Jane (Brenton) Menhenick (1840 - 1874)

Born 16 May 1840 in St Issey, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Parmenas Menhenick — married 18 Mar 1865 in Saint Breock, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Died 9 Jan 1874 at age 33 in St Issey, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jessie Gregor [send private message]

Biography

Jane Brenton was born on the 16th May 1840 at St Issey, Cornwall, England and she was baptised there on the 30th August 1840.^[1] She was the sixth child of ten born to the couple, Francis Brenton and Betsy Ball. Fortunately, the names and birth dates of these ten children are confirmed in a family bible owned by my 4th cousin, Kevin Brenton, the great x3 grandson of Francis and Betsy. He has kindly passed on a photo of this wonderful resource (see image attached).

There was a lot of variation in the spelling of their surname so, in her first census in 1841, Jane was recorded as a Brinton.^[2] Obviously, the adult ages were rounded down in this census so Francis and 'Betsey' were both listed as 35, and living in Tredinnick, St Issey. He is working as an agricultural labourer and they have five of their children living at home: Joanna (10), Henry (8), Elizabeth (6), Mary (3), and Jane (1).

Ten years later in the 1851 Census, the family were still living in the 'Village of Tredinnick' but listed as Brenten this time.^[3] Their three oldest children have moved out but their last four children have also made an appearance. Francis (still an agricultural labourer) and Betsey are both 46, and the children are Mary (12), Jane (10), Francis (9), Emma (6), Samuel (2), and the baby Lydia (just one month old). Sadly, a few months after this census, Jane's younger brother, Francis, died at the age of ten.

In the 1861 Census, Jane is working as a cook in domestic service for the Andrew family (a barrister). She is now 21 and living at Tredinnick House, Church Village, St Mabyn, Cornwall.^[4]

Jane's future husband, Parmenas Menhenick, had been working in the United States but returned to marry her in 1865. They married on the 18th March 1865 at St Breock, Cornwall, England. In the parish marriage register, he is recorded as being aged 25, a bachelor and mason, living at Wadebridge, and his father was also a Parmenas (carpenter). Jane was listed as being aged 25, a spinster living in Wadebridge whose father was Francis, a labourer.^[5]

I couldn't find any children for this couple but in the 1871 Census they were living at the Molesworth Hotel in St Breock, Wadebridge, Cornwall. They were recorded as 'Parmenus Menhinick', mason, 30, born in Egloshayle; and his wife, Jane, 30, born in St Issey.^[6]

Sadly, Jane passed away three years later on the 9th January 1874 at Tredinnick, St Issey. According to her death certificate, the cause of death was unknown but also not certified which was unusual for a 33-year-old and we can only guess at the reason. She was recorded as Jane Menhinick, wife of Par (mason), and her death was registered by her mother, Betsy Brenton, who had been present at the death.^[7] Jane was buried at St Issey on the 11th January 1874 under the name of Jane Menhenitt, aged 33.

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQGY-DLY : 11 February 2018, Jane Brenton, 30 Aug 1840); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 246,875.
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQB3-LBF : 23 May 2019), Francis Brinton, St Issey, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGKX-BVV : 11 September 2019), Francis Brenten, St Issey, Cornwall, England; citing St Issey, Cornwall, England, p. 6, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7HV-DQ5 : 20 April 2019), Jane Brenton in household of H, St Mabyn, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
5. ↑ UK marriage registration: St Columb, Vol 5c, Page 134, March quarter 1865 (Parmenas Menhinick/Jane Brenton).
6. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDZG-RWR : 25 April 2019), Parmenas Menhivick, 1871.
7. ↑ UK death registration: St Columb, Vol 5c, Page 73, March quarter 1874 (age given 33).

• Death certificate held by Jessie Gregor.