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GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  01200  6109 


BY   THE   SAME   COMPILER  :- 


i~"  Descent  of  De  CarterET  from  the  Dukes  of  Normandy." 

[Genealogical  Mngasine,  June,  igoo,  pp.  53-56,  and  January,  1901, 
pp.  407-411]- 


2—"  Descent  of  Bernau  from  the  Dukes  of  Normandy."" 
[Genealogical  Magasine,  March,  1901,  pp.  507-509]- 


3—"  Pedigree  of  the  BenEST  Family  of  Jersey,"  July,  1905. 
[British  Museum,  Press-mark  :— 1S56.  d.  i.  (134)-] 


4—"  Genealogy  of  the  Bernau  Family  of  Stolp,"  February,'.  1906. 
[British  Museum,  Press-mark  -.—not yet  allotted]. 


5—"  A  Short  Account  of  the  Descendants  of  Abraham  BenEST  of 
Jersey,"  March,  1906  ;  printed  at  the  expense  of  George- PhiHp 
Benest,  of  vSt.  Heher's,  Jersey. 
[British  Museum,  Press-mark  -.—not yet  allotted]. 


€.—"  A  Short  Account  of  the  LE  GEYT  dit  RauvET  Family,  of  St. 
Saviour's,  Jersey,"  September,   1906  ;    printed  at  the  expense 
of  Miss  R.  A.  Le  Geyt,  of  St.  Saviour's,  Jersey. 
[British  Museum,  Press-mark  ■.—not yet  allotted']. 


>  Several  printer's  errors  in  Nos.  2  and  3  are  corrected,  without  further  comment,  in 
this  pamphlet. 


genealogical  Botes 


ON 


5M  %m^  ol  51^  Udvcy's, 

THEIR  ANCESTORS  &  DESCENDANTS. 


Compiled  December,  iqoO,  by 

CHARLES  A.   BERNAU 

(Member  of  the  Soclete  Jersiaisc). 


Kiiully  send  anj-  necessary  aililitions  or  alterations  to 
Chas.  a.  BKRNAf,  "  Penilccn,"  Bowes  Road,  "SVaUon-upon-Tliaines. 


Privately  printed  at  the  expense  of  E.   B.  5.   Bcnest.   Assoc.  M.kC.e. 
r.R.U.S.,  etc.,    of   Rio  de  Janeiro.    BraziL 


135G433 


Ben^st,  oT  St.  Belief's. 

ARMS  :  Quarterly  of  four  ;  i  and  4.  Argent,  A  chevron, 
gules,  between  two  roses,  slipped,  in  chief,  and 
a  heart  in  base,  all  of  the  second,  for  BEN  EST  : 
2  and  3.  Ermine,  A  lion  rampant,  gules,  for 
LE  GEYT. 

CREST  :     A  lion's  head,  erased,  gules. 

MOTTO  :    ♦'  Quo  Fata  Vocant." 


GENEALOGICAL    NOTES 


ON 


5k  "^msls  0^  5\,  "Kdxw's, 

THEIR  ANCESTORS  &  DESCENDANTS. 


ARMS,    CREST  and   MOTTO. 

^',7^1' UR  authority  for  assigning  to  the  Benest  family  the  coat 
J  \J\  of  arms : — "  A  chevron  hehueen  two  roses  slipped  in  chief 
"'^■^  and  a  heart  in  base "  is  contained  in  a  manuscript 
note-book  written  by  Messrs.  Le  BoutilHer  and  Collas,  and 
recently  in  the  possession  of  the  late  Judge  William  Nicolle,  of 
Jersey.  Under  a  tricking  of  these  arms  (p.  219)  is  written  : — 
"  Arms  of  Benest  fi'om  a  seal  in  the  possession  of  Mrs. 
Gabourel,  no  colours  indicated."  We  have  taken  the  colours, 
argent  for  the  lield  and  gjclcs  for  the  chevron,  roses  and  heart, 
from  an  illustration  (facing  p.  160)  in  Payne's  "  Armorial  of 
Jersey."  Mrs.  John-Joshua  Gabourel,  nee  Harriet  Benest,  was 
the  elder  daughter  and  heiress  of  Philip  Benest,  who,  as  a 
reference  to  our  "  Pedigree  of  the  Benest  Family  of  Jersey  " 
will  shew,  was  probably  the  head  of  the  whole  family  at  his 
death  in  1804.  At  that  date,  Philip's  third  cousin,  George- 
Philip  Benest,  "  Constable  "  (=  Mayor)  of  St.  Brelade's, 
would  have  become  the  head  of  the  family.  The  arms  as  used 
by  George-Philip  Benest  (nephew  of  tho  last-named)  were 
similar  to  PajTie's  illustration  mentioned  above  but  the  chevron 
is  "or"  instead  of  "gules  "  and  the  stalks  of  the  roses  pierce 
the  heart,'''  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  re-production  of 
his  note-paper  die  : — 


Edw.\rd  -  Benest  -  Sh.\w    Benest,   sixth    cousin    (twice 
removed)  of  the  said  George-Philip  Benest  (the  nephew)  uses  the 

*  Le  Boutillier's  tricking  shews  us  that  the  stems  o(  the  roses  on  Mrs.  Oabourel's 
seal  also  join,  which  is  incorrect.  Payne  illustrates  the  arms  correctly  at  the  reference 
uientioued. 

C    1    ) 


Benest  arms  quartered  with  those  of  Le  Geyt  as  shewn  in  the 
frontispiece ;  these  quartered  arms  being  the  correct  coat  for 
all  the  Benest  descendants  of  John  Benest  (b.  1771 ;  d.  1819), 
consequent  on  his  marriage  with  Jane,  second  daughter  and 
eventual  co-heiress  of  Philip  Le  Geyt-(fif-Rauvet.  It  is  also 
probably  as  a  result  of  this  marriage  with  an  heiress  of  the  Xie 
Geyt  family  that  the  Benests  of  St.  Helier's  adopted  the 
crest  and  motto  shewn  in  the  frontispiece,  which  (with  the 
exception  that  the  lion's  head  is  "erased"  instead  of  being 
"cou2Jed")  are  identical  with  those  of  the  Le  Geyt  family. 
There  does  not  appear  to  be  either  a  crest  or  motto  proper  to 
the  Benest  family,  but  only  the  coat  of  arms. 


ORIGIN   OF  THE   SURNAME. 

«5pHE  name  Benest,   so  spelt,  is  peculiar  to  the  Island  of 


■^h      Jersey.      There    are   certainly   Benests   living   in    other 


locahties,  but  they  all  appear  to  be  descended  from  the 
Jersey  family  of  that  name. 

In  order  to  determine  the  origin  of  this  surname  it  is 
necessary  to  enquire  how  it  is  spelt  in  the  earhest  records  of 
the  Island.  As  will  be  seen  later,  records  of  1274  and  1309 
give  it  as  "  Beneyt "  whilst  in  1331  we  find  it  spelt  "  Beneest," 
and  the  early  parish  registers  (16th  century)  frequently  have 
"  Bennest  "  instead  of  Benest. 

In  the  "  Hundred  Eolls "  a  "  Reginald  fil.  Beneyt  "  is 
mentioned,  and  Bardsley,  an  authority  on  the  origin  of 
surnames,  quotes  this  in  the  appendix  of  his  work,  "  English 
Surnames  "  as  an  early  instance  of  the  name  "  Bennet."  He 
says  (4th  edition,  x^p-  189  and  190) : — 

Our  •'  Bennets,"  when  not  belonging  to  the  class  of 
baptismal  names  (as  a  corruption  of  "Benedict"),  once 
performed  the  functions  of  exorcists,  and  by  the 
imposition  of  hands  and  the  aspersion  of  holy  water 
expelled  evil  spirits  from  those  said  to  be  thus 
possessed. 

The  names  "Bennest"  and  "Bennet"  would  be  pro- 
nounced practically  alike  by  a  Jerseyman. 


SURNAMES   SIMILAR   TO    "BENEST." 

BENNEST  is  a  surname  we  noticed  some  years  ago  in 
the  directories  of  both  Liverpool  and  Birkenhead. 


(    2    ) 


BONEST.— In  the  "  Visitation  of  Dorset,  1623  "  (Harleian 
Society's  Publications,  Visitation  Section,  vol.  xx)  we  limi  tlmt 
Jane,  daughter  of  a  Thomas  Bonest,  of  l^ristol,  married 
William  Meor,  of  Cherborne.  This  Thomas  must  have  lived 
about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century.  The  surnauie 
"  Bonest  "  is  still  to  be  seen  in  the  London  Directory. 

BOVv'NEST  —John  Bownest  of  Stonebury,  Hormead,  co. 
Herts.,  who  died   16  June   IGIG,   married   Mary,  daughter  of 

Cooke,   of   Chi.shall,   co.   Essex,   and  had  issue  : — John 

Bownest,  also  of  Stonebury,  who  was  buried  at  Ashwell,  co. 
Herts.,  11  April  1G22,  leaving  a  daughter,  Martha,  who,  on  3 
July  1626,  married  Francis  Dclawood,  and  had  issue,  (see 
Berry's  "  Pedigi-ees  of  Hertfordshire  Families,"  p.  226.) 

We  also  find  that  a  Thomas  Bownest  of  St.  Nicholas 
Aeons,  London,  married  Mary  Gynne  of  St.  Mary  Woolnoth, 
London,  by  licence,  at  the  latter  church  on  17  November  1614. 

"  Bownest  "  might  be  a  corruption  of  "  Bowness  "  ;  a  Kev. 
Thos.  Bowness  of  Natferton,  co.  York.,  died  29  April  1798, 
("  Gent.  Mag.,"  1798,  p.  467)  and  there  were  three  of  the 
surname  "  Bowness,"  but  none  of  "  Bownest,"  to  l)e  seen  in 
the  London  Directory  for  1893.     There  is  none  of  either  now. 

BENOIST. — A  well-known  French  surname.  A  stretch 

of    imagination    would    be    necessary   to   connect  this   with 

"  Benest,"  though  in  1603  one  of  the  Benests  of  St.  Lawrence 
is  referred  to  in  the  records  as  "Eaulia  Benoest." 

BENESTED. — This  form  occurs  in  Bank's  "  Bai'onies  in 
Fee,"  vol.  i,  p.  122.  It  is  probably  only  a  corruption  of 
Bensted,  a  family  of  which  name  has  been  settled  at  ^laidstone, 
CO.  Kent,  for  about  four  centuries, 

BENEZET.  —  A  French  surname.  Ant.  Benezet,  a 
Quaker,  died  at  Philadelphia  in  1784,  aged  71  (see  "  Annual 
Monitor,"  1813,  p.  9.) 

BENESCH  can  be  found  in  the  London  Directory. 

BENEYT,  we  have  already  noted  above  as  probably  the 
parent-form  of  "  Bennet  "  as  well  as  "  Benest." 

BENNET,  with  its  variations,  "Benett,"  "Benet"  and 
"  Bennett,"  ranks,  we  believe,  among  the  hundred  most  frequent 
surnames  in  England. 

BINET,  frequently  found  in  the  records  of  Jersey,  and  a 
surname  well  represented  now  in  the  Island,  may  originally 
have  been  another  spelling  for  "Benest."  This  will  be  seen 
by  comparing  the  Exlcntes,  where  a  rent  due  by  Binet  in  1668 

(    3     ). 


and  1749  is  entered  in  1607  as  due  by  a  Benest ;  though  it 
ought  also  to  be  noticed  that  two  rents  paid  by  Binet  in  1528, 
1668  and  1749  are  entered  as  due  by  a  Benest  in  1607,  from 
which  it  would  appear  that  the  compilers  of  the  1607  Extente 
may  have  been  ignorant  that  the  Binets  and  Benests  were 
distinct. 


"  BENEST  "    AS   A   BAPTISMAL   NAME. 

•uJPHE   name  Benest  has  been  used  as  a  baptismal  name, 
•^jk      both  male  and  female. 

A  "  Benest e  Le  Cerf "  was  the  wife  of  John  Le  Quesne, 
■circa  1570,  (Payne's  "  Armorial  of  Jersey,"  p.  251.) 

A  "  Benest  Viel "  is  mentioned  in  the  Extente  for  1668. 

"  Edward-5e?2cs^Shaw  Benest"  (born  1853)  is  still  living, 
but  this  last  example  is,  we  understand,  the  result  of  a 
misunderstanding  at  the  time  of  baptism. 

The  names  of  "  William-Langston- fienes^  Janvrin  "  (born 
1853),  and  his  son,  "  Bul-ph- Benest  Janvrin"  (born  1884),  will 
be  found  on  p.  26. 


SOURCES   OF   INFORMATION. 


•t!^HE  Bexest  family  is  one  which  is  undoubtedly  difiicult  to 
-jL  trace.  Its  members  resided  for  many  generations  in  the 
^'  parish  of  St.  Laurence,  the  registers  of  which  prior  to 
the  year  1640  have  unfortunately  been  lost,  and,  but  for  a 
"  Genealogie  "  of  his  ancestors,  which  John  Benest  (b.  1737  ; 
■d.  1821)  drew  up  in  1808,  no  connected  account  of  the  family 
])efore  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  could  be  attempted. 
There  are,  of  course,  frequent  references  to  Benests  in  the 
records  of  the  Island,  but  these  are  of  too  meagre  a  nature  to 
enable  one  to  compile  a  pedigree  from  them.  It  is  possible, 
hov>'ever,  ])y  consulting  these  records  (and  we  here  refer  more 
especially  to  the  "  Livres  des  Heritages  ")  to  both  check  and 
add  to  the  information  contained  in  John  Benest's  "  Genealogie  " 
(this  being  the  title  with  which  he  endorsed  his  manuscript) 
and,  as  we  have  made  by  no  means  an  exhaustive  search  at  the 
Begistrc  Public  at  St.  Helier,  many  interesting  facts  might 
.also  still  be  gleaned  there. 

From  1737  till  the  present  time  the  Family  Bible,  the 
parish  registers  of  St.  Heller's  and  other  sources  of  information, 
as  will  be  seen  later,  have  been  used. 

(    4     ) 


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THE     GENEALOGIE     OF     1808. 


THE    "QENEALOGIE  "    OF    1808, 

OvHE  "  Genealo{,ne,"  of  which  a  photo^n;ipli  is  ro-prodiiceJ 
ih  on  the  opposite  page,  gives  a  brief  account  of  the  family 
^^-^  from  the  sixteenth  century  till  its  writer's  birth  (1737'). 
and,  together  with  various  other  notes,  mentions  the  dates  of 
birth  of  his  son  and  grandson. 

The  importance  of  this  document  lies  in  the  fact  that  the 
Family  Bible  contains  no  entries  relating  to  events  previous  to- 
the  birth  of  John  Benest,  the  writer  of  the  "  Genealogie," 
which  latter  document,  as  already  stated,  in  the  absence  oPtlie 
earlier  registers  of  St.  Laurence's  parish,  supplies  the  only 
connected  narrative  concerning  the  family  prior  to  this  date. 

It  is,  in  the  main,  accurate,  though  from  external  evidence 
the  birth  years  of  the  first  four  generations  would  appear  to  be 
placed  about  ten  to  twenty  years  too  late.  The  fust  and 
second  paragraphs  with  this  exception  can  certainly  be  relied 
on,  but  the  third  and  fourth  paragraphs  confuse  two  Raulin^-^ 
Benests,  as  will  be  more  fully  explained  on  p.  12. 

From  this  and  other  internal  evidence  it  would  appear 
that  John  Benest  based  the  first  two  paragraphs,  which  deal 
Avith  his  own  ancestors,  on  family  documents,  sucli  as  Partages 
then  in  his  possession,  but  that  when  he  wrote  about  collateral 
branches  of  the  family  he  relied  solely  on  hearsav  and  his- 
memory. 

The  second  paragraph  omits  to  mention  that  Eaulin 
Benest  (son  of  Philip,  son  of  Noel)  had  a  younger  brother, 
John. 

The  third  paragraph  is,  we  think,  left  unfinished  in  spite- 
of  the  fullstop,  and  in  the  fourth  paragraph  the  word  "  cousin  " 
is  used  in  its  wider  meaning,  as  Elizabeth  Benest  was  "  second 
cousin,  once  removed  "  to  her  husband,  Thomas  Falle  ;  but 
these  are  points  connected  with  the  St.  Brelade's  branch  of  the 
family,  of  which  it  is  not  our  present  intention  to  treat. 

In  the  fifth  and  sixth  paragraphs  the  Noel  Benest  referred 
to  is  the  second  mentioned  in  the  manuscript.  This  is  evident 
from  the  fact  that  the  first  "  Noe  Benest  "  has  been  added  at  a 
later  date. 


♦  In  the  "  Pedigree  of  the  Benest  Family  of  .Terscv,  .Inly  1905,"  we  u*e<l  tha 
baptismal  name  "  Rowlnnd  "  as  the  Knglish  eqnival«iit  of  "  Rauhn,"  but  in  these  not«ii 
we  have  returned  to  the  original  form  "  Raulin,"  as  we  see  that  Bardsley  found 
"  Ranlyn  "  and  "  Raulinus  "  used  as  baptismal  imint-s  in  the  "  Writs  of  Parliament," 
and  the  "  Rotuli  Litterorum  Clausurum  in  Turri  Londonvnsi  "  respeclivelr.  "Raulin  " 
consequently  may  be  considered  an  Knglish  baptismal  name  though  wepersonally  know 
of  no  use  of  it  in  Knijland  since  the  Middle  Ages.  Bardsley  gives  it  as  an  afTertlonnta 
diminutive  fonu  of  "  Ralph  "  (ride  his  "  English  Surnaiues,"  'tth  edit.,  l>P.  Jti.  37  anif 
5S9). 

(     5    ) 


In  paragraph  seven  it  is  left  very  uncertain  wbieli  John 
Benest  married  Mary  Gibaut.  Without  being  able  definitely 
to  locate  this  John,  we  consider  it  highly  probable  that  the 
writer  here  refers  to  his  grandfather. 

The  "  G^n^alogie  "  is,  at  present,  in  tlie  possession  of  Mrs. 
Mary  Benest,  widow  of  the  late  Edward-Everett  Benest,  who 
kindly  allowed  us  to  have  it  photographed. 


THE    PARISH    REGISTERS   CF   ST.    LAURENCE'S. 


S  already  stated,  the  existing  registers  commence  with 
rij;\.  the  year  1640.  Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Rev.  A.  O. 
"-^d-L?  Balleine,  the  present  Eector  of  St.  Laurence,  we  have 
been  enabled  to  carefully  search  them,  as  follows  : — 

Book      1—16-10  to  1693  (i.e.  the  vvhole  book). 

Book    11—1693  to  1696,  only. 

Book  III— 1710  to  1757  only  (i.e.  pp.  1  to  81  incl.) 

Book  IV — (Baptisms  from  1783  to  1796)  the  whole  book. 

Book     V— (Marriages  from  1783),  to  1837  only.- 

Book  VI — (Burials  from  1783).     Not  searched  at  all. 

We  give  these  dates  for  the  benefit  of  anyone  who  may  be 
willing  to  take  up  the  work  from  the  point  at  which  we  have 
left  off. 

THE    FAMILY    BIBLE. 

c!^HE  Rev.  John-William  Benest,  the  present  head  of  the 
■^h  "  Benests  of  St.  Helier's,"  is  the  owner  of  a  Family 
^^  Bible,  in  which  the  majority  of  the  entries  (which  by-tlie- 
Avay  are  in  French)  appear  to  have  been  made  by  the  same 
John  Benest  who  wrote  the  "  G6nealogie,"  and,  as  already 
stated,  they  commence  with  his  birth  in  1737. 

With  the  exception  of  two  entries  made  in  1879  and  1881, 
the  latest  is  of  May  1821,  and  it  was  in  the  October  of  that 
year  that  the  compiler  of  the  "  G<inealogie "  died.  The 
baptisms  of  the  two  eldest  children  of  his  grandson,  John, 
are  recorded,  but  John  Benest,  junior,  made  no  entries  and 
consequently  his  ten  other  children  are  not  mentioned.  His 
father,  the  son  of  the  compiler  of  the  "  Genealogie,"  died  vitd 
imtris. 

*    an(.l  in  this  Book  we  noted  only  those  marriages  where  the  husbanus  were 
Benefits. 

(     6    ) 


EARLY   MEMBERS   OF  THE    FAMILY. 

i^IIAT  an  "  Emoloto  lieneyt  "  lived  in  Jersey  before  12o3  w& 
^"1^  are  justified  in  statinj;,  as  in  V27i,  we  see  from  the 
^-^  Extente,  or  Royal  Rent  Roll  of  the  Island,  that  a  Drouet- 
de  St.  Martin  held  land  from  the  King  in  the  parish  of  Trinity, 
Jersey,  viz.  : — three  verj^^es  whicli  were  forfeited  by  Mayn 
Picotel,  and  two  verjj;ees  forfeited  by  Emelote  Beneyt,  toj^ether- 
of  the  annual  value  of  five  bushels  of  wheat,  which  rent  the 
King  had  not  received  since  the  time  when  Drouet  de 
Barentine  was  Bailiff  of  the  Island. 

There  were  two  Drouet  de  Barentines,  both  Wardens  of 
the  Norman  Isles.  One  is  described  as  "very  aged  "  in  1239, 
9,nd  the  other,  his  grandson,  was  slain  in  1253. 

In  1309,  a  Robert  Beneyt  is  mentioned  (in  the  "  Rolls  of 
the  Assizes  held  in  the  Channel  Islands,  2  Edw.  II  ")  as  the 
holder  of  five  perches  of  crown  land  in  St.  Peter's,  Jersey, 
received  by  him  in  marriage  with  the  daughter  of  Godfrey 
Vasoun,  who  purchased  it  from  Robert  Pipon,  who  with  John 
Bernard  and  other  partners,  was  the  holder  of  seven  and  a  half 
virgates  of  bordage  land,  of  which  these  five  perches  formed 
part. 

In  the  ^a-fcH^c  for  1331,  a  "Robert  Beneest  "  (who  was 
most  probably  identical  with  the  said  Robert  Beneyt  of  St. 
Peter's)  is  entered  as  holding  two  bouv^es  of  crown  land  in  the 
parish  of  St.  Peter's  for  the  yearly  rental  of  sixteen  sous. 

In  the  above-quoted  record  of  1309  we  find  mention  also 
of  a  "  John  Bennes  "  of  the  parish  of  St.  Saviour,  Guernsey. 

After  1331,  owing  to  the  lack  of  records  relating  to  Jersey, 
we  lose  trace  of  the  family  for  nearly  two  centuries.  It  is- 
therefore  necessary  to  imagine  five  generations,  (living  say 
1360,  1390,  1420,  1450  and  1480),  if  one  wishes  to  consider  the 
probable  relationship  between  the  above-mentioned  Robert  and 
those  Benests  who  are  named  in  the  next  Extente,  dated  1528. 
About  the  same  date  commence  the  records,  now  preserved  at 
St.  Helier's,  relating  to  the  descent  of  land  in  the  Island,  and 
in  these  records  the  name  Benest  is  of  frequent  occurrence 
even  in  the  first  volume. 

A  Benest  living  about  1480  may  have  been  the  father  of 
some  or  all  of  the  following  : — 

(i)  John  Benest  in  1528  owed  two  rents  to  the  King,  one 
for  "  herbage  "  in  St.  Laurence's,  and  the  other  for 
land  on  the  fee  of  St.  Germains  in  the  parish  of  St. 
Laurence.  John  died  about  1509,  as  will  be  seen 
later. 

(     7     ) 


(ii)  Philot  Benest  in  1528  o^vecl  three  rents  to  the  King 
for  land  in  St.  John's  and  St.  Laurence's  parishes,  all 
three  in  1607  are  debited  to  Nicholas,  the  son  of 
Deonis  Le  Cousteur. 

(iii)  Nicholas  (or  "  Collas  ")  Benest,  of  St.  Laurence^^s,  is 
mentioned  in  the  records  under  dates  1534  and  1539. 

(iv)  Louis  Benest,  of  St.  Laurence's,  is  mentioned  in 
connection  with  the  above  Nicholas  under  date  1539. 

(v)  Kichard  Benest,  of  St.  Laurence's.  In  the  ExtenU 
of  1607  Jaques  Eondell  is  debited  with  a  rent  in  St. 
Laurence's  for  John  Hammon  of  Trinity  in  discharge 
of  Eichard  "  Bennest  "  in  the  right  of  his  wife,  a 
daughter  of  Gratian  Le  Grosse.  Perin  Le  Gros  paid 
the  same  rent  in  15'28.  Another  rent  (in  Trinity 
Parish)  paid  in  1528  by  "  Perin  legros,"  was  paid  in 
1607  by  "  Jaques  Eondell  for  John  Plammon  having 
the  right  of  Eichard  Benest."  This  Eichard  may  have 
been  the  Eichard  Benest,  Avhose  son,  Louis  Benest,  in 
1602,  bought  rents  (see  liegistre  Public,  Book  1,  fol.  75). 

(vi)  Peter  Benest,  who,  in  1533,  is  mentioned  in 
connection  with  : — 

(vii)  Julian  Benest.  A  Julien  Benest  was  one  of  the 
twelve  witnesses  before  the  Eoyal  Commissioners  of 
Henry  YIII  in  1515  {vide  3rd  Publication  of  the 
Society  Jersiaise,  p.  9.) 

From  the  first  of  the  above  seven  Benests  it  is  possibl<3  to 
trace  the  following  connected  genealogy  down  to  the  present 
day,  but,  as  we  also  have  many  notes  referring  to  Benests  who 
find  no  x^lace  in  the  pedigree  of  John  Benest's  descendants,  it 
is  to  be  presumed  that  some  others,  or  all,  of  the  above  seven 
are  now  represented  by  direct  descendants  bearing  the  surname 
Benest. 

THE    BENE5T5   OF  5T.    LAURENCE'5. 

I.—  ^'^T/OHN  BENEST,  of  St.  Laurence's,  mentioned  above  as 
0,      paying  rents  to  the  King  in  1528,  died  in  or  before 
'^<^      1569,  as  in  that  year  we  find  that  Noel  Benest  and 
Eaulin  Gibaut,  causa  icxoris,  divided  some  of  John's  property. 
His  children  Vv'ere  :■ — 

(i)  Eaulin  Benest,  of  St.  Laurence's,  who  in  1573  divided 
lands  "  aux  Blanches  Pierres "   with   Noel  Benest  in 

St.  Laurence's.     In  1564,  Philip  Le  C [?  Couteur] , 

eldest  son  of  John  Le  C [?  Couteur] ,   recognized 

Eaulin   Benest,    causa   uxoris,    as    a   kinsman,    from 
which    we    mav    conclude    that    Eaulin    married   a 

daughter  of  John  Le  C [?  Couture] .     He  appears 

to  have  had  issue  : — 

(     8     ) 


(i)  Nicholas  Benest,  who  in  1G02  sold  a  field  "  Du 
Qnesne  "  to  Philbert  Benest  (see  liefjistre 
Public,  Book  1,  fol.  5.  On  fol.  200  and  265 
Nicholas  is  described  as  "  fils  Eaulin  Benest  "). 
In  IGOo,  Nicholas  "  tils  Kaulin  Benest  "  sold  %. 
field  in  St.  Laurence's  to  PMward  Bisson  (see 
Begistre  Public,  Book  1,  fol.  249). 

In  the  Extcittc  of  1G07  he  is  entereed  as  owing 
a   rent  for  "herhafje"   in   St.  Laurence's;    (we 
have  seen  that  John  Benest,  in  152H.  paid  a  rent 
for    "  herbage  "    in    the   same    parish,    but   the 
amounts   are   not   identical)  and  also  two  hens- 
rent  to  the  fee  of  St.  Germains  in  St.  Laurence's, 
"  for  John  Bennest,"  though   this  latter  rent  is- 
not   debited   to   John    in   the   Extentc  of  152S. 
Nicholas  had  a  son  : — 
(i)  Thomas  Benest.     The  last-mentioned  rent  was 
paid  in  1668  by  Joshua  Ahier,  canta  nxoris 
the  daughter  of  Lawrence  Haniptonne,  for 
Thomas   Benest,    son    of    Nicholas.      This 
Joshua  Ahier  was  Eector  of  St.  Laurence's 
and  manned  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  eventual 
co-heir  of   Lawrence   Hampton ne,  Vicomte 
and  Lieutenant  Bailiff  of  Jersey,  who  enter- 
tained Charles  II  on  his  visit  to  the  Island. 
Lawrence  Hamptonne   does  not   appear   to 
have   been  related  to  this  Thomas  Benest, 
though  his  grand-daughter  Elizabeth  Ahier, 
married  Eaulin  Benest,  son  of  Eaulin,  son  of 
the  Eaulin  mentioned  on  p.  13.     The  reason 
the  Eev.  Joshua  Ahier  paid  this  rent  in  166S 
for  Thomas  Benest  would  appear  to  be  that, 
though   the   Sector's   grand-father,  Edward 
Bisson,  had  bought  the  field  in  question  froai 
Nicholas  Benest  in  1605  (see  above^  the  latter 
was  held   responsible   for   the   rent   in   the 
Extcnte  of  1607,  and  his  son  Thomas  Benest 
had  evidently  been  responsible  for  the  pay- 
ment of  it  sometime  between  the  yeai-s  1607 
and  1668. 
(ii)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Eaulin  Benest  and  wife  of 
Peter  Faultrart  sold  land  to  Helier  Le  Gros  in 
November   1603,   (see  Ilegistre  Public,  Book  1, 
fol.  89). 

In  the  registers  of  St.  Brelade's,  under  date  21 
November  1630,  we  notice  : — 

"  Elizabeth  fille  de  M'.  Pre.  Fautrart  ministre 
enterr^e." 

(    9    ) 


(iii)  a  daughter  who  married,  hefore  1605  Thomas  Le 
Goupil  (see  Bcgistre  Public,  Book  1,  fol.  265). 

?(iv)  Philbert  Benest,  who,  as  ah-eady  stated,  bought  a 
field  "  Du  Quesne  "  from  Nicholas  Benest,  son  of 
Kaulin,  in  1602. 

?(v)  Thomas  Benest.  In  1601,  Collette,  widow  of 
Thomas  Benest  and  daughter  of  Yvon  Bisson  by 
Sainte,  his  wife,  is  mentioned  as  selling  rents  (see 
Begistrc  Public,  Book  1,  fol.  159). 

This  Thomas  cannot  be  identical  with  Thomas, 
son  of  Nicholas,  as,  dying  in  or  before  1604,  he 
would  not  have  inherited  the  land  on  which 
Thomas,  son  of  Nicholas,  paid  rent.  Nicholas 
was  living  in  1607. 

The  children  of  Thomas  are  mentioned  in  1604 
(see  Begistrc  Public,  Book  1,  fol.  165  and  201) 
as  : — 

(i)      John  Benest,  elder  son. 
(ii)     Isaac  Benest,  younger  son. 

Without  any  definite  proof  to  support  the 
statement,  w-e  are  incUned  to  think  that  the 
Benest  descendants  of  Kaulin  Benest  (son  of 
John)  died  out  with  his  grandson  or  grandsons, 
and  that  a  descendant  of  his  brother,  Noel,  would 
then  have  become  heir-male  of  their  father,  John, 
with  whose  name  this  account  of  the  Benests  of 
St.  Laurence's  commences. 

.(ii)  Nicholas  Benest,  (son  of  John)  died  before  1607,  then 
in  the  Extente  of  that  year  his  heirs  or  assigns  are 
debited  with  a  rent  "(for  land  on  the  fee  of  St. 
Germains)  which  John  Benest  paid  in  1528. 

In  1749,  a  descendant  of  his  brother  Noel  {viz. 
Elizabeth,  heir  of  her  brother  Joshua  Benest  of  the 
St.  Brelade's  branch  of  the  family)  paid  the  same 
rent,  which  w^ould  appear  to  shew  that  Joshua 
Benest,  who  was  heir-male  of  the  said  Noel,  was 
consequently  heir-male  of  this  Nicholas,  who  evidently 
had  no  direct  descendants  living  in  1749. 

The  rent  in  question  is  untraceable  in  the  Extente 
of  1668. 
(iii)     Noel  Benest,  (son  of  John)  of  whom  hereafter. 

(iv)     a  daughter  of  John  Benest  evidently  married  before 
1569  Eaulin  Gibaut  (see  p.  11). 

(     10     ) 


i'(v)      Peter  Benest,  the  fatlier  of : — 

(i)  John  Benest,  (husband  of  Mary,  clauf,'hter  of  John 
Sarre  by  Porretino,  his  wife),  who  sold  an  inheri- 
tance in  1602  (see  licgistre  Public,  Book  1,  fol. 
23)  to  PhiUp  Benest,  son  of  Noel,  (for  whom 
see  below). 

II —NOEL  BENEST,  (son  of  John),  as  already  stated  on 
p.  8,  divided  lands  with  Eaulin  Benest  "  aux  Blanches  Pierres" 
in  St.  Laurence's  in  1572,  havinj,'  already  in  1569  divided  some 
of  John  Benest's  property  with  Raulin  Gibaut,  causa  uxoris. 

This  is  the  "  No6  Benest  "  who  is  described  in  the 
"Gen^alogie  "  as  having  been  born  about  1540;  but,  from  the 
fact  that  his  son  John  must  have  come  of  age  in  or  about  1577, 
we  are  inclined  to  name  1530  as  Noel  Benest's  probable  year 
of  birth,  and  1555  (instead  of  the  "  G6n6alogie's  "  1570)  as  "that 
of  his  son,  Noel.  Noel  Benest,  senior,  married  Genette, 
daughter  of  John  Eegnauld,  and  had  issue  : — 

(i)  John  Benest,  who  is  described  in  1577  as  of  St. 
Laurence's  and  as  "  lils  Noel  et  de  Jenette  sa  femmo 
fiUe  de  Jean  Eegnauld,"  he  being  then  interested  with 
his  brother-in-law  Ambroise  Le  Breton,  caiisa  uxoris, 
in  a  division  of  property. 

(ii)     Noel  Benest,  of  whom  hereafter. 

(iii)  Philip  Benest,  who  in  1602  bought  an  inheritance 
from  John  Benest,  son  of  Peter,  (for  whom  see  above). 
A  "  Philippe  Benetz  de  Gerz6  "  was  admitted  to 
Holy  Communion  on  15  November  1596  in  the 
Huguenot  Church  at  Southampton  (vide  the  published 
registers  of  that  church). 

(iv)  Raulin  "  Benoest,"  son  of  Noel,  who  on  14  September 
1603  bought  the  house  called  "  Hagays "  from  a 
Messervy  (see  Registre  Public,  Book  1,  fol.  68).  He 
may   have   been   the  "  Eolin   Benest "   who  man-ied 

Elizabeth ,  and  whose  children  by  her  were 

baptized  at  St.  Helier's  ;  they  were  : — 

(i)  "Eolin,"  baptized  28  December  1603.  This  "Eolin," 
junior,  may  be  identical  with  the  Eaulin 
"  Bennest  "  who  married  Elizabeth  Baillehache " 
at  St.  Brelade's  17  January  1637/8,  especially  as- 
on  8  February  of  the  same  year  she,  being  then  a 
godmother,  is  described  in  the  registers  of  St. 
Brelade's  as  "  femme  de  Eaulin  Benest,  Junior." 


*    not  to  he  ronfuscd  with  Snra  Daillehache,  who  n^arricd  a  Raulin  Benest,  Janior 
ot  the  St.  Brelade's  brunch),  at  St.  Laurence's,  on  3  February,  166S. 


(       11      ) 


(ii)  Eachel,  baptized  22  May  1605. 
(iii)  John,  baptized  19  April  1607. 
(v)     Marguerite,  daughter  of  Noel  Benest,  died  in  1684, 

having  married  before  1577  Ambroise  Le  Breton,  who 
•    died  in  1630  leaving  issue  by  her  (see  31st  Bulletin  of 

the  Soci6t6  Jersiaise,  p.  39). 

III.— NOEL  BENEST,  (son  of  Noel,  son  of  John),  would 
probably  have  been  born  about  1555,  and  not  about  1570,  as 
stated  in  the  "  Gen^alogie."  The  latter  date  must  be  quite 
wrong  for  at  least  two  reasons;  first,  we  have  already  seen,  on 
p.  11,  that  his  brother  John  must  have  been  of  age  in  J 577, 
and,  second,  if  the  property  of  Noel  Benest  (son  of  Noel)  was 
divided  "  entre  ses  Enfans  "  in  1605,  as  stated  in  the 
•'  Genealogie,"  then  at  least  two  of  his  children  must  have  been 
■of  age  in  1605  w^iich  would  make  Noel  not  older  than  13  years 
when  his  eldest  child  was  born  ! 

He  died  in  or  before  1605,  having  had  issue  at  least  two 
sons  : — 

(i)     Philip  Benest,  of  whom  hereafter. 

(ii)     a  son,  father  of : — 

(i)  Maximilian  Benest,  who  married  and  had  issue, 
into  whose  history,  it  is,  however  not  our  present 
intention  to  enter. 

IV.— PHILIP  BENEST,  (son  of  Noel,  son  of  Noel),  born 
eay  about  1580. 

The  "  G^n6alogie  "  gives  his  birth-year  as  about  1600,  but 
this  date  is  impossible  as  his  eldest  son,  Eaulin,  could  not  have 
been  born  later  than  1615,  having  a  nephew  and  niece 
(children  of  his  younger  brother,  John)  both  of  age  in  1657. 

The  reason  the  "  Gen(^alogie  "  goes  astray  in  the  birth- 
years  of  its  first  four  generations  is  not  hard  to  find.  The 
.writer  of  it  worked  backwards  from  the  fact  that  Eaulin,  the 
great-grandfather  of  his  cousin,  Elizabeth  Falle  nee  Benest,  died 
in  1675,  aged  48,  and  was  therefore  born  in  or  about  1627.  He 
knew  that  his  cousin  was  descended  from  a  Eaulin  Benest, 
eldest  brother  of  his  own  ancestor  Peter  Benest,  and  naturally 
concluded  that  these  two  Eaulin  Benests  were  identical,  when, 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  Eaulin  who  was  born  about  1627  was 
son  of  the  Eaulin,  brother  of  Peter.  Having  made  this  mistake 
it  is  natural  that  he  should  conclude : — 

(a)  that  his  own  ancestor,  Peter,   being  the  third  son,   was 

born  about  1630. 

(b)  that  Peter's  father,  Philip,  was  born  about  1600. 

(c)  that  Philip's  father,  Noel,  was  born  about  1570. 

(d)  that  Noel's  father,  Noel,  was  born  about  1540. 

(     12    ) 


The  exact  intervals  of  thii-ty  years  between  these  dates- 
show  clearly  the  reasoning  employed  by  the  writer  of  the 
"  G6n6alo^ie." 

Philip  Benest,  (son  of  Noel,  son  of  Noel),  married  Sara 
Luce  (see  Registrc  Public,  Book  15,  fol.  517),  by  whom  he  had 
issue  as  follows  : — 

(i)  Eaulin, 
(ii)  Philip, 
(iii)  Peter,  whose  great-great-grandson  was  the  ancestor 

of  the  Benests  of  St,  Helier's  and  whoso  line  we  shall 

consequently  follow  in  these  notes. 
(iv)     Abraham,  for  whose  descendants  see  our  pamphlet 

"  x\  Short  Account  of  the  Descendants  of  Abraham 

Benest  of  Jersey."-'^ 
(v)     Noel, 
(vi)   John, 
?(vii)  Jane   Benest,  "  vefve   de  Thos    Blampied,"  buried  at 

St.  Laurence's,  13  April  1676. 

Philip  Benest  and  Sara  Luce,  his  wife,  are  both  described, 
in  1657,  as  deceased  (liegistre  Public,  Book  15,  fol.  517). 

Before  considering  the  history  of  their  third  son,  Peter, 
and  his  descendants,  we  would  draw  attention  to  the  fact  that 
his  other  brothers,  Eaulin,  Philip,  Noel  and  John,  all  married 
and  had  issue,  into  whose  history  and  that  of  their  descendants 
it  is  not  our  present  intention  to  enter.  In  our  "  Pedigree  of 
the  Benest  Family  of  Jersey,  July  1905  "  we  have  endeavoured 
to  summarize  our  voluminous  notes  on  these  other  branches  of 
the  family,  but  are  conscious  that  there  is  still  much  to  be  dono- 
before  they  are  sufficiently  complete  to  warrant  publication  in 
full.  We  wish,  however,  to  take  this  opportunity  of  stating  irr 
reference  to  the  descendants  of  the  eldest  son,  Raulin.  that : — 

(a)  the  pedigree  of  the  descendants  of  his  eldest  son,  Eaulin, 

given  on  page  124  of  Payne's  "  Armorial  of  Jersey,"  is 
utterly  unreliable  in  its  earlier  generations. 

(b)  "  Andrew,  b.  1774  "  (see  "  Pedigree  ")  died  after  1795 

and  in  or  before  1827  at  sea,  unmarried. 

(c)  Philip  Benest,  who  was  a  Lieut,  in  the  E.J.M.,  and  a 

Captain   in    the    E.N.,    married    Susannah    Le    Ber, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Le  Ber,  of  Guernsey. 

Their  two  children  were  : — 

(i)     Harriet-Susannah,  who  died  unmarried. 

(ii)  George-Philip  Benest,  Constable  of  St.  Brelade's,  who 
married  Ellen-Campbell  Fitzwalter,  only  surviving 
daughter  of  Captain  John  Fitzwalter,  H.E.I.C.S. 

*  Mr.  O.  P.  Benest  advises  ns,  under  date  .<)  December,  1906,  that  no  birtbs». 
marringes  or  deaths  have  occurud  in  liis  branch  of  the  family  since  that  pamphlet  was 
printed. 

(    13    ) 


.    (d)  The  said  George-Philip  Benest  was  the  father  of : — 

(i)  George -Philip,  born  in  the  parish  of  St.  Abb's, 
Oxford.  He  married  Edith-Maria  Powell,  eldest 
daughter  of  Thos.  Powell,  of  Edgbaston,  co.  Warw. 

Their  only  child,  Cleone-de-Hevningham  Benest, 
was  born  13  June,  1880. 

(ii)    Philip-George-Anthony,  died  young. 

(iii)  Eaulin-Fitzwalter,  born  in  Jersey,  married  19  Novr., 
1879,  at  Brighton,  Catharine  Whetton.  Their  only 
child,  Violet  IJenest,  was  born,  in  Jersey,  3  Novr.  1881. 

(iv)  Anthony -Philip -George,  who  died  in  Melbourne, 
Australia,  had  married  in  Sydney,  Australia,  Mary- 
Maud  Cobham,  daughter  of Cobham,  M.D.,  and 

left    two    daughters  : — (i)    Mary-Caroline,    and    (ii) 
Marion-Fitzwalter. 

(v)    Ellen-Georgina,  now  living,  unmarried,  in  Australia. 

(vi)  Marion-Eebekah-Gasse,  who  died  unmarried. 

(e)  In  view  of  the  lack  of  sons  to  the  children  of  George- 
Philip  Benest  and  Ellen-Campbell  Fitzwalter,  it  i3 
most  probable  that  Eaulin  Benest  (son  of  Philip,  son 
of  Noel)  will  eventually  be  without  a  living  male 
Benest  descendant,  and  consequently  the  wbole  of 
this,  the  eldest,  branch  of  the  Benest  family  may 
become  extinct. 

v.— PETER  BENEST,  (son  of  Philip,  son  of  Noel),  was, 
according  to  the  "  G(in6alogie,"  Philip's  third  son  and  born 
about  1630.  He  may  have  been  the  third  son,  though  it  is 
doubtful  where  his  brother,  John,  who  is  not  mentioned  in  the 
"  Gen6alogie,"  ranked  in  the  family  (we  know  only  that  he  was 
not  the  eldest  son)  but  that  Peter  was  born  about  1630  is 
certainly  incorrect.  How  this  error  arose  has  already  been 
explained.  As  his  above-mentioned  brother  John  had  two 
children  of  age  in  1657,  we  may  take  it  that  Peter  was  born 
^bout  1615— certainly  not  later.  He  received  a  share  oi  his 
father's  property  on  23  September  1657  ;  of  this  it  is  said  in 
the  "  G6n6alogie  "  that : — 

The  house  and  lands  which  belonged  to  him  in  1657 
were  in  the  same  locality  as  the  house  which  John 
Benest  [yzs.  the  Vv-riter  of  the  "  Gt^nealogie  "] ,  son  of 
Philip,  ceded  in  1784  to  his  brother,  Francis,  as  the 
latter's  share  of  a  "  Fartage,"  and  that  this  house 
(together  with  such  lands  as  remained  after  the 
various  "  Partagcs  "  which  had  occurred  in  the 
meantime)  was  from  1657  until  then  [1808]  owned  by 
the  same  family  of  the  Benests. 

(     U    ) 


Peter  was  evidently  still  living  on  16  September  1688)  as 
his  son  is  then  still  described  as  "  Peter  Benest,  Junior"),  he 
married  Catlierine  Saison,  and  both  ho  and  his  ^\ife  are 
described  on  8  May  1703  as  "  deceased  "  (see  Iie<jistrc  Public, 
Book  27,  fol.  234).     They  had  issue  :— 

(i)     Peter,  of  whom  hereafter. 

(ii)     Philip,  baptized  at  St,  Laurence's  29  November  1657 

(Godparents  •■: — Philip  Benest  and  his  wife).     He  was 

godfather  in  1677  to  Peter  Benest,  son  of  Peter,  son 

of  Peter, 
(iii)     EHzabeth,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  21  April   1661 

(Godparents  : — Philip  Tracy  and  his  wife), 
(iv)     Catherine,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  6  March  1663 

(Godparents: — '•  Jeremie   Baall,   junior   &   Fran9oise 

Enouf.") 
(v)     Abraham,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  23  March  1669. 

(Godparents  :— "  the  son  of  Abraham  Benest  of  St. 

Peter  "and  Fran9oise  Esnouf).     Still  living  in  1703 

{Begistre  Public,  Book  27,  fol.  234,  8  May  1703). 
?(vi)     Sarah,  godmother  in  1677  to  Peter  Benest,  son  of 

Peter,  son  of  Peter. 

YI._PETER  BENEST,  (son  of  Peter,  son  of  Philip), _is 
mentioned  in  the  "  Genealogie  "  as  being  born  about  1657. 
This  date  is  almost  accurate,  but  in  view  of  his  younger 
brother,  Philip,  being  baptized  in  November  1657,  we  prefer  to 
put  the  approximate  year  of  his  birth  as  1656.  The  writer  of 
the  "  Gent^alogie "  probably  arrived  at  the  year  1657  by 
deducting  Peter's  age  at  death  from  the  date  of  death,  which 
method  frequently  causes  the  result  to  be  a  year  wrong,  either 
too  early  or  too  late.  On  9  May  1674,  Peter  mamod  Elizabeth 
Luce  at  St.  Laurence's. 

On  3  May  1684,  Philip  Luce  and  Elizabeth  Luce,  wife  of 
Peter  Benest,  (children  of  the  deceased  Elias  Luce  and  of  the 
deceased  Jane  Gallichan,  his  wife)  cede  all  the  property  coming 
to  them  from  their  said  parents  to  John  Luce  their  elder 
brother  (see  Begistre  Public,  Book  23,  fol.  127). 

On  31  October  1687,  Peter  Benest  Junior  cedes  to  his 
eldest  son,  also  called  Peter  Benest  Junior,  his  house,  etc.,  and 
one  cabot  of  wheat-rent  due  from  the  heirs  of  Noel  Benest 
(see  Begistre  Public,  Book  24,  fol.  59). 

*  Until  the  bcsinning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  we  have  noted  the  godparents 
from  the  Church  Registers  of  Baptisms  and  the  F.xmily  Bible,  as  valuable  information 
13  contained  in  these  names  (»•.(/.  probability,  and  frequently  proof,  of  relations'hip.  also 
nroof  of  friendship  between  the  parents  and  Rodparents  and,  of  course,  of  the  latter 
beinc  still  living  at  the  date  of  the  baptism).  It  is  regrettable  that  the  uiajonty  of  the 
parish  registers  in  English  churches,  unlike  those  of  Jersay,  contain  no  note  of  the 
godparents'  names. 

(    15     ) 


On  8  May  1703,  Peter  Benest  {viz.  the  husband  of 
Elizabeth  Luce)  is  described  as  his  father's  eldest  son  (see 
Begistre  Public,  Book  27,  fol.  234). 

His  children  were : — 

(i)  Elizabeth,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  29  November 
1674  (Godparents :— Peter  Benest  and  his  wite,  viz. 
the  paternal  grandparents  of  the  child). 

(ii)  Peter,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  5  August  1677 
(Godparents  :— Philip  and  Sarah  Benest). 

(iii^  Eaulin,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  2  March  1678 
<  (Godparents :— Jeremie  Ball  and  Sarra  Le  Masurier, 

his  wife).  »  rM.    t 

He  may  be  the  Eaulin  Benest  of  St.  Laurence  s, 
who  married  20  July  1700  at  St.  Heller's  Anne  Le 
Gros,  of  St.  Laurence's,  though  we  are  mclmed  to 
think  that  Anne  Le  Gros'  husband  was  a  son  of  the 
Maximilian  Benest  mentioned  on  p.  12. 

(iv)     John,  of  whom  hereafter. 

(v)     Mary,   baptized    at    St.    Laurence's   19   April    1685 

(Godfather :— Eaulin  Benest). 
(vi)     Philip,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  16  September  1688 

(Godparents  :— Philip  Luce  and  his  wife). 

(vii)     William,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  13  November 
1692  (Godparents :— Phihp  Le  Boutillier  and  his  wife). 


YII  —JOHN  BENEST,  (son  of  Peter,  son  of  Peter)  was 
baptized" at  St.  Laurence's  8  October  1682  (Godparents  :-John 
Belin  and  his  mother).  According  to  the  "  Genealogie  _  he 
was  born  about  1681,  this  date  also  probably  being  ascertained 
by  deducting  his  age  at  death  from  the  date  of  his  death. 

He  is  most  probably  identical  with  the  John  Benest 
mentioned  in  the  following  extract  from  the  burial  register  of 
St.  Heller's : — 

"Jean  Benest  Se'   fut   enterr^   le   vingtcinquieme 
jour  de  Mars  Mille  Sept  Cents  quarante  deux."  (1742) 

He  may  be  the  John  Benest  who  married  Mary  Gibaut 
(see  the  "  Genealogie  "  and  p.  6). 

His  children  were : — 

(     16    ) 


(i)  Jolin  Benest,  who  was  born  in  1710  (see  the 
*'  G6n6alogie  "),  married  Anne'S  daughter  of  a  William 
Benest. 

His  is  probably  the  burial  recorded  in  the  register 
of  St.  Helier's  under  date  1747  : — 

"  Jean  Benest  fils  Jean  fut  enterr6  le  dix- 
septieme  jour  de  Mars  Mille  Sept  Cents  quarante 
sept." 

Another  entry  in  the  same  register  under  date  1735 
refers  probably  to  a  child  of  this  John  by  Anne 
Benest : — 

"  Jean  fils  de  Jean  Benest  fils  Jer.n  fut  enterr6 
le  neufieme  jour  de  juin  Mille  Sept  Cents  trente 
cinq." 

However  this  may  be,  they  had  a  son,  John,  born 
in  1741,  from  whom,  at  his  death  s.p.  in  17b3,  his 
uncle  : — 
(ii)  Philip  Benest,  (born  1712),  inherited  the  family  house, 
presumably  situated  in  St.  Helier's  parish.  Of  this 
Philip  hereafter : — 
?(iii)  Mary.  In  1740  we  find  John  Benest  and  his 
daughter,  Mary,  were  godparents  at  St.  Laurence's 
to  Joshua,  son  of  Philip  Benest. 

A  Mary  Benest,  of  St.  Laurence's,  was  married  there 
on  29  September  1745  to  Joshua  Gallichan,  Junior, 
also  of  that  parish.     Their  children  were  : — 

(i)  Mary  Gallichan,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  12 
November  1749  (Gonparents  :— Philip  Lauglois  and 
Sara  De  Rue,  his  wifej. 

(ii)  Elizabeth  Gallichan,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's.  7 
Ma}'  1752  (Godparents:— John  Benest  and  Elizabeth 
Le  Cras,  widow  of  Abraham  Gibaut). 

(iii)  Rachel  Gallichan,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  16 
November  1755  (Godparents  :— Helier  Gallichan 
and  Mary  Le  Cornu,  his  wife). 


*    Perhaps  his  first-cousin.    The  following  references  to  the  liojistre  riiblic  may  Ihj 
found  of  use  in  tracing  her  hi8tor>-  :— 

Book  ()5,  fol.  2  — mentions   Ahrahnm,   John  and   Philip   Benest  (brothers).    Aiiiie 
Jirnext,  daughter  of  William   Benest  and  wife  of  said  John   Benefit.    Their  son, 
John,  and  John  the  son  of  said  Philip. 
Book  67,  fol.  129  (17N),  to  which  the  above  notes  make  frequent  reference,  mentions 

also  Aiiiie  Ueiii'st,  mother  of  John. 
Book  73,  fol.  45  {!il  October  1789),  mentions  a  William  Benest  and    his   three 
daughters  :  — (i)  Catherine,  wife  of  Matthew  Hocquard  (ii)  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John 
Nicolle,  and  (iii)  Amm  lltufst,  deceased. 
The  combination  "  William  Benest  "  is  uncommon.     "  William,  son  of  William  " 
And  "  William,  son  of  John  "  were  baptized  at  St.  Helier's  in  1053  and  IWiS  resi>eetively. 
•'  William,  son  of  Peter  "  at  St.  Laurence's  in  ICAK,  us  mentioned  above.     .■V  "  Willioin 
Benest  "  married  in  1G97,  Mary  Kerbel,  at  St.  Helier's;  one  (perhaps  the  same)  was 
buried  there  in  1726,  and  William,  son  of  Wm.-Le  Bas  Benest,  was  bom  in  18S4,  but  at 
<he  moment  we  can  recall  no  others  of  this  name,  whilst  we  have  more  than  4&  distinct 
**  John  Bcncsts  "  among  our  notes. 


(    17    ) 


?(iv)  Abraham,  who  was  godfather  in  1742  to  Sarah, 
daughter  of  PhiHp  Benest.  He  may  be  identical  with 
the  Abraham  Benest,  of  St.  Laurence's,  who  married 
at  St.  Helier's  Jane  Esnouf,  also  of  St.  Laurence's, 
(our  note  says  "  on  22  September  1748,"  but  this  is 
obviously  incorrect,  as)  their  son  PhiUp,  was  baptized 
at  St.  Laurence's  on  2  February  1745  (Godparents : — 
Philip  Maret  and  his  wife). 

An  x\braham  Benest  w'as  buried  at  St.  Laurence's 
21  November  1748. 

?(v)     Sarah,   buried  at   St.   Laurence's  30  January   1742, 
widow  of  Matthew  Trachy. 
or  ?(v)     Sarah,  who  married  Eaulin  Le  Gros,  and  had  issue: — 

(i)     a  child,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  5  January  1745. 
(ii)  Jane    Le    Gros,   baptized     at    St.     Laurence's,    24 

September  1747  (Godparents  :— George  Du  Pre  and 

Jane  Aubin,  his  wife), 
(iii)  Joshua    Le   Gros,   baptized    at    St.    Laurence's,  9 

July  1749  (Godparents  : — John  Langlois  and  Susan 

De  Ste.  Croix). 

?(Yi)  Anne,  who  married  John  De  Ste.  Croix.  She  was 
buried  at  St.  Laurence's,  8  June  1747,  being  then 
described  as  his  wife,  so  he  evidently  survived  her. 

?(vii)  Jane  "  Ben6e,"  of  St.  Laurence's,  who  married  at  St. 
Helier's,  28  May  [?1739] ,  Laurence  Langlois,  also  of 
St.  Laurence's.     Their  children  w^ere  : — 

(i)  Matthew  Langlois,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  27 
April  1746.  His  godparents  were  Matthew  Dorey 
and  Magdelaine  Romeril,  his  wife.  (Madeleine, 
nee  Romeril,  widow,  was  buried  at  St.  Laurence's, 
19  September  1755.  She  had  been  three  times 
married,  istly  to  a  Philip  Benest,  2ndly  to  Noel  Le 
Sueur  and  3rdly  to  the  said  Matthew  Dorey). 

(ii)  Elizabeth  Langlois,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  20 
March  1747  (Godparents  :— Matthew  Dorey,  Junior, 
and  Elizabeth  Le  Sueur,  his  wife). 

(iii)  Helier  Langlois,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  14 
October  T750  (Godparents  : — Helier  Romeril  and 
Jane  Laffoley). 

VIII.— PHILIP  BENEST,  (son  of  John,  son  of  Peter), 
born  1712  (see  the  "  G6nealogie  "),  inherited  in  1783,  as  stated 
above,  a  house  from  his  nephew  John  Benest,  son  of  John. 

He  married  firstly  Sarah  Vautier.  "We  do  not  know  much 
at  present  about  her  family,  but  she  probably  had  two  sisters : — 
(i)  Elizabeth  Vautier  wife  of  Philip  Poingdestre,  both  godparents 
to  Philip  Benest's  son,  Philip,  in  1748,  and  (ii)  Jane  Vautier, 
wife  of  Francis  de  la  Cour,  both  godparents  to  Philip  Benest's 
son,  Francis,  in  1744.  They  had  a  son,  Philip  de  la  Cour, 
baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  10  December  1747,  to  whom  Philip 

(    18    ) 


Benest  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Vautier,  were  godparents.  Sarah 
Vautier,  may  also  have  had  a  brother,  the  father  of  Jane  Vautier 
"who  became  the  first  wife  of  Philip  Benest,  son  of  Philip 
Benest  by  the  said  Sarah  Vautier. 

This  Sarah  Benest,  7i6c  Vautier,  died  before  18  December 
1784,  when  her  property  was  divided.  By  her,  Philip  Benest 
had  issue : — 

(i)     Philip,  buried  at  St.Laur8nce's,27  August  1741  (?1744). 

(ii)   John  Benest,  born  1737,  of  whom  hereafter. 

(iii)  Joshua,  baptized  at   St.  Laurence's,  19  October  1740 

(Godparents: — John  Benest  and  Marv,  Ins  daughter) ; 

buried  at  St.  Laurence's,  29  August  1741  (?  1744). 
(iv)     Sarah,  baptized  at  St.   Laurence's,   17   October  1742 

(Godparents  : — Abraham  Benest  and  Sarah  Gibaut). 
(v)     Francis,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  28  October  1'744 

(Godparents  : — Francis  de  la  Cour  and  Jane  Vautier, 

his  wife — see  above).     For  him  and  his  descendants 

see  p.  31. 
(vi)     Anne,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  30  November  1746 

(Godparents  : — Philip  Romeril  and  Anne  Voisin,  his 

wife). 

She  married  8   January   1785   at    St.    Laurence's, 

John  Luce. 
In  1786,  they  were  godparents  at  St.  Laurence's  to 

her  nephew  John,  son  of  Philip  Benest. 

On  17  October  1792,  they  were  godparents  at  St. 

Laurence's  to  John,   son  of  Philip  de  Ste.   Croix  by 

Mary  de  Ste.  Croix,  hia  wife, 
(yii)     Philip,    baptized  at    St.    Laurence's,    18  December 

1748  (Godparents  : — Philip  Poingdestre  and  Elizabeth 

Vautier,  his  wife — see  above). 

For  him  and  his  descendants  see  p.  33. 
(viii)     Elizabeth,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  28  July  1751 

(Godparents : — William  Sorsoleil  and  Dem"*"  Elizabeth 

Hue). 

She  married  3  April  1779  at  St.  Saviour's,  John 
Cailleteau,  of  St.  Heliers. 

In  1773,  she  was  godmother  to  her  nephew,  George, 
son  of  John  Benest, 

In  1784,  she  is  mentioned  as  the  v,-ife  of  John 
Cailleteau  in  the  "  Partage  "  of  her  fatb.er's  property. 
In  1788,  she  and  her  husband  John  "  Calletot  "  were 
godparents  at  St.  Laurence's  to  her  niece,  Jane, 
daughter  of  Philip  Benest. 

In  July  1792,  they  were  godparents  at  St.  Laurence's 
to  her  niece,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Francis  Benest. 

(     19    ) 


In  September  1792,  they  were  godparents  at  St. 
Laurence's  to  her  niece,  Ehzabeth,  daughter  of  PhiHp 
Benest. 

In  1801,  her  grand-nephew,  Charles  Bisson  (son  of 
Phihp  Bisson  by  Elizabeth  Benest,  his  wife)  had  as 
godmother  his  aunt  Elizabeth  "  Benest." 
(ix)  Jane,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's,  25  August  1754 
(Godparents  : — Abraham  Bisson  and  Dem"'  Jane 
Komon.) 

In  1784,  she  is  described  as  the  wife  of  Francis 
Luce  (see  Begistre  Public,  Book  67,  fol.  129). 
Philip  Benest  married  secondly  Jane  Aubin,  and  by  her 
had  a  daughter  : — 

(x)     Mary,  a  minor  in  1784  (see  Begistre  Piiblic,  Book  67, 

fol.  129). 
On  18  December  1784,  Philip  Benest  divided  his  property 
among  his  children.  The  "Partage"  is  in  the  Begistre  Public, 
Book  67,  fol.  129.  The  second  surviving  son,  Francis,  received 
a  house  near  the  Carrefour  S6lous  in  St.  Laurence's,  his  father 
reserving  unto  himself  the  right  of  living  in  it  until  his  death. 
From  the  "  Genealogie  "  it  would  appear  that  this  house  was 
the  same  which  Philip's  great-grandfather,  Peter  Benest, 
received  in  1657,  and  that  in  1808  it  was  still  in  the  hands 
of  the  descendants  of  this  Francis  Benest. 

THE    BENE5T5   OF   ST.    HELIER'5. 

\'A  c  S  shewn  above,  three  of  the  sons  of  Philip  Benest  (son  of 
oMX.  John,  son  of  Peter,  son  of  Peter,  the  third  son  of  Philip, 
^=^  son  of  Noel,  son  of  Noel,  son  of  John  Benest),  founded 
fresh  branches  of  the  family,  of  which  the  senior  branch  is  that 
of  St.  Helier's  springing  from  Philip's  eldest  surviving  son : — 

IX.— JOHN  BENEST,  whose  birth  in  1737  is  the  first 
entry  in  the  Family  Bible,  and  reads  : — 

"  Jean  Benest  fils  Ph.  &  de  Sara  Vautier  sa  feme  ne 
le  25  jour  de  May  1737  au  Vieux  Stile  qui  est  a  present 
le  5  juin,  et  presente  au  Bat^me  le  16  par  ^f'.  Jean 
Langlois  et  M™*"  Eachel  Le  Cras,  qui  apres  fut  la  feme 
du  d'  S'  Langlois." 

The  entry  of  his  marriage,  in  1767,  with  Mary  Le  Breton, 
occurs  in  the  registers  of  St,  Helier's  : — 

"  M^  Jean  Benest  de  la  Paroisse  de  St.  Laurent  & 
M"^  Marie  Le  Breton  de  la  Paroisse  de  St.  Helier 
furent  maries  ensemble  le  Cinquieme  jour  de  Mars 
Mille  sept  cent  Soixante  Sept." 

(    20    ) 


She  was  the  daughter  of  Charles  Le  Breton  by  Mary 
Herman,  his  wife,  and  was  baptized  ut  St.  HeHer's  23  Octolxir 
1743  (Godparents :— Francis  Le  Clcrc  and  Esther  Le  Clerc,  liis 
sister). 

On  28  November  1784,  John  Benest  and  Mary  Le  Breton, 
his  wife,  were  godparents  at  St.  Laurence's  to  "his  nephew, 
PhiHp  Benest,  son  of  Philip, 

On  18  December  1784,  he  received  in  his  father's 
•'  Partage  "  the  family  house  which  his  father  had  inherited  in 
1783  from  his  nephew,  but  John  Benest  had  to  pay  his  father 
forty  Hvres  old  currency  j^er  annum  for  it. 

In  1794,  1796  and  1800  respectively  he  was  godfather  to 
his  grandchildren :— Elizabeth  Bisson,  John  Coutanche  and 
John  Bisson.  In  1799  he  was  godfather  to  his  two  grand- 
children John  Benest  and  Mary  Elizabeth  Wright. 

On  1  March  1808,  he  wrote  the  "  G6n6alogie  "  being  then 
nearly  71  years  old. 

In  18i8  and  May  1821  respectively,  he  was  godfather  to 
his  great  grandchildren  Edward  Mauger  and  Jane-Matilda 
Benest. 

As  already  shewn,  it  is  to  him  that  we  are  indebted  for 
practically  all  the  entries  in  the  Family  Bible.  He  evidently 
kept  all  his  faculties  until  his  end  as  the  last  entry  in  his 
handwriting  refers  to  a  baptism  which  occurred  only  four 
months  before  his  death.  He  survived  both  his  sons  and  died 
in  1821,  aged  84,  and  was  buried  in  the  churcliyard  of  St. 
Helier's : — ■ 

"  Mons""  Jean  Benest,  Sen"",  fut  enterr6  le  troisieme 
d'Octobre  mil  huit  cent  vingt-un." 

We  are  told  that  his  grandson,  John  Benest,  caused  the 
"  Clameur  d'Haro"  to  be  called  over  his  grave  when  the 
authorities  proposed  to  desecrate  it  by  either  construciing  a 
new  street  or  widening  an  old  one  at  the  expense  of  that  portion 
of  the  churchyard  in  Avhich  he  had  been  buried.  A  large  oil- 
painted  portrait  of  this  venerable  old  gentleman  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  Rev.  John-William  Benest,  his  great  grandson. 
It  is  unfortunately  too  indistinct  to  permit  of  re-production  in 
these  notes. 

By  his  wife,  Mary  Le  Breton,  he  had  issue : — 

(i)  Mary,  born  9  May,  baptized  Jo  May  17G7  at  St. 
Helier's  (Godparents: — Francis  Benest  and  Elizabeth 
Mahaut);  died  28  June,  buried  1  July  177J,  at  St. 
Helier's. 

(ii)  Elizabeth,  born  8  March,  baptized  IG  March  1769  at 
St.  Helier's  (Godparents : — Edward  Patriarche  and 
Elizabeth  Patriarche,  wife  of  Nicholas  Messervy).  In 
1799,  she  was  godmother  to  her  niece,  Mary-Elizabetli 
Wright. 

(     21     ) 


She  married  Philip  Bisson,  and  had  issue  : — 

(i)  Elizabeth  Bisson,  born  14  March,  baptized  3  April 
1794  (Godparents  r— John  Benest  and  Anne  Benest, 
grandfather  and  aunt  respectively  of  the  child). 

(ii)  Philip  Bisson.  born  8  Februarj-,  baptized  26 
February  1796  ((xodparents  :  — Philip  Lys  and  Mary 
Messervy,  his  wife). 

(iii)  George  Bisson,  born  9  September,  baptized  i  Oct. 
1797  (Godparents:— the  child's  father  and  his  aunt, 
Mary  Benest). 

(iv)  Mary  Bisson,  born  22  January , baptized 8  February 
1799  '(Godparents  :  —  Samuel  Wright  and  Mrs. 
Crofton.  widow  of  an  Officer  in  the  Army). 

(v)  John  Bisson,  born  25  February,  baptized  28 
February  1800  (Godparents  :  —  John  Benest  the 
child's  grandfather  representing  John  Benest,  the 
child's  uncle,  and  Jane  Le  Geyt,  wife  of  the  last- 
named). 

(vi)  Charles  Bisson,  born  2  March,  baptized  ii  March 
1801  (Godparents: -John  Benest,  son  of  Francis, 
and  the  child's  aunt,  Elizabeth  Benest). 

(vii)  Dumaresq  Bisson,  born  30  May.  baptized  21  June 
1803  (Godparents  :— his  father  and  mother). 

(viii;  WiUiam-Stiles  Bisson,  born  20  June,  baptized  12 
August  1805  (Godparents:— John  Stiles,  Captain  of 
the  frigate  "•  Alcmene,'''  "  qui  ete  a  cet  Epoque  sur 
la  Rade  a  Jer.«ey."  and  Charles  De  la  Garde.  Junior, 
representing  William  Home  and  his  wife,  Caroline- 
Mary  Home. 

(ix)  Couteur,  born  13  June,  baptized  26  July  1809 
(his  godparents  were  :— John  Le  Couteur  and  .... 
Dumaresq,  his  wifej. 

(x)     Edward,  born  11  March,  baptized  21  July  1811. 

(iii)     John  Benest,  of  whom  hereafter. 

(iv)  George,  born  13  February,  baptized  26  February  1773 
at  St.  Heher's  (Godparents : — his  father  and  his  aunt, 
EHzabeth  Benest,  representing  their  distant  cousins, 
George  Benest  and  EHzabeth  Hamon,  his  wife,  "  qui 
le  Mauvai  terns  empecha  de  Venir  a  tems  pour  le 
Batem.")  Under  date  9  August  1815,  in  the  registers 
of  St.  Helier's,  is  the  entry  of  the  burial  of  a 

"  Mons'  George  Benest  fils  Jean." 

(v)  Mary,  born  27  January,  baptized  8  February  1775  at 
St.  Helier's  (Godparents  : — Peter  Mauger  and  Mary 
Marett,  his  wife).     She  died  14  April  1775. 

(vi)  Anne,  born  7  May,  baptized  15  May  1776  at  St. 
Helier's  (Godparents  : — Francis  Langlois  and  Anne 
Payn,  who  shortly  afterwards  married  Eichard  Le 
Feuvre). 

She  was  godmother  to  her  niece,  Elizabeth  Bisson, 
in  1794. 

(     22     ) 


On  2  January  179G,  she  married  at  St.  Heller's, 
John  Coutanche,  and  had  issue  : — 

(i)    John  Coutanche,  born  21  September,  baptized  25 

September   1796   (Godparents  : -Jo!in   Benest  and 

Mary  Benest,  grandfather  and  aunt  respectively  of 

the  child).  ^ 

(ii)     Philip  Coutanche,  born   1799.  and  baptized  on  29 

May  of  that  year  (Godparents  :  — his  parents), 
(iii)     a  .son,  born  3  July  1800. 

(iv)     Nancy  Coutanche,  born  in  I^ondon,   29  November 
1802. 
(vii)     Mary,  born  16  July,  baptized  29  July   1778  at  St. 
Helier's    (Godparents : — John    Richardson    and    liis 
second  wife,  Mary  Chevallier). 

In  1796  and  1797  respectively,  she  was  godmother 
to  her  nephews,  John  Coutanche  and  George  Bisson. 
On  15  December  1797,  she  married  at  St.  Helier's, 
Samuel  Wright  (who,  we  understand,  died  at  St. 
John's  Eectory).  In  1799,  he  was  godfather  to  his 
wife's  niece,  Mary  Bisson. 

In  May  1820,   she  was  godmother  to  her  grand- 
daughter, Mary  Mauger. 
They  had  issue  : — 
(i)     Samuel    Wright,     born    i    February,    baptized    4 
February  1801  (Godparents:— Nicholas  Le  Quesne 
and  Frances  Neel,  his  Nvifc). 
(ii)     iMary-Hlizabeth  Wright,  born  5  June,  baptized  26 
June  1799  (Godparents:— John  Benest  and  Klizabeth 
Benest,  grandfather  and  aunt  respectively  of  the 
child). 

She  married  Edward  Mauger  (son  of  ... .  Mauger 
by  Jane  Le  Brocq,  his  wife;,  and  had  issue:  — 

(i)     Edward   IMauger,  born  21  July,   baptized  20 
September  18 18  (Godparents:— John  Benest, 
his  great  grandfather,  and  Jane  Le  Brocq,  his 
grandmother), 
(ii)     Mary  Mauger,  born  13  Ma}  ,  baptized  21  May 
1820  (Godparents  :  —  lohn  Mauger  and  Mary 
Benost,  uncle  and  grandmother  respectively 
of  the  child), 
(viii)     Jane,  born   7  May,   baptized  26  May  1780  at  St. 
Helier's  (Godparents  : — Francis  Ydan  aud  Jane  Durell, 
his  wife). 

She  died  on  8  November  1780. 

X.— JOHN  BENEST,  (eldest  son  of  John,  son  of  Philip), 
was  born  25  February  and  baptized  at  St.  Helier's,  6  Mardi, 
1771.  The  entry  of  his  baptism  in  the  church  registers 
reads  — 

"  Jean  fils  de  M''  Jean  Benest  &,  de  M'"=  Marie  Le 
Breton  sa  femme  fut  baptize  le  sixieme  jour  de  Mars 
Mille  Sept  Cents  septante  un,  M'  Jean  Langlois  »fe 
M"*  Rachel  Le  Cras,  sa  femme,  I'arrain  &,  Marraine." 

(     23    ) 


His  godparents  were  those  who  had  stood  for  his  father 
thirty-four  years  pr3vioasly,  which  curious  fact  is  noted  in  the 
Family  Bible. 

In  1797,  he  married  Jane,  second  daughter  and  eventual 
co-heiress  of  Philip  Le  Geyt-(it^Eauvet,  of  St.  Saviour's,  by 
Jane  Mourant,  his  wife. 

Jane  Le  Geyt's  ancestry  is  to  be  found  in  our  pamphlet 
"  A  Short  Account  of  the  Le  Geyt-f/i7-Eauvet  Family,  of  St. 
Saviour's,"  on  page  16  of  which  her  name  occurs.''' 

For  her  descent  (through  the  Pelliers,  Eichardsons, 
Dumaresqs,  Lemprieres,  De  Cai'terets,  de  Albinis  and  the  Earla 
of  Huntingdon)  from  the  Dukes  of  Normandy,  see  the 
"  Genealogical  Magazine  "  for  1900  and  1901. 

She  was  baptized  11  January  1776  and  died  in  1803. 

In  1800,  John  lienest  and  Jane  Le  Geyt,  his  wife,  were 
godparents  to  their  nephew,  John  Bisson. 

On  25  November  1818,  he  was  godfather  to  his  grand- 
daughter, Mary-Elizabeth  Benest,  who  is  still  living. 

He  died  in  1819  (during  the  lifetime  of  his  father)  and  was 
buried  at  St.  Helier's  on  26  May  1819,  the  entry  in  the  church 
registers  reading  as  follows  : — 

"  Mons'   Jean  Benest,  Jun"",  fut  enterr6   le  vingt- 
sixieme  Mai,  mil  huit  cent  dix  neuf," 

The  "  Partage  "  of  his  property  is  recorded  in  the  Registry 
ruhlic  (Book  127,  fol.  65  to  68)  and  is  dated  17  July  1819, 
from  it  we  see  that  besides  his  house  in  La  Motte  Street,  he 
had  another,  No  12  on  the  Quay. 

On  19  August  1819,  Administration  of  the  goods  of  John 
Benest,  Junior,  late  of  Jersey,  widower.  Merchant,  deceased, 
was  granted  to  John  Benest  (the  Younger)  his  son  and  next  of 
kin.  Sworn  at  £600  [presumably  only  so  far  as  his  goods  in 
England  were  concerned] ,  see  Somerset  House  records. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  last  four  paragraphs  that  the  note 
"oh.  avant  1803"  placed  against  his  name  in  the  Le  Geyt 
pedigree  published  by  the  Soci^te  Jersiaise  (29th  Bulletin, 
p.  250)  is  incorrect. 

John  Benest  and  Jane  Le  Geyt,  his  wife,  had  issue  only 
one  son  and  one  daughter  : — • 

(i)  John,  born  1799  ;  of  whom  hereafter. 

(ii)  Jane,  born  16  November,  baptized  10  December  1800 
(Godparents  : — Peter  Simonette,  also  Anne  and  Mary 
Le  Geyt,  aunts  of  the  child.  Peter  married  Anne  in 
1805). 

*    Those  who  possess  copies  of  the  Le  Geyt  pamphlet  are  requested  to  alter  the 
word  "  J'ttblique  "  (on  page  I'J,  line  13,  and  page  14,  line  11)  into  "  I'ublic," 

(    24    ) 


She  married  on  25  May  1818  James-Ryan  Smvll),'- 
a  native  of  Ireland.  He  joined  ihe'  lotli  root 
3  September  1812  and  retired  on  half  pay  in  1817.  His 
age  was  67  at  his  death  on  1  Novtinber  1855.  A 
miniature  portrait  of  him  is  in  the  possession  of  Miss 
G.  M.  Bernau,  His  wife  (whose  miniature  portrait  is 
in  the  possession  of  Miss  Benest,  of  "  Sid  Court," 
Redhill)  died  childless  on  15  April  1856,  and  lies 
buried  with  lier  husband  in  the  cliurchyard  of  St. 
Saviour's.  As  will  be  seen  later,  her  "  Pnrtage  "  is 
recorded  in  the  Beglatrc  Pubhc,  Book  21G,  fol.  27. 

XI.— JOHN  BENEST,  (only  son  of  John,  eldest  son  of 
John),  was  born  5  February  and  baptized  at  St.  Helier's  13 
February  1799,  the  entry  in  the  church  register  reading: — 

"  Jean  fils  de  Mons'  Jean  Benest  &  de  D'"^  Jeanne 
Le  Geyt  sa  femme  fut  baptise  le  treisieme  Jour  de 
Fevrier  mil  sept  cent  quatrevingt  dix  neuf  Mons""  Jean 
Benest  grandpere  parain  &  D"*^  Jeanne  Mourant 
femme  de  Mons'  Philippe  Lc  Geyt,  grandmere,  it  D'* 
Marie  Le  Geyt,  tante,  marraines." 

He  married  on  17  January  1818  Mary-Elizabeth  Millais, 
elder  daughter  of  John  Millais  by  his'  wife,  Sarah-]^Iary 
Matthews,  wiio  was  the  daughter  'of  William  ^latthews  by 
Mary  Luce,  his  wife.  Mary-Eiizabeth  Millais  (who  was  aunt 
to  the  late  Sir  John-Everett  Millais,  Bai'onct,  President  of  the 
Eoyal  Academy,  etc.)  was  born  27  January  and  baptized  at  St. 
Helier's  28  February  1798.  She  died  in  London  2G  January 
1876,  on  the  eve  of  her  78th  birthday,  and  is  buried  at  Highgate. 
She  was  third  cousin  to  her  hushand  through  his  mother  [nee 
Le  Geyt)  and  her  great  grandmother  (also  lu'e  Le  Gevt). 
By  her,  John  Benest  had  twelve  children.  He  died  14  October 
1855  (not  "  1865  "  as  stated,  tlirough  a  printer's  error,  in  the 
'•  Pedigree  of  the  Benest  Family  of  Jersey.")  In  the  Ecgistre 
Fahlic  (Book  216,  fol.  27)  will  be  found  the  "  Fortagcs  "  of  his 
and  his  sister's  property. 

Large  oil-painted  portraits  of  him  and  his  wife  are  now  in 
the  possession  of  the  Key.  John-William  Benest,  their  eldest 
son.  Like  the  portrait  of  John  Benest's  grandfather,  his  also 
is  too  indistinct  to  permit  of  re-production,  but  that  of  his  wife 
will  be  found  opposite  page  28.       j  o  cri^  /«  *^r> 

Their  children  were: —  LoOO^tOO 

(i)  Mary  Ann,  born  at  St.  Helier's  6  November  and 
baptized  25  November  1818  (Godparents  : — ^^John 
J3cnest,  "Junior,"  her  grandfather,  and  Sarah-Mary 

•    For  piirtiiiilars  about  his  relatives   in  IiclaJiil,  see  ".Vo.'fs  uml  Witiit^,"  for 
6  Deer.  ISOfi,  p.  401. 

(     25     ) 


Millais,  nee  Matthews,  her  grandmother).  She  is  now 
Uving,  unmarried,  at  "  Sid  Court,"  RedhiU,  co.  Surrey, 
after  having  resided  for  many  years  at  No.  41  York 
Terrace,  Eegent's  Park,  London. 

(ii)  Jane- Matilda,  born  at  St.  Heher's  30  June,  baptized 
in  private  32  Julv  1820,  and  in  the  church  on  4  May 
1821  (Godparents:— John  Benest,  her  great  grand- 
father, and  Jane  Smyth,  nee  Benest,  her  aunt). 

She  married  at  St.Helier's  on  8  April  1844;  WilHam 
Janvrin  (born  17  February  1814 ;  died  24  December 
1871;  buried  with  his  wife  at  Highgate ;  he  was  a 
brother  of  Louisa-Mary  Janvrin,  mentioned  on  p.  30) 
and,  dying  in  London  on  25  August  1853,  ten  days 
after  the  birth  of  her  son,  left  issue  :— 

(i)  TVIarv-Elizabeth  Janvrin,  living  unmarried  at  "  Sid 

Court,"  Redhill. 
(ii)  Alice-Jane  Janvrin,  living  unmarried  at "  Sid  Court," 

RedhiU. 
(iii)    Anna-Louisa    Janvnn,    died  unmarried    at   York 
Terrace,  Regents'  Park,  London.  . 

An    Altar   to    her   memory  has  been  erected  in 
Trinity  Church,  Portland  Road,  London. 
(iv)  Laura-Ann    Janvrin,    living     unmarried    at    "Sid 

Court,"  Redhill. 
(v)  William-Langston-Benest  Janvrin,  born  in  London 
IS  August  1853.  M.A.  Clare  College,  Cambridge; 
Deacon,  1878;  Priest,  1879;  curate  of  St.  Saviours, 
Fitzroy-square,  London,  W.,  1878-81.  of  Sher- 
rington, CO.  Bucks.,  1881-2:  chaplain  of  E.  Ridmg 
asvlum  and  perp.  cur.  in  Beveriey  Minster  co. 
Yorks  i88''-9i;  vicar  of  Southwold,  co.  Suftolk, 
iSqi-^  ;  chaplain  of  the  Union  and  Industrial 
School  from  1S94,  of  the  General  Hospital,  Hereford 
from  1899;  vicar  from  1893  of  St.  Peter's,  Hereford. 
He  married  at  Holy  Trinity  Church,  Marylebone, 
on  12  June  1879,  Emily-M  and -Madeleine  Beavis, 
born  in  London  10  September  1861.  Their  children 
are  : — 

(i)  Reginald-Beavis-Le  Breton  Janvrin,  born  iu 

London,  11  March  1880.  Living,  unmarried. 

(ii)  Claud-William  Janvrin,  born  at  Sherrington, 

CO.  Bucks.,  II  April  1881.  Living,  unmarried. 

(iii)  Ralph-Benest  Janvrin,  born  at  Beverley,  i? 

September  1884.     Living,  unmarried. 

(iv)  Madeleine-Millais  Janvrin,  born  at  Beverley, 

20  January  18S6.     Living,  unmarried. 

(iii)  Anna-Maria,  born  at  St.  Heller's  12  December  1821  : 
died  at  Portswood  1  July  1879 ;  buried  at  Highfield, 
Southampton. 

(     26     ) 


She  married  at  St.  Heller's  17  January  1842,  George 
Everett,  M.D.,  (born  at  Ilevtesburv,  co*.  Wilts  5  Sep- 
tember 1810;  died  6  March  18G2  at  Portswood.  Ijcing 
buried  with  his  wife  at  Ilighgato  ;  a  brother  of  William'! 
Marvyn  Everett  who  married  George  Everett's  wife's 
aunt,  Anna-Maria  Millais),  and  had  issue  : 

(i)  Mary. Hart  Everett,  born  at  New  Norfolk,  Tasmania, 

20  April  1843;   now  living  (unmarried)   at  Shipley, 

Bradford,  co.  York. 
(ii)  John-Hart  Everett,  born  at  Ross.  Tasniajiia,  20  June 

1S45  ;  died  there  on  27  November  1853. 
(iii)  George-FIart  Everett,  born  at  Norfolk  Island,  17  April 

1847  ;  died  there  on  3  February  1849. 
(iv)  Alfred-Hart   Everett,   born   at   Norfolk    Island,    t: 

October  1S48  ;  died  ^unmarried)  in  London,  18  June 

1898.      He    -was    a   "Resident"    of   the    Sarawak 

Government  vService. 
(v)  Harold-Hart    Everett,   born   at  Norfolk   Island   20 

March  1850;  now  living  (unmarried;,  an  ]-,ngincer, 

at  Sarawak. 
(vi)  Annie-Hart  Everett,  born  at  Ross,  Tasmania,  9  Dec. 

1852  ;     died      at      Shipley,     Bradford,    co.     York, 

27  January  1S79. 
She  married  at   Portswood,    15   December   1874. 

Stephen. Philip   Unwin,  Wool  Merchant,  (born   28 

April  1S35  ;  now  living  at  Shipley)  and  had  issue  :  — 

(i)  Maurice-Everett  I'^nwin.  born  at  Shipley  18 
January  1876;  now  livinj,',  unmarried.  An 
Engineer. 
(ii)  Arthur-Bright  Unwin,  born  at  Shipley,  15 
July  1877  ;  died  there  on  30th  of  same 
month. 
(lii)  "William-Herbert  Unv.in,  born  at  Shipley, 
17  January  J 879  ;  died  there  on  22nd  of  sanie 
month. 

(vii)  Arthur-Hart     Everett,   born    at     Ross.     Tasmania, 
6  Januar}-  1S55  ;  died  iu  Jersey  24th  June  the  same 
year. 
(viii)  Frederick-Hart    Everett,   born    at   St.    Helier's    16 
October  1856 ;  nov/  living  at  Willesden  Green. 

He  married  at  Hampstead,  6  .'\ugust  1890,   .\lice- 
Kate  Duncum  (now-  living)  and  has  issue  :  — 

(i)  Frederick-Harold     Everett,    born    at    West 

Kensington,  22  I\Iay  1891  ;  living. 
(ii)  Leslie-Frank  Everett,  born  at  Tatsfield,  co. 
Surrey,  20  September  1896  ;  living. 

(iv)  John-William  Benest,  born  1823  ;  of  whom  hereafter. 

(v)  Edward-Everett  Benest,  Member  of  the  Institution  of 
Civil  Engineers;  born  at  St.  IJelier's,  21  August  1824  ; 
died  at  Brixton,  London,  24  November  1901  ;  buried 
at  Lambeth  Cemetery,  Tooting. 

(     27     ) 


He  married  firstly,  at  Gillingham,   co.  Norfolk,  13 

October  1852,  Esther-Shaw  Parker  (eldest  surviving 

daughter  of  Thomas  Parker,  of  Gillingham,  by  Esther 

Shaw,  his  wife,  who  was  a  sister  of  Mary-Ann  Wilson, 

iiee  Shaw,  mentioned  on  p.  29).     She  was  born  at  No. 

19  Milk  Street,  St.  Laurence  Jewry,  London,  30  July 

1828,  and  died  at  Clements  Hill,  New  Catton,  Norwich, 

11  May  1855,   being  buried  at   Christ  Church,  New 

Catton  ;  letters  of  administration  of  her  property  being 

granted  to  her  husband  5  October  1859.     Her  only 

child  :  — 

(i)  Edward-Benest-Shaw  Benest,  Associate  Member  of 

the  Institution  of  Civil  Engineers,  Fellow  of  the 

Eoyal  Geographical  Society,  Fellowof  the  Society 

of  Arts  and  Member  of  the  Instituto  Polytechnica 

[Institution  of  Civil  Engineers]  de  Eio  Janeiro. 

He  was  born  at  Catton,  Norwich,  30  July  1853, 
and  married  firstly  on  3  August  1882  at  Eio, 
Flora  MacKinnell  (daughter  of  Alfred  Mac- 
Kinnell  by  Eliza- Ann  Heatherly,  his  wife),  born 
1  October  1864,  died  at  Earl's  Court,  London, 
1  x\ugust,  1895,  having  had  issue  : — 
(i)  Esther-Lilian,  born  at  Eio,  4  June  1883  ;  living, 

unmarried, 
(ii)  x\lfred-Edward-Diniz,  born  at  Clapham,  7  June 

1884  ;  died  at  Eio  in  January  1885. 
(iii)  Frank-Millais      Benest,      born      at      Clapham, 

8  September  1885  ;  living,  unmarried. 

(iv)  Isabel-Violet,    born  at  Eio,  23  January  1887  ; 

living,  immarried. 
(v)  Edward-Ernest  Benest,  born  at  Westminster, 

9  October  1891 ;  living. 
Edward-Benest-Shaw  Benest  married  secondly 

on  1  July  1897  at  St.  Andrew's,  Deal,  co.  Kent, 
Annie- Sophia  Eippin  (eldest  daughter  of  Daniel 
Eippin,   of    Wartnaby,    co.    Leic,    by   his    wife, 
Mary -Jane  Poole,  of  Ingoldsby,  co.  Line. 
Edward-Everett   Benest,    married   secondly  on  29 
April  1869  at  Eio,   Mary  Lucas  (daughter  of  Eobert 
Lucas  by  Mary  Williams,  his  wife),  born  in  Liverpool 
19  December  1847  ;  now  living  at  Brixton.     By  her 
he  had  issue  : — 
(ii)  Francis-Edward  Benest,  born  at  Liverpool  12  July 
1871 ;  now  living  at  Brixton. 

He  married  on  21  April,  1904  at  Ealing, 
Charlotte-Elizabeth-Maud  Ingram  (daughter  of 
the  Eev.  David-Caldicott  Ingram,  late  of  Blair- 
gowrie, N.B.,  by  Elizabeth-Ann  White,  his  wife.) 

(    28    ) 


MARY     ELIZABETH     BENEST, 

nie    MILLAIS 

(Born,  1798;  Died,  1876). 

l-'of  ichom  see  />ii,i;c  .'.,-. 


(iii)  Philip-Millais  Benest,  boin  at  Bromley,  co.  Kent, 
25  March  1873;  now  living  at  Pendleton,  near 
Manchester. 

He,  married  on  24  September  1901  at  St. 
Philip's,  Buckingham  Palace  Roa.],  London,  Alice- 
Mary  Hurst  (daughter  of  George  Hurst,  late  of 
Warwick  Street,  Pimlico,  by  Abigail  Burdett,  his 
wife). 

(vi)  James-Smyth  Benest,  Associate  Member  of  the  Insti- 
tution of  Civil  Engineers,  was  horn  at  St.  Heller's  26 
March  1826,  and  died  at  Norwich  29  February  1896, 
being  buried  on  5  March  at  Eaton  Church,  Norwich. 

He  married  at  Eaton  Church,  Norwich,  30  July 
J  857,  Emily- Susannah  Wilson  (daughter  of  Robert 
Wilson,  of  Norwich,  by  his  wife,  Mary-Ann  Shaw,  who 
was  a  sister  of  Esther  Parker,  vie  Shaw,  mentioned 
on  p.  28).  She  was  born  1823  (?1825),  and,  surviving 
her  husband,  to  whom  she  bore  no  children,  died  at 
Norwich  on  28  April  1898,  being  buried  at  Eaton 
Church  there, 
(vii)  George-Henry  Benest,  born  at  St.  Helier's  20  August 
1827  ;  drowned  off  the  coast  of  Africa  24  September 
1851 ;  he  was  unmarried. 

(viii)  Ellen-Octavia,  born  at  St.  Helier's  26  February  1829  ; 
died  about  1838  ;  buried  at  Green  Street,  St.  Helier's. 
(ix)  Elizabeth-Mary,    born   at  St.    Helier's    17  December 
1830  ;  died  27  July  1831. 

(x)  Philip-Le  Geyt  Benest,  born  at  St.  Helier's  16  July 
1832  ;  died  s.y.  21  June  1865  ;  buried  at  Shanghai', 
where  his  tombstone  describes  him  as  "  Philip  La 
Geyt  Benest,"  w^hich  is  incorrect.  His  will  was 
proved  at  Somerset  House  in  1865.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  Master  of  the  ship  "Highflyer." 

Shortly  before  his  death  he  had  married  Charlotte, 
v6c  Begbie,  widow  of  a  Mr.  Todd.  She  married 
thirdly  a  Mr.  Harding.  Her  only  child  v.as  a  girl  by 
her  first  husband.  Mrs.  Harding  died  some  years 
ago,  in  Rome. 

(xi)  Isabel-Mary,  born  at  St.  Helier's  31  December  1833; 
living  since  April  1901  (when  she  left  St.  Helier's)  at 
"  Sid  Court,"  Redhill,  co.  Surrey. 

She  married  on  28  April  1863  her  first  cousin  (once 
removed)  Thomas  Millais,  who  was  born  6  July  1813 
and  died  s.j}.  1  June  1882. 

Mrs.  Millais  was  the  last  of  this  branch  of  the 
Benest  family  to  leave  Jersey. 

(    29    ) 


(xii)  Mai-y-Elizabetli,  born  at  St.  Helier's  20  July  1836; 
died  at  Lee,  co.  Kent,  13  October  1891,  buried  at  Lee 
Cemetery. 

Sbe  married  at  All  Saints'  Cburcli,  Belvedere,  co. 
Kent,  12  February  1868,  Henry-Augustus  Bernau,  for 
whose  ancestry  (and  a  more  detailed  account  of  his 
children  and  grandchildren  than  is  given  below)  see 
our  pamphlet  "  Genealogy  of  the  Bernau  Family  of 
Stolp,"  February,  1906,  pp.  7  and  8. 

Their  children  were  : — 

(i)  Edith-Marj-  Bernau,  who  is  married  to  the  Rev.  G.  H. 
Moule. 

(ii)  VVilliani-Henr}- Bernau,  married  to  Charlotte- Augusta 
Moule,  (second  daughter  of  the  Venerable  Arch- 
deacon A.  R.  Moule,  not  "  eldest"  daughter,  as  is 
incorrecth'  stated  in  the  pamphlet  just  quoted),  by 
whom  he  has  issue  : — 

fi)  Doroth3'-Cecil  Bernau,  born  T904. 
(ii)  Hug'h-Arthur-Moule  Bernau,  born  1905. 

(iii)  Frederick-John  Bernau. 
(iv)  Herbert-James  Bernau. 
(v)  Gertrude-Maria  ("  Daisy  ")  Bernau. 
(vi)  The  compiler  of  these  notes,  married  to  Rosa-Emily 
Bennion,  by  whom  he  has  had  issue  : — 

(i)  Rosa-Mary  ("  May")  Bernau,  born  1903. 
(ii)  Rowland-Le   Geyt   Bernau,   born   5    March 
1906,    at   Walton-upon-Thames,   where    he 
died  on  7  March, 
(vii)  Evelyn-May  Bernau,  ob.  j'tiv. 

XXL— EEVEREND  J0HN-WILLL4M  BENEST,  (eldest 
son  of  John,  only  son  of  John),  born  at  St.  Helier's  31  March 
1823.  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  B.A.  1818;  Deacon  1849; 
Priest  1850.  Eector  of  Little  Cressingham,  near  Watton,  co. 
Norfolk,  since  1871.  Formerly  curate  of  Alderney  1850-'54: ;  of 
Huddersfield  1854-'57 ;  of  Burnham  Deepdale  1857  and  '58  ;  of 
All  Saints',  Belvedere,  1865  and  '66  ;  of  Bidborough,  co.  Kent, 
1866-'71. 

He  married  firstly  at  St.  Saviour's,  Jersey,  on  ...  May  1851, 
Louisa-Mar}-  Janvrin  (a  sister  of  the  William  Janvrin  mentioned 
on  p.  26),  who  died  s.jj.  at  Southborough,  Kent,  on 

He  married  secondly  at  St.  Margaret's  Church,  Lowestoft, 
on  27  June  1876,  Henrietta-Charlotte  Eeynolds  (daughter  of 
the  Eev.  Charles  Eeynolds,  Eector  of  Great  Fransbam  and 
Little  Brandon,  co.  Norfolk),  by  whom  he  has  issue  : — 

(i)  John-Langston-Millais  Benest,  of  whom  hereafter. 

(ii)  William-Noel-Le  Geyt  Benest,  born  at  Little  Cres- 
singham, 6  December  1881 ;  now  living,  unmarried, 
at  Little  Cressingham. 

(     30     ) 


XIII.— JOHN-LANGSTON-MILLAIS  BENEST  (elder 
son  of  the  Eev.  John-William,  eldest  son  of  John),  horn  at 
Little  Cressingham  31  January  1879 ;  now  living,  unmarried, 
at  Anerley,  London,  S.E.;  a  solicitor  in  Watling  Street^ 
London,  E.G. 

JUNIOR   BRANCHES. 

^jA^S  mentioned  on  page  19,  three  of  the  sons  of  Philip 
f^pi.  Benest  (son  of  John,  son  of  Peter)  founded  fresh 
^■^^  hranches  of  the  family.  We  have  dealt  fully  with  the 
descendants  of  his  eldest  surviving  son,  John,  hut  it  is  not  yet 
possible  to  give  very  full  particulars  of  the  two  junior  branches 
of  this  family.  The  notes  contained  in  the  two  following 
paragraphs  should,  however,  be  of  assistance  to  future 
genealogists  interested  in  the  Benest  family. 


DESCENDANTS  OF  FRANCIS  BENEST. 

IX.— FEANCIS  BENEST,  (son  of  Philip,  son  of  John), 
as  mentioned  on  p.  19,  was  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  28 
October  1744. 

In  1767,  he  -was  godfather  to  his  niece,  Mary  Benest 
(daughter  of  John),  at  St.  Helier's. 

In  1784,  as  we  have  already  seen  (p.  201,  he  was  entitled, 
on  the  division  of  his  father's  property,  to  a  house  near  the 
Carrefour  Selous  in  St.  Laurence's,  his  father  reserving  unto 
himself  the  right  of  living  in  it  until  his  death.  From  the 
"  Gent^alogie  "  we  learn  that,  in  1808,  this  house  was  still  in 
the  hands  of  his  descendants. 

In  1789,  Francis  Benest  and  his  wife,  Betty  Cabot,  are 
mentioned. 

In  1791,  they  were  godparents  at  St.  Laurence's  to  his 
nephew  Francis  Benest,  son  of  Philip  by  Jane  Vautier,  his 
wife. 

In  October  1793,  they  were  godparents  at  St.  Laurence's 
to  Mally,  daughter  of  John  Vautier  by  Mary  Marett,  his  wife. 

In  November  1793,  they  were  godparents  at  St.  Laurence's 
to  Betty,  daughter  of  Peter  Cabot  by  Elizabeth  Bisson,  his 
wife. 

Their  children  were  : — 

(i)  Peter,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  14  February  1790 
(Godparents  : — Peter  Cabot,  Elizabeth  Bisson  and 
Anne  Cabot).  In  St.  Laurence's  Churchyard  there  is 
a  tombstone  (the  only  Benest  one  we  could  find  there) 
reading : — 

(    31    ) 


"  Ici  repose  le  corps  de  Piene  Benest  d^cede  le 

22  Aoiit  1876  age  de  86  ans  et  six  iiiois     Comms 

aussi    de    Susanne   Alexandre   veuve    du    susdit 

dec^dee  le  16  Mars  1885  agee  de  80  ans." 

He  may  have  been  the  father  or  grandfather  of  T. 

Moses  Benest,  now  Hving  with  his  sister  at  Carrefour 

Stilous,  St.  Laurence's. 

Mr.  T.  Moses  Benest  has  not  replied  to  our  requests 
for  information  about  his  branch  of  the  famil)'. 
(ii)  Elizabeth,   baptized  at    St.   Laurence's    1   July   1792 
(Godparents: — John  Calleteau  and  Elizabeth  Benest, 
his  wife), 
(iii)  Jane,    baptized   at    St.    Laurence's    4    October    1795 
(Godparents  : — Benjamin  Bertaut  and  Jane  Cabot,  his 
wife), 
(iv)  John.     Miss  Benest,  of  Eedhill,   (for  whom  see  p.  25), 
and    several    of   her   brothers  and   sisters,  remember 
they  had  cousins,  Benests,  who,  for  the  purpose  of 
distinction,  were  always  referred  to  as  the  children  of 
"  Jean  Ills  Eran9ois."     The  following  is  all  that  we 
have  been  able  to  discover  about  this  John  and  his 
descendants : — 


X.— JOHN  BENEST,  (son  of  Francis,  son  of  Philip),  was 
in  1808  the  godfather  of  Charles  Bisson,  the  son  of  his  first 
cousin,  Elizabeth  Bisson,  nie  Benest. 

Miss  Benest,  of  Eedhill,  remembers  that  two  unmarried 
daughters  of  this  John  Benest  kept  a  school  at  Havre.  They 
■were,  she  thinks,  named  Harriet  and  Mary-Anne.  Both  are 
now  dead,  but  one  was  still  living  at  Havre  in  1882.  Another 
daughter,  named  Charlotte,  died  in  Jersey,  unmarried,  after 
1882,  and  was  the  last  survivor  of  her  generation.  Of  John's 
sons,  she  thinks  one  was  named  Henry  and  that  he  kept  a 
school  at  Greve  de  Lecq,  Jersey.  Among  others,  there  was 
also  a  brother.  Captain  "  Thomas  "  Benest,  who  is  said  to  have 
fought  in  the  Carlist  Wars,  and  who,  as  master-mariner,  is 
said  to  have  had  other  interesting  experiences  into  which, 
however,  this  is  not  the  place  to  enter.  It  is  said  that  he 
changed  his  name  to  Bennett  and  lived  the  last  years  of  his  life 
in  seclusion  at  St.  Helier's.  Be  this  as  it  may,  this  branch  of 
the  family  is  said  to  be  now  represented  by  Henry  Benest  (son 
of  Philip),  now  of  "The  Glebe,"  Blackheath,  London,  S.E., 
recently  of  No.  85  Burnt  Ash  Hill,  Lee,  co.  Kent.  In  1896,  of 
Campbell  Eoad,  Bow,  London,  E.  In  1876,  of  Victoria  Park 
Eoad,  Hackney. 

(     32     ) 


ChaS.  A.  Bernau.  '  PENDEEN," 

Bowes  Road, 

Walton-on -Thames. 

13th  July  1907. 

William  R.Staekhouse.Esq. , 

Suite  618  Drexel  Building, Phila. , Pa. , U.S.A. , 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Many  thanks  for  yeur  very  kind  letter  of  1st  inst.  I  am 
mucli  gratified  to  find  that  my  work  meets  with  your  approval. 
I  feel  that  I  am  amply  repaid  for  what  was  really  a  lahour  of 
love  when  I  read  the  letters  now  reaching  me  from  every  quarter 
of  the  globe. I  can  assure  you  that  it  is  a  very  pleasant 
thought  that  one  has  made  hundreds  of  good  friends  within  one 
year.  Your  letter  aakee  me  feel  that  I  can  also  rank  you  among 
these. 

This  year  I  was  too  rushed  for  time  t©  look  after  the 
advertisements  properly  and  I  would  not  trust  it  t©  an  agent 
as  I  feared  that  I  might  find  Somebody's  Patent  Pink  Pills  for 
Pale  People  included, and  that  would  have  broken  my  heart  I 

It  is  extremely  good  of  you  to  offer  to  exchange  a  copy 
of  your  "Stackhouse"  book  for  my  two  poor  pamphlets, and  I 
accept  before  you  have  time  to  think  better  of  it.  My  pamphlets 
leave  here  by  this  mail. 

May  I  invite  you  to  enter  your  book  in  Part  V  next  year, 
so  that  others  may  benefit  as  well  as  myself? 


I  see  that  the  extracts  from  ray   correspondence  on  page  6 
amused  you.  Will  you  helieve  me  when  I  write  that  I  did  not 
print  the  real  "gems"  of  the  collectiojj?  There  were  some  which 
were  much  more  remarkable; in  fact, too  remarkable  to  be  put 

into  print!  For  instance, what  do  you  think  of  a  wifw  who  could 

'I 
write  the  following  letter?:-  * 

"Mrs writes  to  say  that  it  is 

useless  sending  any  further  notices  of  books  and 

publications  that  her  husband  used  to  love  to 

collect, for  he  is  suffering  from  softening  of  the 

brain, and  can  no  longer  take  an  interest  in 

AIJYTHIITG.  " 

Let  me  add  that  the  hmsband  is, or  was, a  well-known  cleric. 

With  kind  regards, Believe  me, 

Yours  very  sincerely. 


(^^-^^t^a^yf^Vo^ 


You  might  let  me  know  if  you  hear  anything  about  the  work 
mentioned  as  No. 5  under  the  heading  of  "Similar  Publications. 
They  said  they  were  going  to  publish  it  at  the  end  of  April, 
but  I  have  reason  to  think  that  it  is  not  yet  out.  I  want  to 
see  how  much  of  my  book  they  appropriate. 


He  married  at  Hackney  ou  22  January  1876,  his  cousin> 
Alice  -  Bertha  -  Henrietta  -  Viza  Benest,  daughter  of  John- 
Thomas  Benest,  master-mariner,  by  whom  ho  has  had  a  son 
and  a  daughter.  The  latter  was  married  at  Lee  in  1897  or 
1898.  Mr.  Henry  Benest  has  not  replied  to  our  requests  for 
informa,tion  about  his  branch  of  the  family. 


DESCENDANTS    OF   PHILIP   BENEST. 

IX.— PHILIP  BENEST,  (son  of  Philip,  soi:  of  John),  as 
already  stated  on  p.  19,  was  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  18 
December  1748. 

He  is  mentioned  in  1784  in  his  fa,ther's  "  Partage."  He 
married  firstly  Jane  Vautier,  and  by  her  had  issue  : — ■ 

(i)  Philip  Benest,  Ijaptized  at  St.  Laurence's  28  November 
1784  (Godparents  : — John  Benest  and  Mary  Le 
Breton,  his  wife).  He  died  before  1830  and  his  eldest 
daughter  (?  only  child)  : — 

(i)  Mary  Benest  was  a  minor  in  1830. 
(ii)  John,  baptized  at  St.   Laurence's  15  December  1786 
(Godparents : — John  Luce  and  Anne  Benest,  his  wife). 
He  was  living  in  1830. 

(iii)  Jane,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  14  December  1788 
(Godparents  : — John  Calleteau  and  Elizabeth  Benest, 
his  wife).     She  evidently  died  before  179G. 

(iv)  Francis,  baptized  privately  23  August  1791,  baptized  at 
St.  Laurence's  Cliurch  4  September  1791  (God- 
parents : — Francis  Benest  and  Betty  Cabot,  his  wife). 
He  was  buried  at  St.  Laurence's  G  September  1791. 

(v)  Elizabeth,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  16  September 
1792  (Godparents  :— John  Calleteau  and  Elizabeth 
Benest,  his  wife).  She  was  living  in  1830,  being  then 
the  wife  of  John-Edward  Querree,  son  of  John. 

(vi)  Jane,  baptized  at  St.  Laurence's  25  September  1796 
(Godparents :  -John  Le  Gallais  and  Jane  Eemon,  his 
wife). 

Philip  Benest,  who  died  before  1819,  married  secondly 
Elizabeth  Gallichan,  who  was  living  in  1830. 


(    33    )