Hi Tom,
Whilst researching my family tree i came accross your posts on Rootschat.
I am fairly certain your "John Bennett" is my great grandfather "John Manley" son of John Manley the surgeon who was trained in Paris. Brother of Frederick Augustus. My grandfather was also called "John Manley" he was Lavinia and Johns second child.
Your correspondents on rootschat did a sterling job.
John Manley who you know as John Bennett died on 15th August 1908 at 6 The Terrace Camden Square,London. His brother Frederick was with him. He died of Aortic Regurgitation Syncope certified by A Brown MD.
I was struggling to fill in the gap years between 1887 when John left Lavinia and his death in 1908.
The judicial seperation occurred in 1885. That left John penniless. He and Lavinia rekindled their relationship and they got back together shortly after the case. By 1887 Johns health had failed him and he was very ill ; he lost his job. They were destitute with six children in a two bed flat a mattress one table and two chairs. They had lost their servants and sold all their clothes and had only blankets to wrap themselves in. Theres more lots more. Bottom line is John leaves Lavinia and moves to Sevenoaks in Kent where he was arrested for desertion.This was late 1887 i believe. After this he disappears until he turns up in Leeds with Jessie. Herbert was bornJuly 1889 and sister Doris Jan 1992 in Leeds.
I am working on Lavinias history now . She lied about her age. She was a lot older than John. Some indications are that she was born in 1846 to Joseph Clare. That would make her 23 when she married John. The birth certificate that i obtained gives her birth as July 18th 1838 and her father a William Clare. Am investigating this.
I hope this helps you as your chat has helped me.
Kind Regards
PM.
