Brereton Family - was it in the genes?

By Rosemary Jewers nee Brereton

This first family tree charts the Brereton family from early times. In the tree below it splits into three separate parts. These lines descend to three present-day celebrity descendants of the Brereton family of Brinton, Norfolk.

Some of the information and research has been taken from John Lancelot Brereton's family tree, Robert Maitland Brereton's book - 'The Breretons of Cheshire'. Other information has come from research undertaken by my grandfather, Philip Brereton and from Charles Brereton's work. Research is also taken from my own investigations into the Sharpe, Roger and Paul families. I was able to make all the connections to the three talented celebrities. On the tree that follows, I mention that Charles David Brereton was the brother of William John; this is where the Little Massingham line splits from this tree.

Please scroll down to the end of this first pdf, this will reveal just where this family tree ends. After you have done this, you can go on to view the other information and family trees on this page. These  highlight other family connections in more detail. The Sharpe family had a connection to Thomas Hardy.

The Sharpe family tree (which features Jeremy Irons) gives more detail of the family and the connection to Thomas Hardy. A few years ago I was alerted to the Thomas Hardy connection and the Sharpe family by my cousin, Michael Sandford. After more research I found that John Brereton Sharpe and his family were to settle in Ontario, Canada - as had other members of the Norfolk, Brereton family.

The Simplified 'Brereton Canadian Connection Tree' shows the connections to the Norfolk, Brereton family who were living in Ontario, Canada. This tree also shows the Paul family. Henry Paul, distant cousin of the Canadian/Norfolk Breretons was also living in Ontario, Canada. The connection to Ann Copland nee Brereton and Cloudesly Brereton and Randle Brereton and Sarah Barwick are shown on this simplified tree. Not shown, is that John Brereton Sharpe settled in Ontario, Canada.

                                                                                                                                                           

Now you have arrived at the end of this page, you will already know who the three celebrities are and how musicians, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac and actor, Jeremy Irons are connected to the Norfolk Brereton line. It would be interesting to know how many more could be descended from the Brereton family of Brinton, Norfolk, and the family line which links back to Cheshire and beyond!
© Rosemary Jewers 2017

If you have enjoyed reading this article you might consider donating to www.fosalm.org which will help restore St Andrew's Church Little Massingham. This church has been very important to the Brereton family.