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3rd Generation
Matilda Murrell ( 1819 - 1852 )
~ The wife of William Benson ~
13. MATILDA MURRELL was born in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized [March 27, 1819] or in 1820 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
Father: James Murrell (No. 2)
Mother: Elizabeth ----?----
From the Bishop’s transcripts of St. James the Less church in Hadleigh:
Baptisms [1819] - Page [ ] No. 95
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
[27th of March] / Matilda Daughter of / James and Elizabeth / Murrells / Hadleigh / Shoe Maker / [Samuel] Bacon Curate
From Pallot’s Baptism Index for England, we find the following:
Murrells, Matilda (Jas. & Eliz) Hadleigh, Essex 1820
In 1841, Matilda Marrell, age 18, was living with her father in Hadleigh, Essex.
From the 1841 Census of Hadleigh:
Name - Age Sex - Profession - Born in County ?
James
Marrell 51 M
Shoemaker
Y
Eliza do 20 F
Y
Matilda do
18
F
Y
Edward do
11 M
Y
Eleanor do
4 F
Y
The image from the 1841 Census:
Click on picture or here: for larger and clearer picture
Matilda Murrels married WILLIAM BENSON in 1844.
From the England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, we find the following Marriage entry from the Indexes:
Name: Matilda
Murrels / Wm Benson
Year: 1844
Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec (4th Quarter)
District: Rochford
County: Essex
Volume: 12
Page: 399
William Benson was born ca. 1811 in Bowen Gifford, Essex.
In 1851, William and Matilda Benson were living in Laindon, Essex. William was an Agricultural Labourer.
From the 1851 census of Laindon:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
William
Benson Head Married 40 M
Ag Labourer
Essex Bowen
Gifford
Matilda Benson Wife Married 29 F
Do Hadleigh
Elizabeth Benson Daughter
3 F
Do
Hadleigh
William Benson Son
2
M
Do
South Benfleet
Mary Ann Button Visitor
13
F
Do Rochford
The visitor, Mary Ann Button, is probably a niece from Matilda’s half-sister, Susan Button.
Matilda Benson died at the age of 32 in 1852 and was buried October 10, 1852 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh, Essex.
From the England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, we find the following Death entry from the Indexes:
Name: Matilda
Benson
Year: 1852
Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec (4th Quarter)
District: Rochford
County: Essex
Volume: 4a
Page: 93
From the Bishop’s transcripts of St. James the Less church in Hadleigh:
Burials 1852 - Page [ ] No. 301
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Matilda Benson / Hadleigh / Octr 10 / 32 / Thomas Julius Henderson Curate
After the death of Matilda Benson in 1852, the family seems to have vanished.
So far I haven’t found the husband, William Benson, and the two children, Elizabeth and William, in the later censuses.
And another strange thing is that the birth records for the children doesn’t show up in the indexes for birth for Essex county.
Were they actually born with different names or that the parents didn’t bother to register the births?
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AND MATILDA (MURRELL) BENSON
32. ELIZABETH ANN BENSON was born in 1848 in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized July 15, 1848 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the Bishop’s transcripts of St. James the Less church in Hadleigh:
Baptisms 1848 - Page 59 No. 474
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
July 15th / Elizabeth Ann / William & Matilda / Benson / Hadleigh / Labourer / W. Haney Curate
In 1851, Elizabeth Benson, age 3, was living with her parents in Laindon, Essex. (See above under parents for census details).
33. WILLIAM BENSON was born ca. 1849 in South Benfleet, Essex.
In 1851, William Benson, age 2, was living with his parents in Laindon, Essex. (See above under parents for census details).
Sources:
1. St. James the Less church, Hadleigh, Essex, England. Bishop’s transcripts 1800-1868, D/CR 160, FHL British Film 1702317 Item 3. Baptisms: 1819 Matilda Murrells, 1848 Elizabeth Ann Benson. Burials: 1852 Matilda Benson. Searched and extracted starting February 20, 2010 Saturday 10:00 AM.
2. Pallot’s Baptism Index for England: 1780 - 1837. Baptisms: 1820 Matilda Murrells. Ancestry.com. February 16, 2009 Monday 7:35 PM.
3. 1841 Census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9, Image No. 1, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: HO 107 / 337 / 8, Original Page No. 2, Stamped Page No. 4, Household of James Marrell. March 5, 2008 Wednesday 3:04 PM.
4. Civil Registration Index, Marriage of Matilda Murrels and Wm Benson, 4th Quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec), Year 1844, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 12, Page 399. Searched February 20, 2010 Saturday 6:35 PM.
5. 1851 Census of England, Essex, Laindon, District 7c, 6e, 7d, and 7e, Image No. 1, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: H.O. 107/1774, Original Page No. 2, Stamped Page No. 396, No. of Householder’s Schedule 2, Household of William Benson. February 20, 2010 Saturday 6:23 PM.
6. Civil Registration Index, Death of Matilda Benson, 4th Quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec), Year 1852, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 4a, Page 93. Searched February 20, 2010 Saturday 6:48 PM.
Last updated June 6, 2010 Sunday 4:14 PM
Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth
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