T
trotman
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Hi im after some information on on a Thomas Cowley b.1834 in Overley nr Telford i know he lived in Birmingham from at least 1861, im keen to find his parents who i believe to be from Sedgely, Birmingham cheers
That sounds interesting, where can I find those reports Pedrocut?May be a complete red herring but in June 1887 there were reports of a reprieve of death sentence upon a Henry Cowley, surgeon's assistant, convicted of causing death by unlawful operation. Along with Henrietta Elisabeth
Powell, midwife.
Thanks for the reply, the 1879 article would certainly fit with the family story handed downIt appears he's a medical assistant in 1861, a brass founder in 1871 and then medical again, a surgeon accoucherer in 1881.
Possibly 2 other mentions in newspapers- in 1879 in regards procuring an abortion and in 1870 he appears to have been the victim of a violent assault
That sounds interesting, where can I find those reports Pedrocut?
Thank you, yes, unlikely to be him, must be another Henry, a different crimeFrom the follow up info this is unlikely to be your Henry Cowley as the sentence was reduced to life in penal servitude.
And ye....looking again at the reports etc. everything fits for 'my' Henry, except the dates of birth are out by a few years. Census returns put him with a dob around 1826, and there is a Kilsby baptism in 1826, but I have no definitive birth certificate. Newspaper reports on the court case say he is 67 in 1887 which would mean a dob of 1820. All in all, I think there are enough matching bits of info to make it likely this is he? as surely there weren't many Henry Cowleys in the area who were surgeon accoucherers. I'm trying, without luck so far, to find him or the family in the 1891 census, (wife Louisa, children Jane, Lizzie and John) that would clarify, as he would have been in prison by then, ( in Warwick gaol?).Thank you, yes, unlikely to be him, must be another Henry, a different crime
Right, good point, I think he was held at Winson Green for a short time while awaiting trial, that's where he supposedly confessed to another prisonerMay not be Warwick as penal servitude was served at a large, harsher prison (such as Wandsworth or Parkhurst) rather than locally.
Thank you, I'll keep looking....see what else comes upIt would seem likely that all the newspaper reports refer to your Henry Crowley.
I searched for the family but none of them seem to be on the 1891 census. There's a death registered for a Henry Crowley (age listed 68) Kings Norton Mar 1891, so I thought maybe Winson Green.
However, I've just seen another Henry Cowley living in Kings Norton in 1881 that this death probably refers to.
Yes, thank you, seems that's her, her maiden name was Louisa Bennett Comley, but is this for 1891 or 1901? because for 1901 I have her living in Brass St, with my grandmother Lily Cowley aged 8 or 9 also with them by then...? If it is 1891 I guess Louisa was using Bennett instead of Cowley...(who wouldn't under the circumstances?) ....And I think I've found Louisa (a widow) and Lizzie as well, living at 25 Saltley Road under the name Bennett. Ages are about right and Louisa's birthplace is listed as Grafton House (?), Oxfordshire. It is Grafton, Oxfordshire in 1901.
And I think I've found Louisa (a widow) and Lizzie as well, living at 25 Saltley Road under the name Bennett. Ages are about right and Louisa's birthplace is listed as Grafton House (?), Oxfordshire. It is Grafton, Oxfordshire in 1901
Thank you, may be a coincidence, I will try to find out moreThere is a Henry Cowley listed on 1891 census in prison in Gillingham Kent. May be a coincidence as it says born in London.
Yes, thank you, seems that's her, her maiden name was Louisa Bennett Comley, but is this for 1891 or 1901? because for 1901 I have her living in Brass St, with my grandmother Lily Cowley aged 8 or 9 also with them by then...? If it is 1891 I guess Louisa was using Bennett instead of Cowley...(who wouldn't under the circumstances?) ....
Thank you, makes sense she moved, used a different name and said she was widowed ! .... what a revelation all this is .... the family 'story' my dad told me is backed up by fact ... and this context helps explain some of my grandmothers' experiences growing up..... Thank you again, I really appreciate this forum and the help people offerSorry, it is for the 1891 census. I only mentioned the 1901 to reference the birthplace.
Thank you so much MWS, I will follow up on that ..And to complete the set for the 1891, Jane is possibly at 8 New Buildings, Arden Road listed as Porter with a daughter, a bit more doubt though.
She does have children before she marries and in 1901 the eldest daughter's age corresponds to the one in 1891, name different though but as I can't see a registration for either, hard to be sure.
I believe this is the correct Jane Cowley as she was born in Rugby and age fits etc. I can't find any marriage between Cowley - Porter though.Thank you so much MWS, I will follow up on that ..
Yes, I have her as marrying William Quinton King and I think they had 3 children...just looking into that next and the first daughter Jane PorterNo, I couldn't see one either. If there actually was a Mr Porter or she's using an assumed name like her mom is anyone's guess. When she does marry in 1899 it's as Cowley.