Reuben Bench (1892 - 1973)

Born 24 Jul 1892 in Walthamstow, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Miriam Amelia Grace (Eastcott) Bench — married 21 Aug 1912 in Mara, Ontario, Ontario, Canada

Died 7 Aug 1973 at age 81 in Port Hope, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Reuben Bench was a British Home Child and was one of many Children Transported to Canada.

Reuben was born in 24 July 1892, the son of Alice Bench, a Fishmonger. His birth registration reports the birthplace as 8 Boston Road, Walthamstow, Essex. No father is named.^[1] Alice was found on the 1891 census in Walthamstow. She was a widowed Fishmonger with two little girls, Caroline (4) and Florence (2).^[2] Their birth registrations record their mother's maiden name as Cokayne.[ref digital copy of birth registration: Caroline] [ref GRO: Florence]

Sometime between his birth and 31 March 1901, Reuben and his older brother, Harry, born 1891, were surrendered to Dr Barnardo's Children's Homes system. On the 1901 census they were 'Boarding' with Edward Miller, a painter and his wife Elizabeth, in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. Also in the household was Mr. Miller's mother-in-law and another Barnardo Boy, Joseph Gladden (14). When recorded, the 3 boy's birthplaces were written, 'Not Known' and along side the entries was "{Dr Barnardos}".^[3] By July 18th the 2 brothers were among about 270 boys, ages 7 to 19, on board the Steam Ship, Numidian of the Allan Line, destined for Quebec City.^[4] They arrived at their destination on July 29th.^[5]

It is not known where Reuben and Harry were in the intervening years but they ended up on a farm owned by Adolphus Eastcott. In the 1911 census they were recorded as Domestics under the surname of 'Eastcott'.^[6] It is likely they were originally in the employ/care on the farm of John Eastcott, father of Adolphus, who died in 1909. The use of the family surname suggests they may have been treated like part of the family.

When Reuben was 25, he married Miriam Amelia Grace Eastcott, a daughter of John Eastcott. They married on 21 August 1912 in Mara, Ontario. She was 14 years older than him.^[7]

Together they had the following children, none surviving to adulthood.
Elsie Liza Grace Bench (1913-1913)
William Edward Bench (1914-1914)
Edith Elizabeth Jane Bench (1919-1921)
Howard Bench (1921-1921)

He passed away in 1973 and was buried with his wife and children in the Atherley Union Cemetery.

Research Notes

• Sister of Reuben, Caroline b. 1886 ^[8]
• Sister of Reuben, Florence b. 1888^[9]
• Brother of Reuben, Harry b. 1891^[10]
• Brother of Reuben, Frank b. 1898^[11]
• By obtaining Barnardo records for Reuben and his brother, Harry, details of their early lives may be revealed. Unfortunately that may not be possible as Reuben had no descendants that survived him. It is not known if Harry married but he was listed as single and living with Reuben on the 1921 census.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: England & Wales, General Register Office, "Certified copy of Birth", West Ham, County Essex Registration District, Birth in the Sub-district of Walthamstow in the County of Essex, Reuben Bench, born twenty-fourth July 1892, registered Thirtieth August 1892; copy obtained from GRO, in the personal files of Christol James.
2. ↑ 1891 Census for Mother: "England and Wales Census, 1891," citing PRO RG 12, Essex county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey. FamilySearch Record: QG97-F3Z (accessed 28 August 2023). FindMyPast Image. Alice Bench (23), widowed, Fishmonger, head of household in Walthamstow in West Ham registration district in Essex, England. Born in Clerkenwell, London, England.
3. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 England Census," Class: RG13; Piece: 1553; Folio: 8; Page: 8; ED, institution, or vessel: 07; Household schedule number: 43. Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7814 #8850977 (accessed 28 August 2023). Ruben Bench (9) boarder in household of Edward Miller in Whittlesey registration district in Cambridgeshire, England.
4. ↑ Emigration Passenger List: "UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960," The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; BT27 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Outwards Passenger Lists; Reference Number: Series BT27- Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2997 #37509099 (accessed 28 August 2023). Name: Reuben Bench; Age: 9; Ship Name: Numidian; Shipping Line: Allan Line; Departure Port: Liverpool, England; Departure Date: 18 Jul 1901; Destination Port: Quebec, Canada.
5. ↑ Immigration Passenger List: "Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935," Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Series: RG 76-C; Roll: T-480. Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1263 #3799650 (accessed 28 August 2023). Name: Reuben Bench; Arrival Age: 10. Vessel: Numidian; Arrival Port: Quebec and Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Departure Port: Liverpool, England; Arrival Date: 29 Jul 1901.
6. ↑ 1911 Census: "1911 Census of Canada," Year: 1911; Census Place: 15 - Mara, Ontario North, Ontario; Page: 7; Family No: 74. Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8947 #7164364 (accessed 28 August 2023). Reuben Eastcott (20), single domestic, Labourer, in household of Adolphus Eastcott in Mara Township, Ontario County. Born in England.
7. ↑ Marriage: "Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826-1938," Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 220.Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7921 #3198539 (accessed 14 July 2023). Reuben Bench (25) marriage to Miriam Amelia Grace Eastcott on 21 Aug 1912 in Ontario, Ontario, Canada.
8. ↑ BENCH, CAROLINE ALICE, (Mother's maiden name COKAYNE), GRO Reference: 1886 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 253.
9. ↑ BENCH, FLORENCE ANNIE (Mother's maiden name COKAYNE), GRO Reference: 1888 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 237
10. ↑ BENCH, HARRY - (Mother's maiden name not reported), GRO Reference: 1891 J Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 356.
11. ↑ BENCH, FRANK - (Mother's maiden name not reported), GRO Reference: 1898 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 383.