Thomas Vowles and Agnes Weaver
Agnes Weaver 1872-1942
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Thomas Vowles
b. 20/06/1873 Stapleton, Gloucester d. 05/01/1928 Ashley Down Rd, Bristol | m. 17/11/1895 Horfield, Gloucester | Agnes Weaver b. 29/02/1872 Dundry, Somerset d. 03/07/1942 Brentry, Gloucester Children of Thomas and Agnes | Rose Vowles b. 21/12/1895 Horfield, Glos - d. 23/06/1970 Thomas Edgar Vowles b. 24/04/1899 Congresbury - d. 1975 Agnes Daisy Vowles b. 25/12/1900 Congresbury - d.1988 Victor Stanley Vowles b. 23/06/1908 Congresbury, Somerset d. 1988 Queensland, Australia |
Children Thomas and Agnes were both known by their middle names, Edgar and Daisy, which would avoid confusion with their parents.
As well as the four children above, the 1911 census shows there was a fifth child from this marriage who had died by the time of the census.
Thomas was one of twelve children and had a twin sister, Alice. He worked as an agricultural labourer. He was a heavy drinker and eventually Thomas and Agnes seperated. He died at his sister Mary's home aged 54 of Acute Lobar Pneumonia as a result of Chronic Asthma. I have never seen a photograph of Thomas, if you have one I would love a copy, please get in touch. Agnes died aged 70 of degeneration of the heart and cancer at Dingle Combe, Brentry.
Edith Agnes Lervey Weaver
As well as her children from the marriage to Thomas, Agnes had an illegitimate child before she was married. Edith Agnes Lervey Weaver was born 19/11/1893 at Bell Hill, Saint George, Barton Regis. The family story is that Agnes was sent away to have the baby and arrangements were made for the child to be 'fostered' by a family believed to have been in a neighbouring village. Agnes's mother, Martha, refers to Edith in her will as 'Edith Weaver or Brown born before my said daughter's marriage'. Was Brown the name of the family who brought her up or a possible reference to her father?
Another clue is the middle name of Lervey. It was a common practice in the 19th century to give an illegitimate child the father's surname as part of their given names. In the 1881 census there were only 11 people listed with this spelling of the surname. Six of these were a family in Cumberland but the other five were a family at Bedminster, Somerset. By the time of Edith's birth, the head of this family, George Lervey, would have been aged 40 and his sons Walter 18 and William 16.
Edith Weaver had not been found in the 1901 census but a possible Brown family was listed with a daughter Edith at Compton Martin:
1901 Census
Frederick Brown - Head - age 40 - occupation, Traction Engine Driver - born, Somerset Englis Coombe
Avis - Wife - age 36 - born, Bath
Ernest - Son - age 10 - born, Bristol St George
Edith - Daughter - age 7 - born, Bristol St George
Florence - Daughter - age 2 - born, Somerset Compton Martin
In 1891 Frederick and Avis were living in Saint George, close to Bell Hill where Edith was born. There is no trace of the above Edith Brown in the GRO birth index but there are three deaths for babies with the surname Brown listed in the December quarter for Barton Regis. Often a baby would be placed with a mother who had recently lost a child so she would be able to 'wet nurse' the baby.
Edith married Egbert Halliday on 7th August 1916. The marriage certificate states father 'unknown' but one of the witnesses was a Frederick Brown. Edith died aged 85 on 20th March 1979. Her death certificate gives her maiden surname as Brown.
Many thanks to David and Sally Brown for confirming Edith's connection with Frederick and Avis Brown
Edith was, indeed, brought up by Frederick Brown and his wife Avis. Although it was understood that she was not a real family member, no-one had been prepared to explain her presence or link to the family.
As well as the four children above, the 1911 census shows there was a fifth child from this marriage who had died by the time of the census.
Thomas was one of twelve children and had a twin sister, Alice. He worked as an agricultural labourer. He was a heavy drinker and eventually Thomas and Agnes seperated. He died at his sister Mary's home aged 54 of Acute Lobar Pneumonia as a result of Chronic Asthma. I have never seen a photograph of Thomas, if you have one I would love a copy, please get in touch. Agnes died aged 70 of degeneration of the heart and cancer at Dingle Combe, Brentry.
Edith Agnes Lervey Weaver
As well as her children from the marriage to Thomas, Agnes had an illegitimate child before she was married. Edith Agnes Lervey Weaver was born 19/11/1893 at Bell Hill, Saint George, Barton Regis. The family story is that Agnes was sent away to have the baby and arrangements were made for the child to be 'fostered' by a family believed to have been in a neighbouring village. Agnes's mother, Martha, refers to Edith in her will as 'Edith Weaver or Brown born before my said daughter's marriage'. Was Brown the name of the family who brought her up or a possible reference to her father?
Another clue is the middle name of Lervey. It was a common practice in the 19th century to give an illegitimate child the father's surname as part of their given names. In the 1881 census there were only 11 people listed with this spelling of the surname. Six of these were a family in Cumberland but the other five were a family at Bedminster, Somerset. By the time of Edith's birth, the head of this family, George Lervey, would have been aged 40 and his sons Walter 18 and William 16.
Edith Weaver had not been found in the 1901 census but a possible Brown family was listed with a daughter Edith at Compton Martin:
1901 Census
Frederick Brown - Head - age 40 - occupation, Traction Engine Driver - born, Somerset Englis Coombe
Avis - Wife - age 36 - born, Bath
Ernest - Son - age 10 - born, Bristol St George
Edith - Daughter - age 7 - born, Bristol St George
Florence - Daughter - age 2 - born, Somerset Compton Martin
In 1891 Frederick and Avis were living in Saint George, close to Bell Hill where Edith was born. There is no trace of the above Edith Brown in the GRO birth index but there are three deaths for babies with the surname Brown listed in the December quarter for Barton Regis. Often a baby would be placed with a mother who had recently lost a child so she would be able to 'wet nurse' the baby.
Edith married Egbert Halliday on 7th August 1916. The marriage certificate states father 'unknown' but one of the witnesses was a Frederick Brown. Edith died aged 85 on 20th March 1979. Her death certificate gives her maiden surname as Brown.
Many thanks to David and Sally Brown for confirming Edith's connection with Frederick and Avis Brown
Edith was, indeed, brought up by Frederick Brown and his wife Avis. Although it was understood that she was not a real family member, no-one had been prepared to explain her presence or link to the family.
