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Independent Islands => Isle of Man => Topic started by: howe02 on Friday 23 July 21 08:49 BST (UK)
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Looking for any information about William Augustus McKown born abt 1857
1861 and 1871 listed as nephew with James and Elizabeth Thomas
1881 listed as visitor with Sarah F Brisley and Martha S Howe - he married Martha Q4 1881, Malling, Kent
1887 he seems located Douglas, Isle of Man as a chemist and druggist
1891 Martha McKown (niece) is with Sarah Brisley again in Maidstone, Kent and NO William
So looking for when William went to Douglas and what happened to him, any information greatly appreciated, thanks ......... Alison
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Is this the chap who was married on 15th November 1881 to Martha Sole Howe, in Aylesford, Kent?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD2-FMHP
No mention on www.imuseum.im?
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Use Britishnewspaperarchives.co.uk
search term, and using the inverted commas....."William Augustus McKOWN"
He is announcing his shop in Jan 1883.
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No birthplace given for him in your post.
1881 shows London Middlesex.
1871 Poplar Middlesex
1861 - Dover Kent
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When William married Martha 15.11.1881 he names his father as John McKown-Commander R N.
John
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Isle of Man Times 11 February 1888 (on Findmypast)
Longish article detailing bankruptcy court in Liverpool. Mentions monies borrowed from Mrs Sarah S Brisley. Wonder if he decided to jump on a ship somewhere.
John
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Apologies! I was in a bit of a rush before.
Try www.imusuem.im, click on Newspapers; search item "William Augustus McKown" (including quotes).
At least 10 results ;D
Formerly of 16 Victoria Street, Douglas and The Medical Hall, Victoria Street, Douglas.
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Thankyou to everyone for the information, sincerely appreciate your time and effort
The bankruptcy seems a likely answer why he seems to have disappeared from family
Sarah Brisley was Martha Sole Howe's auntie and in 1881 William was living with Martha and Sarah and they married later that year
Thanks for all the leads, seems like I have my afternoon to go searching, regards .... Alison (Australia)
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Had a quick read of newspaper articles and it seems he was bankrupt and then went back to England and then one article seems to refer to his estate so that may lead to a death record
I'm going to have a closer read so thanks again for the clues ......... Alison
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Deleted, false alarm
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I know this man is born too late and in wrong place but… the names and occupation seem awfully coincidental (which of course happens all the time in this game).
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSN3-N51
I cannot find him before 1901 (having trouble loading Irish site)
And I cannot see a likely birth for Mabel
Dorothy might be the Dorothy Florence b Edmonton 1894? MMN St JOHN
He married again in 1908 and died in 1920.
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27 Feb 1906, Nottingham Journal
Grave Charges in Nottingham - Chemist Discharged
William A. McKOWN a chemist who formerly lived at 162 Robin Hood Chase, Nottingham.......
Mr Barlow said, according to his instructions, Mabel McKown, the fourteen year old girl named in the charge, was not related to the prisoner, but was a daughter of a w Oman, now deceased, with whom he used to live. The child had however lived in his house for some years, knowing him as "father'.
Evidence for the prosecution ... by Dorothy McKown, a girl two years younger than the first
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so that explains not being able to find Mabel's birth.
I think she died 1907
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have found a birth of a William McKown Londonderry 1867. Father a weaver.
no Augustus or Wellesley
Father is informant, a weaver, and marked
Sorry to go off on a tangent.
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Don't think William and Dorothy and Mabel are the same family as the dates seem to match - although interesting
1901 Nottingham has William A W McKown widow 36 manufacturing chemist born in Ireland with Mabel 9 born Cheshire and Dorothy F 6 born London
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Just to keep everyone in the loop, I have contacted Alison via PM, and will be taking photos of the address in Victoria Street (#16).
Unfortunately, Google Street View is 11 years out-of-date!
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Following notice was posted on Facebook (Manx Nostalgia Group):
1883 NOTICE TO VISITORS.
THE MEDICAL HALL,
VICTORIA STREET,
(One door from Duke-st.)
ALL Prescriptions sent out from this Establishment may be relied upon as dispensed with that scrupulous nicety which characterizes modern first-class Dispensing.
The Seaside Lotion.
Specially prepared for use after sea bathing; will r.-renves freckles, sunburns, &c, from the skin, making it cool, soft, and smooth. Price, 1s. per Bottle.
Blood Purifier.
Etc - . 'reat object of which is to cleanse the system of all morbid matters, enrich the blood and impart strength, tone, and energy to the nervous system. 1s. 6d. per Bottle.
Tic Pills.
FL.r XeuralMa or pains in the face and head often BBBBB VBB for toothaeho. One dose relieves, one box cr.res. Sold in Boxes, Is. each
Bat/iing Caps Js Ea-ch.
Manufacturer of the Celebrated
Mona Bouquet and Manx Fairy
ZPIEI&IrrTTiMIJE!.
W. A. MCKOWN,
(Successor to B. C. Turner),
THE MEDICAL HALL, -VICTORIA-ST.,
DOUGLAS. I"
Have corrected some OCR typo's - I'll try to find the original.
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More info:
In the 1880s a chemist named William Augustus McKown (b.1857) had a business in ‘The Medical Hall’, Victoria Street, Douglas. By 1 December 1883 he had opened a branch at 4 Windsor Road, Douglas. In 1887 McKown sold the Windsor Road branch to chemist and dentist Albert Edward Woodward (1864-1897). Woodward conducted business until 1891 when he sold it to John James Frowde and moved to a pharmacy on Broadway; in 1891 the Windsor Road chemist business was known as ‘The Galen Pharmacy’. Frowde conducted his chemist business in Windsor Road for over fifty-four years; by 1929 he had moved from 4 to 1 Windsor Road.
Frowde was an amateur photographer, and is well known at the Manx Museum, for his collections of local photographs.
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This is the William who married in Sunderland in the 1911 census. Note his p o b .
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWWR-NK3
There is something about this chap that I feel does not add up! He often seems to be going under the double barrelled name Wellesley - McKown. I just did a search on the newspaper archive for the name Wellesley - McKown. It produced 15 hits. Three of these were from 1896 where a W A Wellesley McKown seemed to be involved in the sale of a hotel in Oban. The remaining 12 are all from 1910 and consistently refer to W A Wellesley - McKown, BSc but he seems to have been at the same time as being a "petroleum expert" the manager of Richmond Ice Rink. The location ties up with the 1911 census.
The cemetery record for him shows a further twist. His occupation on that is given as Doctor of Medicine.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS6T-N9LR-J?i=844&cat=825520
This is also shown in his death notice in the Sunderland Echo 5 Feb 1920.
Wellesley - McKown 140 Roker Avenue ( at the residence of his parents in law ) Feb 5th 1920 Dr. W A Wellesley- McKown BSc FCS, the beloved husband of Eveline Wellesley - McKown (nee Roebuck).
So could he be your man?
On a different tack you might find it of interest to have a look at the service record of James Thomas ( there is only one record for James Thomas b Scotland 1822!). On the last page there is a note naming W McKown.
William
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I too am confused - I don't think WA Wellesely-McKown is my man
Although I would like to investigate the service record of James Thomas mentioned - where did you find this record
WA McKown was with James and Elizabeth Thomas as a child ....... Alison
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The service record is on FindMyPast.
( The reason that I suggested that he could be your man is that there seems to be enough to portray him as something of a conman! There is no evidence that anyone of this name was a Doctor of Medicine. Lose 10 years and modify your surname seems a good way of assuming a different identity!)
William
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Just one further thought. I have had a look at the signature of William Augustus on his marriage cert to Martha Howe with the signature showing on the 1911 census I quoted . I am no handwriting expert but the K on both looks odd and similiar! I wonder what others think.
William
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Just one further thought. I have had a look at the signature of William Augustus on his marriage cert to Martha Howe with the signature showing on the 1911 census I quoted . I am no handwriting expert but the K on both looks odd and similiar! I wonder what others think.
William
I would agree with you 100% on that signature.
John
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First name(s) Dorothea Florentia
Last name McKown
Birth year 1894
Birth Date 12 Apr 1894
Baptism year 1896
Baptism date 29 Jul 1896
Parish Wandsworth, St Thomas a Becket
Deanery Wandsworth
Diocese Southwark
Father's first name(s) William Augustus
Father's last name McKown
Mother's first name(s) Florentrac
Mother's last name St Jean
County Surrey
Country England
John
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Probably Mabel's birth with 2 other sister's
ST JEAN, EUNICE FLORENCE -
GRO Reference: 1890 J Quarter in BIRKENHEAD Volume 08A Page 582
ST JEAN, KATHLEEN MAUD -
GRO Reference: 1892 S Quarter in BIRKENHEAD Volume 08A Page 595
ST JEAN, MABEL BEATRICE -
GRO Reference: 1891 S Quarter in BIRKENHEAD Volume 08A Page 547
John
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Mabel's death
Deaths Jun 1907
ST JEAN Mabel 15 W. Derby 8b 233
John
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Kathleen Maud's baptism
First name(s) Kathleen
Last name McKown
Birth year 1892
Birth Date 11 Jun 1892
Baptism year 1896
Baptism date 06 Jul 1896
Parish Wandsworth, St Thomas a Becket
Deanery Wandsworth
Diocese Southwark
Father's first name(s) William Augustus
Father's last name McKown
Mother's first name(s) Corcutiae?
Mother's last name St Jean
County Surrey
John
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Looks as though young Dorothy Florence went to Canada.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2Q3F-7JD
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9R-YQZ8 ( Her dob at baptism 12.4.1894)
John
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A photo from the iMuseum:
https://www.imuseum.im/search/archive_record/view?id=mnh-museum-104671&type=archive&tab=all&from=0&term=%22victoria%20street%22&size=80&sort&filter&view&images=true&ttmgp=0&rfname&rlname&machine&race&raceyear&linked=0&pos=41&fbclid=IwAR085fqYnxO9rCz2TXBiEgB7cGabT_ydZeEpDaHW2yig1wCAitDB4sr4Mmk
Photo c1890.
zoom in towards the centre and the separate awning on the left of that row of about half a dozen awnings is #16.
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And a newspaper advertisement.
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Mabel's death
Deaths Jun 1907
ST JEAN Mabel 15 W. Derby 8b 233
John
And her other death reg
Deaths Jun 1907
McKOWN Mabel 15 W. Derby 8b 233
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I have woken this morning to all this extra information to go through - thanks to everyone
I only have the marriage record and not a copy of the certificate so I can't see the signatures
I am still concerned about the age differences perhaps there is a junior and senior William Augustus and also what about the Wellesley-McKown - how to explain the differences in surname
Still hard to think they are the same man
1876 bp Hugh McKown - parents William and Martha so the complexity of generations and relatives is hard to confirm
What did others think about the newspaper article found at the start of these posts Feb 18 1888 - it mentions the Estate of the bankrupt - does that infer that he died?
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What did others think about the newspaper article found at the start of these posts Feb 18 1888 - it mentions the Estate of the bankrupt - does that infer that he died?
Doesn’t “Estate” just refer to the assets available to the creditors?
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found William in 1891, just where he should be, bearing in mind where Mabel Beatrice was born, Seacombe, Cheshire. Also same occupation of William A W McKown on 1901 census. Think he is our man.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:43QC-FPZ
John
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Went for a walk this afternoon,and took photos of 16 Victoria Street, 2 Windsor Road and 4 Windsor Road.
I will be sending these to Alison ;D
I can foresee a trip to Douglas Library to see what else I can find!
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found William in 1891, just where he should be, bearing in mind where Mabel Beatrice was born, Seacombe, Cheshire. Also same occupation of William A W McKown on 1901 census. Think he is our man.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:43QC-FPZ
John
Very Nice John. I am pleased to see it is a transition entry. Ie only knocked 5 years of his age at this point and not yet born in Ireland. :)
BTW. I agree about the form of his K in marriage and 1911.
I wonder why he had an adult baptism ?
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What does the will of Sarah Sole Brisley say?
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Connections:
Baptism (image avialable on FindMyPast)
Rebecca Dadd Goodchild
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7GN-T9Q
Married
Marriages Sep 1840
GOODCHILD Rebecca Dadd Eastry 5 162
Mackounne John Eastry 5 162
Death
Deaths Mar 1890
McKown Rebecca 71 Eastry 2a 641
Baptism (as an adult) 18th June 1880 (Image available on FindMyPast)
William Augustus Mckown
Father John McKown -Commander RN
Mother Rebekah Dad
Baptism
Elizabeth Margaret Goodchild (Image available on FindMyPast)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLWN-Y51
Marriage (Image available on FindMyPast)
Elizabeth Goodchild-spinster-Servant --Abode Charlton--Father John Goodchild occupation "Mariner"
James Thomas-bachelor-abode Charlton- occupation--Gunner in the Royal Artillery-Father William Thomas - occ Printer
James signed, Elizabeth "X" Witnesses Robert Fortune & Caroline Burden
John
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Rebecca
1881 (in the household of a Thomas Goodchild)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLWN-Y51
John
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Have I got this correct
Rebecca Gadd Goodchild (died 1890) married Q3 1840 John McKown (Mackounne)
Rebecca's sister Elizabeth Margaret Goodchild bp 1822 married James Thomas - this fits with William Augustus listed as nephew with them 1861 and 1871
William Augustus McKown born 1857 and bp 1880 - son of Rebecca and John
he marries Martha Sole Howe 1881 and is with her and Sarah Brisley (Martha's auntie) in 1881
1891 census A W McKown (McKnown) with wife Florence B (born Brooklyn USA) - not sure this one
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image of Signature on marriage for you to compare with the 1911
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Have I got this correct
Rebecca Gadd Goodchild (died 1890) married Q3 1840 John McKown (Mackounne)
Rebecca's sister Elizabeth Margaret Goodchild bp 1822 married James Thomas - this fits with William Augustus listed as nephew with them 1861 and 1871
William Augustus McKown born 1857 and bp 1880 - son of Rebecca and John
he marries Martha Sole Howe 1881 and is with her and Sarah Brisley (Martha's auntie) in 1881
1891 census A W McKown (McKnown) with wife Florence B (born Brooklyn USA) - not sure this one
That's exactly what I believe to be correct.
As I mentioned in a pm to you the real clincher in all this would be his marriage in 1908. If he record's his father as John--Commander RN or similar then there will be no doubt, also if he signed his signature could well help.
John.
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James & Elizabeth Thomas can be found together in 1881 census. By 1891 Elizabeth is a widow.
Probably Jame's death--ties in wth where they were living in 1881
Deaths Jun 1889
Thomas James aged 67 Thanet 2a 483
1901 census for Elizabeth
RG13; Piece: 819; Folio: 134; Page: 20
John
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I find all this difficult to process considering that he had a wife Martha Sole Howe who was with her auntie in 1891 listed as married and 1901 still listed as married but a servant at a pub/hotel
Can't find her 1911 and she died Q4 1919 ........... Alison
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Hi Alison, I understand your reservations re all that has developed on this post. I do not think I can offer much more but would appreciate the comments of other's for their views.
John
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I have to say that I agree with John. I do think there is a strong possibility that it is the same chap in the various records which have been posted. There just seem to be too many coincidences! As already suggested it may be that the "clincher" is the Sunderland marriage cert.
Re Martha it is worth noting that divorce was not common at this time and, therefore, while she may have been estranged from William Augustus, it is not surprising that she continued to record herself as married. I have also failed to locate her in the 1911 census but can see a potential entry in the electoral roll for her in 1918, living at 26 Hastings Road, Maidstone. Also recorded at that address are a Thomas and Clara Head.
Going back to the service record of James Thomas it states he was in Gibralter for 11 years 3 months of his service but now see, thanks to John's reply number 42, that the note on the final page re W McKown makes a little more sense as it says " W McKown for assistance for widow" and is dated 8.6.89 which ties in with the death for James. It would be interesting to know what the code attached to this and later entries represent!
All in all I have found this a really interesting search to be involved in.
William
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Many thanks William for your thoughts. Just to add to the mix I think William Augustus was a perpetual liar. Reason, just looked for Martha Sole Mckown in workhouse records and look who I found in Westminster, St marylebone in 1845
John McKown aged 25
Rebecca McKown aged 27
John McKown aged 8.
Record states he was of No Employ, came from Charlton near Dover and married 28.7.1840 one mile out of Dover.
As Ricky Tomlinson would say "Commander RN" My A***
John
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I agree with both John and William
As Ricky Tomlinson would say "Commander RN" My A***
John
at the marriage of John and Rebecca 15th. July 1840 at Deal
John is a sailor of Lower Street, father is William a Dyer
Rebecca's father is John Goodchild, a waterman.
John signed, but Rebecca marked.
None of that seems like a prelude to being a commander in the R.N.
Also - commanders of R.N vessels get their name in the paper a lot.
The only McKown who seems to do that is a Captain in the Royal Artillery
So - Yes the Commander in the R.N. is poppycock
I think he is using the adult baptism on 18th June 1880, father John a commander in the R.N. to establish some credentials.
Interestingly his address is Sarah Brisley's (Cossington House, Rocky Hill)
So I have the impression of a suave young man on the make. Seeing an opportunity to get some money from a widow.
Such that he was prepared to marry Martha who was 6 years older than he.
It is interesting that at the marriage it is William Augustus who gives his address as Cossington House while Martha's is Aylesford. He is really in with the aunt!
I know this is repetition but just to outline my thinking -
in 1888 we know William Augustus is in the Liverpool area (from newspaper re his bankruptcy)
in 1891 the trustees for his bankruptcy are still trying to sort things out and one of them, Mr Sumner, lives in Liverpool
So the 1891 census entry found by John fits in very well and as already commented upon is a nice transition to a later birth date and different place of birth.
In addition his initials have been reversed.
Someone who is W.A. (or A.W.) McKOWN can not thereafter be found
But in 1896 W.A. Wellesley McKOWN shows up relating to the hotel at Oban
then all the rest as already given
1906 court case to do with Mabel. (No Wellesley in that piece)
1907 Mabel dies and Dorothy is sent off to Canada.
1908 marriage
1910 - the skating rink
1910 - the British-Austrian Oil Investment Company Ltd
with the addition that in 1917 he was living in Essex, but I cannot find that entry now.
Anyway
If you could find William Augustus Wellesley-McKOWN before 1891
or William Augustus Mckown after 1891 then of course they would be two different men.
But that does not seem to be the case. One follows on from the other.
I agree the 1908 marriage is well worth getting
and I would like to see if Sarah Brisley made any comments in her will. It seems likely to me that she would if she was leaving anything to Martha, as she would want to prevent it getting into William's hands.
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Thanks for your post. Can I ask where you found the marriage details for John and Rebecca
John
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Thanks for your post. Can I ask where you found the marriage details for John and Rebecca
John
The image is on FindMyPast in “Kent marriages and Banns”
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Thank you, found it
John
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Meanwhile, back on the Isle of Man . . . !!
I looked this morning at Brown's Directory of the Isle of Man for 1881 - no mention of WAK.
Then I looked at Porter's Directory of the Isle of Man for 1889 - again, no mention of WAK.