George and Sarah Benfell lived at Hungry Hill in the tything of Badshot.
George had been born in Farnham, as was his father Benjamin (Benfield). George was the fourth of seven children. The family had moved around a lot, his younger sister Sophia born in Winchfield. By 1841, they were living in Harlington, Middlesex, George then aged 18.
Living almost next door in Harlington was Sarah Dicks, aged 17, born in (H)eston, Middlesex. Her father was also an agricultural labourer. He died in 1851 leaving a widow with three children, including two sons aged 12 and 17; she was from Southall, Middlesex.
George and Sarah (Dix) married in Brentford in 1842. Their eldest, Mary Ann, was born in Farnham, her birth registered there in 1843. Their second daughter Sarah was born back in Harlington in 1847.
George’s parents and siblings returned to the area, settling in Crookham. That was where George and Sarah’s next child Eliza was born in 1849. Their fourth daughter Caroline was baptised at St John’s Church in Hale in May 1851.
There were others in the locality called Benfell/Benfield. Another George Benfell had married Ellen/Eleanor (also called) Benfell in 1827. Eleanor was in the Alton Workhouse in 1841 with four small children. Three of their children were included in the baptismal register at Farnham: Charlotte, aged 10 (baptised in 1831); Caroline, aged 6 (1835) and Samuel, aged 5 (1837). In 1851 Samuel was at the District School in Aldershot, listed as aged 15, as was Caroline, aged 16.