Benjamin was probably born in 1767. His parents are not known. He is Stephanie's 4x great grandfather.

He married Martha Harrup (1776–1864)★ on 12 Oct, 1801 at St. Edward's Church in Shalstone, Buckinghamshire, England^a1 . They had five children:–

• Lydia★ baptised on 3 Jun, 1804 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone^a2. Married Thomas Tew★ on 23 Sep, 1824 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone^a3. Died in 1826 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone at the age of twenty-two.
• William died in infancy. Baptised on 10 Nov, 1805 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone^a4 and buried on 20 Nov, 1805^a5.
• Susanna died in infancy. Baptised on 31 May, 1807 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone^a6 and buried on 31 May, 1807^a7.
• Benjamin baptised on 12 May, 1811 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone^b1. Married Martha Geaten on 4 Apr, 1831 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone^a8. Buried on 10 Feb, 1899 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone^a9.
• William baptised on 26 Dec, 1819 at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone^b2. Died in 1900 at The Union Workhouse in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England at the age of eighty-one.

By the time of the 1851 census he was living in the parish of Shalstone in Buckinghamshire, England^c1 with his wife Martha and son William, an agricultural labourer.

Benjamin died at the age of ninety-two on 29 Oct, 1859 in Shalstone^d1. His death was attributed to "old age"^d1.

He was buried three days later in Shalstone^a10 He was survived by his wife Martha.

Timeline

1767

Probably born around this time.

1801

12 Oct

Married Martha Harrup★ at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone, Buckinghamshire, England.^a1
Recorded as residing in Shalstone, Buckinghamshire, England.

1804

3 Jun

Daughter, Lydia Fetters/Fletcher (1804–1826)★, baptised at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone.^a2

1805

10 Nov

Son, William Fetters/Fletcher (1805–1805), baptised at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone.^a4

20 Nov

Son, William Fetters/Fletcher (1805–1805), buried at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone.^a5

1807

31 May

Daughter, Susanna Fetters/Fletcher (1807–1807), baptised at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone.^a6
Daughter, Susanna Fetters/Fletcher (1807–1807), buried at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone.^a7

1811

12 May

Son, Benjamin Fetters/Fletcher (1811–1899), baptised at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone.^b1

1819

26 Dec

Son, William Fetters/Fletcher (1819–1900), baptised at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone.^b2
Recorded as residing in Shalstone.^b2
Occupation recorded as labourer.^b2

1826

Daughter, Lydia, died at St. Edward's Church, Shalstone.

1851

30 Mar

Recorded in the 1851 census in Shalstone.^c1
Economic status recorded as Pauper.^c1

1859

29 Oct

Died at the age of ninety-two in Shalstone. The informant was his wife Martha.^d1
Occupation recorded as agricultural labourer.^d1

1 Nov

Buried in Shalstone.^a10
Recorded as residing in Shalstone.^a10

1864

15 Dec

Occupation recorded as farm labourer.^d2

Facts

Research Notes

Why did Benjamin change his name? #

Benjamin was born Benjamin Fetters, probably around 1767, possibly in Shalstone, although we have been unable to find his baptism entry. In the early 1800s he and his family were sometimes known by the name Fletcher and by the 1850s the name Fetters had been abandoned entirely. However it wasn’t an overnight change. For many years members of the family were known alternately as Fetters or Fletcher.

Here’s a timeline showing the name change

• 1795 Baptism of John, son of John and Elizabeth Fetters (unknown connection in Shalstone to Benjamin)
• 1798 Marriage of William Farns[or Barns] and Eliabeth Fetters (unknown connection)
• 1801 Marriage of Benjamin Fetters and Martha Arrup
• 1804 Baptism of Benjamin’s daughter Lydia Fletcher
• 1805 Baptism and burial of Benjamin’s son William Fetters
• 1807 Baptism and burial of Benjamin’s daughter Susanna Fetters
• 1809 Burial of Mary Fetters (unknown connection)
• 1809 Marriage of Thomas Chirry [or Chiny], of Water Stratford, and Lydia Harrop, witness Benjamin Fletcher
• 1811 Baptism of Benjamin’s son Benjamin Fetters
• 1812 Burial of John Fetters (unknown connection)
• 1819 Baptism of Benjamin’s son William Fetters
• 1824 Marriage of Benjamin’s daughter Lydia Fetters to Thomas Tew
• 1831 Marriage of Benjamin (jnr) Fletcher to Martha Geaten
• 1841 Census entry for Benjamin Fetters and family
• 1851 Census entry for Benjamin Fetters and family
• 1859 Death and Burial of Benjamin Fletcher
• 1861 Census entry for Benjamin (jnr) Fletcher and family
• 1861 Census entry for William Fletcher and family
• 1864 Death of Benjamin’s wife Martha, recorded as Martha Fetters by the informant in the Union Workhouse in Buckingham
• 1864 Burial of Martha Fletcher in Shalstone
• 1871 Census entry for Benjamin (jnr) Fletcher and family
• 1871 Census entry for William Fletcher and family

There are no mentions of Fetters after 1864

(see diary entry for 2 Apr 2023)