Sowter family and bargees

[Goodenough]

Hello


I have just found this wonderful forum and, as a Brummie by birth [born in Winson Green Maternity Hospital], I am hoping to find information about my family and fill in some missing gaps.


In particular I am looking to see if anyone can help me find anything about my late mother’s family who were called Sowter and lived I think in Ladywood.


First let me tell you what I have found and then perhaps we can use the information as a framework to build on.


Joseph Charles Sowter married Emma Piercewright in 1905 and they had the five children -


Charles Joseph Sowter [born 1906]
Ernest Sowter [born 1910]
Frederick Sowter [born 1910]
Doris Sowter [born 1913] - my mother, now deceased
Rosie Sowter [born 1921]


This much I know but as my mother was never forthcoming about her family following, I suspect, a monumental falling out, I have only three other vague bits of information about the family.


1, They lived in Ladywood
2, Her father [Joseph Charles Sowter] was a bargee and looked after horses
3, Mother [Doris Sowter] worked in a "cake shop", which I think was on Monument Road, when she left school


And that is all I know, I didn’t even know that mother had brothers and a sister although once or twice she vaguely alluded to "we children". I am hoping that some of you wonderful Brummies can help me fill in gaps. In particular I would like to know where the family lived and would certainly like to find more about the narrow boat connection.


If anyone has any knowledge of this family I would love to hear it or if someone could just point me in a direction to do further research but please bear in mind that I live in Devon and cannot travel to Brum to do research in person.


Thanks


Peter in sunny Devon

 

[birnewcomer]

Hi Peter
it might help if you post your request in the "surname interests" section where most searches begin.lots of people willing to help.The census section 1901,1911 post will detail your mothers siblings and where they lived.As your mother was born in 1913 you will not be able to see her reference,but you can get her birth certificate from the records office although I suspect you already have obtained these details.Marriage certificates for her siblings give a lot of information.Good luck.
regards Frank

 

[Goodenough]

Hi Frank

Thank you for your interest and suggestions. I do now actually have mother's birth certificate from the GRO and have managed to track relatives as far as a cousin living in Kidderminster. Unfortunately when I wrote to her I had a call from her husband telling me she had passed away last year. So I am all alone in the world [sniff!].

Peter in sunny Devon