In loving memory of
SOLOMON BROWN,
The beloved husband of
CHARLOTTE BROWN,
Who died March 6th. 1897,
Aged 66 years.
"Prepare to meet thy God."
Also of
SOLOMON WRIGHT BROWN,
The beloved son of the above
who was lost in the
smack "Venus,"
February 9th. 1899,
Aged 39 years.
"In the midst of life we are in death."
Also of the above
CHARLOTTE BROWN,
Who died Dec. 20th. 1906,
Aged 75 years.
"Peace Perfect Peace"
Solomon 'Old Solly' Brown was a fisherman and lifeboatman.
He born in 1831 at Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk, the son of William Brown and Lydia George. He was was baptised on the 2nd. January 1831 in Holy Trinity and All Saints Church, Winterton-on-Sea.
On 29th. December 1850 at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Hemsby, Norfolk, Solomon married Charlotte Wright.
Charlotte was born in 1831 at Upton, Norfolk, and was baptised on the 10th. April 1831 in St. Margaret Church, Upton.
Charlotte passed away, aged 75, on the 20th. December 1906 at Caister.
Solomon and Charlotte would have five children together,
Solomon Wright Brown was born on 17th. September 1850 at Hemsby, Norfolk, and was baptised on the 29th. December 1850 at Hemsby. He married Louisa Woodhouse on 16th. February 1871 at Ormsby St. Margaret, Norfolk. It is known the couple had one daughter, Eliza Louisa, born on 14th. February 1875 in Ormesby St. Margaret. Solomon passed away on the 9th. February 1889 at sea onboard the fishing smack 'Venus'.
William Frederick 'Hilton' Brown, born on the 27th. May 1852 at Scratby, Norfolk. He married Agnes Hannah Smith on 15th. May 1881 at Caister. The 1901 census records William and Agnes living at Tan Lane, Caister with their 10 children. William was the owner of the boat 'Alpha' and his brother Charles was the skipper.
William was drowned, aged 49, when the Caister No.2 lifeboat 'Beauchamp' capsized off Caister on 14th. November 1901. He is buried in Caister.
Robert Henry 'Puddens' Brown was born in 1856 at Hemsby, Norfolk. He married Sarah Haylett on the18th. May 1882 at Caister. Robert and Sarah would have 9 children together. The 1901 census records Robert and his family living at Horn Street, Caister, and roberts occupation is given as 'boat owner'. Robert died, aged 43, on 9th. October 1901 and is buried at Caister.
Elizabeth Brown was born on 8th. February 1863 at Hemsby, Norfolk. She married John William Smith, a fisherman, on the 24th. December 1879. Elizabeth and John would have at least 11 children together.
Elizabeth passed away in Taverham Hall, Norwich and was buried on the 13th. September 1945.
Charles John Brown was born in 1870 at Scratby, Norfolk and was baptised on 24th. July 1870 at Ormesby St. Margaret, Norfolk. He married Alice Mary Cutting on the 12th. November 1891 at Caster. Charles and Alice had at least 4 children together. Charles was a fisherman, skippering his brother Williams boat 'Alpha'.
Charles was drowned, aged 31, when the Caister No.2 lifeboat 'Beauchamp' capsized off Caister on 14th. November 1901. He is buried in Caister.
In January 1868, Solomon was the coxswain on the the lifeboat 'Prince Albert' when it was launched to a schooner that had run aground on the Haisbo Sands. When the lifeboat reached the vessel it had been broken up in the heavy seas. The lifeboat searched for the crew, and rescued two men found clinging to some wreckage. As a result of their gallant rescue the RNLI gave the crew £20, which was matched by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. Solomon was later awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal as the coxswain of the lifeboat.
With a NE gale blowing, at about 5 a.m. on 7th. November 1897 distress flares were seen. At 6 a.m. the Caister rowing and sailing lifeboat 'Beauchamp' was launched, with great difficulty, from the beach into very heavy seas and heavy rain squalls to go to the assistance of the 1,659 ton, full rigged ship 'Soudan' of Liverpool, on route from Leith, Scotland to Rio de Janerio, Brazil loaded with coal. The ship was aground on the South Cross Ridge and was being broken up by the sea. Coxswain James Haylett Jnr. and his crew were able to rescue all 8 men from 'Soudan' before the ship became a total wreck. The lifeboat landed the rescued men at Gorleston before a tug towed the boat to Beeching Yard for repairs to damage
During the service to the 'Soudan', Solomon received injuries which resulted in his death, aged 66, on Saturday 6th. March 1897.
He was buried in Section 65 Grave 5 at the Caister village cemetery on 10th. March 1897.
