James Bennewith & family, Provided by June Castle
The Bennewith story begins with a Jane Brooks (nee McCullar) who was married to James Brooks the licencee of the Star, North Shoebury, about 1769/70. James died and Jane took over the running of the pub until she married James Bennewith by licence at North Shoebury on 6 Oct 1772. They had James, May, William, Elizabeth and John all baptised at North Shoebury church. Then on 9 Sept 1780 John (17 days), & Elizabeth (20 months died). Then Jane died on 25 Sept 1780.
James Bennewith was left with 3 children, young James 7, Mary 5, and William 3. He moved towards the end of 1780 to the George & Dragon at Foulness. Then he met up with AMELIA BOWLS, who was quite a lady as she had had two illegitimate children before she met James. Then they married by licence on 4 June 1782, eight days before their first son Edward Bennewith was baptised on 17 June 1782. How they managed to live in those small rooms at the George & Dragon I dont know because Amelia proceeded to have more children, Henry 1784, Jane 1786, John 1789 (he was the famous bare-fist boxer). But perhaps all these children were too much for James because he died in September 1789.
That didnt seem to worry Amelia because she took up with a "sojourner" Thomas Howgego and they had two children, Thomas Howgego Bennewith and Elizabeth Howgego Bennewith. I dont think they ever married. Amelia must have been too much for Thomas because he died in 1797. Amelia then met another sojourner, Isaac Easter and she had a son also called Isaac Easter/Bennewith in 1799. Amelia ran the pub herself, or perhaps Isaac Easter helped her, until 1796 when she gave up the George. She then took over the licence of the Rochford 100 pub until 1815. I think her son Thomas Howgego Bennewith then took over with his wife Charlotte (surname unknown) but she was called "Flanking Charlotte", although the 1841 census says they were occupiers of the Anchor beer shop. Thomas Howgego Bennewith and Flanking Charlotte were involved in what was called the Foulness Island Riot in 1828. Bennewith was suspected of telling the police who were responsible for smuggling in the area and there was a court case. (Chelmsford Chronicle of 27 Feb 1828). Then of course there were the bare fist fights in front of the George. John Bennewith was said to be 6'2"tall - some reports say 6'6".
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