Rowney Family Tree

Deborah is believed to have been born around 1708. She was baptised that year at St Andrew's Church in the parish of Langford, in Bedfordshire, England. Her parents, John and Judith ROWNEY, appear to have raised their family and lived in Langford until their deaths, and Deborah probably also spent much of her early life there. Her mother died when Deborah was around 4 years of age. It appears that her father subsequently remarried to a woman named Sarah, although it is unclear how long after Judith's death this occurred. Deborah eventually named one of her own children Sarah, so it would seem that she either had a very good relationship with her step-mother or perhaps had been raised by her older sister Sarah, who (if she survived infancy) would have been 18 years old when their mother died and may have assumed her domestic responsibilities.

As a young woman Deborah worked as a servant in the household of William and Mary ABBOT in the nearby village of Edworth, in Bedfordshire. William ABBOT was a labourer, and was also the parish clerk of Edworth from an early age, serving for many years. William and Mary ABBOT had several known children; the two oldest were twin sons, William and Thomas, who were born around 1722, a son John, who was born around 1725, and finally a daughter, Martha, who was born around 1726. Martha died and was buried in Edworth on 29 May 1729 when she would have been around 3 years old. Just a few months later, in December 1729, Mary ABBOT herself died. Mary was buried at Edworth on 13 Dec 1729, and curiously was described in the parish register at that time as the "reputed wife of William ABBOT". It is odd that such an insinuation would be made at such a time, but particularly so, in light of William ABBOT's position as the parish clerk.

It is not known exactly when Deborah ROWNEY came into the service of William ABBOT and his family. She may have been a long standing member of the household, or she may have arrived after Mary's passing to help with the raising of the children. It seems likely, although not proven, that she was working for William by 1735 when she gave birth to a daughter who was named Mary ROWNEY. Mary was baptised at Edworth, and Deborah was described at that time as a servant. No father was named.

However, some years later, on 15 Jul 1743, Deborah and William ABBOT were married in St George's parish church at Edworth. The church is located in the grounds of the Manor Farm. The parish register states that "William ABBOT married Deborah ROWLE his servant" on that day, once again betraying a judgemental tone which suggests that William ABBOT was probably not the person who made the entries in the register, and that the person who did (possibly the vicar) was not entirely satisfied with how William had been conducting his life. At the time of their marriage, William and Deborah's family possibly included; twins William and Thomas ABBOT (aged 21); John ABBOT (aged 18); and Mary ROWNEY (aged 8).

Deborah and William continued living in Edworth and added several more children to their family over the following years; another daughter named Martha was born around 1745; daughter Sarah was born around 1748; and another daughter named Mary appears to have been born around 1750. The baptism register of the last child named Mary is torn, and the full date is illegible. The reuse of the name Mary seems to suggest that Deborah's first daughter may have died in infancy, although no record of her burial was found in Edworth. It is also possible that Mary ROWNEY may have been rebaptised as Mary ABBOT at the later date, or perhaps there may have been a mistake in reading the torn entry in the register as a baptism, when it may have actually been the burial of Mary, who would have been around 15 years old at that time. Their daughter Sarah is also known to have died in 1772, when she would have been around 24 years of age.

Deborah died in 1771 when she was around 63 years of age. She was buried in the churchyard at Edworth.

William ABBOT died just a few years later in 1775, when he was 82 years old. He was also buried at Edworth. The parish register recorded that he was a labourer and that he had served as the parish clerk for 55 years.