Benjamin Best c.1775 - 1862 Corfe Mullen

[Fish Island Steve]

I'm looking into Benjamin Best, my 4xGreat Grandfather - who lived most of his life in Corfe Mullen in Dorset.   He was married to Ann and they had nine children between 1804 and 1822.   

In the 1851 and 1861 census - both Benjamin and Ann are recorded as having been born in Lytchett (not known if this is Lytchett Matravers or Lytchett Minster).

On the findmypast website there is a marriage of Benjamin Best to Ann Bartlett on 5 April 1803 in Corfe Mullen (a Dorset Family History Society transcription).  This marriage is also found on the familysearch website but that site also has a record showing the marriage taking place on 20 March 1799 in Corfe Mullen.

Neither of these two marriages, however, appear on the Dorset Online Parish Clerks listing of Marriages in Corfe Mullen.

It is possible that Benjamin was married to someone before Ann - there is a marriage of a Benjamin Best (of Lytchett Minster) to a Mary Cherret of Corfe Mullen on 16 December 1790.  There is a burial record for a Mary Best in Corfe Mullen in 1796 (although there is no indication of age), but if it was the Mary married to Benjamin it would be earlier than either of the two dates for his marriage to Ann.


Trying to find Benjamin's baptism in order to identify the next generation back, there is a baptism of a Benjamin Best in Durweston in 1776 and I have seen other family trees that attach this baptism to  the Benjamin Best I am researching.   However, Durweston doesn't really fit in with a Lytchett birthplace and I have also discovered a burial record for a Benjamin Best born in 1776 in Durweston  in 1815 so I think that this is not the match.

There is a baptism in Lytchett Minster on 22 September 1776 of a Benjamin Best Gerrard base born son of Mary Gerrard of Corfe Mullen.  - I'm wondering if the middle name "Best" might be an indication of the father?

Any suggestions or comments on my thinking would be appreciated.   


 

[tazzie]

Hi.

  Just to add this to the mix.

   Lytchett Minster 1780 31 May.    Benjamin Best to Mary Stickland.

                      Witnesses Thomas Barnes & Henry Barns ( yes transcribed as spelt differently).
     Showing a possible father in the right place.

    Tazzie

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
Having looked at the original registers on Ancestry ,the marriage was in 1803 at Castle Mullen.
The banns book for the parish is a mess and it is this from which the 1799 date comes.
It jumps 1799 to 1804 . The Benjamin and Ann  banns are on the page next to 1804 and  has no year on it I'd say they only read the banns once and it is the fault of the Vicar and his messy record keeping.

Going to his birth ,I think you are right and his baptism at Lychett Minster is correct.
And his middle name very much points to his father being Mr Best perhaps the Benjamin Best 1752 -7.11.1819 Lychett Minister.
Or  an earlier Benjamin Best having daughters Jane 28.10.1764 and Elizabeth 21.9.1766 at Lytchett Minister
I think you've cracked it !
Definitely the Lytchett Minister one.

ps 1788 Benjamin Best labourer LM was in the Militia list substituting James Hyman instead of himself for duty .
It looks like the older Benjamin was buried 8.1.1786 .
So father and son?

Ciderdrinker

[Fish Island Steve]

Thanks for you comments and suggestions.   That's helped me feel more confident about my thinking.

[LizzieL]

Hi.

  Just to add this to the mix.

   Lytchett Minster 1780 31 May.    Benjamin Best to Mary Stickland.

                      Witnesses Thomas Barnes & Henry Barns ( yes transcribed as spelt differently).
     Showing a possible father in the right place.

    Tazzie

On the 1780 Land tax return for Lytchett Minster, Benjamin Best is the tenant of Thomas Barnes

[LizzieL]

There is a burial of a Mary Best w/o Benjamin in L Minster on 7 May 1787
Possibly she was Mary Stickland ( married 1780), then Benjamin married Mary Cherrett in 1790 or Mary Roles in 1789