Genealogy Chat

Can soneone with access to the 1901 census please look up someone for me?

I'm after Nicholas Bowden aged approx 30 (could be plus or minus 5 years) born Devon, he's a bricklayer's labourer
Eleanor Bowden aged approx 30 born Hoxton/Kingsland/Shoreditch

In 1891 they are living in St John's hackney London with their daughter Ellen\Eleanor aged 9m.

Are they still about in 1901 and do they have any more children? I think they'd still be in London somewhere. I'm trying to work out if Eleanor was née Jones.

Thanks in advance
Lesley

Lesley

Have had a quick look and can only see this one for Nicholas:

Ide, Devon

Fanny Mitchell, H, Wid, 63, laundress
Nicholas Bowden, s-in-law, M, 35, ordinary agriculture lab b Newton Abbots Devon
William Rocket, Lodger, 8.

So this Nicholas is married - but where's his wife? Is there a connection with Mitchell's that you're aware of?

Athena

Thanks Athena,

They would definitely be in London. Nicholas was in the 1881 census aged 11 with his mother and stepfather, so he had no reason to go back (I don't think).

Hm... 'Tis a mystery (like all the brick walls I hit when trying to find Jones's).

Is Eleanor around as a widow perhaps?

Well, I searched for a death entry for Nicholas and couldn't see one for his age, so I assumed he must still have been living in 1901.

Have also searched on Eleanor/Ellen Bowden and can't find her. Maybe the surname has been mistranscribed on Ancestry? Will have another check.

Oh, I also searched on their daughter, Ellen/Nellie but couldn't find her either!

The only Nicholas Bowden I spotted in Hackney was a 12 year old boy in a correction school!

Athena

I appreciate your help Athena.

I can't wait until Find My Past get the 1901. Their search engine is so much better than Ancestry...

I've also searched for the marriage of Nicholas and Eleanor but can't find anything. There are not that many Nicholas Bowden's listed and only one for 1890 - and that is the chap in Newton Abbot to someone called Lenora Mitchell. (Strange but Lenora and Eleanor sound a bit alike)

But Eleanor states her birthplace as Hackney, doesn't she?

Also - here's another strange thing. I did a search for births of Nicholas Bowden 1870 +/- 5 years. Only 3 entries appear. Only ONE of those is for Devon! And guess where - Newton Abbot in 1869! Why does everything keep coming back to Newton Abbot I wonder? And if the chap born in Newton Abbot (who is presumably the chap found on the 1901 census above) isn't your Nicholas, then why isn't there a birth entry for another Nicholas born circa that year?

Very strange, eh?

Unless his surname was spelt differently, of course.

Athena

Hoxton, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green.... In the 19th century, it wasn't uncommon for couples to just shack up without getting married. Not because they didn't want to, but because usually they couldn't afford it.

Eleanor Jones's mother and father didn't marry until her mother was 7 months pregnant with Eleanor (who was her second child) and then they got married at 'The Red Church' where the vicar did weddings on the cheap.

http://www.btinternet.com/~eastlondonpostcard/POM2007/Mar07.htm

It makes genealogy a real challenge when they have common names like Jones. When you find an uncommon one to link onto, it's like winning the lottery! LOL

So, you are definite that Eleanor was a Jones before marriage then? Have you got the birth cert of the daughter, Ellen b1890? Just wondering how you discovered Eleanor was a Jones.

Athena

I've bitten the bullet and ordered Eleanor Jnr's birth certificate this morning. All will be revelaed in 5-7 working days... ;)

She is the only Eleanor of the right age, born in the right place that fits really. I so hope it is her, it seems that none of my Jones relatives are at all interested in genealogy, so I'm working from scratch.

Watch this space...