Find Ancestors

Yes The marriage i posted is for daughter Jane not mum , the cert should state her dads name .

I think that she had her children in Wangford as per Ann's baptism.

However, it's true that doesn't mean that George necessarily died. He may have deserted her and the village accepted her widow status.

Definitely little John Bell Benns is a blot on her copybook.

Ozi

Ozi, I've never claimed geography as being my strong point but if Jane was born c1810 in Ramsgate would it be very difficult to turn up in 1841 in Wangford, Suffolk and claim to be a widow? I don't know how far apart the two areas are? If she's a widow in 1841 where did the child born in 1845 come from?

I think you're right and Jane and her children were in Wangford from at least 1836 through to 1841 However, Sotterly is not far from Wangford in Suffolk so this may be part of the same family. However, Jane was bn 1810

1841 has her as a widow in the occupation.

I believe in a small Suffolk village she wouldn't get away with saying that if she wasn't.

I've just looked again at whatI have and I can't see where my info on Joseph came from. Certainly he's not on the census returns and I've not logged it as info given me from someone else. Sorry looks like might be a red hering!

1851 describes her as an "annuitant" - this is defined as:
Annuitant ~ The term annuitant could describe someone on an annual allowance as well as someone receiving annual income from an investment. Often however, it was also used for institutionalized pensioners.
1881 shows a George Benns aged 73, living with his sister Jane aged 60:
1881 England Census
about George Benns
Name: George Benns
Age: 73
Estimated birth year: abt 1808
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Satterley, Suffolk, England

Civil parish: Camberwell
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street Address: 139 Denmark Hill
Condition as to marriage: Widow
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Gentleman

Registration district: Camberwell
Sub-registration district: Camberwell
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
George Benns 73
Jane Benns 60
Sarah Winsfield 20


Do you think it possible that Jane never actually married and that the annuity was paid to her by the children's father?

Is this John Bell?

Deaths Mar 1853
Benns John Wandsworth 1d 291

Where does Joseph come into it? I don't see him on any census with Jane.

Or is this what you mean?

?????
Births Jun 1845
Bell John Joseph Westminster 1 401

Obviously John Bell Benns has a different father.

Westminster is the reg'n district for Mayfair which is John's birthplace on 1851.

????
Births Jun 1841
Benns Philip Richard Blything 13 391

Just realized he's 7 months in 1841 census so above not him.

This is really the only one that fits.

Births Sep 1838
BENNS Philip Wangford 13 425

Thanks Ozi that all looks promising and ties in with the information I have. I'll follow up those links

?????
Births Jun 1838
BONNS George Charles Blything 13 389

IGI Individual Record
ANN BENNS
Birth: Wangford With Henham
Christening: 08 NOV 1835 Suffolk County Bts, Suffolk, England
Parents:
Father: GEORGE BENNS
Mother: JANE
Source Information:
Batch No.: C131802 Dates: 1835

?????
Deaths Dec 1840
BENNS George Blything 13 282

The 1863 marriage is her daughter Jane.

Shirley, that's daughter Jane as Jane c1810 is still a Benns in 1891.

Ozi

Yes that is her on the 1851 census. I also couldn't read the GRO ref no. for dau Jane. Son John was bn 1837 according to my research and her husband was dead by 1841 according to census info. Haven't managed to trace births in GRO of other children.
Any other ideas?

seeing as they are living in Wandsworth in 1851 this is a maybe
marriage
Name: Jane Benns
Year of Registration: 1863
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Wandsworth
County: Greater London, London, Surrey
Volume: 1d
Page: 760

this should give you fathers name
Name: Jane Benns
Year of Registration: 1839
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Blything
County: Suffolk
Volume: 13
Page: 5[5_]9 number is blurred !


Name: John Benns
Year of Registration: 1843
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Wangford
County: Suffolk
Volume: 13
Page: 511

is this her on the 1851 census
Name: Jane Benns
Age: 41
Estimated birth year: abt 1810
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Stutenborough, Kent, England

Civil parish: Wandsworth
Town: Wandsworth
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England

Street Address:12 Skinners Row

Occupation:Annuitant

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View image

Registration district: Wandsworth
Sub-registration district: Wandsworth
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 17
Household Members: Name Age
Jane Benns 41
John Benns 14 b wangford Suffolk
George Benns 12
Jane Benns 11
Phillip Benns 9
John Bell Benns 6


Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 1578; Folio: 275; Page: 3; GSU roll: 174814.

OOOhh - this appears to be the one:

1841 England Census
about Jane Benns
Name: Jane Benns
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1811
Gender: Female

Civil parish: Wangford
Hundred: Blything
County/Island: Suffolk
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation: View image

Registration district: Blything
Sub-registration district: Wenhaston
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Jane Benns 30
Ann Benns 5
John Benns 4
George Benns 3
Jane Benns 21 Mo
Philip Benns 7 Mo


Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece 1017; Book: 5; Civil Parish: Wangford; County: Suffolk; Enumeration District: 4; Folio: 10; Page: 13; Line: 9; GSU roll: 474635.

Dea x