Family of Thomas Bower & Mary Balfour?

[Tissy]

Hi All,

I am trying to trace the family of John Bower b Huddersfield  c 1831. John came to Australia, date unknown at this stage. On November 2, 1866 he married Alice Adams at St Luke's Church, Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) Victoria. According to their marriage certificate he was aged 35 and born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire to Thomas Bower, Farmer and Mary Balfour? (the writing is atrocius). At the time of their marriage John was shown as a Blacksmith but later became a farmer.

I have found a Thomas Bower b Yorkshire 1806, Labourer, at Fieldhouse, Huddersfield on the 1841 census. With him were wife Mary, b Yorkshire, 1811, son John b Yorkshire 1832, son William b Yorkshire 1837 son Francis b Yorkshire 1841 and a James Harrison, Lab/Lodger, b Yorkshire 1826. I have not been able to find any member of this family in Yorkshire for any census after that, but feel that this is John's family from the information on his marriage certificate.

On Free BDM there was a death of a Francis Bower in Huddersfield in the Dec 1/4 1844, also the death of a William in Huddersfield in the March 1/4 1850. There were six deaths for Mary Bower's listed in Huddersfield from the Dec 1/4 1844 to the March 1/4 1850. No sign of a death or a marriage for a Thomas Bower in that area, and no definite proof at this stage that Thomas came to Australia.  The names of Thomas, Mary William and Francis come up in the children of John and Alice.

I have tried to find a marriage of a Thomas Bower to a Mary Balfour, or similar, and have also tried to find the baptism records for the children listed on the 1841 census, all to little or no avail. On Family Search I have found a John, William and Francis born to a Thomas and Mary Bower with dates that match the census but they were born in Cawthorne and Scisset, South Yorkshire. I have not discounted them though.
If anyone could could help me find the marriage of Thomas and Mary and what happened to this family I would greatly appreciate it.

Regards,
Tissy

[katherinem]

I have tried to find a marriage of a Thomas Bower to a Mary Balfour, or similar, and have also tried to find the baptism records for the children listed on the 1841 census, all to little or no avail. On Family Search I have found a John, William and Francis born to a Thomas and Mary Bower with dates that match the census but they were born in Cawthorne and Scisset, South Yorkshire. I have not discounted them though.
Tissy

On the baptism record for St Augistine's, Scisset for Francis Bower, on 19 Sep 1841, it lists the abode as Field House, Huddersfield.

Kath

[Annette7]

A possibility:

Thomas Bowers married Mary Bedford 5/9/1830 Wakefield, Yorkshire - can't see any baptisms for this couple in Wakefield and is only 12 miles from Huddersfield.   'Bedford' could look like Balfour.

Annette

[Tissy]

Thanks Kath and Annette, as I said, the writing on the marriage certificate of John and Alice was atrocious so it could well have been Bedford, and with the baptism of Francis being so close to Huddersfield, it is looking like I definitely have the right family. Now to find out what happened to them and where they came from originally.
Many, many thanks for your help, the search continues, but you have both made it just that much less frustrating.
Regards,
Tissy

[J.R.Ellam]

Hi

Fieldhouse was just off Leeds Road near to the Deighton area of Huddersfield, it had a mine so that could explain the migration to the other areas mentioned.
The Bedford's seem to come from the Horbury/Thornhill area so you could have a look there.

John

[Calverley Lad]

Just confirming the Bedford families in Horbury.
A Mary Bedford dau of Thomas Bedford spinner and wife Mary bapt 14th Aug 1803.
 Brian

[Tissy]

Many thanks John and Brian, you have given me a bit more to go on. It intrigues me that the whole family seems to have disappeared from Yorkshire between the 1841 & 51 census' and it has just occurred to me that I have only checked two States here for the immigration of all of them. We do know that John ended up in Victoria but perhaps the rest of his family also came here and settled in another State. I'll have a look all over for them and see what I can find and I will keep looking for the roots of Thomas and Mary.
Many thanks to everyone for all your help.
Regards,
Tissy