Benjamin (son of William Ginn in my post of 3rd February 2013 ) moved to Royston from Great Hormead in 1780 (Land Tax). He was 24. I started researching him in 1992, and it was clear that they were the same man; but I had no proof. Then I found some (see extract from 1825 document and the notes re: his son James - later post - May 22nd 2014).
Exactly how Ben met Fanny Chapman, I don't know. Fanny's father was Daniel Chapman, a
Wheelwright from Sandon. I would imagine
that he often visited Royston market, patronised the Inns, and there introduced
his daughter to young Benjamin.
Ben had, of course, been well versed in the victualling
trade by his father; who from 1772 was the Landlord of the "Three
Horseshoes" at Great Hormead. For a
lad with ambitions in that line, Royston was a good place to head for. It was an important coaching centre, having
many splendid Inns. It was also a
malting town, albeit on a lesser scale than Hertford and Ware.
From his first arrival (until his death) Ben was described
as a Maltster. This was a man who
actually made the malt for brewing, by fermenting the grain. The Land Tax shows that he had (presumably
leased) a certain amount of "malting land". More interestingly, Benjamin was also
described as a Victualler for at least part of his life. This fascinated me. He is not mentioned in any surviving
Victualler's Recognisance’s (chiefly for 1781 and 1806), nor in the book on
Royston Inns at the Herts Local Studies Library. This defeated me for two years. Then, in the most unlikely of documents, I
discovered that he lived part of his life at "The Black Swan",
presumably as the Licensee.
"The Black Swan" was a house in Butchery Row. In the old days (19th cent.) there was what
was called "Kennedy's Auction Market" on the south side of Market
Hill, east of "The Green Man".
Beyond this was a side street (Butchery Row) in which stood "The
Bell and Anchor" and "The Black Swan". They flanked a small butchers shop, hence the
name of the street. As I understand it,
none of this still stands.
This apart, I know very little about this couple. However, some original signed documents do
survive. In 1804, Ben and Fanny
inherited £10 from her father, there are signed receipts for this at the HRO.
Sadly, Benjamin did not live to see old age; he died in
1805, aged 49. Fanny did not long
survive him; she died in 1808. I have
not researched her family.
Ben and Fanny had nine children:
Catherine Chapman - married William Parker in 1803
James - see later post - May 22nd 2014
Fanny - married Joseph Law in 1817
Benjamin - there were three - for the survivor - see later post 8th March 2014
Mary - I looked for her for decades and it was not until a correspondent, Ian Cruttenden, saw my blog that we found out what happened to Mary. She went with her sister Ann (they probably went in service together) to Somerset, Radstock in fact. Neither sister lived to 1851, but both were born "out of county" in 1841. Mary Ginn married Samuel Hitchens at Radstock in 1815. She died there in 1841 with a quoted age of 50, which was exactly correct. The couple had a number of children including a Fanny Ginn Hitchens and a Benjamin Hitchens which gave the game away. Ian is a descendant of this family
Ann - married Robert Latchem at Radstock in Somerset in 1822. Robert was an Engineer/Engineman. They had a number of children including sons Aquila who I know married and had issue and a James Ginn Latchem and a Benjamin Latchem. Ann died at Radstock in 1850 with a quoted age of 57 which was exactly correct.
Thomas -is untraced as yet
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