Jane Ackerman, dau. of Lawrence and Sarah - nee Denziloe - was baptised in Bridport on 7 April 1793. She was the youngest of 9 children. It would appear that she was working away from Bridport and was now in Pilsdon c. 1813 - Pilsdon is about 6 miles from Bridport - and after Banns were announced in Pilsdon she married Benjamin Welch on 17 January 1814. The lived in Pilsdon and baptised 12 children between 1815 and 1831. 3 of their children were named David [bapt. 23 Apr. 1820], Emanuel [bapt. 20 Apr. 1828] and Henry [bapt. 24 Apr. 1831]. The 1st available census - 1841 - finds a family in Symondsbury, consisting of Benjamin [age 45 - no occupation] a wife [age 45] and 3 sons David [age 15], Emmanuel [age 14] and Henry [age 11]. With rounding of ages these looked pretty close except for David who should hyave had his age rounded as 20. The rounded age for the wife was right - but the name was wrong - it was Sarah. Looking at some Ancestry trees they have Benjamin marrying Sarah Jane Ackerman - but there doesn't appear to be any records of a birth/baptism for such a girl. Leaving the 12 kids alone for the moment I tried to find Benjamin with either a spouse named Jane/Sarah in 1851. Had no luck with that search. 1861 census - RG9/1369/5/3 - still in Symondsbury. His age is 64 and his place of birth is Pildson which is consistent to a baptism found - 19 Jun. 1796 and parents Benjamin and Betty. His wife is still named as Sarah - her age is 70 - somewhat consistent with a baptism in 1793 - but the place of birth is now STOKE ABBOT and I can find no suitable baptisms in that area. 1871 census - RG10/2030/10/11 - still in Symondsbury. He is aged 75 and born Pilsdon and she - still Sarah - is aged 81 in Stoke Abbot. Both die and are buried in Symondsbury, St. Peters: Sarah 18 July 1872 - age 82. Benjamin 1 February 1873 - age 77. All indications are that my Jane died sometime between 1831 and 1841 and Benjamin married a lady by the name of Sarah - but not an Ackerman - however such a marriage cannot be found. Can a resolution to this be sourced?
There is a marriage in Chard reg district - September qtr 1871 - 10 441 Benjamin Welch married Sarah Meech or Mary Hutchings
The inferred county on Ancestry indicates Chard is in Somerset. I know that the 1841 census and later ones indicate a 'spouse' named Sarah, but at the time of this marriage, he had produced a dozen children with Jane and some of these were likely still living with him. I suppose I could order the certificate and stipulate that the wife was Sarah, he was a Carpenter by trade and a Widower, but the distance between Dorset and Somerset seems to be a bit far for it to be him. Maybe his Jane did die between 1831 and 1841 [and there are some possibilities of that], but maybe he either never re-married or married much later in life to a Sarah. Speculation on my part, though.
These counties are next door to each other. Symondsbury to Chard - and remember, it is the Chard registration district that is mentioned - is just 18 miles.
OK folks - I am my own worst enemy. Here's why: There were 12 children born to Benjamin and Jane - baptism dates noted below: Elizabeth - 5 Nov. 1815 Thomas - 3 Nov. 1816 Susanna - 28 Dec. 1817 George - 25 Apr. 1819 David - 23 Apr. 1820 Mary - 14 Oct. 1821 Ann - 21 Dec. 1823 Benjamin - 1 May 1825 Jane - 30 Jul. 1826 Emanuel - 20 Apr. 1828 John - 31 Jan. 1830 Henry - 24 Apr. 1831 Quite a brood after 15+ years - vicar must have been pleased . So I put all 12 names into a hat and drew out ------ BENJAMIN - and guess what??? - another headache!!! Anyone interested?
Well - you did ask --- and who am I to disobey? I have a marriage certificate - for Benjamin Welch - 23 October 1853 in Botherhampton, Dorset. Here are the details: Groom. Benjamin Welch - a Bachelor - full age - occ. Shipwright - resident of Botherhampton - father Benjamin Welch - occ. Joiner. Bride. Caroline Rice - a Widow - full age - resident of Botherhampton - father John Potter - occ. Shoemaker. Benjamin made his mark [X] and Caroline signed her name. I cannot find anything of substance that fits to either a baptism of Caroline - dau. of John Potter [a Shoemaker] or a marriage to someone named Rice who died prior to 1853. I have what I think is their 1861 census - RG9/645/12/17 - in Alverstoke, Hampshire, but befor I move forward from that item, can some background of Caroline be found?
There is a Caroline Potter who married in 1845 in Axminster, Devon. One of the possible spouses was Samuel Rice
That's a start C.C. and "thank you". This looks very good as from the name - Samuel Rice - I have found a burial in Botherthampton 1 September 1852. Caroline may have been pregnant when her husband died which is a possible reason as to why I cannot find a birth or baptism in Botherhampton for this child who appears in the 1861 census - noted post #9 - Mary A. R. Welch age 9.
Very interesting - there is a 3 year old daughter - named Elizabeth. Caroline indicates her place of birth as Colyton, Devon - but 1861 has her place of birth as Charmouth [?] Dorset and residing in Alverstoke. In 1871 - without Benjamin or the 3 kids in 1861 - but still in Alverstoke - RG10/1149/57/41 with a son William [born Gosport] age 10. Carolie now says birth-place Colyton
This places her as having been born in 1822 or thereabouts. There is a baptism for a Caroline POTTER on 2nd June 1822 in Colyton - but just the mother, Elizabeth, is named. No father.
I agree. So was she illegitimate and invented a father to satisfy the requirements of Benjamin in 1853? So now I wonder - given post #15 -----????? Are there 2 Caroline's: One born in Colyton, Devon c. 1822 and one born in Charmouth, Dorset, c. 1823
