For a long time I had
assumed that Hezekiah had only married one wife whose name was Mary, the second
marriage certainly wasn't mentioned on his death certificate which was filled
out by his daughter, Rebecca, so one would have assumed that she would have
known about her step mother – am I detecting some disapproval for his second
marriage here?
The death certificate
for Hezekiah’s first wife is filled out by a friend, which is consistent with
Hezekiah not being able to write. It is
interesting to note that the certifying doctor for Mary (first wife) has the
same surname as the woman that Hezekiah eventually marries. Was there a connection between the doctor and
the second wife – it boggles the mind but would perhaps explain why Rebecca didn't acknowledge the second marriage on her father’s death certificate.
Three years almost to
the day Hezekiah remarries another Mary.
This marriage happens in a private residence, none of the family were
witnesses …. Interesting.
In the intervening
period between the marriage and his second wife dying it appears that Hezekiah's daughter Rebecca moves away so when the second wife dies it is his grandson not
his daughter or son-in-law who helps fill out the paperwork. It would also seem that Hezekiah moves to
live with his daughter in Clifton Hill before he dies.
It looks like I will
be hitting the electoral rolls to find out where everyone was during these
years perhaps Mary Malcolm is living with her son the doctor (?) in main street
Chewton in 1876/1877. I haven’t managed
to find any in the newspapers at TROVE either, any mention of any of these
events.
If only the walls could talk..........
Source Documents
Death Certificate Mary Bennetts
Transcription of Marriage
certificate (#2051 yr 1878)
When and where died –
15th August 1875, Mont Street, Borough Chewton, County Talbot
Name & Profession –
Mary Bennetts
Sex & Age –
Female, 70 years
Cause – Old age, worn
out, not known for how long, last seen by Dr. J.B.Malcolm on 5th
August 1878
Parents – Thomas Nance
Farmer, Rebecca Nance M.N not known
Informant – Philip Hitting,
Friend, Chewton
Signature of registrar,
date & where registered – James R Nicks, 15 August 1878,Chewton
Burial –18th
August 1879, Chewton Cemetery, K. Dennis
Name of minister &
witnesses – J. Carey, Wesleyan Minister, Joshua Jacka, R. Pollard
Where and how long in
the colonies – Perranzubla, Cornwall, England, 22 years in Victoria
Married where, at what
age and to whom - Perranzubla, Cornwall,
England, age not known, Hezekiah Bennetts.
Children names in
order of birth & age – Mary Jane died,
?? 36, Mary Jane died, Rebecca 29, Mary Ann 26
Marriage Certificate of Hezekiah Bennetts &
Mary Bullus
Transcription of Marriage
certificate (#4877, 1878)
Schedule D
1878 Marriages solemnized in the District of Castlemaine in the Colony
of Victoria
When and where married – The fourteenth day of November 1878, St Simple
home, 6 Bant St, Chewton
Groom – Hezekial Bennetts, widower 16th August 1818 Children
2 living, 4 dead Birthplace Perron, Cornwall,
England, Profession Quartz miner, age 60, residence Mount Street, Chewton,
Parents Philip Bennetts, farmer and
Nancy Bennetts maiden name unknown
Bride – Mary Malcolm Bullus, widow 21st May 1814 Children 4
living, 2 dead, birthplace ??, ???, Scotland, Rank – Lady, age 66, Residence Main
Street, Chewton, Parents David Malcolm, profession ?? Mary Malcolm, maiden name unknown.
I George Hollinghorn, being a Congregational minister do hereby
certify, that I have this day, at the Bridegroom’s house, Mount Street, Chewton
duly celebrated the marriage between Hezekiah Bennetts Quartz miner of Chewton
and Mary Malcolm Bulls of Chewton after Notice and Declaration duly made and
published, as by law required. Dated the
fourteenth day of November 1878.
Marriage by License, was solemnized between us according to the Rites
of the Congregational Church Hezekiah Bennetts X his mark, Mary Malcolm Bullus
X her mark. Witnesses George Denin’s, ?? Hocking.
Death Certificate Mary Bennetts (second wife)
Transcription of death
certificate (#1082 yr 1895)
When and where died – March
22nd 1895, Shields Street, Borough of Chewton, county Talbot
Name & Profession – Mary Bennetts, Domestic
Sex & Age – Female,
87 years
Cause – Old Age Debility for Years, Dr Wolley last seen
12 January 1895
Parents – particulars unknown
Informant - Edwin Knight Jacka, stepgrandson, Chewton
Signature of registrar,
date & where registered – Eliza Johnson, March 28th 1895,
Chewton, Victoria
Burial – March 24th
1895, Chewton Cemetery, Undertaker Thomas Odyess
Name of minister &
witnesses - Thomas Odyess, Weslyan, John Lamb, Henry Dyers
Where and how long in the colonies – Paisley,
Scotland, 40yrs in Victoria
Married where, at what
age and to whom - Chewton, Victoria,
aged 72 to Hezekiah Bennetts
Children names in
order of birth & age - Nil
Death Certificate Hezekiah
Bennetts
Transcription of death
certificate (#1198, yr1900)
Deaths in the District
of Clifton Hill in the Colony of Victoria
When and where died - 26
January 1900, Parslow Street, Clifton Hill, City of Collingwood, County of
Bourke
Name & Profession
- Hezekiah Bennetts, miner
Sex & Age - Male
82 years
Cause – Arthemia(?) 3
months, Dr. F. Laylar Downie last seen 18 January 1900
Parents - William
Bennetts, Miner & Nancy Unknown
Informant - Rebecca
Jacka, Daughter, 4 Parslow St, Clifton Hill
Signature of registrar,
date & where registered - Mary Brookes, 27 January 1900, clifton Hill
Burial - 28 January
1900, Melbourne Cemetery, Undertaker - ?. Fergurson
Name of minister &
witnesses -Gill. G,G.A.G. Clowes, James Arehitala
Where and how long in
the colonies - Cornwall, England about 45 years Victoria
Married where, at what
age and to whom - Cornwall, England,
about 21 years, Mary Nance
Children names in
order of birth & age - Mary Jane - dead; Mary dead, Rebecca 50 Mary ann
dead