Henry Benham
 

All I know about him is his name and occupation as given by his son, William, when he married for the second time in 1857.

Name - "official" name and what they were known as
Henry Benham

Date and place of birth
c 1770?

Names of parents

Date and place of baptism - if applicable

Details of each of his or her marriages - if any

Occupation(s) - if any
farmer

Addresses where they lived (including county if in UK) - and please list which censuses you have or haven't found him/her on (if s/he lived in census times!).

Date, place and cause of death

Date and place of burial.

Details of will / administration of their estate - if applicable

Memorial inscription - if any

His son is here:William Benham

I don't know if this is your man, Sarah, but this one is still alive in 1841:

1841 Census
BENHAM, Henry
WOODBRIDGE, Suffolk
HO107 piece 1041 folio 20 page 8
Address: Sutton
BENHAM, James M 40 1801 Suffolk
BENHAM, Mary Ann F 35 1806 Suffolk
BENHAM, Matilda F 14 1827 Suffolk
BENHAM, Henry M 10 1831 Suffolk
BENHAM, Charles M 5 1836 Suffolk
BENHAM, Edward M 3 1838 Suffolk
BENHAM, Henry M 75 1766 Suffolk

Sutton is just south of Woodbridge and close to Rendlesham Forest.

There is a death for a Henry Benham in 1844:

Jun qr 1844
Woodbridge 12 321

There is also a burial in the NBI:

Henry Benham
6 June 1844
aged 77
St Mary the Virgin, Bawdsey, Suffolk

It's 5 miles south of Sutton.

I found this marriage between a Henry Benham and an Elizabeth:

Day:3
Month:Nov
Year:1799
Groom forenames:Henry
Groom surname:Benham
Bride forenames:Elizabeth
Bride surname:Stanard
Place:Rendlesham
County:Suffolk
Record source:Suffolk Marriage Index

However, it seems rather late, unless he had been widowed.

Thanks Elizabeth.

I found James' christening too, in Campsey Ashe (another village very close by) - with Elizabeth Stanard as the mother :)

I don't know how I can find who Henry's previous wife was - or who William's mother was

I think the first thing is to try to locate William's baptism and establish exactly when he was born/baptised. The year we assume might be slightly out.

Is there a local genealogical society in Suffolk which could provide you with information? I really struggled with finding PRs for this area.

Where did you find James's baptism?

I found James on Familysearch but there were no others to that couple, or any others with Henry as father :(

I don't know who I'd contact?

Someone that could go to the records office in (Ipswich?) Suffolk? The PRs will be on microfiche, won't they?

He doesn't go there any more, Marg... :-(

You mean she, Sarah! But you're right, she doesn't.