Age at Death: 39
Date of Death: December 25, 1852
Interment source:
Daughters of the American Republic, Corpus Christi Chapter. Texas
Marriage Records of Nueces County: Wills, Cemetery, Church and Bible Records.
Compiled by Mrs. C. C. Miller and Annie Laura McFadin. Daughters of the American Revolution, Corpus Christi Chapter, 1957.
NO HEADSTONE
Speculation
The name of “M. A. Brittain†is included in the burial list of those in Old Bayview because of the D.A.R. survey. There is no reference to any other lists nor is there a gravestone existing to mark the site of this burial. This survey does indicate that the death of M. A. Brittain was on Christmas Day of 1852. There is no listing of any families by that name in the 1850 census. However, there does appear a Brittain family in the 1860 census. This is Henry Brittain, a 37 year old native of England (born circa 1823) with his son Alford, a 12 year old native of England (born circa 1848). These dates may indicate that M. A. Brittain is possibly the wife of Henry. Because she died in December of 1852, this may mean that the Brittain family is one of those who came to Corpus Christi at the time of the 1852 Fair sponsored by Kinney to promote the sale of land. He advertised considerably in Great Britain, and this would account for there appearance in this area about that time. The other Brittain listed in the cemetery is “H. Gregory Brittain†who is only 11 years and 3 months old. He could possibly be the son of Henry and M. A. (Mary Ann?) Brittain. County records report that Henry purchased a lot from Kinney on 5 July 1854 (volume E page 552) which fronted 150’ on Aubrey Street and 50’ on Tiger Street. The local newspaper “The Nueces Valley†announced in its issue of 10 October 1857 that Henry Brittain had opened a shop in Mrs. Bryant’s concrete building to repair bedsteads, tables, chairs, and similar furniture. A later edition of the paper also announced his candidacy for justice of the peace (27 March 1858). However, on 1 January 1860 a “Henry S. Brittain†sold the above described property to Mr. Mussett (volume G page 487). Possibly with the loss of his wife and a son and the threat of a Civil War, Mr. Brittain decided to move away, maybe even back to England where he had family and friends that could help in the raising of his son Alford. Unfortunately, these family connections between Henry Brittain and the two Brittains named as buried in Old Bayview have not been confirmed as of this writing (February 2007) and can only be classified as speculation.
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell