Bennetts, help locating couple

[JK]

Yes it seems so

[rosie99]

I am wondering whether Giles Bennett was actually Benjamins grandfather and not his father.  Was Benjamin the illegitimate child of one the daughters.  When did Giles and Harriet marry.

[JK]

The marriage was 25th December 1817 in Cullompton. They would both have been very young I think. The census ages are a bit all over the place, which of course isn't uncommon. In 1841 Giles is down as 40 and Harriet as 35 but then that doesn't work for the marriage date however in 1851 she is 50 which does!

[JK]

To further confuse the issue, according to Giles death certificate he was 55 in 1849. He died of Phthisis (tuberculosis). That puts his birth anywhere between 1794 and 1801/2...

[polarbear]

Ages were supposed to be rounded down in the 1841 census so Harriet could have been as old as 39 which is a closer match to her age in the 1851 census.

Giles could have been as old as 44. Not quite as close a match to the age given at his death. Two possible reasons for this come to mind. Giles could be trying to appear younger on the census given his wife’s age or the informant didn’t know his age when registering his death.

PB

[rosie99]

Have you eliminated this birth
BENNETT, BENJAMIN       mmn BAKER 
GRO Reference: 1842  M Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON  Volume 10  Page 278

[JK]

Yes I agree with and had that birth entry for Benjamin. I also agree that the informant of Giles death probably didn't know his actual age as it isn't Harriet or anyone I have identified. Thanks

[rosie99]

Presumably you have that certificate and it confirms that his father was Giles

[JK]

I don't as it's actually Benjamin's wife Jane Pearce I am most interested in. I was originally just trying to find out where Jane and Benjamin disappear off to after their marriage. The Bennett research is mostly a diversion although I was trying to establish who Benjamin's family were