born in india

[Neale1961]

I am not having any luck finding when and why he became "Sir" Samuel Bowen, or any connection to Peterborough.

As the OP is not responding, I think I'll take a pause.

[mckha489]

Yes.

A couple of comments. 

 Was there a place named Peterborough in Calcutta?
It seems every male Gasper in Calcutta had Malcolm as one of their names ..I exaggerate but there are certainly many.

[Neale1961]

Was there a place named Peterborough in Calcutta?

There is a Peterborough in UK, in Canada, in Australia.
I don't know about India?

[mckha489]

Was there a place named Peterborough in Calcutta?

There is a Peterborough in UK, in Canada, in Australia.
I don't know about India?

Yes exactly, that is why I wondered.

Christchurch, NZ, has a Peterborough Street.

[Neale1961]

Elizabeth Ann SMITH (born 1838 Bengal) married George Sheburgh WILLIAMS in Calcutta on 6 Feb 1857
(There are a couple of possible deaths for George in Bengal – most likely is in 1861)
-   daughter Rosabella Angelina WILLIAMS (aka BOWEN) born 1860; died 29 April 1890.
   Rose appears to have been adopted by Samuel William Bowen, as she married as Rose BOWEN in 1876 to Peter EASTWOOD. Issue:- Maude Ethel 1879, Mabel Edith 1881, Frederick Percival 1886, Rosalie 1889.


Elizabeth Ann WILLIAMS (nee Smith) married Samuel William BOWEN in Calcutta 27 Jan 1868
-   daughter Mary Teresa BOWEN born 15 Dec 1869; baptised 22 Apr 1870
(When did Elizabeth die? Perhaps in childbirth?)


Children born to Samuel William BOWEN and Adelaide Virginia GASPAR (1855- 1929)

1.   Henry / Harry William BOWEN born 1874 (no bapt record); died 2 Jan 1885 “… the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S.W. Bowen, of Spleen, aged 11 years, 10 months, and 21 days.”

2.   Annie BOWEN born 2 Jan 1875, baptised 17 June 1879.
1st Married 1896 Calcutta to John Trevor DIGHT;     2nd marriage 1906 Madras to Herbert Alfred PERRIN. Issue:- Elizabeth Annie DIGHT 1897, Violet May Dight 1899.

3.   Walter BOWEN born 16 Dec 1876; baptised 18 March 1878.
Married 1908 Bengal to Iris FERANGE; Issue:- Ernest John William 1909, Samuel Alwin 1912, Synthia Uriel Marie 1913, Walter Gerald 1915,  Lorna May 1916, Gladys Nellie 1921

4.   Winifred BOWEN born 13 Dec 1878, baptised 17 June 1879.

5.   Frank William Charles BOWEN born 29 Jan 1881; baptised 13 Feb 1881.
Married 1904 Bengal to Aileen Ida MURPHY; Issue:- Maurice William 1905, Dorothy Ida 1906, Edward Ivor 1908, Reginald Charles 1912, Sidney Louis 1922.

6.   Alice Mary/May BOWEN born 29 May 1884; baptised 3 Dec 1884. Died 22 June 1914. Married 1899 Bengal to Robert Hays RELPH. Issue:- Mabel Alice RELPH 1901, Herbert Harry RELPH 1902.

7.   Arthur William BOWEN born 26 Nov 1888; baptised 3 April 1889.
1st Married 1909 to Georgiana McGUIRE.    2nd married 1924 Bengal to Agnes McGUIRE. Issue:- Mansel William 1910, Reginald Arthur 1912, Doreen 1914, Nancy 1916, Jack Granville 1917, Samuel James 1925, Mary 1928, Freda Rachel 1929.

8.   Nellie BOWEN born 1 March 1889; baptised 25 March 1908.
Married 1907 Bengal to Oliver Walker McGUIRE. Issue:- James Arthur 1909, Clifton John 1910, Marjory Doreen 1912, Patrick Bowen 1915.

9.   Mercy BOWEN born 11 April 1893; baptised 5 May; died 7 May 1893

10.   Charles BOWEN born 1896 (no bapt record); died 24 Feb 1903

[dollopofdusesbury]

Thanks for all you help, this just gets more confusing the more you find out.
As far as I can tell my Samuel William Bowen was born in Peterborough in the UK. I don't think he was Sir Samuel, I think that is someone else although a dna link on Ancestry does have him in their tree.
I think my Samuel married Elizabeth Ann Williams nee Smith a widow at the time of their marriage. And had my great grandmother, Alice May Bowen, who died of Hydrophobia aged 29. While looking for her I have found many Bowens in New Zealand.
I do have my great grandfather coming back to the UK alone in 1927 and then returning to India. Then returning to  England for good with his son, daughter in law and two grandchildren in 1947. My Grandmother married a soldier in the Hampshire regiment and came to England for the first time in 1919. This has been an immense help and a lot to look through, big thanks to everyone who has taken the time to find this stuff out for me. Alan.

[mckha489]

Deleted, because your post went in above mine 😀. It must have been held up in approvals.

[Neale1961]

Thanks for all you help, this just gets more confusing the more you find out.
As far as I can tell my Samuel William Bowen was born in Peterborough in the UK. I don't think he was Sir Samuel, I think that is someone else ………..

Hi Susan/ Alan,
 there is more information found, and to be found, but it has not been posted because you have not responded, despite having been online many times since you asked for help and started this thread. The more you engage with those people making posts to assist you, the more you are likely to get out of the forum.

For what it’s worth, I think the “Sir” title may have been self-appointed, by Samuel.

[ShaunJ]

For what it’s worth, I think the “Sir” title may have been self-appointed by Samuel.

Or by his widow.

I haven't found him in any Thackers Directories. In 1893 at the time of Mercy's baptism he was a permanent way inspector for the Eastern Bengal State Railway.