Charlotte Lovell

Broomfield's Church

Charlotte Lovell was born in Broomfield, Somerset, on December 17, 1820, to John Lovell, labourer (1792 - ) and Sarah. Charlotte Lovell's extended family, back to her great-grandfather Charles, is described at the FAMILY TREES tab, above. A descendant of the Lovells has also written an interesting family history, based on their research, here.

Charlotte had two siblings:

Harriott Lovell, born December 29, 1816.
Robert Lovell, born October 11, 1829.






She was married to James Rowsell on May 10, 1843 in Bishop's Hull, Somerset, England. They are both listed as being "of age" and living in Bishop's Hull at the time. James's occupation is listed as "Stonemason". Charlotte's father, John Lovell, is named in the marriage certificate, as is James' father, John Rowsell, stonemason. The marriage was witnessed by James' father and Mary Ann, his sister.

James and Charlotte had 8 children:

Emily Rowsell (born: 1846, in Taunton).
Albert Rowsell (born: March 19, 1849 in Taunton) (publican)
Robert Rowsell (born: 1851, in Taunton) (stonemason).
John Rowsell (born: 1853, in Taunton)
Walter Rowsell (born 1854, in Taunton)
Tom Rowsell (born: 1859, in Taunton) (tailor).
Maria Rowsell (born 1861, in Taunton) (dressmaker).
Elizabeth (Liz) Rowsell (born 1865, in Taunton).

52 Upper High Street, Taunton, today.

The 1881 Census captures Charlotte's household, at 52 Upper High Street, Taunton. James is listed as a "retired builder", at age 58. Charlotte (59) is a "dressmaker". Tom (22) is a "foreman tailor". Maria (20) is a dressmaker as well. Also listed at that address is Mary Tempelman (64), a "domestic cook and server" staying on as a boarder.

A Taunton commercial directory of 1875 lists one Charlotte Rowsell as a dressmaker, operating out of 52 Upper High Street. One can easily imagine the family living above a store, with Charlotte, Tom and Maria fashioning dresses and keeping house, allowing James to take his leisure in retirement. Unfortunately, a new commercial building has since been put up on the site, pictured above, although the building to the right of #52 may be of the earlier period and suggests what their home and shop may have looked like in the late 1800s.

1891 Census, Taunton

By The time of the 1891 Census, Charlotte is visiting Tom (30) (who dropped the tailoring business to become an innkeeper) and Liz (26) at their shared home at 196 Market Street in Taunton.

The circumstances of Charlotte's eventual death and burial are not known at this time.

Tom Rowsell 1859 -

Tom Rowsell was born on April 26, 1859 on the High Street, Taunton, Somerset, England.

He was the son of James Rowsell, stone mason, and Charlotte Lovell.

He had 4 siblings:

Emily Rowsell (born: 1846, in Taunton).
Albert Rowsell (born: March 19, 1849 in Taunton) (publican)
Robert Rowsell (born: 1851, in Taunton) (stonemason).
Maria Rowsell (born 1861, in Taunton) (dressmaker).
He is listed in a subsequent census as being a tailor by trade. Undoubtedly this was part of a family business, as his mother and sister are both listed as a dressmakers. Perhaps they even lived above a tailor's shop on the High Street in Taunton - but that is mere speculation.

It is not known if Tom married or had children. The circumstances of his death are also not known at this time.


Entry of Birth



James Rowsell 1822 - 1900

Taunton, St. Mary Magdalene

James Rowsell was born on July 28, 1822 in Taunton, Somerset, England.

He was the son of John Rowsell, stone mason, and Maria Moor.

He had 5 siblings:

Isabella Rowsell (1816-1829).
Elizabeth Rowsell (1818-1820).
Mary Ann Rowsell (baptised September 17, 1820)
Jane Rowsell (baptised October 24, 1824)
Elizabeth Rowsell (baptised December 25, 1827)

He was married to Charlotte Lovell on May 10, 1843 in Bishop's Hull, Somerset, England. They are both listed as being "of age" and living in Bishop's Hull at the time. Charlotte's father, John Lovell, labourer, is named in the marriage certificate, as is James' father, John Rowsell, stonemason. The marriage was witnessed by James' father and Mary Ann, his sister.





James and Charlotte had 8 children:

Emily Rowsell (born: 1846, in Taunton).
Albert Rowsell (born: March 19, 1849 in Taunton) (publican)
Robert Rowsell (born: 1851, in Taunton) (stonemason).
John Rowsell (born: 1853, in Taunton)
Walter Rowsell (born: 1854, in Taunton)
Tom Rowsell (born: 1859, in Taunton) (tailor).
Maria J. Rowsell (born 1861, in Taunton) (dressmaker).
Elizabeth (Liz) Rowsell (born in 1865, in Taunton)



At the time of his marriage, James's occupation is listed as "Stonemason".

Entry of Birth

He is still listed as a "stone mason" at the time of Robert's birth in 1851, at which time they were living at 24 High Street, Taunton, England. The 1851 Census shows James (29), Stone Mason and Charlotte (30), Dressmaker, with Emily (5), Albert (2), Robert (1 mo) and John Hurley (24), a visiting tailor.







1861 Census, Taunton



The 1861 Census shows James (36) Stonemason and Charlotte (39) dressmaker, now living at 174 High Street in Taunton, with Emily (16), Albert (13), Robert (10) and (on the next page) John (8), Walter (7), and Tom (2). Maria has presumably not made her expected appearance by this point. Perhaps Charlotte's dressmaking business was doing well, and they needed a larger location. Or perhaps it was just the demands of their ever-growing family! They have also taken on two boarders: John Jenkins (56), Cordwassier(?) and his wife Charlotte (44).



1861 Census, Taunton

 

 

1871 Census, Taunton

By 1871, the family grouping is starting to get smaller. Now at 52 Upper High Street we see James (49) Stone Mason and Charlotte (49) Dress Maker with sons John (18) tailor's apprentice, Walter (16) tailor's apprentice, and Tom (12) scholar, as well as Maria (9).  James may have subsequently decided to enter the family business: the 1874-5 Butcher & Cole Commercial Directory tells us that "Jas Rowsell, haberdasher" was operating out of 52 Upper High Street.

1881 Census, Taunton

The 1881 Census captures James' still-shrinking household, at 52 Upper High Street, Taunton. He is listed as a "retired builder", at age 58. Charlotte (59) is a "dressmaker". Tom (22) is a "foreman tailor". Maria (20) is a dressmaker. Also listed at that address is Mary Tempelman (64), a "domestic cook and server" staying on as a boarder.








By The time of the 1891 Census, Charlotte is visiting Tom (30) inkeeper and Liz (26) at their home at 196 Market Street in Taunton. James is believed to have been buried in Wilton, 1900.





Robert Rowsell 1851 - 1900

Record of Birth

Robert Rowsell was born on February 8, 1851 on the High Street, Taunton, Somerset, England.

He was the son of James Rowsell, stone mason, and Charlotte Lovell.







Robert had 8 siblings:

Emily Rowsell (born: 1846, in Taunton).
Albert Rowsell (born: March 19, 1849 in Taunton) (publican)
John Rowsell (born: 1853 in Taunton)
Walter Rowsell (born: 1854 in Taunton)
Tom Rowsell (born: 1859, in Taunton) (tailor).
Maria Rowsell (born: 1861, in Taunton) (dressmaker).
Elizabeth Rowsell (born: 1865 in Taunton)

Record of Marriage

Robert was married to Martha Bartholomew on August 5, 1872 in Fulham, Middlesex, England. At the time of his marriage, Robert's occupation is listed as "Stonemason". Martha was listed in the marriage certificate as being 18 yrs. old, meaning that she was probably born in 1853. (The 1881 Census has her birth in 1856, however, so it is possible she may have been 16 or 17 at the time of the marriage.) They were both listed as living on Dawson Street in Fulham at the time. Martha's father, William Bartholomew, bricklayer, is named in the marriage certificate. The marriage was witnessed by his brother, Albert Rowsell, and Albert's wife, Caroline.



Robert and Martha had 9 children:

Edith Rowsell (born: 1873 in Holloway, England).
Evelina M. Rowsell (born: 1875 in Holloway, England).
Elizabeth Rowsell (born: 1877 in Enfield, England).
James J. Rowsell (born: 1879 in Hoddeston, Hertford, England).
Albert Tom Rowsell (born: 1881)
Rose Rowsell (born: 1883)
Lily Rowsell (born: 1887)
Ernest Rowsell (born: 1889)
Maude Rowsell (born: 1892)

1881 Census, Chelsea

Robert is still listed as a "stone mason" at the time of Albert Tom's birth in 1881, at which time they were living at 107 Flood Street, South Chelsea, Middlesex, England. The 1881 Census captures Robert's household with Martha (25), Edith (8), Evelina M. (6), Elizabeth (4) and James J. (2). Interestingly, Edith and Evelina were born in Holloway; Elizabeth in Enfield, and James in Hoddeston, Hertford. So, it appears the family may have moved around in the 1870s, perhaps to follow Robert's occupation as a stonemason on various jobsites.  We don't really know why they moved to London.




1891 Census, Enfield

 The 1891 Census finds Robert (40) mason and Martha (37) living at 212 Fern(?) Villa in Enfield, Middlesex, with children Edith (18), Evelina (16) domestic general servant, Ada (14), James (12), Albert (9), Rose (7), Lily (5), Ernest (2) and an unnamed daughter (Maud) just 1 day old! As Maud was probably born at home, we can just imagine how grateful Martha would have been to greet a census-taker at the door -- or perhaps grown-up Edith handled the task, with nosy Ernest at her feet, while Martha rested upstairs.

1901 Census, Enfield

The 1901 Census captures Robert (49) stonemason and Martha (46) living at 138 Acacia Rd. in Enfield, Middlesex. They have their children Edith (28), Rose (18), Lily (14), Ernest (12) and Maud (9).

1911 Census, Enfield

By the time of the 1911 Census, the family has been reduced to Robert (60), Martha (56) and granddaughter Winifred Rerns(?) (18) of Enfield. They were living in a 6 room house at 66 Morley Hill in Enfield.







The circumstances of Robert's death are not known at this time.