In 1841, John Bennetts (35), carpenter, and wife Elizabeth (25) were living in Treswithan, Camborne. Present were children: Elizabeth (7), Cathrine (2), Maryann (2m)
In 1851, John Bennetts (45) of Illogan, carpenter, and wife Elizabeth (39) of Camborne, grocer, were living in Camborne. Present were children (born in Camborne): Elizabeth (17), Catharine (12), scholar, John (7), scholar, Jane (4), scholar, William (2), Emma (9m)
In 1861 John Bennett (55) of Camborne [sic], carpenter, and wife Elizabeth (49) of Camborne, were living in Treswithian, Camborne. Present were children (born in Camborne): Catherine (22), shop assistant, Mary A. (20), shop assistant, John (17), carpenter, Jane (14), scholar, William (12), printer, Samuel (8), scholar
In 1871, John Bennetts (65) of Illogan, master carpenter employing 2 men & 2 boys, and wife Elizabeth (59) of Camborne, were living in Treswithan Village, Camborne. Present were children: Mary A. (28), Jane (23), Samuel (18), granddaughter Sarah C. (10) of Camborne
In 1881, John Bennetts (75) of Camborne, carpenter, and wife Elizth. (69) of Camborne, were living in Treswithian, Camborne. Present was son Samuel (28), carpenter
In 1891, John Bennetts (85) of Illogan, builder & grocer, widower, was living in Treswithian, Camborne. Present were son Samuel (38), builder & grocer, his wife Mary A. (32) of Sithney, their daughter Cathrine Bennetts (1) of Camborn.
In 1901 John Bennetts (95) of Illogan, retired carpenter, widower, was living in Treswithian, Camborne, Cornwall. With him were son Samuel Bennetts (46) of Camborne, carpenter, his wife Mary Ann (41) of Helston, grocer, and their daughter Kate (11) of Camborne.
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John Bennetts died aged 99 years. 3
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John Bennetts of Treswithian Camborne Cornwall, carpenter, died 3 May 1905. Probate Bodmin 15 June to Samuel Bennetts, carpenter. Effects £204 10s. 4
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BENNETTS.—At Treswithian, Camborne, May 3, John Bennetts, aged 99.
Mr. John Bennetts, of Treswithian, Camborne's oldest parishioner, died on Wednesday morning after a very brief illness. The deceased celebrated the ninety-ninth year of his age last March, and down to a few days ago enjoyed extraordinary health. He shaved himself daily, was an active worker, and frequently enjoyed good spells of walking exercise.
Cornubian and Redruth Times, 13 May 1905, pp. 5, 7
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Camborne Wesleyan Quarterly Meeting
There was a good attendance at the Wesleyan Quarterly meeting, held at Tuckingmill, on Wednesday evening.... A tribute was paid to the memory of Mr. John Bennetts, of Treswithian, who so efficiently filled the offices of leader, steward, and trustee of Treswithian. Mr. Bennetts was 99 years of age at the time of his decease. A letter of sympathy is to be sent to his bereaved family and a suitable record entered in the circuit memorial book....
Cornishman, 29 June 1905, p. 7
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John BENNETTS the ‘almost ‘ centenarian.
The average age of death for a Camborne/Redruth miner in the 1840s was 29 and underground workers rarely reached or worked beyond the age of 40. John BENNETTS‘ extremely long life was the exception. John typifies men from the previous (18th) century who worked mostly on the land before the lure of regular employment drew them to towns in the 19th century - in the case of Camborne to work underground or in factories supplying the mines. When John married Elizabeth HEWETT [sic] at the Parish Church in Camborne, the registers show that he was a farmer at Treswithian. By they time their first child Elizabeth was born in 1834 they chose the brand new Wesleyan Chapel on Chapel Street Camborne for Elizabeth’s baptism. The chapel was built on land donated by the Vyvyan family and the imposing granite façade was paid for by the Pendarves family. It would have been a hugely popular, modern, majestic, Methodist venue. The censuses over the next decades described him as a carpenter, a carpenter and builder employing men and after Elizabeth’s death, carpenter and grocer (she always had her own grocer’s shop). The 1800s effectively ended multiple occupations. By not putting all his eggs in the single occupation (mining) basket, he undoubtedly extended his life. At his death, his youngest son Samuel inherited the family carpentry/building business and Samuel’s wife kept the grocery shop going at Treswithian… 5
Orthographic variation: BENNETT