BOWEN's in SWANSEA

[ARIJABA]

I'm researching my GGG Grandmother Elizabeth Bowen born circa 1795 in Swansea.

Someone very kindly offered me information that a David Bowen married to an Elizabeth Evans had a daughter Elizabeth at around 1795 and that they married and she was baptized at St Mary's Church in Swansea

I would very much like to hear from anyone with BOWEN connections in Swansea who may have these names in their tree

[Welsh Jen]

 
Hi, If you should need 1851 Glamorganshire Census looks ups or indeed 1881 Uk look ups for the Bowen's of Swansea let me know. Also if you are needing help in the Swansea area I can see if I can help you further.

Regards

Welsh Jen

[ARIJABA]

Thanks Jen

My biggest problem is that Elizabeth, at some time after her birth, moved to Harwich in Essex and in 1815 married my GGG Grandfather
John Double.

I've been trying to think of reasons why she would have moved and the only connection I can find between the two places is The Sea.

A lot of my ancestors where connected with Trinity House or were just Mariners.  If I could find our what job David Bowen did it might help but, being the late 1700's I doubt that would appear in any paperwork.

If they moved before 1815 then he wouldn't appear on any Census in Swansea so, as you can see, I'm trying to break down a really big stone wall.

Any help at all would be very very much appreciated.

I have the 1841 Census for Lancashire and Essex so if I can help you in any way you just have to ask.

[Welsh Jen]

Hello again, I can see your predicament with regards to the years prior to the Census rolls. Have you subscribed to this essex mailing list, you never know it may be valuable to you at some point:

Swansea in S.Wales was in its height of its Industrial Revolution during the 1840's The docks had many ship wrights and dock workers, but the area was also known for copper ore. With regards to Harwich in Essex, perhaps there could some economic reason for them moving there. I have cut and pasted this genuki link for you relating to the Essex region:

http://www.nivek-systems.co.uk/genuki/ESS/index.html#common.

Here may be the information you were given from the LDS site:

Elizabeth Evans 
Female   Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth:  About 1772   Rosilly, , Glamorgan, Wales
 
 Christening: 
 Death: 
 Burial: 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Marriages:
  Spouse:  David Bowen  Family
  Marriage:  29 SEP 1793 
 
There is a webpage with a good description on St Mary's Church in the Centre of Swansea http://swansea.explore-gower.co.uk/stmarys.html

sorry I cannot be any more help to you. If i should come across something which I think may interest you I shall get in touch again.

Regards Welsh Jen

[tjraskin]

Hello Arijaba,

I descend from one David Bowen, a clock maker of Swansea, who was perhaps born about 1750.  He had at least one daughter, Martha Bowen, who was perhaps born about 1775  and was married about 1795 to William Thomas.  William and Martha (Bowen) Thomas had at least one daughter, Joan Thomas, married 26 Feb 1818 in Aberdare, Glamorgan to Rees Lougher, my 4th-great grandparents.

One cousin has a grandfather clock and pewter made by David, perhaps as a wedding gift to his daughter.  This cousin also said that another of David's clocks is at the Museum of Welsh Life at St. Fagan's.  I sent an enquiry to the museum to find additional information about David and his clock.  I am not sure it is on display.

Tom

[ARIJABA]

H Tom

Many thanks for this information.  The David Bowen I believe may be my Elizabeths father was married in 1793 to an Elizabeth Evans.  Do you have any information at all as to the name of your Davids wife?

If we find they are one and the same it would be wonderful.

Awaiting your reply with baited breath!!!!

Regards
Sandra

[tjraskin]

Hi Sandra,

Unfortunately I do not know anything else about my David Bowen, except what I have mentioned.

Your information on David does not give an age, but if he was married in 1793, perhaps he was born about 1770 and would, if so, be about the same generation as my David's daughter, Martha (Bowen) Thomas.

I have come across some Swansea directories online which contain Bowens but those are from the 1820s.

Perhaps they all are related as I do not know how common this surname was in that area.

Tom

[ARIJABA]

Hello Tom
I think Bowen was a pretty common name in the area as when looking for Elizabeth there were several in Glamorgan though not necessarily in Swansea itself.
Elizabeth gave Swansea as her birthplace in the 1851 Census so I have to believe it to be correct.
Guess we will both have to wait and see if someone else comes up with the missing link.  I have learned to be very patient.
All the very best for now.
Sandra

[Seaman]

Hi there,
re you still searching for the Bowens, my great grandmother was a Bowen before she married a Johnson (John Alfred), can this help you?