John Rowsell 1792 - 1854

There is a record that a John Rowsell was baptised on February 15, 1792 in Wilton, Somerset, England.  He was listed as the son of John Rowsell and Mary.

He had two siblings:

Mary Rowsell (baptized at St. George, Wilton on June 9, 1787)
Elizabeth Rowsell (baptized at 16 months, at St. George, Wilton in July, 1790.)

Taunton Marriage Entry

The marriage records of St. Mary Magdalene in Taunton Parish record that a John Rowsell was married to Maria Moor (1799 - ) on March 3, 1816 in Taunton, Somerset, England. The entry contains no other information.









John Rowsell and Maria Moor had at least 6 children:

Isabella Rowsell (bap: August 18, 1816)
Elizabeth Rowsell (bap: September 6, 1818)
Mary Anne Rowsell (bap: September 17, 1820)
James Rowsell (born: July 28, 1822)
Jane Rowsell (bap: October 24, 1824)
Elizabeth Rowsell (bap: December 25, 1827)

Parish records at St. Mary Magdalene, Taunton show the burial of a 2 year-old Elizabeth "Rowsall" of Holway Lane, Taunton on July 19, 1820. If that is the first Elizabeth, then this would explain the susbsequent naming of another Elizabeth in 1827. Those same records show the burial of a 13 year-old "Eliza Bella" Rowsell on May 24, 1829, which might be a poor rendering of Isabella. (She might also be unrelated, as she is shown as living on Shuttern Rd. at that time of her death.) However, it is noteworthy that neither older Elizabeth nor Isabella appear to show up in subsequent parish records.

St. George, Wilton parish records show that Jane Rowsell married Charles Read, carpenter, on March 16, 1841. On January 17, 1844, Elizabeth Rowsell married Francis Forward.  Later that year, Mary Ann Rowsell was married to Henry Parsons, coal miner, on March 19.



1841 Census - Taunton

 At the time of the 1841 Census, John (45) and Maria (40) were living on High Street, Taunton with Mary (21), James (19), Jane (17) and Elizabeth (14). No sign of Isabella or the first Elizabeth.

At the time of the 1851 Census, John (age 59) and Maria (age 52) are living at 168 Mary Street, with Jane (age 26), a Mary(?) (age 12) and a Charlotte(?) age 10. The poor legibility of the record leaves it unclear whether these are additional daughters, or other relations. (I wonder where Charles Read was living, and why Jane wasn't with him. Perhaps she was caring for John and Maria some of the time.)

John Rowsell died of a fever at the age of 61 on April 4, 1854 at his home on Mary Street in Taunton, Somerset. The Entry of Death lists a Jane Denham as being present at the time of death - relation uncertain. Perhaps daughter Jane remarried. John Rowsell's occupation was listed as "Stonemason".

He was buried on April 9 1854 in the cemetary of St. Mary Magdalene, Taunton.