See also
Name:
Thomas Frederick Dowell1
Sex:
Male
Father:
Mother:
1855, Register Entry for Baptism of Thomas Frederick Dowell
Birth:
23 Jul 1855
Address: 3 Kingsnorth Place
Baptism:
5 Aug 1855 (age 0)
St John the Baptist Church5
Address: Hoxton, Shoreditch
They probably took Thomas' older siblings Harriett, Charles and Harry but who else was there is not known.
Birth Registration:
1 Sep 1855 (age 0)
the Register Office
Address: Hoxton Old Town, Shoreditch, Middlesex
She signed the declaration with her mark.
Education:
btw 1860 and 1869 (age 4-14)
Address: Shoreditch
However, what sort of education he received is probablematical as he was certainly could not write as he signed his daughter Caroline's marriage certificate and the 1911 Census return with his mark X.
Census (living with father):
7 Apr 1861 (age 5)
1861 Census. Living with father
They shared the house with another family. In all there were 13 people living in the house. The size is unknown.
Present (half-sibling):
20 Jul 1862 (age 6)
Present at Baptism of his half-sister Sarah
Present (half-sibling):
17 Aug 1864 (age 9)
Present at Baptism of his half-brother William
Occupation:
frm 1869 to 1919 (age 13-64)
carman; Bethnal Green and Shoreditch8 9 4 10 7 11 12 13 14 15
In the 1871 Census he is shown as an errand boy and all subsequent Censuses (up to 1911) as a carman (i.e. a person who drove a horse drawn delivery vehicle). It is assumed that he started work at 12 as an errand boy perhaps working for a firm of carriers as the van boy and graduated to a carman. He is described as a jouneyman carman on his daughter Alice's birth certificate and Alice remembers being taken to see the shire horses in their stable which was probably near where they lived. In the 1911 Census and on his wife Rebecca's Death Certificate he is describes as a contractor's carman. It is therefore certain that he worked for someone else and not on his own account. Whether he worked for the same employer all the time is not known. The family moved frequently within the Bethnal Green and Shoreditch area but this was not uncommon as families grew and dwindled and is not necessarily indicative of a change in employer. However, he must have lost his job sometime after the 1911 census as his Death Certificate describes him as a tailor's assistant. His daughter Alice was married twice. On the marriage certificate to her first husband, Horace Richmond, which took place in 1938 Thomas is described as a caterer's traveller and on the marriage certificate to her second husband, William Ward, which took place in 1948 Thomas is described as a caterer. Alice remembers as a small girl preparing vegetables for banquets at London hotels to earn a little pocket money presumably after he became a caterer's traveller. Why he changed jobs toward the end of his life is not known; being a traveller was almost certainly a better job than a carman. On the other hand the use of horse drawn vehicles was certainly diminishing as motor vehicles became more numerous and it is possible that he could not, or didn't wish to, learn to drive. The reason for the subsequent change to a tailor's assistant is not clear. Perhaps he lost his job or illness forced him to make the change but at least he kept on working to the end of his life. In what way he assisted the tailor is not known; given his previous occupation as a carman it may have been in a warehouseman and/or delivery role.
Census (living with father and stepmother):
2 Apr 1871 (age 15)
1871 Census - living with father and stepmother
Parent:
22 Feb 1880 (age 24)
Birth of daughter Rebecca Harriet
Parent:
5 Mar 1882 (age 26)
Birth of daughter Caroline Emma
Parent:
26 Mar 1882 (age 26)
Baptism of daughter Caroline Emma
Witness:
23 Dec 1883 (age 28)
Thomas witnessed the Marriage of Thomas Thornton and Elizabeth Ann Darby
His wife Rebecca who was the other witness was the groom's sister.
Parent:
2 Mar 1884 (age 28)
Baptism of son Thomas
Parent:
23 May 1886 (age 30)
Baptism of son Charles Hezekiah
Parent:
1 Dec 1889 (age 34)
Baptism of daughter Louisa Alice
Parent:
8 Mar 1893 (age 37)
Baptism of daughter Harriet Ethel
Residence:
13 May 1896 (age 40)
The family now consisted of Thomas and Rebecca, and their eight children Rebecca, Caroline, Thomas, Charles, Louisa, Harriet and the latest additions the twins Alice and William.
Parent:
13 May 1896 (age 40)
Birth of daughter Alice Eleanor
Parent:
21 Jun 1896 (age 40)
Baptism of daughter Alice Eleanor
Parent:
21 Jun 1896 (age 40)
Baptism of son William John
Parent:
16 Oct 1898 (age 43)
Baptism of son Arthur Herbert
Witness:
8 Apr 1900 (age 44)
Thomas witnessed the Marriage of Charles Leonard Maskall and Rebecca Harriet Dowell
Adoptive Father:
Jun 1901 (age 45)
Adopted Louise Mary Fippen
Witness:
2 Nov 1902 (age 47)
Thomas witnessed the Marriage of Thomas Fippen and Caroline Emma Dowell
Son's marriage:
18 Apr 1903 (age 47)
Marriage of son Thomas to Elizabeth Alice Anderson
Residence:
14 Apr 1907 (age 51)
126, St John's Street, Hoxton, Bethnal Green, London18
It is assumed that the address given on the Marriage Certificate of their daughter Louisa was the family home.
Daughter's marriage:
14 Apr 1907 (age 51)
Marriage of daughter Louisa to Edward Charles Kelly
Death:
23 Apr 1919 (age 63)
Cause: valvular disease of the heart, chronic bronchitis and syncope
Address: 23 Holms Street, Great Cambridge Street
Syncope is the medical term for fainting which can arise from several causes. However, the most like cause was the decrease in the amount of blood flowing back to the heart due to straining during the coughing associated with bronchitis. His wife Rebecca was with him when he died.
Death Registration:
24 Apr 1919
Register Office21
Address: Hoxton Old Town, Shoreditch
Daughter: Caroline Emma Dowell, 1939?, age 57
Daughter: Alice Eleanor Dowell, c. 1950, age 54
Son: William John Dowell, c. 1938, age 42
2007, Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage for Thomad Dowell and Rebecca Thornton
1881, 1881 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Hoxton Old Town
1891, 1891 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Bethnal Green
1901, 1901 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Shoreditch
1911, 1911 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Bethnal Green
Spouse:
Children:
Marriage:
15 Mar 1880 (age 26)
Address: Baroness Road, Bethnal Green, Middlesex
Thomas could have been either the father (although this is unlikely as he was an inmate of the Bethnal Green Workhouse at the time) or the younger brother of the bride. However, as Harriett was the eldest sister of the groom Thomas was almost certainly the bride's sibling. Who the other guests were is not known but the wedding would almost have certainly been attended by the groom's and bride's families although it is unlikely that the groom's parents attended in view of his father's situation. After the marriage the couple shared a house with John & Harriett Pope at 25 Hobbs Place, Shoreditch. The groom, the bride and the both witnesses signed with their marks indicating that they were illiterate. This confirms Rebecca's daughter Alice's recollection that her mother could neither read or write (but was very good at mental arithmetic). Thomas must have learnt to read and write to some extent as towards the end of his life he was a caterer's traveller and a tailor's assistant.
St Thomas' Church was damaged by German bombing during the 1939-45 war and demolished in 1954.
Census for household:
3 Apr 1881 (age 25)
Address: 25 Hobbs Place
The household consisted of Thomas, his wife Rebekah and their daughter Rebekah (age 1). They shared the house with John Pope's family whose wife Harriett was Rebecca's older sister. Harriett's and Rebecca's brother Hezekiah was also lodging with the Popes.
Census for household:
5 Apr 1891 (age 35)
Bethnal Green, Middlesex4
Address: 17 Fuller Street
The household consisted of Thomas, his wife Rebecca, and their children Rebecca, Caroline, Thomas, Charles and Louisa. They occupied three rooms in a house which they shared with two other families. How a family of seven fitted into three rooms is not known. It is assumed that each of the three families cooked for themselves in their own living rooms but probably shared a sculley and a toilet in the yard. Thomas and Rebecca probably slept in the living room with the boys in one room and the girls in the remaining room.
Census for household:
31 Mar 1901 (age 45)
Shoreditch10
Address: 91 Phillip Street
The household consisted of Thomas, his wife Rebecca (née Thornton), and their children Caroline (age 19), Thomas (age 17), Charles (age 14), Louisa (age 11), Harriett (age 8), William (age 4), his twin sister Alice (age 4) and Arthur (age 2). The family had the whole house to themselves although there is no indication as to its size. 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.
Census for household:
2 Apr 1911 (age 55)
Address: 26 Baroness Road
The household consisted of Thomas and his wife Rebecca, their children Harriett, Alice, William, and Arthur, and Herbert Dowell, and their granddaughter Louise Fippen. Thomas, Harriett, Alice and William were all working whilst Arthur and Louise were at school.
Although Louise Fippen is shown as the granddaughter of Thomas Dowell technically she was his step-granddaughter. Louise was the daughter of Thomas Fippen and Louise Jane Dorsett who died on 19 July 1901 of tuberculosis of the brain. Thomas Fippen then married Caroline Emma Dowell a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca on 2 Nov 1902, and they went on to have five children of their own. When Louise came to live with the Dowells is not known - probably shortly before or after Louise Dorset's death because Rebecca had promised to take Louise in if anything happened to her mother. Louise never married and continued to live with Rebecca or after she died Alice. As children Louise and Alice shared a bedroom and had to turn the mangle together on washdays.
The return was probably filled in by Thomas' daughter Harriet as both Thomas and his wife Rebecca were illiterate. Thomas added his mark X after his name in the signature box.
Rev. A P Kelly, Register Entry for the Baptism of Thomas Frederick Dowell in St John the Baptist, Hoxton, Middlesex. , (Ancestry website). Custom Id: Baptisms 1855 Page 138, No. 1257; London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P91/JNB/089.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth for Thomas Frederick Dowell, (Application No. COL330700. Issued by GRO on the 6 Aug 2007). Custom Id: BXCC 633664; Cit. Date: 23 July 1855. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Civil Registration Index (England & Wales) for Birth of Thomas Frederick Dowell, (FreeBMD website). Custom Id: Births Q3 1855 for Registration District of Shoreditch, Vol. 1c, Page 159; Cit. Date: Q3 1855. General Register Office. Call Number: Births.
1891 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Bethnal Green, London, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG12/265, Folio 201, Page 27; Cit. Date: 5 April 1891. National Archives.
Rev. A P Kelly, Register Entry for the Baptism of Thomas Frederick Dowell in St John the Baptist, Hoxton, Middlesex. , (Ancestry website). Custom Id: Baptisms 1855 Page 138, No. 1257; Cit. Date: 5 August 1855. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P91/JNB/089.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage for Thomas Fippen and Caroline Emma Dowell, (2 Nov 1902). Custom Id: MXD350258; Witness' signature. Cit. Date: 2 November 1902. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
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.
1871 England Census for Household of Hezikiah Dowell in Shoreditch, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG10/453, Folio 19, Page 32, Schedule 184; Cit. Date: 2 April 1871. National Archives.
1881 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Shoreditch, London, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG11/399, Folio 22, Page 32, Schedule 174; Cit. Date: 2 April 1881. National Archives. Call Number: RG11/399.
1901 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Shoreditch, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG13/278, Folio 11, Page 14, Schedule 88; Cit. Date: 31 March 1901. National Archives.
J P W Ward, Reminiscences of Alice Eleanor Dowell, (Created 2007 with subsequent additions). Para 2.1 - Her Father. Dowell-Lauderdale Database.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth for Alice Eleanor Dowell, (Issued on 6 Aug 2007 in response to Application No COL330700). Custom Id: BXCC 641846; Father's occupation. Cit. Date: 13 May 1896. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage for Horace Richmond and Alice Eleanor Dowell, (Issued by General Register on 6 Aug 2007 in reponse to Application No COL330700). Custom Id: MXD350327; Rank or Profession of Father. Cit. Date: 14 December 1938. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage for William Charles John Ward and Alice Eleanor Richmond, (Issued on 6 August 2007 in reponse to Application No COL330700). Custom Id: MXD 350033; Rank or Profession of Father. Cit. Date: 28 October 1948. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death for Thomas Frederick Dowell, (Issued on 6 Aug 2007 in reponse to Application No COL330700). Custom Id: DYB 617157; Occupation. Cit. Date: 23 April 1919. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth for Alice Eleanor Dowell, (Issued on 6 Aug 2007 in response to Application No COL330700). Custom Id: BXCC 641846; Year 1896Sub District Hoxton Old TownRegistration District ShoreditchFull County County of LondonWhen Born 13 May 1896 5 p.m.Where Born 43, Felton StreetChild's Name Alice Eleanor DOWELLFather's Name Thomas DOWELLFather's Occupation Carman JourneymanMother's Name Rebecca DOWELLMaiden Name THORNTONInformant Rebecca DOWELLWhen Registered 23 Jun 1896Signature of Registrar E. J. Pearce, RegistrarSuperintendant Registrar General Register OfficeDate issued 06 Aug 2007. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth for William John Dowell, (Issued on 6 August 2007 by General Register Office in response to Application No COL330700). Custom Id: BXCC 641845; DistrictShoreditchYear1896Sub-DistrictHoxton Old TownCountyLondonDate of Birth13 May 1896 5.30 p.m.Place of Birth43 Felton Street NameWilliam JohnSexBoyFather' NameThomas DowellMother's NameRebecca Dowell formerly ThorntonMaiden SurnameThorntonFather's OccupationCarman JourneymanInformant's SignatureX The mark of Rebecca Dowell, MotherInformant's Residence43 Felton Street, Hoxton Old TownDate Registered23 June 1896RegistrarE. J. Pearce, RegistrarNote. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage for Edward Charles Kelly and Louisa Alice Dowell, (Issued 7 Aug 2007 in response to Application No COL330700). Custom Id: MXD 354024; Bride's Name : Louisa Alice DOWELLBride's Residence: 126, St John's Road. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death for Thomas Frederick Dowell, (Issued on 6 Aug 2007 in reponse to Application No COL330700). Custom Id: DYB 617157; Cit. Date: 23 April 1919. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Civil Registration Index (England & Wales) for Death of Thomas Dowell, (FreeBMD website). Custom Id: Deaths Shoreditch, Vol. 1c, Page 72; Cit. Date: Q2 1919. General Register Office.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death for Thomas Frederick Dowell, (Issued on 6 Aug 2007 in reponse to Application No COL330700). Custom Id: DYB 617157; Signature, description and residence of informant. Cit. Date: 24 April 1919. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage for Thomas Dowell and Rebecca Thornton, (Issued by General Register Office on 6 Aug 2007 in response to Application NoCOL330700). Custom Id: MXD 350320; Cit. Date: 15 March 1880. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
General Register Office, Civil Registration Index (England & Wales) for Marriage of Thomas Dowell and Rebecca Thornton, (FreeBMD website). Custom Id: Marriages 1880 Q1 Bethnal Green, Vol. 1c, Page 543; Cit. Date: Q1 1880. General Register Office.
St Thomas, Bethnal Green, (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol11/pp217-226 ). St. Thomas, Baroness Road [formed 1844/51]. Dowell-Wallace Data Base. Call Number: Places.
1881 Census for Household of Thomas Dowell in Shoreditch, London, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG11/399, Folio 22, Page 32, Schedule 174; Cit. Date: 3 April 1881. National Archives. Call Number: RG11/399.
1881 Census for Household of John Pope in Shoreditch, London, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG11/299 Folio 22 Page 32, Schedule 173; Cit. Date: 3 April 1881. National Archives. Call Number: RG11/229.
J P W Ward, Reminiscences of Alice Eleanor Dowell, (Created 2007 with subsequent additions). Para 2.3 - Her Siblings. Dowell-Lauderdale Database.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death for Louise Fippen, (13 August 2019 in response to Application No 10316560-1). Custom Id: DYE 398811; Cit. Date: 20 July 1901. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.