Radnage / Wheeler End - birth / baptism

[mrstar]

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. 

[Bucksgirl]

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

[Robert39]

The birth of a Thomas Percy Hawes was registered in Wycombe district in the Sept quarter of 1887.  I think he's your man.

[mrstar]

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.

[The snooper]

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

[mrstar]

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.

[Therapist]

Are you still looking for details on Percy Stratford.  He was my great uncle, please contact if I be of help.