James Benham 1826 – 1902
“James Benham was born about 1826 and consistently says on the Censuses that his birthplace was Andover except in 1851 when he gives Foxcott, a small hamlet on the edge of the town” .
The first reference to James in census records is 1841 in the village of Kings Enham which is now known as Knights Enham
The first reference to James in census records is 1841 in the village of Kings Enham which is now known as Knights Enham
James Benham married Margaret Martha Crouch on 1st March 1851 in Andover Q1 1851 vol 7 page 44. The Parish Church of St Mary Andover had been erected 11 years earlier in 1840.
“Margaret Martha Crouch, born about 1830 in the village of Penton Mewsey. Her father was John and so far I have been unable to discover their whereabouts on the 1841 Census”
“Margaret Martha Crouch, born about 1830 in the village of Penton Mewsey. Her father was John and so far I have been unable to discover their whereabouts on the 1841 Census”
The census for 1881 is shown under Jesse Benham 1863 - 1937
By 1901 James and Margaret are alone and recorded as paupers.
James Benham died aged 77 on the 30th November 1902 in Andover Q4 1902 vol 2c page 136
Assuming I have found the right death record it appears that James Benham died in the Union Workhouse in Andover. I have checked the census for the workhouse in 1901 and there is no other James Benham shown. It is therefore likely that he entered the workhouse after the census in April 1901 and before his death in 1902. Given that Margaret is still living in Charlton in 1911 I believe he must have gone there alone because she was unable to care for him any longer. The certificate shows that he had been suffering from Hemiplegia for 5 years before he died of a Cerebral Haemorrhage. Hemiplegia is a paralysis of one half of the body so it is probable that at 76 years of age and half paralysed, Margaret could no longer cope.
Assuming I have found the right death record it appears that James Benham died in the Union Workhouse in Andover. I have checked the census for the workhouse in 1901 and there is no other James Benham shown. It is therefore likely that he entered the workhouse after the census in April 1901 and before his death in 1902. Given that Margaret is still living in Charlton in 1911 I believe he must have gone there alone because she was unable to care for him any longer. The certificate shows that he had been suffering from Hemiplegia for 5 years before he died of a Cerebral Haemorrhage. Hemiplegia is a paralysis of one half of the body so it is probable that at 76 years of age and half paralysed, Margaret could no longer cope.
I do not know when Margaret moved to Dorchester, it was after 1911 but before 1925 because she died there in 1925.
Margaret M Benham died age 95 in Dorchester on 25th March 1925 at 4 Damers Road recorded as Q1 1925 vol 5a page 381. I suspect she moved to live with her son Jesse and his family having lived alone since the death of her husband in 1902. The death certificate shows that she had been living with her son and daughter in law at 146 Monmouth Road before moving into Damers Hospital. The death was registered by her daughter in law Alice Benham.