Hi all I thought I might share this little conundrum with you. My great-grandfather's brother, William John Bennett, left an amazing will wherein he gave all the married surnames of his five daughters. Sadly, after researching for decades I was only able to find a marriage and children for one of the daughters. The remainder appeared to be barren, or perhaps the husband so! One of the daughters, Jessie Leah Bennett (b. 1864) had, according to the will proven 1892, married a gent by the surname Slade. A few Slades around, and a couple of Jessie Slade's to be found in later census data, but nothing really concrete. A recently discovered living relative found a Jessie Leah Bennett marrying a William Millard in 1906 and passed it on to me. Yes indeed, indexes reveal just that, but the 1911 census shows Jessie Leah Millard, 48, born Westminster (perfect!) married and married 12 years, living as housekeeper to George Drake, widower 60, L.C.C. Carman, at 749 Old Kent Road, Peckham (Camberwell district) and a daughter to Jessie, Nellie Millard, 11 yrs, born Greenwich, Kent. Seems to be the same child born London, Greenwich, 1898 Dec Qtr 1d1076, named Nellie Millard. As to the marriage in 1906, Nellie therefore might be the child of William to a previous marriage, perhaps? And Jessie Leah (born 1864), could also be a widower at the time she married William in 1906. So, perhaps William John Bennett, Jessie's father, got it right in the will and that she was married to a Slade previously? Can't find an earlier marriage, that's the problem. Jessie could well be the one living in the 1891 census at 26 Fleming Rd., Newington with husband John Slade, printer & compositor, and in 1901 at 10 Lamlash St, Southwark thought this Jessie is shown both times to have been born Lambeth, not Westminster. The birth dates for this Jessie certainly fit. The possible step-daughter, Nellie, seems to have gone on to marry an Edward C Slade, Camberwell March Qtr 1920. Another curious complication! The Slade surname pops up again. I shall probably apply for the marriage certificate of William & Jessie, but in the meantime I was just wondering if listers had any thoughts on this "complicated" matter? It would seem that Jessie Leah did not produce any children. Cheers Graham Melbourne Oz

Graham, Just to kick this off, perhaps the surname was SHADE rather than SLADE? Try these census for George R SHADE, both in Greenwich? 1901 - RG13-539 folio 104 page 16 1891 - RG12-515 folio 6 page 7 Might give you another avenue to pursue? HTH Judy London, UK -----Original Message----- From: middlesex_county_uk-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:middlesex_county_uk-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Graham Price I thought I might share this little conundrum with you. My great-grandfather's brother, William John Bennett, left an amazing will wherein he gave all the married surnames of his five daughters. Sadly, after researching for decades I was only able to find a marriage and children for one of the daughters. The remainder appeared to be barren, or perhaps the husband so! One of the daughters, Jessie Leah Bennett (b. 1864) had, according to the will proven 1892, married a gent by the surname Slade. A few Slades around, and a couple of Jessie Slade's to be found in later census data, but nothing really concrete. A recently discovered living relative found a Jessie Leah Bennett marrying a William Millard in 1906 and passed it on to me. Yes indeed, indexes reveal just that, but the 1911 census shows Jessie Leah Millard, 48, born Westminster (perfect!) married and married 12 years, living as housekeeper to George Drake, widower 60, L.C.C. Carman, at 749 Old Kent Road, Peckham (Camberwell district) and a daughter to Jessie, Nellie Millard, 11 yrs, born Greenwich, Kent. Seems to be the same child born London, Greenwich, 1898 Dec Qtr 1d1076, named Nellie Millard. As to the marriage in 1906, Nellie therefore might be the child of William to a previous marriage, perhaps? And Jessie Leah (born 1864), could also be a widower at the time she married William in 1906. So, perhaps William John Bennett, Jessie's father, got it right in the will and that she was married to a Slade previously? Can't find an earlier marriage, that's the problem. Jessie could well be the one living in the 1891 census at 26 Fleming Rd., Newington with husband John Slade, printer & compositor, and in 1901 at 10 Lamlash St, Southwark thought this Jessie is shown both times to have been born Lambeth, not Westminster. The birth dates for this Jessie certainly fit. The possible step-daughter, Nellie, seems to have gone on to marry an Edward C Slade, Camberwell March Qtr 1920. Another curious complication! The Slade surname pops up again. I shall probably apply for the marriage certificate of William & Jessie, but in the meantime I was just wondering if listers had any thoughts on this "complicated" matter? It would seem that Jessie Leah did not produce any children. Cheers Graham Melbourne Oz