Benjamin's is the only surviving marked grave on the chapel site and the only box tomb.

 

Benjamin was born at Newlands Farm in July 1823, son of James and Ann (nee Seager). He was baptised in Beaulieu church as an infant on 25th July 1823 and was the second of their six children (James, Sarah, Richard, Jane and Elizabeth).

 

Aged 17, the 1841 census lists him as a servant to James Seager, his grandfather and a yeoman (a freeholder, who farmed a small landed estate). 

 

Benjamin was baptised at East Boldre's (then Beaulieu Rails) Baptist chapel on 9th April 1843 (aged 20) to become a member. This was before the baptistry had been built (1844) so his baptism may have been at Hatchet Pond.

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In the 1851 census, he is listed as a 27 year old widower, and head of a household in Baddesley with a house keeper and two house servants. His occupation is given as a farmer of 90 hectares employing 1 labourer. We have been unable to find records of his first wife.

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In 1856, he married Ann Suffield  and was elected a deacon of the Baptist church on 15th September of that year. They had 2 sons, James and Samuel and twin daughters, Laura and Elizabeth.

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Benjamin became the miller at Hatchet Mill.

• Under the heading 'corn millers', William White's 1859 directory lists a Benjamin Biddlecombe of Hatchet Mill.

• The 1861 census lists him as a corn miller living with his family in Beaulieu Rails along with a servant of all works and a nursemaid (11 year old Mary Gregory), helping to look after the 1 year old twins.

• G.Harrod's 1865 directory also lists him as a farmer of Hatchet Mill. 

 

According to the chapel's burial register, Benjamin was buried at the chapel by the Rev John Bartlett Burt on 19th May 1870 (seems unusual as that is the day he died).​

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After Benjamin's death his wife, Ann, took over as both farmer and miller (1875 Post Office directory, census of 1871 and Kelly's 1880 directory). Strangely, the 1881 census entry lists her as a Miller which has then been altered to 'Milliner', with her 22 year old son James assisting her.

 

By 1889 their son James had taken over the running of Hatchet Mill.

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Ann died 8th Sep 1897 which post dates the surviving burial register so her burial is not recorded elsewhere. According to ​Kelly's directory of 1898 their son Samuel then took over as the miller at Hatchet Mill.