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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: lesleyhannah on Sunday 04 May 08 19:29 BST (UK)
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I can't read the occupation of Ellen Benfield in 1861 - but I'm having problems attaching the image. I keep losing my messages - will try again, but if it doesn't work, the reference is RG09; piece 17; Folio 21; page 43.
All suggestions welcome!
Thanks
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Ends in ...tress whatever it is...
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What's puzzling is the occupation is mentioned twice. She's staying with a solicitor's family -but that may not be relevant. She does go on to be a governess.
findmypast transcribes it as preepleef - but I think they just made that up!!
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Possibly - Preceptress?
Regards, Steve ?
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I think it is preceptress too.
Female teacher or principal of a school.
Barbara
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I was just going to say that ;D it not only says it's her profession but that is her relationship to the household too.
I wondered about governess,the last two kids are both down as scholars even though they are 15 and 12,and most children of that age would be out at work by then.
Carol
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Thanks, Steve - that's brilliant! I've just looked up the meaning of preceptress - a female teacher - and it fits perfectly. I'd never have worked it out from the image.
So, thanks again. Much appreciated.
Lesley
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And thanks to you all - you'd replied while I was typing my thanks to Steve (if I'd waited a few minutes Barbara would have saved me googling the definition!)
Lesley
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Hello
Ellen Cranch Benfield and her sister's Emma Mary & Laura Emily Benfield were all wealthy governesses (independent wealth) who remained independent and did not marry.
Regards,
Thorby
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Thanks Thorby. When I first posted the query I had a suspicion that this family was related to a Harbottle family I was researching. The two families seemed to cross paths in this country (in Surrey) and abroad (in Ceylon and India) too often and too closely for it to be coincidence. Or so I thought! In fact after much research I had to admit defeat - and conclude this affluent Harbottle family was probably unrelated to the very unaffluent Harbottles I was interested in. Still, I enjoyed the research - and am keeping the details in case I do find a link in the distant future (genealogy is full of surprises like that!)
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Hello,
Letitia Maria Benfield married Thomas Harbottle (b.6 dec 1816 Manchester- son of Thomas Harbottle and Rachel Ashton, d. 24 Mar 1895 Brighton).
The Benfield children received an inheritance upon their father Robert Benfield's death and were subsequently individually independently wealthy. Robert Benfield married Ruth Taylor in Essex, and was originally from a upper working to middle class family. The main occupation of the Benfield/Grange family were Gardeners & confectioners based in London. Of 7 daughters, only 2 were to marry.
Cheers,
Thorby
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Hello again, Thorby - I have a box of certificates etc on the Benfield Harbottle family, going back to the time I was CONVINCED there was a link with the Ceylon/India Harbottles. Certainly your affluent Harbottles had military connections with India/Ceylon going back many generations. Originally I guess all the Harbottles came from NE England, but I still haven't made a link between these two families - but sometimes in genealogy I've found the brick wall suddenly crumbles years after you've given up digging - so fingers crossed! Thank you for your replies - it's always good to hear from people researching the same families as you.
Lesley