Family of Frederick Stevens and Harriet Ethel Dowell

Husband:
Frederick Stevens (1899-1970)
Wife:
Harriet Ethel Dowell (1893-1972)
Marriage:
20 May 1944
the Register Office^1,2,3
Address: Lambeth, London

L. M. Fippen (Lou) was Harriet's (Ett's) adopted sister. The relationship of the other witness to the couple is unknown - probably a friend of the groom. Who else was at the ceremony is not known but probably Ett's sister Alice and brother Bill were there. Before her marriage Ett lived in her sister Alice's house at 55, Binfield Road, Stockwell. Jack, her nephew, can remember her husband to be calling before they were married and in 1945 Jack attending a VE day street party in the street where they lived after their marriage. It was in one of the roads which to lay to the west of the Clapham Road at the southern end and there were terraced houses on both sides. Frederick (or Fred as he was known) had been married before and had two daughters and a son. The daughters worked in a bakery which produced doughnuts for the American forces and they were allowed to bring home any misshapen doughnuts. The son was a transvestite and Jack can remember the hushed tones of the adults when they were discussing his behaviour. Apparently Ett had found a white dress in his wardrobe and in the evenings he would go to clubs in Soho. How Ett who had never had any children of her own got on with her stepchildren, especially the boy, is not known.

Husband: Frederick Stevens

Name:
Frederick Stevens⁴
Sex:
Male
Father:
-
Mother:
-
Birth:
26 Dec 1899⁵
His date of birth is given on his death certificate. However, Stevens is such a common name that it was not possible to determine from birth registration records where he was born.
Death:
1970 (age 70-71)
Lambeth, London⁶
Death:
Mar 1970 (age 70)
Lambeth, London⁶

Wife: Harriet Ethel Dowell

1893, Register Entry for Baptism of Harriet Ethel Dowell

Name:
Harriet Ethel Dowell
Sex:
Female
Father:
Thomas Frederick Dowell (1855-1919)
Mother:
Rebecca Thornton (1861-1936)
Birth:
22 Jan 1893
Bethnal Green, Middlesex^7,8,9
Address: 17 Fuller Street

The register entry for her baptism gives her date of birth and the place where her parents were living. It is assumed that she was born there.
Baptism:
8 Mar 1893 (age 0)
St Jude's Church¹⁰
Address: Bethnal Green, Middlesex

Her parents would have been at the service together with her siblings Rebecca, Caroline, Thomas and Louisa. Who else as present is not known.
Birth Registration (quarter):
Mar 1893 (age 0)
Bethnal Green, London⁸
Present (sibling):
21 Jun 1896 (age 3)
Present at Baptism of her sister Alice Eleanor
Present (sibling):
21 Jun 1896 (age 3)
Present at Baptism of her brother William John
Present (sibling):
16 Oct 1898 (age 5)
Present at Baptism of her brother Arthur Herbert
Census (living with parents):
31 Mar 1901 (age 8)
1901 Census - living with parents
Sister's marriage:
2 Nov 1902 (age 9)
Marriage of sister Caroline to Thomas Fippen
Brother's marriage:
18 Apr 1903 (age 10)
Marriage of brother Thomas to Elizabeth Alice Anderson
Brother's marriage:
24 Jul 1904 (age 11)
Marriage of brother Charles to Jane Elizabeth Cox
Occupation:
btw 1907 and 1930 (age 13-37)
printer; Bethnal Green, London^11,12
Although her occupation in the 1911 census is given as a printer, setting print was a highly skilled job which was probably only open to men so she probably worked in a print works perhaps operating a press or collating. It is known that banknote printers used women to examine notes coming off the presses for defects so she may well have been employed by a banknote printer. She probably started work at the age of 14 on leaving school but for how long she worked for is not known. It is thought that she continued to live in Bethnal Green area as there is evidence that in 1920 she was doing so when she was a witness at the marriage of her brother Arthur in Haggerstone. However, she married Edward Mackellow in 1933 in Thanet, Kent. When and why she moved Thanet is not known but it is assumed that she continued to work until shortly before her marriage.
Witness:
14 Apr 1907 (age 14)
Harriet witnessed the Marriage of Edward Charles Kelly and Louisa Alice Dowell
She was the younger sister of the Bride and would have been just 14 at the time.
Census (living with parents):
2 Apr 1911 (age 18)
1911 Census - living with parents
Harriett is working as a printer.
Witness:
25 Sep 1920 (age 27)
Harriet witnessed the Marriage of Arthur Herbert Dowell and Susan Ethel Hutton
Census (living with mother):
19 Jun 1921 (age 28)
1921 Census. Living with mother
Harriet is working as a layer-on for the printer Tom Smith
Godparent:
6 May 1934 (age 41)
Stood as Godparent
Witness:
14 Dec 1938 (age 45)
Harriet witnessed the Marriage of Horace Richmond and Alice Eleanor Dowell
Harriett was Alice's sister.
Register (living with brother-in-law):
29 Sep 1939 (age 46)
1939 Register - Living with brother-in-law
Death:
1972 (age 78-79)
Lambeth, London¹³

Sources

CRI(E&W) for Marriage of Frederick Stevens and Harriet E. Mackellow, Event Type: Marriage, Registration District: Lambeth, Volume: 1D, Page: 348, (Period, Apr-Jun 1944). Quarter & Year Apr-Jun 1944Registration DistrictLamberthGroom's NameFrederick StevensBride's NameHarriet E. Mackellow. General Register Office. Call Number: Marriages.

Reminder transcribed from FMP images

J P W Ward, As I Remember It, (Not published). Chapter 3 - A Boy in London. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street

Bampton

Tiverton

Devon

EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.

As I Remember It

Autobiography of Jack Ward (aka Jack Dowell and Jack Richmond)

Introduction

Chapter 1Early Years 1934-1939

Chapter 2Evacuation 1939-1944

Chapter 3A Boy in London 1944 - 1951

Chapter 4The Navy – Under Training

Chapter 5The Surface Fleet

Chapter 6Polaris and Tident

Chapter 7Retirement

Accessing the book

The book is still being written and some of the chapters may not be complete. To access a chapter go to Media and open relevant Word file by selecting the Chapter and clicking on Open in Editor/Player.

Marriage certificate of Frederick Stevens and Harriet Ethel Mackellow, 20 May 1944, Jack Ward.

Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage for Frederick Stevens (26) and Harriet Ethel Dowell (16)

Registration District: Lambeth

Application No: 13447529/2

Issued By: General Register Office

Issue Date: 11 January 2023

Certificate No: MJX572940

Place	the Register Office
District	Lambeth
County	Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth
Date of Marriage	20 May 1944
Groom's Name	Frederick Stevens
Groom's Age	52
Groom's Condition	Widower
Rank or Profession	Ganger of Sweepers
Groom's Residence	208 South Lambeth Road
Groom's Father	William Stevens (deceased)
Rank or Profession	General Labourer
Bride's Name	Harriet Ethel Mackellow
Bride's Age	50
Bride's Condition	Widow
Rank or Profession	Office Cleaner
Bride's Residence	55 Binfield Road
Bride's Father	Thomas Dowell (deceased)
Rank or Profession	Carman
Married in	the Register Office
by	Certificate
before	me
Groom's Signature	F. Stevens
Bride's Signature	H. E. Mackellow
Witness 1	L. M. Fippen
Witness 2	C. A. Coard
Signed	P J Gunn, Acting Registrar Wm C Best, Superintendent Registrar

CRI(E&W) for Marriage of Frederick Stevens and Harriet E. Mackellow, Event Type: Marriage, Registration District: Lambeth, Volume: 1D, Page: 348, (Period, Apr-Jun 1944). Groom's NameFrederick Stevens. General Register Office. Call Number: Marriages.

Reminder transcribed from FMP images

CRI(E&W) for Death of Frederick Stevens, Event Type: Death, Registration District: Lambeth, Volume: 5d, Page: 499, (Period, Jan-Mar 1970). NameFrederick StevensDate of Birth26 Dec 1899. General Register Office. Call Number: Deaths.

Reminder transcribed from Ancestry image

Ibid. NameFrederick StevensRegistration DistrictLambethCountyGreater LondonQuarter & YearJan-Mar 1970Date of Birth26 Dec 1899. General Register Office. Call Number: Deaths.

Reminder transcribed from Ancestry image

1901 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Shoreditch, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG13/278, Folio 11, Page 14, Schedule 88; Name, age and place of birth. Cit. Date: 31 March 1901. National Archives.

1901 UK Census for Household of Thomas Dowell (11)

Reference: RG13/278, Folio 11, Page 14, Schedule 88

Enumeration Date: 31 Mar 1901

Registration District:

Registration Sub-District:

Civil Parish: Shoreditch

Ecclesiastical Parish: St Andrew, Hoxton

Address: 91 Philip Street

Other Info: The family had the whole house to themselves. See Notes for further details.

Id	Name	Relation	Condition	Age	Occupation	Employment Status	At Home	Where Born	Infirmity
11	Thos Dowell	Head	Married	45	Carman			Shoreditch, London
12	Rebecca Dowell	Wife	Married	39				Bethnal Green, London
30	Caroline Dowell	Daughter	Single	19	Fancy Paper Box Maker			Shoreditch, London
14	Thomas Dowell	Son		17	French Polisher			Bethnal Green, London
31	Charles Dowell	Son		14	Sawmill worker - Sawyer			Bethnal Green, London
17	Louisa Dowell	Daughter		11				Bethnal Green, London
18	Harriett Dowell	Daughter		8				Bethnal Green, London
15	William Dowell	Son		4				Shoreditch, London
7	Alice Dowell	Daughter		4				Shoreditch, London
25	Arthur Dowell	Son		2				Shoreditch, London

The family which numbered 10 in all had the whole house to themselves. There is no indication of the size of the house. However, nearby houses in Phillip Street occupied by more than 1 family appear to have 4 rooms so it is assumed that there were 4 rooms probably split up as a living room, the parents bedroom, a bedroom for the boys and a bedroom for the girls. In addition there was probably a scullery with a copper for use on washdays which may also have served as a kitchen and a privy in the yard.

1901 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Shoreditch

General Register Office, Civil Registration Index (England & Wales) for Birth of Harriet Ethel Dowell, (FreeBMD website). Custom Id: Births 1893 Q1 Bethnal Green Vol. 1c, Page 220; Cit. Date: Q1 1893. General Register Office. Call Number: Births.

CRI(E&W) for Birth of Harriet Ethel Dowell (16)

Transcribed from FreeBMD website

Quarter and Year	Jan-Mar 1893
Surname	Dowell
Given Names	Harriet Ethel
Registration District	Bethnal Green
Volume	1c
Page	220

Note

Civil Registration Index (England & Wales) for Birth of Harriet Ethel Dowell

Rev. W. H. Davies, Register Entry for Baptism of Harriet Ethel Dowell in Parish of St Jude, Bethnal Green, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: Baptisms 1893 Page 116, No. 925; Date of birth and abode. Cit. Date: 22 January 1893. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P72/JUD, Item 011.

Baptismal Register Entry for Harriet Ethel Dowell (16)

Church: St Jude

Parish: Bethnal Green

Denomination: Church of England

County: Middlesex

Page	116
Entry No.	925
Date of Baptism	8 March 1893
Date of Birth	22 January 1893
Child's Christian Name	Harriet Ethel
Parents' Christian Names	Thomas & Rebecca
Parents' Surname	Dowell
Abode	17 Fuller Street
Quality, Trade, or Profession	Carman
Minister	W. H. Davies

10.

Ibid. Date of baptism. Cit. Date: 8 March 1893. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P72/JUD, Item 011.

Baptismal Register Entry for Harriet Ethel Dowell (16)

Church: St Jude

Parish: Bethnal Green

Denomination: Church of England

County: Middlesex

Page	116
Entry No.	925
Date of Baptism	8 March 1893
Date of Birth	22 January 1893
Child's Christian Name	Harriet Ethel
Parents' Christian Names	Thomas & Rebecca
Parents' Surname	Dowell
Abode	17 Fuller Street
Quality, Trade, or Profession	Carman
Minister	W. H. Davies

11.

1911 England Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Bethnal Green, (Find My Past website). Custom Id: RG14/1452 RG78PN50 RD17 SD2 ED35 SN50; Cit. Date: 2 April 1911. National Archives. Call Number: RG14/1452.

1911 UK Census For Household of Thomas Dowell (11)

County: London

Registration District: Bethnal Green

Sub-District: Bethnal Green South West

Parish: Bethnal Green

Reference: RG14/1452

Enumeration Date: 2 April 1911

Address: 26 Baroness Road

Number of Rooms: 5

Signature: Thomas Dowell X

Other Info:

Name

Relation

Sex

Age

Condition

Years

Chd Born

Chd Living

Chd Died

Occupation

Industry

Employ Status

At Home

Where Born

Nationality

Infirmity

Thomas Dowell

Head

Married

Carman

for Contractor

Worker

Hoxton

British

Rebecca Dowell

Wife

Married

Whitechapel

British

Harriett Dowell

Daug

Printer

Printing trade

Worker

Bethel Green

British

Alice Dowell

Daug

Cracker maker

Worker

Hoxton

British

William John Dowell

Son

Upholsterer

Worker

Hoxton

British

Arthur Herbert Dowell

Son

School

Hoxton

British

Louise Fippen

G/Daug

School

Hoxton

British

Although Louise Fippen is shown as the granddaughter of Thomas Dowell technically she was his step-granddaughter. Louise was the daughter of Thomas Fippen (46) and Louise Jane Dorsett (126) whose death was registered in the quarter ending Sep 1901. Thomas Fippen then married Caroline Emma Dowell (30) one of Thomas and Rebecca’s daughters on 2 Nov 1902.

In her reminiscences Alice Dowell (7) says that Louise was ‘adopted’ by Thomas and Rebecca Dowell when her mother became too ill to look after her. The Census would lend credence to this although where Louisa's brother Thomas (127) was is not known as a search of the Census failed to find him. Her other brother, Henry’s (125) death was registered in the quarter ending June 1901.

Thomas Dowell could not write (he signed the Census form with his mark X), neither could his wife Rebecca so who filled in the form is not known - probably the eldest child living at home who was Harriett.

1911 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Bethnal Green

12.

Rev. Arthur T. Robinson, Register Entry for the Marriage of Arthur Herbert Dowell & Susan Ethel Hutton, (Ancesty website). Custom Id: Marriages 1920, Page 10, No. 20; Witness. Cit. Date: 25 September 1920. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P91/AUG, Item 011.

Church	St Augustine
Parish	Haggerston
County	London
Register Year	1920
Register Page	10
Entry No.	20
Date of Marriage	25 September 1920
Groom's Name	Arthur Herbert Dowell
Groom's Age	22
Groom's Condition	Bachelor
Rank or Profession	Upholster
Groom's Residence	23 Holms Street
Groom's Father	Thomas Dowell (deceased)
Rank or Profession	Carman
Bride's Name	Susan Ethel Hutton
Bride's Age	19
Bride's Condition	Spinster
Rank or Profession	---
Bride's Residence	23 Holms Street
Bride's Father	Thomas Stephen Hutton (deceased)
Rank or Profession	Carman
Married in	above Church
rite	Church of England
after	Banns
by	me
Groom's Signature	Arthur Herbert Dowell
Bride's Signature	Susan Ethel Hutton
Witness 1	Charles Leonard Maskal
Witness 2	Harriet Ethel Dowell
Signed	Arthur T. Robinson

13.

Ancestry, Civil Registration Index (England & Wales) for Death of Harriet Ethel Stevens, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: Death 1972 Q2 Greater London Vol. 5d, Page 210; Cit. Date: Q2 1972. General Register Office. Call Number: Deaths.

CRI(E&W) for Death of Harriett Ethel Stevens (16)

Transcribed from Ancestry website

Quarter and Year	Apr-Jun 1972
Surname	Stevens
Given Names	Harriett Ethel
Date of Birth	22 January 1893
Registration District	Greater London
Volume	5d
Page	210

Civil Registration Index (England & Wales) for Death of Harriett Ethel Stevens