The name 'Benoni' is apparently a very old name often given to a child who's mother suffered or died while giving birth or as a result of complications during birth. The Vital Statistics list a younger brother, so his mother may have had difficulties but did survive.
The 1881 Census listed his occupation as boot manufacturer and the address was 440 New Cross Road, Deptford. It was also noted that there was one live-in servant, Ellen Murray aged 16 of Peckham, Surrey. In 1895 he was living at 6 High St, Deptford and in 1907, he was living at 200 Lewisham High Road, Brockley.
The 1881 Census also lists a visitor. Her name was Elizabeth M. A. Roberts (age 40). Her occupation is listed as "Clerk - Savings Bank". The relationship is unknown. It can be assumed that she is a neice. Another relationship is possible but, since many married women of the day did not work outside the home, that of neice seems most likely at this time.
According to the book "The Resolve and The Retrospect", published in 1900 in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the High Street Congregational Church, Deptford, Benoni was a Deacon and Secretary of the church (1895 - 1907).
The 1861 Census shows the address as 61 Wellington Street, St Nicholas, Deptford.
34. William Wates
He was apprenticed to a firm of piano makers, but generally described himself as a carpenter. In 1845 he was a teacher of singing at 7 Bath Road. In 1851 he was a music seller at 3 High Street, Woolwich, and enumerator of the Census. He became a Relieving Officer for the Greenwich Union which position he retained for the rest of his working life. He was Organist and Choir Master at Greenwich, then Deptford, Congregational Churches and on relinquishing the latter appointment in 1864, he was presented with a marble clock suitably inscribed. (In 1998 the clock was in the possession of William Hughes (dbhbtb) in Australia).
He organised important concerts locally where Sims Reeves was one of the Soloists. It is said that he conducted a small amateur orchestra at Woolwich Arsenal in which, for a short period, Garibaldi played the violin, when he was a fugitive from Italy. He presented William with an ivory baton which grandson Arthur Hughes had in 1928, but it was later lost in Shanghai. He knew Hallah well, adopting his methods of teaching Sol-fa. William is shown on an engraving with him and his pupils; he was given a gold medal at a big Crystal Palace concert for his work for Sol-fa. He had a good tenor voice and regularly sang in Handel Festivals. He sometimes tuned organs that his father had built and made pianos as a hobby. He helped with the regular family musical evenings.
In his work for the relief of the poor, he was a most kindly and humane man; in the winters of appalling distress of the late 1840's, "The Hungry 401s", he and his wife bought beef and bones at their own expense and made gallons of excellent soup to give to the destitute. Jim helped him take extras round at the Christmas season. William was very busy with local affairs and disliked "humbug" especially in officials.
3.1.1842 m. Susannah Jordan (1819 Woolwich - 1906 R. Greenwich (88); St. Alphege's, Greenwich. Her father was James Jordan, carpenter. Witnesses James Wates and Laurence W. Keir. 7 Chn. They lived a few doors from each other on the Woolwich Road. She was indulgent and easy with the children.
A James Jordan was Baptised, Woolwich 1781. In the 1851 Census, James Jordan 67, carpenter, journeyman, b. Milton, Ke., Susan 57, b. Great Coker, Som., Emma 21, b. Woolwich; Eliza 17, b. Woolwich and Louis 6, b. Dulwich, Sy.; Martha Susannah Jordan, William Wates and Frank Wm. Jones witnessed Leily's wedding. 14.9.1886 Martha Susannah Jordan, nee Fry was from Yolevil. It is said that Granny Fry and her sister came to London to seek their fortunes. Some of the family went to Yolevil once a year for holidays. Louis Jordan 1845 m. Elizabeth Hughes at Greenwich, she was a young sister of Wm. Stephen Hughes, a double relationship.
When William died in 1894 he left about 20 fatherless grandchildren. In his Will he left everything (£169/14/0) to his dear wife, witnessed by James E. Jones (son-in-law) and another; son Jim was his executor. PTO. Ec
William Wates 1816 apprenticed to Brinsmeads, piano manufacturers at the same time as the singer Sims Reeves. His main income was that of a "Poor Law Official', but his main-hobby was the making of pianos. He was a first rate craftsman and had a large workshop behind his Poor Law Office where he always had a piano in the making.
He was succeeded by his son William as organist and choir master, together they served the church for 60 years.
Listed as deceased on the marriage certificate of Thomas Cronin and Caroline Ethel Harris.
The marriage certificate for Caroline lists Henry's occupation as "House Decorator". The 1851 census lists him as a painter. Living at 1 Alfred Place, Lambeth in 1861 and 1871 and at 2 Alfred Place with daughter Jane and hr husbard (Frederick Rough) in 1881.
40. Charles Crowder
The grave site was found years ago and Ellery (Herman Ellery Crowder), Lorne (son of Nathaniel Crowder) and Gerry (son of Gerald Crowder and Alice Shannette) decided to clean it up and erect a fence around the big oak tree and gravestone. This was in 1983 and at the same time, they had the stone resurfaced and the writing and design cut in, this time.
The name on her grave stone is "Susanna Wallace".
44. Samuel Mills
Samuel and Bridget can be assumed to have immigrated to Canada sometime between 1834 and 1839. Son John was born in Ireland in 1834 and son Samuel was born in Edwardsburg in 1839.
The 1851 Census lists Bridgette as a widow.
46. Peter Stephenson
Peter and his father farmed a section of land next to a road between Avonmore and Monkland, according to Russell T. Mills. There were two Stephenson sections. The one on the north side of the road had cousins of Thomas and Annie Mills. An uncle of Rod Mills' grandmother held the other on the south side.
According to another source, Peter came to Avonmore in about 1820 from Ireland with his mother and three brothers after the death of their father.
Many questions exist about this family as a good number of dates do not match with the dates of the events.
50. John Miltimore
Fought for the Americans in the War of 1812 around French Mills (Fort Covington) New York.
John Miltimore was survived by the following children who were under sixteen years of age at the time of his death. Agnes, who was born August 12, 1863 was living at Iroquois Ontario, in 1879, and in 1883 was employed in the post office at Cornwall; Margaret who was born December 16, 1870, and in was living with John R. Ferguson at Williamstown, Ontario, "having been adopted into his family"; and William G. or J.T. who was born July 7, 1872 and in 1883 was living with William Anderson of Point Charles, Province of Quebec.
53. Sarah
By the 1881 census, Sarah was 66 and living alone at 11 Parsons Ct., Taunton St. Mary, Somerset, England. She was still listing her occupation as dressmaker.
56. John Barrington
John Barrington first shows up in the 1839 census of Elizabethtown Township. The census lists 4 boys under 16, 1 over 16, 3 girls under 16 and 1 over 16.
57. Deborah Harper
Deborah is not listed on the 1851 census so it can be assumed that she died prior to then.
60. George Steacy
According to some old notes, the Steacys are a Norman family, whose name was originally Eustace. Around 1300 they were granted an estate in England, and they Anglicized the name to Steacy. The notes say the estate is still in the family name, and when the notes were taken (around 1958) it was the property of an Anglican clergyman who bore the family name.
In the early 1600's, King James granted a Captain William Steacy, of his Majesty's Army, estates at Coolharbor and Tomgarrow, in County Wexford. It is supposed that all County Wexford Steacys are descendents of Captain William. Unfortunately, this is all the notes said, and I have not had the time to attempt to trace my line back to Captain William, or to locate the English estate. While the notes don't specify, my conclusion is that the Steacys were sent to Ireland in the English effort to Protestantize it, but that is only my own guess.
Around 1811, there was a mass migration of Steacys to both southeastern Pennsylvania and Canada. I understand that in the Pennsylvania community, since so many Steacys migrated and there was significant intermarriage, tracing out the lines is extremely difficult.
Source: Eric Sprauge, Pennsylvania, USA
62. Thomas Connor
In 1838, half of Lot 21 of Concession 9 was sold to Thomas Connor by William Walls.
The 1871 Census show a Robert Connor living with Thomas. It can be assumed that Thomas took over the farm and that his brother Robert lived there for a period late in life given he had no family of his own.
At the time of Thomas' birth, his mother, Margaret, would have been 47. While remotely possible, it is unlikely that a woman of that age was still having children in the early 1800s. This seems to suggest a different relationship between Thomas and Robert and Margaret. It is possible that he is a son of one of the older sons.