Benjamin Herring (1831-1920)
An outline, from census and Parish records
Doug Warne
Benjamin was born in Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire in 1831, the son of John and Sarah. No record of his birth through Parish records has so far been found. A Sarah Herring had been born in Marsh Gibbon in 1837, but her parents were Thomas and Mary, so there could be a broader connection to the Herring family in Marsh Gibbon.
The family moved to Barford in the late 1830s and are listed living there by the time of the 1841 census, Benjamin and his parents now being joined by siblings Amos (5), Sarah (5) and Charles (2). His father John Scraggs Herring is listed as an agricultural labourer and it is believed he was working at this time on Plestowes Farm as a shepherd.
The 1851 census finds the family living near Alderham House, although the name of their residence is not clear from the record. The family is now further enlarged to include George (9), Rowland (7) and Ann (4). The father John is again listed as a farm labourer, but unusually (given their ages) no occupation is listed against Benjamin, Amos or Charles. It is believed that by this time Benjamin was working as a gardener on the Watchbury Estate.
By 1861 Benjamin was married to Elizabeth, age 42 and born in Bournheath, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. How they might have met is unclear at present and no record of their marriage has so far been found. They have daughters Mary (5), Elizabeth (3) and a son Benjamin (6 months), and are living in Church Lane, close to Charles Warr and his family who occupied what is now South of St Peter’s (8 Church Lane) for some time. Benjamin is described as a gardener’s labourer and it is believed that he worked on the estate of Louisa Ryland.
The 1871 census shows Benjamin and Elizabeth living in Church Street, with son Benjamin. Benjamin senior is now described as a Methodist Preacher and gardener. There are many accounts in the Warwickshire Advertiser and the Leamington courier of Benjamin preaching at various Primitive Methodist chapels in the area from this time until his death.
They are still there in 1881 although Benjamin junior has now left home and is living at 2 Ashford Road in Eastbourne, described as a tailor; he married Kathleen O’Bryan in Nottingham in q/e March 1987 (Nottingham vol 7b p386).
Benjamin was involved as a witness in 1874 and the report indicates that he was a friend of another Primitive Methodist preacher who went on to become an MP, Joseph Arch. The Royal Leamington Spa Courier of 12 December 1874 reports:
‘John Trimmer, labourer, Thomas Watkins, gamekeeper and William Hubbard, labourer, all of Barford, were charged with assaulting Thomas Skelcher on the 27th ult. William Hirons was charged with aiding and abetting the assault. Mr Heap was for the defendants. Complainant said that he and Mr Watkins were at the Wheat Sheaf, Barford on the evening of the 27th ult. Watkins left. When he went out he saw Watkins and Hirons in the street. They said ‘Good night.’. The other two defendants also passed him. Subsequently stones and snowballs were thrown at the complainant. Turning round he said ‘What are you throwing at me for?’ Trimmer then knocked him down. Watkins and Hubbard kicked him. Hubbard said ‘That’s for the mushrooms’. Watkins said ‘Kick his guts out.’. The others were close by. Hirons said ‘Give it him.’. Complainant had been laid by all the week; and still wore bandages. He had caught Hubbard’s father-in-law getting mushrooms. In cross-examination witness said that the snowballs were thrown without anything being said; they did not hit him. The complainant did not strike any of the four men. He cried out ‘Let me get up’. The police came to his assistance. Joseph Arch, who described himself as a labourer of Barford, was the next witness. He was going up the village on Friday 27th ult. About half-past ten and saw Skelcher talking to Watkins and Hirons. There seemed to be no quarrel then. A few yards above them he saw Trimmer with one knee on the ground, scraping up snow or something else. Hubbard was standing close by Trimmer. Witness heard one of them say ‘Give him a snowball’. Witness waited in his own home a few yards away. He had not been at home many minutes before he heard a noise and went outside. He saw one partly stripped; and walked quietly down to see what was the matter. He saw Trimmer and Skelcher both go down on the ground together. The others stood a yard or two off. Trimmer hit Skelcher. Watkins said two or three times ‘Give it to him, Jack.’ Witness did not hear the others say anything. The witness was in his house ten minutes before he went out. In cross-examination witness said that Trimmer and Skelcher had several ups and downs while he was looking on. Benjamin Herring, labourer, Barford said that he saw Skelcher, Watkins and Hirons talking together in the ordinary way, Trimmer and Hubbard were standing at a distance away. Witness went with Mr Arch into his house for five or ten minutes. On coming out to go home witness saw Trimmer in his shirt. Witness told Joseph Arch there was a row and they both came out and stood at a distance. He heard Watkins say ‘Give it him: it serves him right.’ He saw Trimmer hit Skelcher. P.C. Green said that he heard a voice ‘Give it him, Jack;’ and on going up saw Skelcher and Trimmer on the ground, Skelcher underneath. Trimmer, who was stripped, was on top of him. Skelcher had hold of Trimmer’s hair. He heard Watkins say ‘It serves him right, he has not got half enough.’ Skelcher said ‘You can’t give it me now.’ In cross-examination he said he had no difficulty in parting them. Lord Leigh said that a certificate had been handed in from Mr Hemming, surgeon; but he should like to know how in the opinion of Mr Hemming the injury arose. Mr Hemming was accordingly sent for and was asked by Lord Leigh whether he was able from his examination of complainant to say whether the injury to the ribs of the left side came from a kick or a blow in a fair stand-up fight. Mr Hemming said that it was impossible for him to say. He had not seen complainant for two days after the injuries had been received. There was then no bruise but a good deal of swelling. Drawing his breath gave him great pain. Mr Heap then addressed the bench in favour of defendants. Thomas Watkins, gamekeeper to Mr Greaves, said that he and the other three defendants were going on the night of the 27th up the street of Barford. He and Skelcher had been drinking at the Wheat Sheaf and were on perfectly good terms. Nothing occurred in the Wheat Sheaf. When witness got out, he went down the street and met the other three defendants and came back again. Then he met Skelcher. He and Hirons got into conversation with him. A snowball dropped close to the witness but no stones were thrown. Skelcher kicked Hubbard on the lag and threw him on his back. Hubbard had spoken a word to him. Hubbard called for help, and Hirons pulled him off. When Hirons had pulled Skelcher off, witness said to Skelcher ‘Now Tom, you had better go home.’ Hubbard said ‘What did you knock me down for? I did not throw the snowball, it was Jack.’ Skelcher then knocked Trimmer down. Trimmer took off his jacket and waistcoat and he and Skelcher had four rounds. Witness said ‘Clap it into him, for he deserves it: he asked for it.’ Trimmer and Skelcher had a good stand-up fight. Trimmer knocked Skelcher down as clean as a whistle. Trimmer had the best of it. The magistrates retired for a few minutes; and on returning Lod Leigh said that even according to complainant’s witnesses nothing was proved against Watkins, Hubbard and Hirons. As regards to Trimmer it appeared to the bench there had been a stand-up fight, and if there had been any fault at all, it was as much on one side as the other. According to the statements of defendant’s own witnesses there appeared to have been nothing unfair. The bench must dismiss the case.’
Benjamin’s daughter Mary Ann married James Warr in q/e March 1878 (Warwick vol 6d p618). James Warr was a shoemaker. The 1881 census shows them living in Wellesbourne Road with their son Benjamin (age 2) and daughter Lily Elizabeth (age 6mo). Like Charles Warr, James is recorded as born in South Newington. James, with his parents James and Prudence and brother Jonathan had moved from South Newington to nearby Loxley by the time of the 1871 census. It seems likely that there is a link between these two Warr families going back to South Newington. Mary Ann would have known Charles Warr’s children from their time in Church Lane and it could be through this link that she met James.
The 1891 census shows Benjamin and Elizabeth living at Watchbury Farm. With them are their daughter-in-law Kathleen with her sons Benjamin (age 3) and Rowland (age 2), and daughter Mary Ann (listed as Ann) with daughter Lily (listed as Lettie) and John (age 1). Elizabeth died on 7 May and the Parish record shows she was buried on 9 May 1891 at Barford St Peter’s, with Rev Charles Mills presiding. James is listed in 1891 still living in Wellesbourne Road, with son Benjamin and daughters Rose (age 8) and Violet (age 6). The reasons for James and Mary Ann being listed at separate addresses in this census are not clear. It is possible that Mary Ann was temporarily living with her parents at the time of the census on 5 April to care for her mother, who died a month later.
In 1901 Benjamin is shown as a domestic gardener living on Watchbury Farm with his daughter Mary and her husband James. Living with them in 1901 were their daughter Rose (age 18) and son John (age 11). Violet is listed in this census at Plestowes, as a housemaid.
In 1911 Benjamin is again living in Church Street with Mary Ann and James. Even at the age of 80, he is still listed as a gardener! He was clearly very proud to have worked on the Smith-Ryland estate and a newspaper article of 1912 describing the celebrations of Dennis Smith-Ryland 21st birthday reported on a speech given by Benjamin.
‘Mr Benjamin Herring then said that he had been on the Ryland Estate for 57 years. He went there first as a gardener at a time when there were only 4 gardeners employed. He was there in the time of Mrs Ryland, Miss Ryland’s mother. Then Mr Smith-Ryland came into possession of the vast Barford Hill estates, and a change came over everything. He (the speaker) had known what it was, very often, to see his fellow workmen, or men who had been, walking about in the winter with nothing to do, and these men had wives and families dependent on their earnings. On their present landlord’s succession however, work was found and where before men could be found wanting work, today there could not be found a man who was not fully employed. (Applause) He regarded Barford as a model village compared with what it used to be. (Applause) Mr Smith-Ryland once told him that the best thing he could do was to spend his money in trade and labour. (Applause) ‘Well gentlemen – he has done it’ (loud applause) and Barford could thank God that Mr Smith-Ryland ever came into possession. He did not mean to say that Mrs Ryland did nothing for Barford. If anyone had taken the view from what he had said, he was sorry, because he did not mean to convey that idea; moreover it was entirely wrong to suppose such a thing. She did a great deal of good, but although she was very kind to the villagers, Mr and Mrs Smith-Ryland, since they came to Barford Hill, had been even more so. The seems only to want to know what they could do for the good of the village. He built, and spent his money so that he used Barford labour, and this he enriched the village. A man had once asked him where in Barford he could find a man who could do some work for him, and he (Mr Herring) had been obliged to say that such a man was not known; they were all at work at Barford Hill. (Loud applause) That would speak for itself. In regard to Mrs Smith-Ryland, Mr Smith-Ryland had in her a lady who nobly helped him in all his kindnesses. They were a worthy and well-yoked couple, Mrs Smith-Ryland took a great and keen interest in everything connected with the village. The rifle range and club had been built by Mr Smith-Ryland and the sole object of these two places was the highest and best that could be possible imagined – to keep the young men out of the public house. All might enjoy, in these clubs, their own opinion, and such a place of social intercourse as that was very rare, for let a man abuse his opinion and it would in turn abuse him. The again, there was the Ryland Home of Rest. One day he had a conversation with one of the women who went there, and she told him how please she was that such a place existed, how much good was done there and how comfortable they were. They were taught there to do something useful, and at the same time they could meet all their friends, and so any work they did was a great pleasure. They could not thanks Mrs Smith-Ryland enough for the kind way in which she had treated them. The mothers’ meeting too, was a great help to the mothers; it came as a ray of sunshine in their lives. Some people said that all the mothers went there for was to gossip, but such a statement was fully contradicted by a lady he questioned on the subject. She emphatically denied that they were there for any such purpose. The meeting was carried on in a systematic way and could only be for the good of the village. Then turning to Mr Dennis Smith-Ryland Mr Herring concluded ‘And I wish you, sir, every success. Take an example from your father; live like he has done; be kind and courteous as he has been. May very success, temporal and spiritual, attend you in the life that is before you, and if only you will follow in the footsteps of your father, then you will make a man of whom Barford may justly be proud. (Loud cheers).
Benjamin’s grand-daughter Violet is listed in the 1911 census as a housemaid to the Barker family in Watchbury House. She married Richard Lewis, a policeman, in Barford on 25 September 1913, Rector W Ingham Brooke officiating.
Benjamin became one of a few revered older people in Barford, as evidenced by a piece in the Leamington Spa Courier and Warwickshire Standard of 19 December 1913.
‘We have quite a number of splendid old people in Barford, five of whom if ages be taken in in the aggregate, will total up to considerably more than four hundred years. Besides Mrs West, who is 90, there is Thomas Reading, a brother of the late William Reading, who is 84 or 85; Widow Warr we believe is the same age, Mr Benjamin Herring, a good old sample of the earnest Primitive Methodist whose consistent life must have had its good influence, is 84 next month; and the veteran politician, Mr Joseph Arch, is also well on in the 80’s, and recently appeared very well indeed.’
Benjamin died on 31 May 1920 (Warwick vol 6d p807). No Parish record of his burial has been found, but his and Elizabeth’s gravestone can be found in Barford St Peter’s graveyard (plot 42 on the Barford WI graveyard register).
DFW
20 Mar 2022
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