Benjamin Welham 1845-after 1888.

Both Benjamin and his brother Joseph were baptised in Battisford on 26th October 1845 and their ages were given as 15 in the 1861 census, implying they were born the same autumn. Benjamin was married in Battisford on 23rd June 1867 and may well have remained there all his life. In the marriage entry, the groom is described as Benjamin Welham, son of George Welham, labourer and the bride as Emma Cooper, daughter of Jonathan Cooper, labourer. The witnesses were Fred Pike and Charlotte Welham.

Benjamin Welham            |-Louisa Ellen Welham bap 1874
1845 - ?                   |-Alfred Edward Welham bap 1874 (born 1870 acc. to 1881 census)
mar 1867 ------------------|-Emma Sophia Welham bap 1874 (born 1871 acc. to 1881 census)
Emma Cooper                |-Mary Charlotte Welham bap 1874 1
1846-?                     |-Lucy Welham bap 1881 (born 1874 acc. to 1881 census)
                           |-Anna Welham bap 1881 (born 1875 acc. to 1881 census)
                           |-Deborah Welham bap 1881 (born 1880 acc. to 1881 census)
                           |-Robert Welham bap 1887
                           |-Michael Benjamin Welham bap 1888
                           |-Bella Welham born ?

Their first four children were all baptised on 1st November 1874, but may well have been born between 1867 and 1874. The 1871 and 1881 censuses should give an indication of their ages and hence birth-dates. These children were Louisa Ellen, Alfred Edward, Emma Sophia and Mary Charlotte. Next came Lucy and Deborah (both baptised on 15th May 1881), then Robert (baptised 23rd February 1887) and finally Michael Benjamin (baptised 23rd April 1888). In all these entries, Benjamin is described as a labourer living in Battisford.

It is interesting to compare this with the information provided by my relatives at Bentley.

                       |-Ellen Welham mar Robert Francis. 8 children.
                       |-Edward Welham c1870-?.
Benjamin Welham        |-Sophia Welham c.1871-? mar William Thorpe. 2 children.
farm worker.           |            Violet and William Thorpe.
lived at Battisford    |-Charlotte Welham mar Arthur Laflin.  (my grandparents)
mar -------------------|-Lucy Welham c.1874-? mar William Caley. 5 children.
Emma Cooper            |         Kate, Bess, Ted, Milly & Mary Caley.
                       |-Anna Welham c1875-?.
                       |-Deborah Welham c1880-? mar Charles Garrod 6 children.
                       |         Grace, Molly, Jane, Mary, Sally & Jack Garrod.
                       |-Bob Welham mar Ethel        3 children.
                       |         Lewis, Janet & Emma Welham.
                       |-Benjamin Welham, went to Australia. 1 daughter.
                       |-Bella Welham mar ? Goodchild. 8 children.

Note that this includes two other daughters, Anna and Bella.

One of the more colourful and interesting things about the younger Benjamin are the various accounts of his death. He was said to have been bitten by a snake, or struck by lightning while riding a boundary fence, or possibly some combination of both since those telling the story could never agree.

Page maintained by Susan Laflin. Last updated December 2004.