Tenth Generation

254. Abraham Benjamin BLABER^{346,694,2059,2062} was born on 1 May 1845 in Bangalore, India.^{694,736,2081,2082,2083,2084,2085,2086,2087,2088} He was christened on 20 May 1845 at St Mark's Church in Bangalore, India.^736,2088 Abraham was baptised by W W LUTYENS MA, Joint Chaplain. His baptism was witnessed by his sponsors: G STOREY, Mary Ann MOREHOUSE, Mary ROBINS and Abraham COLLIER. He lived at 2 Earl Street in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England in 1861.⁷²² In 1863 Abraham was a Waiter.²⁰⁸⁹ He served in the Army from 31 August 1863 to 9 September 1884.^118,2087 His Attestation was on 31 August 1863 in Nottingham when he joined the 20th Regiment of Foot and signed on for a term of 10 years. He had previously served for 8 months in the Notts Militia. Benjamin served until 31 July 1873, but was re-engaged in Mauritius for a total service of 21 years on 19th August 1870. He joined the Army Reserve, and served in the Nottingham District from 1st August 1873 to 30th September 1877, and then in the Leicester District from 1st October 1877 to 19th April 1878. On 20th April 1878 he was recalled to Active Army Service until 31st July 1878, and then returned to the Leicester and District reserves from 1st August 1878 to 31st December 1881 and then transferred to the Derby District from 1st January 1882 to 7 June 1884, and finally then to the Warrington District Army Reserves. At the Regimental Board hearing on his discharge he was described as of good conduct, in possession of three Good Conduct Badges. His name did appear four times in the Regimental Defaulters Book, but had never been tried by Court Martial. Benjamin served in South Africa for 3 years 9 months and Mauritius for 1 year 6 months. His discharge was approved at York on 9th September 1884.
Between 1881 and 1919 he was a House Painter.^{696,2090,2091,2092,2093,2094} Abraham lived at 3 Tuns Yard in Radford, Nottingham, England in 1881.³²⁴ He was described as of fresh complexion; 5'-8" tall; blue eyes; brown hair; a tattooed ring on the middle finger of his right hand on 9 August 1884.²⁰⁸⁷ He lived at back of 55 Denman Street in Leicester, Leicestershire, England in 1901.²⁰⁹¹ Abraham lived at back of 53 Denman Street in Leicester, Leicestershire, England in 1911–1912.^2093,2095 It is likely that the 1901 Census address of 'back of 55 Denman Street' and the 1911 Census address of 'back of 53 Denman Street' are the same. In the 1912 Electoral Roll the address is given as '1 Yard Denman Street' and is between 51 and 57 Denman Street.
At the 1911 Census, Catherine (Kathrian - sic) COOPER (Widow, 56) and her 17 year old daughter Mirinez (sic) COOPER were 'lodging' with Benjamin. The writing is very difficult to decipher (Benjamin's own handwriting and spelling).
He died circa January 1939 at the age of 93 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England.²⁰⁹⁶ He was also known as Benjamin Blaber.²⁰⁹⁶ He often only used his middle name, Benjamin.

Abraham Benjamin BLABER and Mary Ann SMITH were married on 28 November 1864 in St Paul's Church, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.¹¹⁸ They¹¹⁸ were divorced before 1877. As Benjamin married Elizabeth Hunt on 9 August 1877, his marriage to Mary Ann must have been annulled or they were divorced as she was still alive at his second marriage.
Mary Ann SMITH, daughter of SMITH, was born about 1848 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.¹¹⁸ In 1891 she was a Lace Clipper.²⁰⁹⁷ She lived at 8 Victoria Place in Sneinton, Nottingham, England in 1891.²⁰⁹⁷ At the 1891 Census, she was the 'Head' of the family. Living with her were her daughter Annie (Blaber) Hartshorn and her husband, and Mary's two brothers, Frederick and George. Mary lived at 34 Lower Elson Street in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England in 1901.²⁰⁹⁸ At the 1901 census, Mary Ann is living with her daughter and son-in-law, John and Annie Hartshorne, possibly so they could look after her in her failing health. She died on 12 August 1901 at the age of 53 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.^118,2099

Abraham Benjamin BLABER-1524 and Mary Ann SMITH-8189 had the following children:

Abraham Benjamin BLABER and Catherine POLLARD were married on 17 June 1919 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England.²⁰⁹⁴ Their marriage was witnessed by L D CARR and A FRISBY.
They²⁰⁹⁴ lived at 1 Back of 55 Denman Street in Leicester, Leicestershire, England in 1919–1920.^2094,2100 On the 1920 Electoral Roll, their address is given as: 1 Yard, Denman Street, and is between 53 and 55 Denman Street.
Catherine POLLARD, daughter of Henry POLLARD, was born circa 1855 in Farndon, Hampshire, England.²¹⁰¹ She lived at 1 Back of 53 Denman Street in Leicester, Leicestershire, England in 1911.²⁰⁹³ At the 1911 Census, Catherine and her daughter were lodgers at the home of Benjamin BLABER, who was later to marry Catherine.
She died in 1931 at the age of 76 in Billesdon, Leicestershire, England.²¹⁰² On the GRO Records, at death her age was listed as 78.
Catherine was also known as Kate or Katherine.²¹⁰² On the GRO Records, at death her age was listed as 78.

Abraham Benjamin BLABER and Elizabeth HUNT were married on 9 August 1877 in Newark Parish Church, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England.^118,2103 They^118,2103 lived at 4 Mugginstone's Yard in Radford, Nottingham, England in 1884.²⁰⁸⁷ They²⁰⁸⁷ lived at 9 Pleasant Place in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England in 1891.²⁰⁹² At the 1891 Census, they also had a George SMITH (78, born Costock Nottinghamshire, Hawker) lodging with them.
Elizabeth HUNT^118,696 was born about 1850 in Newark, Nottinghamshire, England.^{324,696,2104,2105} She lived at 3 Tuns Yard in Radford, Nottingham, England in 1881.³²⁴ In 1891 she was a Charwoman.^2062,2092 Elizabeth lived at back of 55 Denman Street in Leicester, Leicestershire, England on 31 March 1901.²⁰⁹¹ She died on 22 September 1901 at the age of 51 at Leicester General Infirmary in Leicester, Leicestershire, England.^118,2106 She died in the Leicester General Infirmary.