{"id":54844,"date":"2020-12-22T15:40:36","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T15:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=54844"},"modified":"2022-04-26T06:17:36","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T06:17:36","slug":"charles-frederick-braine-1850-1896-adventurous-accident-prone-great-grandfather-by-george-braine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/charles-frederick-braine-1850-1896-adventurous-accident-prone-great-grandfather-by-george-braine\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles Frederick Braine (1850 \u2013 1896), Adventurous, Accident Prone, Great grandfather By George Braine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charles Frederick Braine (1850 \u2013 1896), Adventurous, Accident Prone, Great grandfather-<\/strong>By George Braine<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

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\"George<\/p>\n

I have previously written about my great, great grandfather Charles Joseph Braine (1814-1890), who became a coffee and tea planter in Ceylon. Charles Frederick was the fourth child Charles Joseph. He was born in Norton Fitzwarren, a village in Somerset, UK, where his parents resided upon their return from Hong Kong.<\/span><\/p>\n

Charles Frederick first came to Ceylon in 1869, at the age of 19, to work for Ceylon Company Ltd., where his father Charles Joseph was the manager. He returned to the UK to marry Adeline Mary Becher on 9 April 1874 at Kensington, London. Their first child, Charles Stanley (my grandfather) was born the same year, on 25 December, in Ceylon.<\/span><\/p>\n

I wonder if Ceylon Company Ltd., where both Charles Joseph and Charles Frederick worked, was the predecessor of Ceylon Tea Plantations Co., which came to own extensive rubber and coconut plantations as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Charles Joseph left Ceylon around 1880, having become the first owner of Abbotsleigh Estate by then. But, although he, too, was a planter, Charles Frederick may not have worked at Abbotsleigh.<\/span><\/p>\n

An article in The Times of Ceylon<\/em>, dated 12 March 1896, the day he died, sequences Braine\u2019s career and gives an indication of his family life. Braine \u201clearnt planting\u201d (\u201ccreeping\u201d, in planting jargon) at Meddacombra Estate, in the Nuwara Eliya area, owned by Ceylon Company Ltd., and later worked at Pussellawa and Badulla on company estates.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1880, when he was only 30, Braine moved to Dickoya, as manager of Maniekwatte Estate, which amalgamated with Warleigh Estate to become the well-known Wanarajah Estate. I have driven through this vast plantation, which I believe now consists of ten estates. Ceylon\u2019s best teas, and perhaps the world\u2019s as well, are grown in this area.<\/span><\/p>\n

Braine served for 12 years at Dickoya. He was injured and Mrs. Braine suffered a broken thigh in a carriage accident which may have occurred during this period.<\/span><\/p>\n

From 1887 to 1888, Braine is listed as the owner of Beecherton Estate, in Kalutara, which must have been a rubber plantation. In 1890 and 1891, he is listed as the owner of Arapolakanda Estate, in Kalutara district, which may also have been a rubber plantation. What made Braine, working in upcountry estates, buy a property on the south-western coast is puzzling.<\/span><\/p>\n

For some reason, perhaps the opportunity to become a pioneer, Braine joined a new employer – Finlay, Mur, and Co. – and moved to Kurunegala, in the North Western Province, to open Delwita Estate. \u201cOpen\u201d perhaps means clearing the forest to plant rubber or coconut. (I believe Delwita Estate was in the Ridigama area.) The move, from lush and salubrious Dickoya to hot and humid Kurunegala, did not bode well for Braine, because he was thrown from his horse and suffered a fractured skull, and also came down with malaria. After being treated at a local hospital (Kurunegala?), Braine was moved to the Cargill\u2019s Ward at Colombo hospital. He was treated by Dr. T.F. Garvin, and Mrs. Braine also attended to him \u201cassiduously\u201d. But, after a long illness, he passed away, only 45.<\/span><\/p>\n

His funeral was at Colombo\u2019s General Cemetery on the following day. Sixteen Europeans, all male, are listed as attending the funeral. Charles Stanley Braine, the eldest son (my grandfather), was the only family member there. Perhaps female attendees and children were not identified in the newspaper report. I have not been able to find Braine\u2019s grave.<\/span><\/p>\n

The lovely Christ Church at Warleigh is where Braine attended service when he worked in the Dickoya area. This YouTube version of the church and Wanarajah Estate is worth a look:<\/span><\/p>\n

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