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
