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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Mauritius123 on Friday 22 October 10 09:55 BST (UK)

Title: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Mauritius123 on Friday 22 October 10 09:55 BST (UK)
Hi,

We have been researching family history for many years now and have hit a dead end with Joel Rowsell.

We believe he was born in 1806 and died in 1886.  We can find him on the 1851 and 1881 census as living in London where he was a Master Bookseller.

If you google him there are many references to his book shop on the Strand.

We have heard from someone on another forum that he is buried in Highgate Cemetry and are currently investigating this.

He does not appear on any earlier census and there had always been suggestions that he spent his early years at sea.

I have found out where to order BMD certificates which would be nice but we are eager to find out more.

He was a Whittingtonian and also belonged to The Athaneum club.

Could anyone help or point me in the right direction please?

Many thanks
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Sharon01 on Friday 22 October 10 10:04 BST (UK)
Hi,

The pilot family search site has a  Joel Rowsell baptised on 17/06/1806 at St. Mary, Lambeth, Surrey, England. Parents Richard & Sarah Rowsell.

Sharon
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: LindaJ1959 on Friday 22 October 10 10:08 BST (UK)
And there is a will listed in the National Probate Calendar on Ancestry - death 24 June 1886, probate 30 July.

Linda
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Mauritius123 on Friday 22 October 10 10:14 BST (UK)
Where could I find out information about his early life?
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 10:24 BST (UK)
1871 census at 55 Lawford Road St Pancras aged 60.

Some databases have this one indexed as Joel Ramsell.

Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 10:27 BST (UK)
1861 at 9 King William Street aged 50

Ancestry has it as Joe Rowsell
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Mauritius123 on Friday 22 October 10 10:34 BST (UK)
I have located him on the census in 1851 and 1881 as a Master Bookseller in London.

If he was born in 1806 then these entries that you have found do not quite add up. Difficult to know whether there were 2 Joel Rowsells in same area of London at around the same time?

Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 10:40 BST (UK)
In 1881 he shows as aged 70 so that is consistent with 1861 and 1871. Of course he may have been consistently understating his age.
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 10:44 BST (UK)
And aged 42 in 1851 which would suggest 1808/9.
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Sharon01 on Friday 22 October 10 10:50 BST (UK)
There is another Joel that was born in 1797 & baptised in 1802 at St Mary, St Marylebone Road, parents Aaron & Ann Rowsell.

Sharon
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Eyesee on Friday 22 October 10 10:53 BST (UK)
Joel's marriage at St Margaret Rochester from City Ark confirming his father as Richard

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0a5f/

Hackney St John
Richard ROWSELL, bachelor, otp
Sarah SNOOK, spinster, otp
Married after Banns 9 Sep 1805
Both made their mark in presence of Soloman Taylor, Benj. Crook

Ian C
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 11:01 BST (UK)
The only wife I've noticed in the censuses is an Elizabeth !

She first appears in 1871 aged 45 and they are listed with two children Emily 12 and Charles F, 6, and a niece Ann (?) Brotherwood aged 17.  EDIT - I think this is Agnes Brotherwood born Hadlow Kent circa 1853/4

Joel consistently states his birthplace as Middlesex, but is inconsistent about the parish - sometimes St Giles or St Martins or St Stephens
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Mauritius123 on Friday 22 October 10 11:29 BST (UK)
I am unable to find them on the 1871 census on Ancestry - where were you looking?
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 11:31 BST (UK)
Look for Joel Ramsell
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Eyesee on Friday 22 October 10 11:57 BST (UK)
The Joel ROWSELL born 1822 died in 1854. His father was William, born 1790 London, whose father Joel born 1764 came from Somerset

There is a Richard ROWSELL, born 1783 in Somerset, whose father was Amos ROWSELL, born 1761 in Somerset, and who is a brother to the Joel born 1764. Quite possible this Richard is the one who married Sarah SNOOK in 1805 and the father of Joel the Bookseller

Joel born 1764 was a Nurseryman in Enfield and died there in 1844.

From a tree on A******Y

Ian C
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: toni* on Friday 22 October 10 12:04 BST (UK)
becuase i had type this out i will post it anyway

09.05.1805 Richard Rowsell m. Sarah Snook at St Johns Hackney (after banns bach, spin, BOTP both made their mark and wits Soloman Taylor, Benj. Crook)
17.06.1806 Joel Roswell was christened at St. Mary, Lambeth, Surrey, the son of Richard & Sarah Rowsell.
1851 Joel Master Bookseller aged 42 b. Middlesex St Giles lodging at 20 Great James Street St Andrews Holborn (which would suggest he didn’t have his own shop because would you own a shop and not a house? If he owned a shop wouldn’t he live upstairs?) 
1861 Joel at 9 King William Street aged 50
1871 Joel at 55 Lawford Road St Pancras aged 60. with wife Elizabeth aged 45 and 2 children Emily 12 and Charles F aged 6 and a niece Ann Brotherwood aged 17
1881 Joel  Master Bookseller  aged 70
24.06.1886 died, will 30 July 1886 possibly buried Highgate cemetery

Joel was a Whittingtonian and also belonged to The Athaneum club. – do these have records ?

Where was he between birth & 1851 ? have you got Richard & Sarah on the census or their deaths ?

There is another Joel that was born in 1797 & baptised in 1802 at St Mary, St Marylebone Road, parents Aaron & Ann Rowsell. What happened to him it is important to know not to confuse things.

If Joel went to sea then possibly his records are held at The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich it would be easier to find records if you know which ship he sailed on.
 
If Joel married Elizabeth and they had a child Emily aged 12 in 1871 it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suggest they married in the 1850’s

30 July 1886
Rowsell Joel personal estate £3,467 19s 1d   
The will of Joel Rowsell late of 3 Caversham Road, Kentish Road in the County of Middlesex who died 24 June 1886 at 3 Caverhsam Road was proved at the Principal Registry by Elizabeth Farrant of 19 Argyle Square Kings Cross in the said County Spinster  the sole executrix.

Have you got details for his bookshop from directories? (historicaldirectories.org) he could be listed pre 1851
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 12:16 BST (UK)
This obituary fragment says that he spent his early years at sea but gave up after being thrice shipwrecked. Will try to find the full obit.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wGNIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA16&img=1&pgis=1&dq=%22joel+rowsell%22&sig=ACfU3U2FJ3gastNz39Q6_p-Q9xcO2-Zc-A&edge=0
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 12:22 BST (UK)
The full obit is in this text archive but it takes ages to load  http://www.archive.org/stream/bookmartamonthl01unkngoog/bookmartamonthl01unkngoog_djvu.txt
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Eyesee on Friday 22 October 10 13:09 BST (UK)
All Saints Edmonton
1808 Jul 17, George, s/o Richard & Sarah ROWSELL, Silver street, Labourer, born Feb 12
1809 Dec 3, Henry, s/o Richard & Sarah ROWSELL, Fore Street, Gardener, born Oct 11??
1814 Jul 17, Thomas, s/o Richard & Sarah ROSEWELL, Fore St, Gardener, born 1814 Jun 7
1816 Feb 18, Mary Ann, d/o Richard & Sarah ROWSELL, Fore St, Gardener, born 1816 Jan 20
1818 Jan 16, Louisa, d/o Richard & Sarah ROSEWELL, Fore St, Gardener, born 1817 Dec 15
1820 Feb 9, Sarah, d/o Richard & Sarah ROSEWELL, Church St, Gardener, born 30 Sep
1825 Jan 25, Richard, s/o Richard & Sarah ROWSELL, Bury St, Gardener, born 1824 Dec 23

Henry, as a widower marries 14 Aug 1853 at Hackney St John to an Emma IVES. His father is listed as Richard ROWSELL, Gardener. His first wife was Lucy FISHER and they were living at Bury Street.

Burials at All Saints Edmonton
Sarah ROWSELL, 2 Nov 1840, from Bury St, aged 60.
Richard ROSEWELL, 17 Dec 1832, from Bury St, age 53.
Louisa ROSWELL, 7 Dec 1832, from Bury St, age 15.
Lucy ROWSELL, 2 Jan 1846, from Bury St, age 36 - Henry's first wife
Louisa ROWSELL, 28 Jan 1838, from Bury St, age 5 - Henry's daughter

Sarah married 17 Jul 1842 at West Hackney to John WARBEY, her father being Richard ROWSELL, Gardener

Ian C
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 13:10 BST (UK)
Apparently Joel's executrix Elizabeth Farrant was the mother of his son Charles Frederick

http://www.bbcwhodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=109&t=4528&hilit=&sid=0dbec4977b4402b7ccf472b1dc9e41eb
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: toni* on Friday 22 October 10 13:50 BST (UK)
I wish they would tell us all they know when putting up a request saves repeating things  ::)
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: toni* on Friday 22 October 10 13:59 BST (UK)

Rowsell marriages with father Richard
John Rowsell & Emma Hare 18.12.1878
Henry Rowsell & Emma Ives as previously mentioned
Charlotte Louisa Rowsell & Jabez Henry Sheldrake
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Mauritius123 on Friday 22 October 10 14:47 BST (UK)
Thank you to all of you for your help I feel that we are getting somewhere.

When was the first census to be published? Was it 1841.

Any ideas on how we would see what he did prior to 1828 whe  he returned from the seas and became a book seller?
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Daisy Loo on Friday 22 October 10 17:16 BST (UK)
There is a Richard ROWSELL, born 1783 in Somerset, whose father was Amos ROWSELL, born 1761 in Somerset, and who is a brother to the Joel born 1764. Quite possible this Richard is the one who married Sarah SNOOK in 1805 and the father of Joel the Bookseller

Joel born 1764 was a Nurseryman in Enfield and died there in 1844.

From a tree on A******Y

Ian C

There is a will for the Joel who died in Enfield on TNA : http://www.rootschat.com/links/0a5i/ - could provide info on the earlier family?

Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: toni* on Friday 22 October 10 21:06 BST (UK)
the first census was taken actuallyin 1801 but was just simply a population count these records do not survive there were further census taken in 10 yearly intervals but the first one to survive nearly in full is the 1841 census and this is the first one that listed peoples names and ages albeit rounded down.

so you already know he returned from sea in 1828 i wish you would tell us all you know to save us duplicating or wasting time searching have you looked at records at NMM to see if they can help with his seafaring record?

have you looked in directories to see where he was if he was selling books it is likely he would be listed

have you looked at tax records and tithe maps ?





Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 22 October 10 21:21 BST (UK)
This bookseller Henry Rowsell must surely be a cousin !
 http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=5813&&PHPSESSID=ychzfqkvzape -
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: toni* on Saturday 23 October 10 11:33 BST (UK)
mauritis123 you havent answered any of my questions
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Mauritius123 on Monday 25 October 10 08:33 BST (UK)
Toni,

Sorry for not replying:

I did not think to look at tax records and tithe maps no, thanks for the advice.

We do know where he was selling books and have documents on this.

We know little of his life between birth and returning from sea in 1828 - do not know what ship/s he sailed on which makes searching difficult. I will contact the National Maritime museum, thanks.

My father has just managed to locate the Athaneum records but we have drawn a blank on the Whittingtonian ones.

It would be really good to find out so much more - one person suggests that Henry Rowsell is a cousin so will have a look at that.

Many thanks for all your help so far.
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Thameslass on Monday 21 July 14 17:02 BST (UK)
Arriving very belatedly to this discussion which I've just found.

Toni wrote (Reply #21, October 2010) that Rowsell marriages with father Richard included 
"Charlotte Louisa Rowsell & Jabez Henry Sheldrake"

Charlotte was the oldest of the three siblings born to my 2xgt grandparents, RICHARD ROWSELL (who died in December 1860, aged just 33) and his wife, LOUISA MARY VERONICA PAULY (1817–1890).

The only census record for Richard is the 1851 when they were living at 2 Meadow Road, Newington, which states that Richard was born in Switzerland.
However, as it also states that Louisa was Swiss, and I have found her baptism record in 1817 in Lambeth, I wonder if perhaps he moved to Switzerland when very young (as did Louisa) and they just didn't know where he was born.
However, as a result, I have not as yet been able to track down the names of 'my' Richard's parents.

Charlotte was born in 1850 in St. Andrews Road, Newington, followed by my great-grandfather (Richard John) in 1856 in Surrey Street (now Davidge Street), Southwark, and Henry J  in 1858.

Their father died at 11 Elizabeth Place (now Princes Road), Southwark in December 1860 and is buried in Victoria Park Cemetery, Bethnal Green, Hackney.

In 1861 Louisa and her children were living at 78 Tower Street (now Morley Street) in the Borough of Southwark.

Charlotte married Jabez Sheldrake in 1867 at All Saints, Lambeth (which was later demolished when Waterloo station was expanded).

I know that this doesn't help solve the mystery of Joel but I hope that sharing what something about Charlotte might save unnecessary research time.

However, I'm now wondering whether there is perhaps a connection with Joel's family, though I doubt that going to sea would involve going to Switzerland.

Janice
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Thameslass on Tuesday 19 November 19 15:06 GMT (UK)
I now believe that my 3xgreat-grandparents were Richard and Sarah (nee Snook) as I have a good DNA match with a descendant of their daughter Sarah (1819-1874) who married John Warbey.

This means that my 2ggf Richard is the youngest brother of Joel, and was slightly older than I had previously thought.

The connection with Switzerland is that Richard's wife, Louisa Mary Veronica Pauly (1817-1890), was the daughter of the Swiss inventor, Samuel Johann Pauli (aka Jean Samuel Pauly - see his entry on Wikipedia which I have augmented greatly). I think this must have caused some confusion when the 1851 census was taken.

I now also have Sarah (nee Snook)'s death certificate - she died on 27 Oct 1840 in Edmonton, and her husband had predeceased her.
Title: Re: Joel Rowsell - have hit a dead end
Post by: Mauritius123 on Monday 10 March 25 20:16 GMT (UK)
I posted this quite a few years ago now! Wondered if anyone can find anything else that could help us? Still cannot find any maritime records.