Elizabeth Rowsell (1827 - 1901)

St. George's Church, Wilton, Somerset

 Elizabeth Rowsell was baptized in the Church of St. George in Wilton, Somerset on December 25, 1827. She was the sixth and last child of John Rowsell (1792 - 1854) and Maria (nee Moor).

Elizabeth had 5 siblings:

Isabella Rowsell (1816 - 1829)
Elizabeth Rowsell (1818 - 1820)
Mary Anne Rowsell (1820 - )
James Rowsell (1822 - 1900)
Jane Rowsell (1824 - )

Elizabeth subsequently married Francis Forward, carpenter, at St. George's church on January 17, 1844. His father is listed as Thomas Forward. (The IGI lists this event as occurring at Wincanton, Somerset.)



The IGI records a Francis Forward, son of Francis Forward, being born in Somerset in 1856. This may have been a son of Francis and Elizabeth. The 1881 Census records Francis Forward (25) as head of a household in Willow Bed Farm, Cucklington, Somerset, with his wife Caroline (38), and children Austin (4) and Sidney (6 months).  Francis is listed as a "farm carter".

 Interestingly, the 1881 Census records three other families of Forwards in Willow Bed, Cucklington, Somerset:

Elizabeth Forward (widow) (52), born in Kingston Magna, Dorset; Washerwoman and head of the house.
Thomas Forward (son) (22), born in Hersington, Somerset. Farm labourer.
John Forward (son) (17), born in Broomfield, Somerset. Farm carter.
Edwin Forward (son) (15), born in North Petherton, Somerset. Farm labourer.
William Forward (son) (12), born in Cucklington, Somerset. Farm labourer. (!)
Walter Forward (son) (10), born in Cucklington, Somerset. Farm scholar.

Henry Forward (widower) (56), born in Cucklington, Somerset. Gameskeeper, and head of the house.
Sophia Nickolls (daughter) (40), born in Mere, Wiltshire. Butler's wife.
Charles Nickolls (grandson) (3), born in North Kensington, Middlesex.
Jane Nickolls (granddaughter) (2), born in Alton, Hampshire.

James Forward (71)(?), born in Cucklington, Somerset. Farm labourer and head of the house.
Sarah Forward (wife) (49), born in Modbury, Devon.
William Forward (son) (12), born in Cucklington, Somerset. Farm labourer.
Henry Forward (son) (10), born in Cucklington, Somerset. Scholar.



Farm in Cucklington (undated photo)


It is tempting to believe that these Forward families had lived and worked at this farm for several generations, and that Francis took his bride Elizabeth back to that farm after their marriage, to live with his family. The 1841 and 1851 Censuses show several Forward families at Willow Bed farm, and elsewhere in Cucklington, throughout this period. However, there are some discrepancies on ages and birthplaces, so these families may ultimately prove to be unrelated.

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.