I understand that my ancester Ann Towers was cared for as a child by Martha Gunn. Ann who was born circa 1810 was reputed to be an illegitimate daughter of Lord Raglan. I wonder if there could be a record of this anywhere or if Martha was known to have looked after other people's children. She married James Hastings in Brighton in 1832.

Does anyone have details of Martha Gunn's children? What does B.L., middle names of Elizabeth and Thomas Gunn, stand for - on Martha Gunn's gravestone in St Nicholas's churchyard?

My paternal grandmother was supposedly a descendant of Martha Gunn. Her name was Sarah Green and, as children, we always understood that she was Martha's grand-daughter. She married a Peachey (hence my maiden name) but I would dearly like to find out whether or not Martha is indeed my great great grandmother.

I believe I may be related to Martha Gunn. My mother is Shirley Todd (nee Gunn) and her mother was Ellen Gunn. I believe I am also related to Harriett Gunn, the flower lady.

Martha Gunn had many children so there are many descendants (including me) as my Grandmother was a Gunn. There is a huge family still in Brighton with many branches of the Gunns (one being the florists). It would be interesting to see where the Gunns originally came from as I have been told that it is a swedish or Norwegian name and they were fisher folk who settled in the small villages along the Sussex coast (i.e. Brighthelmstone). I know my mothers family were deep sea fishermen from way back.

My paternal grandmother was a great grand-daughter of Martha Gunn. Her name was Gladys Gunn. She married Ralph Otway and had two children, one being my mother.

I have evidence stretching back to the early 19th century that the Gunn family married into the Andrew family (both fishing families of Brighton).  Martha Gunn born 1805, is my maternal great, great, great grandmother.

The mother of Stephen Gunn, Martha's husband, was Abigail Brapple. Three of Martha's children, Thomas, William and Elizabeth, were given the middle name of Brapple. Abigail Brapple was my 6th great grandmother.

My great great grandfather John Gunn was a Brighton fisherman, he was well over 6ft tall. My family said he was Martha Gunn's great-grand son. His daughter Ellen Gunn born 1906 married Harold Foulkes. Census documents show many John Gunns living in Brighton in the 19th century. Does anyone know John Gunns parents names? He was born around 1875. Thanks.

My husband's grandad was a Rolf who we believe was related to the Gunn family. His name was James David Rolf of Market Street Brighton. He was a fishmonger and had a stall on the seafront.

My grandfather was John Gunn, born in Brighton in 1874. He married Lucy Ann Hunt (born Brighton,1875). They married in 1894.

I'm descended from William and Emma (nee Barker) Gunn. They had two children William and Anna Maria (born 1839). They appear to have always been in Brighton. I understand William's mother was Ann Heryet. Anna Maria went to Australia in 1857. William married Mary Ann Harris and stayed in Brighton. Is anyone else connected to this family?

I would like to know how Martha's four children died at such an early age (from 13 to 37).
Thank you.

When looking at some of my family history a Martha Gunn witnessed a wedding between William Goble and Sarah Harman 17 /09 /1859 at St Nicholas' Church. Were any of her decendants called Martha? or did my ancestors not have a witness to their wedding and therefore picked a name off a gravestone as the wedding took place after the death of Matha Gunn? Can anyone help?

I would love to know more about The Gunn Family marrying into the Andrew Family.  I'm From the Andrew family and My girlfriend Is from the Gunn Family. My grandfather was Stephen Andrew and my Great Grandfather was William Andrew;  Martha Gunn was relaited to My girlfriend, who still is a Gunn. Please contact me at aaronsimmons90@hotmail.com  if you have any information.

Have been tracing my family for years, and i believe that my 5 x Grandfather, Reuben Cobby Humphrey married a Martha Gunn in 1779, I think she was a niece of the Martha Gunn. There are so many of the Gunn family still in Brighton.

I would love to hear from Pam Long - her husband's grandfather was my grandmother's brother. Her name was Mary Ann Rolfe, daughter of James Benjamin and Eliza Ruth Rolfe. I have recently completed a family tree. I believe that James David was in partnership with a member of the Gunn family and they owned a race horse which I believe was called Little Doon.

I have been tracing the GUNN family and their related families for over 25 years and have a large database of names and dates.
My ancestors were also William GOBLE and Sarah HARMAN. She is a descendent of Nathaniel GUNN, brother in law to Martha, who was born Martha KILLICK. I have 10 Martha GUNN's on my database. If you wish to contact me for further info deemck@xtra.co.nz

According to my great great grandfather's (Richard Harman) death certificate the informant was a 'J.Gunn, grandson'. This is not the only connection between the Harmans and the Gunns in the 18th Century. This is not that odd when you realise that both families had been involved in the fishing industry in the Brighton area for possibly two hundred years.

I seem to be part of the great Brighton Gunn clan too! My great grandmother was descendant of Martha Gunn from Brighton and married a Scotsman from Fort William called McRae. (His brother had a tailor's shop in Brighton, if I remember rightly). Not sure if that means anything to anyone. Isn't there a pub named after Martha in Brighton?

My familiy name is Gobal and I have a suspicion that William Gobal is my great great grandfather. Does anyone know anymore about the marriage between Sarah Harman and William Gobal?

I too am researching the Gunn family and Martha Gunn, as my cousin has an original oil painting of Martha Gunn and is a direct descendent. Any specific help prior to 1750s would be appreciated.

I would like to know more about The Gunn Family marrying into the Miles Family.
John Mlies
Parents John Miles and Abigail Gunn
pinto2smith@aol.com

My line of descent is from a number of Brighton fishing familes, including Jasper, Miles, Short and Patching. Other associated names are GEARING, MARTIN, FOORD, SPEED, LOCK, DUDDEN, DEAN and WASHER. One of my Brighton lines comes from Steven GUNN who married Elizabeth BRADFORD. Their son Nathanial GUNN married Abigail BRAPLE. Their daughter Abigail married John MILES. My question is where does Martha GUNN fit in?

Nathaniel Gunn who married Abigail Brapple had a son called Steven Gunn. He married Martha Killick and she therefore became Martha Gunn(1726-1815).She also had a grandaughter, by her son William Gunn (1770-1838), named Martha Gunn(1805) who married John Andrew(1803-1881).Thence the connection between the Gunns and the Andrew Family.

My name is Robert Gunn.  My great great great grandmother was Martha.  My father, Robert Frederick Gunn, and his father were fishmongers on Sidney Street.  Martha Gunn also ran a fish shop on West Street I believe.

My great grandmother was the last 'Gunn' in our family, Annie Gunn, becoming a Temple afterwards. Her grandmother was the dipper, Martha Gunn. Looking at the paintings/photos of the family, there is certainly no dispute that there is the same blood running through my family, all tend to be 'large rotund' women.

I was interested to read Sally's comments (8/8/07). My grandfather was Alexander John Macrae, the tailor/draper mentioned. Duncan Macrae, also a draper, married Maude Marian Gunn on 20 May 1897 at PrestonParishChurch, Brighton. She was the daughter of Albert William Gunn, carpenter (all this from the marriage certificate). Does anyone have any information re the Macrae brothers because they married on the same day but appear to have wed in different churches. Alexander married in St Saviours, Preston .

Lisa Felix, you asked for info of a wedding between William Goble and Sarah Harman (my gandparents), witnessed by Martha Gunn. I have their wedding portrait.

Antonia Pasco nee Goble, you are my cousin. My Name was then Pauline Browne. You lived in Chapel
Street off Edward Street.

I am researching details of my great grandfather Richard (Scotty) Gunn (1862-1930) fisherman, member of the lifeboat crew and a renowned prizefighter in Sussex. He had 3 brothers: George 1860-, John 1865-, Thomas 1869-, and a sister Catherine 1871-. His parents were George Gunn 1838-1876 and Catherine 1839-1919 (nee Harman).  I am also involved with the Clan Gunn Society but fear the Brighton Gunn's link with Scotland/Norway is some way back!

Grace Gunn, who was Martha's sister, was my g, g, g, g, grandmother. At least I assume this was the same one as she too was born in Brighton around this time. Her father's name was Nathaniel Gunn and her mother was Ann Bridger.

I am related to the famous Martha Gunn, my nan's name is kathreen Grace Gunn, her mums name was Alice Gunn. My nan married a Williams and had my mother June Grace Williams, this would make Martha Gunn my 3 great grandmother or so, I am trying to set up a family tree. Any advice on going about it would be helpfull.

Re Liza Switzer'somments; Gladys Otway was my father's sister - could there be a connection here?  My date of birth is 17.01.40 my father' name was Enest Gnn.

I have just found out that Martha Gunn was my dad's great great grandmother, my dad's name was Richard Victor (Dicky) Gunn. One of our relatives was called Emmi Gunn, and I remember as a child myself going to her house, apparently where Martha lived.

I am a Gunn. My father is Terry Gunn, his father Joseph Gunn, son of the original Gunn flower seller Harriet although my understanding is that she was assumed as a Gunn as I am not sure she was ever actually married to my Great Grandfather. My Grandfather Joe was cared for a by a lady called Alice, also known as Crumbles and served in the Royal Engineers during the war. I would welcome any information anyone can give me in regards to Harriet and her Husband/Partner.

My 6x great grandfather, Abigail Gunn's brother, Stephen, married Martha Killick (Martha Gunn). There are several Harman's in my family tree.

My husband is Derek Gunn, formerly of Henry Street, Brighton. His father is Charles Ronald Gunn, born 09/04/1921. He was one of two brothers, the other being George who was born in 1918/19 and killed in the Second World War at Monte Casino, circa 1943-44. Their parents were George, born 1895/96, and a Mary Anne Shepherd of 1 Trinity Street, Brighton, we think they married in 1915. George the elder fought in both world wars and died in action. Any information would be gratefully recieved. I know they were descendants of Martha's, as it would appear most of Brighton was!

Hi, I'm tryiong to trace my family tree back through teh Gunn side and I'm looking for any information on my great, great grandad, John William Albert Gunn who died in 2007. Any information to do with him or any living relatives of his , pleae contact me.

Message to Susan Gunn. I think your dad was my great uncle.

My grandad was Albert Victor Gunn born 1899. His parents were Lucy Hunt and John Gunn (1874). John's parents were John Gunn (1852) and Maria Edgar. Their parents were Louisa Wyllie and George Gunn (1829). Their parents were George Wheeler and Ann Gunn(1810). Their parents were Natahniel Gunn (1765) and Sarah Wheeler. Their parents were Martha Killick and Stephen Gunn (1733). Quite a lot of other info available and we think this is how our tree goes backwards. Any links with others?

I have a Sarah Harman born 1803, married Richard Pinyon of Berwick, Sussex on 20th November 1824 at Brighton. Can anyone tell me if she is connected to the Gunns and, if so, where she fits in?

Hi Pauline
(re: comment Pauline 09/03/2008) I've not checked this site for a while, but was really intrigued to read your posting. My great granddad was Duncan Mcrae. I'm not quite sure what happened but my grandmother (his daughter) told me that he left Brighton after marrying Maude to go to Sittingbourne, Kent (She was born there along with a number of brothers and sisters). Duncan ended up working in a brickfield (labourer) and she often commented on how his hands were so roughened by the work after working as a tailor in Brighton. There was some hint that he and his brother fell out though the reasons have been lost in the mists of time. There's a Mcrae clan in Kent (North Kent) decended from Martha Gunn. I also remember I had a wonderful Great Aunt Maude (I think Gunn) who lived near Worthing. She was lovely and related to My great grandmother Maude.

all best wishes

Martha, whose parents were Nathaniel Gunn and Ann Bridgers, is in my tree married to Reuben Humphrey.

I have been reading through the above and two things at the very beginning caught my eye.

In 2003 Richard Attridge asked if Martha had served as a soldier in the army and was corrected by Mike Pentelow. Sorry Mike, you were wrong too, the Brighton woman that served as a man in the Army was Phoebe Hessle.

In 2004 Phillip asked what BL stood for against the children's names on Martha Gunn's toombstone.
The letters were an abreviation of the surname of an old local fishing family called Brapple. Unfortunately, by the 19th century, the Brapples seemed to be producing more daughters than sons and that local name has now been lost. Martha Gunn's toombstone is perhaps the last incised local record of that name, for Martha, nee Killick's mother was an Abigale Brapple. It looks like Martha was perpetuating her mother's maiden surname by calling several of her own children Brapple-Gunns. Hence B.L. Gunn.

Side Note. Brapple is still the name of an underground stream that runs from Pyecombe to Patcham, going past Brakepool park in the process. Brakepool is also thought to be a derivative of the Brapple name.

East Sussex Record Office has a copy of a document circa 1600, signed by many of the Brighton fishermen. In those days, few could write, so they all made their marks, which were not crosses, but had their origins way back in Viking runes. The Gunn family's distinctive marks are there for all to see.

It is also on record that Martha was well liked by the Prince Regent, and because of this she could often gain access to the servants' areas of the Royal Pavilion. There is a story that on one occasion, she was in the kitchen and seized the opportunity to slip a pat of butter into her apron pocket, and unfortunately the Prince saw her do it. Instead of calling the local constable and having her arrested, he took her aside to where the huge ovens were and then carried out a lengthy conversation, keeping her there until well after the butter had melted.

My father's name was Frank F. King and his mother's maiden name was Mary Gunn. They lived in Brighton all their lives. Martha was the mother of Mary.

One of my direct Brighton ancestors was John 'smoaker' Miles who married Abigail Gunn, the sister of Stephen Gunn whose wife was Martha Gunn. Does anyone know the origin of the name 'smoaker'? Is it a surname or a nickname for a man who cured fish? Also was there a William 'smoaker' Miles, a brother of John? Does anyone know the parents of Abigail Brapple who married Nathanial Gunn, the parents of Abigail Miles (Gunn)?

Sally, I was so thrilled to see your response. Your grandmother would have been my mother's cousin. I knew that Duncan and Maude had moved to Kent re the 1901 census but I wasn't sure whether they were related to Alexander until I read your original note. I would love to discuss all this in greater detail with you. Is there any way that we can get in touch. I don't want to put my email address on this note. We have only 1 photo of Alexander, taken at one of his 6 daughters wedding in 1935. I knew there must be someone somewhere who could answer all the questions we have on the Macraes.

I thought you might like to know that a portrait of Martha Gunn has been sent to England from Australia by Chris Gunn and is now displayed at the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. You can find more information on:
http://www.virtualmuseum.info/press/210.asp