Bennett

[vben5029]

I have an Alexander Bennett married to Martha Bennett. They had several children one of them being Francis Bennett born 1815 Milford Haven. Wales but registered Bristol. England. Francis was a man of the sea and eventually came to Victoria Australia in 1838 where he married Mary Herd and raised a family of 11 children. On his Marriage certificate it states the above info on his parents. Alexander was an officer in the RN before transferring to the Coastguards off the Irish Coast as Chief Officer. It has been said that another of his sons William, also became a Chief Officer in the Coastguards. I have never been able to trace anything on Alexander and Martha or the their children other than Francis but would love to find some information. If anyone can help in anyway I would be very grateful.

[Orielbenfro]

There is some confusion here. Births where not registered before September 1837 therefore there will be no birth registration for a Francis Bennett in Bristol or else where.
Prior to Sept 1837 there are only Parish Registers, in which dates of birth are very rare but sometimes do appear.

Milford Haven did not exist as a Parish at the time of your interest, but was a hamlet on the foreshore, although I believe a chapel of rest existed here, there are no records from this time, see https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/PEM...ven/index.html.

Milford during the period of your interest is covered by the Parish of Steyton, see ; https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/PEM...ton/index.html

I can confirm that there is no reference to a baptism of a Francis Bennett at Steynton in circa 1815. The only Bennett baptism at Steynton is Anne in 1832.

Another parish close by is Hubberston, which was well known to the Navy.

I do note the mrge of a Francis Bennett to Margaret Mary Francis at Steyton 07 Apr 1833. Parents are not shown on Mrge entries in parish registeres pre 1837, again mrge certificates where only introduced in Sept 1837.

For Coastguard research you may like to refer in the 1st instance to ;
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/r...ne-records.htm

You may with luck also find some mention of Alexander in the R.N., but this can be one most frustrating website.

Hope the above helps a little.
Rgds
Orielbenfro
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