Seeking parents & grandparents of James Bowman Tomlin

[Beaver13]

Objective
To find the parents and grandparents of James Bowman Tomlin.

Background. 
It is known that members of a family named Tomlin who were 'Tanners' in Shorne, Kent travelled to India in the first half of the 1800s, where they were involved in the Tanning trade in West Bengal.

Information Established. 
James Bowman Tomlin married Maria Louisa Maldin on 9th December 1850 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.  Source: India Office Ecclesiastical Returns for West Bengal.  They later had children born in India, details of which I have.

I have been unable to find a birth record, or indeed any other record relating to James Bowman Tomlin either in the UK or India.

However, I have discovered the following record which shows that a John Tomlin married Mary Bowman on 9th February 1796 at Shorne, Kent.  Source : FamilySearch.

I am endeavouring to find the family background of James Bowman Tomlin whose forename, 'Bowman', suggests that John and Mary may well have been his parents or, perhaps more likely, his grandparents.

I would deeply appreciate help in finding the intermediate connection which may prove or disprove this.  Thank you.

[casalguidi]

Hi Beaver13

It it helps, you can view the parish registers for Shorne online
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0bl/

Casalguidi

[Beaver13]

Thank you so very much for your suggestion.  I went immediately to the online records, ploughed my way through the index to find what I thought might be the right register, and started my search.

Almost unbelievably, the second record that I came to showed that on 17th January 1813 John Bowman Tomlin was  born to John and Mary Tomilin in Shorne, Kent, and that John was a 'Tanner'.  I think that finding this in the second record searched, must have been a 10,000 to 1 chance.

I am deeply grateful to you, Casalguidi.  I really think that you deserve yet another star by your name for that alone!!  Thank you!!!!

[casalguidi]

Yes, I think the odds are pretty much against finding somebody so quickly but it's a fantastic site

I am deeply grateful to you, Casalguidi

You found them, I only told you where to look!

Casalguidi

[Eyesee]

The marriage entry for John and Mary has her from Strood.

There are 12 children baptised at Shorne from 1766-1789 to a Phillip and Maria, including a John in 1768, which may be the family. Does not say what Philip's occupation was.

[Beaver13]

Thank you very much indeed, Eyesee, for your very helpful response.

Following your message, I went to the website and ploughed my way through the years recording the names of the 12 children (quite a family).  Even though I had the advantage of your advice that the births occurred between 1766 and 1789, it was not quite as straightforward as one would expect because, for reasons I do not understand, batches of 17th century records suddenly appear in the middle of records of the 18th century.  This made me realise just how much time you must have devoted to actually finding all these children.  So a very warm thank you indeed, for that.

I originally picked up this enquiry about three months ago on the Genforum website and have been voluntarily helping him for some time.  It is certainly an extremely complicated family history, involving several different countries including Armenia, India, Scotland, England and Canada.

I have already e-mailed the information to the enquirer who lives in Canada and have just received his response.  He is delighted with the information just sent and is most grateful for all the help that he has received from everybody.

[Eyesee]

In the Strood registers there is a Philip Tomlin baptised 20 Oct 1743, son of William and Hannah, possibly William Tomlin and Hannah Groombridge who were married at Cuxton, Kent, on 6 Jan 1741. The IGI has other children to this couple as well but all baptised at Shorne.

There was a Hannah Groombridge baptised at Strood 25 Dec 1720, which fits with the area.

[Beaver13]

Thank you once again, Eyesee, for your help.  I am as certain as can be that the Tomlin records you have now found are completely relevant to the family in question.  Once again, my contact in Canada will be deeply grateful, as indeed, am I.

[casalguidi]

I have already e-mailed the information to the enquirer who lives in Canada and have just received his response.  He is delighted with the information just sent and is most grateful for all the help that he has received from everybody

Perhaps he would like to come and join us too

Casalguidi