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I am trying to trace my gt gt grandparents.My gt grandfather was Alfred Cowell born@Arrigton 25/4/1845.I am able to trace him and his sister Fanny Ann Barrance Cowell through the census
I know his marriage was 3/12/1865 in Barkway Herts and his death 2/9/1918 in Leeds
Neither Alfred nor Fannys birth appears to have been registered
The 1851 and 1861 census show them living with their grandparents Elizabeth and Wm Mathews[Ihave established that Wm Mathews married a Mrs Elizabeth Cowell]
Familysearch and Findmypast Parish Records show baptism details for Fanny as parents Edward Cowell[labourer] and Sarah and for Alfred as Sarah Cowell
I cannot find any further information on marriage or deaths of Edward and Sarah[I looked under maiden name of Barrance]
Could anyone shed any light on where I go next?
Thank you
Sonia

Fanny Ann Barrance Cowell
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

residence Cambridge, England
parents: Edward Cowell, Sarah

record title: England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
name: Fanny Ann Barrance Cowell
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 10 Jul 1842
baptism/christening place: ARRINGTON,CAMBRIDGE,ENGLAND
father's name: Edward Cowell
mother's name: Sarah
indexing project (batch) number: C13403-1
system origin: England-ODM
source film number: 1040363

1891

Name: Alfred Cowell
Age: 45
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Emma Cowell
Gender: Male
Where born: Arrington, Cambridgeshire, England

Civil parish: Middleton
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Middleton
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Registration district: Hunslet
Sub-registration district: Rothwell
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3668
Folio: 135
Page Number: 1
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred Cowell 45
Emma Cowell 44
Osborne L Cowell 17
Frank Cowell 15
Frances L Cowell 14
George Fred R Cowell 12
William Cowell 9
Alfred P Cowell 7
Herbert Victor Cowell 51
Sydney H Cowell 2

Alfred Cowell
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

birth 25 Apr 1845
residence 1845 —Cambridge, England
parents: Sarah Cowell

record title: England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
name: Alfred Cowell
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 15 Jul 1849
baptism/christening place: ARRINGTON,CAMBRIDGE,ENGLAND
birth date: 25 Apr 1845
mother's name: Sarah Cowell
indexing project (batch) number: C13403-1
system origin: England-ODM
source film number: 1040363


Alfred Cowell
England and Wales Census, 1901

birth 1846 —Arrington, Cambridgeshire
residence 31 Mar 1901 —Middleton, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
census 31 Mar 1901 —Middleton, Yorkshire (West Riding), England

record title: England and Wales Census, 1901
name: Alfred Cowell
event: Census
event date: 31 Mar 1901
age: 55
relationship to head of household: Head
birthplace: Arrington, Cambridgeshire
record type: Household
registration district: Hunslet
sub-district: Rothwell
ecclesiastical parish: St Marys
civil parish: Middleton
county: Hunslet, Rothwell, Middleton, Yorkshire (West Riding)


Alfred Cowell
England and Wales Census, 1881

birth 1846 —Arrington, Yorkshire, England
residence 1881 —Middleton, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
census 1881 —Middleton, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
spouse: Emma Cowell
children: Horris C Cowell, Ernest A Cowell...

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Alfred Cowell
age: 35
gender: Male
birth year: 1846
birthplace: Arrington, Yorkshire, England
relationship to head of household: Head
marital condition: Married
profession/occupation: Miner
address: Middleton Rd
census place: Middleton, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
record type: Household
family history library film: 1342076
the national archives reference: RG11
piece/folio: 4494 / 150
page number:

I would have thought if he was born in Arrington he would have been registered in Royston?? although caxton is mentioned on the 1861 census

Not seeing any births for them either

jax

Hello Sonia. If Cowell was the previous name of Elizabeth Matthews (Alfred's grandmother) then does that mean that Sarah Cowell was her daughter from a previous marriage?

If so, then Sarah's maiden name would surely be Cowell and not Barrance? (Perhaps that is a passed down family name, or perhaps the father's surname).

Just trying to get things straight .......

Have you got Alfred's marriage certificate to see what it says in father's details?

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1865
>>Cowell Alfred Royston 3a 360
Parker Josiah Royston 3a 360
??Watson Emma Royston 3a 360
Woodcock Ellen Royston 3a 360

Hi
Fannys father shown as Edward Cowell and mother Sarah in parish records Alfred is just Sarah Cowell I wondered if Edward had died between Alfreds birth in 1845 and baptism in 1849 and Sarah between 1849 and the census in 1851 when they lived with grandparents
I was working on Edward being Elizabeths son from an earlier marriage
YES I do have Alfred and EMMAS Marriage cert it is of no help as it shows William Cowell as father [I think this is from Wm Mathews]
Sonia

Hi Sonia, it's tricky as before the early 1870's there was no onus on parents to register births so very many weren't.

My gut feeling is that Sarah wasn't married, especially as no father's name is mentioned for Alfred. As we come to find so often father's names were often invented to "save face".

However, that is just my hunch and someone who has access to the appropriate records may prove me wrong.

You could be right as I've found a Sarah Cowell born 1821 in Cambridgeshire in the 1841 census but I feel as though Im clutching at straws

Have you seen this 1851 census Wimpole is next door to Arrington

Name: Sarah Cowell
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1819
Relation: Servant
Gender: F (Female)
Where born: Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, England

Civil parish: Orwell
County/Island: Cambridgeshire
Country: England

Registration district: Caxton
Sub-registration district: Caxton
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 133
Piece: 1758
Folio: 365
Page Number: 34
Household Members: Name Age
Christopher Roads 55
Martha Roads 53
John Roads 27
William Roads 25
Frances Roads 23
Martha Roads 21
Charles Roads 15
Emily Roads 11
Joseph Roads 48
Samuel Sell 53
John Ardry 52
Alfred Genth 19
Sarah Cowell 32
Ann Corwith 19

Marriages Dec 1855 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COWELL Sarah Caxton 3b 1067
PEARCE William Caxton 3b 1067

1861

Name: Sarah Pearce
Age: 40
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1821
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: William Pearce
Gender: Female
Where born: Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, England

Civil parish: Orwell
County/Island: Cambridgeshire
Country: England

Registration district: Caxton
Sub-registration district: Caxton
ED, institution, or vessel: 23
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 90
Piece: 1017
Folio: 72
Page Number: 16
Household Members: Name Age
William Pearce 28
Sarah Pearce 40
John Pearce 5
Decima Pearce 3
Ellis Pearce 8Mo

Thankyou so much Jax[and all who have helped me knock down this brick wall]
The Sarah I was searching for is I believe Sarah Pearce[nee Cowell]
Sarah went on to have a son Henry1864 who had a son Cyril Gordon Pearce 1907 Royston
Cyril G married Alfred's granddaughter Mary Glen1907 in Leeds
So in effect Sarah was the grooms grandmother and the brides greatgrandmother
Barrance was only included in Fanny Ann's birth record and I did find a Barrance family in Arrington but at that time I was looking for a Sarah
I will now obtain Sarah and Wm Pearce's marriage cert to ascertain her fathers name
I cannot thank you enough
Best wishes
Sonia

Oh, she's good, that Jax! :-)

Pleased you're getting closer Sonia - do come back on this thread and let us know what's on that marriage certificate.

I will do that MarieCeleste I'm on such a high at the moment I have struggled with this for what seems like forever and what it needed was a fresh pair of eyes and a new approach.

I was convinced that Barrance would be the mothers maiden name until you said was it in fact the fathers name[I should have explored this as I have come across it in another part of my tree]
However it could mean that Fanny and Albert did not share the same father

My minds racing at the moment but nothing beats the exhileration you feel on discovering a breakthrough
Yippee!!!
Sonia

It is nice to come accross a thread where I personally know the area, rather than all those northern places I have never been to :-)

jax

Hi Jax and MarieCeleste
The marriage cert arrived this morning and has confirmed that Sarah Cowell is the ancestor I was searching for.
I had Joseph Cowell as Alfreds grandfather from Wimpole Parish Records but obviously [now] I couldn't find a son Edward.
Her eldest 2 children could have had different fathers as Fanny Ann has Barrance in her name but Alfred is just Alfred also Parish Records show Fanny's parents as Edward Cowell and Sarah but Alf's as just Sarah Cowell
I found an Edward Barrance in the same place as Sarah on the 1841 census but he married in 1845 [the year Alfred was born] interesting but unsubstantiated!!
However just to complicate my tree further down the years Alfreds grandaughter marries William Pearce and Sarah Cowell's grandaughter.
Sarah is the brides gt grandmother and the grooms grandmother.Children descending from her eldest and youngest sons.
Hope you are able to follow all this.
Thank you so much for your help and interest.This was the 1st time I had used this forum in 5yrs and I am so impressed I will not hesitate to ask for help in the future
Sonia

I am so glad we were able to help you Sonia. Yes it does sound complicated :-)

jax