Benjamin Fetters/Fletcher (1767–1859)
Benjamin was probably born in 1767. His parents are not known. He is Stephanie's 4x great grandfather.
He married Martha Harrup (1776–1864)★ on 12 Oct, 1801 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstonea1 . They had five children.
- Lydia★ baptised on 3 Jun, 1804 at St. Edward's Churcha2. Married Thomas Tew★ on 23 Sep, 1824a3. Died in 1826 at St. Edward's Church at the age of twenty-two.
- William baptised on 10 Nov, 1805 at St. Edward's Churcha4. Buried on 20 Nov, 1805 at St. Edward's Churcha5 in infancy.
- Susanna baptised on 31 May, 1807 at St. Edward's Churcha6. Buried on 31 May, 1807 at St. Edward's Churcha7 in infancy.
- Benjamin baptised on 12 May, 1811 at St. Edward's Churchb1. Married Martha Geaten on 4 Apr, 1831a8. Died on 10 Feb, 1899 at St. Edward's Churcha9 at the age of eighty-seven.
- William baptised on 26 Dec, 1819 at St. Edward's Churchb2. Died in 1900 at The Union Workhouse in Buckingham at the age of eighty-one.
By the time of the 1851 census he was living in Shalstone, Buckinghamshirec1 with his wife Martha and son William, an agricultural labourer.
Benjamin died at the age of ninety-two on 29 Oct, 1859 in Shalstoned1 and was buried three days later in Shalstonea10 He was survived by his wife Martha.
Timeline
- 1767
- Probably born around this time.
- 1801
- 12 Oct
- Married Martha Harrup★ at St. Edward's Church, Shalstonea1.
Recorded as residing in Shalstone, Buckinghamshire.
- 1804
- 3 Jun
- Daughter, Lydia Fetters/Fletcher★, baptised at St. Edward's Churcha2.
- 1805
- 1807
- 1811
- 12 May
- Son, Benjamin, baptised at St. Edward's Churchb1.
- 1819
- 1826
- Daughter, Lydia, died at the age of twenty-two at St. Edward's Church.
- 1851
- 1859
- 1864
- 15 Dec
- Occupation recorded as former farm labourerd2.
Other Information
Other names and variations
Research Notes
Why did Benjamin change his name? #
Benjamin was born Benjamin Fetters, probably around 1767, possibly in Shalstone, although we have been unable to find his baptism entry. In the early 1800s he and his family were sometimes known by the name Fletcher and by the 1850s the name Fetters had been abandoned entirely. However it wasn’t an overnight change. For many years members of the family were known alternately as Fetters or Fletcher.
Here’s a timeline showing the name change
- 1795 Baptism of John, son of John and Elizabeth Fetters (unknown connection in Shalstone to Benjamin)
- 1798 Marriage of William Farns[or Barns] and Eliabeth Fetters (unknown connection)
- 1801 Marriage of Benjamin Fetters and Martha Arrup
- 1804 Baptism of Benjamin’s daughter Lydia Fletcher
- 1805 Baptism and burial of Benjamin’s son William Fetters
- 1807 Baptism and burial of Benjamin’s daughter Susanna Fetters
- 1809 Burial of Mary Fetters (unknown connection)
- 1809 Marriage of Thomas Chirry [or Chiny], of Water Stratford, and Lydia Harrop, witness Benjamin Fletcher
- 1811 Baptism of Benjamin’s son Benjamin Fetters
- 1812 Burial of John Fetters (unknown connection)
- 1819 Baptism of Benjamin’s son William Fetters
- 1824 Marriage of Benjamin’s daughter Lydia Fetters to Thomas Tew
- 1831 Marriage of Benjamin (jnr) Fletcher to Martha Geaten
- 1841 Census entry for Benjamin Fetters and family
- 1851 Census entry for Benjamin Fetters and family
- 1859 Death and Burial of Benjamin Fletcher
- 1861 Census entry for Benjamin (jnr) Fletcher and family
- 1861 Census entry for William Fletcher and family
- 1864 Death of Benjamin’s wife Martha, recorded as Martha Fetters by the informant in the Union Workhouse in Buckingham
- 1864 Burial of Martha Fletcher in Shalstone
- 1871 Census entry for Benjamin (jnr) Fletcher and family
- 1871 Census entry for William Fletcher and family
There are no mentions of Fetters after 1864
(see diary entry for 2 Apr 2023)
