Rowney Family Tree

John was born in 1821 in the parish of Northill, in Bedfordshire, England. He was christened there in 1822. His parents lived in the hamlet of Upper Caldecote in Northill parish.

John married Liza BAYES in 1845 in her home village of Sharnbrook, in Bedfordshire. They were married four days before John's 24th birthday. Liza was 24 years of age. Liza's family had been stonemasons around Sharnbrook for centuries. John used to walk from his home at Upper Caldecote to Sharnbrook to visit Liza before they were married. The distance is approximately 18 miles, with each village about equal distance from the city of Bedford. He told his grand-daughter, Lilla DARNELL (nee WAGSTAFF), that "his Liza was worth it."

In the 1861 census, John (aged 39) and Liza (aged 39) were living with John's father, Joseph WAGSTAFF (aged 68), at his home in Upper Caldecote. Both John and his father were working as agricultural labourers. John's children who were also present were; Maximillian (aged 13) who was employed as a farmer's boy, William (aged 12), Ellen (aged 9), and Fanny (aged 8).

In the 1871 census, John (aged 49) and Liza (aged 50) were living in Upper Caldecote. John was employed as an agricultural labourer. Their unmarried children who were also present were; Maxey (aged 25) who was a shepherd, William (aged 21) who was a labourer, and Fanny (aged 18) who was a straw platter. Also living with them as a boarder was John's bachelor half-brother, James THOMAS (aged 53). James was described as a retired servant.

In the 1881 census, John (aged 59) and Liza (aged 59) were living at No. 3 Taddys Row on Northill Road in Upper Caldecote. John was employed as an agricultural labourer. Their son William (aged 32), who had recently lost his wife, was also recorded at their home. William was working as a market gardener. William's baby son, Alfred (aged 5 months), was also present and is believed to have been raised by his grandparents, John and Liza, from this time. John and Liza's unmarried daughter Fanny (aged 28) was also still living at their home. She was employed as a dressmaker. There were two other individuals recorded in the household; John's bachelor half-brother James THOMAS (aged 68) remained boarding with the family and was described as a coachman, and Liza's spinster sister, Mary BAYES (aged 41), a dressmaker, was visiting their home at the time of the census.

John died at Upper Caldicote in 1905 on the day after his 84th birthday, and just five days after he and Liza celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. He was buried in the churchyard at Northill.

Liza died at the nearby town of Biggleswade, in Bedfordshire, on their wedding anniversary in 1911 having reached 90 years of age. She was buried with her husband John in the churchyard at Northill.