Benjamin and Ann's is the only surviving marked grave at the chapel and the only box tomb.

 

Ann Suffield was born in about 1826 in Boldre to Thomas and Ann (nee White), the second of their four children. She was baptised, aged 17-18, at the Baptist chapel on 20th August 1843.

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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 three children (James, Sarah).

 

His father James died in 1826 and his mother Ann married his uncle, also called Benjamin Biddlecombe, in 1828 and they had three more children together.

 

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

 

Benjamin Jnr 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, Benjamin 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 in the late 1850s:

• 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 same 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). The 1881 census entry lists her as a Miller which has then been altered to 'Milliner', probably because the census enumerator did not think this a likely occupation for a woman. Her 22 year old son James is listed as her assistant.

 

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 formally recorded. According to ​Kelly's directory of 1898 their son Samuel then took over as the miller at Hatchet Mill.