A Nova Scotian fisherman, Bill Brenin married Nancy Newton of Gosport in 1856. The family moved to Portsmouth due to pressure from one of Nancy's brothers. After Nancy's death in 1897, Bill Brenin let their Portsmouth home became so filthy that nephew Frank finally stepped in and sold it, taking Bill back to live with Frank and his own family. A grand-niece, Martha Newton Englander, remembered Bill Brenin as "a lovable no-good" who didn't drink but was just "dirty and lazy." Frank tried to set his uncle up as a fish peddler with a horse and wagon, but Bill let the cart rot and the horse go lame. Bill eventually left Frank's home and spent the rest of his days sitting on the steps of the North Church with his corn-cob pipe. He and Nancy are buried with Frank Newton in Portsmouth. (Quotes from interview with Martha Newton Englander, in New England Family Ties. Compiled by Greg Caswell, 1993.)
A Nova Scotian fisherman, Bill Brenin married Nancy Newton of Gosport in 1856. The family moved to Portsmouth due to pressure from one of Nancy's brothers. After Nancy's death in 1897, Bill Brenin let their Portsmouth home became so filthy that nephew Frank finally stepped in and sold it, taking Bill back to live with Frank and his own family. A grand-niece, Martha Newton Englander, remembered Bill Brenin as "a lovable no-good" who didn't drink but was just "dirty and lazy." Frank tried to set his uncle up as a fish peddler with a horse and wagon, but Bill let the cart rot and the horse go lame. Bill eventually left Frank's home and spent the rest of his days sitting on the steps of the North Church with his corn-cob pipe. He and Nancy are buried with Frank Newton in Portsmouth. (Quotes from interview with Martha Newton Englander, in New England Family Ties. Compiled by Greg Caswell, 1993.)
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