Sarah Malvena Bennett

Sarah Malvena Bennett. born at Dudley, Worcester around 1861, was the wife of Caleb Joseph Bradshaw (ca 1861). (She was known by her second name, Melvena). They were the parents of Alice Maud Bradshaw (wife of James William Barnard) who, in turn, were my wife's maternal grandparents.

However, she is subsequently listed as residing with her parents Thomas and Eliza at Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcester, England and then in 1881 at 22 Albert Street, Redditch.

Bennett - in the 1881 Census

Thomas BENNETT Birth Year <1833> Birthplace Redditch, Worcester, England - Age 48
Occupation Needle Finisher
Marital Status M <Married>
Head of Household Thomas BENNETT
Relation Head
Dwelling 22 Albert St
Census Place Redditch, Worcester, England
Family History Library Film 1341705
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 2943 / 30
Page Number 7

Eliza BENNETT M Female 47 Redditch, Worcester, England Needle Wrapper
Malvena BENNETT U Female 20 Redditch, Worcester, England Needle Wrapper (Note: this is Sarah Melvena Bennett)
Martha BENNETT Female 10 Redditch, Worcester, England Scholar
Frank BENNETT Male 15 Redditch, Worcester, England Machine Needle Maker
Richard BENNETT Male 13 Astwood Bank, Worcester, England Label Marker Needle

The above indicates (compare births of Frank and Richard) that the family moved from Redditch to Astwood, between 1865 and 1868.

At some time, Sarah Malvena lived in Dudley, Worcestshire - west of Redditch (either as the place she was born, and raised as a child, or when married). Dudley is in in a detached section of E. Worcestershire, on the Dudley Canal, 8 miles NW. of Birmingham and 122 miles NW. of London. Dudley is situated in the centre of the "Black Country, " at a junction of the Great Western Ry., and has extensive coal mines, iron mines and ironworks, and limestone quarries; it also had glass-works, brass-foundries, and brickworks; tanning, malting, and brewing. Nails were manufactured there. There is an old castle (said to have been founded in the 8th century by a Saxon prince, Dodo or Dud, who gave his name to the town) which was destroyed by fire in 1750, but the keep still remains. The parish of Dudley contains 3,546 acres. It forms a detached part of Worcestershire lying surrounded by the county of Staffordshire.

The children of Sarah Malvena Bennett and Caleb Bradhaw were:

1. Alice Maud Bradshaw (b. 24 November, 1885, Redditch) - married James William Barnard

2. William Bradshaw - married Gretchen (Unknown); issue: Carl, Mary, Gillian. (He was older than Alice Maud). The family lived in London, ON - 55 Evergreen Street, around 1916.

3. Hilda Bradshaw - married Henry Bull.

4. Minnie Bradshaw - married Frederick Bryan

5. Frederick Bradshaw - married Madge (Unknown), and subsequently Hilda (Unknown).

6. Norman Bradshaw - married Ethel Thornton