Another Phillips marriage

[Anstey Nomad]

Dang! I was getting excited about George Towell, who came up through the ranks in the army, got commissioned as a Lieutenant, got court-martialled and got away with it.

More research required into Henry Towell, harness maker.

Incidentally, the more illegitimacy we can find on my mother’s side, the better. She had such a horror of this sort of thing that when my friend’s teenage sister got pregnant, she stopped me having anything to do with the family.

[Anstey Nomad]

So, there is no Mary Ann Towell on the 1851 census who would have been old enough to be a witness to this marriage, but George's daughter has an older sister called Mary.

Henry, above, is described as a harness maker, which is much more skilled than being a labourer in a stone quarry. There is a Henry Towell onthe 1851, born in Oakham, but again he's rather younger than the notice would suggest and is a maltster by trade.

There's some very creative research on Ancestry about George Towell, who allegedly served in the army until he was at least 70 and lived to be 118. That doesn't help.

On the other hand, if my father had dragged himself up to a reasonable station in life, and I had had some education and could write a beautiful copperplate hand, I might take my sister into my confidence and give incorrect information about my father if I was planning to marry a shoemaker with a disability and my family did not approve.

[kiterunner]

The Charlotte who is with George and Margaret on the 1841 census (not necessarily George's daughter) has N for born in county.

[kiterunner]

Here is the marriage of Edward Corser and Charlotte Towell, 4 Nov 1844 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...05796337/facts

This Charlotte is a spinster, full age, residence Uppingham, and the fathers' names haven't been filled in, nor any occupations.

These are the Corsers in 1851 and Charlotte's birthplace is Manchester (and she is 27):
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...05796337/facts

There is a newspaper death notice posted for her on ancestry which says she was the daughter of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Towell, so it does look as though she is the Charlotte from that 1841 census entry, and yours is a different Charlotte.

[Anstey Nomad]

I was coming round to that conclusion, which is a shame, because George Towell seemed like an interesting character.

I should have some time tomorrow, so back to the drawing board it is.

[Mary from Italy]

Just in case it helps, I have some Towells in my tree, and the surname often gets mistranscribed as Jowett, and vice versa.

[Anstey Nomad]

Really? I'll try to remember to check Jowett as well then. Thanks for the tip.

My mother actually told me not to bother with her family. I'm beginning to understand why!