Christopher Britnell and Anne Bennett

Christopher Britnell was born in 1568 in Tring, Hertfordshire, England to parents Roger Britnell / Bricknell / Bryttenall (1528-1599) and Joan (1530-1602).

I’ve been unable to find Christopher’s baptism in the parish registers, but his two brothers born either side of him were baptised at Tring, Hertfordshire.

Christopher’s father Roger Britnell was from Wilstone, Tring, Hertfordshire, 9 miles from Chinnor. Sometime in his childhood Christopher moved to nearby Princes Risborough.

St Marys, Princes Risborough, Bucks

Christopher Britnell married Anne (unknown surname) around 1592 in Princes Risborough.

Some online trees have Anne Bennett baptised on 8 August 1572 at Princes Risborough, father Thomas Bennett, but I’ve been unable to confirm this.

Princes Risborough  is a small town in Buckinghamshire, England, about 9 miles south of Aylesbury and 8 miles north west of High Wycombe.

Bledlow lies to the west and Monks Risborough to the east.

Christopher and Anne had three children, the first two were baptised at Princes Risborough, and then Thomas was baptised at St Andrews, Chinnor  –

  1. Bennett b 1594 Princes Risborough d 1634 Chinnor, marr Jane Horne, Elizabeth Allen and Frances Toovye. 6 children.
  2. Elizabeth b 1598 & d 1634 Chinnor, marr John Mead. 2 children.
  3. Thomas b 1604 & d 1678 Chinnor, marr Ann. 1 child James b 1648.

Chinnor churchyard

Anne Britnell died in November 1640 aged 68 years and was buried on 30 November 1640 at St Andrews, Chinnor.

Christopher moved from Tring to Princes Risborough before his mother’s death in 1602.

There are three Christopher Brickhill burials recorded in Great Horwood (24 miles away) for 1625, 1639 and 1645, so it is possible one of these belongs to him.

I have searched the Chinnor burial registers but cannot find the burial of Christopher. It was not recorded in 1630 in Chinnor.

I’m also unable to find a will for Christopher.

There is a Britnell website registered with the Guild of One Name Studies which also has lots of good Britnell information which can be found here.

Bob Britnell also has done an amazing job of connecting Britnell researchers around the world on his website –  www.brudenell.net

Variants of the surname include –  Bricknell, Bretnell, Brutnell, Bricknoll, Brudnell and Brudenell, Britnill and lots of other possible variations.