Wednesday 29th October 2014
Stuart Foley writes ~
Hi,
I’m trying to trace Emanuel Dowdall. He came from Warminster, Wiltshire, England: date of birth about 1858. I have worked back to the 1871 Census: He is at: Crockerton road, Longbridge Deverill, at the age of 15, as a boarder, agricultural labourer, and there’s a girl, at the age of 12, silk weaver, as a boarder as well, no relation. What I’ve read on the workhouse was children were often boarded out two per family max unless siblings? So, where can I go to find him with no mum or dad names? Where do I turn next? Workhouse records 1858- 1873? And where would I find them? Help!
Danny Howell replies ~
The Register of Baptisms for the Parish Church of St. Denys, The Minster, Warminster, includes the baptism of “Immanuel Dowdell”. He was baptised on 4th April 1858. The Register also records that he was born on 25th June 1855. His mother’s name is recorded as Ann Dowdell. The father’s name is not recorded.
At the same time, another child, George Dowdell, son of Ann Dowdell, was baptised too. Again, the father’s name was not recorded. George Dowdell’s date of birth was recorded as 24th November 1852.
I would draw your attention to this online reference on the Roots Web website ~
From: Bryn Edwards BrynBrunt@bigfoot.com
Subject: DOWDELL – Wiltshire area – 1850’s
Date: 31 Aug 1998 07:44:23 -0700
I posted my enquiry about Emanuel DOWDEL a week or so ago – I am researching the DOWDEL name (later to become DOWDALL) in the 1850’s in the Wiltshire area.
My G.Grandfather was Emmanuel Dowdel, born on the 25 June 1855 at Pound Street in Warminster. His mother was shown as Ann Dowdel, formerly Martin – the fathers name was not shown.
I have tried to find the marriage of Ann Martin to a Mr. Dowdel around this time (at St. Catherines House, including the IGI index) – but was unsuccessful. I then applied to the Registrar in Bridgwater, but she could find no trace of the wedding around the 1854 area – but required the specific church to enable her to produce the certificate, which I do not have. I then searched the census of 1851 + 1861 in Warminster, but could not find any further details.
I received several useful tips – thank you all for that – but one thing did crop up. There were others who had noticed MISSING RECORDS at that time in Wiltshire. (Certainly, the birth details of Emanuel DOWDEL was not shown at St. Caths., but was readily available from the Warminster Registrar). Being fairly new to this game, I presume that this is a common problem???? I presume that there is no answer to this – but to carry on grafting?!
Bryn BrynBrunt@bigfoot.com
http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/GENBRIT/1998-08/0904574663