George William Bowley

George William was the son of Nathan and Elizabeth Bowley (née Dring). His father Nathan was born in Gotham in 1845 and according to the 1881 Census when he was 36 years old and working as a gypsum miner, he was also a Royal Marine pensioner. He had served in HMS Rattlesnake (2436 Private) during the Third Ashanti War (1873-1874) and had been awarded the Ashanti Star. His mother Elizabeth was born in Gotham in 1861, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Dring. Nathan and Elizabeth were married in 1878 and had thirteen children, all born in Gotham. only eight of whom were still living in 1911. The children were: Alfred b. 1879; James b. 1880; Nathan b. 1882 d. 1903; Mary Matilda birth registered 1884 (J/F/M) bap. Gotham St Lawrence 20 January 1884 d. 1893; Tabitha Ann b. 1886 bap. St Lawrence 1886; Amelia (or Emily) Mabel b. 1888 bap. St Lawrence 1888; Frederick birth registered 1890 (J/F/M) d. 1890 (5m) buried St Lawrence 6 June; Agnes Elizabeth b. 1891; George William birth registered 1894 (J/F/M), Gervase (Jervis) b. 1896; Blanche b. 1899; Walter Charles b. 1901 d. 1903 and Ruby b. 1910. Amelia Mabel has not been traced after the 1901 Census (age 13) and it is likely that she was the fifth child who died young. In 1881 Nathan (36) and Elizabeth (21) were living on Monks Lane, Gotham, with their two sons Alfred (2) and James (under 1 year). Also in the household were two lodgers, George Copeland and Thomas Bennett who were both gypsum miners. Their seventh child, Frederick, was born nine years later in 1890 but died the same year. By 1891 Nathan, now working as a fishmonger, and Elizabeth were living on Malt Street, Gotham, with their six surviving children, Alfred, James, Nathan (9), Mary (7) who died two years later, Tabitha (5) and Amelia (3). The family was still living on Malt Street in 1901; only ten of Nathan and Elizabeth's eleven children were in the home on the night of the census. The three eldest sons were employed at the gypsum mine, Alfred a plaster dresser, James a plaster miner, and Nathan a horse driver; Amelia (named Emily on the census), Agnes (9), George (7), Gervase (3 named Jarvis on the census), Blanche (2) and Walter (under 1 year). The eldest surviving daughter, Tabitha was a domestic servant in West Bridgford. The youngest child Walter died in 1903 aged 2 and the third son Nathan died aged 21 also in 1903. Nathan snr. died the following year in 1904 (J/F/M) aged 58. Elizabeth had a thirteenth child, Ruby in 1910 (A/M/J Basford). By 1911 the widowed Elizabeth was living in Church Square, Gotham. Only four of her children were living at home: James and George, who were both wagoners at the plaster mine, Blanche and Ruby (under 1 year). Alfred had married in 1904 and was also living in Church Square with his wife Sarah and their sons Charles A. and John William. Tabitha was a domestic servant in a household at Chapel Bar, Nottingham, and Agnes was also a domestic servant at Kings Meadow Road, Nottingham. Gervase has not yet been traced on the 1911 census. The CWGC record gave his mother Elizabeth's address as Nottingham Road, Gotham. She has not been traced after this date.