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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Hampshire & IOW Lookup Requests => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => England => Hampshire & IOW Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: brynsmum on Sunday 06 February 11 01:52 GMT (UK)
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Hello
Can anyone shed any light on William Fowles's history prior to his marrying Susan Keetch 1808 Newport, Ryde IOW. please?
According to the 1841 Census he was Town Cryer in Ryde..
I have discovered he was a greengrocer/fruiterer/poulterer prior to that and had a shop in Union St.
He and Susan had 4 sons, one of whom was Arthur Wellington Fowles, quite a famous marine artist. Some of his work hangs in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
William is described as a BS having been born in St Kitts, West Indies. sometime between 1782 and 1790 (various census ages) and died in 1866 aged 84. That gives his birth as 1781/2.
I cannot find any record of his birth anywhere but would very much like help in tracing him if possible.
Thanks in advance for any help
June
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Hello June,
I looked in the newspaper archives & only found one report of a assault on “William Town Crier” in 1841,
There are a lot of reports on his son Arthur, & I expect you know about the terrible accident where he was shot by his seven year old son,
I will have another look for anything on William.
Ann E
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Hello Ann
Thank you for looking for me. I appreciate that. Yes, I do know about Arthur's sad end. William Jnr., my direct ancestor (Arthur's brother) also died tragically aged 34 whilst away from home. He was a cabinet maker and was in Berkshire doing business and died. The cause of death was given as a 'sudden visitation from God'. I assume that was probably a heart attack- but have no real idea.
But I really would like to know about William Snr just to see if I might glean anything of his past. I'd like to know why he was born in the West Indies. I did visit there last year but got nowhere fast. So
anything will be interesting.
Thanks again, best wishes June
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I have had another look nothing on William previous to 1841, do you know his father occupation ?
I found these
Isle of Wight Observer (Ryde, Saturday, September 25, 1858
Mrs Fowles widow William Ward Fowles, 6 Newport Rd Ryde new & second clothing,
Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle etc (Portsmouth, England), Monday, April 13, 1829
House, 2 Union St Ryde
Wight Journal, Winchester Chronicle, and General Reporter (Southampton, England), Saturday, August 27, 1836
Married on Thursday ,at Newchurch, Mr Ward Fowles, cabinet maker ,to miss Smith, both of Ryde.
Ann E
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These reports refer to William Jnr, my ancestor, married to Harriet Smith and died leaving her and 5 children - sudden visitation from God that I mentioned. Seems that Harriet may have taken over the greengrocery shop when her father in law became Town crier and changed it's use after a while.
I have no idea of William Snr's parentage and birth in WI. Don't even know what county his parents came from, were they Army I wonder? I wonder where he met Susan Keetch. They married 1808 and I can't trace her either altho I believe Keetch is an Island name?
Can you tell me what the report said about William being assaulted please?
Thank you again for taking the time to help me..
June
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I have sent you a PM.
Ann E
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Thanks for all your amazing help Ann
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Ann,
Can you help me too please. William Fowles was my 4 greats grandfather and it looks like you may have been able to help brynsmum, so was hoping you could help me too. Thanks
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Brynsmum, thanks for your reply. I can't work out how to reply to you direct so I'll just reply through here. Arthur was my 4xgreat grandfather - the marine artist.
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Hello
Nice to hear from you. I hope Ann has been able to help you with the newspaper/inquest reports regarding Arthur. What a very sad story.
William Snr has been very elusive prior to his marriage. I'd like to ask you a question regarding family legend, so I'll PM you. (Private Message) and hope you can work out how to reply.
All the best
June
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Hi,
I am also descended from William, our Town Crier, through Arthur Wellington, who was my 3 x great grandfather. His son Albert Godwin is my 2 x great grandfather.
If anyone has found any further information, I'd love to know. I'd also love to know what happened post his death. I was also told that none of the first lot of children (my ancestors) ever spoke to or about the second lot of children. As I have found three of his children with Emma in orphanages in the 1901 census, this would seem to be borne out. Edwin (the lethal 6 year old) seems to have disappeared off the face of all censuses, although I may have found his marriage and death indexes in 1908 and 1912 respectively.
If anyone has any more info on anything, please get in touch.
Vivien
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I'm afraid I know nothing about the issues between the two halves of the family but I suspect it had more to him turning up with a young wife in tow after the death of Sophia than Edwin's trigger finger.
I'm also descended from AW via Arthur Stratton who was my great great grandfather.
Jon
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I don’t know if you have seen this,
Ryde Social Heritage Group
[url http://www.rshg.org.uk/grave_record.asp?graveid=4877] http://www.rshg.org.uk/grave_record.asp?graveid=4877 [/url]
Ann
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I don’t know if you have seen this,
Ryde Social Heritage Group
http://www.rshg.org.uk/grave_record.asp?graveid=4877 (http://www.rshg.org.uk/grave_record.asp?graveid=4877 )
Ann
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Many thanks Ann. I hadn't spotted that link and the newspaper reports on the Death, Inquest and Funeral of AWF were fascinating - the language and tone used just wouldn't be seen nowadays.
It looks like a trip out to the Caribbean though to track down anything else on William Herbert Fowles - what a shame! Still, someone has to do it ...
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Hello VivienP60
I've sent you a personal message. Love to hear from you. June x