Looking for John Bowater

[cristol]

Hi Everyone, I would appreciate any help you Northampton folks may be able to provide. I haven’t posted this on “brickwalls” because I haven’t yet exhausted all avenues, however..I am trying to locate the place of birth for a John Bowater – the only clue I have is the 1851 census where his place of birth is given as Northampton. His birth date is anywhere between 1802 and 1806 according to the few sources I have.
I have found some baptisms on the IGI in Kings Cliffe for a Bowater family around this time, but no mention of a John. Just wondered if anyone might have some knowledge of this area. Many thanks, Lesley

[Peter Goodey]

If he was born n Northampton and assuming he was C of E, the IGI won't be of any use to you.

The obvious approach is to search the Northampton parish registers.

If that doesn't provide the answer, there's a Northants Baptism Index but I don't know anything about its quality.

[sue2white]

Kings Cliffe is now in Cambridgeshire, but was Northants. It is about 20 miles North East of Northampton. So if he was born Northampton (Town), I would suggest that isn't him on the IGI, but if he was born in Northampton County....it could be. Not much help really.
The 1841 would not be much help, but is he on the 1861? Or had he died by then?

Sue

[cristol]

The 1841 would not be much help, but is he on the 1861? Or had he died by then?

Sue

Yes, unfortunately (and inconveniently!) he died in 1858.
Possibly located in Kent in 1841 but working in a hotel and not with family, so no clues there.

Thanks Peter and Sue - will have to make the journey up the M1 to Northants at some point I suppose.
Lesley

[janbooth]

Hi Lesley,

This is pure speculation but may perhaps give you some ideas. Looking on the Northamptonshire Marriage Index for any male BOWATER marriages just before John's date of birth, there is only one on the whole Index which covers 1700-1837 and that is on 24 March 1801 at Bulwick by licence of a William BOWATER and a Susanna RAYSON of Cliff Regis.

Then looking for John on the 1851 census, I found one in South Mimms, Barnet who is a Licensed Victualler with wife Elizabeth and daughter Elizabeth aged 7 - so I am assuming this is your family as he is the only one I can find with a Northants connection. Wife Elizabeth is born in Edgware - no place of birth shown for daughter Elizabeth. However, looking for an Elizabeth BOWATER born c1844 on the GRO Index, the only one I can find is one born March qtr 1844 in Middlesex and she appears on Ancestry's London Parish Records as baptised 11 February 1844 at Edgware in the borough of Barnet, the daughter of John & Hannah BOWATER, Baker, Edgware. Hannah BOWATER was buried at St Margaret Edgware on 27 May 1846, aged 38. There is then a subsequent marriage at St George the Martyr on 1 December 1847 of a John BOWATER, full age, Widower, Baker, Harpur Mews, father William BOWATER, Exciseman and Elizabeth WOODWARD, full age, widow, 50 Eagle Street, father William ANDERSON, Farmer. John signed, Elizabeth made her mark and the witnesses were William WRAY and Margaret DUNBURY?.

As I say, pure speculation at this time but perhaps food for thought especially as BOWATER does not seem to be a particularly common name and in my own tree the profession of Baker has often been linked with that of a Victualler.

Janet

[cristol]

If he was born n Northampton and assuming he was C of E, the IGI won't be of any use to you.

Peter, sorry to be a bit thick but don't understand why IGI wouldn't be of use - I'm sure I have found other C of E entries on there and there are bishops transcripts for Northampton on there. Would appreciate your knowledge on this subject as family search has always been a bit of a minefield for me.

cheers,
Lesley

[cristol]

Wow Janet – you seem to have found almost everything I know about John and his family (and more) in a few hours, that has taken me ages to find.
Yes, you are right – the John and Eliz in South Mimms is my family and all your other findings are correct. What I didn’t know was that Hannah was buried at St Margarets – so many thanks for that.
The marriage of William and Susanna is at the correct time and seems a distinct possibility and must be worth following up on. As I said in my original post – I did find a family in Kings Cliffe, which I think could be this one, but nothing about John. Also, I was hoping that his father William being an Excise officer might have given me some leads (more hopeful than my usual labourers and servants)-but nothing yet. Interesting about the link between bakers and victuallers.

Many, many thanks for your hard work, it is much appreciated.

Lesley

[janbooth]

Hi again Lesley,

The family in King's Cliffe seems to be children William, Jane and Byzantha (lovely name - so much better than loads of Mary's or Elizabeth's!!). Jane appears to have married at Deene on 6 October 1834 to a George HUDSON of Great Giddin, Hunts, she being shown as of the parish of Deenethorpe (extremely close to Bulwick where the marriage of William & Susanna took place). This is the only female BOWATER marriage on the Marriage Index 1700-1837 and there are no BOWATER marriages on the 1837-60 Marriage Index at all, so the BOWATER family does not seem to be very prolific in Northants!!

I can't find William sen or jnr in the census records with any certainty nor can I find any trace of Byzantha. Jane & George HUDSON are in Glapthorn in the 1851 census, he being described as a Carpenter & Joiner together with their 7 children one of whom is a George Rayson HUDSON, so at least this confirms that this Jane is the daughter of William & Susanna but of course whether this is your John's family, I don't know. I think the only way you are likely to prove this is to look at the parish registers of Kings Cliffe and/or Bulwick and Deene to see if your John was baptised in the vicinity and whether the William BOWATER who sired William, Byzantha and Jane is ever described as an Exciseman in the parish registers.

Janet

[cristol]

Thanks Janet - I agree Byzantha is a great name - and a godsend to research I would think - should be easy to keep track of.
You are right, I am going to have to look at the Parish Registers in an around Northampton at some point. I posted in the forum just as a last throw of the dice really before packing my bags for a trip to Northants. It's not that far from me but it's just finding the time. Thanks again for your help - my subscription to A****** has expired and I am trying to resist the temptation and outlay for a bit longer but will have to give in soon. At least with the other names you have given me I have other avenues to explore as well.
regards
Lesley

[southistle]

The Northamptonshire Baptism Index 1751-1812 has

John BOWATER son of William and Susannah bapt 11th Apr 1801 at Bulwick

No occupation is given for William in this baptism or the 3 in Kings Cliffe