William Bolus/Bowlas/Bowles, Amphill,

[sparksss67]

Hello,
I am trying to find out what became of William Bolus/Bowlas/Bowles who from what I can find out was born in Bedfordshire in 1847.  From the various records I have seen, place names such as Amphill, Maulden, Meppershall and Shillington appear.  For those who know the area, are some of these sub districts of the others or administrative districts etc.

Here is what I have so far about William in England.

From freebmd a William Bowlas b. Sept. 1847 Ampthill, Bedfordshire.
That would be William Bowlas, b. July 18, 1847 bp. Mar. 21, 1858 Maulden, Bedford; parents: William Bowlas and Hannah Rainbow.
 
1851 Census of Meppershall, Bedfordshire
William Bolus  Head  Marr.  37  Blacksmith  b. Silsoe
Hannah Bolus  wife   Marr.  29  Blacksmith’s wife  b. Meppershall
Joseph Bolus    son                  5  Blacksmith’s son  b. Shillington
William Bolus  son                   3  Blacksmith’s son  b. Shillington
 
1861 Census of Ampthill, Bedfordshire, Dunstable St. Union Workhouse
William Bowlas  pauper inmate Male  14  b. Maulden, Bedfordshire
Mary Bowlas  pauper inmate  Female 9 b. Maulden, Bedfordshire
 
1871 Census Chelsea, London
William Bolus  Male  22  unmarried  Private Coldstream Guards  Soldier  b. 1849 Meppenhall, Bedfordshire.

From what I can find out only one William Bolus was in the Coldstream Guards at this time.  A William Bolus married Margaret Ryan on 23 February 1873 in Dublin, and the Second Battalion of the Coldstream Guards were stationed in Dublin then.  So this would appear to be the William I am looking for as his marriage cert gives his father as William, a blacksmith (same occupation as in the 1851 census) but alas the father's home town is not given so I can't be 100% this is the correct William. The Guards departed Dublin soon after, and William and Margaret's first child, also William was not born until 31 December 1877.  The father's occupation is given as shoemaker.

There were two subsequent sons born to them, Thomas born is 1879 (can't find a cert for him) and John on 3 July 1883 in the South Dublin Workhouse and the father's occupation is given as a soldier, yet Margaret gives her status as widow on this very same day, when she enters the workhouse.  We can't find any references to William passing away in the 9 months before John was born.

A Corporal William Bowles who joined the Royal Irish Regiment on Jan. 7, 1882 was discharged on Aug. 10, 1886 for being medically unfit and we can find no more records for William after this.  I am not sure if this is my William Bolus/Bowlas/Bowles or alternatively his death was not recorded in Ireland before the birth of John. 

If anyone can give me any more information regarding what my have become of him and the area he came from it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Mark

[sparksss67]

His marriage cert.


Moderator comment: Full certificate removed. Please transcribe the details.

Small portions only are allowed for deciphering purposes

[bedfordshire boy]

Hi Mark

William Bolus senior's marriage was registered in Biggleswade registration district, which includes the parish of Meppershall. Ampthill registration district includes the parishes of Ampthill, Maulden, Shillington and Silsoe among others. It doesn't look to me as though he was from Ampthill.

I'll have a more detailed look after a shower and breakfast

Are you also Markthespark?

David

[Bunnygirl]

Hi Mark
I've had a quick look at Meppershall PR and have found the following;
Boluss children of William & Hannah .... blacksmith
Baptisms
Mary Boluss 23 April 1851 ... Private
Martha Boluss 12 May 1851 .... Private died 18 May

Burials
Martha Boluss 16 May 1851  5 weeks.

I cannot see any entries in Shillington PR for this family

It looks like your find on 1861 census could be William with his sister Mary baptized in 1851

Hope this helps
Bunnygirl

[johnP-bedford]

From Beds FHS Surnames Index CD...

William Bolus married at Meppershall in 1844 as did Hannah Rainbow.
The only subsequent BOLUSS children baptised & buried at Meppershall are Martha & Mary in 1851

There is a William Bolus baptised & buried at Campton in 1846 (abode Shefford) ... but apart from that I haven't found an approriate dated baptism of William Bolus (or Boluss, Bowlas, Bowlass, Bowles, Bowless, etc.)

Cheers John   

[johnP-bedford]

Found his discharge papers in Army Records held on FindMyPast... dated 25 March 1875

Private William Bolus, number 1871 attested aged 18 on 21/11/1866
Born Meppershall, near Shefford

[sparksss67]

Are you also Markthespark?

David

Not that I am aware of David .  Thanks everyone for the prompt replies, very much appreciated.  I have seen the Willam Bowlas/Hannah Rainbow family on some family trees online, but the trail for William only goes as far as the 1871 census which shows a William in Chelsea with the Coldstream Guards.  Like I mentioned before, according to someone who helped me earlier, there is only one William Bolus recorded in the Guards for this period from what he can find.  From that alone it would appear to be the right William who married in Dublin in 1873, he would be my great great grandfather by the way. 

One theory that the person who helped me suggested is that William may have deserted the family and that is why Margaret gave her status as widow when she entered the workhouse in Dublin to have her third baby, yet John's birth cert says his father is a 'soldier'.  It would be great to know what happened to him and if there are other family members out there.

*As a quirk of history the first son William, b 1877, was one of the men who took took part in the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin and later the war for independence.  It just seems ironic that the son ended up fighting against the army of his father. 

[Bunnygirl]

Hi
The William Bolus baptized in Shefford was son of George & Martha (blacksmith journeyman) and he was buried 22 March 1846, so you can eliminate him as your William

Bunnygirl

[sparksss67]

Hi
The William Bolus baptized in Shefford was son of George & Martha (blacksmith journeyman) and he was buried 22 March 1846, so you can eliminate him as your William

Bunnygirl

Thanks Bunnygirl, perhaps blacksmith was a traditional job for the various Bolus/Bowlas families.