36 - The Bennett Family

The full story of the Bennett Family can be found in my book The Residents of Romiley Road, but here are some facts about them.

The head of the household was 64 year old stone mason William Bennett. When William's son Mark and daughter-in-law Margaret passed away within 9 months of each other, their 5 children were left orphaned, and it fell to William and his wife Mary to care for them. By 1871 Mary had also died, leaving William with 18 year old Sampson, 15 year old Mary, 13 year old Hannah, 11 year old Martha and 9 year old Joseph. To help William was a servant named Elizabeth Rowbottom.

Sampson Bennett worked at Robinson and Schofield hatworks and his passion was pigeon racing. The local pubs often held competitions in the sport and Sampson often won. After his grandfather died, Sampson took over the role of stone mason, like his father Mark. And like his father, he died young, at just 29 years.

Mary Bennett, who was an active member of Hatherlow church, married James Buckley, a grinder, and they looked after the younger siblings whilst remaining in the same house next to the Duke of York. James Buckley died aged 46, just a year after their son Samuel had died aged 21.

Martha Bennett married Jonas Walton and they moved to 53 Romiley Road where they had 9 children. 3 passed away before reaching adulthood. Martha ran her own Tripe shop on the street.