Henry Martin
Henry Martin > Rosalie Martin > Norman Bent > Michael Bent
Henry Martin was my great-great-grandfather.
Henry was born in Chester, England in about 1852. His father, Thomas Martin, was a butler.
Henry was born in Chester, England in about 1852. His father, Thomas Martin, was a butler.
Marriage and Children
Henry married Catherine Rogers in January 1876. Catherine had been born in Liverpool in about 1853 and was the daughter of John Rogers who worked as a porter.
At the time of the 1881 UK census, Henry and Catherine were living at 15 Thomas Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire.
By the time the 1901 census was conducted, the couple were living with their family at 75 Rodney Street, Birkenhead in Cheshire.
At the time of the 1911 census, Catherine and Henry were both aged 58 and had been married for 35 years. Henry was a ship- and engine-smith in the shipbuilding industry.
The children mentioned in the census, all of whom were born in Birkenhead, were:
Margaret Helen, 34 an assistant to a dentist;
Henry Reginald, 28, a shipyard labourer;
Rosalie Clement (later Bent), 24;
Lilian Adelaide, 22;
Herbert Douglas, 20, a clerk in Cooperative Stores;
Malcolm Bertram, 17, an apprentice turner of some kind in the shipbuilding industry (one word's illegible);
Note that Norman Martin is not mentioned in the census so he was probably living away from home at the time.
Norman Hector Bent, Rosalie's son, said that he hero-worshipped his grandfather, Henry, who in 1914 and 1915, was a foreman at a big shipbuilding firm in Birkenhead called Cammell Laird. Norman was about four or five at this time and living with his mother and grandparents in Birkenhead. Norman remembers his grandmother, Kate, as being a very serious-faced old lady seated in a big chair [1].
At the time of the 1881 UK census, Henry and Catherine were living at 15 Thomas Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire.
By the time the 1901 census was conducted, the couple were living with their family at 75 Rodney Street, Birkenhead in Cheshire.
At the time of the 1911 census, Catherine and Henry were both aged 58 and had been married for 35 years. Henry was a ship- and engine-smith in the shipbuilding industry.
The children mentioned in the census, all of whom were born in Birkenhead, were:
Margaret Helen, 34 an assistant to a dentist;
Henry Reginald, 28, a shipyard labourer;
Rosalie Clement (later Bent), 24;
Lilian Adelaide, 22;
Herbert Douglas, 20, a clerk in Cooperative Stores;
Malcolm Bertram, 17, an apprentice turner of some kind in the shipbuilding industry (one word's illegible);
Note that Norman Martin is not mentioned in the census so he was probably living away from home at the time.
Norman Hector Bent, Rosalie's son, said that he hero-worshipped his grandfather, Henry, who in 1914 and 1915, was a foreman at a big shipbuilding firm in Birkenhead called Cammell Laird. Norman was about four or five at this time and living with his mother and grandparents in Birkenhead. Norman remembers his grandmother, Kate, as being a very serious-faced old lady seated in a big chair [1].
Death and Burial
Henry died on 7 February 1921 at the age of 58. He was killed in a workplace accident when a big press disintegrated in the shipyard and fell on him [1].
Henry's daughter, Rosalie, who died eight year later in Australia, is remembered on his headstone.
The inscription on Henry's headstone reads:
Henry, beloved husband of Catherine Martin, who fell asleep on 7 February 1921, aged 58 years. "Until the day break and the shadows fall away".
Also Rosalie Clement, beloved wife of Norman F Bent and daughter of above who was suddenly called to rest 31 August 1929 and was interred at Rookwood NSW.
"God knows the key to all unknown."
Henry's daughter, Rosalie, who died eight year later in Australia, is remembered on his headstone.
The inscription on Henry's headstone reads:
Henry, beloved husband of Catherine Martin, who fell asleep on 7 February 1921, aged 58 years. "Until the day break and the shadows fall away".
Also Rosalie Clement, beloved wife of Norman F Bent and daughter of above who was suddenly called to rest 31 August 1929 and was interred at Rookwood NSW.
"God knows the key to all unknown."
[1] Letter from Norman Hector Bent to his sister, Esme Howarth, 10 April 1999;