Rowney Family Tree

Robert is believed to have been born around 1738, although his place of birth has not been established. There was a Robert KING christened at Kempston, in Bedfordshire, in 1737, but this has not been proven as the same person. There was also a KING family which lived around the village of Souldrop, a few miles north of Bletsoe, in Bedfordshire. They had a number of members named Robert KING and Nicholas KING over many years. Nicholas KING (born c.1755), who lived at Bletsoe, was born at Souldrop. He was possibly a younger brother or cousin of Robert.

No record of the marriage of Robert and Elizabeth has been found at this time, however they appear to have settled around the village of Bletsoe, in Bedfordshire, to raise their family. Elizabeth's maiden name and origins are not known.

Their first child, Elizabeth, was born around 1764, and christened at the parish church in Bletsoe that year. She was followed by Robert (jr) in 1767, Nicholas in 1768, and Rose in 1770. Susanna is believed to have been born around 1771, although no record of her birth has yet been found. George was born around 1775, and Hannah (sometimes called Ann) in 1776. Hannah possibly died in infancy, as another child, born in 1780, was explicitly named Ann, but this is not confirmed. It is fairly unlikely that both girls survived, but which one actually died has not been established conclusively.

The 1784 Pollbook of Bedfordshire names Robert KING as the occupant of a house and land at Bletsoe owned by Robert MUSGRAVE. The data was collected from the information provided by voters between 7 to 19 Apr 1784 in Bedford.

Robert died in 1785 when he was 47 years of age. He was buried in Bletsoe. His wife, Elizabeth (aged 43), would have had a large family to attend to after Robert died. The children at that time were probably; Elizabeth (aged 20), Robert (aged 17), Nicholas (aged 16), Rose (aged 14), Susanna (aged 13), George (aged 9), and probably Ann (aged 4). It is not certain that all these children were still living at that time.

Elizabeth died in 1796 at the age of 54. She was also buried at the churchyard in Bletsoe.