Richard, born 1st August 1868 at the Lying-in Hospital, Wexford Town, was the eldest of four children. His parents were Thomas and Bridget (nee Curren), who were married on 1st August 1867 in the RC. Parish Church, Wexford Town. The marriage was witnessed by William Byrne and Mary Conway. Thomas was a coachman in service. Bridget, five years his senior, worked in service before marriage. At birth, Richard’s sponsors were James Devereaux and Catherine Scallan. Richard’s two sisters, Mary and Margaret, died in early childhood. A brother, David, was born in 1870.

The family lived in Hill Street, Wexford Town, and later in Strandfield, St. Iberius Parish, and Richard was educated by the Christian Brothers. He sat the intermediate exam, junior grade, in 1882 when he was 13. The father, Thomas Bennett, died from erysipelas in 1887 - aged 42, and about this time, Richard enlisted in the RIC. He was then aged 19 years. Richard's brother, David, was still living at home with his mother, Bridget, in Hill St. in 1901. Then Bridget died from ' an ulcer of the stomach ' in 1906. The 1911 census shows that David married Mary Brennan, of the town, the following year. He was now 41yrs and employed as a Corporation Supervisor. There were no children of the marriage.

Richard, now in the RIC, was posted to Philipstown, Co. Offaly. Here he met, and on 5th May 1897 married, Emily Barry. Richard was posted to Portumna, Co. Galway and he remained in that county until retirement on 24th November 1914. He was then aged 46yrs, having served for 27 years in the RIC. Soon afterwards Richard moved to England, probably influenced by the Irish situation and the implications of his career. He found work as a ship’s clerk at the Surrey Docks, London. Emily and children joined him in 1916.

Richard and Emily had six children but only four survived early childhood. My father James was the eldest. He joined the Royal Artillery in London and was sent to France. Richard died 25th May 1925 from ‘bronchitis’ as recorded on his death certificate. Emily trained as a midwife in the East End, and later became the district midwife for South Bermondsey. She died in 1948 aged 74yrs. which meant she had endured the move from Ireland with four children, two world wars, almost certain insecurity and hardship, and a career as a midwife in one of London’s most impoverished areas.

My grandfather Richard, died before my birth so there is much I do not know of his life and times. I have learned he was a good watercolorist, and enjoyed writing poetry. He encouraged his children to take up musical instruments, and later they formed their own band. Nothing is known of Richard’s mother Bridget following the death of her husband.

Rita Angela Murphy, née Bennett, is researching Richard Bennett, her paternal grandfather. She can be contacted at...
(grahamDOTnevillesmithATbtinternetDOTcom).