William Henry Beesley, b 1841 in Bath was appointed as Master of the Wells Workhouse in 1881. In 1886 he took a number of inmates on a days outing to Burnham where they went to the New Puzzle Gardens. According to a newspaper report, the proprietor of the gardens was also a Mr Beesley, which made me wonder if the two were related.
I found out that the new Mr Beesley was Mr K. N Beesley, who eventually was found to be Kennerick North Beesley. I have only found him in the 1901 census (as Busley) where he is listed as Issac S K N Busley, born in Chippenham in 1863. It seems he and his family subsequently emigrated to Canada. However it is his birth and early years I am trying to find. There is no corresponding birth for anyone of this name in Chippenham.
Kennerick (or Kenrick) was married in 1886 to Lilian Frances Penhey and on the marriage certificate he states his father is William Henry Beesley, Public Officer. Could this be my William Henry - the name and occupation match and he is old enough to be Kenrick's father - but William Henry was a bachelor when he married in 1875. W H had entered the Navy in 1856, and the next sighting I have for him is 1881 when he is working at a Workhouse in Croydon. The possibility is there that he could have fathered a child illegitimately in 1863.
Checking the births for Chippenham, there is an Isaac Samuel Smith born in Mar 1863, no mmn, who would match. Then I found Isaac Samuel Smith in 1871, the adopted son of Kennerick North. Surely this cannot be a coincidence, and that Isaac added his adoptive fathers names on to his own. But how and where did William Henry come into the story to add Beesley to his name.
Any ideas gratefully received.
I found out that the new Mr Beesley was Mr K. N Beesley, who eventually was found to be Kennerick North Beesley. I have only found him in the 1901 census (as Busley) where he is listed as Issac S K N Busley, born in Chippenham in 1863. It seems he and his family subsequently emigrated to Canada. However it is his birth and early years I am trying to find. There is no corresponding birth for anyone of this name in Chippenham.
Kennerick (or Kenrick) was married in 1886 to Lilian Frances Penhey and on the marriage certificate he states his father is William Henry Beesley, Public Officer. Could this be my William Henry - the name and occupation match and he is old enough to be Kenrick's father - but William Henry was a bachelor when he married in 1875. W H had entered the Navy in 1856, and the next sighting I have for him is 1881 when he is working at a Workhouse in Croydon. The possibility is there that he could have fathered a child illegitimately in 1863.
Checking the births for Chippenham, there is an Isaac Samuel Smith born in Mar 1863, no mmn, who would match. Then I found Isaac Samuel Smith in 1871, the adopted son of Kennerick North. Surely this cannot be a coincidence, and that Isaac added his adoptive fathers names on to his own. But how and where did William Henry come into the story to add Beesley to his name.
Any ideas gratefully received.
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