Hello Roger,
How are you? I hope you are well. sorry I have not replied to your e-mail dated
11 Oct 2001. until now but I have been searching through my files looking for information
to back up your finding.
Using Census Records, Baptisms, Marriages & Burials I believe you have taken the wrong
branch of Challenger's in Clutton, the further you went back.
Please correct me if you still think I may be wrong but I believe I have Traced Your
family as below.
Starting with the birth certificate you have for Benjamin Challenger 28 Aug 1860 ( Clutton
?) his parent were named as Benjamin Challenger & Mary Tiley.
I looked at the 1861 census for Clutton and noted the following.
RG9/1679 folio 33 page 22 Clutton.
Benjamin Challenger 34 head, coalminer, bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1827)
Mary Challenger 36 wife bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1825)
James Challenger 10 son bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1851)
John Challenger 9 son bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1852)
Thomas Challenger 7 son bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1854)
Sarah Challenger 6 dau bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1855)
Elizabeth Challenger 2 dau bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1859)
Benjamin Challenger 7mths son bn Clutton Somersetshire ( bn 1860)
1861 Census Clutton
RG9/1679 folio 8 page 9
James Challenger 68 head coalminer bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1793)
Ann Challenger 71 wife bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1791)
1851 Census 6 Green Brook Clutton
HO107/1939 folio 208 page 6
Benjamin Challenger 24 head coalminer bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1827)
Mary Challenger 26 wife bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1825)
James Challenger 6mths bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1850)
1851 census Clutton
HO107/1938 folio 206 page1
James Challenger 58 head coalminer bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1793)
Ann Challenger 61 wife bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1791)
William Challenger 21 son coalminer bn Clutton Somersetshire. ( bn 1830)
1841 census Clutton
Ho107/938/6 folio 45 page 7 dist 4
James Challenger 49 head yes bn Somersetshire ( bn 1793 )
Ann Challenger 51 yes bn Somersetshire ( bn 1791 )
Elizabeth Challenger 20 yes bn Somersetshire ( bn 1821 )
James Challenger 15 yes bn Somersetshire ( bn 1826 )
Mary Challenger 15 yes bn Somersetshire ( bn 1826 )
Benjamin Challenger 10 yes bn Somersetshire ( bn 1831 )
William Challenger 10 yes bn Somersetshire ( bn 1831 )
remember the ages on the 1841 census were usually rounded to the nearest 10 which is what
I think as happened to the above.
Baptisms found in the parish of Clutton.
Mary daughter of James & Ann Challenger 14 Mar 1824
James son of James & Ann Challenger 14 Mar 1824
Benjamin son of James & Ann Challenger 30 Aug 1826 *
Mary Ann daughter of James & Ann Challenger 16 Mar 1828
William son of James & Ann Challenger 28 Feb 1830
I also Found a Baptism that fitted the birth age of James Challenger senior
James son of James & Deborah Challenor 31 March 1793 at Clutton.
and a marriage at Clutton for James Challenor to Deborah Naish on 8 Feb 1790
witnesses were William Collier & Thomas Challoner.
Other children born to James & Deborah were:
Betty 30 Sept 1790
Benjamin 14 Feb 1802
A possible baptism for James senior could have been:
James son of Benjamin & Anne Challenor 1 July 1768 Clutton
Benjamin Challoner married Anne Lokyer 27 Dec 1761 Clutton.
I also noted a Sarah daughter of Benjamin & Anne Challoner 25 July 1763 Clutton
I am led to believe that Benjamin was baptised 28 Dec 1738 Chelwood Independent son of
Humpy Challenger.
other children of Humpy baptised at Chelwood were:
Martha 11 Aug 1737,
Josiah 16 Aug 1741,
Thomas 7 Mar 1744,
Betty 12 Sept 1746,
During the early record's of baptism recorded at Chelwood for Challenger's,
included children of Jno & Samuel who I believe were brothers to Humpy.
I am descended from Jno through his son William Challenger baptised 5 Sept 1735
William married Martha Britten 18 Sept 1760 at Radstock.
I hope that you followed my notes and are able to agree with my findings, please let me
know what you think.
Best wishes Carolin