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Trying to sort out a mystery in our family tree. Father in Law William Bowman 1913 Mattishall had according to my research to date 9 siblings. However we knew a Connie Bowman who lived with Violet Bowman (1902) Williams sister. Dont really know DOB, but cannot trace a Constance or Connie on any census so assume after 1911. Have traced a Kathleen M N mothers maiden name Bowman 1916 Mitford 4b 433 & wonder if there is a connection. Williams birth is reg at Mitford 1913 4b 422. Any help appreciated

Could she have been a sister in law?

We were always given to believe she was a sister of Violet & William. Have thought perhaps she was born to Mabel Bowman another sister 1899, but that is only an assumption. There was always a feeling that there were unusual circumstances but no-one appears to have asked.

from your recollections of her how old did she appear to be. You may be able to find her birth if you can approximate her age

We must have met her when we were in our 20s, late 1960s & she seemed to be about the right age to be Violets & Williams sister, which is why I picked up on the entry for Kathleen.

Your father in laws birth shows that his mothers maiden name is Isitt but if you search the 1911 census for Bowman living Mitford with a Violet born 1903 it shows an Ernest born 1877 and a Anna born 1880 - on checking the marriages there is a Anna Isill that married an Ernest Albert Bowman 1897 at Mitford. There is also a Constance Ivy Isbill born at Mitford 1900.

There are many other children born to Anna and Ernest - do you know the siblings of your father in law.
Ernest
Mabel
John
Sidney
Ethel
and of course Violet that show in 1911 census but you would ned to buy credits to be sure.
I wonder if the spelling of your father in laws mother is wrong on FreeBMD - do you have a copy of his birth certificate. Irene

Hi Irene
You are quite correct. The spelling of Williams mothers maiden name has been entered on the birth records as Isbitt & it is Isbill. The family members you have listed are all Williams siblings plus a few more. I have 10 altogether on my tree, but there was talk of father in law being one of 13, but havent traced any more yet. The 1900 DOB sounds too early as we initially thought Connie could have been Violets daughter, there did seem to be a fair age difference between them. There was also a Reginald, Reg who lived with Aunt Violet & Connie & we dont know his relationship either. Maybe he was Connies son & thats why she had to live with her sister if thats what she was. So many questions I'm afraid. Thanks for all your time.

How about this for Reginald?

Births Sep 1919

Bowman Reginald S Bowman Mitford 4b 333

Bowman Children with same mother's maiden name of Isbill
Frederick 1915
Percy 1916
Leonard 1918.
Irene

Samspade, thanks something to look into. He could be Violets son, will perhaps get hold of birth cert.
Irene
Thank you again these are other siblings of William. The ones I have are Ernest 1897, Mabel 1899, Violet 1902, John 1904, Sidney 1907, Ethel 1909, William 1913, Frederick 1915, Percy 1916 & Leonard 1918

Ernest 1897 is my late father. Reginald S Bowman & Leonard Bowman married sisters Ena 1948 & Doris Rowley 1946 in Halifax. Both wife's worked in woolworths in Dereham. Can't figure out where connie fits in, she seems to be Violet child?

Edward,
Jennifer made her last post on this thread in 2009, so may well not be looking for replies now. If you click on her name you can send a personal message to her which, if she still has the same email address as back then, GR can deliver to her