The Story of John James Brentnall

John James Brentnall was born in
Springfield New Brunswick in the
county of Kings in possibly 1845
to John M.L. and Sarah Wilson Brentnall.
In the census of 1871 he is listed
as a farmer/ shoemaker in the same town as his parents.
His wife is listed as Elizabeth even though
she is Almira Elizabeth Hamm.
This is the life of John James Brentnall,
,my great grandfather's brother,
and told through pedigree diagram
and story.

"The Brentnall Family listed in New Brunswick Census of 1900"

Brentnall John J. Head M May 1861 50
Brentnall Gertrude Wife M Jul 1880 30
Brentnall Annie Dau S Apr 1902 8
Brentnall Gladis Dau S Jul 1904 6
Brentnall William Son S Nov 1905 5
Brentnall Robert Son S Nov 1908 2

     "John James Brentnall and Almira Elizabeth Hamm"

John James Brentnall and Alvira Elizabeth Hamm were married in Springfield New Brunswick in the Year of our Lord (LOL) Eighteen hundred and seventy one. Listed in the same town is John's father John M.L. Brentnall who immigrated here in 1841 from Nottinghamshire with his brother Samuel E Brentnall. Living in the same abode with John M.L. is a daughter Sarah now 15 and a step daughter Maria Jane Wilson. Maria Jane is the daughter of John's wife Sarah who was a widow in 1841 before their marriage. To date it is not known if Wilson is Sarah's maiden name widowed name or other.


Their first child of John James Brentnall and Alvira is Ruth born in 1871 in New Brunswick and possibly Springfield. In 1881 they are listed on US census in the town of Chelsea Suffolk County in the state of Massachusetts. They live in Chelsea til at least 1890 when Lester, the fourth child, dies..maybe even later.

In 1900 John James marries Helena Gertrude Perry in Saint John New Brunswick so we now know that Alvira has died and he is a widower and she a spinster. He is listed as 49 years of age and she 19. Shame on you Great Uncle John!

John James died sometime between 1911-1918 because he is listed on the 1911 Census report as a resident of Saint John County N.B. and Helena marries Warren Herbert Sears in 1918.

But then I found out………………………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Warren Herbert Sears was married to Helena's younger sister Alva Agatha Perry born 1885. By the time Alva died of consumption in 1915 she had bore 3 children with Herbert Warren Sears:
Robert 1907, Maude 1908, and Arthur 1909.

…and then!


Helena G. Perry Brentnall marries Warren Herbert Sears in Saint John New Brunswick on March 18 1918 in Saint John. I had an email many moons ago from another genealogist about the strange circumstances surrounding Helena and Herbert Sears. Wonder now if this is what they meant!

Helena Gertrude Perry died in Calais Maine in 1946 but for some strange reason is buried in New Brunswick not terribly far from Warren Herbert Sears who died at and is buried in Milltown New Brunswick.



- Roderick Brentnall
Toronto