Hello Jimbo09 and Kooky,
I have been reading with interest the Dowzard conversations between you both and I would like to tell you what I know of Dowzard Family History. I am also doing Family History that includes Dowzard names which are part of my Dowzer Research which I have done over many visits to Ireland. Firstly, the name Dowzard is a corruption of the correct name Dowzer, due to the incorrect spelling entered in the Parish Registers that I have viewed in Ireland. The Kilpipe Parish in County Wicklow was the greatest perpetrator of the misspelling and the Dowzard Families you are connected to in Dublin originated from that Parish. The Clerks of the Church made many errors throughout the Kilpipe Register and I have noted Families of up to 15 children written in the Register with both Dowzer/Dowser and Dowzard spelling with the same set of Parents. Kooky I read where you mention that one certificate you have has the name Dowser, that is the closest spelling to Dowzer, rather than Dowzard which is wrong.
The earliest known misspelling of the name occurred in 1761 in Kilpipe with a tombstone in 1761 with the name of Charles Dousard . My research has proof that Charles Dousard was in fact Charles Dowzer who came from Yorkshire to Ireland with several other Dowzer men in 1713 to work on Earl Fitzwilliam's Estate. Charles Dowzer lived and worked as a Farmer and Shopkeeper up until he died and was buried in Kilpipe Church Cemetery with the incorrect spelling of his name and I have the records to prove this. Over the years that same Parish got the spelling wrong due to the illiteracy of the day but at the time of the Griffith Valuations done from 1848 to 1864 there were no Dowzards living in Ireland, they all knew how they spelt their correct name of Dowzer. I have records of the Edward Dowzard Families who were living in Dublin and the 3 Mary Ann's you mention. Jimbo you wondered who Edward Dowzard the Policeman is. He was born born Edward Dowzer on the 26th November 1856 in Kilpipe Parish, County Wicklow to George and Margaret Dowzer. George Dowzer was farmer and Tailor in Kilavaney, Kilpipe Parish, County Wicklow and they had 7 children. The problem in the days when names were being registered, they were written by people who wrote how they heard it and as there were not many Dowzards in the 1901 and 1911 Census, you must have wondered why so few, if you look at the name Dowzer you will find the remainder of Families with the correct spelling who are connected to them. Often when a name was spelt incorrectly on official documents, people felt that they had to perpetuate the error, or just did not know what had been written, they probably never saw a Parish Register or a certificate as we do now. I will be interested to read your comments.
