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I am researching William Brightmore 18 Feb 1865 – 23 May 1901, who I believe is my paternal 2nd Great Grandfather. He appears to have had a colourful history culminating in being found to have unlawfully killed his brother in law Charles Henry Shemield/Shemelds 1856-1897 (married to his sister – Clara Brightmore 1859-1915).
This followed a family argument on Sat 4 Sept 1897, at 17ct 2 house Martin Street, Sheffield, where a lit paraffin lamp had been thrown by Brightmore, which hit his brother in law Charles, his clothes caught fire severely burning him and he died on Mon 6 Sept 1897.
I have read a press cutting reporting the outcome of the Coroners court 16 Sept 1987 at Sheffield, where the finding was that William Brightmore had wilfully murdered Charles, 24 September 1897 he was remanded by the Sheffield City Police Court and committed for trial for murder to the Assizes Court.
10 Dec 1897 at Leeds Assizes Court of manslaughter (not murder) sentenced to 15 months hard labour – press cuttings report comments from the Judge that the lenient sentence was a result of a recommendation from the Jury to mercy, because of provocation.
Does anyone know of any possibilities of court or police records from this period being available.
His North Sheffield 1901 census entry indicates he may have been a Corporation Labourer, are there any corporation archives this could be looked at.
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Short answer, no – not that I am aware of, as far as I have been able to ascertain, he married a Mary Ellen Briggs, 1895 and they had 2 x children (1877 – 1937), Amelia Brightmore 1894 (also known as Briggs) and William Brightmore 1897 (not sure if he took another name too).
The liklihood of another child is low.
The murder occurred in 1897, at the time the press reported Williams evidence where he stated his wife was pregnant (probably with his son William). He was sentenced to 15 months hard labour – apparently the jury asked judge to show clemency. He was released in 1899, although 34, he probably wasn’t a healthy person due to service in the Army in India, and the numerous documented cases of hospitalisation with syphilis, and after a 15 month spell of hard labour in a late victorian prison he died in 1901.
After Williams death in 1901, Mary Ellen married a John Lowe, in 1902 having several more children by him.
My understanding is that Amelia was primarily brought up by her maternal grandmother Mary Jane Briggs, and married in 1911 17yrs. William (son) in 1911 was with his mother, as William Lowe, he according to family members moved away joining Lancashire Police.
Williams father Joesph moved to Sheffield from Derbyshire, and his father was called Francis. So Frank could be a family name given by a male sibling of William Brightmore 1865, I have a few William Brightmores in my tree, not necessarily researched, but no Mosforths.
Ill take a quick look tonight
Regards Paul
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