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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Nottinghamshire => Topic started by: paulmh on Sunday 10 July 16 19:39 BST (UK)

Title: Townrow
Post by: paulmh on Sunday 10 July 16 19:39 BST (UK)
Hi All

It appears that I may have it a stumbling block in researching the Townrow Family Tree and am requesting help in trying to solve a solution.

My father and I had made advances a few years ago in researching the family tree and through research was able to take the family back beyond the 1800's. After being in contact with a RootsChat member and have compared trees there looks to be a question mark over our research.

The issue regards the parents of Henry Townrow - see information below on him and his wife;

Townrow, Henry b: 1808 Babworth, Nottingham bap: 31 Oct 1808 Christ Church, Newark Upon Trent d: 1868 East Retford, Nottingham Occupation: Agricultural Labourer, Sheperd x1

Warsop, Hannah Marriage: 10 May 1832 Edwinstowe, Nottingham Marriage:  b: 1812 Babworth, Nottingham.

Using IGI records on FamilySearch I concluded that his parents were Benjamin Townrow (baptised: 29 March 1775) and Elizabeth Bently (born c1783) - married: 28 January 1804. Our distant cousin on RC has his Henry's parents listed as John Townrow and Mary.

I am open to the fact that my findings are either correct or incorrect - there is also a third scenario where both of us are incorrect but I need to find out the truth one way or the other.

Does anyone know of any conclusive way of finding this information out?
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Pennines on Sunday 10 July 16 19:58 BST (UK)
The names of his sons may give you a clue - especially the eldest as the first born son tended to be named after the father's father (not always though!).

Also have you checked for Wills of potential fathers?
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: paulmh on Sunday 10 July 16 20:04 BST (UK)
The names of his sons may give you a clue - especially the eldest as the first born son tended to be named after the father's father (not always though!).

Also have you checked for Wills of potential fathers?

I don't have the family tree on me to hand but I shall have a look to see if there are any sort of Wills. Do you know where I might find these?
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: ..claire.. on Sunday 10 July 16 20:08 BST (UK)
Hi paulmh

Is he the Henry with Hannah in 1861 that put Headenly as his place of birth ?

There is a baptism in EDINGLEY 1805

Henry Townrow bpt. 20 Feb 1805 St Giles Edingley, son of Thomas and Elizabeth

claire
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: paulmh on Sunday 10 July 16 20:13 BST (UK)
Hi paulmh

Is he the Henry with Hannah in 1861 that put Headenly as his place of birth ?

There is a baptism in EDINGLEY 1805

Henry Townrow bpt. 20 Feb 1805 St Giles Edingley, son of Thomas and Elizabeth

claire

We have him baptised on 31 October 1808

Headingley is in Leeds, unless there is a mistake I cannot image that one being correct.
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: ..claire.. on Sunday 10 July 16 20:15 BST (UK)
Hi Paul

I am aware of Headingley in Leeds, but there is an EDINGLEY in Nottinghamshire too :)

https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Edingley,_Nottinghamshire_Genealogy
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: ..claire.. on Sunday 10 July 16 20:19 BST (UK)
The baptism record I found is on FindMyPast Nottinghamshire baptism records
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: larkspur on Sunday 10 July 16 20:23 BST (UK)
Burial Eaton, All Saints
14-2-1868 Henry Townrow aged 60 abode Eaton.

Burial Newark St Mary Magdalene
5-6-1825 Henry Townrow aged 16 abode Newark. ( born Circa 1808?? more chance this is the one baptised in Newark)
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Sunday 10 July 16 20:23 BST (UK)
Henry and Hannah's children, in case it helps -- all baptised at Babworth All Saints. Henry was listed as labourer, then shepherd; abode Green Mile for them all.

born 1834 12 20   bapt 1835 02 01      Elizabeth   
born 1837 05 22   bapt 1837 06 18      Henry   (mother's name given as Ann)
born 1839 04 16   bapt 1839 05 12      Mary Ann   
born 1841 02 14   bapt 1841 03 21      Thomas   (buried at age 11 months)
born 1843 01 14   bapt 1843 02 12      George   
born 1847 04 24   bapt 1847 06 06      John   
born 1849 09 25   bapt 1849 11 04      Harriet   
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Sunday 10 July 16 20:29 BST (UK)
There are no baptisms for a Hen* Town* with parents John and Mary on the Notts disc. I wonder where this info came from?
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: larkspur on Sunday 10 July 16 20:34 BST (UK)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=7141.msg5980720#msg5980720

Link to the old message, to save anyone- re searching, what has already been found  ;)
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Sunday 10 July 16 20:35 BST (UK)
The specific date of 31 Oct 1808 is the date of baptism for Henry Townrow s/o Benjamin and Elizabeth in Newark -- but Larkspur has found that burial in Newark that muddies those waters.

Baptisms to Benjamin and Elizabeth in Newark between 1805 - 1818: John, William, Henry, Ann, Elizabeth. Benjamin was an ostler at the last baptism.

Baptisms to Thomas and Elisabeth Townrow in Edingley: Henry 1805 and Mary 1807.

I don't think that gets us anywhere!!
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: paulmh on Sunday 10 July 16 21:02 BST (UK)
Hi Paul

I am aware of Headingley in Leeds, but there is an EDINGLEY in Nottinghamshire too :)

https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Edingley,_Nottinghamshire_Genealogy

That is possible if it is a typo/transcription error.
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: paulmh on Sunday 10 July 16 21:05 BST (UK)
The specific date of 31 Oct 1808 is the date of baptism for Henry Townrow s/o Benjamin and Elizabeth in Newark -- but Larkspur has found that burial in Newark that muddies those waters.

Baptisms to Benjamin and Elizabeth in Newark between 1805 - 1818: John, William, Henry, Ann, Elizabeth. Benjamin was an ostler at the last baptism.

Baptisms to Thomas and Elisabeth Townrow in Edingley: Henry 1805 and Mary 1807.

I don't think that gets us anywhere!!

Unless the information I have on Henry are false and he wasn't baptised then but even if this proves to be false I am confident myself and my father have their names correct.
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Sunday 10 July 16 21:09 BST (UK)
Except that there is a burial for Henry Townrow in Newark as per Larkspur's post, and the Henry who married Hannah gives a birthplace which looks/sounds like Edingley ----
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: ..claire.. on Sunday 10 July 16 21:13 BST (UK)
In the 1851 census Henry gives his place of birth as GRAVES LANE.

EDINGLEY:  covers 1,759 acres and includes the hamlets of Osmondthorpe and Graves Lane.
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Sunday 10 July 16 21:15 BST (UK)
paulmh -- where did the baptism date come from?
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Sunday 10 July 16 21:28 BST (UK)
I suspect the Edingley Townrow family moved to Farnsfield with these subsequent baptisms at St Michael  (father Thomas, a labourer; mother Elizabeth, abode Farnsfield):

1810 05 06   Dau   Elisabeth   
1812 10 25   Dau   Sarah   
1816 04 15   Son   George   

There are no Townrow burials at Edingley. Sarah was buried at Farnsfield in Nov 1814.
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Sunday 10 July 16 21:37 BST (UK)
In 1841, Benjamin T is still in Newark;

Benjamin Townrow age 65 cornfactor
Catherine Townrow age 40
Henry Townrow age 3
Catherine Townrow age 5  (all born in county)

There is this burial at Newark
1833 09 12   Elizabeth   TOWNROW    age 54   abode Newark   

then this marriage at Newark
1834 03 13   Benjamin   TOWNROW     and Catherine   GODLEY   

with this baptism subsequently
1838 01 13      Henry son of Benjamin   TOWNROW    and Catherine      Cornfactor      NEWARK St Mary Magdalene   

So it seems that Benjamin was widowed and then married the (much younger) Catherine, with whom he had a son called Henry.

If his first son called Henry (bapt 1808) was still alive, how likely is it that he would call this much younger child by the same name?

Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: larkspur on Monday 11 July 16 14:28 BST (UK)
"I am open to the fact that my findings are either correct or incorrect - there is also a third scenario where both of us are incorrect but I need to find out the truth one way or the other."

I think you are both incorrect,  all the above posts come to the conclusion that YOUR Henry was born Edingley (Headingley)Graves Lane as pointed out by Clare. Headenley (1861 census, family mistranscribed as Townson)

Marriage Farnsfield, St Michael
1-12-1794 Thomas Townrow and Elizabeth Bucklow.
 
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Monday 11 July 16 14:51 BST (UK)
Newspaper report: 13 Sept 1833:

(Deaths) on the 9th. Elizabeth, wife of Mr Benjamin Townrow, corn merchant, Chair-lane, Newark, age 54

(simply added to back up my theory 2 posts above)
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Designer Jeans on Monday 11 July 16 16:24 BST (UK)
I would put other trees aside and work from the known to the unknown, also bearing in mind that unfamiliar names can be recorded in the most incomprehensible way to modern eyes and that ages can be fluid either by accident or by design.  The informant reporting a death may simply not have known the age of the deceased and taken a "best guess" approach.  Ag Labs were often only employed on a farm for a year and moved around a lot.

You know from the 1851 census that your Henry T was born in Graves Lane (a hamlet in Edingley) and from the 1861 census that he was born in Headenley.  A check of the Edingley PRs gives you Henry, son of Thomas and Elizabeth T bpt 20/2/1805.  This is your man.

At his marriage Henry was of the parish of Upton and Hannah Warsop was of the parish of Budby.

Subject to confirmation the rest of the family might then be

Phillimore - Thomas T of Cuckney mar Elizabeth Bucklow of Farnsfield 1/12/1794 Farnsfield
Children
John 17/1/1796 Norton Cuckney
Ann 24/1/1798 Kneesall
Thomas 13/4/1800 Scawby, Lincs
William 25/7/1802 Scawby, Lincs
Henry 20/2/1805 Edingley
Mary 13/4/1807 Edingley
Elizabeth 6/5/1810 Farnsfield
Sarah 25/10/1812 Farnsfield bur 1814 Farnsfield
George 15/4/1816 Farnsfield

Askham burial Thomas T 1841 b 1769

1841 Census Hayton, Notts (??two sisters in law)
Elizabeth T b 1777-1781
Elizabeth Bucklow b 1777-1781

1851 Census Askham
Elizabeth T age 78 (1773) mother born Farnsfield
William T age 46 (1805) son born Sturton, Lincs

Touching to note that Henry had a son who he called Thomas in 1841, the same year that his father Thomas died.










Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: larkspur on Monday 11 July 16 17:06 BST (UK)
Newspaper report: 13 Sept 1833:

(Deaths) on the 9th. Elizabeth, wife of Mr Benjamin Townrow, corn merchant, Chair-lane, Newark, age 54

(simply added to back up my theory 2 posts above)

Probably Chain Lane Annie
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Designer Jeans on Monday 11 July 16 17:59 BST (UK)
Just in case this is of interest to anyone reading this thread who is connected to Benjamin Townrow

Notts Settlement Certificates 1696-1863
Townrow, Benjamin and Mary his wife SC from Langford to Newark 1773
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: paulmh on Monday 11 July 16 19:28 BST (UK)
paulmh -- where did the baptism date come from?

I think it came from IGI records, it was so long ago that I'm not 100% certain
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: paulmh on Monday 11 July 16 19:36 BST (UK)
I would put other trees aside and work from the known to the unknown, also bearing in mind that unfamiliar names can be recorded in the most incomprehensible way to modern eyes and that ages can be fluid either by accident or by design.  The informant reporting a death may simply not have known the age of the deceased and taken a "best guess" approach.  Ag Labs were often only employed on a farm for a year and moved around a lot.

You know from the 1851 census that your Henry T was born in Graves Lane (a hamlet in Edingley) and from the 1861 census that he was born in Headenley.  A check of the Edingley PRs gives you Henry, son of Thomas and Elizabeth T bpt 20/2/1805.  This is your man.

At his marriage Henry was of the parish of Upton and Hannah Warsop was of the parish of Budby.

Subject to confirmation the rest of the family might then be

Phillimore - Thomas T of Cuckney mar Elizabeth Bucklow of Farnsfield 1/12/1794 Farnsfield
Children
John 17/1/1796 Norton Cuckney
Ann 24/1/1798 Kneesall
Thomas 13/4/1800 Scawby, Lincs
William 25/7/1802 Scawby, Lincs
Henry 20/2/1805 Edingley
Mary 13/4/1807 Edingley
Elizabeth 6/5/1810 Farnsfield
Sarah 25/10/1812 Farnsfield bur 1814 Farnsfield
George 15/4/1816 Farnsfield

Askham burial Thomas T 1841 b 1769

1841 Census Hayton, Notts (??two sisters in law)
Elizabeth T b 1777-1781
Elizabeth Bucklow b 1777-1781

1851 Census Askham
Elizabeth T age 78 (1773) mother born Farnsfield
William T age 46 (1805) son born Sturton, Lincs

Touching to note that Henry had a son who he called Thomas in 1841, the same year that his father Thomas died.

I suggested to my father that we do this, dismiss everything which we believe to be true and start from fresh in tracing Henry's father and ancestors. It makes me ponder what else we may have got wrong!

Thank you to all who have contributed.
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: ..claire.. on Monday 11 July 16 19:57 BST (UK)
paulmh

I hope you aren't too disheartened. Everyone makes mstakes at this genealogy lark  :-\ I know I've made some right hooters in the past, but coming onto this site I know there are plenty of people who are only too willing to help you get it right.

Claire :)
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Designer Jeans on Monday 11 July 16 20:53 BST (UK)
As I bang on to my children, mistakes are fine as long as you learn from them!
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: paulmh on Monday 11 July 16 21:00 BST (UK)
paulmh

I hope you aren't too disheartened. Everyone makes mstakes at this genealogy lark  :-\ I know I've made some right hooters in the past, but coming onto this site I know there are plenty of people who are only too willing to help you get it right.

Claire :)

I am disappointed as it dismays everything we've found before. But I can only imagine that years ago I found the IGI records and being naïve I used that as fact.
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Monday 11 July 16 21:25 BST (UK)
Well, you weren't wrong in that one Henry Townrow was baptised on 31 Oct 1808. It just doesn't seem as though it was your Henry who was baptised that day!!

Anyway, if you're going to look at the Edingley Henry, you've got some good information above to kickstart your new hunt.

And you may be interested to know that Henry was actually a pretty successful shepherd - he won prizes in competitions for aspects of sheepherding! (again, from newspaper extracts).
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: ..claire.. on Monday 11 July 16 21:37 BST (UK)
Yes,

I saw those last night in FindMyPast. You should maybe take advantage of tha £1 offer they have for a month. There is a thread on the site about it.
That's also where I found the Edingley baptism.

Happy hunting
Claire  :)
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: Annie65115 on Monday 11 July 16 21:44 BST (UK)
Just to add that as you go further back you might find that the Townrow surname becomes more difficult to track due to spelling differences.

I have "on hold" (ie I'm not certain where exactly they fit into my tree, only that they do somewhere!) one Ann Spray who married a George Toundra in the early 1700s and that surname seems to modify over a couple of generations and may very well have become Townrow.
Title: Re: Townrow
Post by: paulmh on Tuesday 12 July 16 06:41 BST (UK)
I already have access to online newspaper resources but will have a look at FindMyPast website. Thank you.