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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Buckinghamshire => England => Buckinghamshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: mrstar on Tuesday 21 September 10 20:47 BST (UK)
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Hello,
I have reached a very frustrating brick wall and am hoping someone may be able to help me. :-[ We are struggling to find the mother of a family member and a record of his birth.
I am looking for a PERCY, possibly THOMAS PERCY born 9th July either 1886, 1887 or 1888 in Wheeler End.
As a child (1891 census and family tale) he lived with the BENNELL family in RADNAGE and their aunt PLUMRIDGE. He then moved to live with his father Thomas STRATFORD in DOWNLEY.
We believe his mother may be either a BENNELL, PLUMRIDGE or HAWES, however we may be wrong!! I know it is a bit of a longshot but if anyone can find a Percy with the birthdate 9th July 1886 1887 or 1888 please could you let me know so I can investigate further. Perhaps Radnage, Lane End, Stokenchurch or Wycombe.
Many thanks for your time,
Alice. :)
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Hi
Tried to look at the census entry for 1891 you mentioned, was it -
Henry BENNELL 35
Lydia 35
Thomas 9
Lena 6
Percy 3 born Wheeler End
Maria PLUMRIDGE 59 m-i-l
Annie 23 s-i-l
Found Henry, Lydia, Lena & Thomas living at Saunderton in 1901, but no sign of Percy.
There would appear to be no birth for Percy Bennell around those dates although Henry & Lydia PLUMRIDGE married in 1880.
So either Percy had a different surname or Percy was a pet name.
There was a Percy Clement STRATFORD born in 1888, but he was living with parents Esther & Harry in both 1891 & 1901. Or have I got the wrong census entry?
Jenny
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The birth of a Thomas Percy Hawes was registered in Wycombe district in the Sept quarter of 1887. I think he's your man.
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Thank you for the replies. Iam very grateful for any help and ideas! :)
Jenny - Thanks, yes we believe that is Percy as a child, as my husbands grandmother remembers Lena (Bennell) telling her how he used to live with them when they were little, and there is no trace of a Percy Bennell being born or dying so we believe they just gave him their name on the census. In the 1901 census, he is living with his father Thomas Stratford and his wife and children (who grew up to believe Percy was their brother) I still cannot find him in the 1911 census, and am still stuck with his birth :(
I have followed Percy Clement Stratford and found his birth entry, and on later census' I also believe he married a Rebecca and isn't our Percy unfortunately.
Robert - Thanks, this is the entry which leads us to think perhaps his mother's name was Hawes, however we cannot find any other connection with Hawes or who is mother may be and so are not sure if this is the right certificate, although I can't seem to find a Thomas Percy Hawes on the census either. Such a puzzle! I will keep trying with the Plumridge link. Ive hunted through lots of Wycombe baptisms, where his siblings were baptised and am now looking through workhouse baptisms.
Any other ideas greatly appreciated and thanks once again for your time,
Alice.
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I have trawled my lists of grave stones in RADNAGE church yard and found the following BENNELLs and STRATFORDs - no PERCYs, PLUMBRIDGEs or HAWESs I'm afraid. (Name: date of burial: age at burial)
Bertha BENNELL 13.8.1942 57
Francis BENNELL 13.5.1956 77
Robert BENNELL 28.5.1850 77
Rebecca BENNELL 23.5.1844 70
George BENNELL 25.4.1828 42
Rebecca BENNELL 18.3.1813 53
John BENNELL 24.3.1840 71
Henry BENNELL 15.3.1845 61
Anne BENNELL 4.2.1864 77
Henry BENNELL 11.6.1932 78
Sarah BENNELL 9.3.1940 82
Edmund BENNELL 29.6.1873 63
Esther BENNELL 26.6.1888 76
Francis STRATFORD 29.12.1902 21
Ann STRATFORD 21.6.1942 67
Joseph STRATFORD 10.1.1944 78
William STRATFORD 18.2.1925
Elizabeth STRATFORD 20.1.1947
My Accounts book for the Radnage Rectory dated mid 1700s has BENNELLs listed as associated with the rectory - there is Thomas and Alice but this may be too early for your researches.
Cheers
The snooper
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Hello again,
Thanks for your help. I have now discovered a firm link via marriage to the Bennell family of Radnage so those graves are of great interest.
Also, I have now found Percy on the 1911 census living with his grandmother but listed as Percy HAWES so it looks like that certificate may indeed be his real birth certificate and so his mother may infact be Emma HAWES. If anyone has an Emma HAWES in their family tree who would have been around Wheeler End / West Wycombe area in 1887 Id be really keen to hear from you.
Many thanks,
Alice.
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Are you still looking for details on Percy Stratford. He was my great uncle, please contact if I be of help.