Hie baptismal record gives the village in which he was born but not his exact date of birth. However, the assumption that he was born the month before he was baptised give a good fit with his ages given in all the censuses in which he was recorded and the age given on his death certificate.

Address: Pill, Somerset

Also his older siblings James, William and Charlotte but who else is not known.

The 1841 Census in Pill describes him as an agricultural labourer but it is thought that he went to sea as soon as he could like many others who lived in Pill. Family oral history say that he worked on pilot boats. Additional evidence that he was connected with the sea is provided by the Birth Certificate for his daughter Eliza who was born in 1862 at Pill which describes him as a seaman in the the Merchant Service, and the 1871 Census which describes him as a mariner. Given that he lived in Pill certainly until 1865 when his second daughter, Sarah, was born he probably sailed as an apprentice on a Bristol Pilot Cutter working out of Pill as soon as he could - say at the age or 12 - eventually becoming a fully fledged crew member. There is no evidence that he became a Pilot.

Pilot Cutters would race westwards to meet incoming ships (hence the pilot crews were known as Westernmen). The pickings were rich if you could get them, which meant being the first out to the incoming ship, racing and outwitting the other pilots. The results were unparalleled seamanship, and the evolution of very fast, very able boats.

Once alongside the incoming ship, the boy or apprentice would row the pilot to the merchant vessel, where the pilot would scramble aboard. It is a testimony to the design of the punts (clinker rowing boats) that this could often take place whilst it was "blowing a hooli". Pilot Cutters were usually crewed by a man and a boy (or apprentice) and the pilot on the outward journey. Once the pilot was aboard an incoming ship, the Pilot Cutters would race back to port and pick up the pilot from wherever the ship berthed. Sometimes the ships would tow the Pilot Cutters, which was very unpopular with the crews. Being at sea in a Pilot Cutter could account for his absence from the 1851 and 1861 Censuses although Captains of vessels were supposed to render a return of crew members.

Sometime between 1865 and the time of the 1871 Census the family moved to St Augustine in Bristol which although near the water it is much higher up the River Avon (the distance between Pill and St Augustines is about 6 miles) and which would not be a good place for the crew of a pilot boat to live. From the 1881 Census onwards his occupation is given as a sailmaker. The reason is for the move and change in occupation is not known. Perhaps he was injured or his distance vision has detoriated. Certainly the latter would prevent him from being an effective member of a pilot cutter's crew.

As he was seaman perhaps he was away at sea - probably as crew member on a Bristol Channel pilot cutter.

As he was seaman perhaps he was away at sea - probably as crew member on a Bristol Channel pilot cutter. However, he was home in time for his marriage to Sarah Ray 11 days later!

a sailmaker|| The Certificate for marriage of his daughter Eliza to Henry Wakefield in 1879, and the 1881, 1891 and 1901 Censuses give his occupation as a sailmaker in the Bristol area. He almost certainly learned his sail making skills whilst afloat. He was employed rather than working on his own account but whether he worked for the same employer for all this time is doubtful. It is assumed that he took up sail making as a full time occupation sometime in the 1870s and continued until his death in 1910.

Cause: senile decay and heart failure

Address: 3 Eldon Place

He was living with his unmarried daughter Sarah who was dressmaker at the time of his death. It is not certain whether the term senile decay referred to dementia or a general deterioration due to age (he was 80) but he was no longer working as a sail maker.

Address: Pill, Somerset

Benjamin was born, worked as mariner from, and was married in Pill before he moved with his family to Clifton where he lived working as a sailmaker for many years. His burial in Pill may have been a "return home" or for financial reasons. His daughter Sarah was almost certainly there and his other children may have been. His many relatives from Pill almost certainly attended.

Sarah Sophie Ray (1833?-1900)

Eliza Emily Adams (1862-1940)

Sarah Charlotte Adams (1864-1950)

Nathaniel William Adams (1871- )

Address: Pill, Somerset

Benjamin was probably a friend of the groom. Eliza was the Bride's sister. The Rev. Mirehouse had baptised the groom some 30 years before! Who else attended the wedding is not known but as Pill was such a small community almost certainly the couple's parents and siblings.

Address: 2 Charley Place

The household consisted of Benjamin, his wife Sarah Sophia and their daughters Eliza (age 8) and Sarah (age 6). The family had the whole house (or cottage) to themselves. There were only three properties in Charley Place: No. 1 was empty and No. 3 had 4 families with a total 15 people.

Address: 2 Charley Place

The household consisted of Benjamin, his wife Sarah and their children Sarah (age 16) and Nathaniel (age 10). There were only 3 properties in Charley Place and the family had the whole house (or Cottage) to themselves. The number of rooms is unknown

Address: 60 Berkley Place

The household consisted of Benjamin, his wife Sarah and their son William (Nathaniel). The family occupied 3 rooms in a 5 roomed house. The other two rooms were occupied by an unrelated couple.