Thomas Bent
Richard Bent > Thomas Bent > William Bent > Norman Faulkner Bent > Norman Frederick Bent > Norman Hector Bent
Thomas Bent was my great-great-great-great-grandfather. He was born in Billesdon, Leicestershire in England and was baptised on 16 April 1781. His parents were Richard Bent and Mary Allen [1].
Marriage and Children
Thomas married Susannah Rodwell (abt 1781-1862) in Billesdon on 26 December 1803.
The following appear to be their children, all of whom were born and baptised in Billesdon:
Thomas: born 29 April 1804, died 11 September 1866. Buried with his parents in Billesdon;
Ann: 16 March 1806
Elizabeth: 27 December 1808
Richard: born 22 April 1810, died 22 January 1827. Buried with his parents in Billesdon;
John and William: 22 November 1813
John: 15 December 1816
Edward: 30 June 1822
Sarah: 3 April 1825 [2]
Note the gap between John and Edward and two sons called John. Were all these children Thomas and Susannah's?
The following appear to be their children, all of whom were born and baptised in Billesdon:
Thomas: born 29 April 1804, died 11 September 1866. Buried with his parents in Billesdon;
Ann: 16 March 1806
Elizabeth: 27 December 1808
Richard: born 22 April 1810, died 22 January 1827. Buried with his parents in Billesdon;
John and William: 22 November 1813
John: 15 December 1816
Edward: 30 June 1822
Sarah: 3 April 1825 [2]
Note the gap between John and Edward and two sons called John. Were all these children Thomas and Susannah's?
Life
According to the 1851 census, Thomas was a framework knitter [3,4] involved in knitting hosiery, a profession centred around Derbyshire, Nottingham and Leicestershire. It was hard work and poorly paid. The frame was usually hired from a hosier who supplied the yarn and sold the stockings. The framework knitter would have to pay the rent for the frame even when there was no work.
Death and Burial
Thomas died on 3 April 1858 at the age of 77 of "disease of the heart [4]. His son, John Bent, notified the death, signing with his mark.
Thomas is buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist parish church in Billesdon, together with his wife and two of his sons (Area D, Grave 152).
The church of St John the Baptist dates from the 12th century.
Thomas is buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist parish church in Billesdon, together with his wife and two of his sons (Area D, Grave 152).
The church of St John the Baptist dates from the 12th century.
[1] Billesdon Churchyard Register: http://www.vlaeminke.plus.com/churchyard/namesAtoZ.html
[2] Baptism records via www.rootschat.com/forum
[3] "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGFK-6JY : 9 November 2019), Thomas Bent, Billesdon, Leicestershire, England; citing Billesdon, Leicestershire, England, p. 32, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey;
[4] death cert, copy on file;
[2] Baptism records via www.rootschat.com/forum
[3] "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGFK-6JY : 9 November 2019), Thomas Bent, Billesdon, Leicestershire, England; citing Billesdon, Leicestershire, England, p. 32, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey;
[4] death cert, copy on file;