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Hello,

I am having great difficulty finding the birth or the baptism of Mary Ann Bowden.

I think she was born c1865 in Torquay, Devon.

I would be grateful for any pointers.

Martyn

It may simply be that her birth wasn’t registered, and that any baptism has not yet been transcribed and put online

What are you hoping to learn?

Have you found her on censuses?

How did you work back to her?

What more do you know of her

How have you got back to her ?

?
1871 census
Name: Mary Ann Bowden
Age: 5
Estimated Birth Year: 1866
Relation: Daughter
Gender: Female
Where born: Bideford Devon England
Civil parish: Bideford
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Registration district: Bideford
Sub-registration district: Bideford
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Household schedule number: 117
Piece: 2200
Folio: 62
Page number: 21
Household Members Age Relationship
Henry Bowden
42 Head
Fanny Bowden
42 Wife
Henry Bowden
19 Son
William Bowden
17 Son
Benn Bowden
14 Daughter
Eliza Bowden
11 Daughter
Fanny Bowden
7 Daughter
Mary Ann Bowden 5 Daughter
George Bowden
2 Son

Bideford is North Devon, but we need more from the OP

There’s one in Newton Abbot also, but none in Torquay, or even close

We need more information if we are to help you - such as names of relatives.

There were a number of Mary Ann Bowdens born in Devon around that time.

I'm assuming Bowden was her maiden name?


BOWDEN, MARY ANN mmn TREBBEL
GRO Reference: 1864 D Quarter in SOUTHMOLTON Volume 05B Page 448

BOWDEN, MARY ANN mmn COOKE
GRO Reference: 1865 M Quarter in BARNSTAPLE UNION Volume 05B Page 499

BOWDEN, MARY ANN mmn COUNTER
GRO Reference: 1865 J Quarter in EXETER Volume 05B Page 95


BOWDEN, MARY ANN mmn CHANTER
GRO Reference: 1866 M Quarter in BIDEFORD Volume 05B Page 563

BOWDEN, MARY ANN mmn LEAMAN
GRO Reference: 1866 J Quarter inmmn OKEHAMPTON Volume 05B Page 389

BOWDEN, MARY ANN mmn HORWELL
GRO Reference: 1866 D Quarter in LAUNCESTON Volume 05C Page 29

BOWDEN, MARY ANN mmn ARNOLD
GRO Reference: 1867 D Quarter in ST THOMAS Volume 05B Page 81

BOWDEN, MARY ANN mmn SHORT
GRO Reference: 1868 D Quarter in ST THOMAS Volume 05B Page 71

BOWDEN, MARY ANN mmn OXENHAM
GRO Reference: 1868 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 448

Given the names you're researching, could this be the woman you mean???

Marriages Dec 1891 (>99%)
Bowden Mary Ann Newton A. 5b 229
Pering William Alfred Newton A. 5b 229


Mary A Pering
in the 1901 England Census
Name: Mary A Pering
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1866
Relation to Head: Wife
Gender: Female
Spouse: William A Pering
Birth Place: Babbacombe, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Tormoham and Torquay
Ecclesiastical parish: Ellacombe Christchurch
Town: Torquay
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street Address:
Registration District: Newton Abbot
Sub-registration District: Torquay
ED, institution, or vessel: 18
Neighbors:
Piece: 2060
Folio: 137
Page Number: 51
Household Schedule Number: 384
Household Members:
Name Age
William A Pering 36
Mary A Pering 35
John L Pering 8
William B Pering 7
Alice Pering 6


Mary Pering
in the 1911 England Census
Name: Mary Pering
Age in 1911: 44
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1867
Relation to Head: Wife
Gender: Female
Birth Place: St Mary Church, Torquay
Civil Parish: Tormoham
Country: England
Street Address: 10 Hoxton Road, Ellacombe, Torquay
Marital status: Married
Years Married: 19
Estimated Marriage Year: 1892
Registration District Number: 272
Sub-registration District: Torquay
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Piece: 12776
Household Members:
Name Age
William Pering 45
Mary Pering 44
Leonard Pering 18
Winnie Pering 9
Gladys Pering


Mary Ann Pering
in the 1939 England and Wales Register
Name: Mary Ann Pering
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Birth Date: 15 Jul 1865 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Residence Year: 1939
Address: 4
Residence Place: Torquay, Devon, England
Occupation: Unpd Domestic Duties
Line Number: 12
Schedule Number: 230
Sub Schedule Number: 3
Enumeration District: WGFH
Borough: Torquay
Registration district: 272. 2
Household Members Age
Wm A Pering 75
Winnie L Pering 37
Mary Ann Pering 74


Torquay was in Newton Abbot reg district.

I don't see the Newton Abbot birth mentioned by ErikaH.
There's a Mary Jane, but not a Mary Ann, as far as I can see.

This might be the woman above in 1871:

Mary A M Bowden
in the 1871 England Census
Name: Mary A M Bowden
Age: 5
Estimated Birth Year: 1866
Relation: Daughter
Gender: Female
Where born: St Mary Church Devon England
Civil parish: Wolborough
Town: Newton Abbot
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Registration district: Newton Abbot
Sub-registration district: Newton Abbot
ED, institution, or vessel: 18
Household schedule number: 130
Piece: 2084
Folio: 63
Page number: 31
Household Members Age Relationship
John Bowden 40 Head
Ann Bowden 30 Wife
John J Bowden 7 Son
Mary A M Bowden 5 Daughter
Thomas E Bowden 3 Son
Jessie J Bowden 2 Daughter


she's not with her family in 1881:

John Bowden
in the 1881 England Census
Name: John Bowden
Age: 50
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Relationship to Head: Head
Spouse: Ann Bowden
Gender: Male
Where born: Newton
Civil Parish: St Mary Church
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street Address: 7 Princes St
Marital status: Married
Education:
Employment status:
View image
Occupation: Labourer
Registration District: Newton Abbot
ED, institution, or vessel: 18
Neighbors:
Piece: 2169
Folio: 176
Page Number: 45
Household Members:
Name Age
John Bowden 50
Ann Bowden 40
John Bowden 17
Jessie Bowden 12
William Bowden 10
Maud Bowden 8
Arthur Bowden 4
Telvia Bowden 1
Ann Gosling 20

Births of the siblings in 1871 census:

BOWDEN, THOMAS EDWIN mmn JENKINS
GRO Reference: 1867 M Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 157

BOWDEN, JESSIE WHITE mmn JENKINS
GRO Reference: 1869 M Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 171

BOWDEN, JOHN JENKINS mmn JENKINS
GRO Reference: 1863 D Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 147

But I don't see Mary Ann's birth.

As mentioned, she's not with her family in 1881

but she's back with them in 1891:

Mary Ann M Bowden
in the 1891 England Census
Name: Mary Ann M Bowden
Gender: Female
Age: 25
Relationship: Daughter
Birth Year: 1866
Father: John W Bowden
Mother: Ann Bowden
Birth Place: St Mary Church, Devon, England
Civil Parish: St Mary Church
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary Church
Residence Place: St Mary Church, St Mary Church, Devon, England
Registration District: Newton Abbot
Sub registration district: Torquay
ED, Institution or Vessel: 23
Neighbors:
Piece: 1706
Folio: 36
Household Members:
Name Age
John W Bowden 59
Ann Bowden 50
Mary Ann M Bowden 25
Arthur J Bowden 14
Florence E Bowden 11
Frederick G Bowden 9

The Newton Abbot reference was to census records

Thanks for clarifying, ErikaH.

Mary Anne Mani
Last name Bowden
Birth year -
Baptism year 1865
Baptism date 01 Sep 1865
Father's first name(s) John
Mother's first name(s) Anne
Baptism place Torquay, St Marychurch
Denomination Anglican
County Devon
Country England
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Archive reference 3462A/PR/1/4
Record set Devon Baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Arthur James Jenkins
Last name Bowden
Birth year 1876
Birth date 17 Jun 1876
Baptism year 1876
Baptism date 25 Aug 1876
Father's first name(s) John White
Mother's first name(s) Ann
Baptism place Torquay, All Saints Babbacombe
Denomination Anglican
County Devon
Country England
Archive South West Heritage Trust

Frederick George
Last name Bowden
Birth year 1882
Birth date 03 Dec 1882
Baptism year 1883
Baptism date 01 Mar 1883
Father's first name(s) John White
Mother's first name(s) Anne
Baptism place Torquay, All Saints Babbacombe
Denomination Anglican
County Devon

Florence Eliza
Last name Bowden
Birth year 1879
Birth date 11 Jun 1879
Baptism year 1879
Baptism date 18 Jul 1879
Father's first name(s) John
Mother's first name(s) Ann
Baptism place Torquay, All Saints Babbacombe
Denomination Anglican
County Devon
Country England
Archive South West Heritage Trust

Mary Ann
Last name Bowden
Birth year 1865
Age 26
Marriage year 1891
Marriage date 18 Oct 1891
Place Torquay, Ellacombe
Denomination Anglican
Residence Torquay
Spouse's first name(s) William Alfred
Spouse's last name Pering
Spouse's birth year 1864
Spouse age 27
Spouse's residence West Ellacombe
Father's first name John ---------------------
Father's last name Bowden
Spouse's father's first name(s) John
Spouse's father's last name Pering
County Devon
Country England
Archive South West Heritage Trust

Mary Ann Maria
Last name Pering
Birth year 1865
Age 75
Death year 1940
Burial year 1940
Burial date 27 Sep 1940
Residence 4 Hoxton Road Ellacombe Torquay
Parish Torquay Cemetery
Place Torquay Cemetery
County Devon
Cemetery location unconsecrated
Denomination Non-Denominational
Archive Devon Heritage Centre
Archive reference 4241-C-PR-2-27
Entry number 14372
Page number 1798
Country England

Good find of baptism, Maddie.

So it looks as if she was baptised but her birth not registered for some reason, even though all her siblings' births were.

BOWDEN, ARTHUR JAMES JENKINS mmn JENKINS
GRO Reference: 1876 S Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 153

BOWDEN, FREDERICK GEORGE mmn JENKINS
GRO Reference: 1882 M Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 143

BOWDEN, FLORENCE ELIZA mmn JENKINS
GRO Reference: 1879 S Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 143


BOWDEN, MAUD ELIZABETH mmn JENKINS
GRO Reference: 1873 D Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 135



ADDED:

???

MAYNE, MARY ANN BOWDEN -
GRO Reference: 1865 S Quarter in EXETER Volume 05B Page 102

EDIT:

NO, this looks like that child's marriage:

Mary Ann B Mayne
in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
Name: Mary Ann B Mayne
Registration Year: 1889
Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
Registration District: Portsea Island
Inferred County: Hampshire
Volume: 2b
Page: 791
Records on Page:
Name
Alfred Baldock
Thomas William Barker
Eliza Bartlett
John Evans
Mary Ann B Mayne

John White
Last name Bowden
Birth year 1830
Age 33
Marriage year 1863
Marriage date 24 Jan 1863
Place Paignton, St John
Denomination Anglican
Residence Paignton
Father's first name Nathaniel
Father's last name Bowden
Spouse's first name(s) Ann
Spouse's last name Jenkings
Spouse birth year 1841
Spouse's age 22
Spouse's residence Paignton
Spouse's father's first name(s) James
Spouse's father's last name Jenkings
County Devon
Country England
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Archive reference 3134A/PR/1/21

hmmmmm

John White
Last name Bowden
Birth year 1830
Birth date 12 Sep 1830
Baptism year 1830
Denomination Anglican
Residence Newton Bushell
Baptism place Highweek
County Devon
Country England
Mother's first name(s) Mary
Father's first name(s) Samuel
Father's occupation Cordwainer
Archive South West Heritage Trust

Thank you all for your very useful information.

I now think that Mary's birth was never officially registered. How times have changed since 1865.

Another sibling may have died, as I don't see him on censuses - but can't see his death:

BOWDEN, WILLIAM MATTHEW JENKINS mmn JENKINS
GRO Reference: 1871 D Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 132

in the 1861 England Census
View 1861 England Census

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Name: John Bowden
Age: 30
Estimated Birth Year: 1831
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Samuel Bowden
Mother's Name: Mary Bowden
Gender: Male
Where born: Highweek, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Highweek
Town: Newton Abbot
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration District: Newton Abbot
Sub-registration District: Newton Abbot
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors:
Household Schedule Number: 31
Piece: 1407
Folio: 57
Page Number: 6
Household Members:
Name Age
Samuel Bowden 55
Mary Bowden 55
John Bowden 30
Cornelius Bowden 20
Arthur Bowden 18
Edwin Bowden 11


in the UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947
View UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947

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Name: John White Bowden
Gender: Male
Region or Memorial: France
Spouse: Mary Ann Bowden
Child: Frederick George Bowden
Other Records: Search for 'John White Bowden' in other WWI collections

Name: Frederick George Bowden
Gender: Male
Age: 37
Birth Date: abt 1882
Death Date: 1 Apr 1919
Cemetery: Cemetery Etaples Part II U K Graves A To Costa
Burial Country: France
Regiment: Royal Army Medical Corps
Regimental Number: 114085
Region or Memorial: France
Father: John White Bowden
Mother: Mary Ann Bowden
Other Records: Search for 'Frederick George Bowden' in other WWI collectio

Name: Private Frederick George Bowden
Death Date: 1 Apr 1919
Cemetery: Etaples Military Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Etaples, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
Has Bio?: N