Thread: Thomas Watkin Vowles

I am looking for a birth certificate for Thomas Watkin Vowles. I’ve looked at this from every angle I can think of but I’m hoping a fresh pair of eyes and more expertise than I possess will produce a breakthrough.

The first sighting of Thomas is in the 1901 census, aged 14 (dob 1887) living in Gelderd Road, Wortley, Leeds with parents William Henry and Mary Vowles and sister Lizzie. His place of birth is given as Royston, Yorkshire.

He married Clara in 1907 at Beeston Hill, Leeds when his name is given as Thomas Watkin Vowles, father’s name William Vowles.

In 1911 he is living in Holbeck, Leeds, place of birth Monkton, Yorkshire.

I have a marriage certificate for William Henry Vowles and Mary Wadkin, married in September 1899. Mary was a widow, her father was William Smith, Tailor. William’s first wife died the quarter before this marriage.

Mary Smith was born in 1853 in Leeds and I’ve found her in the 1861 Census with her family but cannot find her with her family after that date, nor can I find a marriage for her. I can only find her from the 1901 census onwards.

William Henry Vowles was born in Leeds in 1850 and I’ve found him in all the censuses. In 1861 his family was living in the next street to Mary’s so they may have known each other as children.

William married Jane Day in 1871. In 1891 he was listed in the census living with Jane, but I think he may have been the William Henry Vowles in Armley Prison, giving his place of birth as Canada. His occupation is Mechanic and iron fitter which matches my Wm H Vowles’ occupation, and he was know to have been in trouble with the law previously.

My feeling is that Thomas Watkin Vowles was the son of Mary Wadkin and I think if I can find Mary in 1891 I’ll find Thomas with her, but I’ve had no luck so far. Thomas gave all his children the middle name of Watkin; as Mary couldn’t write she probably didn’t know how to spell her first husband’s surname.

Thomas’s son said that his father left the family sometime after 1927, and they thought he had gone to America but I can’t find anything for him after that date.

Another mystery is that in 1911 William and Mary Vowles say they have been married 35 years and have 2 children, both living. They have daughter Jane Elizabeth Vowles living with them and also daughter Annie Harrison, aged 32, and her children but no husband. Coincidentally, Mary Vowles’ mother married George Harrison in 1878 after her first husband died. A lot of mysteries in this family!

I would be grateful for any help in finding any of this family
thanks
Sandra

Hi Sandra.

Given the fact that William Henry Vowles and Mary Wadkin only married in 1899, could your man be one of the two below, registered as Thomas Wadkin?

December quarter 1877, Bingham Reg. Dist. (Notts.) Vol. 7b Page 444

June quarter 1888, Newark Reg. Dist. Vol. 7b Page 446.

Perhaps worth investigating. He may well have only taken the surname Vowles on the marriage of his mother.

Hello

Have you established who James GREY b 1828 desc as grandparent is?

Lizzie VOWLES 1899 is she Jane Elizabeth Vowles

William b 1875, s/o William H VOWELS, what has happened to him?

Does the 1911 marriage 35 years , with 2 children apply to Mary, and are Annie 1879 and Thomas 1878 siblings her children, the number of years married tying in with this information!

elsabels

Hi Finbar

I've had a look at the two Thomas Wadkin's you mention and they are both fully traceable with parents in the census and marriages. I do agree that Thomas probably wasn't born a Vowles though, but I'm having doubts as to whether he was born a Watkin/Wadkin either.

Elsabels -

James Grey was Clara Vowles maternal grandfather.
I am assuming Lizzie and Jane Elizabeth Vowles are one and the same person as they are the same ages, but there isn't a birth record for her, so I am assuming that she wasn't born a Vowles either.
William born 1875 disappeared after 1881 - no sign of him in subsequent census and no death record.
I'm not sure whether the 35 years married refers to William or Mary Vowles and Annie Harrison doesn't show up in any previous census, nor can I find a marriage for her, if indeed she was married.

If I could find a birth or marriage for any of these people that I thought would give me any useful information I'd send for a certificate, but there just don't seem to be any clues at the moment

Thank you both for your input. It's much appreciated to have somebody else's opinion.
Sandra

a poss for mary in 1891 - age a bit out and thomas born london
Name:Mary WatkinAge:34Estimated Birth Year:abt 1857Relation:WifeSpouse's Name:Thomas H WatkinGender:FemaleWhere born:Leeds, Yorkshire, EnglandCivil parish:St MaryleboneEcclesiastical parish:EmmanuelCounty/Island:London

Registration district:MaryleboneSub-registration district:St John Household Members:NameAgeThomas H Watkin45 - brewers traveller born cumberland plumpton Mary Watkin34Thomas E Watkin6 born islington

Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 102; Folio 139; Page 24;

this would be the birth that goes with this
Name:Thomas Elliot WatkinYear of Registration:1884Quarter of Registration:Apr-May-JunDistrict:IslingtonCounty:Greater London, London, MiddlesexVolume:1bPage:448

same family in 1881
Name:Mary WatkinAge:24Estimated Birth Year:abt 1857Relation:WifeSpouse's Name:Thomas H. WatkinGender:FemaleWhere born:Leeds, Yorkshire, EnglandCivil parish:WestgateCounty/Island:NorthumberlandCountry:EnglandStreet Address:124 Westgate RdCondition as to marriage:Married

Registration district:Newcastle Upon TyneSub-registration district:WestgateED, institution, or vessel:10 Household Members:NameAgeThomas H. Watkin35 traveller Mary Watkin24
Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 5049; Folio: 37; Page: 2;

cant find a marriage to mary smith to fit though

Hi Welshlady

I have checked that one out before and got quite excited about it, until I found that Thomas Elliott Watkin sadly died in 1893 aged 9 years

thank you
Sandra

I've found that couple on the 1901 census in London, so it's not that one unfortunately.

thanks anyway!

Found a possibility that Mary could be a domestic servant on the 1871 c 1 Vincent Street Leeds Worth taking a look .
Living with a Hudson family Tailor/draper
Mary Ann Smith age 19 b. abt 1852 Leeds Yorkshire
Class: RG10; Piece: 4547; Folio: 14; Page: 21