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If you wish to try to contact Peter, click on his name

I am the grand son of John Dowling born 1868.

Please contact

Hello Michael, might be an idea to click on Peter's name and send him a message - he mightn't be checking back on this thread for replies.

Who are the "both" that you refer to?

Well well - three years on and I find someone doing the same as me!

I am the grandson of John Dowling/Frost born 1869 and have a respectable family tree onwards to today. However I have no knowledge of my grand dads parents other than their names. Verbal history says -- Irish but census etc suggests born in London.

Any help would be of great use. Where do you both fit in?.

Peter, as divorce was not an option for ordinary folk back then, if a couple didn't stay together then they often claimed to be widowed.

Bigamy was not at all unusual.

Don't discount anything, she may have said she was a widow but may not have been - just moved on?

It's interesting John's birth is registered under both names Frost and Dowling, so I would agree with others that she took up with John Dowling fairly early - but then again why did she still register him as John Frost on that 1871 census?

Hello MC

I think that death may be too late. On the 1871 census I think it shows Sarah as a Widow ( Poor copy to read)

?????

1851

Henry Bennett 50 - coachman - Peckham, Surrey
Caroline Bennett 50 - Drakwick, Worcestershire
Mary Bennett 22
Sarah Bennett 20 - Marylebone, Middlesex
Betsy Bennett 18
Henry Bennett 16
Caroline Bennett 12
Frances Bennett 7
Hannah Bennett 4

This is the nearest death I can find for William:

London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980
Name: William Frost
Record Type: Death
Estimated Death Date: 2 Dec 1879
Parish or Poor Law Union: Saint Marylebone
Borough: Westminster
Register Type: Parish Register

Aged 51, died St Pancras.

Thank you Flip. All we need now is William Frost's death and we have the whole picture.

Looks like you were correct

Births Sep 1869 (>99%)
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Dowling John Dowling St. Giles 1b 499
Frost John Dowling St. Giles 1b 499

Sarah's first marriage (father Henry, coachman on image)

Sarah Bennett
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832
Age: 24
Spouse Name: William Frost (bootmaker)
Spouse Age: 26
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 21 Oct 1856
Parish: Clerkenwell St James
Borough: Islington
Spouse Father Name: Benjamin Frost
Register Type: Parish Register

She was from 14 North Street, him from 17 North St

Found this marriage.

Marriages Dec 1856 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bennett Sarah Clerkenwell 1b 652
Frost William Clerkenwell 1b 652

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I am thinking along the same lines MC.

Enjoy your play Dea

Just go off and digest it all then come back with any questions you may have.

I am off to listen to a thrilling murder play - see you later.

Dea Xxx

Well Peter, my theory is that John Dowling the paper-stainer was living with Sarah Frost for some time (as per the 1871) and they had John Frost in 1869. John Frost later started to use his father's surname of Dowling.

This is going to need a cup of coffee and lots of concentraion to work this one out.

Thank you ladies for your help but if you have any theories let me know.

Peter

I think you could well be right MC.

Dea Xxx

I think the John Frost born 1869 on the 1871 census may well be the John Dowling b 1870 on the 1881 census.

Looks a possible marriage:

London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921

Name: John Dowling, bachelor - paper-stainer
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1838
Age: 36
Spouse Name: Sarah Forst (Frost), widow - Laundress
Spouse Age: 38
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 14 Nov 1874
Parish: St Bartholomew, Moor Lane
Borough: City of London
Father Name: James Dowling (Deceased) - General Dealer
Spouse Father Name: Henry Benett - Coachman
Register Type: Parish Register

Address for both looks like 24 Mitton Street (or could be Witton, Wilton, Milton ......)

Witnesses: Thomas Dowling and Ann Williams.

poss death:

John Dowling (40) mar1879~Pancras~ 1b ~ 36