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Necromancer, thanks very much - I have ordered that certificate from the GRO, and will let you know the outcome. Lisa

Fingers x'ed for you Lisa - yes, let me know, always interested. LD

I have the birth certificate for Edward Thomas Bowling, born 25.5.1863 in Henley. His mother was Jane Bowling (nee Pottle) and father was Thomas Bowling of Friday Street, Rotherfield, Grays. Now not so sure this is the right people, and looking for further help please.

Rotherfield Greys is less than 2 km west of Henly ..... but the mother's name is wrong, it should be Caroline based on what we saw in 1861 and 1871 ..... did you get the images from 1861/71 - I cant remember the address the family were at. We would need an 1851 lookup to find Jane Bowling née Potter .. the 1861 lady was a widow named Goddard. I'll have a look around and see if perchance this is the same lady - oh btw, what was the fathers occupation on the cert?

Really sorry - I missed this death in 1864 ..... Deaths Mar 1864 ---------------- Bowling Edward Thomas Henley 3a 427 Strange, because I always look for paired events close together like this - a cardinal rule to avoid exactly whats happened. Whats really strange is that there were no other Bowling Births in Henley in the period..... so given that 1837Online's data is GRO sourced, I guess we have to believe that Thomas is both a unique individual, and was not registered. It may be worth a call to Oxford FHS (google them) and see what records they have transcribed ? In the meantime, I'll see what I can find out about Thomas and this Jane ...

Have found the Bowling / Goddard marriage - Dec 1862 Goddard Caroline Henley 3a 883 The complementary page for Thomas is unreadable (try the image on FreeBMD !!!) but the quarter of 1862 is right ... There are no listed FreeBMD marriages 1849-1865 for these combos's:- Jane Pottle Caroline Pottle Jane Goddard which - NOT conclusively, 1837 should be trawled first - indiactes that Caroline's maiden was not Pottle ....

Yep - Jane Pottle and Caroline Goddard are not the same person. Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County ----------------------------------------------------------- +->Jane Pottle abt 1826 Farnham, Somerset, England Servant Henley on Thames Oxfordshire Ada Raxworthy abt 1857 Blandford, Somerset, England Daughter Henley on Thames Oxfordshire Anne Raxworthy abt 1816 Knook, Wiltshire, England Wife Henley on Thames Oxfordshire Charles Raxworthy abt 1846 Bayton, Wiltshire, England Son Henley on Thames Oxfordshire Robert Raxworthy abt 1796 Upton Lovell, Wiltshire, England Head Henley on Thames Oxfordshire Sarah Raxworthy abt 1840 Ashton Gifford, Wiltshire, England Daughter Henley on Thames Oxfordshire

On the birth certificate, Thomas the father was a grain porter.

Ah - right, I've seen him on the 1861 census as a boarder - occupation Corn Porter. I think we'll have to give in gracefully on this Eward scenario -esp as he died ....

Yes, I did find the Bowling/Goddard marraige (did you understand it to read James Rooms Bowling?). Think I also found James' death 1888 J/F/M 'age 70 from Henley' 3a 519. The other thing I found, was that Caroline Bowling by 1881 is living with her sister Mary Clark, at West Hill, Henley, and she is still showing on that Census as married, although James is not there, not dead, and I haven't found him elsewhere in 1881.

Going to pick up kids now, then feed and water them. Back later

Lisa, I couldnt (nor could FreeBMDs transcriber) read the James' entry (they thought it started PO ...) - it was only cos it was the Q, Page # that I figured it might match Carolines..... I'm plodding thru 1881 again as we type. That death - suspect ? His age in 1861 was b1801, and in 1871 b1823 ...

Here is James in 1881. He is a FISHERMAN. and condition on the image says Married, altho transcription leaves it blank. Curious, why? in the workhouse if Caroline was elsewhere - did it work that way if you could get support for your family but not yourself, dont know much about Workhouse regs .. James Bawling abt 1820 Henley On Thames Unknown 'Henley Union Workhouse', Henley On Thames, Oxfordshire, England

I wonder... Probably worth me finding out about the workhouse thing, and also wonder if that's why Thomas in 1881 was living with his half-brother. Another thing I found was another Thomas bowling on the 1861 Census, a widower aged 42. His status is an 'Alms M'. Does this mean he is living in Alms accomodation. His daughter and grad-daughter are also living with him, and his occupation is shown as Vet. Surgeon.

Yes, I saw that chap .... might be worth posting a request for the meaning of ALMS M in that context, as he is in a private address ? Good point about Thomas living with his half-brother. If only he would reveal himself in later census ! Sorry again about the Edward certificate.

started new thread on the workhouse, and had a response saying that it was quite normal for a couple to be split if one had an infectious disease, and looks like Caroline may have had to leave their own home so that it could be fumigated (their possesions may also have had to be burned). Not much info coming from the workhouse website.

Necromancer. Just spotted your further apology - don't worry, it's not the first one I've ordered that turned out wrong - and the others didn't even make sense!