Norman Faulkner Bent
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Norman Faulkner Bent was my great-great-grandfather.
Norman was the fourth child and third son of William Bent, a 'licensed victualler', and his second wife, Elizabeth Bent (née Smith). He was born on 1 July 1855 at the family home at 13 Charles Street, Manchester Square, Marylebone in London W1 [1,2] and was baptised at St Marylebone on 19 August 1855.
Norman had three older siblings: Ada, born in about 1851, and twins Henry and Charles, born in about 1853.
Early Life
On modern maps, 13 Charles Street is in Mayfair however in 1855 it was listed as being located in Manchester Square in the historical parish of Marylebone [3]. There was a pub called 'Jacob's Well' at this address in 1855 and records show William Bent as the licensee from about that time. It is very likely that Norman was born at home, above the pub. My research seems to indicate that there is no longer a pub at this location. The street may have been renamed to George Street after 1869 [4].
The 1861 Census has 5-year-old Norman living with his family at 14 Carrington Street, Mayfair in the parish of St George, Hanover Square. Norman's father's occupation is again listed as 'licensed victualler' and a 16-year-old waiter, a 19-year-old nursemaid and a cook are listed as living with them.
In 1861, William was the publican at the Old Chesterfield Arms at 11 Shepherd Street in Mayfair (7 Shepherd Street after 1869) [5]. Note that Shepherd Street and Carrington Street intersect so it's possible the family lived at the pub and that the entrance to their home was in Carrington Street. By 1861, Norman had acquired two younger siblings: Elizabeth, born in about 1856, and Frederick, born in about 1860 [6].
In 1865, the family moved to The Lord Nelson Hotel at 200 The King's Road in Chelsea [7] where, in 1871, Ada, Henry and Charles were working behind the bar. At 11, Norman was still at school, as were Frederick and Elizabeth. He had also acquired another brother, Arthur, who had been born in about 1866 [8].
In 1881, Norman was 26 and living with his family at the Duke of Cornwall at 127 Ledbury Road, Paddington, where his father was the licensee [9]. He gave his profession as architect.
The 1861 Census has 5-year-old Norman living with his family at 14 Carrington Street, Mayfair in the parish of St George, Hanover Square. Norman's father's occupation is again listed as 'licensed victualler' and a 16-year-old waiter, a 19-year-old nursemaid and a cook are listed as living with them.
In 1861, William was the publican at the Old Chesterfield Arms at 11 Shepherd Street in Mayfair (7 Shepherd Street after 1869) [5]. Note that Shepherd Street and Carrington Street intersect so it's possible the family lived at the pub and that the entrance to their home was in Carrington Street. By 1861, Norman had acquired two younger siblings: Elizabeth, born in about 1856, and Frederick, born in about 1860 [6].
In 1865, the family moved to The Lord Nelson Hotel at 200 The King's Road in Chelsea [7] where, in 1871, Ada, Henry and Charles were working behind the bar. At 11, Norman was still at school, as were Frederick and Elizabeth. He had also acquired another brother, Arthur, who had been born in about 1866 [8].
In 1881, Norman was 26 and living with his family at the Duke of Cornwall at 127 Ledbury Road, Paddington, where his father was the licensee [9]. He gave his profession as architect.
Marriage and Children
Norman Faulkner Bent married Emily Link Custance in the June quarter in 1882 in Lambeth, London [10].
Norman and Emily had seven children together:
Frank Cyril (descendant: Leah J)
Florence 1883
Arthur W 1885
Ethel Minnie 1888
Norman Frederick 1886 (descendant: Felicity B)
Harold 1890 (descendant: Adam B and Chris B)
Emily Mildred 1892 (descendant: Frances C)
Gertrude 1895
Lillian Eva 1896 (Lily, married Brown)Norman Frederick;
The family were Church of England and the children were baptised into the Anglican faith.
Baptismal Records for the Children of Emily and Norman Bent
St Mark's, Kennington, Surrey
7 January 1883, Florence, d/o Norman Faulkner & Emily Link BENT, 5 Coal?? Road, Architect
31 August 1884, Arthur William, s/o Norman Faulkner & Emily BENT, 8 Hanover Gardens, Architect
30 May 1886, Norman Frederick, s/o Norman Faulkner and Emily BENT, Actor
St Marks, Deptford, London
13 July 1893, Emily Mildred, d/o Norman Faulkner & Emily BENT, 74 Kerry Road, Clerk S.E.R.
St James Hatcham, London
6 January 1897, Lillian Eva, d/o Norman & Emily BENT, 100 Milton Court Road, Clerk
Norman and Emily had seven children together:
Frank Cyril (descendant: Leah J)
Florence 1883
Arthur W 1885
Ethel Minnie 1888
Norman Frederick 1886 (descendant: Felicity B)
Harold 1890 (descendant: Adam B and Chris B)
Emily Mildred 1892 (descendant: Frances C)
Gertrude 1895
Lillian Eva 1896 (Lily, married Brown)Norman Frederick;
The family were Church of England and the children were baptised into the Anglican faith.
Baptismal Records for the Children of Emily and Norman Bent
St Mark's, Kennington, Surrey
7 January 1883, Florence, d/o Norman Faulkner & Emily Link BENT, 5 Coal?? Road, Architect
31 August 1884, Arthur William, s/o Norman Faulkner & Emily BENT, 8 Hanover Gardens, Architect
30 May 1886, Norman Frederick, s/o Norman Faulkner and Emily BENT, Actor
St Marks, Deptford, London
13 July 1893, Emily Mildred, d/o Norman Faulkner & Emily BENT, 74 Kerry Road, Clerk S.E.R.
St James Hatcham, London
6 January 1897, Lillian Eva, d/o Norman & Emily BENT, 100 Milton Court Road, Clerk
Acting
I do not know much about Norman's early life but it appears that acting was his passion. The following is an advertisement for a play that Norman was in from the Pall Mall Gazette, Tuesday, June 1, 1886, Issue 6617 (and a few other dates around the same time):
"GLOBE THEATRE (Lessee and Manager Mr C H Hawtrey) [4] Tonight at 9, will be played a new Farcical Comedy adapted from the German by George P Hawtrey, entitled THE PICKPOCKET. Mr W S Penley, Mr Allen, Mr A G Andrews, Mr T Squire, Mr F H Laye, Mr Norman Bent, and Mr W J Hill; Miss Vane Featherstone, Miss Cissy Grahame, Miss Garcia, and Mrs Leigh Murray. Preceded by at Eight, a Drama in one act, THE SINS OF THE FATHERS, by W LESTOCQ. Messrs Stewart Dawson, Draycott and W Lestocq, Mesdames Tyndell and Haydon. Box office open daily from 10 to 6.30. MATINEE of THE PICKPOCKET EVERY SATURDAY, at 3 o'clock. Business Manager E F Bradley." [11]
"GLOBE THEATRE (Lessee and Manager Mr C H Hawtrey) [4] Tonight at 9, will be played a new Farcical Comedy adapted from the German by George P Hawtrey, entitled THE PICKPOCKET. Mr W S Penley, Mr Allen, Mr A G Andrews, Mr T Squire, Mr F H Laye, Mr Norman Bent, and Mr W J Hill; Miss Vane Featherstone, Miss Cissy Grahame, Miss Garcia, and Mrs Leigh Murray. Preceded by at Eight, a Drama in one act, THE SINS OF THE FATHERS, by W LESTOCQ. Messrs Stewart Dawson, Draycott and W Lestocq, Mesdames Tyndell and Haydon. Box office open daily from 10 to 6.30. MATINEE of THE PICKPOCKET EVERY SATURDAY, at 3 o'clock. Business Manager E F Bradley." [11]
By the time of the 1891 Census in England, Norman was 35, working as an actor and living at 12 Kempshed Road, Camberwell in London.
BENT
Norman F Head Marr 35 Actor London Marylebone
Emily Wife Marr 28 Birmingham
Florence Dau Unmarr 8 Scholar London Kennington
Arthur W Son Unmarr 6 Scholar London Kennington
Norman F Son Unmarr 5 London Kennington
Ethel M Dau Unmarr 3 London Wandsworth
Harold Son Unmarr 1 London Wandsworth
BENT
Norman F Head Marr 35 Actor London Marylebone
Emily Wife Marr 28 Birmingham
Florence Dau Unmarr 8 Scholar London Kennington
Arthur W Son Unmarr 6 Scholar London Kennington
Norman F Son Unmarr 5 London Kennington
Ethel M Dau Unmarr 3 London Wandsworth
Harold Son Unmarr 1 London Wandsworth
Death
Norman died in Birkenhead in June 1905 at the age of 49 [12]. I could find no record of a will.
References
[1] Baptism record (copy on file);
[2] birth cert, copy on file;
[3] https://pubology.co.uk/pubs/8286.html
[4] Info from 1848 and 1853 license transfers. Address is 13 Charles Street until at least 1869, prior to street renaming. https://www.pubshistory.com/LondonPubs/Marylebone/JacobsWell.shtml
[5] https://pubwiki.co.uk/LondonPubs/StGeorgeHanoverSquare/OldChesterfieldArms.shtml
[6] 1861 Census (copy on file);
[7] https://pubwiki.co.uk/LondonPubs/Chelsea/LordNelson.shtml
[8] 1871 Census (copy on file);
[9] https://pubshistory.com/LondonPubs/Paddington/DukeCornwall.shtml
[10] FreeBMD Marriage Index, Volume 1d, Page 788.
[11] Charles HAWTREY appears to have been quite influential. His wikipedia page here (includes a mention of "The Pickpocket" at the Globe Theatre): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hawtrey_(actor_born_1858)
[12] https://www.freebmd.org.uk/
[2] birth cert, copy on file;
[3] https://pubology.co.uk/pubs/8286.html
[4] Info from 1848 and 1853 license transfers. Address is 13 Charles Street until at least 1869, prior to street renaming. https://www.pubshistory.com/LondonPubs/Marylebone/JacobsWell.shtml
[5] https://pubwiki.co.uk/LondonPubs/StGeorgeHanoverSquare/OldChesterfieldArms.shtml
[6] 1861 Census (copy on file);
[7] https://pubwiki.co.uk/LondonPubs/Chelsea/LordNelson.shtml
[8] 1871 Census (copy on file);
[9] https://pubshistory.com/LondonPubs/Paddington/DukeCornwall.shtml
[10] FreeBMD Marriage Index, Volume 1d, Page 788.
[11] Charles HAWTREY appears to have been quite influential. His wikipedia page here (includes a mention of "The Pickpocket" at the Globe Theatre): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hawtrey_(actor_born_1858)
[12] https://www.freebmd.org.uk/