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William wasn't born till after 1871 census, so the records posted are the same family as 1881

could this be Ellen
Civil registration event: Death
View the original image

Name: BESSANT, Ellen

Registration district: [?] New Forest

County: Hampshire

Year of registration: 1876

Quarter of registration: Jul-Aug-Sep

Age at death:39

Volume no: 2B

Page no: 408

As the info posted by Margee shows, it is probable that William was illegitimate

His birth cert would answer the question

hope this is not going up the garden path but ties in with 1881
Mother is Ellen but no William
and head of house is LOWE, William's middle name
LOWE, Walter Head M 38 1833 Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, Ellen Mother F 33 1838 Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, George Son M 15 1856 Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, James Son M 13 1858 Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, Walter Son M 11 1860 Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, Frank Son M 6 1865 Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, Rose Leah Lowe Daughter F 1 1870 Hampshire VIEW
Piece:
1186 Folio:
49 Page:
21 Registration District:
New Forest

Civil Parish:
Eling Municipal Borough:
Address:
Bear's Lane, Eling County:
Hampshire

Yes I have all the info from Brenda Davis and some where along the line over the years had not managed to find the link between them or lost the info. Thank you very much everyone. Much appreciated. Thank you all for your time. Donna xx
:-D

Titanic Deaths.



William Bessant born William Edward Lowe Bessant on the 8th Aug 1871 in Netley, Ealing was the son of Ellen Bessant. William married Emily Ellen Cull on the 25 Dec 1893 at St. Mathews, Netley. They had five children. The first child was born in Eling and the other four at Southampton.



Edward Bessant was born on 15th June 1880 at Southampton, he was the son of Henry Bessant and Elizabeth Ann Meech who married on the 25th Oct 1867 at Millbrook. Edward married Mary Jean Gear on the 2nd Sep 1908 at Southampton. Edward had five brothers and sisters, Edward being the youngest.



Edward’s family line can be traced back to 1799.



With thanks to Brenda Davis for providing the family trees of William and Edward.



William and Edward both worked on the Titanic, William being a Fireman and Edward a Baggage Master.

Charles William Bessant
England and Wales Census, 1911
birth: Freemantle
census: 1911 Shirley,? Freemantle Southampton,? Hampshire,? England


name: Charles William Bessant
event: Census
event date: 1911
gender: Male
age: 14
birthplace: Freemantle
record type: Household
registration district: Southampton
sub-district: Southampton Western
parish: Shirley
county: Hampshire

Gladys Lillian May Bessant
England and Wales Census, 1911
birth: Freemantle
census: 1911 Shirley,? Freemantle Southampton,? Hampshire,? England


name: Gladys Lillian May Bessant
event: Census
event date: 1911
gender: Female
age: 10
birthplace: Freemantle
record type: Household
registration district: Southampton
sub-district: Southampton Western
parish: Shirley
county: Hampshire

Florance Ellen Maud Bessant
England and Wales Census, 1911
birth: Freemantle
census: 1911 Shirley,? Freemantle Southampton,? Hampshire,? England


name: Florance Ellen Maud Bessant
event: Census
event date: 1911
gender: Female
age: 5
birthplace: Freemantle
record type: Household
registration district: Southampton
sub-district: Southampton Western
parish: Shirley
county: Hampshire

Standley Lenard Bessant
England and Wales Census, 1911
birth: Freemantle
census: 1911 Shirley,? Freemantle Southampton,? Hampshire,? England


name: Standley Lenard Bessant
event: Census
event date: 1911
gender: Male
age: 3
birthplace: Freemantle
record type: Household
registration district: Southampton
sub-district: Southampton Western
parish: Shirley
county: Hampshire

William Edward Bessant
England and Wales Census, 1911
birth: Totton,? Hampshire
census: 1911 Shirley,? Freemantle Southampton,? Hampshire,? England


name: William Edward Bessant
event: Census
event date: 1911
gender: Male
age: 38
birthplace: Totton, Hampshire
record type: Household
registration district: Southampton
sub-district: Southampton Western
parish: Shirley
county: Hampshire

Emily Ellen Bessant
England and Wales Census, 1911
birth: Totton,? Hampshire
census: 1911 Shirley,? Freemantle Southampton,? Hampshire,? England


name: Emily Ellen Bessant
event: Census
event date: 1911
gender: Female
age: 36
birthplace: Totton, Hampshire
record type: Household
registration district: Southampton
sub-district: Southampton Western
parish: Shirley
county: Hampshire

Can't see a birth in 1873, but there is this one:

Name: William Edward L Bessant
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1871
Registration district: New Forest
Inferred County: Hampshire, Wiltshire
Volume: 2b
Page: 621

just wondering if this could be him as Eling is part of otton

1881
LOW, Walter Head Single M 48 1833 Genl Labr
Eling
Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, Frank Stepson Single M 16 1865 Genl Labr Out Of Employ
Eling
Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, Rose Stepdaughter Single F 11 1870 House Keeper (Dom)
Eling
Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, William Stepson Single M 9 1872 Scholar
Eling
Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, Bertie Stepson Single M 8 1873 Scholar
Eling
Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, Edith M Stepdaughter Single F 6 1875
Eling
Hampshire VIEW
BESSENT, Anne L Stepdaughter Single F 5 1876
Eling
Hampshire VIEW
LAVER, Harriet Widow F 48 1833 House Keeper (Dom)
South Stoneham
Hampshire VIEW
Piece:
1204 Folio:
39 Page:
2 Registration District:
New Forest

Civil Parish:
Eling Municipal Borough:
Address:
Bears Lane, Eling County:
Hampshire

His marriage certificate should give you his fathers name (If known):

Marriages Dec 1893
Bessant William Edward N. Forest 2b 1444
Cull Emily Ellen N. Forest 2b 1444

I wonder whether his age was reported accurately???

1871:
Name: William E Bessant
Age: 3 Months
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Relation: Son
Father's Name: William Bessant
Mother's Name: Mary Bessant
Gender: Male
Where born: Southampton
Civil parish: St Mary
Ecclesiastical parish: St James
Town: Southampton
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Registration district: Southampton
Sub-registration district: Southampton
ED, institution, or vessel: 26
Household schedule number: 68
Piece: 1190
Folio: 152
Page Number: 14
Household Members:
Name Age
William Bessant 39
Mary Bessant 34
Annie Bessant 11
Eliza Bessant 8
William E Bessant 3 Months

William Edward Bessant Pedigree
Male
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth: 1873 , , England

Christening:
Death: 15 APR 1912 , , At Sea

Just for reference:

Name: W Bessant
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1873
Birthplace: Hampshire
Nationality: British
Ship Name: Titanic
Port: Southampton
County: Hampshire
Registry Date: 6 Apr 1912
Record Type: Crew Agreements (Fireman)
Reference Number: BT100/259

I am trying to connect him to my Bessant family. He died on the Titanic. I have been told stories about him by the family. I have loads of Bessants in the family but there are so many Bessant's in Southampton. I want to make sure I have the right one.
He was married to Emily Cull in 1893. They had 3 sons and 2 daughters. I really want to find out who his parents were.
Any help would be much appreciated.

I have info of them in the 1911 census.
census 1911 Name Relation Condition/ Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born Original census image -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BESSANT, William Edward Head Married M 38 1873 Labourer Totton Hants VIEW BESSANT, Emily Ellen Wife Married 17 years F 36 1875 Totton Hants VIEW BESSANT, Charles William Son Single M 14 1897 Errand Boy Freemantle VIEW BESSANT, Gladys Lillian May Daughter Single F 10 1901 School Freemantle VIEW BESSANT, Florance Ellen Maud Daughter Single F 5 1906 Freemantle VIEW BESSANT, Standley Lenard Son Single M 3 1908 Freemantle VIEW BESSANT, Albert Edward Son M 0 (8 MONTHS) 1911 Freemantle VIEW -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG number: RG14 Piece: 6002 Reference: RG14PN6002 RG78PN274 RD99 SD2 ED14 SN235 Registration District: Southampton Sub District: Southampton Western Enumeration District: 14 Parish: Shirley Address: 36 Henry Road Freemantle Southampton County: Hampshire