John Bowles

c1818-1899

John was born in Berkshire he was baptised on the 1^st March 1818 in Enborne Berkshire the son of Richard and Diana Bowles (nee Miles) who were married in Enborne on the 7^th March 1815

Other known children of Richard and Diana baptised in Enborne were:

William Henry baptised 9^th June 1816

Charles baptised 27^th August 1820

Eliza baptised 2^nd March 1823

Charlotte baptised 2^nd October 1825

George baptised 16^th March 1828

Mary Ann baptised 7^th January 1831

Sarah baptised 4^th August 1833

Jane baptised 6^th December 1835

Jesse baptised 24^th June 1838

In 1841 the family were living in Wash Water Enborne Berkshire, both John and his father Richard were recorded as Agricultural Labourers

John’s father died aged 47 in 1845, he was buried on the 26^th September, his mother died aged 55 in 1849, she was buried on the 4^th February both were buried at St Michael and All Angels Enborne

John married in 1846

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church Newbury

 Date: 12^th July 1846

Groom: John Bowles, full age, bachelor, Occupation: Labourer abode: Newbury

 Bride: Louisa Hicks aged 18 years, spinster, abode: Newbury

 Fathers: Richard Bowles and Thomas Hicks, Labourer.

John and Louisa had the following children: Jane born 1849, Charlotte born 1851, Henry born 1852 and Sarah born 1855.

Louisa died aged 26 just after giving birth to Sarah. Sarah died aged 2 days old they were buried together in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 12^th February.

In 1861 John (39) was working as a General Labourer and was living in Ayres’s Yard Newbury with his children, Jane (12), Charlotte (10) and Henry (8).

He remarried in 1863 in Newbury. His 2^nd wife was Martha Appleton. (Martha was born c1822 in Newbury the daughter of William and Elizabeth Appleton (nee Lambdin/Lambden). Martha had a daughter Sarah born in 1843).

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church Newbury

Date: 26^th September 1863

Groom: John Bowels, widower, occupation: Labourer abode: Newbury

Bride: Martha Appleton, spinster, abode: Newbury

Fathers: Richard Bowles, occupation: Corn Porter and William Appleton, occupation: Sawyer

Witnesses: George Povey and Sarah Appleton

Bride and Groom made their mark

In 1871 John (53) and Martha (51) were living in St John’s View Newbury, John was still working as a General Labourer and Martha was working as a Charwoman. They continued to live in St John’s View until their deaths.

On the 14^th September 1877 John escaped a terrible accident whilst working with another man, William Tranter, who was not so lucky.  The two men had been employed by Mr James Henry Lucas to dig sand from a pit situated in Wash Common. There was a slip, the cause presumed to be from the wet state of the ground due to recent heavy rains and William Tranter was buried alive.

 Martha died aged 73 on the29th January 1893 (funeral service took place on the 2^nd February at St Nicolas Church Newbury) she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery her daughter and son-in-law Sarah and George Bryant were also buried in the same grave.

John died aged 80 on the 25^th December 1899 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 30^th December.         

Sources: as above