The
Search for my Maternal Grandfather, John Henry Owen
Author
Heather Hudson
My Grandfather died
Just before my mother died in 1997, I
happened to ask if her father was Welsh, with the surname Owen, Mother said
"my dad came from Banbury Cross".
This was the only information I had of my
grandfather. John Henry Owen that he was born in Banbury,
Oxfordshire.
From the age given on his marriage certificate in 1898, he was born about 1876,
son of John Owen dec.
A search of the GRO, 3 years either side of 1876, gave no results.
Searching the 1881 census I found a John
Henry Hancock Owen the correct age, born in Banbury, with father John, mother
Emma, plus other children named, Hancock Owen or
Powell Owen.
Was this my John Henry Owen?
With mother Emma, but Emma what.?
The Parish registers for Christ Church
Banbury 1877, show four children baptised on May 16 th,
surname Hancock.
They were all children of Emma Hancock, there was no fathers name given.
Hancock John Henry Owen, Hancock Emma, Hancock Sarah Ann, Hancock Annie
This led me to think that John Henry's mother's maiden name was Hancock.
Looking further at the
John Owen, hawker, son of George Owen, fishmonger.
Emma Owen daughter of Thomas Powell, gardener
Witness George Owen & Harriet Owen.
This John Owen was born in Banbury 1840, son
of George Owen & Mary McKinnon, & baptised September 14, 1842
George Owen & Mary McKinnon were married 7 th October 1836,
Banbury.
Mary Ann McKinnon daughter of Hector McKinnon & Elizabeth
McKendrick?
No marriage found in Banbury.
I find John Owen in the 1851 & 1861 census living with his parents in Banbury, but have yet to find him 1871 census; he does not seem to be in Oxfordshire, Warwickshire or Northamptonshire. As he was a hawker he would have travelled around.
John Owen returns to Banbury sometime after the 1871 census was taken & 1877, when he married.
After his marriage we find him 1881 census, Banbury, with his family
1881 Census 43, Middle Cherwell St,
Neithrop, Banbury
Pro Ref RG 11, Piece 1529, Folio 7 page 8
Owen John, hd, m, Labourer, 44, Banbury, Oxford
Owen Emma, wife, m, 42, Banbury, Oxford
Owen Powell Emma, daur, Scholar, 13, Banbury, Oxford
Owen Hancock Annie, daur, 8, Banbury, Oxford
Owen Hancock John Henry, son, 4, Banbury, Oxford
Owen Henry, son, 1, Banbury, Oxford
Wagstaff Richard James, lod, Cordwainer, w, 62, London, Middlesex
Note all the children now have the surname Owen.
I still had to the find the birth certificate
of my grandfather so decided to search for John Henry Hancock.
This is the birth registration;
John Henry Hancock, son of Emma Hancock (no father's name given) born 11 th May 1876, Neithrop, Banbury.
As Emma was a widow when she married John
Owen, I now knew Emma must have married a Hancock.
Further searches of Parish records reveal the marriage of an Emma Powell &
Henry Hancock, 27 th September, 1871, Independent
Chapel, Banbury.
Henry Hancock, son of Thomas Hancock, dec.
Emma Powell, daughter of Thomas Powell, dec. witness Cornelius Ford & Jane
Powell
Emma's birth certificate 15 th February 1840, Banbury, father Thomas Powell,
mother Esther Powell nee Hughes.
I now had Emma's parent's names.
Marriage of Thomas Powell & Esther Hughes,
At the time of the 1851 census Thomas Powell
was a widower, living with son Thomas, and daughters Ann & Emma.
I found the death of Esther Powell, 2nd July 1848.
As Emma was a widow in 1877, I searched for a
death certificate for Henry Hancock.
28 th March 1875, Henry Hancock male 29,
general labourer, wife, Emma Hancock present.
Emma Owen (Powell, Hancock) died sometime
between the 1891 census & 1901 census.
Emma Owen born Banbury, not found in 1901 census.
No death certificate found yet.
I have birth, marriages and all other census records for Emma.
John Owen husband of Emma died
No sign of John Henry Owen my grandfather, 1891 Census Oxford
I knew John Henry was in Kettering in 1898 when he married so decided to search the 1891 census fiche at Kettering Library.
This is what I found.
1891 Census Kettering, Northants 40, Water St, Kettering
Clarke George, hd, m, 24, Iron moulder, Banbury, Oxford
Clark Sarah, wife, m, 24, Banbury, Oxford
Clark Owen, son 3, Banbury, Oxford
Clark Fanny, daur, 1, Banbury, Oxford
Owen John, visitor,s,15, foundry labourer, Oxford, Banbury
Clark Jerry, lod, m, 32, Iron moulder, Banbury, Oxford
Clark Ester, lod, wife, m, 29, Banbury, Oxford
Clark Emma, daur, 1, Banbury, Oxford
Sarah & Esther Clarke are half sisters to John Owen visitor
John Henry Owen married Adelaide Wallis
28/5/1898
St Mary's Church, Fuller St, Kettering, Northants
Witness Harry Tilley & Rose Ann Tilley, sister & brother in-law of
Adelaide
Address at marriage 4, Victoria Terrace,
Kettering, Northants
Later to be known as
John Owen & family 1901 census
1901 Census Kettering
10, Lawson St, RG 13 1449
Owen John, hd, 25, ironmoulder, m b Banbury, Oxford
Owen Addy, wife, 23, m, b Kettering
Owen John, son, 2, b, Kettering
Owen Fred,, son,1,b,Kettering
John Owen & Adelaide Wallis had 9 children, my mother Dorothy being the youngest.
All the children of John & Adelaide were,
baptised, St Mary's, Church,
Register of electors 1918
John Henry Owen, 33,
Adelaide Wallis died 27 th September, and buried
John & Adelaide are buried together with
Heather Hudson