Bowness and Bowness, is there a link?

[Beerman]

For years I've searched without joy for a link, but with nothing to the contrary my belief is unchanged and I'm hopeful that experienced contributors here might end my misery.

Bowness and Bowness were a renown and fashionable fishing tackle manufacturers in the Strand. In 1765 in Bloomsbury, Thomas Bowness married Susannah Gorman to live and trade from Bell Yard where children named Susannah, Mary, George, Harriet, Caroline, John, and Thomas were born between 1766 and 1781. Son George followed by his son and yet again, continued the family business.

Now my grandmother's origins lead to a Thomas Bowness, mariner and native of London, whom I have long thought might be son of George Bowness and Susannah Gorman, whom in 1804 married Ann Todd in Sunderland, a native of that town. Their children (1806-1819) were named Dorothy (Ann's mother's name) Thomas, Susannah, Caroline, Mary and George.

Can anyone point me towards a way of solving this? I've learned little about Thomas Bowness, mariner of London, not even when he died or at what age, but a mass of coincidences including his daughter Susannah sharing a grave in Bishop Auckland with the mother-in-law of Caroline, daughter of George and Susannah.

Help, what happened to Thomas son of George and Susannah Bowness born in 1779?

Eric.

 

[Valda]

Hi

Does the information from Susannah Bowness Fishing Tackle Maker of St Dunstan in the West, Prerogative Court of Canterbury will probated 1815 supply any further information about her surviving children?
There is a burial for a Susannah Bowness 23rd April 1815 at St George Bloomsbury of White Lion Street, St James Clerkenwell aged 74.

Regards

Valda

[gortonboy]

hi,,there is a petition to Trinity House in 1819 by a Ann Bowness  age 36,,of Bishop Auckland Widow of a Thomas Bowness. If this is your Ann and Thomas,,it would suggest Thomas had died c 1819 ?   

[Beerman]

Yes, Gortonboy, they are. Their last child was baptised in Bishopwearmouth (Sunderland) in 1819, then in 1833 in Bishop Auckland their son Thomas was married and daughter Susannah died with no record of their father. Can I presume he was lost at sea?
Thank you for that, an absolute major breakthrough. I presume now I should be able to learn his age.
So much time spent on this epic and so much still to learn.
Thank you so much.
Eric.

[Beerman]

Hi

Does the information from Susannah Bowness Fishing Tackle Maker of St Dunstan in the West, Prerogative Court of Canterbury will probated 1815 supply any further information about her surviving children?
There is a burial for a Susannah Bowness 23rd April 1815 at St George Bloomsbury of White Lion Street, St James Clerkenwell aged 74.

Regards

Valda

Yes, it does. The will is comprehensive and makes no mention of a Thomas. It does, however include the following.......

.............control and whereas the said John Antram indebted to me in the principle sum of two hundred pounds now I do hereby direct my Exor (executor) herinafter named to demand payment & get in the said debt as soon as conveniently may do after my decease and then to invest or pay out in each manner as my said daughter Caroline the wife of the said John Antram shall instruct. The said principle sum of two hundred pounds which I hereby give and bequeath to and & for the sole & separate use & benefit independent of her husband.

A Dorothy Antram, whom I believe to be the above John's mother, died in Feb 1815 and is buried in Bishop Auckland. In the same grave is her sister Ann (Todd) and her husband George Bowness, with another Thomas Bowness and his cousin Susannah Bowness, the daughter of the Thomas Bowness whom we now know was dead in 1819. I feel she may have had reason to exclude her son Thomas from her will.

Yes, Susannah Bowness (Gorman) died in 1815.

[avm228]

Thomas... might be son of George Bowness and Susannah Gorman...

...mother-in-law of Caroline, daughter of George and Susannah...

Help, what happened to Thomas son of George and Susannah Bowness born in 1779?

Hi Eric

I'm finding this all a bit confusing.  Aren't they children of Thomas and Susannah?

[avm228]

I see that the Land Tax assessment for the Bell Yard address is in the name of Thomas Bowness up to & including 1783, and then in Susannah's name from 1784 onwards.

A clue to Thomas's death date perhaps - has a will been found for him?

[Beerman]

Thomas... might be son of George Bowness and Susannah Gorman...

...mother-in-law of Caroline, daughter of George and Susannah...

Help, what happened to Thomas son of George and Susannah Bowness born in 1779?

Hi Eric

I'm finding this all a bit confusing.  Aren't they children of Thomas and Susannah?

Sorry, yes you are quite correct. It was me who was confused. For George and Susannah Bowness, please read Thomas and Susannah.

Thank you.
Eric.

[Beerman]

I see that the Land Tax assessment for the Bell Yard address is in the name of Thomas Bowness up to & including 1783, and then in Susannah's name from 1784 onwards.

A clue to Thomas's death date perhaps - has a will been found for him?

I have no will for any Thomas Bowness.