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Emma Elizabeth (Palmer) Smith (abt. 1835 - 1895)

Emma Elizabeth Smith formerly Palmer aka Benness
Born about in Weymouth, Dorset, Englandmap
Daughter of and
[sibling(s) unknown]
Wife of — married 8 Aug 1853 in Ramsgate, Kent, Englandmap
Descendants descendants
Mother of , , , , , and
Died at about age 60 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Englandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 10 May 2017
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Contents

Biography

Emma Elizabeth was born about 1835 in Weymouth[1][2]Dorset, England, the daughter of Thomas Palmer and Catherine Palmer.

On the 8th August 1853, Emma Elizabeth married William Benness at St. Laurence in Thanet, Kent, England. William Benness, bachelor, mariner of St. Laurence, son of William Benness (shipwright) and Emma Elizabeth Palmer, spinster of St. Laurence, daughter of Thomas Palmer (coastguard). Witnessed by Thomas Palmer & ? [3]

Emma Elizabeth's husband William died on the 29th November 1865[4] at North Shore Coastguard station, Minster in Thanet, Kent.

"TO THE EDITOR OF THE DOVER TELEGRAPH.

Sir, - As your columns are always open to appeals in behalf of distress, I trust you will kindly allow me to bring before your readers the following sad case.
A Coastguard-man named William Benness, who has been for years in the service, and had always borne an excellent character, suddenly dropped down dead yesterday afternoon at North Shore Station, near Ramsgate. He leaves a widow and seven children (the eldest of whom is under 10 years of age) totally unprovided for, I would therefore earnestly appeal to the benevolent, hoping that a small sum may be collected to relieve the widow's present distress, and put her i the way of gaining a livelihood. - I remain, Sir, yours gratefully, MINNA KNOX. 5 West Cliff Terrace, Ramsgate Nov. 30 (1865)
P.S. My husband, Captain Knox, inspecting Commander of the Ramsgate Division, will be happy to receive any, even the smallest, contribution."[5]

After the death of her husband William, at least five of her seven children were sent away to The Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum For Girls, Wandsworth Common, Wandsworth, Surrey, England and The Royal Patriotic Fund Boys School, East Hill House, Wandsworth, Surrey (her eldest William Alexander had probably been sent away but had returned by 1871 when he was old enough to work).

By 1871, Emma Elizabeth was lodging with George Smith, whose wife Sarah Ann Smith had been committed to a mental institution. By 1881 Emma Elizabeth was living with George Smith as if they were married and had taken on the surname Smith.

Emma Smith died 6th March 1895 at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. Aged 60 years. Wife of George Smith [sic] (general labourer). Informant: W. A. Benness (son) of Shepherd Street, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. [6]

Emma Smith [sic] of Faulkland Street, wife of George Smith [sic] (labourer), aged 60 years was buried 10th March 1895 at Merridale Cemetery, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. Grave No. 5708. N. B. Buried with George SMITH[7]

N.B there is no evidence that Emma Elizabeth actually married George Smith, his wife Sarah Ann did not die until 1899, after George and Emma Elizabeth..

Children

  1. William Alexander Benness[2] b. 1855[8] at St. Peter in Thanet, Kent, England
  2. Susannah Benness b. 1857[9] at Kingsgate in the parish of St. Peter in Thanet, Kent, England
  3. Frederick William Benness b. 1859[10]
  4. Amy Benness b. 1860[11]
  5. Sarah Jane (jane B) Benness b. 1861[12][13]
  6. Louisa Alice Benness b. 1864[14]
  7. Edith Benness[2] b. 1865[15]

Census

6th June 1841: Emma PALMER resident at Kingsgate Coastguard, St. Peter in Thanet, Kent, England. Aged 7. Living with Thomas PALMER (35-39), Catherine PALMER (30-34), Mary PALMER (10),Thomas PALMER (8), Henry PALMER (5), Hannah PALMER (3), Alexander PALMER(2) and Sarah PALMER (5 weeks) [16]

30th March 1851: Emma E. PALMER resident at St. Peter in Thanet, Kent, England. Aged 16 years. Living with parents Thomas & Catherine PALMER and siblings: Mary C. (19), Thomas W. (17), Hannah (13), Sarah J. (9), Eliza A. (7), Caroline (5), Alexander (11), Louisa A. (3) and Ellen A. (1). Place of birth recorded as Weymouth, Dorset, England.[17]

1861 Census of England & Wales: 7th April 1861
Coast Guard Station, St. Peter in Thanet, Kent, England

First NameLast NameRelationshipMarital StatusGenderAgeOccupationBirth Place
WilliamBennessHeadMar(ried)Male38 Boatman C(oa)st G(aur)dChatham, Kent
Emma E.BennessWifeMar(ried)Female26-Weymouth, Dorsetshire
William A.BennessSon-Male5ScholarSt. Peter (in Thanet), Kent
SusannahBennessDau(ghte)r-Female3ScholarSt. Peter (in Thanet), Kent
FrederickBennessSon-Male2-St. Peter (in Thanet), Kent
AmyBennessDau(ghte)r-Female9 months-St. Peter (in Thanet), Kent
[1]

1871 Census of England & Wales: 2nd April 1871
4 Granville Grove, (Boundary Road), Ramsgate, Kent, England

First NameLast NameRelationshipMarital StatusGenderAgeOccupationBirth Place
GeorgeSmithHeadMarriedMale50 GardenerAsh, Kent
RoseSmithDaughter-Female11-Broadstairs, Kent
FannySmithDaughterUnmarriedFemale9-Broadstairs, Kent
Emma BennessLodgerwidowFemale36-Weymouth
William BennessLodgerunmarriedMale15GardenerSt. Peter's, Kent
EdithBennessLodgerUnmarriedFemale5-St. Peter's, Kent
[2]

1881 Census of England & Wales: 3rd April 1881
47 Clifton Street, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England

First NameLast NameRelationshipMarital StatusGenderAgeOccupationBirth Place
GeorgeSmithHeadMarriedMale63 Carter GeneralAsh, Kent
ElizabethSmithwife [sic]Married [sic]Female46-Weymouth, Dorset
Frederick W. Bennessson-in-law [sic]unmarriedMale22Letter CarrierKingsgate, Kent
LouisaBennessDaughter-in-law [sic]UnmarriedFemale16Domestic ServantNorthshore, Kent
EdithBennessDaughter-in-Law [sic]UnmarriedFemale15Domestic ServantNorthshore, Kent
John OwenBoarderunmarriedMale25Post Office ClerkSalop (Shropshire)
[18]

5th April 1891: Resident at 48 Clifton Street, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England Aged 57 years. Living with "husband" George SMITH and daughter Jane B. SMITH (actually Jane Beal BENNESS). Place of birth recorded as Weymouth, Dorset, England [13]

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "1861 England & Wales Census" Civil parish: St Peter in Thanet, County: Kent, Country: England, Registration district: Thanet, Sub-registration district: Ramsgate; Class: RG 9; Piece: 538; Folio: 125; Page: 13. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Images available at Ancestry Sharing Link and FindMyPast (£) Accessed 2nd March 2022
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "1871 England & Wales Census" Civil parish: St Lawrence, Ecclesiastical parish: Holy Trinity, County: Kent, Country: England; Class: RG10; Piece: 997; Folio: 48; Page: 20 Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. Image available at Ancestry Sharing Link and FindMyPast (£) Accessed 2nd March 2022
  3. ↑ "Marriage of William BENNESS & Emma Elizabeth PALMER" St. Laurence in Thanet, Kent, England Marriage Register 1837-1857 U3/19/1/17 1853 Pg. 201 Entry No. 401 Canterbury Cathedral Archives. Image available at FindMyPast (£) Accessed 1st March 2022
  4. ↑ ”Death Index of William BENNESS” General Register Office Death Index 1865 December quarter, Thanet Registration District Volume 2a Page 437. Aged 42 years GRO Online Death Indexes
  5. ↑ "Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser 09 December 1865" Pg. 5 Column 1. The British Newspaper Archives. Image available at FindMyPast (£) Accessed 1st March 2022
  6. ↑ "Death of Emma SMITH [sic]" General Register Office Death Certificate 1895 Wolverhampton (Sub District: Wolverhampton East), Staffordshire, England. Entry No. 83. [”General Register Office Death Index” 1895 March quarter, Wolverhampton Registration District Volume 6b Page 425 GRO Online Death Indexes]
  7. ↑ "Burial of Emma SMITH [sic]" Merridale Cemetery Index, Burials 1879-1904, Surnames Q-Z, Pg. 72, Reg No. G4/00843 Wolverhampton History Indexes
  8. ↑ "Birth Index of William BENNESS" General Register Office Birth Index 1855 September quarter, Thanet Registration District Volume 2a Page 552 Mother’s Maiden Name: PALMER GRO Online Birth Indexes
  9. ↑ "Birth Index of Susannah BENNESS" General Register Office Birth Index 1857 September quarter, Thanet Registration District Volume 2a Page 606 Mother’s Maiden Name: PALMER GRO Online Birth Indexes
  10. ↑ "Birth Index of Frederick William BENNESS" General Register Office Birth Index 1859 March quarter, Thanet Registration District Volume 2a Page 665 Mother’s Maiden Name: PALMER GRO Online Birth Indexes
  11. ↑ "Birth Index of Amy BENNESS" General Register Office Birth Index 1860 September quarter, Thanet Registration District Volume 2a Page 643 Mother’s Maiden Name: PALMER GRO Online Birth Indexes
  12. ↑ "Birth Index of Sarah Jane BENNESS" General Register Office Birth Index 1861 December quarter, Thanet Registration District Volume 2a Page 635 Mother’s Maiden Name: PALMER GRO Online Birth Indexes
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "1901 England & Wales Census" Class: RG12; Piece: 2229; Folio: 86; Page: 11 Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891.
  14. ↑ "Birth Index of Louisa Alice BENNESS" General Register Office Birth Index 1864 June quarter, Thanet Registration District Volume 2a Page 693 Mother’s Maiden Name: PALMER GRO Online Birth Indexes
  15. ↑ "Birth Index of Edith BENNESS" General Register Office Birth Index 1865 June quarter, Thanet Registration District Volume 2a Page 713 Mother’s Maiden Name: PALMER GRO Online Birth Indexes
  16. ↑ "1841 England and Wales Census" Class: HO107; Piece: 468; Book: 19; Civil Parish: St Peter; County: Kent; Enumeration District: 23; Folio: 49; Page: 19; Line: 2 Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast
  17. ↑ "1851 England and Wales Census" Class: HO107; Piece: 1630; Folio: 45; Page: 16 Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast
  18. ↑ "1881 England & Wales Census" Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England Class: RG11; Piece: 2796; Folio: 129; Page: 20 Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1881. Image available at Ancestry Sharing Link and FindMyPast Accessed 3rd March 2022




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Rejected matches › Elizabeth Ann Palmer (abt.1833-abt.1904)

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Categories: Kingsgate, Kent | Wolverhampton, Staffordshire