General Chat

This is the only Redfern baptism at findmypast of the generation of Richard and his brother John

First name(s) Jennefer
Last name Redfern
Birth year -
Baptism year 1790
Baptism date 26 May 1790
Denomination Anglican
Baptism place Bishop's Tawton
> Father's first name(s) John
> Mother's first name(s) Ann
Mother's last name -
County Devon
Country England

I would expect that was a sister of Richard and John

from family search

Elizabeth's parents' marriage

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKTP-YBH

Name Richard Redfern
Spouse's Name Nancy Hodge
Event Date 26 Jun 1803
Event Place Bishops Tawton,Devon,England

births to Richard and Ann Redfern

Elizabeth Redfern
christening: 15 July 1804
BISHOPS TAWTON, DEVON, ENGLAND
father: Richard Redfern
mother: Ann

Jno Hodge Redfern
christening: 25 December 1805
BISHOPS TAWTON, DEVON, ENGLAND
father: Richard Redfern
mother: Nancy

Ann Redfern
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
christening: 10 February 1811
BISHOPS TAWTON, DEVON, ENGLAND
father: Richard Redfern
mother: Nancy

Daughter Ann is the one young John is living with in 1841.

Her widowed aunt Elizabeth Redfern in 1851 would be the sister-in-law of Richard.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KC97-D86

Name John Redfern
Event Type Marriage
Event Date 1816
Event Place Devon
Spouse's Name Elizabeth Goodridge Pike

That John Rowe was a widowed farmer by 1841

1851:

Name: John Rowe
Age: 67
Estimated birth year: abt 1784
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Swimbridge, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Stoke Rivers
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Registration district: Barnstaple
Sub-registration district: Barnstaple
John Rowe 67
Elizabeth Gould 36
Mary Lymons 84
John Fry 17
Thomas Gould 13

so it's entirely possible that he was John Redfern/Rowe's father, and John had been sent to live with his mother's family.

I think what is absolutely needed is the information about John's father from the 1861 marriage certificate. It may not be accurate or true, but we still need to know what it says.

There's no listing on Plarr's Lives of the Fellows Online
http://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/browse_r.htm

Probable Letters of Administration for the John Rowe who died in 1861, Barnstaple

ROWE John
(21 Nov 1861)
Letters of Administration of the Personal estate and effects of John Rowe late of Stoke Rivers in the County of Devon Yeoman a Widower deceased who died 17 Oct 1861 at Stoke Rivers aforesaid was granted at Exeter to Mary Buckingham (wife of James Buckingham) of Swimbridge in the said County one of the children of the said deceased she having been sworn. Effects under £200
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills

Strange muddle of Redferns, but these are in more or less the right place in 1851

Name: Elizabeth Redfern
Age: 56
Estimated birth year: abt 1795
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Blackonly, Devon, England
lodging house keeper, widowed

Name: Ann Redfern
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1811
Relation: Niece
Gender: Female
Where born: Newport, Devon, England
house servant, unmarried

Civil Parish: Portsea
Ecclesiastical parish: St Paul
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Registration district: Portsea Island
Sub-registration district: Landport

Elizabeth Redfern 56
Ann Redfern 40


death:
REDFERN, ELIZABETH GOODRIDGE aged 66
1859 J Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 272

This seems to be John Redfern Rowe in 1841

EDIT - oops, I hadn't paid attention, Detective posted this earlier

Name: John Rowe
Age: 5
Estimated birth year: abt 1836
Gender: Male
Where born: Devon, England
Civil Parish: Bishops Tawton
Hundred: South Molton
County/Island: Devon
Registration district: Barnstaple
Sub-registration district: Bishops Tawton

Ann Redfern 25 - independent means
John Rowe 5

If only you had told us what you know in the first place.

'A bible I have states that John Rowe died circa 1861 just before his son John Redfern Rowe was married in 1861 and that he came from or near Barnstaple and his occupation was a member of the Royal Society of Surgeons.'

Which may or may not be true, of course.

Of the dozens of John Rowe deaths in England 1859-1863, this is the only one in Barnstaple in that period:

ROWE, JOHN >> age 78
1861 D Quarter in BARNSTAPLE UNION Volume 05B Page 315

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp

I have now located Elizabeth Redferns parents (Richard and Ann) although that is as far as I have got. Any help on this point?

I still would like to know when John Rowe was born (Elizabeth's husband) and who his parents were and if John and Elizabeth had any more children.
A bible I have states that John Rowe died circa 1861 just before his son John Redfern Rowe was married in 1861 and that he came from or near Barnstaple and his occupation was a member of the Royal Society of Surgeons.
I am puzzled because I cannot fined him in the 1841 or 1851 census or when he was born?
Can any one help please?

Fantastic find Choccy - it is very much appreciated.
That gives me loads of answers as to why I could not find them on the census or familysearch site.
I will now try and find John Rowe and Elizabeth Redferns ancestors to see how far back they go.
Thanks again for all your efforst.

A more likely 1841 than posted earlier
Newport Road, Bishops Tawton, Barnstaple, Devon, England

Ann Redfern Female 25 1816 Devon, England
John Rowe Male 5. 1836. Devon

Ann was of Independent Means. Was she the witness?

That's a better possibility , Choccy. Bishops Tawton is 3 miles from Barnstable.
It's a good explanation as to why he used Redfern as his middle name.

To add to the marriage, the witnesses were Ann Redfern & James Landon.
Bride & Groom were of the parish of Bishops Tawton and were married by Licence.
They were bachelor and spinster.

??

Devon Baptisms

First name(s) John Rowe

Last name Redfern

Birth year 1835

Birth date 21 Nov 1835

Baptism year 1835

Baptism place Bishop's Tawton

Denomination Anglican

Father's first name(s) -

Mother's first name(s) Elizabeth (spinster)

Residence Newport
County Devon

Archive South West Heritage Trust
Record set Devon Baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Births & baptisms
Collections from Great Britain


http://tinyurl.com/mr28s62

Devon marriages

First name(s) Elizabeth

Last name Redfern

Marriage year 1835

Marriage date 28 Nov 1835

Spouse's first name(s) John

Spouse's last name Rowe

Denomination Anglican

Parish Bishops Tawton

Place Bishop's Tawton

County Devon

Archive South West Heritage Trust
Record set Devon Marriages
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Marriages & divorces
Collections from Great Britain

1871 census - John must have been off travelling

Norfolk Terrace, All Saints, Southampton, Hampshire, England
Elizabeth N Rowe Wife - Female 36 1835 - Southampton, Hampshire
Elizabeth A Rowe Daughter - Female 8 1863 - Southampton Hampshire
Owen G Rowe Son - Male 5 1866 - Southampton Hampshire,
Caroline G Rowe Daughter - Female 4 1867 - Southampton Hampshire,
Edith E Rowe Daughter - Female 2 1869 - Southampton, Hampshire,
Ann Rowe Aunt - Female 55 1816 - Devon, England ***
Jane Barnes Servant - Female 18 1853 - Southhampton Hampshire, England

** Widowed Aunt born Newport, Devon

Findmypast version of the 1911


1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
2 Ordnance Road Southampton, All Saints, Hampshire, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Occupation Age Birth year Birth place
John Redfern Rowe Head Married Male Comal Traveller Books Of The Court On City 75 1836 Banstaple Devon
Elzabeth Newbolt Rowe Wife Married Female None/ Private Means 76 1835 St Mary Southampton
Elzabeth Annie Rowe Daughter Single Female Fery Drapery Dealer 48 1863 Hants Southampton
Caroline G Rowe - - Female - 44 1867 Hants Southampton
Jane S Barnes Servant - Female - 57 1854 Hants Southampton

just because ... his offspring travelled!

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDZ6-GYR

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLKS-373


edited info out because we followed the wrong family

1911

Name: John Redfern Rowe
Age in 1911: 75
Estimated Birth Year: 1836
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
> Birth Place: Barstaple, Devon, England
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Street Address: 2Ordnance Road, Southampton
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 49
Estimated Marriage Year: 1862
Occupation: Commercial Traveller Book
Registration district: Southampton

Elizabeth Neon Rowe 76
John Redfern Rowe 75
Jane S Bazzes 57
Elizabeth Annie Rowe 48
Caroline G Rowe 44

Just in case....

Devon Baptisms (Findmypast)

First name(s) John
Last name Rowe
Birth year 1832
Birth date 01 Apr 1832 ***
Baptism year 1832
Baptism place Braunton
Denomination Anglican
Father's first name(s) John
Mother's first name(s) Jane
Father's occupation Farmer
Residence Braunton
County Devon
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Record set Devon Baptisms

***Birth date is the date of baptism
................

First name(s) Sarah Ann
Last name Rowe
Birth year 1833
Birth date 30 Jun 1833 <<< date of baptism
Baptism year 1833
Baptism place Braunton
Denomination Anglican
Father's first name(s) John
Mother's first name(s) Jane
Father's occupation Farmer
Residence Braunton
County Devon
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Record set Devon Baptisms


First name(s) Mary Jane
Last name Rowe
Birth year 1834
Birth date 01 Jun 1834 <<< date of baptism
Baptism year 1834
Baptism place Braunton
Denomination Anglican
Father's first name(s) John
Mother's first name(s) Jane
Father's occupation Farmer
Residence Braunton
County Devon
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Record set Devon Baptisms

EDIT - apparently following wrong family

well that matches up with 1851 :-)

in Instow, Barnstaple

John Hancock 39
Eliza Hancock 36
John Hancock 5
Mary Hancock 8
Eliza Hancock 2
Martha Hancock 1
Elizabeth Bale 16
> John Rowe 19 - servant born Braunton
Elizabeth Rowe 13
William Davy 21
Samuel Hade 16


John, if you can tell us where John & Elizabeth were in 1871 so we can see his details, and why you think your John was 'possibly' born in Barnstaple, we might be able to get a more certain match.

Possible marriage for parents

Devon Marriages
(Findmypast)

First name(s) John
Last name Rowe
Marriage year 1831
Marriage date 24 Mar 1831
Spouse's first name(s) Jane
Spouse's last name Hancock
Denomination Anglican
Parish Georgeham
Place Georgeham
County Devon
Archive South West Heritage Trust

John Rowe of the parish of Braunton, Jane Hancock of this parish.
Witnesses John Hancock, Richard Shafton?? John Hooper who has witnessed quite a few other marriages in the set. He is unlikely to be a relative.

Rather than 'assuming' that our suggestions are correct, it might be best to buy the 1861 MC to see what occupation is given for John Rowe Snr.

Rebecca's birth was also registered
ROWE, REBECCA ROWE HANCOCK
GRO Reference: 1837 D Quarter in THE BARNSTAPLE UNION Volume 10 Page 29