My Great Grandmother Charlotte Nevelia Brett Burrell

Charlotte Nevelia Brett Burrell

Compiled and Edited by W. Craig Burrell

Key Points

Born: 13 July 1844

Parents: James Charles Burrell and Lucy Murrell

Spouse and Marriage: Alfred Jesse Burrell, 15 December 1866

Death: 8 Nov 1917

            Charlotte Nevelia Brett was born on 13 July 1844 to John Brett (1815) and Sarah Clark (1815) in Norwich, Norfolk, England.

            Her father supported his large family working as a chair maker. Charlotte had 8 siblings: William (1835), John Walter (1839), Johnathan Thomas (1841), Maria (1847), Eliza (1849), Robert (1851), Sarah (1853) and Maria (1855).

            Charlotte was a small attractive girl with dark eyes and dark hair. She had a lovely singing voice and a gentle temperament. She loved animals and flowers. At the age of 22 she married Alfred Jesse Burrell. They were a very compatible, attractive young couple. Their first child was Alice Maria (2 Jan 1868). They were blessed with a baby boy they named Alfred on 26 Feb 1870. However, he only lived for two days. On 30 Jun 1871 they had another baby boy. As was often done in those days, they also named him Alfred. He grew up to be Alfred Burrell Jr., my grandfather.

            Charlotte’s husband, who was not a robust man, contracted tuberculosis and died on 14 July 1872 leaving Charlotte with two young children to rear on her own. She was able to find work in a factory as a weaver to support her family. While she was working, her mother, Sarah Clarke Brett, took care of young Alfred and her mother-in-law, Lucy Murrell Burrell, cared for her daughter Alice. The two children were able to attend school until they were twelve years of age when it was necessary for them to go to work.

            My Uncle Herbert wrote about her second marriage, “When Charlotte was 41 years old she married William Brown, a quiet industrious man, easy to get along with, who helped to hold the family together as a unit. He was a good carpenter, and they rented a comfortable small home, one of a long terrace grouping known as Greenhills Road, in St. Augustine’s Norwich. They lived at number 5, and William Brown’s sister, Rose, who had married Dan Lubbuck, lived next door at number 3.”

            Herbert recorded a letter he received from Dan Lubbuck, William Brown’s nephew, who lived next store as a young man. “After my mother died, your grandmother, whom we used to call Aunt Charlotte endeared herself to us children… Aunt Charlotte promised us a farthing (one forth of a penny) each Saturday if we were good children. So, on Saturday morning the five of us would wait against the wooden dividing fence watching for the black beaded bonnet and red shawl to come out. (This was the customary dress in those days.) We only needed the wings to make us angels. Having secured our separate farthing we were gone.”

            Herbert described memories of his grandmother’s home. “Charlotte always maintained the little garden spot at the front of the house full of pansies of every color. In the rear garden she had flowers and vegetables; and a chicken coop with several inmates to keep her in eggs. There was some kind of a berry bush from which she made a tasty, non-alcoholic drink. It was used very sparingly and one never dared ask for more. Charlotte and her daughter Alice made excellent Yorkshire puddings, mincemeat pies, and fancy cakes trimmed with Jello edgings.  In 1907 she had an interesting calendar with a typical country home pictured on it entitled ‘Three Acres and a Cow’ which she carefully explained to me was the utopian dream for the average Englishman to bring country-wide prosperity. She always had a dog, a cat, chickens and a garden. This developed into some kind of a family custom. She crocheted or knitted most of the window curtains. The parlor was kept immaculate and off limits for me except on special occasions. There was an old style pedal organ and a revolving stool. (Herbert would twirl around on this stool if he was unsupervised.) The parlor was the hallowed resting place for the Brett Family Bible; full of hell-fire pictures and dramatic punishment for the ungodly people of the past. The one thing I redeemed from it was a photograph of the page listing grandmother’s parents, brothers and sisters and their birth dates.”

            Charlotte’s grandchildren referred to William Brown as Uncle Billy. He was 13 years younger than Charlotte and related well with Alfred’s children. He was a help to his step son, Alfred. The children remember how he helped their dad build a work shop behind their house on Vincent road. Alfred was very tender hearted and could not bring himself to kill the chickens and rabbits he raised. Uncle Billy often did this task for him.

            Billy was devoted to Charlotte. Doris Burrell St. Jeor wrote about an experience she had when she was eight years. It was after Charlotte died and Uncle Billy had visited Alfred and Emma’s home for dinner. After dinner he sat in the parlor and the only other one in the room was Doris who sat on the floor near the fire. Quietly Billy said, “I have lost my best pal,” as tears filled his eyes.

            The Mormon Missionaries began visiting with Charlotte and her daughter, Alice in 1896. The two ladies were taught by the missionaries for over a year. I can find no record that reveals what Uncle Billy thought of this. Nevertheless, Charlotte was the head of the house. Alfred was busy courting Emma Louisa Cogman at this time.

            One day while visiting Alfred’s family, Emma caught a conversation between Charlotte and Alice. Charlotte said, “That man has been here today and I wish you had been here.” 

            “I wish I had been here too.” Replied Alice.

            “I think they have the truth.” Charlotte stated.

            “I think they do have the true gospel.” Alice said.

            It was years later before Emma realized what they were talking about, but she never forgot the conversation.

            Alice Maria was baptized on 15 April 1898. The following fall on 30 September 1898 Charlotte was baptized. The testimonies of these two women were important influences on Alfred’s family as they investigated the church and were converted.

            Herbert talked about his grandmother as she grew old. “I recall that when I was about 14 or 15 years old, I occasionally walked with my grandmother, Charlotte from her home in St. Augustine’s down Magpie Road to catch the street car on a Sunday morning to attend our chapel services, which she loved to do. It was getting difficult for her to make the trip without stopping to catch her breath every once and a while. I just had to stand and wait a short time, which I could hardly understand, as I was ready to run to the car with no problem.”

            Charlotte died on 17 Nov 1917. They found her sitting peacefully at the kitchen table with an empty cup sitting in front of her.

Source notes: The material in this biography has been taken from diaries and other writings of Herbert Burrell and Doris Burrell St Jeor.