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ok i think ive solved the puzzle ... I have all the children, but in 1911 Thomas Besley aged 7 is possibly williams son Stephens brother. It seems williams wife Elizabeth died during the birth of thomas. So im thinking this is the only explanation. They took him in as their own!!

This is the info i have as to births deaths and marriages:

Births Sep 1898 (>99%)
BESLEY Frank James Wellington, Som. 5c 275
Marriages Jun 1916 (>99%)
Besley Frank Parsons Axbridge 5c 909
Parsons Alice M Besley Axbridge 5c 909

Births Dec 1889 (>99%)
Besley Florence Lily Tiverton 5b 419
Marriages Jun 1922 Cardiff 11a 971
BESLEY Florence l
Owen Charley
Marriages Dec 1925 Cardiff 11a 767

Births Dec 1888 (>99%)
BESLEY Ernest John Wellington Som 5c 297
Marriages Mar 1920 (>99%)
Besley Ernest Prout Taunton 5c 631
PROUT Beatrice Besley Taunton 5c 631

Deaths Jun 1914 (>99%)
Besley Mary A 57 Wellington Som. 5c 333

Births Jun 1885 (>99%)
Besley Frederick Wellington, Som 5c 305
Possible death
Deaths Jun 1914 (>99%)
Besley Fred 29 Wellington Som. 5c 331

Births Mar 1885 (>99%
Besley John Wellington Som. 5c 325
possible marriage
Marriages Dec 1905 (>99%)
BESLEY John Williton 5c 559
HOWE Eleanor Williton 5c 559

Births Dec 1880 (>99%)
BESLEY William Wellington Som 5c 285
Marriages Dec 1909 (>99%)
BESLEY William Wellington Som 5c 623
PROUT Ann Wellington Som 5c 623

Army pension information is on Ancestry for Ernest. Says he was born 1898 !!!

Both of the death records appear to be for the same Thomas. The first one makes his birth about 1898 if he was 17.

I guess they weren't too sure how old the children were !!

Yes this family has had me running round in circles for years was so hoping 1911 census might shed some light!! Neither dates of deaths or ages add up!!!

Name: BESLEY
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Somerset Light Infantry
Unit Text: 3rd/5th Bn
Age: 17
Date of Death: 16/02/1917
Service No: 1800
Additional information: Son of Steve and Fanny Besley, of Holelake, Wellington. Born at Wiveliscombe.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery: WIVELISCOMBE (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD



EDIT:

Just noticed that the two entries for Thomas have different death year, one is 1915 the other 1917.

A possibility:

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
about Thomas Besley
Name: Thomas Besley
Birth Place: Bampton, Devon
Residence: Wiveliscombe, Somerset
Death Date: 16 Feb 1915
Rank: Private
Regiment: Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry)
Battalion: 5th Battalion.
Number: 1800
Type of Casualty: Died
Theater of War: Brough - Sic

I can't find a death for Thomas Besley of the right age.....these two could be candidates for the two you think you might have but have found a birth for a Henry in SQ 1896:

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

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Births Jun 1896 (>99%)
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Besley Thomas Tiverton 5b 407

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Births Mar 1904 (>99%)
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Besley Thomas Taunton 5c 287


Can't find an Ernest until 1903


The only way you will sort this lot out is to purchase birth registrations...bit expensive at £7 a time !!!

If you decide to purchase any, put the parents names on the online form then if it is not their child you will not get charged all of the £7.

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

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Births Sep 1896 (>99%)
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Besley Henry William Wellington, Som 5c 275

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Births Jun 1894 (>99%)
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Besley Francis Wellington, Som. 5c 289

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

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Births Dec 1889 (>99%)
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Besley Florence Lily Tiverton 5b 419

Either of these could be your William born 1880:

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

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Births Mar 1880 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Besley William Wellington, Som. 5c 317

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Births Dec 1880 (>99%)
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BESLEY William Wellington Som 5c 285

Edit: As the page numbers are so close perhaps it is the first William (MQ 1880) and John born MQ 1883.

As there is a gap between first and second child, perhaps both of these are yours:


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Births Mar 1883 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BESLEY John Wellington, Som 5c 319

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Births Mar 1885 (>99%)
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Besley John Wellington Som. 5c 325


Edit : Can't find a death registration so I don't know which one is yours.

There is no record of a frank born 1895 but this one in 1898
Births Sep 1898 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BESLEY Frank James Wellington, Som. 5c 275
could mean henry is really frank!!!!
So that would mean im down to 11 children.

ok this is a bit mad now i have 12 children!!
William b 1880 in 1881 &1891 census
John b 1885 in 1901 census
fred b1885 in 1891 census
mary b 1888 in 1891 census
florence b 1891 in 1891 & 1901 census
Annie b1893 in 1901 & 1911 census
frank b 1895 in 1901 census
thomas b 1896 in 1901 census
ernest b 1897 in 1901 census
lilly b 1900 in 1901 &1911 census
henry b 1898 in 1911 census
thomas b 1904 in 1911 census

now im really confused!!!

Thanks for all that ill check it against what i have...
In 1911 they were living in wiveliscombe -Jews cottage.
In the 1911 census they do have a Thomas Besley aged 7 that would make him born 1904.
In 1901 they were at the same address with a son aged 5 im thinking this thomas has died by 1911 and they had another son who they called thomas..
I dont know the area so taunton could be where they registered after 1901 as the others are all wellington....

I couldn't find a death for Thomas...is it a transcription error ?

If it isn't then this one is a possibility...where were they living in 1911 ?


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Births Mar 1904 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Besley Thomas Taunton 5c 287

Year of Birth is approximate:

William 1880
John 1884
Frederick 1885
Mary A 1887
Florence 1890
Annie (Minnie) 1892
Frank 1895
Thomas 1896
Ernest 1897
Lily 1900

Household Record 1881 British Census

Search results


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Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Stephen BESLEY Head M Male 20 Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England Ag Lab
Fanny BESLEY Wife M Female 22 Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England
William BESLEY Son Male 5 m Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England


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Source Information:
Dwelling Maundown Road
Census Place Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England
Family History Library Film 1341567
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 2359 / 65
Page Number 14

1911 census went on line 12 January.