Richard Benn ?1784-1856

Road labourer.  Stone breaker.

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Facts

Date   Event   Source
1777-1787   Richard Benn was born in about 1783 in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. (The age he gave to officials at different times of his life suggest a range limit of between 1777 and 1787.)   Censuses etc (see below)
(5 Jan 1778   A Richard Benn, probably his father, married Ann Sutton at Long Itchington, Warwickshire.)   IGI; Church banns
21 Jun 1784   A Richard Benn, son of Richard, was christened at Lutterworth.   IGI
13 Nov 1797   When he was about 14 'Ann, the wife of Richard Benn', probably his mother, was buried at Lutterworth aged 45.   Lutterworth parish register
1 Jul 1798   About 6 months later, 'Richd Benn', probably his father, married Ann Sharpe in Long Itchington. (Thus explaining the existence, in 1821, of a Lutterworth resident identified as 'Widow Benn' - see below.)   Lutterworth parish register
13 Oct 1807   At the age of about 24, he married Mary Murby at Newbold on Avon, Warwickshire. (Newbold on Avon is 6 miles SW of Lutterworth and 10 miles NE of Long Itchington.)   IGI
14 May 1809   His first recorded son, Joseph, was christened in Newbold on Avon.   IGI
1811   His second son, William, was born.   Lutterworth workhouse register, 1813
1811   'Richd Benn, Mrs Benn + 2 children' were living in Bakehouse Lane, Lutterworth.   Lutterworth census , 1811
Feb 1813   His third son, John, was born. (Recorded in March as 'an infant son, one month old, not yet baptised, intended to be called John'.)   Removal order, 1813
Mar 1813   The family were ordered to leave Long Lawford (Newbold on Avon), being sent back to Overseers of the Poor in Lutterworth. (This document confirms he was born in Lutterworth.)   Removal Order, 1813
6 Mar 1813   The family were admitted to Lutterworth House of Industry (the Workhouse). (His age was recorded as 36, which would give a birth in 1777.)   Lutterworth workhouse register
5 Apr 1813   The family left the Workhouse.   Lutterworth workhouse register
25 Apr 1813   His son John was christened in Lutterworth.   IGI
9 May 1813   His son William was buried.   Lutterworth parish register
0 Aug 1815   His first daughter (fourth child), Ann, was christened in Lutterworth   IGI
(1815   A Richard Benn was buried in Church Lawford aged 52. Church Lawford and Long Lawford are the villages next to Newbold on Avon on the Warwicks/Leics border, so this could be his father - although, if '52' is correct, he would probably be too young. A more likely candidate may be the Richard Benn who died in Lutterworth in 1819 - see below.)   National burial register (NBI)
30 Mar 1817   The burial of Ann Benn, aged 1, his daughter.   IGI; NBI
11 May 1817   His second daughter (fifth child), Hannah, was born in Lutterworth.   Family birthday book
15 Oct 1817   Now 34, he was again recorded as one of the residents at Lutterworth Workhouse.   Workhouse register
1 Jun 1818   He left the Workhouse.   Workhouse register
21 Feb 1819   A Richard Benn, probably his father (or possibly his grandfather), died in Lutterworth.   Lutterworth parish register
16 Jun 1820   His third daughter (sixth child), Elizabeth, was christened.   Lutterworth parish register/IGI
1821   A woman identified as 'Widow Benn', probably his step-mother, was living in Lutterworth, her occupation 'trade' (probably stocking maker).   Lutterworth census, 1821
23 Apr 1821   His daughter, Elizabeth, was buried at St Mary's, Lutterworth, aged 1.   Lutterworth parish register
Abt May 1822   His fourth son (seventh child), William, was born.   Lutterworth parish register (burials)
25 Aug 1822   William was christened in Lutterworth.   Lutterworth parish register
10 Mar 1823   William was buried at St Mary's, Lutterworth, aged 10 months.   Lutterworth parish register
31 Jul 1825   His fourth daughter (eighth and last child), Elizabeth, was christened.   Lutterworth parish register
25 Apr 1826   His daughter Elizabeth buried at St Mary's, Lutterworth. (Two sons and two daughters were still living.)   Lutterworth parish register
6 Jun 1841   He was still living in Lutterworth, working as an agricultural labourer. He told the enumerator he was 54 (giving a birth date of 1786-1787). At the same address on census night was his daughter, Hannah (22). His wife, Mary, was staying in Conduit Street, Leicester, with their eldest son, Joseph and his family.   Census
30 Mar 1851   Ten years later he was living with his wife at 136 Bakehouse Lane, Lutterworth; occupation - labourer, stone breaker (he was now in his late sixties).   Census
17 Jan 1856   He died in Lutterworth of 'chronic bronchitis'. The certificate recorded his occupation as farm labourer, and his age as 71 (giving a birth date of 1785).   Death certificate
20 Jan 1856   He was buried at St Mary's, Lutterworth, aged 73.

   NBI