RODWAY families, London 1800s

[J. Elderfield]

In searching for my RODWAYs in Greater London, England, I have come across several other RODWAY families, who may or may not be related.

I have census and other details for James & Mary RODWAY, of St. Leonard's Shoreditch, and some of their children. Another family is Samuel & Mary RODWAY, and their son Samuel jr., of Finsbury / Clerkenwell.
These two families seem to have been in the furniture-making and finishing business.

Another family is William & Margaret RODWAY of St. Luke's / Finsbury, and their children, including son William jr. The senior William was in iron foundry, and several of the children were in book binding.

Another family is that of John RODWAY & Eliza, inn-keepers in Westminster in 1861, bakers in Greenwich in 1871.

I also have some information about Emanuel RODWAY (another baker) and his first wife Sarah, and second wife Mary.

If you descend from any of these families, let's get in touch. Our RODWAY families may be connected back there....

--J. Elderfield

[kanskar]

Hi JE - I'm descended from William/Margaret. Hope I can assist you. Kanskar

[J. Elderfield]

Hello, Kanskar--

That's exciting news! My lot of RODWAYs are:

James and Mary RODWAY. Occupation: Labourer.  Three children known:

1)  John, christened 1818, Eltham, Kent (but possibly born Gloucestershire). Died 1872. Occupations: Boot maker; Broker; Furniture dealer. Married Ann Maria KNOWLDEN 1841, Bromley. Children: Ann Maria 1842, James John 1844, John 1847. Wife died 1849.

2)  Richard, chr 1820, Eltham, Kent. Died 1880. Occupations: Waterman & Lighterman; Trinity House Pilot. Married Mary Ann WISE 1845. Children: step-daughter Mary Ann; foster son / nephew James John RODWAY 1844 (son of brother John).

3) Mary, b. ~ 1826, Deptford or Greenwich, Kent. Married John LOVELOCK 1849, Greenwich. Children: John, Mary Ann, George, Ann, Sarah, Alice, Harriet.

 
Do your RODWAYs connect at any point with these?

Do you have any Charles RODWAY, baker, in your lot? (I'm looking for the hit-and-run father of a child born Lewisham 1879.)

Thanks--

JElderfield

[kanskar]

JE - Unfortunately I don't think there is a connection between our families at this stage.

My James & Mary married in 1807 - James is either from Ledbury in Herefordshire or from Shoreditch (Liberty of Norton Folgate) and had children for the next 23-25 years (baptised around Clerkenwell/Shoreditch) including a John in 1830.

I would be interested to know what info you have found on this James & Mary to see if this tallies with what I have.

Sorry I cannot be of more help at present

Kanskar

[J. Elderfield]

Well, thank you, kanskar. I was really hoping that with the "furniture" and "baker" occupations, your James & Mary RODWAY would turn out to be the same couple as my James and Mary RODWAY.  Oh, well, they may yet turn out to be related some way....

No Charles RODWAY, Baker, in your lot...?


The short version of what I found about your lot is this:

James, born ~ 1784, Ledbury Herefordshire (or else Middlesex), d. 1867 Shoreditch.
Wife Mary, born ~ 1788, Wales (or else Middlesex), d. 1879 Shoreditch.

Possible marriage: James RODWAY to Mary GRIFFITHS, 25 May 1807, Shoreditch.

Occupations: French polisher; Biscuit baker; or both.

Known children:
George, b. ~1815, Lambeth, cabinet maker / cabinet finisher, m. Elizabeth; at least 10 children.
Eliza, b. ~1825, Clerkenwell, m. 1843 John EDMONDS, former Navy carpenter; cabinet maker; cabinet finisher;  at least 6 children.
Martha, b. ~ 1830.
John, b. ~ 1830, French polisher, actor.

Other possible children:
Ann, 1810, St. Pancras;
James, 1812, St. Pancras;
Sarah, 1814, Marylebone.

Where do your William & Margaret fit in?

I expect you have all this already--and more--but contact me again if any questions about my findings. And thanks,

J Elderfield

[kanskar]

Apologies - I owe you a reply - I'll sort that out this week. Kanskar

[kanskar]

Sorry, nearly 4 months late:

Children of James Rodway and Mary/Maria Griffiths:

Mary Georgiana 1806 (Baptised 1808) - 1891  never married but also known as Beasley

William James 1808-1876 m Margaret Stock 1832
Ann 1810-                         m Joseph Williams 1832
James 1812-1842             m Mary Moran  1837
George c1816-                  m Elizabeth
Joseph 1821-1841
Eliza     1824-                    m John Edmonds 1843
Martha  1827-                   m William Clark 1858
John      1830-                   m Maria Robson Shuffrey 1861

Two other possible siblings:
Sarah c1814-                     m George Cooper 1835  (and emigrated to USA)
Elizabeth c1820-

James later marries Mary Mercer in 1855 (witness daughter Eliza and her husband) - says Father is William Rodway (a Wheelwright)

He says he is born Ledbury, Herefordshire on census between 1784-1786 - on marriage to Mary Griffiths he is of the parish of Liberty of Norton Folgate in London.

Not seen anything for him in the Ledbury area as yet.

Cheers (and sorry once again for the delay) - Kanskar

[J. Elderfield]

Thanks for your reply, Kanskar. Delay was no problem--I'd gotten involved with other ancestral lines in the meantime.

No, I don't see--yet--any point of connection between your RODWAYs and mine.

Have you done any research forward in time about Mary GRIFFITHS' family? I have a RODWAY / GRIFFITHS connection in the early 19th century.

The GRIFFITHS associated with my RODWAYs are George and Tryphena GRIFFITHS of Collerston Rd, Greenwich, in 1901. George is a "Slater", born Peckham around 1865. 

His parents appear to be Matilda and George GRIFFITHS sr. (also a Slater, also born Peckham, around 1833).

Do you know anything of them?

And I'm still looking for my mystery man, "Charles RODWAY, baker", who fathered a child born in 1879 in Lewisham and hasn't been seen before or after....

Jane Elderfield

[nicobar]

I have a connection with James Rodway  and Mary Griffiths.Along the line of his son George. His son James born 1848, who I am sure is my g/grandad