Henry Benjamin Rackley (1889-1973) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Henry Benjamin Rackley

Born 14 Sep 1889 in Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Son of James Maynard Rackley and Emily (Keene) Pither

Brother of James Henry Rackley and William Thomas Rackley

[spouse(s) unknown]

[children unknown]

Died 5 May 1973 at age 83 in Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dave Ells

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Profile last modified 1 Feb 2020 | Created 31 Jan 2020

This page has been accessed 95 times.

1 Biography
2 Parentage
- 2.1 Evidence for links to father
- 2.2 Evidence for links to mother
3 Sources

Biography

Henry Benjamin was born on 14th September 1889 and baptised on the 2nd October 1889 at St Paul's Church, Greenwich, London, Kent. He was the son of James Rackley and Emily Keene of 6 Roan Place, Greenwich, London, Kent.

In the 1891 the family were living at the same address.

Henry Benjamin's father died in 1899 and his mother remarried to a relative.

In 1901 the family were living at the same address.

In 1905 Henry Benjamin, age 15, may possibly have been the biological father of Ted Brown (later Rackley) born 1905, the illegitimate son of Sarah Eliza Brown. The other possible father was his brother James Henry Rackley.

Also in 1905, just three weeks later Rebecca Berry, unmarried age 16, and future spouse of Henry Benjamin, gave birth to a son Alfred John Berry. Could Henry Benjamin have possibly been his father also?!

Henry Benjamin Rackley, age 20, married Rebecca Berry, age 21, on 6th April 1910 (this date from his Army Record) at Greenwich, London, Kent (from Apr-Jun Marriage Registration). Marriage Certificate yet to be found.

Henry Benjamin and Rebecca quickly went on to have eight children: Henry Benjamin 1910 (three months after their wedding), James Henry 1912, Ellen Rose 1915, Ann Elizabeth 1917, Ernest W (infant death) and Josiah (twins) 1921, Ivy C (another infant death) 1922, and Ethel Louise 1924.

In the 1911 Census Henry Benjamin and Rebecca, their son Henry Benjamin, and her son Alfred John, were living with his brother James Henry Rackley (the other possible father of Ted Brown) at 11 St James' Place Greenwich, London, Kent.

Henry Benjamin, carman age 28 years 210 days of No.1 Newick Mansions, Woolwich Road, Charlton, was called up 24th April 1917 at Woolwich, London, Kent into the Royal West Kent Regiment. He was posted to India on 22nd July 1917 where he served until he was transferred to the Mediterranean from 24th January 1918 to 13th March 1919. He was promoted to lance corporal 21st December 1918. He was discharged to the reserves (Class Z) at Crystal Palace on 12th May 1919.

Sadly Henry Benjamin's wife died age just ~37 years Apr-Jun 1926 at Woolwich, London, Kent, leaving her husband, age 36, and their six surviving children, ages 1-16 years.

Later Henry Benjamin formed a relationship with Emily Lorinda Parker (nee Berry) 1899-1977 who had three children from her previous marriage to George Parker.

Henry Benjamin and Emily Lorinda lived as man and wife and they had four children: Robert John 1931, Ronald William 'Chick' 1935, William T 1936, and Kathleen P 1938. Possibly Emily Lorinda's first husband was then still alive.

In the 1939 Register: Henry Benjamin, 'married' builder's general labourer age 50, and Emily Lorinda, 'married' age 40, were living at 19 Prospect Vale, Woolwich, London, Kent, with her children, and their children. His children from his previous marriage, some of whom were quite young, must have been living elsewhere.

Henry Benjamin, 51, and Emily Lorinda, 41, did not actually marry until Jul-Sep 1940 at Woolwich, London, Kent. Marriage Certificate yet to be found.

Henry Benjamin, 83, died on the 5th May 1973 and he was cremated on 14th May 1973 at Greenwich, London, Kent. His second wife survived him.

Parentage

Evidence for links to father

His father is named on his baptism record.
They appear together on the 1891 Census.
First Marriage Record - not yet found.
Second Marriage Record - not yet found.

Evidence for links to mother

His mother is named on his baptism record.
They appear together on the 1891 Census.
Dave Ells has several confident DNA matches possibly via this link, but they may equally relate to his brother James Henry Rackley 1879-1928.