Loose Ends on the Gowlland Family Tree

The documents etc below relate to Gowllands whom it has not been possible, so far, to link to the main Tree.

As usual, click on any image below for an enlarged (and therefore more legible) copy.

In Stephen Gowlland's letter of 28th May 1942 to Geoff Gowlland he writes: "I have my eye on a Thomas G who lived in Canterbury about the period of Richard S G and Stephen G who was our grandfather's grandfather. He might be a brother to them; and, once the war is over and the records at Canterbury are available, I had already made up my mind to look him up. I think he was a Freeman. He is described as a "Grazier", and on another occasion as a "Tinman" or "Tinsmith". I think he lived quite close to R S G". Our Thomas (1749 - 1814) was a Carpenter, of course, and progression from there to Tinsmith/Grazier is unlikely, as is his having prospered sufficiently to become a Freeeman. Clearly Stephen in 1942 thought there might be a connection. Present indications are that he was wrong, and this Thomas was a one-L Gowland with no link to us].

2 Henry Gowl(l)and (died 1868)

From the Blean registration district we have the following birth certificate:-

The certificate indicates that Richard's birth occurred on 28th December 1839 at 12:30 AM, in the parish of St Gregory. His father is named as Henry Gowlland (of whom we have at present no trace). His mother is named as "Elizabeth Gowlland [crossed out] Mackleder, [note this is spelt "Mackelder" in the GRO Canterbury records for the first quarter of 1840] , formerly Stains". Henry's occupation is described as "Labourer"; and he was himself the informant, on the day after the birth.

The birth occurred in the sub-district of Chislet. Chislet is a very small village (perhaps more accurately described as a hamlet) roughly mid-way between Canterbury and Margate, just to the north off the A28 road.

[Dorothy Holden kindly obtained this GRO Index page and proposed that "the addition at the front of the entry actually reads "Eratum 5 (see the figure 5 entered in the column) Mackleden Widow", and it is then initialled by the District Register R.M D.R. The column reads "Elizabeth Gowlland (crossed through) Mackleden now single, formerly STAINS". The correction shows that Elizabeth was actually a widow, not a single woman, and the Registrar would be obliged to show the correction on the entry. There is a marriage for Henry GOWLAND to Elizabeth MACKELDER at Canterbury in the March Quarter of 1840 at Canterbury (page 590). I believe that the couple probably married just after Richard was born - I think that at one stage a baby could be registered in the "married" surname even if born before the couple married provided they married very soon afterwards. This would account for why Henry originally gave Elizabeth's surname as GOWLLAND - it would be interesting to get their marriage certificate and see how soon after the baptism they married. Very possibly the banns had been read etc".]

In late May 2006 the marriage certificate in St Mary Northgate, Canterbury dated 17th February 1840, was obtained - click here. Note that Henry Gowland is spelt with one L, as is William, his shoemaking father, and Henry' signature also has only one L.

An 1841 census entry (here) which we think refers to Henry and Elizabeth also spells the surname with only one L.

We also have a death certificate in Poplar dated 18th May 1868 for Henry Gowland, aged 63, labourer - again, only one L. - click here; and we also have one in Minster, Thanet, Kent (The Union Workhouse) for Elizabeth Gowland, aged 60, wife of Henry Gowland, a dock labourer.

So at present it is looking as if this 1839 birth certificate in the name of Gowlland may in fact have nothing with to do with our two-L Gowllands.

In 2010 a record appeared (click here) for the conviction of a Henry Gowlland at Canterbury Assizes on two counts of larceny, for which he received sentences of six and two months. His name is one of several which are endorsed "April Gaol Delivery for Dover".

It is possible that this record applies to the Henry Gowlland described above.

3 Jane Gowlland (born c 1804)

From "Pallot's Marriage Index for England: 1780 - 1837" comes this marriage certificate.

It shows the marriage in 1832 at St Botolph Without, Aldgate, London, of Jane Gowlland, s[pinster] to Sam[ue]l Cox, b[achelor]. If the "28" is Jane's age, it gives a birth date of about 1804. No such Jane is known. A death certificate for 1885 of an 81-year old Jane gave grounds for optimism but the husband's name is wrong, unfortunately.

However in October 2009 we obtained the original marriage record (click here), and to our astonishment one of the two witnesses was James West Gowlland (1802 - 1874) - a well-known and well-documented Gowlland. James himself married just two months later. His signatures on these two 1832 records are clearly by the same hand:

16th April 1832 Marriage of Jane Gowlland and Samuel Cox 30th June 1832 Marriage of James West Gowlland and Jane Carter

So far it has not been possible to locate definitely either Samuel Cox or Jane Cox in the 1841 census. There is a Jane Cox in Castle Street, St George's Parish, Southwark, "born in same county", aged thirty-five, occupation "brush-maker" (unfortunately in this census marital status was not recorded)

And in the 1851 census there is an entry for a Jane Cox, living at 38 Smith Street, Chelsea, together with Caroline Low (18, unmarried, servant), John Garman (62, widower, lodger, retired surgeon RN) and Charles Gloist ?? (26, unmarried, lodger, solicitor's articled clerk) - but no trace of Samuel. Jane's personal details are shown as age 47 (which ties up with a birth year of 1804), status "wife - married", no occupation, born in Harrow, Middlesex.

There is of course no certainty that either of these is Jane née Gowlland.

Samuel Coxes are equally elusive. There is a Samuel Cox in the 1841 census living at the 2nd Battalion Scots Fusiliers' Barracks, St George's district, Charing Cross, "age 40 - occupation soldier, not born in Middlesex".

But, until more information comes to light, one is clutching at straws.

We had thought that Jane might be a hitherto unknown great-grand-daughter of Joseph and Susanna née Maple, any of the following (subject to our present knowledge) being a possible father:-

Joseph (1768) or George (1781), two sons of George (1740), Joseph's second son, and Anne née Norris

Richard Symons (1771), Stephen (1775) or Josiah (1781), three sons of Stephen (1747), Joseph's third son, and Susanna née Symons

Thomas (1778), son of Thomas (1749), Joseph's fourth son, and Hannah née Bayford - a third child of this marriage has just turned up.

But James West Gowlland's presence at the April 1832 wedding as a witness, just a few months before his own wedding in June 1832, implies a relationship closer than we had thought.

This marriage certificate is the only certain information we possess: if the census return is indeed for her, then we have a Harrow, Middlesex birth place to contend with.

4 Ann Gowlland (died 1808)

We have now obtained a burial certificate (click here), in the name of Ann Gowlland, from the "Register of Burials at Wycliffe Independent Chapel at Philpott Street on Commercial Road in the Parish of Whitechapel, London, from 1806 to 1808". Beyond giving the location of the grave, and the cost (four shillings and sixpence), there is no more information.

So we must seek candidates for this person who, amongst those individuals known to us, in order of birth, may be either:-

(a) Ann née Norris (b c1740) and wife to George (b 1740) - in other words, her age at death would have been about sixty-eight; .

(b) A hitherto unknown daughter of Thomas (b 1749) - for whom we have just located a previously unknown daughter (and third child) named Hannah (see above), born 1783.

(c) Any of the grandchildren of three of Joseph and Susannah's sons, namely George (b 1740), Joseph (b 1744) or Thomas (b 1749) - we believe we know the full details of the descendants of Stephen (b 1747) and there is no missing "Ann Gowlland".

(d) The wife of Joseph Theophilus Gowland (see below) - until June 2009 we had believed that he was not in our direct line but, knowing now that in the mid-18th century he lived in Buckland-by-Dover and St Mary's Dover, both associated with Joseph Gowlland's family, we are not so sure. And we know that his wife was called Ann. Their child was born (in Dover) in 1775, which implied that Ann was born around 1750, which would make her age at death be about fifty-eight. So she is also a possibility.

And of course it is more than possible that the Ann Gowlland is at present unknown to us. Indeed, she may be a one-L Gowland, whose burial register was misspelt; and thus not in our line at all.

5 1851 Census Gowl(l)ands

A remarkable number of the Gowllands in the 1851 census are spelt with only one L, and it seemed interesting therefore to look at those one-L Gowlands listed who do not appear to fit into our Tree, but where a tenuous link seems possible - whether it be the name(s), the location, the place of birth or the occupation, or any combination of these. It must be stressed that direct connections are very improbable, but not impossible.

1. George Gowland (click here) - "West Derby, Liverpool - Head - 27 - nautical instrument maker - born Northumberland", with wife Eliza Jane (23 - born London), and children Mary (3 - born Durham), William (1 - born Durham) and Elizabeth (6 days - born West Derby), and also Margaret (sister - unmarried - 33 - born Northumberland). [It is the occupation that is the most suspicious here].

2. Thomas Gowland (click here) [the National Archives' index was in the name of Hermas, but it is undoubtedly "Thomas] - "Harrington Park, Islington - Head - 48 - teacher of dancing - born Holloway", with wife Emma (46 - born Holloway) and son Arthur Thomas (26 - unmarried - assistant - born St Pancras). [Probably no connection, but worth bearing in mind]

3 Joseph Gowland (click here) - "Chelsea - Head [he appears to be lodging with a family called Street] - unmarried - 39 - gardener - born Hendon, Middlesex". [The "Hendon" is interesting - we know Josiah and Margaret left Dover after the birth of Selina in 1808 and we are also aware of the unexpectedly long gap between then and the births of Richard in about 1815 and Charles (in Hendon) in about 1827. This gardening Joseph would have been born in about 1812. Could he be a third son of Josiah?]

4 F Gowland (click here) - "Tower Hamlets, Hackney - Visitor - 24 - Printers' Foreman - born Islington" [Probably no connection].

5 Mary M Gowland (click here) - "Islington - Head - widowed - 50 - Freehold Property - born Clerkenwell, Middlesex". [Ditto]

6 Thomas Gowland (click here) - "Sunderland near the Sea - Head - ? age ? - Sailmaker - born Canterbury, Kent". The National Archives summary shows the age as forty-four but, although the writing is very unclear, I think it is sixty-four, not least because he is living with only his 8-year old grand-daughter and were he only 44 it would mean that both he and his daughter would have become parents at the age of 17/18. Regrettably the grand-daughter's surname is not clear - perhaps Mary Eleanor Crawford. [Obviously, it is the place of birth that is the most suspicious. Also we should remember that Charles Gowlland (c1827 - 1894) was a sail-maker]. However, we know there were one-L Gowlands in Canterbury, and he could well be one of them.

Any ideas, anyone?

6 John Gowlland - Minnesota - ?Polish origin?

A very strange entry in the Thirteenth US Census (click here) for Duluth Ward, St Louis, Minnesota. It will be seen that the area of the town evidently comprises a large number of Rooming Houses (pages both before and after this entry show dozens of them). Near the bottom of the page, in the house owned by Salina Gibbons, is "John Gowlland - age 45 - Lodger - Born Ger(many) Polish - Father born Ger(many) Polish - Mother born Ger(many) Polish - single - white - male - language spoken Polish - occupation Labourer in woods".

As he apparently speaks only Polish, the most likely explanation is that a misspelling occurred with his surname. Certainly he appears in no other US census.

Biba, John's wife, who is of Polish extraction herself, offers a different suggestion. Many immigrants passing through Ellis Island were ascribed an English name, both first name and surname, in order to assist their integration. Possibly this was what had happened on this occasion.

7 S O and S P Gowlland - Kansas

In the 1875 Census for Kansas there is a peculiar entry (click here) covering S O Gowlland (38), his wife S P Gowlland (34), and three children Ella (15), Elmer (14) and Cha[rle]s (10). The transcription clearly shows "Gowlland"; but the enumerator's handwriting is so erratic that it might be "Golland" or other variants. Certainly there seem to be no other records for this family.

8 Thomas Go(w)land

In the Canterbury Marriage and Banns Index (KFHS publication no. 1839 - fiche) there is mentioned of a marriage on 24th February 1760 of Thomas Gowland (?) and Elizabeth Wiltshier, in the parish of St George. The "Gowland" is also listed under "Goland". Until the original entry has been seen, it is difficult to know whether this record belongs to our family. Several Wiltshiers appear in the 1841 census in the parish of St Mary Bredin.

9 Ann Gowlland

The I.G.I has a record of a marriage on 17th October 1836 in St Leonards, Shoreditch (London) between Ann Gowlland and William Fisher. We had hoped to locate the 1836 marriage certificate, in the hope that it may provide more information; and in October 2009 this was achieved - click here. Regrettably, it told us nothing new, save that (a) both Ann and William were "of full age", (b) both parties were resident in the parish of St Leonard's, and (c) one witness bore the memorable name of Elizabeth Churchyard (the other was named Geo Yarrow and, as he appeared on more than half the marriage records of that time, must have been an official of the church, perhaps the sexton or a churchwarden. .

Making the very big assumption that Ann was aged about twenty at the time of her marriage, this would imply a birth year of about 1816: there is no known Ann Gowlland born around that time. Her birth around 1816 might imply her father's birth between 1775 and 1795. We believe we know most of the Gowlland births around that time; but it should be noted that we know nothing, apart from his 1778 birth, of Thomas Gowlland, second son of Thomas Gowlland (1749 - 1814). We know of the 1802 death in Canterbury of "Mrs Gowlland, wife of Thomas Gowlland", about which we do not know whether the Mr Gowlland was Thomas (b 1749) the father or Thomas (b 1778) the son. If the former, Thomas the son is a possible father of this Ann.

In the 1851 census (here) there is an entry, in the parish of St George in the East, for a William and Ann Fisher, aged respectively forty-two and thirty-seven, with four children - William (11), George Shack (7), Ann (5) and Jane Galland [sic] aged seven months. There may be some doubt over the transcription of "Galland": it could also be "Gulland" or "Golland". The church of St George in the East is about 1.1/4 miles from that of St Leonards. William's occupation is shown as "tailor".

In the 1841 census there is an entry (here), also in the parish of St George in the East, for William (30 - tailor), Ann (25) and William (5). There are two other possible entries in this census, but less convincing - they have not been published, but the relevant files may be emailed to anyone interested.

10 William Go(w)lland

In the 1851 Scotland Census there is an entry in Bothie, [evidently not a prosperous individual], Creich, Parbroath, Fife for a William Gowlland, aged 23, "born about 1828 - servant - born Kemback, Fifesh - farm labourer". On present evidence, he is nothing to do with us, and the second "L" signifies nothing.

Ancestry notes the following against all Scotland census entries - "Unfortunately, we are unable to display the accompanying images of this census at present, despite extensive negotiation with the General Register Office for Scotland. Permission from them has not, as yet, been forthcoming. For this reason, and to enable you to continue with your family history research, Ancestry has heavily transcribed the Scottish Census records to ensure you have access to all key areas of information contained within this collection."

Thus it is impossible to find out more about the second "L".

There is a William Gowlland born in Middlesex in 1826, the oldest child of George Castle Gowlland and Elizabeth Welch; but we have no reason to believe the two are the same.

This is, incidentally, the only Gowlland entry in any of the Scotland censuses, save for Geoffrey Cathcart Gowlland's entry whilst he was a boarder at Fettes.

This 1909 arrival (here) was transcribed as "Gowlland"; but it could equally be "Golland". We know of no such family.

This 1914 arrival (here) is a puzzle. None of the known Royal Navy family members was born around 1890. Indeed, the only such birth was of Edgar Blackburn Gowlland and he was born in Massachusetts, USA, where he registered for military service.

The lieutenant embarked in Freemantle in Australia, and disembarked at Plymouth. He was one of four service personnel on the voyage. His address is given as "c/o Admiralty", his age as twenty-four, and his "country of last residence" as China.

We have a 1908 entry (here) for Henry (46 - farmer), wife Elizabeth (36) and child Isabella (2), arriving from Nova Scotia, Canada. The spelling is quite clear. However, there is also a "farmer" entry for 1903 (here), and a doubtful entry for 1909 (here), both of which had been tentatively added to the biography of Henry Orford Gowlland. The position is unclear.

From the Victoria State Archives is an outward passenger record (here) for 1861 on the SS "City of Hobart", leaving Melbourne, destination Hobart, for "Margt Gowlland" aged twenty-three. This implies a birth year of about 1838. We know of no Margaret Gowlland born around that time.

The birth record of 1775 (click here) from St Mary the Virgin, Dover, shows father and son both named Joseph Theophilus (a name unknown elsewhere in the Gowlland family) and a one-L spelling for Gowland. We had known of this birth record for some time but until June 2009 we had believed that he was not in our direct line.

However, a Settlement Certificate IN (here - the second of those below) issued in his name in 1774 and examined in March 2010 confirms his residency in St Mary's, Dover, having moved from Buckland-by-Dover, both locations associated with Joseph Gowlland's family; and in consequence we are now less sure about his not being of our line.

OUT Joseph [Theophilus - crossed out - see below] Gowland, Settlement Examination - at Buckland, settled St Mary, Dover 1774 Aug 19.

IN Joseph Gowland, and his wife and two children [names not given]. Settlement Certificate - from Buckland to St Mary, Dover. 1774 Dec 6.

The crossing out of "Theophilus" on the original document is very interesting. A single hand has written at a single time the words "Theophilus Gowland, Settlement Examination - at Buckland, settled St Mary, Dover 1774 August 19"; and then, at a later time, the same hand has crossed through "Theophilus" and written "Joseph" on the line above the crossing-out, with an arrow directing the reader to place "Joseph" before "Gowland".

And it is also possible that the 1808 burial (above) of Ann Gowlland [Joseph Theophilus Snr's wife is named as "Ann" on Joseph Theophilus Jnr's birth record] relates to them.

At one point we wondered whether he could conceivably be Joseph Gowland (1744 - 1796), the seventh child of Joseph and Susannah. He would need to have had an additional child of whom we knew nothing (so that he had two dependant children for the settlement certificate in 1774, the first being Ann born October 1770). But the wife's name and the location looked right. Regrettably, the two 1775 birth certificates of Sarah Gowlland (daughter of Joseph and Ann Gowlland - here) and Joseph Theophilus Gowland (daughter of Joseph Theophilus and Ann Gowland - here) are written by the same hand and separated by only three months, and thus the two Josephs are certainly different people.

Also the 1808 burial could not be Joseph's wife Ann - she died in 1823. More research needed, clearly.

Seeking the antecedents of our earliest known Gowlland, Joseph, born about 1714, it appears that all possibilities in South and East Kent have been exhausted; and widening the net somewhat showed the following records relating to Frindsbury, a parish adjacent to Rochester:-

1701 14th January Marriage of John Gowland of Frindsbury, labourer, and Catherine Harriett of Chilham [see below - 1] - here

1702 6th May Baptism of John, son of John Gowland, Exciseman of Frindsbury, and his wife Catherine - here - [see below - 2]

1704 21st August Baptism of Elizabeth, daughter of John Gowland, Exciseman of Frindsbury, and his wife Catherine - here

1711 1st April Baptism of "Joseph the Bastard of Francis (?) Ruushe (?)" [see below - 3] - here

Firstly, there is a record of the birth in Eastbourne, Sussex, of Katherine Heriot on 30th December 1675.

Secondly, Chilham is a parish about seven miles west of Canterbury and twenty miles south-east of Rochester. We know of Chilham since it was the residence shown in the 1734 Poll Book for John Sutton, presumed to be the John Sutton who was Joseph Gowlland's apprentice-master in Hougham in 1728. It was also the place of marriage of a Mary Gowland who married Andrew Clifford in 1717, and whose two children were baptised there in 1718 and 1720 - so far, let it be said, we have not established any link to our family.

[2] - We are certain that this Rochester-born John Gowland b 1702 is the same fatherless John Gowland who was apprenticed in 1716 (apprenticeships usually began at age fourteen) to Henry Thornton of Rochester, clockmaker (here) - and we find this particularly interesting as the Thorntons and the Gowl(l)ands were friends over several generations, being fellow-Baptists and also, for example, Josiah Gowlland's birth in 1781 having been witnessed by Mary Thornton (and he went on to marry Peggy Thornton in 1807).

Regarding the 1716 apprenticeship deed, incidentally, the precise wording is "John, son of John Gowland of Rochester, Gent, dec.": the "Exact List of the 1705 Poll (here) At the Chusing [sic] of Knights of the Shire for the County of Middlesex", taken amongst the Freeholder's of St Clement's, Middlesex, was restricted to men of full age (over 21) in possession of a freehold estate worth 40s a year or more. This entry could therefore possibly refer to John's father.

[3] - And a note on Joseph the Bastard . . . . . . about as tenuous as it could be! . . . . . ]

The mother's surname on the baptism record is difficult to read. If it is Ruushe, then this is the same surname as the wife of John Gowland, married 1681 - which would be an interesting coincidence.

Our Joseph was born, we think, around 1713 or so (his apprenticeship started in 1728), and the omissions in the official record imply clearly that he either had no parents or was illegitimate.

About as far-fetched a theory as one could find . . . . ! But such is the paucity of leads to Joseph's forebears around the beginning of the eighteenth century that we are getting desperate.

Thomas Gowland	1	Canterbury, possibly tinsmith, grazier and/or Freeman

Henry Gowlland	2	Blean, died 1868

Jane Gowlland	3	London, married 1832, relative of James West Gowlland

Ann Gowlland	4	London, died 1808

Gowland(s)	5	Several entries from 1851 census - probably unconnected

John Gowlland	6	Polish, Minnesota, from 13th US Census - probably unconnected

S O & S P Gowlland	7	Kansas, 1875 census - probably unconnected

Thomas Gowland	8	Canterbury, 1760, marriage to Elizabeth Wiltshier

Ann Gowlland	9	London, 1836, marriage to William Fisher

William Go(w)lland	10	Scotland, 1851 census, servant - probably surname wrongly spelt

Gowlands	11	Four Passenger Arrivals between 1861 to 1914

Joseph Thophilus Gowlland	12	Dover, 1774 Settlement Certificate

John Gowland	13	c1700 Frindsbury, Rochester