Cowen - Brickwall

[mammyfitz]

hi to all,
here is my brickwall....
I'm researching my family tree and although i've got most of my grandfather's paternal side, his maternal side is posing somewhat of a problem. It starts with his mother who was born on 10th december 1886, she was called Ada and was born to a Henry and Betsey Cowen (formerly Auger) in Lower Wincobank Ecclesfield. Henry was an engraver and she was registered by her mother on 5th January 1887.I have her birth cert. By the time of her marriage she had changed her surname to Hallgath even though she was declared as a spinster on the marriage Cert and her father is down as _____Hallgath(Dec).

This marriage took place in Sempringham Abbey, Pointon Lincs on either 8th June or 8th July 1910 after banns to Thomas Todkill. I have tried to find any records of her parents but have had no luck, especially with her mother. I think that i had found Henry and i believe that by the time of the 1891 census he had died. If it is the right one he was married previously and had 6 children with his 1st wife who was called Mary. She died in 1880 and on the 1881 census he is listed as a widower and went by the first names of John Henry Cowen.

I can find no record of a marriage to Betsey Auger nor any records of her existance either prior to Ada's birth or afterwards.Neither can i find anything on Henry's previous children ( i have assumed that as a single working man he may have placed them in the workhouse as the eldest was only 11 and the youngest was 2) if he had, this in effect would have left him free to remarry with no ties but this is all supposition.

So that is as far as i have got, i do have some photos of Ada as a young woman and she doesn't look like she is poverty stricken as they are studio portraits and she is really rather well dressed so i did wonder if she was ever adopted after her father died? which would then maybe account for the name change, it could have been that her mother remarried to a Mr Hallgath but i couldn't find any record of this either. And that is my brickwall, so if anyone out there could help it would really be appreciated as no-one in my family knows anything about her before she married my great grandad. Thank you for reading this rather long post
Sarah

[Sue Mackay]

Is this ada on the 1901 census?

RG13; Piece: 3029; Folio: 21; Page: 11 (original TNA Crown Copyright)

Browntoft Lane, Donington

Elizabeth HALLGATH Wid 79 b Lincs, Friskney
Ada C HALLGATH granddaughter 14 General servant (not domestic) b Sheffield

[Coromandel]

Hello mammyfitz and welcome to the forum:)

Although the names Auger and Hallgath look very different, they could sound alike . . so perhaps this isn't a change of name at all, just two different ways of writing down the same name? At a time when many people had little or no education, such 'soundalike' variations were very common. Perhaps Hallgath is a variant of HALLGARTH, which seems to be more common to judge from FreeBMD.

[Sue Mackay]

OK (to help others help you) John Henry COWEN (engraver) and his children from his first marriage are on the 1881 census in Sheffield
RG11; Piece: 4640; Folio: 67; Page: 31 TNA Crown coyright)

Of these children I have found the following:

John Arthur married Hannah Hamnett Sep qtr 1898 Eccleshall Bierlow RD (9c/613). They are on the 1901 census in Derbyshire. RG13; Piece: 3257; Folio: 134; Page: 10 (TNA Crown Copyright) with a 2 year old daughter and also a 9 year old 'son' with a different name - stepson? Hannah was born in Damascus.

Walter married Hilda Fletcher Mar qtr 1898 Sheffield RD (9c/612). They are on the 1901 census in Eccleshall Bierlow RG13; Piece: 4356; Folio: 140; Page: 27 (TNA Crown Copyright) with a young daughter, also Hilda.

Doesn't help with Ada of course :frown:

[olliecat]

Is this ada on the 1901 census?

RG13; Piece: 3029; Folio: 21; Page: 11 (original TNA Crown Copyright)

Browntoft Lane, Donington

Elizabeth HALLGATH Wid 79 b Lincs, Friskney
Ada C HALLGATH granddaughter 14 General servant (not domestic) b Sheffield


Ada appears to be in the 1911 census in Lincolnshire.
RG14/19450 SN14

Following the grandmother Elizabeth back throught the census, this could be her with her family, including daughter Betsey...

1871: RG10 Piece: 3337 Folio: 31 Page: 4 (crown copyright, care of the TNA)
Poor Row, Frieston
HALGATH Thomas, head, 65, ag labourer, Freiston Lincolnshire
HALGATH, Elizabeth, wife, 43, Friskney Lincolnshire
HALGATH, Mary, dua, 11, Freiston Lincolnshire
HALGATH, Betsey, dua, 8, Freiston Lincolnshire
HALGATH, Scharlot, dua, 6, Freiston Lincolnshire
HALGATH, Alise, dua, 1, Freiston Lincolnshire

[Richard1955]

Well spotted Olliecat.
In 1881 Betsy Halligate with same birth year and place can be found as a servant to the McKenzie family
in Altringham Cheshire. RG11 3502/58/3

Betsey Halgate birth reg: Sept qtr. 1862. Boston 7a 343

Moderators Note:
Crown Copyright is administered by The National Archives who have custody of the census.
Crown Copyright is relinquished in relation to documents in their care (e.g. census returns), provided that:
1. The full reference is given - in the case of a census this is the class/piece folio and page number
2. Acknowledgement is given that the census is in the custody of TNA.

[mammyfitz]

Wow,
replies so soon. Thanks to all for that so far. I never connected Auger with sounding like Hallgath,possibly because round here they don't really sound that similar but with a yorkshire accent they may well do. I had also come accross that listing in 1901 for Ada C Hallgath and thought there may be a connection as she was born in Sheffield. Did wonder if the C stood for cowen as she has no middle name recorded on birth cert. Also the age would fit with her age when married. I do know that Henry was Jewish and that Ada knew she was Jewish but told no-one and it was discovered by my grandad when sorting out her things after she died, (apparently she converted to church of england when she married Thomas Todkill and it was documents pertaining to this conversion that were found,unfortunately they weren't kept and were thrown away). If the Betsey Halgath in Freiston was Ada's mother not sure how she got to Sheffield so that might be worth pursuing. Is it possible that Ada was not Elizabeth's graddaughter and was just a servant but put down on the census as such? I must admit from my photos she doesn't look like a servant, but they could easily be her "best" clothes. Once again thanks for your help already . Also really good to find something out about Henry's previous children.

[mammyfitz]

Hi Richard1955,
Thanks for that piece of info. Halgates are quite well known in Boston and have been opticians in the town for years, i believe at the moment it is run by a D. Halgate, i'm not sure that any daughter of theirs would have married a poor farmer but you never know strange things happen.

[olliecat]

Is it possible that Ada was not Elizabeth's graddaughter and was just a servant but put down on the census as such?

It's quite possible for a mistake to be made with the relationships. However, I doubt the same mistake would be made twice. Perhaps you should look at the 1911 census; reference is posted above.

[mammyfitz]

just did a quick search on the 1911 census, there is an Ada Todkill who is listed as 39 and being born in 1872. This does not fit with the birth date that i've got, as the Ada i want wasn't born until 1886. To be fair i have not viewed the actual transcript yet as i need credits for that but as soon as i get some i will be looking in detail as there may be some clue there .

[olliecat]

just did a quick search on the 1911 census, there is an Ada Todkill who is listed as 39 and being born in 1872. This does not fit with the birth date that i've got, as the Ada i want wasn't born until 1886.

The surname on findmypast is transcribed as TODHILL. You can either use the provided census reference, or search for Ada TODHILL born 1887. :smile5:

Note: Looking at the image, the name does look TODHILL. However, for this particular handwriting, the letter k could easily be mistaken for the letter h.
I.e. Yorkshire looks like Yorhshire.

[mammyfitz]

i tried to use the reference that was provided but i wasn't sure how it fitted into the boxes that i was supposed to fill in as it didn't seem to follow the set format, but it could just be me. Also i did say that i hadn't actually viewed the transcript as that required credits to view which at this precise moment i haven't got. I have been away from doing this for the last year so alot of my subscriptions have lapsed and any credits remaining have been lost on various sites as they have expired. As soon as i can afford it i will renew them. Thank you for pointing out that her name has been transcribed as Todhill rather than Todkill, often the name has come up as being Todkin as well, it can be very difficult to read some of the originals and it would make sense that sometimes letters are not quite right but that adds to the fun of deciphering these things.

[olliecat]

i tried to use the reference that was provided but i wasn't sure how it fitted into the boxes that i was supposed to fill in as it didn't seem to follow the set format, but it could just be me.

To tide you over until you get some credits, :smile: if you go to the 1911 census site...

www.
1911census.co.uk


Click on search the 1911 census.
Click on the "show advanced fields" button.
In the "census reference" box at the bottom, paste in the reference RG14PN19450 SN14
Click "Search"

You should then see the family along with some of their details.

As an aside, I thought I should mention that the Summary Book on Ancestry has the surname transcribed as TODKILL.

[Sue Mackay]

Thomas HALLGATH married Elizabeth Hill VOUCHER Boston RD Dec qtr 1856 (7a/777)

1861 census: RG9; Piece: 2333; Folio: 78; Page: 4 (original TNA Crown Copyright)

Freiston, Lincs

Thomas Halgath 56 Labourer b Freiston
Elizabeth wife 33 b Friskney
Ann 3 b Butterwick, Lincs
Mary R 1 b Freiston

In 1871 they are as found by olliecat with Mary still at home and Betsey, Charlotte and Alice

Betsey HALLGATH birth registered Boston Sep 1862 (7a/343)

1881 census: RG11; Piece: 3215; Folio: 88; Page: 4 (original TNA Crown Copyright)

Freiston, Lincs

Thomas HALLGATH 75 b Freiston
Elizabeth 58 b Leake
Alice 11 b Freiston
John 7 b Freiston

[Coromandel]

Digital images of some of the Freiston parish registers are online on 'Lincs to the Past'. Go to their Advanced Search page at

http://www.
lincstothepast.com/advanced-search/

Type par1 freiston into the 'With all the words' box for a list. On the second page of results, there's a link to the baptism register for 1836-1895.

I only had time for a quick peek, but did find Charlotte Voucher HOLGATH, daughter of Thomas (labourer) and Elizabeth of Freiston, baptised in Nov 1865 (this is on page 56). A more systematic search may well reveal more of the family.

Edit:
Betsey HOLGARTH (dau of Thomas and Elizabeth) was baptised on 3 August 1862 (p.51)

[olliecat]

Thomas HALLGATH married Elizabeth Hill VOUCHER Boston RD Dec qtr 1856 (7a/777)

Some details of this marriage from the Linconshire Marriage Index (Boston spreadsheet)...

Marriage on the 16 Dec 1856 at Butterwick.
Thomas Hallgath, father James. Elizabeth Hill Voucher, father Thomas.

http://
mi.lincolnshiremarriages.org.uk/

Looking for a baptism for Elizabeth Hill Voucher, there are these two on FamilySearch...

name: Elizabeth Hill Voucher
baptism/christening date: 13 Jan 1828
baptism/christening place: Friskney, Lincoln, England
mother's name: Elizabeth Voucher

name: Elizabeth Hill Voucher
baptism/christening date: 13 Jan 1828
baptism/christening place: Friskney, Lincoln, England
mother's name: Charlotte Voucher

It's the same date for both. Looking through the baptism registers for Friskney on the lincstothepast website, I can see the one where it says the mother is Elizabeth.

www.
lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=598352&iid=255314

So I'm a bit puzzled about the one where it has mother Charlotte. Particularly since there is also this record..



Removal order
Reference Name FRISKNEY PAR/13/12/112

Elizabeth Hill Voucher (born 18 Dec 1827), illegitimate daughter of Charlotte, the wife of George Bradbury Hall, labourer, from Frieston to Friskney.
With examination of Charlotte Hall.

Date: 22 Dec 1841

www.
lincstothepast.com/Removal-order/725811.record?pt=T



There is also this marriage from FamilySearch...

groom's name: George Bradbury Hall
bride's name: Charlotte Voucher
marriage date: 24 Jan 1837
marriage place: Butterwick Holland, Lincoln, England

[Coromandel]

Looking for a baptism for Elizabeth Hill Voucher, there are these two on FamilySearch...

name: Elizabeth Hill Voucher
baptism/christening date: 13 Jan 1828
baptism/christening place: Friskney, Lincoln, England
mother's name: Elizabeth Voucher

name: Elizabeth Hill Voucher
baptism/christening date: 13 Jan 1828
baptism/christening place: Friskney, Lincoln, England
mother's name: Charlotte Voucher

It's the same date for both. Looking through the baptism registers for Friskney on the lincstothepast website, I can see the one where it says the mother is Elizabeth.

Putting the two film numbers into the LDS 'Library Catalog', I see that the entry giving mother's name Charlotte comes from the Bishops' transcripts for Freiston, whereas the one saying Elizabeth is from the original parish register. The fact that Thomas & Elizabeth called a daughter Charlotte Voucher Halgath, together with that interesting removal order you've found, makes Charlotte seem the likelier mother's name. So in this case it looks as if the parish register may be wrong and the BT right.

Going back to Thomas & Elizabeth's children, here are a few more Freiston baptisms, from Lincs to the Past:

Mary Rebecca, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth HOLGARTH, Freiston, labourer, baptised 26 Feb. 1860 (image 47).
Alice, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth HALGARTH, Freiston, labourer, baptised privately, 7 March 1868 (image 60).
Alice, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth HOLGARTH, Freiston, labourer, baptised 10 Oct 1869 (image 62).
Thomas, son of Thomas & Elizabeth (HALLGATH?), Freiston, labr, bapt 11 Oct 1871 (image 65).
John William, son of Thomas & Betsy HALLGATH, Freiston, labourer, bapt. 18 January 1874 (image 71).

Suspecting that the first Alice and Thomas may have died young, I checked the Freiston burial register and found

Alice Halgath, Freiston, buried 11 March 1868, aged 2 weeks
Thomas Hallgath, Freiston, buried 15 Oct 1871, infant

[Coromandel]

One more for the collection, this time from the Butterwick baptism register (on Lincs to the Past):
Ann daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth HOLGATH, Butterwick, labourer, baptised 22 November 1857
This ties in with the 1861 census found by Sue (post #14), which says Ann was born in Butterwick.

[mammyfitz]

Hi to all thanks for all the searching that you have done for me,
i will have a good look at all the links and if we have cracked this brickwall i will be happy to report the findings.
All the best to everyone
sarah