Benjamin Twitchin

c1818-1888

Benjamin was baptised on the 25^th February 1818, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the son of Benjamin (a Sawyer) (draft registration records father’s first name as John. Later recorded as John). and Jane Twitchin (nee Salter) who were married on the 16^th July 1801, at St Nicolas, Newbury).

Benjamin’s father John Twitchen was a Sawyer. He was baptised on the 16^th August 1779, at St Nicolas, Newbury, the son of Richard and Ann Twitchen (nee Cumner) who were married on the on the 11^th October 1778, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

His mother Jane was baptised on the 10^th November 1780, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of John and Martha Salter (nee Pierce) who were married on the 26^th May 1777, at St Nicolas, Newbury. Jane died aged 81, in 1859, she was buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th February.

John and Jane also had the following children baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury:

Jane, born 12^th April 1801, baptised 1^st May (before her parents married, reputed father John Twitchin)

Sarah, born 23^rd December 1802, baptised 23^rd January 1803

Benjamin, born 7^th November 1807, baptised 9^th December 1807 (died aged 7, in 1814, buried 3^rd September, at St Nicolas, Newbury)

Joseph, born 14^th January 1811, baptised 8^th January 1812

Eliza, baptised 7^th May 1815

Richard, baptised 15^th July 1820

In 1815 Jane (35) and her daughter Eliza were recorded lodging at a lodging house in Red Lion Yard, on the west side of Northbrook Street, Newbury.

Benjamin married in 1839

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 17^th February 1839

Groom: Benjamin Twitchin, full age, bachelor, occupation, Fellmonger, abode, Newbury

Bride: Emma Bradley, aged 20, spinster, occupation, Servant, abode, Newbury

Fathers: John Twitchin, a Sawyer and Joseph Bradley, a Carpenter

Witnesses: George Stillman and Mary Ann Gardiner

(Emma was baptised on the 12^th March 1820, at St Nicolas, Newbury, the daughter of Joseph and Harriet Bradley (nee Miel) who were married on the 25^th April 1819, at St Nicolas, Newbury)

Benjamin and Emma had the following children:

Emily, 1839, baptised 5^th January 1840 (father mistakenly recorded as Richard)  dad a Felllmonger

Ann, c1842

Harriett, 1844

William Joseph, 1846

Benjamin, 1848, baptised 31^st December 1848                                         dad a Labourer                               

John, 1850, baptised 29^th December 1850                                                  dad a Labourer

Charles, 1852, baptised 26^th December 1852                                             dad a Labourer

Kate, 1855, baptised 27^th December 1857 (with her brother Alfred)             dad a Fellmonger

Alfred, 1857, baptised 27^th December 1857 (with his sister Kate)

The 1841 census records Benjamin (20) as a Glover, living in Quaker’s Building Ground, Cheap Street, Newbury, with Emma (20) and their daughter Emily (1) (Benjamin has been recorded as Benjamem Twitchell on ancestry)

In 1851 Benjamin (33) was recorded as a Labourer/Pauper, living in Bradley’s Yard, Newbury, with Emma (31), Emily (11), (recorded as Emma) Ann (9), Harriett (7), Joseph (5), Benjamin (3) and John (6 months).

Emma Twitchen died aged 40 in 1859, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 17^th June.

Benjamin remarried in 1860

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 26^th February 1860

Groom: Benjamin Twitchin, full age, widower, occupation, Labourer

Bride: Hannah Lewis, full age, spinster, abode, Newbury

Fathers: John Twitchin, a Sawyer and James Lewis, a Brewer

Witnesses: Frederick John Ward and Sarah Jane Dibley

(Hannah was baptised on the 23^rd January 1831, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of James (a Labourer) and Sarah Lewis (nee Dennis) who were married on the 15^th May 1815, at St Nicolas, Newbury. Hannah had two illegitimate sons, Francis George, aka George, born 1852 and Walter, born 1856)

Benjamin and Hannah had the following children baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury:

Sarah Jane, baptised 24^th February 1861                                      dad a Fellmonger

Frederick Baron, baptised 8^th March 1863                                    dad a Labourer

Emily, baptised 9^th July 1865                                                           dad a Labourer

Ada Catherine, Ada Katharine, baptised 5^th July 1868                dad a Labourer

Jessie Florence, born 1870, baptised 1^st January 1871              dad a Fishmonger

Mary Linda, 1873 (aka Linda) baptised 3^rd August 1873               dad a Wool Stapler

Ernest Richard, baptised Richard Ernest 6^th December 1874   dad a Labourer

The 1861 census records Benjamin (43) as an Agricultural Labourer, living in West Mills, Newbury, with Hannah (28), a Shoe Binder, Benjamin (13), John (11), Charles (9), George (8) (born Francis George Lewis), Kate (6), Walter (4) (born Walter Lewis), Alfred (3) and Sarah (4 months)

In 1871 Benjamin (54), was working as a Labourer, living in Shaw’s Lane, Newbury with Hannah (38), Kate (16), Walter (15), Alfred (14), Sarah Jane (10), Frederick (8), Emily (6), Ada (3) and Jessie (5 months).

The 1881 census records Benjamin (64) as a Fellmonger, living in West Mills, Newbury, with Hannah (48), a Laundress, Frederick (18), a Blacksmith, Emily (14), a Laundry Maid, Jessie (9), Linda (7), Ernest (6) and three visitors.

Benjamin died aged 71 on the 19^th August 1888, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 26^th August.

In 1891 Hannah (57) was living in Shrewsbury Terrace, Enborne Road, Newbury, with her daughter, Linda Mary (18) a Laundry Maid and her son Ernest Richard (16), an Apprentice to Moulder. (Surname recorded as Tuntchen on ancestry)

The 1901 census records Hannah (70) as a Retired Laundress, living with her married daughter Linda Cook (28), her son-in-law, Thomas Cook (28), a Gas Works Labourer and her grandson Cecil Baron Cook (2).

In 1911 Hannah (75) was recorded as formerly a Laundress, living alone, at 10 Upper Raymond’s Almshouses, Newtown Road, Newbury.

Hannah died aged 77 in 1911, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd September.

Author: gambles
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