The Bettles Family Link

Robert Bettle was born in about 1789 in Bozeat, Northamptonshire.

Robert married Martha Panter on 30th September 1813 in Wollaston, Northamptonshire.

(Martha Panter was born in Woolaston in about 1793.)

Children of Robert and Martha

1.    James.......baptised in 1815 Wollaston

2.    Sarah.......born about 1818, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.

3.    Sally.......baptised on 8th March 1818 Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.

4.    Thomas.......born about 1821 Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.

5.    Joseph.......baptised on 30th March 1824 Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.

In the 1841 Census Robert Bettle (50) and Martha (46) are living on High Street, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.
They have two children living with them, Thomas (20) and Joseph (15). Also staying with them is James Odell (85), not sure what his relationship, if any, is to the family?

Thomas Bettles married Martha A Allen on the 20th July 1841 in Milton Ernest, brides father is down as Thomas Allen.

(Martha was baptised on the 13th July 1823 in Milton Ernest, Parents are down as Thomas and Susannah Allen.)

Children of Thomas and Martha

1.    Ruth.......baptised on the 1st August 1848 in Milton Ernest.

In the 1851 Census Robert Bettle (62) and Martha (58) are living on Radwell Road, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.
They have one child living with them, Joseph (26).
Robert’s and Joseph’s occupation’s are both down as Labourer’s

In the 1851 Census Thomas Bettles (30) and Martha (29) are living at Pleasant Place, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.
They have one child living with them, Ruth (3).
Thomas’s profession is labourer and Martha’s profession is Lace maker.

2.    James.......baptised on the 1st June 1851 in Milton Ernest.

In the 1861 Census Robert (72) and Martha (68) are living at Almshouse, Over The Green, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.
Under occupation/disability Robert and Martha are both down as Almshouse* Occupier.

*The originally red brick Almshouses were first built in 1695 and funded by Sir Edmund Turnor of East Manor Farm. Turnor felt impelled to help the less fortunate people of Milton Ernest and provided the 6 aimshouses 
with 31 acres of land as a refuge for the aged of the village.  

In the 1861 Census Thomas (39) and Martha (38) are now living at Greens Cottages, Milton Ernest, and they have two children living with them, Ruth (13) and James (9).
Thomas’s profession is Labourer and Martha’s profession is Labourer’s Wife.  Martha’s place of birth has changed from the 1851 census and she is down as being born in Radwell, Bedfordshire?
Ruth’s profession is Lace maker and James is down as a Labourer.

Robert died in 1865 and was buried on the 5th November in Milton Ernest (3b 209 Dec. Bedford)

I came across an entry in the death register of Dec. 1868 of a Martha Bettles who died in the district of Bedford (3b 183) aged 75.

What Happened to the Children of Robert and Martha?

1.    James.......

2.    Sarah.......married Richard White on the 19th September 1838 in Milton Ernest.

In the 1851 census Sarah (33) and Richard (33) live in the village of Bletsoe, Bedfordshire. They have two children living with them Joseph (12) and James (3).
Richard and Joseph occupations are down as Ag. Labourer’s and Sarah is a Lacemaker.
Richard and the boys are down as being born in Bletsoe.

3.    Sally.......

4.    Thomas.......see below

5.    Joseph....... married Eliza Cox on the 30th May 1851 in Milton Ernest.

In the 1861 census Joseph (36) and Eliza (31) live at Greens Cottages, Milton Ernest. They have five 
children living with them, Jane (9), Sarah Ann (8), Charlotte (6), Rose Anna (3) and Mary (1). Also bordering with them is Andrew Cox.
Joseph occupation is Labourer, Eliza is Labourer’s wife and Jane, Sarah Ann and Charlotte are down as 
Lace Makers. Andrew is a Labourer in Husbandry.
All the family and Andrew are down as being born in Milton Ernest. 

In the 1871 Census Thomas (49) is living on Radwell Road, Milton Ernest, he has two children living with 
him, Ruth (23) and James (19). Also living with them is Ruth’s daughter Mercy (2).
Thomas’s profession is Agricultural Labourer as is his son James.
Ruth’s profession is Domestic Servant. Mercy is down as being born in Milton Ernest.

Martha I had thought had past away as she was not down on the above census, but I did find her as a 
patient in the Bedford General Infirmary & Fever Hospital, St. Mary’s, Bedford.

Ruth Bettles marries George Bedford on the 8th December 1874 at the parish church of Milton Ernest.

I came across an entry in the death register of Dec. 1879 of a Martha Bettles who died in the district of Bedford (3b 207) aged 57.

I could not find Thomas in the 1881 census.

I came across an entry in the death register of Dec. 1884 of a Thomas Bettles who died in the district of Bedford (3b 195) aged 62.

What Happened to the Children of Thomas and Martha?

1.    Ruth.......See above

2.    James.......in the 1881 census James (29) is staying with his sister Ruth and her family in Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire (see Bedford Family Link)

In the 1901 census. James is single and living on Kennel Ter. Brixworth, Northampton.
His Profession is Ironstone Quarryman.