Hi all, This maybe of general interest on the Brinson's. The family are as you will read are of noble origin being descended from one of the largest landholders in the Doomesday Book Robert de Eu who was Count of Eu.Robert was a cousin of William the Conqueror. Most of his land's were in the south of England the largest in Sussex. The family didn't come from Briencun (Brienson) but owned the land there or I should say the count of Eu owned it. Eu is on the northern French coast & pronounced Ugh, I think. A Dictionary of British Surnames; Dr P.H. Reaney. Brimson, Brinson, Brenston: John de Brinzun 1240 FFEss; Joan de Bryaunesoun, Bartholomew Brinsun 1274 RH (Ess) This family came from Briencun (Normandy) and left it's name in Brimstone Hill in Little Wakering, (Essex) Breaunsons 1419, Brernsons, Bramsons 1553. New Hall in Purleigh was formerly called from them ; Brymshams 1527, Bremstones 1537, Brempsons 1554 (PN Ess 204, 233). The surname may have also have contributed to Bramson, Branson, Branston. The Place Names of Essex. Rochford Hundred. Little Wakering BRIMSTONE HILL (6 ) is Breatmsons 1419 MinAcct, Bremsons, Bramsons 1549, Brendston Fee I553 Pat. A manorial name deriving from the family of John de Brinzun (I240 FF) Joan de Bryaunesoun (I297 FF), which came originally from Briencun Normandy). Cf. New Hall tnfra 223. Place Names of Essex. Dengie Hundred. Purleigh. NEW HALL is Brymshams alias Newhall I527 EAS vii, Newhall alias Brempstones I537 FF, (otherwyse Bremsons) 1547 HarlR, (modo voc Brempsons) 1554 Ct, and formerly belonged to Giles de Bryaunzoun (1317 FF). Cf. Brimstone Hill supra 204. The Victoria History Of the County Of Essex: vol. VIII, page 59, West Thurrock. MANORS. Domesday Book lists 7 separate estates in Thurrock. One held by the bishop of London, was in Little Thurrock. Another held by William Peverel, was in Grays Thurrock. The largest, held by the count of Eu, became the manor of West Thurrock. Three estates held by Odo, bishop of Bayeux, & one held by Terry Pointell, cannot be certainly identified. They were probably not in West Thurrock, unless one of them can be identified with the latter tenement of Mitchell’s. The manor of West Thurrock or West Hall seems to originally to have comprised most of the parish, but was gradually reduced in size by the formation of later manors. It was held in 1066 by Earl, later King Harold as 13 hides & in 1086 by Robert, count of Eu, in demesne. The tenancy in chief descended with the honour of Hastings. The demesne tenancy was held from the 12th to 14th century by the family of Brinson (de Breaunzon, Brianzun), who were descended from the count’s of EU. In 1198 the manor was granted to Bartholomew Brinson as part of a family settlement in which Walter de Cambrun & his wife received lands in France formerly held by Thomas Brinson, son of Robert of Eu. Robert was the brother of Henry of Eu (d 1140), count of Eu. About 1210 Bartholomew Brinson was holding a knight’s fee in West Thurrock. He had died by 1212, leaving an heir under age. A later Bartholomew Brinson was holding the manor in 1262 & 1268. He or a namesake, died in 1286, leaving William Brinson, his infant son & heir. The wardship of William, after passing through several hands, was acquired in 1291 by Walter Langton, rector of West Thurrock, later treasurer of England & bishop of Litchfield. In the following years Langton was closely associated with the Brinson’s in both West Thurrock & Aveley. William Brinson came of age c 1305, & died holding the two manors in 1310. West Thurrock descended with Aveley until the death of Joan Brinson in 1339. It then passed separately, by a settlement of 1314, to Sir William Walton (Wauton). The Victoria History Of The County of Essex . vol 8. (various) A weekly market was granted in 1207 to John de Bassingbourne as guardian of the lord of the manor BARTHOLOMEW de BRINZUN. An annual fair , for 3 days at Michaelmas was granted to BARTHOLOMEW de BRINZUN lord of Avely manor in 1286. Avely church dates back from the 12 century. The advowson was held by the lords of Avely manor until 1314 , when JOHN de BRIANSOUN granted it to Lesnes Abbey (Kent) Victoria History of the County of Essex: vol. VIII, page 5, Aveley. The manor of Aveley comprised most of the Southern half of the parish. It was held in 1066 by Sweyn, as 3 & a half hides. Another half hide, held by Ulsi, a free man, was later added by Waleran son of Ranulf, whose son John was holding the manor in demesne in 1086.The manor appears to have descended like that of Fyfield until the death of Stephen de Langton, which occurred in 1261. Stephen’s heir at Aveley was his kinsman William de Staundon, who was then under age & had died by 1272. In 1286 Bartholomew Brinson (de Breaunzon, Brianzun) died holding the manor in right of his wife Joan. Joan later married Sir John de Lovetot. She & Lovetot became closely associated with Walter Langton, treasurer of England & bishop of Litchfield, who was also rector of West Thurrock, & had custody of Joan’s infant son William Brinson. In 1303 Langton was acquitted of adultery with Joan, & of joining with her to murder Lovetot. In 1305, after her death, William Brinson granted Langton a two year lease of the manor of Aveley, rent free, to pay off a loan made long before by Langton to Lovetot. Brinson, who came of age c. 1305, died holding Aveley in 1310. He was succeeded by his brother John (d.1316) who left a son & heir (Sir) John Brinson (d.1338). Sir John Brinson’s posthumous daughter & heir Joan died in 1339. She was succeeded by a kinsman, William, son of Sweetman of Aveley who in the same year sold the manor to Sir Thomas de Bradeston. The Victoria History of The County of Essex vol. 8. (Causeway) Cauce, Causie' ,or Avely bridge over the Mordyke between Avely and West Thurock was mentioned in 1364 when it was said to have been built by WILLIAM BRINSON in the reign of Edward II, to improve communication between his manors at Avely & West Thurock. The History and Antiquities of The County of Essex Volume 1 Rev Philip Morant. page #347 GILES de BREANSON purchased the manor of Barons. For at the time of his decease in 1363 he held 1 messuage & 1 carucate of land in Purle, of the Bishop of Norwich , paying 21 d to the said bishop, every 30 weeks for his castle guard at Norwich. ......... JOHN son of JOHN & grandson of ROBERT, brother of the said GILES was his next heir. (S) inquisitions 23 Edward III page #363 Cricksey 1320 JOHN de BRIANZON held of John de Chancceux 20 acres of land called Crickfeth which had been William le Smith's by service of 4s a year. page #77 JOHN brother of WILLIAM BRIANSOUN held Aveley. Fyfhide Terling Hall, Leieh, West Thurok. Thorndon. Page #315 The manor of Scotty's This according to Weaver was once called BREMSTONS , probably BRIANCON from the ancient family of BRIANZON. The Victoria History of The County of Essex vol. 8. (Causeway) Cauce, Causie' ,or Avely bridge over the Mordyke between Avely and West Thurock was mentioned in 1364 when it was said to have been built by WILLIAM BRINSON in the reign of Edward II, to improve communication between his manors at Avely & West Thurock. Calendar of Wills London 1281 Monday next after the feast of St Luke Evangelist (18 October) BREANSUN (BARTHOLOMEW de) knight. To William de Gravele clerk, all his houses within Crepelgate. No date Roll 12( 116) The Parish Church of All Saints, Purleigh, Essex. A short guide by the Rev. Henry Bettenson. Extracts from the guide. The Aisles. The North Arcade has stumpy octagonal columns with moulded capitals & slightly moulded bases; arches of two chamfered orders. The material is clunch- a hard chalk. On the east respond & the opposite column is carved shields bearing the arms of the Brianson family, (gyrony of twelve pieces with a bend over all). The Brianson’s were principal land owners in Purleigh in the 14th century, & they were presumably concerned in the building of the new church. These shields, & the capitals above, have cut into; & there is a similar slot in the North side of the capitol of the column. these slots were evidently cut to receive parclose screens forming a chapel at this end of the aisle: The arms of Giles de Breanson (Brianzon, Brianson) are displayed in stained glass to the left of the door. It was erected in 1947. A girony of 12 argent & azure a bend over all gules. Complete Peerage. EU vol. 5. Page # 155. (Transcribed from Latin) (I). In the year of our Lords incarnation 1101. HENRY Count of EU. and son of Count WILLIAM, came to Ultesisportus and confirmed whatsoever his father WILLIAM or his predecessors at the church of St Michael of Ultesisportu had granted or confirmed. This was also confirmed by Countess MARGARET and ROBERT , WILLIAM the elder & WILLIAM the younger the brothers of the afore-mentioned count. II. THOMAS de BRIENCHUN son of ROBERT de EU" confirmed to Bermondsey Priory the land of (Westridgefields in Doddinghurst, Essex), which his father had given, and III. JOHN, Count of EU,confirmed this land , "As .ROBERT de EU my uncle (father's brother) and THOMAS, son of the said ROBERT. had granted it. "Extracts from Bermondsey Cartulary" IV. I JOHN Count of EU , of the Church of St Mary and John of the Fountain of Theodore confirm what my father HENRY and my mother MARGARET previously granted and confirmed ....By the gift of ROBERT de EU my uncle two disused salt pits at BRIENCHON.. "Cartularv of the Comte of Eu. V. HENRY, Count of EU, confirmed to Lewes Priory four hospites that WI1LIAM his brother (then deceased) had given, and confirmed the donation of WILLIAM de EU his uncle (mothers brother). "Cartulary of Lewes". BRIENCHUN is BREANCON, arrond Pontoise canton Marines. The above is how to find Breancon arrond =arrondisment which is an area I beleive a canton is a smaller area. I found it on a Michelin Map. The Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England) Essex SE Purleigh . All Saints Church. The Nave 47ft by 24ft has an early 14th Century North arcade of three bays with two centred arches of two chamfered orders , the octagonal columns have moulded capitals and bases and the responds have attached half columns. Below the capitals of the East respond and the Easternmost Pier are carved shields of the arms of BRIANZON- gyrony of twelve pieces with a bend over all, both mutilated. I have enlosed a TIFF image of the carving if you cannot view it I will convert to a JPEG. Cheers for now. David Brimson, Oxford, England