Ernest Hick Bennett
1882- 1944
I have just received this lovely photos of Ernest Hick Bennett but unfortunately, I do not know when it was taken and there is sadly nobody left who can tell me. I rather imagine that it was about the 1920s but it may be later.Ernest was born in 1882 in Westminster to John Jasper Bennett (1850-1902) and his wife Amanda Brewer Bennett, nee Hick, (1852-1922). Ernest was the second of four children. He had an older brother, William J Bennett born in 1880 who sadly died at the age of 7 in 1887, so just five years after Ernest was born. By that time there was also a sister for Ernest called Minnie, who was born in 1885 and to be followed by a brother, John Claude Bennett born in 1894 and who died during WW1 in 1915 in France at the age of 21 and who Nicholas’ father was named after. John Claude is buried in the war cemetery at Bethune. Helen and her husband, John, visited and kindly took these photos for me.
Ernest’s father, John Jasper Bennett, was born in Linkinhorne, Cornwall in 1850. I have traced this family back a long way and will write another post about them and the Bennett ancestry. John married Amanda Brewer Hick in Linkinhorne in September 1878 but they must have moved to London soon after as, by 1881, they are living at St James, London and he is a police constable, with one son, William. Ten years later -in 1891- they are still in St James with their son, Ernest Hick and daughter, Minnie who are aged 8 & 6 respectively. William has sadly died by the time of this census. Amanda is not mentioned in it and I have been unable to find out where she was on that date. John is now working as a hall porter.
Ten years later, in 1891, John is a restaurant porter and Ernest is a Second Division Clerk in the Civil Service. They are both living at 34 Rupert Street, St James. London with Amanda, Minnie and John Claude.
John Jasper Bennett died in 1902 at the age of 51 and his wife is living at 29 Newman Street, off Oxford Street, London in the 1911 census. With her are Minnie – a show room assistant- and John Claude who is an insurance clerk. Amanda died in 1922.
Ernest married Charlotte MacDonald in 1909 in the Westminster district. He was aged 27 with Charlotte much the same age. Two years later, according to the 1911 census, they are living at 16 Spencer Road, New Southgate and with them are Elizabeth Caroline Woodings – sister in law- (presumably she is Charlotte’s sister} along with her son Edward Lyndon Woodings. Charlotte and her sister were born in Edinburgh and Edward was born in Burton on Trent.
I found that Ernest and Charlotte were living at 56 Willoughby Road, Acton in 1918 and were owners of their house. In 1930 they were living at 27 Davis Road, Acton and are still there in 1932 but by 1937 they have moved to 8 Oakley Avenue, Ealing.
Ernest and Charlotte had the following four children:
- Their eldest child was a daughter called Mary born 1st May 1913. Mary married Alexander Cochrane in 1937 in Brentford. Middlesex and had three sons:
Ian F in 1933 in Sulcoates, Yorkshire who married Sylvia
Neil BF in 1935 in Sulcoates, Yorkshire and who married Patricia
Malcolm F in 1939 in Amersham, Buckinhamshire
2/ Their only son, Ernest Claude
3/ A second daughter, Dorothy on 16th September 1916 in Brentford who married Gerald Allinham Magnus in 1940
4/ Finally a third daughter who was called Caroline but always known as Babs, on 9th April 1919 in Brentford who married William Herridge in 1944 in Surry, North London
Ernest did very well in his career and I have found an entry in the Edinburgh Gazette of February 22nd 1898 stating
FOR REGISTRATION AS TEMPORARY BOY COPYISTS (NEW CLASS).
Ernest Hick Bennett, James Hoot
Then in the same newspaper dated 4th December 1900 it says:
After Open Competition
Second Division : Clerks – Valentine Beadon, Ernest Hick Bennett
Ernest is then transferred according to the Edinburgh Gazette of February 6th 1920 from the Registrar-General office to Treasury.
Then according to the London Gazette of 1st January 1930
To Be members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order_
Ernest Hick Bennett, Esq., Staff Officer Treasury.
Ernest was awarded an MBE and in the 1938 Birthday Honours List he is awarded the Companion of the Imperial Service Order, (ISO) Home Civil Service when he was Inspector of Rates, Rating of Government Property Department.
Ernest retired to Bournemouth and he was living at the Mac-Mar Hotel, West Hill Road, Bournemouth where he died on 20th December 1944. His probate was granted to his widow, Charlotte, leaving effects of £1491 2s 4d which would today be valued at about £500,000.