Confused by Will

[Suzy W]

Help needed please.  This is going to sound confusing, as it is to me.  And I will try and make this as clear as mud.

I have the Will of John Dowell dated 23 Feb 1842 of Bitteswell, Leicester.  He states his son Thomas Dowell a Ribbon Merchant living in Coventry, Warwickshire.  And his son in-law John Bray (husband to Catherine Dowell who live in Broughton Astley and later Leire).   And then his other son’s Richard, Samuel, William and another daughter Ann.

Now this is where I am getting really stuck.  All that makes sense above, once I go looking for Thomas Dowell in Coventry, he is married to Rebecca, he has two children, John and Ann.  But when I look up his birth parents it states John and Ann Dowell born 1810.

This is where I am in knots.  Catherine Dowell (Bray), John Dowells snr’s daughter born 1804 in Bitteswell, her mother is Catherine Lole not Ann.  There is a Thomas also born in Bitteswell 1813 to John and Catherine. 

The Thomas in Coventry has John and Ann for his parents. Born 1810.
 
John Dowell married Catherine in 1801 Bulkington.  She died 1833 Bitteswell.  So, no way could John had another wife named Ann in Coventry, and why was there a son spoken about in his will living in Coventry and a ribbon merchant?

Thomas born 1813 to John and Catherine was also living in Bitteswell during the census results as a farmer

Also, the 1861 census
John (son of Thomas born 1810) was living with his uncle David also born in Coventry 1813 to John and Ann, that is what made alarm bells ring.

I wonder if John had two families?  It is so odd to state Thomas in his will living in Coventry.  While another Thomas is living in Bitteswell.

Suzy W

[ShaunJ]

Perhaps you haven't found the right Thomas Dowell baptism yet.

There's another Thomas Dowell in Coventry in the 1841 census, a ribbon weaver, rounded-down age 35, wife Mary, children Thomas 4 and Letitia 1.

NB John Dowell's will is dated 12 May 1841 (a few days before his death).  23 Feb 1842 is the date that Probate was granted. From the burial record he was aged 79.

[Jomot]

Thomas born 1813 to John and Catherine was also living in Bitteswell during the census results as a farmer

I cant seem to find this - at least not for 1841 or 1851.  There is one in Burbage born c1806, a farmer married to Sarah, but I believe he was born in Barwell to Thomas & Mary. 

[ShaunJ]

There's a death announcement in the Leicester Chronicle, 22 May 1841:

On Tuesday, at Bitteswell, Mr. J. Dowell, farmer and grazier, brother of Mrs. Clayton, of Mignionette Cottage, Humberstone-road.

[Suzy W]

Thanks ShaunJ   
I have not came across the other Thomas in Coventry, with wife Mary, that sounds more like him.  My site I go onto is only showing the other man with wife Rebecca.
I know Thomas is back in Bitteswell by 1861 with wife Mary, so this may be him

[Suzy W]

Thanks everyone.  I found him. 
The age was way out with the census results, and place of birth.  Ten years with some results.
Suzy W

[ShaunJ]

I don't think either of the two Thomas Dowells found in Coventry are the right ones.

They are both ribbon weavers, not ribbon merchants
They were both born in Coventry
They seem to have both died in Coventry.

However the one that appears in the 1861-1891 censuses, born Bitteswell, does seem right. He appears to have married for a second time in December 1880 in Brighton ( Elizabeth Whichelo nee Whitfield, from Whitchurch in Shropshire). His father is recorded as John Dowell.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N6V1-6PK

Where was he before 1861 ?

Can anyone find his first marriage?

[Jomot]

I've looked at a few, but the signatures are nothing like the one on the Brighton marriage (sign in to view)

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01k35/

[ShaunJ]

This looks to be Thomas's first marriage in Mowsley, 9 February 1843:

Thomas Duell 21 Ribbon Manufacturer, residence Coventry, father John Duell, grazier
Mary Hidson 21 residence Mowsley, father John Hidson, grazier

witnesses Henry Dowell and Anne Maria Hidson.