Benjamin HOLMANS (1822 – 1908) and Margaret Mary BANKS (1831 – 1889)
Benjamin HOLMANS and Margaret Mary BANKS were married on 05-Apr-1849 at the Church of St Martins, Wootton, Kent, England. His occupation given as a labourer. He was baptised on 22-Apr-1822 in Great Mongeham, Kent, England whilst she was a bit younger and baptised on 22-May-1831 in Coldred, Kent, England. They had nine children between 1850 and 1867.
Sadly Benjamin probably did not remember his mother Elizabeth GRAVES (1798 – 1826) as she died in 19-Nov-1826. He was the eldest of three with a second sister born on 21-May-1826 so it would not relating to the act of childbirth that caused her death. However, perhaps complications relating to it that weakened her contributed to her demise as she was only about 28.
His father, also Benjamin HOLMANS (1797 – 1854), remarried on 19-Oct-1828 to Eliza STEER (1799 – 1870) and they had eight children together between 1829 and 1843. Sadly though six of these died between infancy and the age of twenty five and one of his full siblings also passed away at 16 so must have been difficult for all the family.
Margaret was the eldest of ten born to William BANKS (1807 – 1878) and Catherine White JARVIS (1809 – 1883) and although she lost one sibling at 25, five of the others lived over the age of 80 and a couple in their early 90s.
In the 1841 Census, Benjamin (18) is living with his grandparents in Wickham Bushes(?), Lydden. His grandfather at circa 75 is still employed as an Ag Lab and that is also his occupation as well as the other individual under the same roof. This is presumably his uncle Thomas GRAVES (1811 – 1887) but due to the age rounding in this census return he is described as 25 whereas would be nearer 30. Benjamin’s mother was over a decade older her than younger brother.
Meanwhile Margaret (10) is with her parents and four younger siblings at Geddinge, Wootton, Kent, England. This is presumably properties along Geddinge Lane in that location. I believe she also has an uncle living with her family as a Thomas BANKS (1816 – 1888), circa 25, is noted as a separate household within the property. He also works as an Ag Lab and so does the Thomas BANKS (1782 – 1857) who is found with his wife next door to them (AKA her paternal grandparents).
Before the 1851 Census they had two children. In that document they are found at Chalksole Green, Alkham and he is employed as a Grazier whilst Margaret is a Grazier’s Wife while the two infants are Grazier’s Sons. There is also a 12 year old girl living with them as a House Servant but this is actually one of Margaret’s sisters.
Four more children are born to them between 1853 and 1860 so they now have three boys and three girls. The household of eight are still in Chalksole Green for the 1861 Census return with Benjamin described as what would seem to be an Ag Lab and Grazier. During the next decade they have their final three children but sadly one daughter dies before the age of 7.
Come 1871 and they are still placed at Chalksole Green. This one is clearer but would seem that the same enumerator’s hand is connected with this document as well as he seems to put Agg Lab. Seven of the eight surviving children under the roof with their fourth born, a son aged 16, off as a General Servant (Domestic).
During the next decade several of them go on to get married and start families. Even a couple of those who are still unmarried have moved out of the household. Again this document has most people given occupations and every Head of Family is noted as such instead of just the word Head as is more common.
Benjamin is descried as Labourer whilst his wife is Labourer’s Wife. Their 23 year old daughter is put as Assistant and other girls on that page who have the same title have Aglab noted after it in a different hand. This feels like one of the few records I’ve seen where presumably the girls of the family are helping with work around the house or on the land to some extent and it is noted whereas most would not be deemed to have any employment. Their fifteen year old son is also a Labourer.
Two more of their children get married in this decade before their mother passed away. On the death certificate of Margaret on 27-Dec-1889, Benjamin is described as a Woodreeve which implies he was the overseer of a forest. She was only 58 and died from Leucocythaemia [Leukaemia].
Then on the 1891 marriage certificate of their eldest son Benjamin is noted as Wood Dealer which would seem to perhaps be a role that is part of being a Woodreeve. Can presume that it involves the cutting down of trees that are dangerous or need removing to thin the woodland out perhaps and then make money by selling it on for products or firewood. A similar job that is still undertaken by people today.
Few months later the youngest child also married and had three children with his wife but one died as a toddler. The final daughter then married but did not have any offspring. In the 1901 Census, aged 78, Benjamin is a Wood Dealer as well and living with him are this middle child and her husband, his son-in-law. Location still given as Chalksole Green. Some interesting transcribing as his surname this time shown as Kolman with birth place Monaghan where they mean Mongeham.
Benjamin died on 07-Jan-1908 from Natural Decay, Exhaustion with his daughter present at the death so clearly she had continued to be there for him over the last years of his life. I do not know where either of them are buried. As noted they had nine children and believe 45 grandchildren along with six step-grandchildren.
Footnotes –
References to be provided for evidence at a later date but most research has been done using Ancestry, FreeBMD and Google Maps.
