Brickwall - James Bowers - Stockport

[tjog42]

Hi there, I've had this brick wall for a while and wondering if you can help me break it.

It's James Bowers, birth place listed in the censuses as Stockport, birth year varies but somewhere between 1832-1836 seems most likely.

I've found him in the 1861 to 1911 censuses, but no record of him before that.  I've also looked in the cheshire BMD.

He lived in Marple from 1861, married to Mary Ann Bowers (Pickford) had two living children James Thomas Bowers 1860ish, and Eliza Ann Bowers 1868ish.  Also a niece listed as Maria Hambleton 1883ish from Hyde


If anyone could help me find information such as a concrete birthyear, his parents, or if he had any siblings it would be highly appreciated.

Thank you

[osprey]

Welcome to Rootschat!

Do you have the marriage certificate for James & Mary Ann?

I think the niece, Maria, is Maria Hamilton birth registered sept qtr 1882 Stockport mmn Harrison. baptised Hyde St Thomas 6 Sept 1882 daughter of James & Ellen Hamilton.

Parish marriage Bredbury 12 Oct 1879
James Hamilton full bach hatter this parish father Thomas Hamilton labourer
Ellen Harrison full spinster this parish father James Harrison mechanic
witnesses James Thomas Bowers & Jane Goddard

Possible death reg for Ellen Hamilton age 23 march qtr 1884 Stockport

birth reg James Hamilton june qtr 1860 Stockport vol 8a pg 14 mmn Bowers

1861 census - James is on following page
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7JW-4K7

Haven't found the Hamilton-Bowers marriage as yet or a possible 1851 census.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

1851? address Red  ??, Romiley, Stockport district

Thomas Hambleton    29    Head b Bollington
Mary Ann Hambleton         23    Wife b Stockport
Eliza Hambleton                      1    Daughter  b Stockport
James Rowles                   20    Lodger
James Bower                           20 Lodger b Manchester

[CaroleW]

There is an 1841 entry for Stockport for a James Bower 25 occ piecer plus James Bower 9

Both born in county

Piece 113
Book 2
Folio 6
Page 7

[Mabel Bagshawe]

There's also a James Bower b Wilmslow c1831 on 1861, married to Dinah, so need to be careful about this

[Mabel Bagshawe]

this looks like Maria's father on 1871 in Hyde. I think Thomas  is James Bower's landlord from 1851

Thomas Hamilton    46    b Bollington
Mary Hamilton   41    Wife
Eliza Hamilton    21    Daughter
Thomas Hamilton   18    Son
William Hamilton   16    Son
James Hamilton    12    Son
Emma Hamilton   8    Daughter
Mary Hamilton   3    Daughter

[Mabel Bagshawe]

I can find registrations for most of the children with mmn Bowers

[tjog42]

Thank you everyone for all your help!

I have James and Mary's marriage certificate on order, so hopefully that should come soon. They were married in St.Marys, Cheadle in 1853 apparently.

With him being married in Cheadle, I think he might not have been from Stockport proper at all, but the surrounding areas like Hulme.

Thank you for the research into Maria, think we're onto a winner there.

[osprey]

I wonder if this could be the baptism for Mary Ann

12 Sept 1830 Stockport Mary Ann daughter of James (spinner) & Eliza Bower of Hillgate

Possible burial 31 March 1833 Bethesda Methodist Chapel Stockport Eliza Bowers 22