Genealogy Chat

Wonder if anyone can help me. My great-great gran was Elizabeth Hannah Bennett, born in Lamerton Devon in 1846. She married John Hill in Tavistock, Devon in 1865. I think I have found them in the 1871 census but it says she was born in Seaton, Devon. As I understand it Seaton includes Coryton which is the birthplace of her father. My problem is that I don't know anything about Devon. Is her real birthplace the same as that stated in the census? Secondly, she had a child the following year in Scotland with another man (James Teevan). By the time of the 1881 census they claimed to have married although I know this is not the case. I think she probably ran away with James Teevan as my notes say John Hill died in Durham but I can't find a death for him there between 1871 and 1881. Can anyone tell me what registration districts would be named for Devon in the indexes? Thanks, Frances

Lamerton is in Taverstock district Merry

Is this her? Name: Elizabeth Hannah Bennett Year of Registration: 1846 Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar District: Tavistock County: Cornwall, Devon Volume: 9 Page: 521 Merry

If you're trying to sort out Registration Districts, this is an excellent source: http://www.fhsc.org.uk/genuki/REG/ Christine

Mary - yes, that's her birth. It's what happened after then that confuses me!!

1851?????/ Elizabeth Bennett Name: Elizabeth Bennett Age: 5 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846 Relation: Daughter Father's name: John Mother's name: Grace Gender: Female Where born: Lamerton, Devon, England Civil parish: Lamerton County/Island: Devon Country: England Registration district: Tavistock Sub-registration district: Milton ED, institution, or vessel: 4a Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 61 Household Members: Name Age Elizabeth Bennett 5 Grace Bennett 33 Harriet Bennett 7 Jane Bennett 12 John Bennett 26 Elizabeth Rich 2 Reg

1861..............working for a family named Westlake Record Elizabeth Bennett abt 1846 Lamerton, Devon, England Servant Brentor Devon Reg

Reg - yes, I found those census returns. The 1851 one with the mother Grace is hers, and the 1861 one you mentioned too. Strangely, her parents and at least some of her siblings seem t have left the UK before 1861, since I can't find them in the census. But by 1871 some of them have returned, with her dad being widowed. By then of course, she'd married John Hill. It's what happened to her then that I can't pinpoint. Like I said, she had a child with a different man in 1872 but I don't even know how they'd meet - he was poor and Scottish, she was at least middle-class and English. And annoyingly, I can't find James Teevan in any of the census returns in 1871 - UK, USA, Canada: I assume he must have been visiting his family in Ireland. I would love to have some proof of what happened between Elizabeth and John Hill - perhaps he did die but there's no obvious certificate...

Not wishing to cast doubt, but are you certain the 1846 birth is the person in 1901 etc? Lamerton and Seaton are miles apart.........both about 20 miles from Exeter.....in opposite directions. Reg

The 1871 census has her as Elizabeth Anna Hill, age 29 and born in Seaton, Devon. I do have her calling herself by Elizabeth Anna in some other documents so that could be her. I don't have any other possible census return for her or her husband for that year. And her dad came from Colyton (which I think is Seaton) so perhaps this is where the mixup occurred? But no, I can't be 100% sure that this is her. I do know where she was every other census date, but this is the nearest I have come to finding her in 1871. Obviously if anyone else can find her that date I would be very grateful!

Not wanting to appear rude, but if she was at least middle class, why is she a servant in 1861?? (I am lazy and haven't looked at the census, so if she is a governess or similar.....apologies!!!!) Merry

The occupation in 1861 is 'House servant'. Have you got the cert for the marriage to John HIll? Does the father's info tally with 1851 census? Reg