Hi Jean,

Jesse's marriage record on Family Search says her father was called Peter Benthall. I looked for him on the census records and it was a rare name the only possible match was a Peter Bentall. In 1881 he was a soldier based in Salford. He was originally from Essex. I thought there might be more information about his whereabouts in 1883 in his army record. Fortunately the army records were available. The proof is a page about paternity payments.

In a letter dated 17December 1883 it says:-

"an application having been received for a portion of the pay of Private Peter Bentall toward the support of Jane Mylchreest's illegitimate child of which he has acknowledged the paternity.

I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to inform you that, by the power vested in him by the 145th Section of the Army Act, 1881, he directs you to withhold three pence each day from the man's daily pay, which sum will be transmitted by you monthly to Jane Mylchreest, Cross Four Ways, Isle of Man..."

My Mylchreests lived at Cross Four Ways in the 1880s it's our Jane Mylchreest. Also Peter was based in Castletown between December 1881 and July 1882.

Col