Regimental Births in Mauritius - Bennyworth

[km1971]

I am surprised you do not know his wife's maiden name. Assuming you have them in the 1851 census you can then find the births of the two youngest daughters on FreeBMD and order one of the certificates.

The 7th Dragoon Guards were in Birmingham until May 1837 when they moved to York.

There is confusion with James' place of birth. The father's service record says he served in South Africa for a few days short of four years. As he was invalided back in mid-1847 this tallies with him sailing with the regiment in April 1843. So either the service record has the time in SA wrong, or Dublin is wrong on the census. The 7DG were in Ireland from September 1841 to March 1843. But not in Dublin from the information I have.

Ken

[bendywendy]

Hi Ken
Thanks for replying.
Yes, I could buy a birth cert, may come to that.

Now you have noted some good points because I have doubted as to whether Robert is the natural father of
Elizabeth, but with what you have noted about where the 7 DG where, then this casts doubt upon Robert being
the father of John too. I now have a great feeling that he is not the father to either of them. So I am looking for a marriage sometime after John's birth c1844/45 onwards, most likely after 1847 when he was pensioned out of the army?

The reason I mentioned about the Brown Race is that this John had a son who was of Brown Race as detailed on his Navy WW1 info, so either John was BR or his wife Betsey Vinters was. The family know about there being coloured people in the family of Elizabeth's, could it have been her brother John?? John did live in Hull, the family moved from Lincs to Hull.  Robert is stated as Fresh complexion.

Alas many years have gone by, my aunt is now 93 yrs and cannot remember everything and her husband past away many many years ago. Bennyworth is my aunts husband's line, Elizabeth was his grandmother.

Where in Ireland was the 7DG from 1841-43 please ??
Also do you know the details for the 1841 census where they would be please ??

Thanks Ken, b.

[bendywendy]

After much searching I have found Elizabeth Benniworth on 1851 census, unm, 14, house servant in Boston, Lincs. But I cannot find her on 1841 cen so is this surname B her birth one or one she has taken up by way of her mother Mary Ann marrying Robert Benniworth

b.

[km1971]

They were in Ballincolig then Cahir for 11 and 7 months respectively. For the 1841 census they were in Ipswich. But these places are where the CO was and troop-sized detachments could be spread far and wide, and I have located Robert in a barracks in Norwich - HO107 piece 789 folio 46 page 1

I found him via James Tozer, so try using him if you get stuck. The 1841 census does not give married status, but there is no wife listed as you find for other men. So it could be that Mary A was a widow and the oldest children were not his. I think you are going to have to order Leticia's BC to help you find the marriage.

Ken

[bendywendy]

Hi Ken
Thanks once again, I have tried n better tried to find him on 1841 cen.. thanks, will have look now.

Just another point of interest re the children, the youngest Ellen which shows on 1861 cen is not Robert's, she is his granddaughter and daughter to Elizabeth, she shows up later with Elizabeth as dau, so many swings n tails with this family.

b.

[bendywendy]

Hi Ken
Found him, what a strange transcription for his surname  Bermguerth 

Have you seen the entry on the same page, above him for a Mary Ann Downham ? 25 born in S/I/F is that a Y for yes or I for Ireland in that box ?
listed with a dau Elizabeth Downham ? 4 with N in S/I/F ?
above them is John Downham, sgt, 40 not born in county but a tick in S/I/F box

All these are a good match if this is her and Elizabeth and a suitable name for a son John later ??

.... but then again I could be miles apart  .....  ooking likely for a childs birth cert.

b.

[bendywendy]

Something strange... there was another child between Elizabeth & John..

Mary A Benneworth reg Mar Q 1841 Radford, Nottingham, she appears on 1851 cen with family.

Could this place of birth mean that maybe Robert & Mary Ann were living seperately as he is defo on the 1841 cen
at Norfolk at this time ?

See swings n tails 

b.