Beniston
Family Tree
 

1. Matthew Beniston (also documented as Benison) was born about 1656 
    He married 23 Jan 1680/81 at Smalley, Derbyshire, England, Margaret Cowper who was born about 1660

The information for this generation was provided by John Benniston.
Some from the original Smalley Parish Registers, and some from a transcript of it because it was too difficult to read.

Mathew Venison of this towne of Smalley and Margarette Cowp of Mapperley in the County of Derby 
were marryed at this Chappell the 23rd day of January being Sunday An: Dom 1680/81

Venison and Benison are one and the same.  
The archivist at Derbyshire Record Office confirs Vs and Bs were interchangeable in that they can sound similar 
- the register keeper wrote down what he hheard.


According to marriage entry, Matthew was about 24 years old and lived in Smalley and Margaret was about 20 years and lived at Mapperley

Matthew was buried on 24 Jan 1726 at Smalley and Margaret was buried 27 Jan 1726 also at Smalley

    Children of Matthew Beniston and Margaret Cowper:-
    i.  Mary Beniston bap. 10 Dec 1682 at Smalley, Derbys.
    ii.  John Beniston bap. 27 Dec 1683 at Smalley
    iii.  Martha Beniston bap. 10 Apr 1686 at Smalley
    iv.  Ann Beniston bap. 22 Dec 1688 at Smalley
    v.   Margaret Beniston bap. 15 Jul 1691 at Smalley, married 12 Dec 1726 John Wright
    vi.  Matthew Beniston bap. 2 Jul 1694 at Smalley, buried 25 Dec 1698 at Smalley
    vii.  Benjamin Beniston born 11 Mar 1697, bap 20 Mar 1696/7 at Smalley
    viii.  Matthew Beniston bap. 11 Apr 1700 at Smalley, buried 15 Aug 1705 at Smalley
2.  ix.  Jonathan Beniston bap 12 Jul 1702 at Smalley
     x.   George Beniston bap. 9 Sep 1705 at Smalley, married 9 Sep 1730 at West Hallam, Derbyshire, Elizabeth Limb

Next Generation

2.  Jonathan Beniston bap 12 July 1702 at Smalley (son of Matthew Beniston & Margaret Cowper),
    married 1 Dec 1728 at Duffield, Derbyshire, Ann Riley 
   
     Ann was buried 30 Aug 1736 at Smalley

   
     Children of Jonathan Beniston and Ann Riley:-
       
i.  Martha Beniston bap 12 Oct 1729 at Smalley, Derbyshire, buried 2 Dec 1729 at Smalley
        ii. Sarah Beniston bap 23 May 1731 at Smalley, buried 19 mar 1732 at Smalley
        iii. Hannah Beniston bap 18 Feb 1733 at Smalley

   
     Jonathan then married 5 Nov 1739 at Smalley, Ann Yeavley (or Yearley
            Ann was bap 30 Jun 1700 at Smally dau of Timothy Yeavley and Isobel

            Children of: Jonathan Beniston & Ann Yeavley:-
           
i.   Martha Beniston bap. 26 Oct 1740, buried 20 Dec 1740 at Smalley
   
   3.   ii.  Jonathan Beniston bap 13 Dec 1741 at Smalley married Martha Chambers
            iii.  Margaret Beniston bap 14 Aug 1743 at Smalley
            iv.  Matthew Beniston bap. 22 Sep 1745 at Smalley
            v.  Benjamin Beniston bap 9 Aug 1747 at Smalley
            vi.  George Beniston bap 18 Mar 1750 at Smalley
            vii.  Dorothy Beniston bap 17 May 1752 at Smalley, buried 13 Nov 1753 at Smalley
            viii.  Dorothy Beniston bap 13 Nov 1753 at Smalley
            ix.   William Beniston bap 14 Apr 1754 at Smalley
            x.    Mary Beniston bap 27 May 1756 at Smalley
            xi.  Ann Beniston bap30 Dec 1758 at Smalley

Next Generation

3.  Jonathan Beniston bap 13 Dec 1741 (son of Jonathan Beniston and Ann Yeavely)
     married 1 Oct 1764 at Nuthall, Martha Chambers 
       
Martha was bap 13 Jan 1744 at Nuthall, dau of William Chambers and Dorothy
   
     and was buried 25 Oct 1785 at Smalley.

        Children of Jonathan Beniston and Martha Chambers:-
       
i.   Hannah Beniston bap 28 Jul 1765 at Smalley, Derbyshire
 4.    ii.  Matthew Beniston bap 4 Mar 1767 at Smalley
        iii.  Jonathan Beniston bap 14 May 1769 at Smalley
                married 22 Nov 1790 at St. Nicholas, Nottingham, Elizabeth Johnson
        iv.  Dorothy Beniston bap 3 Jul 1771 at Smalley
        v.  Mary Beniston bap 8 May 1774 at Smalley
        vi.  Benjamin Beniston bap 2 Mar 1777 at Smalley, buried 11 Mar 1777 at Smalley

After Martha died, Jonathan Beniston married 28 Dec 1789 at Morley, Hannah Shaw

Extract from the Morley Register 1789 December 28:
"The Banns were forbid by Katherine Liggat, I believe from the best
information I can obtain at the instigation of some of the inhabitants of
Smalley, but she is not shewing [sic] any just cause against the marriage, the
said Jonathan Beniston and Hannah Shaw were married."

Next Generation

4.  Matthew bap 25 Mar 1767 at Smally, Derbys (son of Jonathan Beniston & Martha Chambers)
      married 17 Oct 1790 at Greasley, Notts., Martha Greensmith 
        Martha Greensmith was bap 4 Jan 1762 at Greasley, Notts. dau of William Greensmith & Ann Leivers

        Children of Matthew Beniston and Martha Greensmith:
        i.  A possible son - an infant named William Beniston was buried 29 Sep 1791 at Greasley, Notts.
 5.    ii.  William Beniston bap 19 May 1793 at Greasley
        iii.  Benjamin Beniston bap 28 Dec 1794 at Greasley
                married 14 Feb 1820 at Greasley, Elizabeth Kirk b. abt. 1793
                Benjamin was buried 9 Jun 1833 at Eastwood, Notts.
        iv.  Martha Beniston bap 3 Jul 1796 at Greasley
        v.   Hannah Beniston bap 29 Apr 1798 at Greasley
        vi.  Jonathan Beniston bap 7 Sep 1800 at Greasley
                married 8 Jul 1822 at St. Mary's, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, Kitty Chambers
                Jonathan was buried 8 Jun 1832 at St. Mary's, Ilkeston

Next Generation

5.. William Beniston  bap 17 May 1793 St. Marys Greasley (son of Matthew Beniston & Martha Greensmith)
        married 16 Oct 1815 at Greasley, Ann Grooby (otherwise known as Nanny Grooby
        Ann was born at Beggerlee or Beverley (acc to census), bap 2 Jun 1793 at Greasley dau of Francis Grooby and Mary of the parish of Heanor.

        Children of William Beniston and Ann Grooby::
                i.   Matthew Beniston bap 15 Feb 1818 at Methodist Chapel, Parliament St., Nottingham
                ii.  Hannah Beniston bap 21 Sep 1820 at St. Mary's, Greasley
     6.        iii.  William Beniston born about 1824 - 1827 at Kimberley, Nottinghamshire.
                        According to the family bible, William was born 25 January 1827 at Kimberley, Notts., 
                        but we have so far been unable to find a baptism.
                iv.  Phoebe Beniston born about 1832 at Radford, Nottingham
                        married 3 Oct 1853 at Holy Trinity, Nottingham, Joseph Pickering
               
v.  John Beniston born about 1835
                vi.  Eliza Beniston born about 1836 at Radford, Nottingham

Next Generation

6. William Beniston born about 1827, Kimberley, Notts., (son of William Beniston and Ann Grooby)
    occupation. miner/well sinker/bobbin and carriage maker
    m. 7 Aug 1864, in St. Mary's, Nottingham, Mary Ann Watson, baptized: 23 Dec 1832, Upper Meeting House, Tewkesbury, Glos.,
    (daughter of Jarvis Watson and Eleanor Officer).
    According to the family bible Mary Ann was born 25 October 1831 at Leynes Row, Tewkesbury, Glos.

William and Mary Ann had at least four children before they were married, in 1864.  See the Parish Register entry
but the family bible contains a date of marriage of 21 Feb 1853, at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. 
This was probably  added later and seems to be in a different hand.   See the bible
We suspected that they waited so long because William was perhaps already married to someone else.  
However, thanks to Denise Kohls, we now know that a marriage took place between Mary Ann Watson 
and one William Brampton in 1851.  See the Parish Register entry
At the time of the 1861 census William Beniston and his "wife" Mary Ann are living together in Staffordshire.
William Brampton was in Leicestershire and had one Elizabeth Morley and her children as boarders.

Photograph of Mary Ann Watson click here
Photograph of Mary Ann's Nephew, Arthur L. Watson click here
Photograph of Arthur L. Watson and Family click here

Watson Family Tree
click here

        Children of William Beniston and Mary Ann Watson:-
        7.  . i. Thirza Beniston b. 15 Dec 1853.
        8.  . ii. Eunice Louisa Beniston b. 17 Feb 1856.
        9.  . iii. Matthew George Beniston b. 13 Jun 1858.
                    occupation Grenadier Guardsman, also brass polisher
                     Emigrated to USA 1881/82
                    d. 25 Dec 1911, 210 Newton Ave., Oaklyn, New Jersey, USA,
                    buried: 28 Dec 1911, Odd Fellows' Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.
      10..     iv. William Beniston b. 22 Sep 1862.
      11..    v. Harry Beniston b. 8 Jul 1865.
                vi. Mary Ann Beniston b. 3 Mar 1870, Highurst Street, Radford, Nottm.,
                    d. 1871, buried: 4 Dec 1871, General Cemetery, Nottm., in the same grave as
William Greensmith 
                           
Birth dates of these children are in the family bible - click here

From the Castle Garden web site, we find that William and Mary Ann Beniston sailed from Liverpool, England and arrived on 11th March 1880 in New York . William is stated as a farmer age 47 (which isn't exactly true).  With them is their son Harry A. Beniston - no age given, just entered as "child, youngster".
They sailed on the ship "Indiana" a picture of which appears here.

The last we heard of William Beniston was the 1880 US census when he lived
with his wife Mary Ann and son Harry at 10 Hartley Place, Philadelphia.
William was age 53 (born in England about 1827).
 
It seems that Mary Ann returned to England because - 
Josiah Sykes age 60, widower, married On 8th June 1889 at Radford, Nottm., Mary Ann Beniston
She was age 58, widow, father Jarvis Watson, deceased.
We have yet to find the death or burial of William Beniston, her first husband.

Mary Ann Sykes died at Nottingham General Hospital 27 January 1898 age 66 years, abode 171 Bobbers Mill Road.

 

Next Generation

7.   . Thirza Beniston  b. 15 Dec 1853, Whitwick, Coalville, Leic., (dau of William Beniston and Mary Ann Watson)
            Although her birth certificated states Thirza Beniston she was known as Thirza Mary Beniston and also just Mary Beniston
            The family bible has Thirza Mary Beniston.
        m. (1) 24 Oct 1870, in St. Peter's, Radford, Nottm., Robert Greensmith, b. abt.1849, Hyson Green, Nottingham, occupation hosier,
                    We have been unable to find Robert's death or burial, but he was not on the 1881 census
        m. (2) 25 Feb 1877, (as Mary Beniston) in St. Leodegarius, Basford, Notts., Henry Brown, b. 18 Aug 1853, Crown Ct, Belper, Derbys.
                    Henry died 22 Aug 1899, drowned in the River Trent at Beeston.

            Children by Thirza Beniston and Robert Greensmith:
            i    Joseph Greensmith b. 18 Feb 1871, Hornbuckle Street, Radford, Nottm.
                    He is on 1881 census as Joseph Brown.
            ii     William Greensmith b. 22 Oct 1872, Independent St., Radford, Notts.,
                    On William's birth certificate his mother is Mary Theresa, nee Beniston
                    d. 22 Oct 1872, Independent St., Radford, Notts., aged 6 hours
                    buried: 26 Oct 1872, General Cemetery, Nottm., in the same grave as Mary Ann Beniston (2 vii)

            Child of Thirza Beniston:
            iii Eunice Louisa Ward Beniston b. 1 Jul 1876, 11 Highurst Street, Radford, Nottm.,
                baptized: 8 Nov 1894, St. Barnabas R.C. Cathedral, Nottm.,
                m. 7 Oct 1899, St. Andrew's, Nottingham, Henry Whittaker
                    See our Whittaker Family Tree -
click here
                Eunice Louisa died 29 Aug 1952, City Hospital, Nottingham.
                She was raised with the surname Brown and it is possible that she never knew her real name.
                            To see a photograph of Eunice Louisa at her son's wedding  click here

             Children by Thirza Beniston and Henry Brown:
            iv     Florence Ann Brown b. 19 Dec 1879, Derbys,
                    baptized: 8 Nov 1894, St. Barnabas R.C. Cathedral, Nottm.
            v     May Brown b. 17 Nov 1881, Nottingham,
                    baptized: 5 Jul 1882, St. Nicholas', Nottingham. (living at 1 March Street at time of baptism)
                    died 5 July 1882 at 1 March Street, Nottingham, buried General Cemetery
            vi     Elizabeth Brown b. 24 Feb 1883, 1 March Street, Nottingham.
                    m. George Percy Eales 1909 Nottingham

8. . Eunice Louisa Beniston  b. 17 Feb 1856, Blakenhall, Staffordshire, (according to the family bible)
            (dau of William Beniston and Mary Ann Watson)
        m. 27 Jun 1875, in Christ Church, Radford, Nottm., John Garton, b. 23 Jan 1855, Radford, Nottm., son of Harriet Garton.
            occupation Basket Maker. No father is stated on his marriage entry.
            John died 31 October 1921, at 59 Boden Street, Nottingham.
            and was buried: 3 Nov 1921, at General Cemetery, Nottingham
            Eunice died 21 May 1913 age 59 of Boden Street, Nottingham.  
            She was buried 22 May in the same grave as her mother at Nottingham General Cemetery

            Children of Eunice Louisa and John Garton:
            i     Thirza Mary Beatrice Garton b. abt. 1876, Nottingham,
                  d. 12 Nov 1956, buried: 16 Nov 1956, General Cemetery, Nottm., a spinster, in the same grave as her father.
            ii     Henry Beniston Garton b. abt.1885, Nottingham,
                    d. 17 Jun 1953, 25 Windermere Road, Nottingham,
                    buried: 23 Jun 1953, General Cemetery, Nottm in same grave as his father.
            iii     Harold Cecil Garton b. abt.1887, Nottingham,
                    d. 59 Boden Street, buried: 6 May 1938, General Cemetery, Nottm., in same grave as his father.

Mavis Johnson is researching this Garton family.
If you think you may have a connection, or would like further information,
please contact Mavis - 

type her address substituting "at" for @ : mayjaysomerset"at"btinternet.com

 

9.    Matthew George Beniston b. 13 Jun 1858, Blakenhall, Staffordshire, (son of William Beniston and Mary Ann Watson)
        occupation Grenadier Guard, Emigrated USA 1881/82
        m. 24 Dec 1882, in Grace Episcopal Ch., Philadelphia, USA, Sarah Ann Middleton
        Sarah Ann was born 3 Aug 1858, Reading, Berkshire, daughter of John Middleton and Sarah A.
        She died 17 Nov 1939, 301 Newton Ave., Oaklyn, NJ. USA,
        buried: Odd Fellows' Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.
        Matthew died 25 Dec 1911, 210 Newton Ave., Oaklyn, NJ. USA,
        and was buried: 28 Dec 1911, Odd Fellows' Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.

Janet Hartzell is a direct decendent of Matthew George Beniston
To see the descendants of Mathew George Beniston
click here
To see photographs of Matthew George and his wife Sarah Ann click here
To see Matthew George in uniform of Grenadier Guards click here

10.  William Beniston  b. 22 Sep 1862, Blakenhall, Staffordshire, (son of William Beniston and Mary Ann Watson)
        Emigrated to America as a young man
        m. Mary Theresa Whitehouse. born 2 July 1864 in Brooklyn, New York.
            Mary Theresa died 11 June 1927 in Seaford, Long Island, New York.
            Photographs of Mary Theresa Whitehouse

          Children of William Beniston and Mary Theresa Whitehouse:
            i George Beniston. died age 21
    12. . ii Etta Matilou Beniston.
    13.   iii William Beniston.
            There were other children born to this couple but have been omitted to protect their privacy.

11. Harry Beniston b. 8 Jul 1865, Kimberley, Notts, (son of William Beniston and Mary Ann Watson)
        m. Kate Franklin.

        Children of Harry Beniston and Kate Franklin:
14.        i Minnie M. Beniston.b. 1891
   15.        ii Eunice Beniston b. 20 Jan 1895, died after 1987
   16.       iii Edith Beniston. b. Apr 1897, died 1979
                iv. Harry V. Beniston b. Apr 1899
   17.      v Marion Beniston. b. about 1905, died 1971
             vi. Mary T. Beniston
                There were also 5 sons born to this couple all of which died young

Next Generation

12    Etta Matilou Beniston born 8 June 1891 in Brooklyn, New York
            dau of William Beniston and Mary Theresa Whitehouse.
            She married Malcolm Rosselle.
            Etta died 13 Jun 1951 at Meadowbrook, New York.

        Only Child of Etta Matilou and Malcolm Rosselle:
        i Gloria Rosselle m. Douglas Thorpe Roselle.

            Gloria has now, sadly, passed away.  
            However, her daughter, June Rosselle Street has kindly sent us some lovely photographs
             and a lot of information about her family.

            Photographs of Etta Matilou Beniston
            Photograph of Gloria Rosselle
            

13William Beniston  (son of William Beniston and Mary Theresa Whitehouse)
        m. Lillian Ketcham

        Children of William Beniston and Lillian:
        i Curtice Beniston m. Adele ?
            otherwise known as Curt Beniston

        Photographs of Curtice Beniston

        We would very much like to hear from anyone connected with Curt's immediate family.
        Please contact us

14. Minnie Beniston born Jan 1891 (dau of Harry Beniston and Kate Franklin)
   
     m. John Rodgers.

    Children of Minnie Beniston and John Rodgers:
    i Kay Rodgers m. William Abrams.
    ii Harry Rodgers.
    iii Kenneth Rodgers occupation Episcopal Priest.

15. Eunice Beniston  b. 20 Jan 1895, (daughter of Harry Beniston and Kate)
        m. Clarence Cooper, d. 27 Dec 1978.
        Eunice died after 1987.

    Children of Eunice and Clarence Cooper:
        i Donald Cooper.

16. Edith Beniston (dau of Harry Beniston and Kate) 
        m. Willis Scott, d. 1969.
        Edith died 1979.

    Children of Edith and Willis Scott:
    i Gretta Scott m. ? Blumberg.

17. Marion Beniston (dau of Harry Beniston and Kate) d. 1971.

    Children of Marion and ?:
    i Barbara Nulf.

Recognize anyone? Any information? Please contact us

Index of Beniston Pages Surname Index Home

This page was last edited 13 December 2007

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