Benjamin Chamberlain

Benjamin was baptised in 1827 in East Woodhay, Hampshire, the son of John and Hannah Chamberlain (nee Buxey formerly Belcher) who were married in 1827 in Enborne, Berkshire.

Benjamin’s mother Hannah was born c1791 in Inkpen, Berkshire. She married John Belcher on the 11^th October 1810 in Chieveley, Berkshire. They had the following children: Henry c1811, John c1813 and Elizabeth c1815, all born in East Woodhay, Hampshire and Eleanor c1819, George James c1821, Catherine c1823 and Samuel c1825, all born in Enborne, Berkshire. Hannah was widowed in 1824, John died aged 47, he was buried on the 24^th November at St Michael and All Angels Enborne, Berkshire.

His father John was baptised in 1802 in Welford and Wickham, Berkshire, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Chamberlain. (Possible death for John: John Chamberlain aged 58, buried 13^th February 1859 at Holy Trinity Theale, Berkshire.)

John was a farmer at Honey Bottom, his nephew, also John, at Warren Farm – Do look up the Warren Farm murder(s) in Jan 1891!

In 1841 Benjamin (13) was living at Woodspeen Farm, Speen, Berkshire, with his father John (35) a Farmer, his mother Hannah (50) and his brothers Charles (12) and Henry (11).

The 1851 census records Benjamin (22) as a Cattle Dealer, twice. He was recorded visiting his married half-sister Catherine Pocock and her family in Shaw Road, Newbury, he was also recorded living with his half-brother James Belcher and his family in a cottage in Bath Road, Theale Green, Tilehurst, Berkshire.

Benjamin married later that year:

Marriage details:
Place; Speen, Berkshire

Date: 28^th April 1851

Groom: Benjamin Chamberlain, full age, bachelor, occupation, Dealer, abode, Theale

Bride: Ann Whitehorn(e), full age, spinster, abode, Speen

Fathers: John Chamberlain, a Farmer and Thomas Whitehorn, a Thatcher.

Witnesses: William Pocock and Catherine Pocock.

The 1854 Billings Directory records Benjamin as a Beer Retailer at the Bell, Wash Common, Newbury.

Benjamin and Ann had two sons, John born 1852 and Charles born in 1855. Both boys died in 1856. John died aged 4, of Scarlatina Maligna (Scarlet Fever) on the 24^th September at the Bell, Wash Common Gate, Newbury, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 26^th September. Charles died aged 1, he was laid to rest with John the following day.

The 1854 Billings Directory records Benjamin as a Beer Retailer at the Bell, Wash Common, Newbury.

The 1861 census records Benjamin (33) as a Cattle Dealer, living in Wash Road, Newbury with Ann (32) and a servant, Charles Fowler (15).

Note - Benjamin Chamberlain was listed as a beer house keeper Wash Common, Phil Wood who has researched Pubs in Newbury has references from 1854 to 1868, but only one mentions a pub name – the Old Bell in 1854.  The landlord changed to Anthony Collins by 1869 that fits with Benjamin dying in 1869.  It was common for publicans, especially beer house keepers to have a day job or a sideline like dealing in livestock.  It is also common for them to use this to describe their employment if they felt it was more prestigious than ‘beer house keeper’ or ‘beer seller. 

Benjamin Chamberlain was a well-known livestock dealer well after his time at the Old Bell. He gave evidence as a sheep expert in a case against the Vine Hunt in August 1887 when he states he has 35 years’ experience with the animals – which would go back as far as the Old Bell days.

In 1871 Benjamin (43) was recorded as a Cattle Dealer/Farmer of 50 acres living in Wash Common, Newbury with Ann (42). Also recorded living with them were a niece, Esther Belcher (9) and a nephew, Moses Belcher (2).

The 1881 census records Benjamin (53) as a Farmer of 4 acres employing 3 labourers. He was living in Wash Road, Newbury with Ann (52) and a John Chamberlain (12) recorded as their son. (No birth found for a son John Chamberlain. In 1891 this John was recorded as a nephew)

Benjamin died aged 62 on the 5^th November 1889, he was buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8^th November. (Funeral service held at St John the Evangelist Newbury)

The 1891 census records Ann (62) living on his Own Means at Bedford Cottage, Wash Common, Newbury also recorded in the household was her nephew John Chamberlain (22) a Farmer and Dealer and a visitor Ellen Whiteing (64).

Ann remarried in 1895, her 2^nd husband was George Dodd. Ann died aged 70 on the 5^th November 1898, she was laid to rest with Benjamin in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8^th November. (Funeral service held at St John the Evangelist, Newbury)

Probate: CHAMBERLAIN Benjamin    Personal Estate £16,253 12s 4d     4^th March 1890     The Will of Benjamin Chamberlain late of the Wash – road Newbury in the County of Berks Sheep and Cattle Dealer who died 5^th November 1889 at the Wash – road  was proved at Oxford by Ann Chamberlain of the Wash – road Newbury Widow the Relict and Richard Fisher of Winterbourne near Newbury in the said County Gentleman the  Executors

Author: C Gambles
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