Rowney Family Tree

John was born in 1800 in the parish of Saint Paul in the city of Bedford, in Bedfordshire, England. His family appears to have been settled in this area throughout his early life.

John was counted, but not named or described by his sister Ann in later years. Her other brothers were all completing apprenticeships or in the Army when she emigrated to South Africa in 1819. It is not known what John was doing at that time, or how he earned his living.

In July 1825, John was married to Hannah DICKSON in Saint Paul. He was 25 years old at that time and Hannah is believed to have been around 21 years of age. It seems that Hannah was probably a widow as she later gave her father's name as William RISELEY. John and Hannah seem to have settled in Saint Paul soon after their marriage, however their first child, Samuel, was christened in Hannah's hometown of Biggleswade in October 1825.

They had three other known children. The first two were christened in Saint Paul; George in 1827, and William in 1829, and their third child, Thomas, seems to have been born around 1831, although his christening record has not been identified.

In the 1841 census, Hannah (aged 45+) was living in the village of Riseley, north of Bedford, in Bedfordshire. John was not present in the household, and may have been deceased by that time. Hannah's four known sons were all unmarried, living at home with her, and working as agricultural labourers; Samuel (aged 15+), George (aged 14), William (aged 11), and Thomas (aged 9).

Son Samuel was married in 1846 in Riseley.

In the 1851 census, Hannah (aged 50) was widowed and living on Rotten Row in Riseley. Her unmarried son Thomas (aged 20) was living with her and working as an agricultural labourer.

Thomas was married in 1855 and remained living in Riseley.

In 1856, Hannah seems to have remarried, to a man named John MAILE, in Riseley. The fates of Hannah and John MAILE have not yet been determined.