 8. Jan´s father died early and Jan took over the business.

Anna presumably attended the basic school in Novy Knin between 1835 and 1841.

JAN AS A YOUNG MAN

Jan lived with her mother and siblings in the house no 50. In the second half of 1840s his brother Josef opened an butchery and inn in the house. We can suppose that Jan helped in the business.

It seems that originaly he studied to be a miller. The marriage certificate hints this – it is written there that he was mill helper (companion) (junior miller). But we do not know more about this.

JAN AND ANNA – FIRST YEARS TOGETHER

We do not know how Jan and Anna got to know each other.

Anyway, sometimes in early 1858 Anna became pregnant. It was necesary to arrange marriage soon 

The wedding took place on 30 June 1858 in Nový Knín church (St. Nicolaus)

After the wedding they moved to Anna´s parents to the house no. 8

They lived there several years.

On 26 November 1858 the first son was born there – it was Jan, our ancestor (your father´s grandfather)

Jan is in the metrics registered as „cattle dealer“ or „dealer“ in these years – but perhaps he also started to help and learn in the butchery.

In 1865 in one metric he is described for the first time as “butcher master”

On 15 June 1860 second son was born – František (still in the house No. 8)

On 13 January 1865 third child was born – Antonín (in another house, no. 62, but the father is in the metrics still described as dealer from house no. 8)

In 1867 the young family (Jan and Anna with their small boys) moved to house no. 144 – it was not theirs – they were only tenants. They lived there several years.

On 30 December 1870 the last son Karel was born there. Unfortunately, he later died as a small boy in 1873.

So Jan and Anna for the future lived with their 3 sons.

We do not know how long the family lived in no. 144. We only know that in 1879 they bought their own house (see below)

JAN AS PUBLICLY ACTIVE PERSONALITY

In 1870s Jan Břicháček, yet a mature man in his forties, entered the awakened public life in the city. He became involved in municipal politics and in the activities of newly established associations.

1. He was three times elected to town council (assembly ?) – in 1874, in 1879 and in 1883.
2. He became an active member of an important association called Čtenářská beseda (Readers´ association) founded in 1872. The main task of the reader's discussion was to organize subscriptions and lending of newspapers and magazines and the purchase of books. In time, a federal library was established, which in its heyday owned about 1,200 volumes. The association became the center of the patriotic cultural life of the city. It then operated for several decades, until the beginning of the Czechoslovak Republic. Jan later became president of this association (mentioned as such in 1877)
3. In 1874 Jan became founding member of Association of veterans in Novy Knin.

GREAT FAMILY INVESTMENTS (LATE 1870s, 1880s)

In 1879 Jan and Anna bought house (estate) no. 96 in Novy Knin near river Kocaba. They opened butchery and inn there. Since there Jan is mentioned in the records as „butcher an innkeeper“ or „innkeeper“.

It seems that they did not intended to stay here permanently. They intended it as investment for their oldest son Jan (who was to return from military service in 1881). In 1883 Jan junior married with Marie Maršovská, girl from neighbourhood and they moved to this house (no. 96).

Parents Jan and Anna gave them (Jan jr. and Mary) the house in 1883 but continued to live there with them (together with younger two sons) there until 1886.In 1886 Jan and Anna bought new house for their own. It was house no. 15 in prominent place above the main square. They opened there another inn.

Since then there were two Brichaceks´inns in the town. The no. 15 of Jan senior was sometimes called “at the upper Brichaceks´” and the no. 96 of Jan junior was called “at the lower Brichaceks´” by the people. However, the official name of the inn no. 15 was “U Hroznu” (At a vine grape”) and that of the no. 96 was “Na Kovárně” (“At the Blacksmith” = “At the forge” (?))

The son František in 1888 left for the town Štěchovice where he got married and established local branch of Brichaceks that exist till now. Jan and Anna helped him financially to buy a house there.

The youngest son Antonín on the contrary stayed with his parents and his future was to take over the house and business.

Anna died on 21 April 1891 at the day of her 62 birthday for tuberculosis.

The same year Antonin got married. The bride moved to their house (no. 15). They had children in the following years.

So, the last years I guess that Antonín and his wife were more and more involved in the operation of the inn, while Jan enjoyed his old years and helped them.

Jan died on 16 February 1899. The reason of death was gangraena senilis.

In my opinion, Jan Brichacek (2nd generation) was very successful man, who managed to

1. run his business very well,
2. to assure the future of his 3 (living) sons
3. engage in public affairs of New Knin

Our Family from England

James Hollway SNR 1726-1772 married Bridget Hollway 1718 -1764 in 1786 with whom he had 5 children including James Hollway Jnr and John Palmer Hollway. Later James Snr married Susannah 1733-1783 (both James and Bridge are buried Barking All Hallows). They had 3 more children.

James Hollway JNR married Rebecca Hollingsworth (b1765- St Clement Danes) in 1786 23^rd September St Andrews Holborne

(It’s worth mentioning that John Palmer Hollway his brother was a distinguished lawyer who practised in Lincolnshire and his son John Hardwick Hollway owned quite a lot of property including a property, Gunby Park near Gunby Hall now in the hands of the National Trust in Lincolnshire.

John Hardwick Hollway, John P’s son also practised in the law and was a friend of the poet laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson. His daughter Marion married John Thomas Abney (an aristocratic family who appear in The Peerage)

I have not managed to find out any information as to what business James Hollway JNR was in. He was the elder brother of JPH so should have inherited from his father. He did however die quite young.

He and Rebecca Hollingsworth had 2 surviving children, one daughter was still born:

Caroline Mary born St John’s Hackney in 1788-1850 and

John Hollingsworth Hollway born and baptised St John’s Hackney 1790 – 1868 and who married Eliza Clarke.1784-1869

According to Peter Longstaff member no.2513 of (Orkneyfhs.co.uk) in his entertaining article, Oman Story they may have eloped to Madeira as she was married to somebody else. She was a little older than JHH. There is no record of their marriage. However there is a marriage recorded between George Vivares and Eliza Ann Clark on 9^th July 1811 at St James’

I am still unclear as to when John Hollingsworth and Eliza arrived in Madeira and why. Eliza Ann their first child was born in 1812 in Madeira. 1811 was the year that Blandy’s started their wine business

John and Eliza opened a Boarding House at 16 Rua Aljube in Funchal . This is opposite the cathedral though the number no longer exists. I have photos of the street and there is an Airbnb type place around there still. This was pretty central just a short walk from where the boats would have docked.

They then acquired or built another property in Caminho de Meio . This was built between 1825-30. It seems to have had a number of different names Quinta Hollway, Mount Pleasant and Quinta Elisabeth. Majorie Hoare’s 2004 book published in Funchal The Quintas of Madeira may hold a clue to its history. The Orkney FHS article says it was eventually sold to Elisabeth Archduchess of Austria as a holiday home ( she of Mayerling fame – a kind of Princess Diana of her time. Clearly a glamourous association if it were true.) I can find no evidence of this except in an article in Portugese which does suggest that Quinta Elisabeth was formerly Hollway. It no longer exists. Phil Johnson has posted a piece (no sources named) saying it fell into disrepair and was sold to a Mr Randall. New properties have now been built on the site.

The best source I have found about of Quinta Hollway is in the writings of Sir Richard Burton the nineteenth century explorer To the Gold Coast for Gold 1881 Chapter 3 A Fortnight in Madeira and Wanderings in West Africa p28. It does give the impression that the Hollways were not quite in the league of the Reids (famous for their hotel which is still operating though it was sold to the Blandys who then have sold it on again) or the Blandy family who still are the foremost Madeira wine people. They would obviously have known them very well.

The Invalid’s Guide to Madeira 1840 also makes mention of Mr Hollway’s Boarding House and I have found a drawing of Funchal from Quinta Hollway in a book by Lady Susan Vernon Harcourt.

Sir Richard Burton writes about there was also a summer Quinta on the way to Camacha.

John Hollingsworth did very well but it was his second youngest son Edward Findlay who expanded the business and started the pineapple business. According to Sir Richard Burton, ’Mr E Hollway has converted Mount Pleasant his father’s house and grounds on the Caminho do meio into one huge pinery.’ ‘They were 20lbs but the market prefers 8ilbs They were exported to Covent Garden and fetched high prices.

Repository.utl.pt site has pictures of the Quinta Hollway/ Elizabeth Fig 103 and references on pp 206 and 271- this is worth wading through the Portugese book for!

John and Eliza had had several children, most of which were born in Madeira:-

Eliza Anne 1812-84 who married James Lamb of Calcutta an indigo farmer. This is Peter Longstaff’s ancestor and his article is very entertaining.

William 1814-1865

Caroline 1817- 1886

Emily 1818-1891

John Alexander 1819-1823

Harriet Jennett 1821

Henry Leadbetter b.Lambeth 1823-1868 (David Roberts and Phil Johnston’s line)

Harriet 1825

Frederick Hughes b.Westmister 1826-1918

Edward Findlay 1828-1891 father of Harriet Jennett b 1860 -1867 she died at 7 years buried with grandparents, who died after her death in Funchal. Also the father of Frederick Stalker 1857-1892 buried in graveyard in Funchal as is his father Edward Findlay

( I have photographs of their three graves)

Stanley Snell 1832-1887 ( Andrew Hollway Lloyd’s line) the youngest.

John and Eliza are buried in Funchal I have a picture of their graves and strangely well preserved headstone. There is a will in place but I have not paid to see it.

Stanley Snell the youngest of JHH’s children married Mary.

He did military service 1853-1857 and became a master mariner and ship’s captain and lived for some time in Callao, the port for Lima in Peru. His first two sons were born there Stanley John in 1865 and Walter, Dora was later born in Stoke Newington and Herbert.

Stanley John went on to marry Emmeline from Holborne and is listed as a Commercial traveller living in Hoylake in 1901 census when his son Ralph Hollway, Andrew’s grandfather, is 5.