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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: RobbieCE on Saturday 17 December 22 22:48 GMT (UK)
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Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some help with researching my 2 x great grandmother (again) with some slightly updated info.
I've been stuck on this one for months and still no breakthrough. Here's what I have
Name is Bessie Jenkins née Dowling, birth year is estimated to be 1878. She married Albert Edward Jenkins in 1899 and her marriage certificate states her father was Thomas Dowling.
I have found her on the 1891,1901 and 1911 census records. All state she was born in Raglan, Monmouthshire, Wales.
The 1891 census states she's living as a borderer at age 13. The following census' are her living with my 2 x great grandfather (Albert) and their family.
She died on 11 January 1918 Aged 39.
Despite all the information I do have I can't find any hint of a birth certificate anywhere, I have no idea why. There is also no trace of her being on an 1881 census from what I can see either. I'm at a loss as to why there are missing records I can't find. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
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Do you think this may be her
Mar 1876
DOWLING Elizabeth Catherine Newport, M. 11a 222
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Do you think this may be her
Mar 1876
DOWLING Elizabeth Catherine Newport, M. 11a 222
I'll look into this one, the year would be out slightly but I guess that's a possibility given how unreliable some info given back then could be. Thank you
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Wrong birth - mmn was Sullivan & links to a marriage between John Dowling & Catherine Sullivan
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Wrong birth - mmn was Sullivan & links to a marriage between John Dowling & Catherine Sullivan
Thank you for the help Carole, much appreciated.
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Try this one
1881 census - all surname Williams
Thomas 52 b Trostrey agric labourer
Margaret 27 b Monmouth
Mary A 7 b Monmouth
Bessy 1 b Raglan
Birth Dec qtr 1879
Bessie Williams mmn Dowlin (as per GRO online) Monmouth 11a 39
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Can't find a Williams/Dowling marriage
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Death of Margaret Dowling aged 33 March qtr 1886 Monmouth. Buried 13.2.1886 St Mary's Monmouth
Birth of Mary Ann Dowling Dec qtr 1873 Monmouth - no mmn - illegitimate
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Bapts;
Workhouse, Monmouth, Monmouthshire
MARY Dowling 12 Nov 1873, birth 03 Oct 1873
JAMES Dowling 12 Jul 1883
Mother MARGARET Dowling
(FreeREG)
Possible for James in 1891
John George 30 Head
Kate George 26 Wife
Florence George 4 Daughter
George Higgins 11 Boarder
James Dowling 7 Boarder born Monmouthshire
GRO;
GEORGE, FLORENCE MARY mmn WILLIAMS
GRO Reference: 1886 D Quarter in MONMOUTH Volume 11A Page 28
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Death of Margaret Dowling aged 33 March qtr 1886 Monmouth. Buried 13.2.1886 St Mary's Monmouth
Birth of Mary Ann Dowling Dec qtr 1873 Monmouth - no mmn - illegitimate
Amazing! thanks so much Carole, I think you may have finally solved it! no wonder I couldn't find her birth certificate under Dowling. I wonder what happened for there to be such a mix up? Out of curiosity, in a family tree do I use Bessie Dowling (what she is on most documents) or Bessie Williams, which actually appears to be her real maiden name?
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Bapts;
Workhouse, Monmouth, Monmouthshire
MARY Dowling 12 Nov 1873, birth 03 Oct 1873
JAMES Dowling 12 Jul 1883
Mother MARGARET Dowling
(FreeREG)
Possible for James in 1891
John George 30 Head
Kate George 26 Wife
Florence George 4 Daughter
George Higgins 11 Boarder
James Dowling 7 Boarder born Monmouthshire
GRO;
GEORGE, FLORENCE MARY mmn WILLIAMS
GRO Reference: 1886 D Quarter in MONMOUTH Volume 11A Page 28
Oh great! Thanks Trish. I am going to have to spend some time researching this!
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For her birth to be registered as Williams - Thomas Williams must have attended the registration & acknowledged paternity by signing the register.
In legal terms she was illegitimate as her parents weren’t married.
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Birth for Margaret Dowling March qtr 1854 Monmouth - mmn Bentley
1861 shows parents as Simon b 1812 Stoke on Trent Staffs & Mary 1821 Lichfield plus a lot of children
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7RK-H2L
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Can’t see a marriage. 1851 they are in Monmouth - eldest child is Mary b Staffs 1840/41
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGT2-ZXW