Surgeon BENTON of Barton-upon-Humber

[Stehad]

Can anyone help with the Bentons of Barton-upon-Humber? William Benton (d.1800) is buried in the nave of St Peter's Church, Barton. He was a pioneering surgeon and owned Laurel House. His parents were Thomas and Frances Benton and his second daughter, Mary, married Charles Samuel Fitzwilliam of Clixby Manor House. Any help with William Benton, in particular, or the Benton family generally would be much appreciated.

[goldfishnot]

Hello, I'm only able to tell you about the daughter of Mary Benton and Charles Samuel Fitzwilliam - Frances Mary Fitzwilliam.  Frances married my ancestor Richard Hannam on 15/2/1820, they moved to East Retford after 1841, where he practiced as a solicitor and they produced at least 9 children that I know of.
I'll add Mary Benton's name to my family tree!

[Stehad]

Hello - I'm fascinated to learn that you're descended from Richard and Frances Hannam. They were my Great-Great-Great-Grandparents. They actually had 11 children, one of whom, Charlotte Anne (1832-1898) married George Robert Foster Haddelsey (1824-1897). George and Charlotte were my Great-Great-Grandparents. Richard (1793-1856) was an attorney, as was his father (also Richard, 1760-1838). So far as I have been able to establish, Richard senior moved from London to Worksop in about 1794 and then, a few years later, to East Retford, where he set up the family law firm. Richard senior was also heavily implicated in the electoral corruption that eventually brought down Wellington's government. Which of the Hannam children are you descended from? Best wishes, Stephen

[goldfishnot]

Hello, that's really interesting - I'm descended from Richard Fitzwilliam Hannam born in 1823 (Retford), who married Elizabeth Dunk, from Clarborough in Sheffield in 1867(after they already had 2 children 4 others followed to my knowledge) His son, Charles Richardson Hannam (b.1865 Retford) then married Frances Cobb from Sutton Cum Lound and my paternal grandfather, John Richardson Hannam was one of the resultant children.
Could you let me know which of the 11 children of Richard Hannam and Frances Mary Fitzwilliam I'm missing?
I know about Charles (b 1821) Richard F itzwilliam - my relative (b 1823) Thomas (b 1824) Frances Mary (b 1826) Vincent H (b 1829) Augustus Frederick (1830) your relative, Charlotte A (b 1832) John R (b 1834) and Eliza (b 1836), who is listed on the 1871 census as "weak intellect from birth" and as "imbecile" on the 1881 census.
Also, I've got stuck at Charles Fitzwilliam(Frances Mary fizwilliam's great grandfather) who married Frances (Mrs Chaplin) in 1728, I can not find his birth, although I do have a tantalising copy of a pedigree of the Fitzwilliams of Clixby with a "possible" for his father.
All information gratefully received!

[Stehad]

Hello - this is very interesting. My understanding was that only two children of Richard and Frances had descendents, those being Agnes Dennison Hannam and Charlotte Anne Hannam - it's wonderful to discover that another branch survives! All eleven children were: Charles Fitzwilliam (1821-1853) married Mary Henrietta Porter; Vincent Henry (1828-1896) married Mrs Mee of Retford; Thomas Fitzwilliam (1824-1896), married Susan Jane Haddelsey; Richard Fitzwilliam (b.1822/1823), married Elizabeth Dunk; John R (1834-1869), unmarried; Charlotte Anne (1832-1898), married George Haddelsey; Frances (b.1826), unmarried; Agnes Dennison (1839-1922), married John Henry Hutchinson; Eliza (b.1836), unmarried; Augustus (1830-1831); Emily (died young). You mention Clarborough near Sheffield. In fact, there is a Clarborough just outside Retford - Agnes's husband came from there. I have photographs of Charlotte, Charles, Agnes and Frances (Fanny). I also have Richard Hannam's diary from 1825. Do you have any photos or other documents? I'd also be very grateful if you could let me have as much info as you have about Richard Fitzwilliam's children and granchildren etc (dates of birth and death etc, if you have them). Although I don't have dates for Charles Fitzwilliam, I do know that his father was John F of Clixby (d. 1711) who married Anne Trevanion of Louth (d.1695); John's father was William F (b.1629) who married Mary Nevile of Aubourne Hall. Best wishes, Stephen

[goldfishnot]

Hello again,
Thanks for all this information. Just to clarify, yes Elizabeth Dunk was definately from Clarborough near Retford (I worded it badly before) but for some reason she married Richard Fitzwilliam Hannam in Sheffield in 1867.  I visited Clarborough recently and found 2 Dunk graves in the churchyard, but one was quite recent, the other was illegible.
I'm keen to hear more about the Hannam connection in London, as I've reached a bit of a dead end with Richard Hannam senior.  Thanks for the info about the Fitzwilliams (John and William), this has really helped me link them into a pedigree that I stumbled across, not sure how reliable it is.  You may already know about it, but in case you don't and want to check it out here is the link;
http://www.stirnet.com/HTML/genie/british/ff/fitzwilliam04.htm
I'm also waiting to hear back from the local studies department in Lincolnshire, as they mentioned a pedigree for the Fitzwilliams of Clixby, but I'm guessing it will be the same one.
Unfortunately I have no photos or documents, unlike you.  I have a few relatively recent ones of my immediate family.
Here is all the information I have regarding Richard Fitzwilliam Hannam's descendants;
Ada born 1864
Frederick H born 1867
Samuel F born 1869
John R born 1871
Tom born 1876
Sarah born 1878
Charles R born 1865, being my great grandfather, who married Frances Cobb (sutton cum lound) in 1890.
To be honest, I'll have to check with my Dad about his Father and siblings, as I've been working backwards only!

[Stehad]

Hello again. I'm afraid I can't tell you much about Richard senior, other than his dates, 1760-1838; that he was involved in electoral corruption in East Retford; and that he definitely had a brother named Thomas, who was living in London in 1825 (Richard junior bumped into him on his way back from Paris). If you've not already done so, you can read Richard senior's testimony before the House of Lords committee into electoral corruption (c. 1830) on the House of Lords website - very amusing stuff, including the handing over of wads of cash in brown paper bags in the back rooms of taverns! Unfortunately I don't know either the name of Richard senior's wife (our mutual great-great-great-great-grandmother) or where they are buried. Richard junior and Frances, his wife, are buried at All Hallow's in Clixby. If you're interested, I'd be happy to email you my transcription of Richard junior's 1825 diary. I also have a reliable Fitzwilliam family tree going back to about 1430. Many thanks, by the way, for the info on Richard F's children - I'll add them to the family tree...

[goldfishnot]

Just to say thanks for this further info.
I think that Richard Hannam (snr) may have married Ann Richardson in 1784, but I'm going to re-check this.
Yes please - to both your offers, the diary transcription and the Fitzwilliam family tree. My email is goldfishnot@yahoo.co.uk
I had noticed some House of Lords stuff when I did a general google search a few months ago, before I had made a connection to Richard Hannam, I'll  have to revisit it now.
I'm also going to contact my cousin who did a comprehensive family tree for the Hannam's many years ago (pre internet etc) I think that there was a suggestion (this may be a family urban myth) that she had traced the Hannam's back to one who sailed with Sir Francis Drake. It sounds implausible, but you never know!

[Stehad]

Well, there was a Fitzwilliam ancestor who was a friend of Sir John Hawkins and who was a navigator, diplomat and slaver - so perhaps the Drake connection isn't so impossible! I'll email the diary to you. I'm afraid I don't have a scanner at the moment. I'm intending to purchase one and when I do I'll send you the Fitzwilliam family tree. Of course, I'd be very interested in whatever you've got re the Hannams (Drake connection or not!). Also, I'd very much welcome confirmation of the Hannam / Richardson marriage.