Benjamin Ginn (1781-1835)

Benjamin Ginn (1781-1835) BWE 20 Jan 2009

Benjamin Ginn was born around 1781, no record has been found of his birth or baptism

His younger brothers and sisters were baptised in the 'Old Meeting', Ware, Hertfordshire for which no records exist prior to1786

The next we know of him he was living in Southover, Lewes, Sussex, and in 1810 he married Mary Guy at the parish church

of Hamsey, just north of Lewes

Then between 1816 and 1822 they had five children all baptised in Hamsey, although they were living in Brighton and Bexhill

for some of this period

Then after the birth of the last child, Mary died possibly in childbirth, and was buried at the Parish Church Chiddingly near

Lewes, where her family had lived

Whether Benjamin then looked after his young family or found a foster family is not known

In several property deals he is referred to as ‘of Bexhill’ in 1821, 1823 and 1824, and ‘late of Brighton now Coventry’ in 1825

From 1825-1831 he was living in Coventry as a surveyor and builder

In 1831 he signed a confirmation of work done to enlarge the seating capacity of the Parish Church, Kenilworth,

Warwickshire (near Coventry)

In 1832, he was in Weedon, Northants

By 1834 he was the Clerk of Works in Portsmouth, Hants, where he died after a 'protracted and painful illness'

He was buried with Mary in Chiddingly. He left his children orphaned aged 13 to 19

His will was proved the14 Apr 1835 at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

For details of Benjamin's ancestors see: