Warren, Benjamin

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1907

Area: Somerset - Taunton District

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Benjamin Warren at Taunton Union Workhouse (1833-1911): age 73, 2 songs (FT1450,1) on 29 Aug 1907: Benjamin Warren was born c1833, son of William Warren, shoemaker and his wife Mary. They lived in Coal Orchard in the centre of Taunton (nr the current Brewhouse Theatre). There were wharves for receiving goods (incl coal) transported either on the river Tone or on the Bridgwater-Taunton canal (opened 1827). Coal from South Wales could arrive via the canal and Benjamin Warren was a ‘coal hauler’ in the 1881 census.

Benjamin had 3 children by Maria Hopkins before regularising the situation and marrying her at Taunton St James on 27/8/1865. Those 3 children were not baptised until 1882. Benjamin was a general labourer all his life and went into the Taunton workhouse (1901 census RG13/2278 f161 p5). He died there January qr 1911 (5c 237).