My Banfield family history

The Banfield side of my tree can be traced back to 1663 to a Sir Edward Banfield. I haven’t had chance to really research as far back as this so I will start with my G G G Grandfather

Thomas Banfield, born 1813 Snodland, Kent to Marry Ann, age 23 and James Banfield age 26. Throughout his life he lived in Wrotham, Kent working as a Farm Laborer and died 18^th Oct 1881 in Wrotham. His sister in-law Matilda Silk (married to his brother William Banfield) was present at Thomas’s death. The cause of death was ‘softening of the brain, 12 months’. This was probably due to a stroke.

Thomas married Jane Brotherwood on Oct 8^th 1837 in Wateringbury, Kent. Jane was born Feb 23^rd 1820, in Tudeley, Kent. Her parents were Rebecca and Thomas Brotherwood. Jane & Thomas Banfield had a large number of children, 10 sons and only 1 daughter. Their fifth son Amos Banfield was my G G Grandfather.

1.     John Henry Banfield b.1840 Dartford, Kent, married Eliza Slade b.1838 in Sevenoaks, Kent and had 9 children, 4 sons & 6 daughters. John died in 1906.

• ·      James Banfield b. 1860, Sevenoaks, Kent
• ·      John Henry Banfield b. 1862, Sevenoaks, Kent
• ·      Frances Banfield b. 1867, Seal, Kent
• ·      Fanny Banfield b. 1870, Seal, Kent
• ·      Albert Banfield b. 1872, Seal, Kent
• ·      Ernest Banfield b. 1872, Seal, Kent
• ·      Elizabeth Banfield b. 1875, Seal, Kent
• ·      Florence Banfield b. 1878, Seal, Kent
• ·      Emma Banfield b. 1881, Seal, Kent

2.      Thomas Banfield b. 1844 Tunbridge, Kent and married Minnie L Banfield in 1896. Minnie was born in 1868, Ryde, Hampshire. In the 1911 census they were living in Albourne, Sussex. 

       They had 4 children, 2 sons & 2 daughters.

• ·      Alice Louisa Banfield b. 1897 Woodmancote, Sussex
• ·      Thomas Edwin Banfield b. 1900 Albourne, Sussex
• ·      William Banfield b. 1902 Albourne, Sussex
• ·      Ketty Banfield b. 1903 Albourne, Sussex

3.       Silas Banfield b. 1847 Wrotham, Kent and his wife Sarah Bennet b.1835 in Wrotham, Kent had      only one child, a daughter. In 1920 Silas died age 73, Malling, Kent

• ·       Alice Banfield b. 1859 Wrotham, Kent

4.        Amos Banfield b. Jan 16^th 1850 Plaxtol, Kent worked as a Domestic Servant at Ducks Farm during 1860’s, and later as an Insurance Agent and was married twice. His first wife, Sarah Ann Fuller who he married January 16^th 1869 at St James Church, Surrey died age 38 in 1877. I believe she died giving birth to their sixth child Charles Banfield. Amos remarried May 18^th 1878 at St Peters Church, Limpsfield to Jane Wood b. 30^th Oct 1860 Limpsfield. They had 6 children together. There is a photo of Jane along with the children taken in what I think was 1887. She doesn’t look at all happy to have had 5 children and one on the way at the age of 27. On the back of the photo my Great Grandfather Albert Banfield has written ‘poor mum’. Amos died 22^nd April 1924 of a blood clot due to an earlier stroke 7 days before. He had been suffering from chronic asthma for several years. He died at home, Jubilee Cottage, Station Road, Oxted. His son Ernest was the informant. Jane lived in the same cottage until she was 83 when she died on 12^th March 1944 in Surrey. Jane’s granddaughter E A Banfield was the informant.

Amos Banfield

Amos & Sarah Ann Fuller’s children

• ·      William Thomas Banfield b. 1869, Westerham, Kent
• ·      Mary Jane Banfield b. April 1871, Limpsfield, d. May 1942, Caterham, Surrey
• ·      Rose Anna Banfield b. 1872, Moorhouse, Kent, d. 1956, New Jersey, USA
• ·      George Robert Banfield b. Dec 1873, Limpsfield, d. May 1956, San Mateo, USA
• ·      Harry Banfield b. 1876 Limpsfield, d. 25^th Dec 1944, Acton, Middlesex
• ·      Charles James Banfield b. June 1877, Godstone, d. 22^nd Nov 1956, Buckingham

Amos & Jane Brotherwood’s children

• ·         Alice Banfield b. 23^rd April 1880, Moorhouse, d. 3^rd April 1922, Ontario, Canada
•        Albert Banfield b. 16^th Nov 1881 Limpsfield, d. 22^nd Oct 1918, Haslar, Gosport
•       Ellen Banfield b. Oct 1882 Godstone, Surrey,  d. ?
•       Emily Banfield b. 1885 Westerham, d. ?
•       Frederick Banfield b. Jan 1887 Limpsfield, d. 1935, Surrey
•       Ernest Edgar Banfield b. 4^th Sept 1898 Oxted, Surrey, d. 1982, Surrey

Charles 10, Alice 8, Harry 11, Emily 2, Albert 6, Ellen 4 & Jane 29

5.       David Banfield b. 1853 Plaxtol, Kent and in 1880 married Ellen Louisa Maynard b. 1860 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. They lived in Downe, Ightham and Wrotham in Kent. They had 5 children, 2 sons and 3 daughters

• ·      Ellen E Banfield b. 1881 in Downe, Kent
• ·      Frederick Banfield b. 1883 in Trotterscliffe, Kent
• ·      Rose Banfield b. 1886 in Trotterscliffe, Kent
• ·      William Banfield b. 1890 in Trotterscliffe, Kent
• ·      Ivy Mary Banfield b. 1899 in Borough Green, Kent

6.      Alfred Banfield b. 1856 Plaxtol, Kent and lived in Wrotham all his life. He married Eliza Amy Diprose b. 1858 Hadlow, Kent and had two sons

• ·      George Alfred Banfield b. Sep 1877 Wrotham
• ·      Herbert T Banfield b. 1881 Shipbourne, Kent

7.      Eliza Banfield b. 1859 Plaxtol, Kent and married Herbert Peter Austen in 1881

8.      Frederick William Banfield b. 1861 Wrotham and he was Christened on 4^th June 1861 in Plaxtol. He worked as a Barman & a Barber. He died July 1895 in Hackney, Middlesex.

9.      Robert Banfield b. April 1864 and he married Mary Elizabeth Brigden on 17^th Oct 1885. In 1911 they were living in Orpington, Kent. Robert died June 1922 in Bromley, Kent. They had 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters

•      Emily Eliza Banfield b. 1886 in Orpington
• ·      Frederick Robert Banfield b. 1897 in Orpington
• ·      Charles Edward Banfield b. 1898 in Orpington
• ·      Violet Doris May Banfield b. 1904 in Orpington

10.     Phillip Banfield b. 1867 in Wrotham and baptized 30^th June 1867 in Plaxtol, Kent. His mother was at the grand old age of 47 and Thomas was 54! He married Clara Ball July 1899 in Salisbury. They had a daughter who sadly died aged 3, 

•     Dorothy Gwendoline C Banfield 1900 b.Tooting d.1903 Lambeth.

Amos's children in more details.

Rose Anna Banfield b.1872 married George Henry Ship b. 27^th June 1872 in Croydon, Surrey. I have a record of George employed by UK Rail in 1891. They were married on 12^th January 1898 at St Matthews Church, Croydon. They emigrated to New York via Southampton, on 12^th September 1909. A month earlier George was a witness for my great grandparents wedding (Albert & Edith Banfield) on August 2^nd 1909, Edenbridge. There was a family wedding photo taken on the day but I’m not sure which one is George & Rose Anna Shipp. The departure and arrival records show Rose’s brother George Robb Banfield was listed as whom they were going to live with in New Jersey, 1905. Then on their next trip back to the United States Rose’s father Amos Banfield was listed as their contact in England in 1909. They settled in South Orange, Essex, New Jersey and I have records of them living there up until 1940. They only had one son, Arnold George Shipp b. 26^th July 1900 in Addlestone, Surrey. Arnold married Flora Dini Olsen in 1924, Brooklyn, NY. Whilst searching through my great Aunt Florrie Hayter’s family photos, I found an invitation for Arnold & Flora’s wedding. In 1924 Rose’s brother Albert Banfield (my great grandfather) had died but they must have stayed in touch with Edith or it was sent to his mother Jane Banfield and was kept safe after she died and passed along with the family photos.

1924 Wedding invitation, Ship & Olsen

Flora Dini Olsen b. 20^th August 1903 in Kings, New York. And was the daughter of Thrygos B F Olsen & Lillian Olsen from Norway. Arnold died May 1964 in New Jersey and Flora died 1968 in New Jersey. They had 2 children.

• Jack John W Shipp b. 18^th June 1932 in New Jersey, lived in Pennsylvania & died 18^th Dec 2011

• Gail Ship b. 1935 in Maplewood, Essex, New Jersey.

Albert Banfield

Albert Banfield (b.1881) My Great Grandfather was the fifth child of Amos and Jane. On 12^th November 1900 aged 18 ½ he joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry. His register number was 11098 and his division was Portsmouth. According to his RM records he was 5ft 5 ½, brown hair and blue eyed. He served on many Navel ships;

HMS Duke of Wellington 1901,

HMS Gladiator 1905,

HMS Latona 1906,

HMS Drake 1907,

HMS Victory 1907,

HMS Bonnentire 1910

HMS Arrogant 1914.

On August 2^nd 1909 he married a beautiful young girl, Edith Annie Rumsby of Greybury Lane, Marsh Green, Edenbridge. She was the daughter of the late William Rumsby a Boot maker and Emily Rumsby of Marsh Green. I have a newspaper clipping that gives a detailed account of their wedding day.

Albert & Edith on their wedding day

Her sister Alice Sarah Rumsby was a witnesses and Albert’s brother-in-law George Henry Shipp was the other.

According to the 1911 census Albert & Edith were living at 33 Curtis Terrace, Landport, Portsmouth. They had a happy marriage and that same year their first child was born. Albert went to war in Germany and was awarded 3 medals, ‘The Great War for Civilization’ 1914-1918, ‘War Medal’ and ‘Bronze Star’ 1914-1915.  During his service they moved to 8 Cottage Grove, Gosport and had two more children. My Grandmother was born in January 1917 and according to his service record dates I’m not sure he had a chance to meet baby Audrey. He sadly died on 22^nd October 1918 of Influenza epidemic he caught from the trenches in Germany. He was only 36 years old and is buried at Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery in Gosport.

Albert's Gravestone

 Edith was paid a war gratuity of £24.10 on 23^rd March 1920. She is now widowed and was left to raise three children.      

•  Albert (Bert) William Banfield b. 16^th Oct 1911 Portsmouth, Hants
•  Marjorie Alice Banfield b. 24^th April 1914 Alverstoke, Gosport
•  Audrey Joan Banfield b. 15^th January 1917 Alverstoke, Gosport

Banfield's 1918

4 years later whilst Edith was working she met and married James Roy Hayter, a bachelor and Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy. Edith and James had 2 children

•  Florence Edith Hayter b. 25^th Oct 1922 Alverstoke
•  Percy Roy Hayter b. 26^th Jan 1927 Alverstoke

Banfield - Hayter 1929

They all lived together at 8 Cottage Grove along with Edith’s three other children. When Bert (Albert Jnr) was 12 years old he was sent to Royal Navy School in Greenwich. Early life was hard for Bert and he was a shy sensitive boy who ran away twice but was always sent back. After RN school he joined the Royal Marines then met and married Ruby Ethel Dorey September 1933 in Gosport. As the years passed on both Marjory and Joan married. Florrie went into the Wrens and Roy (Percy) joined the Police Force. 

Edith’s health started to deteriorate and was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. James, Florrie and Audrey nursed her for many years but she died 10^th September 1964 and is buried at Ann’s Hill Cemetery in Gosport on 15^th September.

James Hayter carried on living with his daughter Florrie at 8 Cottage Grove and bought number 3 Cottage Grove, where my Grandmother Audrey and her two sons lived for a few years. James attended my parents wedding in August 1969 and my father thought of him as a grandfather. James died on 18^th June 1976 and is buried with Edith at Ann’s Hill Cemetery, Gosport.

Albert & Ruby's wedding

Albert Jnr Banfield (1911) married Ruby Dorey in 1933 and had two children. Albert died March 1980 and Ruby died 9^th Dec 2005.

   ·      Raymond Anthony Banfield b. 1^st Apr 1940

   ·      Rosetta Banfield b. 23^rd April 1936, Gosport

Raymond (my fathers cousin) married Celia Williams in 1962 and they have 3 daughters and live in Plymouth 

           ·      Tania S Banfield b. 1964 Plymouth

      ·      Amanda Jane Banfield b. 1968 Plymouth

      ·      Melanie Banfield b. 1972 Plymouth

          Rosetta (my fathers cousin) married Douglas Clarke in 1955, Gosport and have 3 sons, they live in Gosport and Rosetta also shares a great interest in the family tree. She has even written a book on her family tree and this has been a huge help with personal stories and tales.

·      Stephen Paul Clarke b. 1958 Gosport

·      Darren Anthony Clarke b. 1961 Gosport

·      Barry Scott Clarke b.1967 Gosport

Bert & Ruby's Wedding

Ernie & Marjorie's Wedding

Dougie & Rosetta's Wedding

Marjorie A Banfield (1914) married Ernest E Chaplin in 1945, Gosport. She died 10^th July 1996 in Ipswich, Suffolk. They have two daughters

• ·      Sandra E Chaplin b. September 1946, Ipswich
• ·      Linda E Chaplin b. 6^th June 1949, Ipswich

1. Sandra Chaplin married Alan R Grant in 1969.

2. Linda Chaplin married David G Ashford in 1971, have two daughters and one son.

•          Hayley Dawn Ashford b. 1971 Ipswich
•          Matthew Ashford b. 4th Nov 1985 Ipswich
•          Daniella Ashford b. 1988 Ipswich

Audrey at 21 years old

Audrey in 1987

Audrey Joan Banfield b. 15^th January 1917 Portsmouth. My Grandmother grew up in Gosport and at 20 years old moved to Curry Rivel, Somerset with her employer Dr Glover. She worked for the Glover family for most of her working life. It is in Somerset that she met Donald Leonard Gullidge, who she married on her 22^nd Birthday and 7 months pregnant! They married in Forton, Gosport and Audrey is listed as living at 129 Forton Road. Her mother Edith Hayter was a witness and someone called G.Paxton too. Sadly there aren’t any photos of this event, either they never took any due to her pregnancy or my grandmother destroyed them? Eric was born March 28^th in Curry Rivel, Somerset in the home of Tom and Min Grinter, they were Donald’s Aunt and Uncle. Eric has said he has no memory of his father ever being around growing up. I assume shortly after Eric was born Donald left Audrey. I do know that in 1945 Donald fathered a child with Rose Evelyn Sargent and five months later conceived my father with Audrey. Rose’s son Donian was born 13^th March 1946 and my father John William Gullidge was born 2^nd August 1946 in Curry Rivel. Shocking eh! Especially back then. Plus he was still married to Audrey and was until 1978 when he divorced her! By then Rose had changed her name through Deed poll, they went on to have 4 sons. I have a letter my grandmother wrote to my father in 1968 And even then Donald was stringing her along and making promises about getting a house together. My grandmother was a lovely lady who took good care of me growing up. She was an old fashioned lady who lived the rest of her life in Gosport, never complaining or wanting for much out of life. She raised her two sons all by herself and worked hard. She was going def towards the end of her life so that made communicating with her sometimes a struggle. She spent the last 5 years of her life living at North Cott House in Gosport. For her 90^th Birthday all the family came to visit and celebrate this special birthday. During her last couple of years I was working abroad on a Cruise ship so most of my visits to see her were also a final goodbye because I never knew if she would still be there when I came home. She passed peacefully of old age (pretty rare nowadays) 5^th October 2009, Gosport. She was 92 years old. After her funeral service her ashes were scatted in the rose garden at Portchester Crematoria along side her daughter in-law Joyce Gullidge, Eric’s wife. Audrey became a Great Great Grandmother by the time she passed. Her son Eric paid for a bench in honor of Audrey at her favorite spot over looking Portsmouth from the Gosport Ferry side. I remember going there with her on a few occasions, as she would always say she would ‘walk there and bus back’.

three generations, Edith, Joan, Eric & John

• Eric Leonard Gullidge b. 28^th March 1939 in Curry Rivel, Somerset
•  John William Gullidge b. 2^nd August 1946 in Curry Rivel, Somerset

Florence Edith Hayter (1922) lived at 8 Cottage Grove, Gosport her entire life. She was born in the house and sadly died there in 2012. Known to everyone as Florrie, she joined the Wrens and later worked at the Gosport Police Station. She retired from there and enjoyed traveling across the globe and visiting friends in America. She took great pride and care of her garden and looked after her parents allotment until the land was sold in the early 2000’s. She never updated the family home and our visits during the winter months were always very cold. She only had one electric heater in the entire house. Florrie was described as the family kingpin and what Flo said, went! This was true with her parents too. Her brother Roy was married the same day as Florrie’s good friends Gordon and Dorris Ritter. Florrie was a bridesmaid to Dorris and so didn’t go to her own brothers wedding, this caused a huge fuss! Although she was my grandmothers half sister they were like chalk and cheese. They got on fine but I only think that’s because Florrie bullied my Grandmother and she was happy to go along with it all. I always enjoyed visiting Florrie and have lots of fund memories with her. She always spoke very fondly of my father so I always enjoyed hearing that. Just after I passed my driving test she told me to come down and take her out. She always drove a mini cooper and at one point was offered a huge amount of money for her collectable mini. She drove until the last year of her life I believe. So I picked her up and she directed me to Haslar Cemetery. She wanted to show me my Great grandfathers grave, Albert Banfield. I thought that was very kind of her to do so, seeing as it wasn’t her father. She helped me get my start with the Banfield & Rumsby family tree. Florrie battled Breast Cancer once and went on to live a very healthy active life. Swimming at least twice a week and her garden kept her very happy. I believe if she hadn’t had cancer again she would of lived at least another 10 years. Sadly she deteriorated over a year and I last spoke to her in February 2012, she was unable to speak due to her illness but she was able to say a few words. I asked her to promise me to be there when I arrived home April 1^st, she agreed but unfortunately didn’t hold up her end of the bargin. I arrived home on the 1^st and I was told she had finally given into the hospice idea so I thought I’d wait to go see her there. I believe Florrie was very much in control of her own death and oddly that morning when the ambulance arrived to pick her up she died there and then. She was a very strong-minded lady and got what she had wished for, to die in the house she was born in. I know from her niece Jackie (my dad’s cousin) Florrie was looking forward to celebrating her 90^th Birthday but as Jackie said she at least reached her 90^th year. I was disappointed I didn’t get to see her one last time but apparently she had lost a lot of weight and I should remember her the way I do. Jackie being her closest relative took great care of her for many years but the last ones where the hardest I was told. I can’t thank you enough Jackie for making her comfortable in her last months.

Florrie with her great great nephew Finley Winter & Emma Winter and Me

Florrie sitting on the bench dedicated to her sister Audrey Gullidge

Percy Roy Hayter (b.1927) lived in Gosport all his life and married Mabel E Cook b. 24^th December 1926 in Gosport. Roy worked as a Policemen and in June 1950 welcomed their one and only child Jaquelyn, known as Jackie. Sadly Roy died 11^th June 1993 and Mabel died 19^th October 2008. I have lovely memories of Mabel growing up and she would always send my Mum money for all of us at Christmas.

• ·      Jacquelyn Kay Hayter b. June 1950 in Gosport

Florrie & Roy Hayter

Roy Hayter

Jackie married Michael Hughes and they have one son, Robert Hughes. Robert is married and has two boys. They all live in Gosport. Jackie has been a great help with the Banfield/Hayter/Rumsby family tree over the years, sharing lots of photos and marriage certificates that her mother Mabel and her had collected.