Frederick b.1851 Charles Ellis b.1855 both London, sons of David b.1822, Essex
What I have so far, working backwards...
Gordon Albert Rowland, my great grandfather, born in Deptford in 1882, eventually ends up in Hampstead.I already knew his mum and dad to be Frederick Albert Rowland (retired Publican) and Elizabeth Lascelles Rowland, but those middle names appear to be recently adopted for the baptism and subsequent census records, so picking them out in their early years is quite difficult.They show up from 1881 onwards, after the birth of their first 2 sons (Frederick Charles Rowland, Herbert David Rowland) as well as in baptism records.
Having ordered Gordon's birth certificate it lists his mum and dad as Frederick and Elizabeth Rowland formerly Williamson.From this I found the marriage of Frederick Rowland and Elizabeth Williamson in Strand in 1877.Elizabeth Williamson's line is easier to trace, but Fred's line is still a bit difficult to find.
All of Fred's appearances in subsequent census records from 1881 onwards show Fred born in Southwark, but I then found a badly transcribed record from 1871 where he is living and working at a pub in Greenwich, which lists his birth place as Bath, Somerset/Wales.I don't know for sure that this is him, but it tallies with previous family info that suggested the Rowlands were from Wales, and the occupation (barman) is consistent.
On the marriage certificate it lists Fred Rowland's father as David Rowland, an Engineer.
I then did a search for Frederick Rowland and find a baptism record with father David and mother Sarah, as well as a 2nd baptism on the same day for Charles Ellis(s) Rowland, with the same parents.Apparently a double baptism, but it lists the birth dates for each.
This is where it gets confusing.
The baptism is from 1854.It shows Fred born 16 March 1851,and Charles Ellis(s) born Dec 27th 1853, which is backed up by a birth record JFM 1854.Sadly there is a burial record 6 Aug 1854, aged 7 months.
However, there is then a Charles Ellis Rowland who gets marries Jane Emily Williams in 1878.On the banns it lists David Rowland, Engineer, as his father.The coincidence is too much to ignore, despite the early burial record.
I think it explained by a second Charles Ellis Rowland born born in JAS 1855, which seems to tally in all subsequent census records that I have found - I believe that David and Sarah lost the first Charles Ellis, and then had a second and gave him the same name?
There appears to be a census record from 1871 showing David and Sarah Rowland living with ? E Rowland in Norman Road, Greenwich.Fred Rowland was already living and working in a nearby pub by then.Their neighbours are the Johnsons, which Itallies with the name of Johnson appearing as a witness on Fred Rowland and Elizabeth Williamson's marriage certificate, presumably they grew up as neighbours and became friends.Eventually one of the sons from that family was the best man for Frederick Rowland.
On the 1871 census record, Sarah Rowland is listed as being born in Bala, Wales, 1818.David Rowland is born in Felstead, Essex, 1822.But there is no occupation listed for David, so I can't confirm that this is the Engineer, or that the ? E Rowland is Charles, but I believe it is.
SO I guess I'm trying to confirm that the 1871 census records are right, but I can't find the right set of records from 1861 for the same family, which I think would go some way to proving all this.
What I'm trying to find:
* David Rowland marrying Sarah A Rowland, presumably prior to 1851, maybe in Southwark, but could also possibly be in Wales, depending on who moved in which direction.
* David Rowland born Felstead, Essex, ~1822.
* 1861 census record with David, Sarah, Frederick and Charles.
* 1851 census record possibly with David, Sarah and probably Frederick, if the dates are right.
* 1841 census record with David born Felstead, Essex, ~1822.
Can anyone help locate this set of Rowlands?