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Gowlett Family of Uxbridge, Hillingdon Parish, Middlesex, England
Matilda Gowlett [1833-1940] of Uxbridge Spouse: John Wells [1812-1900]
1833 Matilda Gowlett was baptised 11th August 1833 St. Margaret’s Uxbridge noted aged ‘0’, the eldest child of eight children born to William Gowlett and his wife Mary [nee Carter] Her father's occupation noted ‘labourer’. Her mother Mary Carter was the daughter of George Carter, a Harness Maker of Uxbridge and his wife Sarah. The Gowlett Family were recorded in Uxbridge for several generations. The family lived at Bell Yard, Uxbridge where her father was also recorded working as a Corn Porter.Bell Yard, Uxbridge Photo kindly submitted by Jan Dawes 1841 Census Matilda was aged eight and was recorded at the home of her maternal grandmother Sarah Carter and her maternal uncle Thomas Carter, who also lived at Bell Yard, Uxbridge.
1841 Census Address: Matilda's parents and siblings were recorded at Bell Yard;
1851 Census was held on the 30th March. The family was still living at Bell Yard, Uxbridge. William Gowlett, Head, age 43, Corn Porter, born Uxbridge. [Ancestry Indexed 'Gawlett] Mary Gowlett, Wife, age 39, born Uxbridge. Matilda Gowlett, Daughter, age 17, born Uxbridge. Mary Gowlett, Daughter, age 11, Scholar, born Uxbridge. Sarah Gowlett, Daughter, age 9, Scholar, born Uxbridge. Fanny Gowlett, Daughter, age 4, born Uxbridge. Two years later; 1853 Matilda's father William Gowlett died at his home at Bell Yard of Consumption on the 20th March 1853 at the age of fifty-one. His occupation at this time was recorded as 'a grocer'. Matilda was aged twenty at this time and her siblings were aged; Mary Ann, fourteen; Sarah twelve; Fanny seven and Harriet two. Eighteen months later; Matilda Gowlett married John Wells at Uxbridge on the 11th September 1854, the son of
William Wells and his wife Elizabeth of Fingest Oxfordshire. The groom was recorded as aged twenty-one. Matilda notes her deceased father, 'William Gowlett' occupation ‘a porter’. After their marriage William and Matilda remained at Uxbridge till 1874 where their ten children were born. During this time John Wells was recorded as a 'Wheelwright Journeyman' from 1855-1857 and a 'Circular Saw Worker in 1871 [Census]. Issue; Extended information can be found in the Epilogue. William Gowlett Wells [1855-?] born Sept. Qtr. 1865 [Registered Uxbridge] Henry James Wells ]1857-1915] born Sept. Qtr. 1867 [Registered Uxbridge] John Walter Wells [1859-1907] born June Qtr. 1869 [Registered Uxbridge] Matilda Elizabeth Wells [1860-1940] born 1860, baptised 23rd March 1864, Uxbridge 'age 3'. Emily Wells [1863-?]; born 1863, baptised 23rd March 1864, Uxbridge 'age 0-1'. Anne Wells [1864-1869]; baptised 16th Sept. 1864 St. Margaret’s Uxbridge Harriet Wells [1869-?]; born at Uxbridge age '0-1'. Thomas James Wells [1870-?]; born Uxbridge. Edward Wells [1872-?]; born at Uxbridge. Fanny Wells [1874-?]; born at Uxbridge. During this time Matilda and her family were recorded on the following Census; 1861 Census: Address: -----yard, Uxbridge [illegible] John Wells, Head, age 28, Wheelwright [----?], born Bucks, Thirwell. Matilda Wells, Wife, age 27, Wheelwright's wife, born Middlesex, Uxbridge. William G Wells, Son, age 5, Scholar, born Uxbridge. Henry J Wells, Son, age 3, Scholar, born Uxbridge. John W Wells, Son, age 2, Scholar, born Uxbridge. Matilda E Wells, Daughter, age 6 months, born Uxbridge. 1871 Census: Address: John Wells, Head, age 38, Circular Saw Worker, born Bucks, Skermit. Matilda Wells, Wife, age 37, born Middlesex, Uxbridge. William G Wells, Son, age 15, Errand Boy, born Uxbridge. Henry J Wells, Son, age 13, Errand Boy, born Uxbridge. John W Wells, Son, age 12, Errand Boy, born Uxbridge. Matilda E Wells, Daughter, age 10, Scholar, born Uxbridge. Emily Wells, Daughter, age 8, Scholar, born Uxbridge. Harriet Wells, Daughter, age 2, born Uxbridge. Thomas J Wells, Son, age 1, born Uxbridge. 1881 Census: is online free at LDS Site; John now working as a Sawyer & Matilda had moved to 42 Fuller St. Fulham with the addition of two more children; Edward Wells, aged 9 and Fanny Wells age 7. Son Henry and his wife Sarah and two children Clara Wells aged 3 and Rosa Wells aged 1 were also recorded with them and a boarder. 1886 By 1886 they had moved to 35 Aspenlea Road Fulham where Matilda died of Cancer of the Uterus on the 4th May 1886 at the recorded age of fifty-two. The informant was her son William Wells also living at the same address. 1891 Her widowed spouse John Wells was recorded in 1891 [Census] living with his daughter Harriet Carter [nee Wells] at 54 Rimmal Road, Fulham. 1900 John Wells died of Chronic Bronchitis & Dilatation of the Heart at the Fulham Infirmary at 37 Yeldham Road, Fulham on the 14th November 1900 at the age of sixty-nine. John's Occupation was recorded on the document as 'a Wheelwright Journeyman. The informant was his granddaughter Clara Homewood of Humbolt Road, Fulham. Epilogue William Gowlett Wells [1855-?] son of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] Recap: William was last recorded as the Informant on his mother’s death Certificate 4th May 1886. He was living with his parents at that time at 35 Aspenlea Road Fulham. No further information. Henry James Wells ]1857-1915] son of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] Henry James Wells married Annie Maria Neal in the March Qtr. 1877 [Reg. Fullham] by whom he had issue. Henry’s occupation was a Carpenter although he was recorded in various documents as a ‘Carpenter Journeyman’ from 1878 to 1897, a ‘Carpenter’ in 1900 and a ‘Vacuum Cleaner Company’s Foreman’ in 1900. 1891 Census: Address: 13 or 18 Kenneth Road, Fulham, London; Henry James Wells, Head, age 35, Carpenter, Employed, born Uxbridge. Annie Wells, Wife, age 31, born Gloucester, Hailsworth. Clara Wells, Daughter, age 13, Rose Wells, Daughter , age 11, Emily Wells, Daughter , age 9, Harry Wells, Son, age 6, Edith Wells, Daughter, age 4, Arthur Wells, Son, age 2, William Wells, Son, age 3 months, All children born Fulham, London. All but two youngest were recorded as 'Scholars' 1901 Census: Address: 32 Distrow Road, Fulham, London; Henry James Wells, Head, age 46, Carpenter, Employed, born Uxbridge. Annie Wells, Wife, age 46, born Southampton, Hants! Harry Wells, Son, age 16, Carpenter, Employed, born Fulham. Edith Wells, Daughter, age 14, Arthur Wells, Son, age 12, William Wells, Son, age 10, Ada Wells, Daughter, age 8, Annie Wells, Daughter, age 6, Frederick Wells, Son, age 3. All children born Fulham, London. Henry James Wells died at No. 7 Clonmel Road, South Fulham on the 11th December 1915 at the age of fifty-eight. The marriage certificate of one of his children in 1921 gives information for father 'Henry Wells [deceased]', Occupation: ‘Works Manager (Engineering - Buildings)’'. John Walter Wells [1859-1907] son of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] John Walter Wells married Elizabeth Winter [born 1858] in the June Qtr. 1879. 1881 Census: At Fulham aged 22 with wife Lizzie and child John aged one. Note: Parents & siblings also now at Fulham - as above. 1891 Census: Address: Lintaine Grove, Fulham, London; John a Carpenter, Lizzie born in London. Children: John W Wells age 11, Matilda Wells age 9, Gertrude Wells age 8, Maude Wells age 6, Phoebe Wells age 5, May Wells age 3, Amy age 2 - all born Fulham, London. 1901 Census: Address: 27 Gratten Road, Hammersmith, London; John working as a Carpenter, Elizabeth with him, Amy Wells age 12 is the only child recorded with them. John Walter Wells died at Fulham in 1907 at the age of forty-seven. Matilda Elizabeth Wells [1860-1940] daughter of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] Matilda Wells married 1] William Henry Grove [1853-1902] June Qtr. 1884 at Fulham, London. William Henry Grove was Matilda's 2nd Cousin, the son of her mother's sister. Matilda's mother Mary Gowlett [nee Carter] had a sister Ann Carter who married Henry George Grove by whom she had a son, William Henry Grove.
William Henry Grove & Matilda nee Wells Photo kindly submitted by Jan Dawes. The couple remained at Uxbridge where they had the following issue; Emily Matilda Grove (Dolly) b. c 1886 Camberwell John Henry (Jack) b. c 1888 Camberwell Maud H. c 1889 Camberwell William Robert b 9 October 1891 Camberwell Albert George b. 1898 1891 Census: Address: 167 Bird in Bush, Camberwell, London; William Henry Grove, Head, age 38, Printer Compositor, born Surrey, Farnham. Matilda Grove, Wife, age 30, born Uxbridge. Emily M Grove, Daughter, age 5, Scholar, born Camberwell, London. John H Grove, Son, age 3, born Camberwell, London. Maude H Grove, Daughter, age 1, born Camberwell, London. 1901 Census entry was not found. William Henry Grove died on the 15th February 1902. Matilda Grove [nee Wells] married 2 William Thomas Pickett 17th December 1904 Matilda Pickett [formerly Grove, nee Wells] died in 1940 at the age of eighty.
Emily Wells [1863-?] daughter of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] Baptised 23rd March 1864, Uxbridge. Emily was recorded as a Scullery Maid. Appears may have married post 1881 Census. Anne Wells [1864-1869] daughter of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] Baptised 16th Sept. 1864 St. Margaret’s Uxbridge. Anne was buried at the same venue in 1869 aged five years. Harriet Wells [1869-?] daughter of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] Harriet Wells married John Carter [1862-?] in the December Qtr. 1887 [Registered Fulham]. Thomas James Wells [1870-?] son of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] Thomas James Wells married Margaret [nee Unknown] before 1885. 1891 Census: Address: 86 Beryl Road, Fulham; Thomas J Wells, Head, age 31, 'House Painter’s Labourer, born Uxbridge. Margaret Wells, Wife, age 31, born Ireland. James J Wells, Son, age 6, born Fulham, London Grace A Wells, Daughter, age 4, born Fulham Thomas H Wells, Son, age 1, born Fulham Edward Wells [1872-?] son of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] Edward's occupation was recorded 'as Fisherman'. Spouse: Gertrude Gollacher No further information. Fanny Wells [1874-?] daughter of John Wells & his wife Matilda [nee Gowlett] No further information.