Biography:
Mary Harriet Rowell
1837 –1917
Mary Harriet Rowell
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Unmarked grave Mary Harriett Rowell (née Thomas) (1837-1917)
Mary was born in 1837 in St George’s, Southwark, the daughter of Thomas Thomas, a grocer born in Cardigan, and his wife Harriet. She was the second of their six children and the only girl. She was baptised in St George the Martyr, Southwark, 2 July 1837.
In 1851 the family were living in the High Street, Berkhamsted and her father was described in the census as “Reporter and Superintendent registrar”. Her older brother Thomas was a reporter.
Mary went into domestic service and in April 1861 was employed at the Trafalgar Hotel, Spring Gardens, London, close to where Admiralty Arch now stands. (Not the same building as the present hotel of that name). She was simply described as “servant” in the census, one of thirteen, so was probably a chambermaid.
Mary married Joseph James Rowell, a tailor born in Buckingham, on 6 December 1893 in the St Pancras district.
In 1891 James had married Ellen Rout and they had a daughter, Lily Ellen, born in 1893. (Ellen’s death has not been traced, nor has Lily Ellen’s whereabouts until 1901 when she was living in the household of Harry Rowell, her paternal uncle.)
Florence Fanny Elizabeth was born in late 1864 in Middlesex and baptised in St Peter’s, Berkhamsted 1 January 1865. Rose Augusta was born in Dalston, Middlesex in 1866 and James John in Shoreditch in 1869.
In 1871 the family was living in Eglington Road, Bow. Harry Ernest was born that year and Walter R in 1873.
Joseph died aged only 43 in 1877. Mary became a tailoress to support her young family and in 1881 was living with Florence and Harry at 15, Eglinton Road. She also had three boarders.
Ten years later, and still a tailoress, Mary was living in Wanstead, Essex, with Harry and Walter, both employed as engine cleaners.
By 1911 Mary was living with her unmarried brother Lewis Ebenezer Thomas at 8, Elm Grove. By then her son Walter had died. Also with them was James’s daughter by his first marriage, Lily Ellen Rowell, described as “niece”, although technically she was Mary’s step-daughter.
Mary died in May 1917 at Lewis’s home, aged 80.
View this burial in the cemetery
Unmarked grave Mary Harriett Rowell (née Thomas) (1837-1917)
Mary was born in 1837 in St George’s, Southwark, the daughter of Thomas Thomas, a grocer born in Cardigan, and his wife Harriet. She was the second of their six children and the only girl. She was baptised in St George the Martyr, Southwark, 2 July 1837.
In 1851 the family were living in the High Street, Berkhamsted and her father was described in the census as “Reporter and Superintendent registrar”. Her older brother Thomas was a reporter.
Mary went into domestic service and in April 1861 was employed at the Trafalgar Hotel, Spring Gardens, London, close to where Admiralty Arch now stands. (Not the same building as the present hotel of that name). She was simply described as “servant” in the census, one of thirteen, so was probably a chambermaid.
Mary married Joseph James Rowell, a tailor born in Buckingham, on 6 December 1893 in the St Pancras district.
In 1891 James had married Ellen Rout and they had a daughter, Lily Ellen, born in 1893. (Ellen’s death has not been traced, nor has Lily Ellen’s whereabouts until 1901 when she was living in the household of Harry Rowell, her paternal uncle.)
Florence Fanny Elizabeth was born in late 1864 in Middlesex and baptised in St Peter’s, Berkhamsted 1 January 1865. Rose Augusta was born in Dalston, Middlesex in 1866 and James John in Shoreditch in 1869.
In 1871 the family was living in Eglington Road, Bow. Harry Ernest was born that year and Walter R in 1873.
Joseph died aged only 43 in 1877. Mary became a tailoress to support her young family and in 1881 was living with Florence and Harry at 15, Eglinton Road. She also had three boarders.
Ten years later, and still a tailoress, Mary was living in Wanstead, Essex, with Harry and Walter, both employed as engine cleaners.
By 1911 Mary was living with her unmarried brother Lewis Ebenezer Thomas at 8, Elm Grove. By then her son Walter had died. Also with them was James’s daughter by his first marriage, Lily Ellen Rowell, described as “niece”, although technically she was Mary’s step-daughter.
Mary died in May 1917 at Lewis’s home, aged 80.
Relatives
No relatives have been linked to Mary Harriet Rowell
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