Rowney Family Tree

Thomas was born around 1831 in the city of Bedford, in Bedfordshire, England.

In the 1841 census, Thomas (aged 9) was living with his widowed mother in the village of Riseley, a few miles north of Bedford, in Bedfordshire. He was employed as an agricultural labourer, along with his three older brothers.

In the 1851 census, Thomas (aged 20) was living with his widowed mother at her home on Rotton Row in Riseley. He was employed as an agricultural labourer.

Thomas married Elizabeth ROBERTS in Riseley in 1852.

In the 1861 census, Thomas (aged 30) and his wife Elizabeth (aged 28) were living in Riseley. Thomas was employed as an agricultural labourer and Elizabeth was working as a dressmaker. Their children at that time were; Sarah (aged 7) and Emma (aged 3), who were both attending school, and their young son George (aged 1) who was at home. Elizabeth's father, Richard ROBERTS (aged 67), was also at their home. He was described as a former agricultural labourer.

In the 1871 census, Elizabeth (aged 38) was at their home at 17 Rotton Row, in Riseley. She was working as a lace maker. Thomas was not at home for the census. Their children who were at home were; Emma (aged 13) who was a lace maker, George (aged 11) who was an agricultural labourer, Louisa (aged 9) and Mary Ann (aged 5) were both attending school, and Amelia (aged 2) was at home. Thomas (aged 40) was recorded on a farm at the nearby village of Bletsoe, in Bedfordshire. He was described as a brewer, and it was indicated that he was employed as a servant by the farmer. The farm was located next to the rectory in Bletsoe, possibly associated with the Bletsoe Castle, and the farmer seems to have been well connected, with a visiting nephew from India who was a Captain in the Coldstream Guards.

In the 1881 census, Thomas (aged 50) and Elizabeth (aged 47) were still living on Rotton Row, in Riseley. Thomas was employed as an agricultural labourer and Elizabeth was again earning an income as a dressmaker. Their children who were present were; Mary Ann (aged 15) and Amelia (aged 12) who were lacemakers, and Hannah (aged 9), Sarah (aged 7), and Dora (aged 4), who were all attending school.

In the 1891 census, Thomas (aged 60) and Elizabeth (aged 57) were living on High Street, in Riseley. Thomas was employed as a brewer of beer, possibly working at the 'Fox & Hounds' Pub, which was next door to their house. The pub was operated by the LITCHFIELD family. Elizabeth was still working as a dressmaker. Two of their children were staying with them at that time; Mary Ann (aged 25) and Dora (aged 14). Mary Ann was assisting her mother with household duties, while Dora was a dressmaker's apprentice. Two younger children were also present, Thomas and Alfred ROWNEY (both aged 6), who seem to have been twins and were attending school. They were identified in the census as grandchildren of Thomas and Elizabeth, and were probably Mary Ann's children, but this has not been proven. The IGI has unsourced christening records which suggest that they were actually Thomas and Elizabeth's children, but this seems very unlikely in view of their ages.