Sowters, you ar driving me nuts!

[rayh]

Please can any help me find out the time frame in which my ancestors came to OZ.
The only information I have is.....
the birth place of one of the men.

James William Sowter
B. 1858 [ possibly in St. Saviours, Southwark England]
M. 30 June 1886 Otford, Woonona NSW.
D. 14 April 1921 Leichhart NSW.
Brides name Mary Tattersall Australian Born.

Now did he come out as a child with his parents as a child? Or did he come to Australia as young man alone?

Forums like FREEBDM and Census etc offer the following as his parents but I have no proof.

James maybe a younger child George b.1819 and Emma Jane Sowter of Tooting Surry England.

If you would be able to help you just might save me from going totally bald.

I have looked in the NSW government assisted and unassisted areas.

Best wishes to all, Rayh.

[jeanettemarie]

Hi Rayh
could these be yours in the 1861 census 13 Collingwood Street Christchurch London
George Sowter Head age 42 Born Tooting
Emma Wife 34 Born Middlesex
Emma dtr 9 Born Christchurch
George son 7 "
Minnie dtr 5 "
James son 2 "
Christopher son 8mths "

RG09 Piece 312 Folio90 page 41 district St Saviour Southwark

Jeanette

[Geoffers]

If that is the right family in 1861, they appear to still be in England in 1871:

RG10/592 f92 p34
13, Collingwood Street, Christ Church, St.Saviour Southwark
Gerge SOWTER, hd, mar, 52, Fishmonger, bn Tooting
Emma Sowter, wf, mar, 43, bn Marylebone
George Sowter, son, 15, Porter, bn Southwark
Minnie Sowter, dau 14, scholar, bn Southwark
William Sowter, son, 13, errand boy, bn Southwark
Christopher Sowter, son, 11, errand boy, bn Southwark
Henry Sowter, son, 1, bn Southwark

Surname difficult to read in the entry - it may be written as SOUTHER?? - I would be more inclined to Sowter

Note that James William looks to be 'Just William' (those who also like the works of Richmal Crompton will understand why I phrased it that way)

[GeoffD]

be 'Just William' (those who also like the works of Richmal Crompton will understand why I phrased it that way)

There is someone out there who remember the William books.

[ChristineR]

James death certificate should give an indication of when he arrived in Australia. Even if it is inaccurate, it usually gives an indication of the likelihood of arriving with family.


ChristineR

[rayh]

Firstly thank you very much to ChristineR, Geoffd and Geoffers for replies.
The Collingwood address does keep coming up and with James [William] Sowter born in the correct year then it certainly is a consideration.

It is possibly that he was is incline to drop the James on certain occasions. There is a William Sowter Able Seaman that served on the Duncan in the Royal Navy. That shows up in the 1881 census, he would have been about 23 years old.
But to be honest with ourselves it is all promising supposition, isn't it.

What is that bit about the William books? I must have been reading the Secret Seven at the time.

Best wishes to all, Rayh

[rayh]

JeannetteMarie,
Good morning,
Thanks for your input. This does seem to be the same family, at least it's seems to be the same family that keeps repeating. All of the figures and names would have to be close enough to accept them. As the same family but the right set of Sowters family for my tree, hard to tell. The three clues they have is James with the right year of birth, then there is George and Emma as parents. I have a marriage certificate for James and that gives me George and Emma as James parents on it.

But the question is, how/when did either James or George arrive in Australia?
I have been told by one of the great listers on this site that there was a WILLIAM Sowter on board a ship called the Duncan, as an able seaman. He was 23 at the time.
But the question is did he jump ship in Australia or did he return to England get out of the Navy and make the move to Australia. If so why can't I find him on other shipping lists?

Best wishes to you and yours, Rayh.

[ChristineR]

This does seem to be the same family, at least it's seems to be the same family that keeps repeating. All of the figures and names would have to be close enough to accept them. As the same family but the right set of Sowters family for my tree, hard to tell. The three clues they have is James with the right year of birth, then there is George and Emma as parents. I have a marriage certificate for James and that gives me George and Emma as James parents on it.

You get proof of parentage by purchasing his birth certificate - if the mother's maiden names match then you are right! was his mother's maiden name mentioned on his marriage?


Not all shipping list survive, and if he arrived as a crew member then he will not be in normal shipping lists.

ChristineR

[RobynAus]

Hi ravh
I am decended from William Sowter (parents Charles and Ann ms Selwyn) he came to Aus in 1821 married Mary Ann Webb and died in 1881. He came from Holbourn London.
regards robyn

[RobynAus]

Hi ravh
I am decended from William Sowter (parents Charles and Ann ms Selwyn) he came to Aus in 1821 married Mary Ann Webb and died in 1881. He came from Holbourn London.
regards robyn

hi rayh
corrections got your name wrong and my William born 1821 and came to Aus in 1842 with his sister Susanna, she later married Joshua Brightcliffe Taylor. William came to Adelaide and married Mary Ann webb and died while on a trip to Victoria. They had 6 children sorry about that.
regards robyn