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I am looking for help on finding out about my grandfather. He died in Toronto on August 13, 1920 when my father was only an infant so there is little oral history to help me out.

On the few documents that I have found, his birthplace is listed as Dublin Ireland. There are a few possible birth dates. On his marriage affidavit in 1913 it lists his age as 36 giving him a birth year of 1877. On his attestation papers to join the Canadian Army in 1916 his birth date is listed as September 22, 1871. A letter to my father from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1987 lists his birth date as September 20, 1876.

His attestation papers also indicate that he served for 3 years in South Africa “Imp. A.S.C. Pte. to Sgt.” which I assume was from 1899-1901. These papers also list some scars so he might have been injured there. These forms are dated April 1916. After going to Europe, he was a victim of mustard gas and, assuming he was the father of my father, he was back in Canada by February 1918.

On his marriage affidavit in 1913 it indicates that he had lived in Toronto Canada since 1902 – the microfilm is poor but it looks like 1902. On the same form his parents are listed as John Bennett and Annie Cleary. His religion is listed as Church of England.

His death certificate lists his occupation as “soldier” and his name is listed in the First World War Book of Remembrance so he was part of the Canadian Armed forces when he died of the effects of the gas poisoning.

He married Edith Taylor, born in Birmingham England November 15, 1913. Again, I have no single birth date. On the marriage affidavit it lists her age as 28 giving her a birth date of 1885. Her second marriage in December 1921 gives her age as 39 which would be a birth year of 1882. She died May 15, 1943 and the card on file at the cemetery lists her age as 60 which is consistent with the 1883 date. A note in my mother’s handwriting has her birth date as November 30 and the year is illegible.

I am a beginner at this – less than a month – and cannot seem to find out anything beyond what I have listed above. I want to find out my grandfather’s birth date and information about his parents so I can dig deeper. Then I’ll tackle my grandmother’s history.

Thanks.

For ref

Canada, Soldiers of the First World War, 1914-1918
about George Edward Bennett
Name: George Edward Bennett
Residence: Toronto, Ontario
Birth Date: 22 Sep 1871
Birth Location: Dublin, Ireland
Relative: Edith Bennett
Relationship: Wife
Regiment Number: 237509



I see you have listed a catalogue of events for him but could you tell us what you would like to know please?

This might be something or nothing

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/

Residents of a house 38 in Lawrence Street (Cromac, Antrim)

Surname Forename Age Sex Relation to head Religion
Bennett Agnes 14 Female Daughter Presbyterian
Bennett John Warwick 47 Male Head of Family Presbyterian
Bennett Joseph 10 Male Son Presbyterian
Bennett David Alex 12 Male Son Presbyterian
Bennett Thoma Malcom 16 Male Son Presbyterian
Bennett Samuel 21 Male Son Presbyterian
Bennett Annie 46 Female Wife Presbyterian

I would like to find a birth record to clear up the confusion between the date on the marriage affidavit and the attestation papers for the Canadian army and I would like to find a record of his parents so that I can proceed to find addittional relatives such as siblings and grandparents.

Unfortunately it's not the correct one.

name: John Warwick Bennett
registration district: Banbridge
event type: MARRIAGES
registration quarter and year: 1877
volume number: 16
page number: 283
digital folder number: 4179386


name: Annie MALCOMSON
registration district: Banbridge
event type: MARRIAGES
registration quarter and year: 1877
volume number: 16
page number: 283
digital folder number: 4179386

There is a tree on ancestry with a photo of Edith. They have John's birth date as 22nd Sep 1876 and his parents as Edward John Bennett, 1837 - 1941. he was born in Ireland but lived in Portsmouth. Parents James Bennett
and Susan Porter.
Annie Cleary was born in Camalivay, Kildare, Ireland . Parents John Cleary and Cath Stafford.

I have a few photos of my grandmother so if I can find the tree on ancestry I can confirm if it is the same person.

From a tree on Ancestry

ParentsJohn Bennett Annie Cleary Spouse & Children Edith Taylor
1885 – 1957
George Edward Bennett
1914 – 1986
Doris E Bennett
1916 – 1991
Harold Bennett
1918 – 2007

I dont know if this will help you or not? Possible sibling for George



Ireland, Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911
about Maria Bennett
Name: Maria Bennett
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 1 Jan 1868
Birth Place: Rathmines, Dub, Ireland
Baptism Place: Rathmines, Dub, Ireland
Father's Name: Edward John Bennett
Mother's Name: Anne Cleary
FHL Film Number: 101161

1871 England Census
Name: Maria Clara Bennett
Age: 3
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: John Bennett
Mother's Name: Anna Bennett
Gender: Female
Where born: Dublin, Ireland
Civil parish: Portsmouth
Ecclesiastical parish: St Thomas
Town: Portsmouth
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Registration district: Portsea Island
Sub-registration district: Portsmouth Town
ED, institution, or vessel: Colewort Barracks
Household schedule number: 1
Piece: 1136
Folio: 41
Page Number: 7
Household Members: Name Age
John Bennett 34 <<Strand, Gloucestershire, England
Anna Bennett 32 Camalivay, Kildare, Ireland
Henry James Bennett 10 <<<Curragh, Kildare, Ireland
Maria Clara Bennett 3 <<Dublin, Ireland
Edward George Bennett 1 <<Aldershot

For ref

Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1928
about Edith Taylor
Name: Edith Taylor
Birth Place: Birmingham, England
Age: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1885
Father Name: Henry Taylor
Mother Name: Mary Ann Turnbill Taylor
Spouse Name: George Bennett
Spouse's Age: 36
Spouse Birth Place: Dublin, Ireland
Spouse Father Name: John Bennett
Spouse Mother Name: Annie Cleary
Marriage Date: 15 Nov 1913
Marriage County or District: York

Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947
Name: Geo Edward Bennett
Death Date: Aug 1920
Death County or District: York
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Birth Location: Ireland
Cause of death: TB of the lung

Groom's Name: Edward John Bennett
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age:
Bride's Name: Anne Cleary
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age:
Marriage Date: 18 Sep 1859
Marriage Place: Ballysax, Kild, Ireland
Groom's Father's Name: James Bennett
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name: John Cleary
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status: Single
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status: Single
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M70220-8
System Origin: Ireland-EASy
Source Film Number: 101409
Reference Number: 323

I wonder if this is the marriage for his parents?


Ireland, Civil Registration Marriages Index, 1845-1958
about Anne Cleary
Name: Anne Cleary
Date of Registration: 1859
Registration district: Naas
Volume: 8
Page: 323
FHL Film Number: 101247

These are the other names listed on the page:


Edward John Bennet 1859 Naas <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Mary Brophy 1859 Naas
Anne Cleary 1859 Naas <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Henry Thomas Curtis 1859 Naas
Charles Durrand 1859 Naas
Ellen Hannon 1859 Naas
William Jones 1859 Naas
Eliza Walsh 1859 Naas

This would fit with the 1871 census that I posted and the birth of their first son abt 1860 (Henry James Bennett)

Oooh snap Roots.....I thought I was all alone!

Naas is in Kildare so it looks like the same details we have for the marriage :-)

Yes Gins same marriage but the details you have given are those needed to order the certificate from GROIRE, so even better!

Five hours earlier here - thanks for the research. The tree on ancestry has correct info on my father (Harold) and my aunt (Doris) and uncle (George). However they are wrong about Edith - she died in 1943 not 1957. I will begin to pursue the leads you have given me. Not today though - 42nd anniversary and must emerge from my room after 3 weeks almost full time on this.

OK, heres the service record for the Edward George I posted in the 1871 census. His birth is listed as Aldershot

Attested: Dublin 21st Nov 1885 (Age 15yrs 7months) His mother Annie signs to give permission for service Dublin 20th Nov 1885

NOK list: mother Annie, brother Harry, sister Maria

British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
Name: George Bennett
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Age at enlistment: 15
Birth Parish: Aldershot
Birth County: Hampshire
Document Year: 1885
Regimental Number: 6491
Regiment Name: Commessarial & Transport Corps


This is the marriage for him as detailed on his service records, 21st Jan 1898


Marriages Mar 1898
-----------------------------------------------------
Bennett George Alverstoke 2b 833
Knight Jane Elizabeth Alverstoke 2b 833

Not sure which reg district 'Aldershot' would come under? This may be his birth


Births Dec 1869
-------------------------------------------------
BENNETT George Portsea 2b 436


Or does Aldershot come under Farnham in 1870c

Births Dec 1869
-----------------------------------------------
BENNETT Male Farnham 2a 87

Gins, I think that is a different George in 1911. I think this is him in 1891.

Name: George Bennett
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relation: Lodger
Gender: Male
Where born: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Frimley
Ecclesiastical parish: St Michael
Town: York Town <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation: Think it says Boot maker?

Condition as to marriage: Single

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Farnham
Sub-registration district: Frimley
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 565
Folio: 16
Page Number: 26
Household Members: Name Age
Samuel West 75
Ann West 66
Annie Burch 23
George Bennett 21

and the same George in 1881

Name: George Bennett
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Thomas Bennett
Mother's Name: Mary A. Bennett
Gender: Male
Where born: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Sandhurst
County/Island: Berkshire
Country: England

Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Scholar

Registration district: Easthampstead
Sub-registration district: Sandhurst
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1320
Folio: 49
Page Number: 22
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas Bennett 41
Mary A. Bennett 32
George Bennett 11
Martha Bennett 9
Anne Bennett 4
Thomas Bennett 2


"Our" George in 1891?

Name: George Bennett
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Gender: Male
Where born: Aldershot, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Aldershot
Ecclesiastical parish: St Michael
Town: Aldershot
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation: Soldiers A S Coys

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

Registration district: Farnham
Sub-registration district: Frimley
ED, institution, or vessel: Army Service Corps
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 566
Folio: 20
Page Number: 36

To clarify the registration districts.

FARNHAM REGISTRATION DISTRICT
Registration County : Surrey.
Created : 1.7.1837.
Abolished : 1.4.1934 (incorpoated into Surrey South Western and Surrey North Western registration districts).
Sub-districts : Aldershot, Ash, Farnham, Frimley.
GRO volumes : IV (1837–51), 2a (1852–1934).
Registers now held by : Surrey (Guildford), Surrey (Weybridge), Hampshire (Winchester) and Hampshire (Aldershot).


PORTSEA ISLAND REGISTRATION DISTRICT
Registration County : Hampshire.
Created : 1.7.1837.
Abolished : 1.7.1900 (renamed Portsmouth registration district).
Sub-districts : Kingston, Kingston & East Southsea, Kingston & Landport, Landport, Landport & Southern, North End & Buckland, Portsea & Landport, Portsea Town, Portsmouth & Mid Southsea, Portsmouth Town
GRO volumes : VII (1837–51), 2b (1852–1900).
Registers now held by : Hampshire (Fareham) and Portsmouth.



So Aldershot would be covered by Farnham.

Gins, the above was found on FreeBMD. Click on the name of the registration district and a new window opens then click on the bit that says more info here.

Excellent, that looks like him in 1891

I'll delete that 1911 to avoid confusion

How are you on registration districts Roots.....re the birth in Aldershot?

Thanks for that. So it looks like the male birth in Farnham might be the one

Yes, I think the male birth in Farnham rather than the Portsea one.

I suspect our George would be abroad in 1901 serving in the Boer War?

I wonder if we can find the wife Jane though.

The other George is on the 1901 census with a wife named Annie (he is a book shop assistant).
I think this is his marriage
Marriages Mar 1896
Bennett George Henley 3a 855
Burch Annie Henley 3a 855
Morris Ellen Henley 3a 855
Stockwell Henry Henley 3a 855


Maybe leave that 1911 census - just to remind us that there are two Georges born in the same area around the same time.