BRABAZON REUNION 2009

Hosted by Betty Brabazon Chapman and daughter Sarah Chapman

We attended the 113 year old "Daddy of 'em All" Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade and Rodeo, toured the fairgrounds and Indian Village, the exhibit halls, the Old West Museum and Art Gallery, and attended the Pancake Breakfast at the Depot Plaza (along with 10,000 other people).  The service was amazingly fast and the food was good!  We toured the Terry Bison Ranch by rail car and later feasted on Buffalo burgers.  Some folks also camped (parked trailers or rented cabins) at the Terry Bison Ranch where we had a meeting room for getting together and visiting.  The entire Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration is run by volunteers and it seems to always go off without a hitch every year.  We had a good time.  It was fun and with a small group, it was easier to get together and visit.

Photo in Old Fashioned Attire:
Left to Right - AJ Brabazon and wife Shirley (with purple boa), Dennis Stauffer and wife Mary (in red), Mike Chapman (my husband in red sumbrero), our daughter Sarah Chapman holding baby Sterling, Sarah's husband Jason Delo (with gun)
Front - Tyler's son Kagen Chapman (winking), our son Tyler Chapman (in brown hat), Tyler's daughter Katie Chapman (in pink and red), Betty Brabazon Chapman (in purple and black)

By Betty Chapman

BRABAZON REUNION 2007

The 2007 Reunion was organized by Chris & Carol Brabazon in the USA:

“The Carnival Fun Ship "GLORY" is the ocean liner that we held the 2007 Brabazon Family Reunion aboard.  It was built in Italy in the year 2003 and with it only being in use by Carnival for four years it appeared to be brand new, as everything was just superb!  Departing from Florida, we called at Conzumel, Freeport-Bahamas, Honduras and Belize.  We had families represented from New Zealand, Australia, and several States within the United States (Florida, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Kansas, Michigan, Georgia) just to mention a few.”

BRABAZON REUNION 2003

From Ann Shevill’s Diary 2003:

The Brabazon Family Reunion 2003 was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended - more than seventy personalities from Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, UK and Ireland. Visitors lived in and about Dublin or were temporarily accommodated in or near Bray in County Wicklow just south of Dublin.
Our gracious and generous hosts were the Earl and Countess of Meath - Jack and Xenia Brabazon, ably supported by their family. They had arranged a splendid weekend programme; which on Saturday 13th September centered on their home Killruddery House and the Estate gardens and farm. Elizabeth, Lady Meath (Grannie Betty) seemed to be chatting happily to visitors all day and into the night. Also, who could ever forget little doll Bridget Brabazon, favourite with the seven other energetic girls, or Big little boy Barney Brabazon
Michael Brabazon's address on the History of the Family from 1066 was thoroughly researched and well received at the commencement of the day. Everyone was kept busy touring the House and the historic very extensive Gardens, enjoying an hilarious hay-ride courtesy of David Brabazon to see splendid views from sea to farm on the high slopes of Small Sugar Loaf Mountain, having fun assembling for the group photo, and enjoying ever ready refreshments. Most people even fitted in visits to Christ Church, Bray to see the many Brabazon memorials there, and to the Bray Town Hall, which was built in 1882 as a gift to the town by the 12th Earl of Meath. A small coach was available to transport us between venues both by day and night
On Sunday 14th September we joined a large coach and much enjoyed Finola Finlay's informative commentary about County Wicklow, and visits to Wicklow Historic Gaol and Glendalough Monastery - excellent tourist venues. Warm sun shone on us as we ate our provided picnic lunch on the lush lawns.
The Gala Dinner held on the Saturday night in the magnificent Killruddery Orangery was a very memorable occasion. A touch popular with young and old just before the conclusion was a small group of delightful children entertaining us with Irish dancing. Serena Brabazon also charmed us with her violin playing.
Jack took the opportunity to thank those whose recent contributions had been exceptional - Michael for his splendid History address and his work to develop the web site, Shauna for her tremendous effort to create the Ultimate Brabazon Family Tree, and Finola for her excellent commentary on the Wicklow coach tour.
For me [Ann Shevill] there was the surprise presentation of a handsome heirloom, an engraved silver salver.

BRABAZON REUNION 1993

From the Dublin 'Evening Press' 14 September 1993:

They came from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, America, Britain and from the length and breadth of Ireland. The Worldwide Reunion of people named Brabazon was held in Bray, Co Wicklow and Swinford, Co Mayo, during late August.  Among the Receptions was one hosted by Lord and Lady Meath and their family, heads of the Brabazon Family, hosts at Killruddery House.  The youngest participant was Connor Brabazon, aged six weeks.  The Brabazon family first came to Ireland from England in the 16th century, settling around Dublin and the Galway/Mayo areas.

Sir William Brabazon – From England to Ireland

Extracted from a talk given by Michael Brabazon at the family Reunion – September 2003

The Tudor Conquest of Ireland and the transplantation of the Brabazons to the new realm - like the move from Betchworth - has greater meaning than simply a change of scenery. Sir William Brabazon - sent to Dublin by Henry VIII in 1534 as part of the new Irish Establishment - left his community in Leicestershire, and like his antecedent Jacques, displayed all the qualities of a fierce and able warrior, but without regard to the national community of which his descendants would become a very integral part.

From his grandfather fighting against the Tudors, William became one of their greatest supporters. He must have been very much a favourite of Henry VIII as he excelled at jousting, being one of the main English contestants at the historic meeting between Henry and Frances I of France at the so-called Field of the Cloth of Gold near to Calais. The name was drawn from the appearance of so many gold covered tents housing the assembled Courts. The king liked to surround himself with young knights who were intended to revivify the spirit of Arthurian Albion. Who better then to champion Henry in Ireland than William - like Jacques, a standard bearer for a conquering king? To add, there may have been a further reason; that of existing Irish land ownership. There are a handful of pre Tudor references to names like Brabazon occurring in Ireland, one such record is for a John Brabesoun in Ardee in the year 1362. There is a John Brabazon at Eastwell at this time – is it the same person? The reason I pick on this reference is the co-incidence of the name with the town of Ardee. We are all aware, I assume, that the title of Baron Ardee preceded that of the Earldom of Meath by one generation – but why Ardee when, to my knowledge the acquisition of property by Sir William was principally in Dublin and its environs? Is this pointing to a more ancient connection to Ireland than we assume? I leave the question necessarily open but would be most interested if anyone is able to elucidate.

Hercules Brabazon Brabazon (Sharpe) 1821-1906

Hercules Brabazon Brabazon 1821-1906 was born Hercules Brabazon Sharpe, the nephew of Sir William Brabazon Bart. of Brabazon Park, Swinford, Co Mayo, Ireland. He inherited the Brabazon estates on the death of his elder brother William in 1847 and the Sharpe estates on the death of his father in 1858. HBB's main residence was Oaklands, Sedlescombe, Surrey, leaving his nephew Harvey Combe to manage the Irish property. He also had an apartment in Morpeth Terrace, just behind what is now Westminster Cathedral (RC).

He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge where he studied mathematics and later entered the legal profession. However, with his inherited wealth he could afford to travel widely, capturing the scenery in his impressionistic watercolours.
His social circle encompassed many of the leading names in the music and painting world, including Liszt and John Singer Sargent. Brabazon was a leading member of the New English Art Club, holding his first one-man exhibition at the age of 71. He was much praised by Ruskin and Sir Federick Wedmore wrote of him, "a country gentleman, who at seventy years old made his debut as a professional artist, and straightway became famous".
He was unmarried and left his estates to his nephew Harvey Combe of Oaklands. The Combe lineage, although no longer at their country seat, has continued to the present day. Eileen (Combe) Barber was the last of the family to live at Sedlescombe and she has a daughter Robin Brabazon Wells and two grandsons, Robert and Patrick

Read More...

Do Pigs fly?

Lord Brabazon answers the question, back in 1909!

Read all the details here - http://www.porkopolis.org/2008/first-pig-to-fly/

Image via Porkopolis