Can anyone read this occupation please?

[lesleyhannah]

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!)

[tkw]

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

[lesleyhannah]

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