1851 House of Industry, Chester

[la3]

My GGGrandfather John BOWEN was born c1842.  I have a birth certificate of a John BOWEN born 1May 1842 at House of Industry, Trinity Parish, Great Broughton to Mary BOWEN, (no details of father) and the informant is John ANDREWS, Master of House of Industry, Paradise Row.   

In later census entries he lists his place of birth as Farndon and Chester.  Geography not being a strong point of mine would someone tell me if this corresponds with the birth certificate. 

Also, his marriage certificate has his father as Edward BOWEN, labourer, his brides father being Edward WHITLEY, labourer, would it be possible, if father unknown, for him to have just used brides father's details with his own surname, rather than unknown (I have unsuccessfully looked for a Mary BOWEN marriage to an Edward). 

And if anyone who has access to the 1851 Cheshire census is willing, will you look up the House of Industry and see if there is a John BOWEN, who would be about 8 or 9 years old please.

Any help or advise would be welcomed, thank you for taking the time to read this.

Regards,
Lisa

[galante]

I have not got access to the 1851 census, but I have looked up House of Industry and it is listed as a Workhouse. This is possibly why no details of a father was mentioned. Details on Marriage Certificates are not always correct, my father was brought up by his uncle, who had a different name,but on the marriage certificate my father put Joseph Bowen, instead of Joseph Morgan, so you have to take some things with a pinch of salt.

[la3]

Thank you for the replay Galante, this is the first birth I have come across without father details so wasn't sure, I have plenty of 'fibs' on marriage certificates, mostly ages though. 

John married in Caergwrle, Flintshire in 1864, is still there in 1871 and then on to Birkenhead for the 1881, 1891 and 1901, though he must have kept going back to Farndon as his eldest three children were born there, my GGrandfather was born in Birkenhead in 1880, and my Nanna in Birkenhead 1924. 

At the moment though I have nothing to link the House of Industry birth to my John BOWEN.  Oh well, it wouldn't be fun if it was easy.

Thanks again,
Lisa

[peterbennett]

Hi Lisa
          I have been having a look for your John Bowen and using the Cheshire BMD index and the 1851 census this is what I have found, you should of course obtain the necessary certs to prove it.
         I did a quick search of the House of Industry in 1841/1851 but did not find Mary or John,this was not unexpected as the Workhouse would at times double up as a "hospital"for short term patients IE maternity. There was of course a very good infirmary at Chester but you did have to pay. Hence the use of the workhouse. You can read a good article re The House of Industry in this link
 http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/Chester/Chester.shtml 

     According to the http://www.cheshirebmd.org.uk/ Mary Bowen married Edward Jones at Chester in 1845, Edward died in 1849 aged 44, Mary Jones then married Edward Bithell at St Peter's Chester early 1851.
    The 1851 census shows.

HO107-2171-F 82  Farndon Chester

Edward Bithell head 44 labourer Holt Denbishire
Mary Bithell wife 40 Holt Denbishire
John Bowen lodger 8 Chester
John Bowen senior widower 82 pauper Chester
Catherine Smith nurse child 2 Shocklach Cheshire

    There does not seem to be a death for John's supposed father Edward Bowen prior to Mary marrying Edward Jones so I would guess that he made it up.

Hope this helps

peterbennett
   

[la3]

Thank you Peter,

not only does that seem to fit but I have come across the mention of M Bethell before but without any relationship mentioned, could be Mary Bithell.  I will send off for the certificates and see, looks promising.

Thank you again for your time and help,
regards,
Lisa

[la3]

Peter,

if you have access to the 1861 Cheshire census will you look for Edward and Mary Bithell for me, they are still in Farndon in 1871, not sure what the address is, D? Bank, the reference for 1871 is RG10 3717 26a.  The older John Bowen in the 1851 died in 1855, Mary in 1875 and Edward 1877.  I have just sent off for the older Johns death certificate and Mary and Edwards 1851 marriage certificate to see if I can tie it all together, so if you don't mind looking for me, the 1861 census would complete the set and possibly give me any other children they had. 

Thanks for all your help,
Lisa

[peterbennett]

Hi Lisa
           Here they are in 1861 no more children it seems ? also had a look through the rest of Farndon for John Bowen but no sign of him.
          In 1871 the Bithells are living in Dee Bank (as in river Dee)

RG9-2624-F 23  Mount Villa Farndon (the house is split into 4 households )

Edward Bithell head 56 Labourer Holt Denbishire
Mary                 wife 52                Shocklach Cheshire

peterbennett

[la3]

Thank you again Peter,

going to look through the other children of John and Sarah Bowen to see which would be the best birth certificate to send for and see if any of the addresses match those I now have for Mary Bithell.  John married Sarah Whitley in Caergwrle 1864, may have been there in 1861 which is why he's not with Edward and Mary.

You really are a star Peter,
regards,
Lisa