Benjamin Prince

1837-1889

Benjamin Prince was born in 1837, he was baptised on the 27^th August 1837, in Chieveley, Berkshire, the son of Jeremiah and Lucy Prince (nee Hopson) who were married on the 19^th June 1830, in Chieveley.

Benjamin’s father Jeremiah was born in Winterbourne, Berkshire. He was baptised on the 18^th August 1805, (as Jerrey) in Chieveley, the son of Samuel and Hannah Prince (nee Brooker) who were married on the 7^th December 1801, in Chieveley (Samuel was from Leckhampstead).

His mother Lucy was born on the 2^nd June 1807, she was baptised on the 7^th June 1807, in Chieveley, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Hopson (nee Whitehorn) who were married on the 4^th July 1796, at St Mary, Reading, Berkshire.

Jeremiah and Lucy also had the following children:

Hester Prince, baptised 21^st November 1830 (Mother Lucy, no father’s name recorded)

Ann, baptised 19^th May 1831, in Chieveley (died aged 6, in 1837, buried 9^th Aug. at St James the Less Winterbourne)

Eliza, baptised 9^th October 1832, in Chieveley

Elizabeth, baptised 2^nd February 1834, in Chieveley (died aged 1 month, buried 6^th February, at St James the Less, Winterbourne)

James, baptised 25^th April 1835, in Chieveley

Mary Ann, born 1839, baptised 2^nd February 1840, in Winterbourne

Ellen, born 1842, baptised 4^th September 1842, in Winterbourne

Ann, born 1844, baptised 3^rd November 1844, in Chieveley

In 1841 Benjamin (3) was recorded living in North Heath, Chieveley, Berkshire, with his father Jeremiah (35), an Agricultural Labourer, his mother Lucy (35), his brother James (6), his sisters, Eliza (9) and Mary Ann (18 months), his grandfather Samuel Prince (65) and his uncle, James Price (30), both Agricultural Labourers.

Benjamin’s mother Lucy died aged 40, in 1847, she was buried on the 29^th August, at St James the Less, Winterbourne.

The 1851 census records Benjamin (14) and his sisters, Esther (19), (Hester) Ellen (14), Mary Ann (12) and Ann (7), as inmates in the Newbury Workhouse. His widowed father Jerry (45) was working as an Agricultural Labourer for a Farmer, James Hopkins (47), in Chilton Foliat, Berkshire.

No census records found for Benjamin in 1861 or 1871.

UK Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges 1715-1925 record Benjamin having been a Private in the Cape Mounted Riflemen Regiment in receipt of a pension dated 11^th June 1861.

The 1881 census records Ben (43) as a Labourer, lodging in a public house in the High Street, Brentford, Middlesex.

Benjamin died aged 55, in the Newbury Workhouse, on the 7^th May 1889. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 9^th May.

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