William Bennallack (b c 1778 St Agnes?)

[brentor boy]

Help please. Who was William Bennallack, and who was his wife?

When he died in Devon in October 1837, William's age was shown as 59 (b 1778 ). The informant was Mary Bennallack, but on relationship is shown. The mother of William's three youngest children, at least, was Mary and there was an older daughter also called Mary.Strangely there was a delay of 17 days in the registration of the death.

There is strong circumstantial evidence that William was one of a number of miners who migrated from St Agnes to west Devon in early 1800s. IGI and CFHS lists show the baptism of a William Bennallack in St Agnes on 27 Dec 1778 and a marriage to Elizabeth Tittle on 26 Dec 1799, which is a very neat "fit", particularly as it appears that William's first two children were called Elizabeth and William.

Where does Mary fit in? Were there two Willams? Did William marry twice? Did his wife use two names? Any help in clarifying this tangle would be much appreciated.

As far as I can gather William's children were Elizabeth (1803), William (1806), Archaleous (1809), Joanna (1812), Thomas (1815), Mary (1817), Ralph (1820), Peter (1823), John (1826)

 

[tiddy30]

hi, do you know where elizabeth tittle was born? if you can find her bapt or birth you might be able to find out if she had mary as a middle name.

 

[brentor boy]

Hi Tiddy,

Census records give her place of birth as St Agnes, although one shows Truro. The baptism record for one of her children also gives St Agnes for both parents. I now know that all the children have Mary shown as their mother, including the eldest two, William and Elizabeth.

Since my original post, I have come to the conclusion the Tittle may well be a corruption of Tickle, which is much more common in the area, and I have been able to construct family groupings in which Tittles and Tickles comfortably fit together. As a result I am now looking for Elizabeth/Mary Tittle/Tickle born St Agnes 1775/80. Unfortunately CFHS have no entry on their index which comes anywhere near close to that. The original registration of the marriage of William and Elizabeth gives no clue as to their identities or parentage either.

 

[tiddy30]

hi brentor,i have found a mary tickle born 1768 in boyton,cornwall but cant find any in truro.

 

[brentor boy]

Thanks, Tiddy. That is a possibility which I shall note, but Mary's stated age at death in 1867 was 84 (i.e. born 1783). Even allowing for some imprecision, I think the difference is probably too great for her to be a likely candidate, though.

 

[tiddy30]

me again!
i have found a mary tickle
Birth: 26 NOV 1782 Christening:17 DEC 1782
Saint Helens, Lancashire, England.
cant find any in cornwall apart from 1 born 1783 in Ashburton, Devon which is closer.This 1 is listed on the 1881 census where she is lised as mother in law which would suggest she married in to the tickle name.

 

[brentor boy]

Hi Tiddy,

Once again, many thanks for your further efforts on my behalf.

This looks promising, although I have not previously come across a Lancashire connection, and am still wondering why she might have used the name Elizabeth. At least it gives me something to work on, which is more than I have at present.

 

[tiddy30]

Hi Tiddy,

Once again, many thanks for your further efforts on my behalf.

This looks promising, although I have not previously come across a Lancashire connection, and am still wondering why she might have used the name Elizabeth. At least it gives me something to work on, which is more than I have at present.

it is possible that she was named mary elizabeth,i have a few that have swapped names when the mood takes them and the next time u find them they are useing their first name......only they know why lol.

 

[brentor boy]

Thanks Tiddy. I am resisting the temptation to conclude that she had/used two names until I have either found evidence of that, or exhausted all other alternatives (or myself!). I have been in contact with another interested party who has reconciled herself to that conclusion. Guess I may have to do the same.

 

[tiddy30]

Thanks Tiddy. I am resisting the temptation to conclude that she had/used two names until I have either found evidence of that, or exhausted all other alternatives (or myself!). I have been in contact with another interested party who has reconciled herself to that conclusion. Guess I may have to do the same.

good luck brentor,i hope you find her soon

 

[brentor boy]

After letting the matter rest for some time and coming back to it afresh, I think I MAY have solved the riddle.

I was aware of the marriage recorded between William Benalick and Mary Heaner in Calstock on 21 Sep 1799 (both sojournors) but because I could find no further information on or record of Mary, I could take that no further. I must admit I was rather dismissive of it as it was in the "wrong" place.

Recently, whilst looking at the Calstock OPC website I came across the suggestion that Heaner might be a corruption of Ennor. Putting Mary Ennor into Family Search, I found a Mary Ennor, baptised St Agnes 18 Jan 1784 - exactly where and when I was expecting to find my Mary. Furthermore her parents are shown as Thomas and Elizabeth and these are the two names of my Mary's children that I had not previously been able to identify in the family naming pattern. There is also additional evidence of the migration of miners (including Ennors) from St Agnes to the mines in the Calstock area. My William Bennallack was a miner.

I realise that there is a degree of speculation in all this, but I think this is probably as close to the truth as I am likely to get and I have now stopped looking - unless anyone gives me cause to reconsider.