Mary (Nance) Bennetts (abt. 1810 - 1878)

Born about 1810 in Kenwyn, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Wife of Henry George — married 19 Dec 1836 in Kenwyn, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Wife of Hezekiah (Bennett) Bennetts — married 1839 in Perranzabube, Cornwall, England

Descendants

Died 15 Aug 1878 at about age 68 in Chewton, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Mary was born in 1810 and baptised on 11 July 1823 at the age of 13, Kenwyn, Cornwall, the daughter of Thomas & Mary Nance. ^[1]

Mary married twice:

1. first marriage was to Henry George, they married after banns were read on 19 December 1836 in Kenwyn, Cornwall, England.^[2][3] Henry's death was registered in the Jul-Aug-Sep quarter of 1837 in the Bodmin district.^[4] Together they had one daughter:
   1. Mary, baptised on 1 January 1838 in St. Keverne, Cornwall, child of Henry (miner) & Mary residing in St Mary's Parish Truro, England.^[5] Mary died at the age of 1 while residing in St Mary and was buried on 4 July 1838 in Truro, St. Mary, Cornwall, England.^[6][7][8]

1. second marriage was to Hezekiah Bennetts, they married after banns were read on 28 March 1839 in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall.^[9],^[10]

1841 Census^[11]
The family were living in Wheal Hope, Perranzabuloe, England
1. Hezekiah Bennets, aged 20, miner (lead)
2. Mary Bennets, aged 25
3. Mary Bennets, aged 1

1851 Census^[12]
The family of Hezekiah & Mary Bennets were living in Goonhaven, Probus in the Parish of Perranzabuloe.

Mary (Nance) Bennetts migrated from Cornwall, England to South Australia on “Australia” in 1856.

The family moved to Australia. They arrived in South Australia on the ship "Australia" on the 22 Jan 1856.^{[13] [14]}

The travelling party consisted of

1. Hezekiah (Bennett) Bennetts (bef.1818-1900), aged 36, Miner, residence of Perranzauboe travelling with family
2. Mary, aged 45
3. Nancy, aged 14, Servant, residence of Perranzauboe travelling in the single women’s section but with parents
4. Rebecca, aged 5
5. Mary, aged 1
6. Elizabeth Ann Vivian, servant, no age listed nor place of original, travelling in the single women’s section [possibly a family friend as she is recorded as living with the family in Forest Creek, Victoria].^[15]

Mary (Nance) Bennetts migrated from South Australia to Victoria, Australia travelling overland.

After arrival, they made their way to Victoria and settled down to live in a tent on the goldfields in Forest Creek.

She passed away on 15 Aug 1878 in Chewton, Victoria, Australia and is buried in the local cemetery.^[16]

Research Notes

Place of birth is supported by

• the banns and marriage of her first marriage to Henry George she is identified as “being of this parish”, the parish being Kenwyn, Cornwall.
• the banns and marriage of her second marriage to Hezekiah Bennetts, where she is identified as a widow and sojourner, indicating that she was not born in Perranzabuloe
• 1851 English Census where her birthplace is given as Kenwyn, Cornwall

Date of birth is a little more complex because

• her age is not given at the time of her first marriage to Henry George
• at the time of second marriage she gives her age as 26, indicating that she was born in 1813
• in 1841 census her age is recorded as 25 which may indicate that her age was somewhere between 25 years and under 30 as the enumerators were instructed to write 25 if the persons’ age was between these years. This means she could possibly be born anywhere from 7/06/1806 to 7/06/1811.
• in 1851 census her age is recorded as 39 indicating that she was born in 1812
• the only birth for a Mary Nance in Kenwyn at any time is for a Mary Nance who was born in 1810 but not baptised until 13 years of age. She was the daughter of Thomas & Rebecca residing in Kenwyn, Cornwall. [therefore, her calculated birthdate would be 1810
• Thomas was given as her father’s name on her second marriage certificate as well as her on her Australian death certificate, and her mother was also listed as Rebecca.
• Mary died at the age of 70 years in 1878 indicating that her birth year was 1808.

Sources

1. ↑ "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch Image: S3HT-6SFS-S8R (accessed 10 January 2024); Baptism of Mary (13 years) baptised on 11 July 1823, daughter of Thomas(labourer) & Rebecca Nance residing Church town, Kenwyn parish register for baptisms, 1813-1829, entry 1252, page 157. Year 1823, Kenwyn Cornwall > Kenwyn > Baptisms, 1813-1829 > image 82 of 158; Cornwall Records Office, Truro.[born circa 1810)
2. ↑ Banns of Marriage Henry George & Mary Nance, banns read 4, 11 & 18 December 1836, Kenwyn Parish Register unnumbered entry, year 1836, page 36. "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch Image path: England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010 > Cornwall > Kenwyn > Marriage banns, 1836-1844 > image 21 of 149
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-6SFS-9KP (accessed 10 January 2024), image 21 of 149, citing Kenwyn Parish Registers, Marriage Banns banns, 1836-1844; Cornwall Records Office, Truro
3. ↑ Marriage of Henry George & Mary Nance married 19 December 1836 , Kenwyn Parish Register entry 580, year 1836, page 194. "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images,
   FAmilySearch Image path: England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010 > Cornwall > Kenwyn > Marriages, 1829-1841 > image 100 of 150
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-6SFS-932 (accessed 10 January 2024), image 100 of 150, citing Kenwyn Parish Registers, Marriages, 1829 -1841; Cornwall Records Office, Truro.
4. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
   citing Death, Bodmin, Cornwall, England, General Register Office, Southport, England
   FamilySearch Record: 2N6D-L2Y (accessed 10 January 2024)
   Henry George death registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1837 in Bodmin.
5. ↑ Baptism: "Cornwall Online Parish Clerks Database"
   Baptisms database, Keverne, St
   Cornwall OPC (accessed 10 January 2024)
   Mary George baptism on 1 Jan 1838, child of Henry & Mary, in St. Keverne, Cornwall, England.
6. ↑ Burial: "Cornwall Online Parish Clerks Database"
   Burials database, Truro, St. Mary
   Cornwall OPC (accessed 10 January 2024)
   Mary George burial (died age 1) on 4 Jul 1838 in Truro, St. Mary, Cornwall, England.
7. ↑ Burial: "Cornwall Online Parish Clerks Database"
   Burials database, Truro, St. Mary
   Cornwall OPC (accessed 10 January 2024)
   Mary George burial (died age 1) on 22 Jul 1838 in Truro, St. Mary, Cornwall, England. Src: Exeter BTs
8. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 10 January 2024)
   Bennetts, Mary.
   GRO Reference: 1878 Apr-May-Jun in Bootle Volume 10A Page 384.
9. ↑ Banns of Marriage Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary George(widow), banns read 10, 17 & 24 March 1839, Perranzabuloe Parish Register unnumbered entry, year 1839, page 180. "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images,
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-65ZV-SP (accessed 10 January 2024)), image 93 of 116, citing Perranzabuloe Parish Registers, Marriage Banns banns, 1823-1844; Cornwall Records Office, Truro.
10. ↑ Marriage of Hezekiah Bennetts (miner aged 21, son of Philip Bennetts, husbandman) & Mary George(widow aged 26 daughter of Thomas Nance, Husbandman), married 28 March 1839, Perranzabuloe Parish Register entry 47, year 1839, page 24. "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images,
    FamilySearch Image: S3HY-65ZK-MY (accessed 10 January 2024), image 27 of 254, citing Perranzabuloe Parish Registers, Marriages, 1837 -1860; Cornwall Records Office, Truro.
11. ↑ 1841 census of England, Cornwall, the household of Hezekiah & Mary Bennets, Wheal Hope, Pydar, Perranzabloe. Citing PRO HO107 piece 150 Folio 91 page 9
12. ↑ 1851 census of England, Cornwall, The household of household of Hezekiah & Mary Bennets, Goonhaven in Probus, the Parish of Perranzabuloe. Citing PRO HO107 piece 1909 Folio 431 page 14
13. ↑ “Australia” Passenger List - 1856, from Plymouth to South Australia Passenger Lists 1845 – 1940, (State Records of South Australia : Retrieved 30 May 2023); citing passenger list 3/1856 Australia.
14. ↑ “Australia” Voyage - 1956 from Plymouth to South Australia, ship Australia, (The Ships List Retrieved 30 May 2023) citing a variety of sources.
15. ↑ 1859 'CASTLEMAINE POLICE COURT.', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), 13 July, p. 2. , viewed 19 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199051329
16. ↑ Death Certificate Mary Bennetts (Nance) (#2051 yr 1878), Victoria Australia.