Establishing Mary Nance's birth details

Mary Nance was born between 1808 and 1810 in Kenwyn, Cornwall, England.

Place of birth is supported by

1.  the banns and marriage of her first marriage to Henry George she is identified as “being of this parish”, the parish being Kenwyn, Cornwall. [i] [ii]
2.  the banns and marriage of her second marriage to Hezekiah Bennetts, where she is identified as a widow and sojourner, indicating that she was not born in Perranzabuloe [iii] [iv]  A sojourner “means someone who is a temporary resident, but in Parish Registers its meaning is a little more precise. When the Hardwicke Act was introduced in 1754, clerks were required to enter the parish for each party to a marriage. If they had been resident for more than 3 weeks then they were shown as “o.t.p.” (of this parish). However, for someone who had only taken up residence in lodgings to avoid the necessity for banns fees, this was frowned upon and the word “sojourner” was added to the entry to indicate that they had met the letter of the law but didn't really belong.”( Found in the Glossary of the website belonging to West Penwith Resources at  http://west-penwith.org.uk/wpenlink.htm)
3. 1851 English Census where her birthplace is given as Kenwyn, Cornwall.[v]

Date of birth is a little more complex because

1. her age is not given at the time of her first marriage to Henry George
2. at the time of second marriage she gives her age as 26, indicating that she was born in 1813
3. in 1841 census her age is recorded as 25 which may indicate that her age was somewhere between 25 years and under 30 as the enumerators were instructed to write 25 if the persons' age was between these years. This means she could possibly be born anywhere from 7/06/1806 to 7/06/1811
4. the only birth for a Mary Nance in Kenwyn at any time is for a Mary Nance who was born in 1810 but not baptised until 13 years of age.  She was the daughter of Thomas & Rebecca residing in Kenwyn, Cornwall. [therefore, her calculated birthdate would be 1810 [vi]
5.  Thomas was given as her father’s name on her second marriage certificate as well as her on her Australian death certificate, where her mother was also listed as Rebecca.[vii]
6. Mary died at the age of 70 years in 1878 indicating that her birth year was 1808.

Conclusion

Mary was probably born between 1808 and 1810, because she was older than her second husband it is possible that she changed her birthdate slightly to decease the age difference, or she may not have actually known her real birthdate as her baptism was done so late compared to her siblings – at present no reason has yet been found as to why her baptism was so much delayed)]

WikiTree Profile for Mary (Nance) Bennetts (abt. 1810 - 1878)

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[i] Banns of Marriage Henry George & Mary Nance, banns read 4, 11 & 18 December 1836, Kenwyn Parish Register unnumbered entry, year 1836, page 36. "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6SFS-9KP?cc=1769414&wc=3CB4-4W5%3A138123201%2C139147401%2C139205601 : 14 April 2015), image 21 of 149, citing Kenwyn Parish Registers, Marriage Banns banns, 1836-1844; Cornwall Records Office, Truro

[ii] Marriage of Henry George & Mary Nance married 19 December 1836 , Kenwyn Parish Register entry 580, year 1836, page 194. "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6SFS-932?cc=1769414&wc=3CB4-4WG%3A138123201%2C139147401%2C139221401 : 14 April 2015), image 100 of 150, citing Kenwyn Parish Registers, Marriages, 1829 -1841; Cornwall Records Office, Truro.

[iii] Banns of Marriage Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary George(widow), banns read 10, 17 & 24 March 1839, Perranzabuloe Parish Register unnumbered entry, year 1839, page 180. "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-65ZV-SP?cc=1769414&wc=3CB8-7M3%3A138123201%2C140512501%2C140542901  : 14 April 2015), image 193 of 116, citing Perranzabuloe Parish Registers, Marriage Banns banns, 1823-1844; Cornwall Records Office, Truro.

[iv] Marriage of Hezekiah Bennetts (miner aged 21, son of Philip Bennetts, husbandman) & Mary George(widow aged 26 daughter of Thomas Nance, Husbandman), married 28 March 1839, Perranzabuloe Parish Register entry 47, year 1839, page 24. "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-65ZK-MY?cc=1769414&wc=3CB8-7MW%3A138123201%2C140512501%2C140550201  : 14 April 2015), image 27 of 254, citing Perranzabuloe Parish Registers, Marriages, 1837 -1860; Cornwall Records Office, Truro.

[v] 1851 census of England, Cornwall, The household of household of Hezekiah & Mary Bennets, Goonhaven in Probus, the Parish of Perranzabuloe. Citing PRO HO107 piece 1909 Folio 431 page 14

[vi]  "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6SFS-S8R?cc=1769414&wc=3CB4-HZ9%3A138123201%2C139147401%2C139147402 : 14 April 2015); Baptism of Mary (13 years) baptised on 11 July 1823, daughter of Thomas(labourer) & Rebecca Nance residing Church town, Kenwyn parish register for baptisms, 1813-1829, entry 1252, page 157. Year 1823, Kenwyn Cornwall > Kenwyn > Baptisms, 1813-1829 > image 82 of 158; Cornwall Records Office, Truro.[born circa 1810)

[vii] Death Certificate Mary Bennetts, died 15 August 1878, Chewton, Victoria Australia (Victoria  Australia Registry of Births Deaths and Marriage 2051/1878)

Comparing Marriage Banns and records for the same couple.

In the past when accessing original parish records was a lot more difficult I would settle for the marriage entry as proof of the event, not bothering to locate the banns considering them of little real value.  A flawed strategy I know but one dictated by lack of time and money.  These reasons however are no longer valid now that the Cornish Parish records are freely available online; I am now revisiting my previous research.  I didn't really expect to find any further information however to my surprise I have found precious titbits that I had previous missed. Looking at both the banns and marriage record has given me further clues for my ongoing research that I didn't expect. 

Below are the results of investigating 2 marriages for Mary Nance. I have also included the links so that if you can see the original parish entries.

I originally believed my 3 x grandmother Mary Nance was born in Perrazabuloe however after visiting the banns it looks like she has come from the adjacent parish of Kenwyn, Cornwall. As a result of comparing both the banns and marriage entries,  I have now concluded that Mary Nance aka George was not born in Perranzabuloe because in the marriage banns of her marriage to Hezekiah Bennetts she  is identified as a sojourner

A sojourner “means someone who is a temporary resident, but in Parish Registers its meaning is a little more precise. When the Hardwicke Act was introduced in 1754, clerks were required to enter the parish for each party to a marriage. If they had been resident for more than 3 weeks then they were shown as “o.t.p.” (of this parish). However, for someone who had only taken up residence in lodgings to avoid the necessity for banns fees, this was frowned upon and the word “sojourner” was added to the entry to indicate that they had met the letter of the law but didn't really belong.”( Found in the Glossary of the website belonging to West Penwith Resources at  http://west-penwith.org.uk/wpenlink.htm)

In contrast in both the banns and marriage of her first marriage to Henry George she is identified as “being of this parish” which is Kenwyn, Cornwall.  So now I have both her father’s name “Thomas Nance” and her possible place of birth Kenwyn, Cornwall, and she was born in 1802.  Stay tuned for further developments.

Links to original parish entries

Marriage banns Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary George

(FamilySearch. England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010, Marriage Banns from Peranzabuloe parish records Marriage banns, 1823-1844 page 180 for Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary Nance (image 93))

I PUBLISH the banns of Marriage between Hezekiah Benne(unable to read in the crease of the page, so I am assuming when I cross reference the entry on the CORNWALL ONLINE PARISH CLERKS (Genealogy) website that is the entry for Hezekiah Bennetts) of this parish Bachelor and Mary George Sojourner in the Parish Widow.If any of you know cause of just impediment why these two Persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it.This is the first time of asking --- Dated 10th day of March 182This is the second time of asking --- Dated the 17th day of March 1839This is the third time of asking --- Dated 24th day of March 182

Marriage record for Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary George

(FamilySearch. England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010, Marriage Entry for Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary Nance Page 24. (Image 26))

1839.  Marriage Solemnized in the Church in the Parish of Perranaluloe in the County of Cornwall.No. 47When Married March 28Name and Surname Hezekiah Bennetts, age 21, Condition Bachelor, Rank or Profession Miner, Residence at the time of the marriage Chiverton, Father's Name and Surname Philip Bennetts, Rank or Profession of Father HusbandmanName and Surname Mary George, age 26, Condition  Widow, Rank or Profession Husbandman   Residence at the time of the marriage  ????, Father's Name and Surname Thomas Nance, Rank or Profession of Father
Married in the Church of Perran according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by me.  George Bellamy.This marriage was solemnized between us Hezekiah Bennetts sign Mary George's sign in the Presence of us, Edward Searle Symons, & Francis Veall

Marriage Banns for Henry George and Mary Nance 

(FamilySearch. England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010, Marriage Banns Kenwyn parish records Marriage banns 1836-1844, Page 36 (Image 21))

I PUBLISH the Banns of Marriage between Henry George and Mary Nance both of this Parish.If any of you know cause or just impediment why these two persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it.This is the first time of asking dated 4th day of Dec 1836This is the second time of asking - Dated the 11the day of Dec 1836This is the third time of asking - Dated the 18 day of Dec 1836

Marriage record for Henry George and Mary Nance 

(FamilySearch. England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010, Marriage entry from from Kenwyn parish records Marriages, 1829-1841 page Page 194 (image 100) for Henry George & Mary Nance. )

MARRIAGES solemnized in the Parish of Kenwyn in the County of Cornwall in the Year 1836Henry George of this Parish and Mary Nance of this Parish were married in this Church by Banns this nineteenth Day of December in the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty six
By me George CornishThis Marriage was solemnized between us X Henry George mark Mary Nance markIn the Presence of X Richard George's Mark  X Margaret Con?? Mark