The Benton Family of Plaistow, West Ham, Essex

Benjamin John Benton - Oldest son of Benjamin and Elizabeth

Benjamin John was born 6 April 1820 at West Ham.  He married Eleanor Bridget Morris GWALTER  on 4 June 1838 at St Dunstan's Church, Stepney. Benjamin was aged about 18 and Eleanor about 22. They had two children before Eleanor died late in 1840 (Stepney Dec Qtr 2/357) at about the same time as James was born. Benjamin remarried six years later, on 10 September 1846 to Charlotte SHARP at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Benjamin and Charlotte were both aged 26. They had seven children.

 Eleanor GWALTER=======v=========Benjamin John========v======== Charlotte SHARP
   1816-1840          1838                           1846
                       |                              |                        
                       |                              | 
   |-------------------|                     |--------|--------|---------|---------|--------|-----------| 
 Benjamin John     James Gwalter            George   Clara    Mary       John    William  Elizabeth   Rosanna 
1839-1921          1840-1916             1847-1920 1849-? 1852-1937 1853-1855 1858-1858  1858-?     1861-?
    |                  |                     |        |        |         -         -       |            |
  m:1865             m:1862               m:1877   m:1866   m:1874                       m:1888       m:1885
 Louisa             Emala                 Annie    Timothy  Robert                        John        Thomas
  MILLS             PORTA                 HULL    ETHERIDGE GILMORE                       FLOOD       MACKAY
   |                   |                     |        |        |                           |            |
 

Benjamin married Eleanor GWALTER on 4 June 1838:

They had two children before Eleanor died in late 1840, at about the same time as James was born:

1841 Census

Benjamin is listed in the 1841 census as living with his parents, aged 25 and occupation "Bank". His son Benjamin, aged 2 is with him but not James Gwalter who does not appear to be recorded in the census. His wife had recently died.

Marriage to Charlotte Sharp

Benjamin remarried on 10 September 1846 to Charlotte SHARP at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Benjamin was a Coal Merchant.

They had seven children, the first three were born in Stepney, the younger four in Victoria, Australia.

1851 census

By 1851 Benjamin had remarried, to Charlotte Sharp. They were living at 38 "White Horse" St, Stepney.

Benjamin John	34	Corn & Coal Dealer (employing an additional 6 labourers	Plaistow
Charlotte	30		Buckingham
James G.	10		Stepney
George R.	3		Stepney
C.A. (Clara)	1		Stepney
A Reynolds	17	Servant	Sussex

This time Benjamin's oldest son Benjamin is missing from the census. He was boarding at a school in Potter Street, Harlow, Essex. Today there is the Potter Street Primary School at this address.

Emigration to Australia

Soon after their daughter Mary Charlotte was born in 1852, the family emigrated to Victoria, Australia.  The two older boys from his first family emigrated also. They all settled at Mornington, south of Melbourne, where descendents of the family remain today. Benjamin's younger brother John Laybank emigrated to Adelaide, Australia in 1848, and eventually settled in Sydney.

Death of Benjamin John

Benjamin died in 27 February 1914 at his home at 14 La Trobe St, Prahran, Melbourne, aged 94.  His death certificate shows his mother's name as Maria LAYBANK.

Return to Benton home page

Last updated: 07/12/2006