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Benjamin Tite, 1848 (appears on birth record for that year)

Benjamin was the son of Benjamin Tite, Coal Merchant, born about 1819 and Lydia his wife, born about 1822 at Finsbury. Benjamin was the grandson of Benjamin Tite of 86 Field Lane, Holborn, Vil Man, born about 1786 and Elizabeth, his wife, born about 1793. See also, Tite Family Tree.

At the time of the 1851 census, 30th March, Benjamin, aged 3 years, was visiting at the household of Joseph Osborn, aged 27, and Sarah Osborn, his wife, aged 24, living at 10 High Street, Dunstable. In the household were four assistants and a servant. Benjamin’s father’s first wife was Elizabeth Osborn, daughter of George Osborn born in Woburn and Elizabeth Esther Brice, born at Stoke Goldington. See Osborn Family Tree.

In 1861, on 7th April, Ben was aged 15, living with his parents and brothers and sisters, at Bridge House, Cambridge Heath, Hackney. His sister Lydia Mary was now aged 3, his brother George Osborn Tite, was at school, his brother Frederick was 4 years old, Herbert, another brother, was aged 1 year, and the latest child of his parents, as yet un-named, was just 3 days old, later to be christened Arthur (see 1901 census, 2 Byron Road, Harrow).

In 1871, Benjamin Tite, now aged 28, is shown as lodging with a widow, Margaret Faircloth, and accountant, aged 49, head of her family, with her two daughters, Emily aged aged 28 and Jane, aged 23, dressmaker and milliner, respectively. The other members of the family, mother, father and the children, and Joseph, who had returned to the fold, were at this time living in Walthamstow, where Benjamin (senior) had set up again as coal merchant. There were quite a number of branches of the business. See the Tite Coal Co Advert.

In 1880, it appears that Ben’s brother George Osborn Tite, died aged 20 at Mile End. In 1881, Ben, now aged 33, is working as a coal merchant’s clerk for his father, and living at home with his parents at no.6 Clapham Common, and brother Frederick, aged 24, also working for his father, and sister Lydia, aged 23, unmarried, but by now no doubt betrothed to Arthur Caesar, and brother John H., aged 18. Also in the household was Emma Beckford, general servant, aged 29 years.

In 1891, Ben is found as a Station Warehouseman, visiting Joseph Osborn, draper, (aged 24 )and Sarah Osborn his wife, aged 24 years, living at 11 High Street, Dunstable.

In 1901, on 31st March, Ben, then aged 53, is living with his brother Arthur, 39, valuer’s assistant, xxxx trade, and his wife Elizabeth, aged 39, of Hawkhurst, Kent, and Frank their son aged 11 years.