William BOWDEN of Marwood & Charlotte

[grantleydawn]

I am hoping that someone can help me find more census entries for William BOWDEN & his family.

His baptism record does not exist. The family were Wesleyan Methodists)
He was born about 1813-1817, at Marwood (north of Barnstaple), most probably the son of John BOWDEN & Margaret.

His marriage, as per FreeBMD, is in the Mar 1844 quarter in Barnstaple district. William BOWDEN & Charlotte RIDD (I am guessing that her family name may have been REED)

I would love their 1851 Census firstly, then I hopefully will be able to identify their individual 1841 Census entries.

Between 1848 & 1856 they moved from Devon to Swansea.

Their 1861 Census – Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales;
William BOWDEN, Head, Married, M, 44, Labourer, Born: Devon
Charlotte BOWDEN, Wife, Married, F, 40, Born: Devon
William BOWDEN, Son, 15, Born: Devon
Eliza BOWDEN, Daughter, 13, Born: Devon
Louisa BOWDEN, Daughter, 4, Born: Swansea, Glamorgan
Francis BOWDEN, Son, 2, Born: Swansea, Glamorgan

The 1871 Census – Swansea, Wales
In the household with the ANDREWS family lists;
William BOWDEN, Boarder, Widower, 57, Labourer, Born: Marwood, Devon

I don’t know the fate of Charlotte, the children or William.

Can you help me, please?

Regards
Grantley

[wendy47]

Hi grantleydawn

IGI

William Bowden married  CHARLOTTE RIDD  30 MAR 1844 in Brendon, Devon

Wendy
   

[grantleydawn]

Thank you Wendy.

I missed that one, as I forgot to check the IGI.

If I am interpreting it correctly, Barnstaple & Brendon are not in the same district. He was from the Barnstaple area. There are Barnstaple registrations to match the birth of the children William & Eliza. I guess the church service at Brendon may have been in Charlotte's home parish.

I really hope we can find the 1851 Census, if it exists.

Regards
Grantley

[wendy47]

It is possible she came from Brendon.

I looked in England & Wales but could see no sign in the 1851, unless it is transcribed under another name.

PR's may be your best bet now.

Wendy

[fizzybubble]

If you dont associate Ridd as a North Devon name then you have probably never read "Lorna Doone" by RD Blackmore, in which the star-crossed lovers are Jan Ridd and Lorna Doone !!!!!


In Ancestral File Charlotte Ridd was baptised in Lynton in 1812 to John Ridd and Agnes Smith who were married in Brendon in 1794.

Fizzy

[grantleydawn]

Thank you Wendy & Fizzy,

That gives me something to work with.

Regards
Grantley

[DOB7]

How's this for confusion - in the 1851 census for Devon, the following family are shown:
HO107/1892 Folio 405 page 14, Tullings COttage, Barnstaple

Wm.  BLACKMORE   Head Marr 37 Ag. Lab. b. Marwood-Dev
Charlotte  BLACKMORE Wife Marr 44 Ag Labourer's Wife b.Berrynarbour-Dev
Julia  BOWDEN Moth    Unm 73 F    Pauper b. Marwood-Dev
Wm.  BLACKMORE Son 6 M Labourer's Son b. Brendon-Dev
Eliza  BLACKMORE Dau 4 Labourer's Dau    b. Brendon-Dev
Mary Ann  BLACKMORE Dau 9   Labourer's Dau b. Brendon-Dev

This ties in with the marriage in 1844 in Brendon. So, it may be that William assumed the name BLACKMORE and that his mother was a BOWDEN, which he used when marrying?? (Julia BOWDEN died Dec qtr 1851, Barnstaple district)


A Charlotte LEWIS was baptised at Berrynarbor 2 Mar 1806, dau of James & Ann LEWIS. Given that she didn't marry William until 1844 - could it be that she married a Mr. RIDD who then died before she married William?

Lots of supposition and hypotheticals here, but worth pursuing perhaps.

Have you obtained the 1844 marriage certificate - may contain some clues?

[grantleydawn]

What a wonderful find. Thank you.

My target is the BOWDENs of Marwood and this is another new record for me. My main target is the ancestors of Mary BOWDEN, born c1808. I am looking for her siblings in the hope that it will support my tree.

The BOWDENs, being Wesleyan Methodists, have left few records for me to view from South Australia.

William BOWDEN's record in the 1871 Wales Census is also very confusing. He appears as a boarder with the ANDREWS family. The whole household appears twice, at two different locations.

Regards
Grantley

[DOB7]

Rather strangely, FREEBMD doesn't show a death for a Charlotte BOWDEN in Glamorgan - Swansea disrtict post 1861, but does for a Charlotte BLACKMORE, both in Dec qtr 1862 and March qtr 1863.