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Hi

I am looking at the family of Thomas Bennett and Edith Monkton married at Melbury Abbas in 1731, although both from Fontmell Magna. This couple had two sons Walter 1732 and William 1735 both baptised in Fontmell Magna. Around 1748 the family moved to the parish of St James, Shaftesbury. In June 1767 all three males swore oaths on Settlement Certificates (Ancestry) saying they resided in St James, Shaftesbury but had all been born in Fontmell Magna.

Walter had married Jane Clench in St James in 1754 and by 1767 they had five children, namely Robert c 1755, John c 1757, Walter c 1758, Thomas c 1761 and Hannah c 1765. I know Hannah died a month after the Settlement Certificate had been made out and that Walter most likely married Kezia Hunt in Motcombe in 1785 and settled back in his father's home parish of Fontmell Magna, but what happened to Robert, John and Thomas?

There are burials in St Andrew, Fontmell Magna which fit both Robert and John, although I am hoping it is not Walter's son John. There is a possible burial in Fontmell Magna for the mother Jane in 1820, but none for the father Walter.

I have a John Bennett, Cordwainer living in Southampton who gives his home parish as Fontmill near Shastone on an apprentice record in 1784. Fontmill is likely a mistranscription for Fontmell and I know Shastone is another name for Shaftsbury. He died in the first qrtr of 1841 aged 87 which makes his born c 1754 if the age given was correctly. He named one of his sons Walter and he also had a Jane and a William.

Any information greatfully received or if anyone is connected to this family I would love to hear from you.

Regards

Denise