THE BROME FAMILY. 
303 
“ exchanged eyes/* at first sight, with Private Munoy, who mounted 
guard at the Palace; created him Duke, and married him “right off 
the reel.” Whence come affinities ? The writer has sifted regimental 
traditions by the score ; but has found few in which ascertained facts 
so fully corroborate tradition. The laws of “ election of affinities ” 
and of “ hereditary” 1 2 were certainly at work in the happy union of 
this couple—■ 
“ Who lived and loved in Minorca 
“ Through many a changeless year 
and their sons and grandsons were likewise favorites with the ladies. 3 
Certainly, Brome's handwriting in the regimental pay-lists of the period 
indicates that he was a man of intelligence and of character; up to 
1751 we find, in Woolwich Garrison Orders, Colonel Belford directing 
that .. . . “ the Guard is to consist of 40 men, ten of whom to be 
tf the handsomest fellows in each of the companies;” 3 and the ce Records 
of Woolwich” (Vincent), of the period, abound in incidents of Royal 
and gala visits to the Warren—the Guards being warned to admit only 
“ such as appear to be ladies and gentlemen.” 
Widow, Mary Walton [nee Hicks) had one child (Joseph), who was 
born in 1712 and was therefore between 5 and 6 years of age at his 
mother's marriage to Charles Brome : and the children of this second 
marriage, born in Minorca, were Mary—who became Mrs. Lethard—■ 
and Robert Brome—who was given a direct commission, in September 
1756, by King George II., as Lieutenant in 37th regiment, and who 
died of his wounds on the battle-field of Minden, 1st August, 1759, 
when the six British infantry regiments, unaided by cavalry, and at 
first without artillery, so gallantly sustained the shock of the three 
arms of France. 4 From documentary vouchers, in possession of descen¬ 
dants of the Brome-Walton family, and from other sources, the history 
of Widow, Mary Walton, has been traced as follows :—Our old friend 
Isaak Walton, of angling fame, a draper of Fleet Street, London, and 
Joseph Walton, a felter and hatter, of Southwark, London, were 
Freemen of the City of London. Isaak married the sister of Bishop 
Kerr, and died in 1683. Joseph married Mary, sister of Richard 
Hickes, Esquire, lord of the Manor of Charfield, and died about 1715, 
leaving the infant son, Joseph, who was born in 1712. As felter and 
hatter, at Southwark, Joseph Walton had supplied the Board of 
Ordnance with the felt wads for guns and felt caps for the artillery. 5 
Richard Hickes was son of Richard Hickes, retired Manchester mer¬ 
chant, who had purchased' or inherited the manor and advowson of 
Charfield, Gloucestershire—from Sir Wm. Throgmorton, who held the 
manor in 1608—and by his Will, dated 25th April, 1741 (copy of which 
1 Boston Lectures —“ Marriage” (Joseph Cook’s). 
2 Joseph Brome-Walton (son) married—there is reason to believe—Jane, daughter of Nicolas 
Mercator, Muster-Master, Minorca, while yet a Gunner. 
Colonel Joseph Walton, E.A. (grandson) married the Dowager Lady Strachan. 
General Wm. Lovelace Walton, of the Guards (grandson), married heiress of P. H. Lovell, 
Esq., of Colne Park, Wilts, and so on. 
3 “ History of the Royal Artillery, Yol. I., p. 147. 
4 “ Operation of the Allied Army, 1757-1762, by an Officer who seiwed therein,” p. 109. 
5 Vide foot note 3 on p. 296 hereof. 
