bennetts of kingsley

[Little Nell]

he must have travelled down to wellow when he married hannah marten in wellow in 1808

but you cannot prove that the Thomas who married Hannah Martin was born in Kingsley at the present, and neither can I.  All that can be said is that a Thomas Bennett who was born in approximately 1783 married Hannah Martin in Wellow.

The death of the Thomas Bennett who died in 1859 is registered in the Romsey registration district.  This covers West Wellow.  It might be worth comparing the address (if given) on the death certificate with the one on the 1851 census for Thomas Bennett aged 68 living in West Wellow.  That Thomas gives his birth place as Grimstead in Wiltshire.  I can't find another Thomas of similar age in the area on that census to help rule anything out   

Nell

[janeh]

I have to say that I agree with Nell that there are two very different families here. The Kingsley Bennetts were wealthy and landed. Have you acquired the PCC will that I suggested? That will show you the difference. The Kingsley children kept acquiring land or went into business as a grocer and tallow chandler in Alton - for which one needed financial backing. Another was a malster and moved to Frensham in Surrey - the preferred direction of movement from here.
They were referred to as esquires and gentlemen. The memorial to one will give you a flavour of their life style:-
INSCRIPTION ON TOMB OF WILLIAM BENNETT
ST NICHOLAS CHURCHYARD, KINGSLEY.

Sacred to the Loving memory of
William Bennett , Esquire, who died Sept 8 1884 age 72. This gentleman was born at Lode Farm Kingsley. Early in life he left his home to seek his fortune, through the blessing of Almighty God, upon his unremitting integrity, he succeeded. For about 20 years, he carried on business in Alton, subsequently he retired to London and was very successful in his various enterprises which yielded him a large fortune.

So notwithstanding he was in possession of great wealth he lived in a most simple and unostentatious manner. For several years before his decease he devoted his whole attention to the most efficacious means of aiding charities designed for the benefit of his less favoured fellow creatures. Indeed he might truly have said
“He delivered the poor that cried out and the faithless and him that had none to help him. And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor and the cause which I knew not I searched out “ Job xxix . 12-16
(thanks to Kingsley Archives)

James Bennett of Kingsley left a will:-
will of James Bennett of Grooms Farm, Kingsley, yeoman, 1812-1813, (63M48/249-269) as part of deeds to property. His son James stays in Kingsley for many years and then, by 1827, has moved to Bramshott. They appear in many documents in the HRO which you can find in their online catalogue. All of their history is backed up by the property transactions which include the Burningham family as well - another wealthy family from around here. These people married into other local land owning families - often already distantly related. 

I think that you need to consolidate the solid facts by using other sources such as Overseers' accounts, rentals, manorial documents, rate books, etc before you move on. Yours Jane