Hi Jan,
As mentioned on the Carver Ramblings thread, I spent a day at Hertford last week. I was trying to find the connection between Samuel Carver of Bowles and Carver Printsellers of London and Samuel Carver of Southill apprenticed to Edward Watts of Hitchin. I was fairly certain that Samuel jnr was a son from Samuel senior's first marriage to Margaret Walker. While I have not found absolute proof, mainly because the Southill Carvers were strong non conformists and therefore no baptisms found, I have found a lot of circumstantial evidence.
First the timeline:
1744 - Samuel Thomas Carver of Southill apprenticed to Edward Watts, wheelwright of Hitchin in 1744 (SOG apprentices) Query was this one or two people, no sign found of a Thomas Carver in Hitchin
1749 - Edward watts living in Bull Street Corner (Poor Rate Assessments)
8 Apr 1752 Carrington Bowles (founder of print company) m Ann Field Hitchin St Mary
10 Oct 1754 - Samuel Carver m Margaret Walker St Ippolytes
1754 - 1756 - Sam Carver resident in Bull Street Corner, "disappears" until 1764, but Charles Bowles "appears" in same location until death, did he own property and was he paying rates instead of Sam? (Poor Rate Assessments)
1756 - Sam Carver jnr born (from obituary)
25 Oct 1758 - Margaret Carver buried St Ippolytes
15 Apr 1759 - Sam Carver m Mary Prior Hitchin St Mary
1760-1765 - 4 Children born
19 Feb 1763 - Charles Bowles gentleman buried Hitchin St Mary
1764-1767 - Sam Carver reappears resident in Tiled House Street, Hitchin. No Bowles in Bull Street Corner - was it sold?
25 Feb 1767 - Sam Carver buried Hitchin St Mary
Sep 1767 - Widow Carver and 3,2 paid various sums in poor relief (Overseers accounts)
25 Mar 1768 - Thomas, Mary, John, Elizabeth carver baptised Hitchin St Mary
Sep 1769 - Widow Carver in Workhouse
29 Dec 1773 - Thomas Carver apprenticed to James Alldred, Silk Weaver, of Bethnal Green, Middlesex for the sum of £5 paid by Mr John Midwinter Treasurer of Mr Kemp's Publick Charity of Hitchin
7 Dec 1777 - Mary Carver buried Hitchin St Mary
25 Mar 1778 - John Carver apprenticed to William Estwick, a Weaver, for a sum of £5 paid by John Midwinter Treasurer of Mr Joseph Kemp's Publick Charity in Hitchin.
Sam jnr eventually went into partnership with Henry Carrington Bowles, son of Henry Bowles.
Conclusions:
The Bowles link is there.
4 children baptised after Samuel senior's death, possibly forced in order to continue poor relief. By this time Samuel junior had possibly gone to London to work for Henry Bowles, but initially after death of father poor relief shows Mary and 3 boys, 2 girls, perhaps the only evidence there was an extra child?
On Henry Bowle's marriage settlement certificate he is described as a citizen of London and his possible brother is a Joiner of London. Sam jnr eventually became a member of the Worshipful Company of Joiners.
What do you think?
Chris
