Henry Behenna (abt. 1821)

Born about 1821 in Bath, Somerset, England

Descendants

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Biography

Born in Bath, Somerset. He could possibly be another son of a James Behanna/Bahanna who with his wife Grace or Ann is recorded as giving birth to what might be an older brother Joseph in either 1808^[1] or 1812^[2] This possible brother was born at Walcot at "'Vineyard Countess of Huntingdon's", Bath, Somerset. The "Vineyard" actually refers to Countess Of Huntingdon's Chapel in the Vineyards. "The Vineyards is a section of The Paragon, a road between George Street and London Street, Walcot, Bath" ^[3]

Henry served in the Royal Artillery and appears to have served for a time in Canada which may explain why he had one daughter born there in 1848 and a son James in 1846. ^[4]

In 1851 Henry was living in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England, age 30, a Corporal Artillery. Other members of his household at the time were:

• Margaret Behenna Wife F 34 Ireland
• R Behenna Daughter F 3 Canada
• Behenna Son M 1 Tynemouth, Northumberland^[5]

1st of April 1860 he was promoted from Sergeant-Major to Quartermaster^[6]

The 1861 census lists him as a 40 year old "Launtree Master", his thirty five year old wife Margaret (born in Ireland) and children:

• James Behenna Son M 13 Canada
• Joseph Behenna Son M 11 ..., Northumberland
• Lucy A Behenna Daughter F 9 ..., Northumberland
• William H Behenna Son M 5 ..., Northumberland
• Ellen B Behenna Daughter F 3 Woolwich, Kent
• Kate A Behenna Daughter F 1 Plumstead, Kent

1 September 1870 he retired as a quartermaster of the Royal Artillery, on half pay, to be captain, the rank being only honory^[7]

In the 1871 census he is listed as a retired R.A. Captain, age 49 with his wife Margaret (43, born King County, Ireland) and children:

• Joseph Behenna Son M 21 Tynemouth, Northumberland
• Lucy A Behenna Daughter F 19 Tynemouth, Northumberland
• William H Behenna Son M 15 Woolwich, Kent
• Ellen B Behenna Daughter F 13 Woolwich, Kent
• Kate A Behenna Daughter F 11 Woolwich, Kent
• Harry C Behenna Son M 8 Woolwich, Kent ^[8]

When his son Harry or Harold married a second time in 1913 his mother was listed as Margaret Kinny. This would therefore appear to have been Henry's wife's maiden name ^[9]

When his daughter Lucy Ann married Charles Whistler Henry was, as father of the bride, listed as "Capt Royal Artillery"^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYBZ-3L7 : 30 December 2014), Joseph Bahanna, 25 Aug 1808; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 0825375 (RG4 1416).
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWDD-FJK : 30 December 2014), Joseph Behanna, 30 Apr 1812; citing WALCOT VINEYARD COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDONS,BATH,SOMERSET,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 0825375 (RG4 1416).
3. ↑ Rootsweb discussion re Walcot vineyard [1]
4. ↑ "List of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery from the Year 1716 to ..." by John Kane, William Harrison Askwith, Published 1900 [2]
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGXQ-11F : 24 July 2016), Henry Behenna, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England; citing Tynemouth, Northumberland, England, p. 29, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
6. ↑ London Gazette April 17 1860 [3]
7. ↑ Edinburgh Gazette 6 Spetember 1870 [4]
8. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB6L-5CF : 24 July 2015), Henry Behenna, 1871.
9. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2431-J5D : 20 March 2015), Henry Behenna in entry for Harold Behenna and Mary Margaret O Gorman, 26 Nov 1913; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,613,905.
10. ↑ Rootsweb page for Lucy Ann Behenna [5]