Henry Bensley Allen born Wyndonham app 1820

[Doodles]

Hello again
The marriage date I have I found myself in the Fransham parish records only last week.  It also ties in with a search the Norfolk family history Soc did for me.  However it would always be worth checking the other date in the records! (perhaps you could find out where pigginnut got the reference from?).  Moving forward with the family, as you have found, Henry had moved to Kent by 1851 and Frances, his sister, was in Leyton.
Other brothers and sisters of Henry & Frances baptised in Hindringham are Mary Ann (17.12.1815), William (7.9.1817), Charlotte (13.5.1821), John (9.3.1823), Thomas (1.4.1827 - buried 5.11.1828) and Thomas (28.6.1829).  Henry was baptised in April or May 1819 and Frances on 1.8.1824.
The family seem to have moved en-masse to London in the late 1840s. Mary Ann (married to a William Offord) was also in Leyton in 1851 and their brother, John, was living with them.  I'm not sure about William and Thomas but have found two by these names, both gardeners like Henry, one living in Putney and one a visitor in Bexley, Kent.  Charlotte I haven't come across but, of course she may have married.  By 1861 Henry was in Leytonstone and was then in Wanstead in 1881 and 1891.
Now to Thomas and Elizabeth!  I have a birth of Thomas Allen in Hindringham on 23.4.1788, baptised 27.4.1788 - this came from the Norfolk Family History Soc.  Also a possible burial of Thomas at Hindringham 16.6.1833 aged 46.  I found the baptism of Elizabeth Bensley and her twin brother Henry in Gressenhall parish records on 22.3.1790 and am fairly certain this is our Elizabeth.  There is also a burial of Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Allen, in Hindringham on 10.4.1835 aged 46.
A really interesting website for the Bensleys is http://www.ozigen.com/tree/main.htm
Elizabeth isn't listed but her twin is.  He emigrated with his family to Australia in 1852!  The information about his father may not be correct - I have a reference to check out that Henry Bensley, born 1751, married Mary Fisher on 4.6.1777 in Elsing, Norfolk.
Well, I hope that's enough to keep you going!  Do keep in touch and let me know how you get on.
Debbie

[doverrog]

That's really great Debbie.
I very much appreciate the info. That certainly does keep me going!
I am updating my tree now and will let you know as my research continues.
A family legend says that the Allen family had Irish members but as yet I haven't found any Irish links. How about you? I have discovered that there are 3 possible coats of arms. 1 English, 1 French and 1 Irish.
Incidently  Allen is my wifes' maiden name.
My surname is Hurst. (The recently added coat of arms probably told you that!)
Thanks again,
Roger

[doverrog]

Hi Doodles and all who are interested in the Allen family.
Since our last posting I have formulated what I currently believe to be the tree descended from Henry Bensley Allen.
He married Elizabeth Camp in February 1852 at West Ham in London. Elizabeth was born 12th August 1880 in Hertfordshire. The family continued to live in Wanstead, Essex.They had 7 children of whom I have followed Frederick born 1865 who married Minnie Jones. They had 20 children!!!
I have followed one of the 20, Frederick James Allen born 1897 in Mitcham who married twice and a son of his second wife, Winifred Cawley, is my father-in-law.
Altough this is away from Norfolk I hope it's of interest. If anyone has any more info please let me know.