Elizabeth Corne Bennett then Mais (née Pownall)

1. William Pownall, grocer of Macclesfield, married Sarah Burchall (or Birchill) Corn (or Cornes) of Warrington by licence 10/01/1770 at Prestbury. They had three children: Elizabeth Corne (born 1774 in Bristol St Michael, baptised age 28 on 28/04/1802 at Bristol St Michael); James Corn (born 29/01/1776 at Macclesfield and baptised 28/02/1790 at Bristol Temple); Sarah Birchall (born 14/08/1782 at Macclesfield and baptised 28/02/1790 at Bristol Temple.

2. Elizabeth Corne Pownall married William Bennett by licence 29/04/1802 at Bristol St James in the presence of William Pownall, Sarah B. Pownall and others. They had 3 daughters, Emmeline Corne, Elizabeth and Sarah.

3. William Bennett of St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, died 01/03/1807 on a voyage to Jamaica for the recovery of his health.

4. Elizabeth Corne Bennett, widow of Bristol St James, married Charles Mais, hat manufacturer, by licence 26/01/1809 at Bristol St James in the presence of John Mais, Ann R. Mais and others. They had 3 children, Rebecca, Frederick Charles and Amelia.

5. Creditors to William Bennett requested to prove debts following a decree in the High Court of Chancery dated 24th December 1810 in which Charles Mais, Elizabeth Corne Mais and others were plaintiffs and Kenrick Collett and James Corne Pownall defendants. Bill of Revivor and Supplement dated 9th January 1829 by Elizabeth Corne Mais, John Mais, Jeremiah Mais and others against Kenrick Collett and James Corne Pownall (who had died outside the jurisdiction), guardians under the will of Willam Bennett to his (then) infant daughters.

6. Final claims invited against the estate of James Corne Pownall 25/06/1844. Bill of Complaint dated 26/04/1856 by Mary Ann Britton, a daughter of James Corne Pownall, and others against Jeremiah Mais, Reverend John Mais, James Pownall and others, trustees under an Indenture of 1832 regarding shares in Silver Hill Plantation in Jamaica under the will of James Corne Pownall, owner (the plantation having since been sold). Complaint against Jeremiah Mais in the same Chancery dispute taken 'pro confesso', 13/03/1857. Inference of finding against Rev. John Mais resulting from his insolvency, 17/01/1860.

7. Elizabeth Corne, relict of the late Charles Mais, died aged 77, 12/01/1852 at Redland, Bristol.

8. There may have been a genetic tendency towards mental illness in Elizabeth's family. Two of her three children with Charles Mais (Frederick Charles and Amelia) as well as one of her husband's children from his first marriage (Richard Compton Mais) spent considerable lengths of time in lunatic asylums, as did her brother's son James Pownall.

1. Ancestry.com, Cheshire, England, Extracted Parish Records [database online]. Ancestry.com, England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 [database online].

2. Familysearch.org batch nos. M17286-6 and C00887-8; email from Howard Mais 30/04/2013 citing parish records.

3. Email from Howard Mais 30/04/2013 citing Jacksons Oxford Journal 02/05/1807.

4. Familysearch.org batch nos. M17286-6, I02201-1 and C00887-9; email from Howard Mais 30/04/2013 citing parish records.

5. London Gazette Issue 16470, 30/03/1811, p. 606 and Issue 16473, 06/04/1811, p. 661.

6. London Gazette Issue 20357, 28/06/1844, p. 21 and later issues. London Gazette Issue 21977, 13/03/1857, p. 20 and later issues. London Gazette Issue 22346, 17/01/1860, p. 30 and later issues.

7. Email from Howard Mais 30/04/2013 citing Felix Farleys Bristol Journal.

8. Ancestry.com, UK, Lunacy Patients Admission Registers, 1846-1912 [database online].

We are grateful to Howard Mais for his assistance in compiling this entry.