DAWS Family - Some Answers - More Questions

Looking at the 1851 census for Uckfield to see what additional information might be available there are 21 DAW/DAWS/DAWES listed. Actually, Ancestry.co.uk only shows 13 but I have found 8 more not listed in the transcript.

Looking at the 1841 census families from my previous post here's what happened:

Family #1
Thomas DAWS (missing) died in 1843
Elizabeth DAWS (missing) died in 1849
Sarah DAWES (found) (37) charwoman living at Church St by Pudding Lane
George DAWES (found) (29) now married living at Grants Hill
Esther DAWES (new) (20) wife of George M/S COTTINGTON living at Grants Hill
Harriott DAWES (new) (1) dau of George living at Grants hill
Eliza DAWES (found) (11) niece of George - dau of Sarah living at Grants Hill

Family #2
William DAWS (missing) died in 1842
Elizabeth DAW (found) (50) charwoman living at Old Workhouse
Elizabeth DAWS (missing) married George GURR in 1850
Henry DAW (found) (19) labourer living at Old Workhouse
Catharine DAWS (missing) died is 1846
Charlotte DAW (found) (17) scholar living at Old Workhouse
Daniel DAWS (missing) died in 1841

Family #3
Thomas DAWES (found) (39) living at High St
Ann DAWES (found) (35) living at High St
Joseph DAWES (found) (15) living at High St
Lucy DAWES (found) (13) living at High St
Thomas DAWES (found) (11) living at High St
Ann DAWES (new) (8) living at High St
Margaret DAWES (new) (5) living at High St
Elizabeth DAW (missing) married Henry Mitchell in 1846
Harriett DAW (missing)
Oliver DAW (missing) living with Henry and Elizabeth Mitchell

Family #4
Thomas DAW (missing)
Hannah DAW (missing)
Ann DAW (new) (73) widow living at Workhouse Lane
Harriett DAW (found) (26) g-dau of Ann living at Workhouse Lane
Edward DAW (missing)
William DAW (missing)
John DAW (missing)
Alfred DAW (found) (11) g-son of Ann living at Workhouse Lane

UNKNOWNS
Mary DAW (new) (26) Uckfield Union Workhouse born in Uckfield
Benjamin DAW (new) (46) Uckfield Union Workhouse born in Framfield???
Marten DAWS (new) (58) Kemphead Lane - lodger/labourer born in Uckfield

As you can see there are some answers, a little more information and some new problems.

Another DAWS Family in Uckfield

Looking at the 1841 census for Uckfield there are 27 people with the DAW/DAWS surname.

These can be broken down into 4 family groups as follows:

Family Group 1 living at Church St
Thomas DAWS (70) - Thomas the labourer
Elizabeth DAWS (60)
Sarah DAWS (25)
George DAWS (15)
Eiza DAWS (1) - probably the daughter of Sarah

Family Group 2 living at Church St
William DAWS (35) - son of Thomas Family #1
Elizabeth DAWS (35)
Elizabeth DAWS (12)
Henry DAWS (10)
Catharine DAWS (8)
Charlotte DAWS (3)
Daniel DAWS (2 months)

FAMILY Group 3 living at North Entrance
Thomas DAW (25) - Thomas the bricklayer son of Thomas Family #1
Ann DAW (25)
Joseph DAW (5)
Lucy DAW (4)
Thomas DAW (1) - Thomas the builder
Elizabeth DAW (25) daughter of Thomas Family #1
Harriet DAW (12) daughter of Thomas Family #1
Oliver DAW (2) son of Elizabeth

That accounts for 20 people of my DAWS family what about the others?

FAMILY Group 4 living at Church St
Thomas DAW (44) Horsekeeper
Hannah DAW (36)
Harriett (16)
Edward (10)
William (8)
John (5)
Alfred (2)

The image of this family is shown at the right.

Who are these people?

DAWES Family Mystery No 2

This is DAWES Family mystery No. 2 because No. 1 is the photo at the beginning of this blog which has yet to be identified. See it here.

The following is a letter that was written from Reg BARNES (1905-1983) to his cousin Win (DAWES) RHODEN (1906-1994) and I would date probably in the 1970's although this is a guess. I have a photocopy of it, provided to me by a descendant of Win DAWES.

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Our grandfather's father was named Thomas Dawes. He was born in Hadlow, near Maidstone, Kent in the year 1812! At the time of the Census Returns 1851 he was 39 and married to Ann, who was a native of Uckfield, and aged 35. They had a son Joseph, age 15, Labourer, born in Uckfield, a daughter Lucy, age 13, born in Uckfield, a son Thomas, age 11, Scholar, born in Framfield, a daughter Ann, age 8, Scholar, born in Uckfield and a daughter Margaret, age 5, born in Uckfield.

This would mean that Thomas, our grandfather (name underlined, above) was born in 1840, and he used to say it was at Lantern Cottage, Bird-in-Eye Hill, which, although on the outskirts of Uckfield, is actually in the parish of Framfield. The place is still standing, though it has been added to since Grandpa's day, and is now called Lantern House. It stands by itself, now surrounded by trees, and I often pass it on my walks. The family must only have had a short period of residence there. Now comes a most peculiar circumstance: In a list of christenings in Uckfield Parish by John Underwood, Curate (which I found in the Archives at Lewes), it gives Aug. 29th, 1842, Thomas, son of Thomas & Ann Dawes, Uckfield (Bricklayer). And then again on Oct. 22nd, 1843, Thomas, son of Thomas & Ann Dawes, Uckfield (Bricklayer), and on the same date Ann, daughter of Thomas & Ann Dawes, Uckfield (Bricklayer).

Was Grandfather really christened twice? And the second time a double christening with his younger sister! One of these days I am going to draw our present Rector's attention to this, and see if he has an explanation. As far as education was concerned, Grandpa used to say he got as far as M.U.D., and there he stuck! At the age of 14 he walked to Brighton in a pair of his father's old boots to seek employment, and by sheer grit and perserverance became in course of time one of Brighton's leading builders.

He married about 1862, when he was 21 years old, Sarah Boxall, whose mother was said to be the daughter of Dr. Jenner, the originator of vaccination. Grandpa had a family of nine, four boys and five girls, our Uncle Walter being the eldest. You know who the others were, of course. Aunt Ada died, I believe, before you & I were born, and there was one (I think a girl) who died in infancy. Aunt Bertha was born April 22nd, 1871, my mother (Minnie) Sep. 18th, 1874. Connie's father (Tom) Dec. 16th, 1880.Can you give me the date of birth of your father (my Uncle Bert)? The other birth dates I do not know. Grandpa lost his first wife, as you know, and married Sarah Roust, from Battle, by whom he had one child (our half-Uncle George).

RB
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Reg is right about most of his facts and you can find the missing pieces elsewhere in earlier blogs including the birth and death of Florence Ellen in 1870.

The mystery is the double christening of Thomas. There could be a number of explanations for this:
1) The first Thomas died in infancy and the next son was also named Thomas.
2) Thomas b. 1840 was sickly and was christened quickly at home in 1842 and then properly in the church with his sister in 1843.
3) He was born in Framfield and his parents didn't want him christened there and waited until they moved to Uckfield proper.

Since his older siblings Joseph and Lucy, were both christened within weeks of their births it is strange that Thomas wasn't. His birth registration gives his birth date as 14 Jan 1840. The family are found in the 1841 census at the North Entrance of Uckfield with Joseph (5), Lucy (4) and Thomas (1) which supports his birth is 1840. The 1851 census shows Thomas as eleven which is correct for the Thomas born in 1840. There are no recorded deaths or burials for a Thomas between 1840 and 1842 or additional births for that matter.

Why he was christened so long after his birth and then again a year later will remain as much of a mystery for me as it was for Reg Barnes many years ago?

The Two Elizabeths (see original blog Aug 9, 2009)

Henry DAWES (1831-1864) married Sophia SANTER (1831-1914) on 11 Aug 1856 in Uckfield, Sussex. They had one child, a daughter, Elizabeth b. 1856 in Uckfield. Henry died in 1864 and his wife then married his recently widowed uncle George DAWES (1821-1869) on 19 Aug 1864 in Brighton. George brought 5 children with him into the union and then he and Sophia had 2 more, Elizabeth M. b. 1866 in Brighton whom I'll call Eliza and Charles William b. 1868 in Uckfield.

The census returns provide the following clues to their existence:

Elizabeth 1861 (age 4) born Uckfield
Elizabeth 1871 (age 14) born Uckfield
Eliza 1871 (age 5) born Uckfield (should have been Brighton)
Elizabeth 1881 (age 26) born Uckfield working as a cook
Eliza 1881 (age 14) born Uckfield (should have been Brighton)
Elizabeth 1891 (age 35) born Uckfield working as a cook
Eliza 1891 (age 25) born Uckfield working as a housemaid in Brighton
Elizabeth 1901 (age 47) born Uckfield working as a cook
Eliza 1901 (age 35) born Uckfield married to John Smith in Newick
Elizabeth 1911 (age 54) born Uckfield (pensioner)
Eliza 1911 (age 42) born Uckfield married to John Smith in Newick
Elizabeth 1935 (age 78) died in Uckfield
Eliza 1944 (age 78) died in Newick

It is clear that there were two Elizabeth's because they are both in the same household with Sophia in 1871 and both identified as her daughters while George's children are identified as in-laws which was used for step children. There are no deaths registered for either Elizabeth DAWES or Eliza DAWES between 1881 and 1901 nor is there a marriage so what happened to her?

The trail of these two Elizabeth's is a good example of the many pitfalls that genealogy researchers can fall into. When Eliza disappeared in 1891 it was because she used her middle name "Emily" on the census. It wasn't until seeing her marriage certificate (above) that her full name was confirmed as Eliza Emily DAWES. In 1901 and 1911 she reverts to using only Eliza but she has been found which is the main thing.

Similarly, Elizabeth b. 1856, was hard to find in 1911 until a search for only people named "Elizabeth" and born about 1856 in Uckfield turned her up as Elizabeth DAVIES, a common mis-transcription of DAWES. The fact that she is living with her mother, Sophia, b. 1831 in Cranbrook, Kent proves who she really is.

The final episode in this story will be to find the death of Eliza SMITH, sometime after 1911, and to determine if her daughter, Ellen SMITH b. 1904, married and had a family but that's for another day.

(UPDATE Sep 20, 2009) I found a death for an Eliza E SMITH (age 78) registered in Lewes in 1944 March Quarter Vol. 2b Page 269. It will not be conclusive without a death certificate but with the middle initial E, correct age and location it is good enough for me.

Also using the GRO indexes I have found a marriage for Ellen SMITH to Harry E. MOORE registered in Lewes June Quarter Vol. 2b Page 408 followed by two births of Moores with a Smith mother: Joan M. MOORE 1926 Dec Quarter Vol. 2b Page 213 and John E. O. MOORE 1928 Sept Quarter Vol. 2b Page 215 both also in Lewes Registration District.

View original blog from 09 Aug 2009

The Two Elizabeths

Henry DAWES (1831-1864) married Sophia SANTER (1831-1914) on 11 Aug 1856 in Uckfield, Sussex. They had one child, a daughter, Elizabeth b. 1856 in Uckfield. Henry died in 1864 and his wife then married his recently widowed uncle George DAWES (1821-1869) on 19 Aug 1864 in Brighton. George brought 5 children with him into the union and then he and Sophia had 2 more, Elizabeth M. b. 1866 in Brighton whom I'll call Eliza and Charles William b. 1868 in Uckfield.

The census returns provide the following clues to their existance:

Elizabeth 1861 (age 4) born Uckfield
Elizabeth 1871 (age 14) born Uckfield
Eliza 1871 (age 5) born Uckfield (should have been Brighton)
Elizabeth 1881 (age 26) born Uckfield working as a cook
Eliza 1881 (age 14) born Uckfield (should have been Brighton)
Elizabeth 1891 (age 35) born Uckfield working as a cook
Eliza 1891 -- not found
Elizabeth 1901 (age 47) born Uckfield working as a cook
Eliza 1901 -- not found
Elizabeth 1935 (age 78) died in Uckfield

It is clear that there were two Elizabeth's because they are both in the same household with Sophia in 1871 and both identified as her daughters while George's children are identified as in-laws which was used for step children.

There are no deaths registered for either Elizabeth DAWES or Eliza DAWES beween 1881 and 1901 nor is there a marriage so what happened to her?

Check out the updated information posted Friday 18 Sep. 2009

Below is a photo c. 1908 of the first Elizabeth Dawes b. 1856

The Peter DAWES Line

Peter b. 1859 is the last child born to Esther COTTINGTON before she died in 1863. Peter married Fanny EDBROOKE (1855-1916) in 1883 Bedminister. Peter is the only child to really move away from the family and is found later in Gloucestershire and London.

Both James and Nathaniel are found in Gloucestershire in 1911 still unmarried but the GRO Index for 1912 London shows a marriage for Nathaniel to Gertrude Jessie CHENNELL b. 1887 with the birth of a son in 1916.

The George (2) DAWES Line

George b. 1857 married Charlotte Elizabeth CROWHURST b. 1858 in 1880 Uckfield. They had 5 children but not much more is known about them at this time. According to FreeBMD there are a couple of potential marriages for Ethel to either a CHATFIELD or POTTER in 1909.

The William (3) DAWES Line

William (1855 correction-1905) married Elizabeth Cloke ORGAN ( 1853-1901) from Cornwall in 1881 Uckfield. They had one child Esther Cottington DAWES b. 1882 and there's no doubt about her heritage based on her name. William would have been 8 years old when his mother Esther Cottington died and he must have been fond of her because normally the first daughter would have been named after the mother's mother which was Eliza.

Esther Cottington DAWES married in 1906 Uckfield to William Charles JEFFERY b. 1868 after losing both her parents, only in their late fourties, between 1901 and 1905. Esther and William had two sons as of the 1911 census.

The Harriett (DAWES) PANNETT Family

Harriett DAWES (1850-1901) was the first child of George DAWES and Esther COTTINGTON. She married George PANNETT (1849-1899) in Lewes 1870. They had a total of 8 children with Fanny (1871-1886), Albert (1879-1882) and Cecil (1890-1891) all dying young.

Nothing more is known about Emily b. 1873, Esther b. 1876 or Hephzibah b. 1887.

George b. 1875 had two children as of the 1911 census and Jesse b. 1883 had married but no children are listed in the census.

The Margaret (DAWES) TESTER Family

Margaret born 19 Feb 1848 was the last child of Thomas Dawes and Ann Langridge. She was baptised 18 May 1846 in Hold Cross Church, Uckfield and was only 3 years old when her father died.

Margaret Dawes cannot be found in the 1861 census while her mother and other siblings can. A closer look at Uckfield shows a Margaret WEAVER aged 16 living with a widow needlewoman, Maria WEAVER. I speculate that when Margaret's father died in 1851 the family dispersed to live with relatives and neighbours.

Margaret re-appears under the Dawes surname in 1866 when she marries George TESTER (1845-1896) on 25th March at St. Nicholas Church, Brighton. They had 7 children a lot of whom moved the family into the twentieth century as you can see from the chart. I am in contact with descendants of this line.

The Ann (DAWES) PHILLIMORE Family

Ann DAWES was born in Uckfield on 12 July 1843 and baptised at Holy Cross Church on 22 Oct 1843 the same day as her older brother Thomas. On 13 Aug 1866 Ann married James Phineas PHILLIMORE (1845-1921) of Brighton. In 1861, there are two Ann DAWS' found working in the Royal York Hotel, Old Steine, Brighton with one aged 16 and the other 20 so this Ann could be either since she should have been 18 which is squarely in the middle.

Ann and James had 6 children of which only George Ware PHILLIMORE (1874-1930) moved the family into the twentieth century and I am in contact with descendants of this line.

Ann died 03 Dec 1888 at age 45 in Steyning. Her husband remarried in 1913 to Kate MOULDING.

Correction: I just received a copy of Ann PHILLIMORE's death registration and she died on 03 DEC 1877 not 1888.

(L-R) Ann Dawes Phillimore and son George Ware Phillimore

The Thomas (2) DAWES Line

This is the main line that I descend through. Thomas "the builder" was born in Framfield on 14 Jan 1840 and was baptised twice in Holy Cross Church, Uckfield. The first time was 29 Aug 1842 and the second time 22 Oct 1843 along with his new sister, Ann b. 1843.

Thomas and his first wife, Sarah Ann BOXALL (1841-1890) had nine children. He remarried Sarah ROUST (1851-1928) in 1894 and had one more child.

Thomas worked his way up from wheelwright, to house painter, to house decorator and finally to house builder under Thomas Dawes & Sons, Brighton. His company built over 100 houses in Brighton.

Thomas DAWES "The Builder" c1890 and his final resting place.

The Lucy (DAWES) CHAPMAN Family

Lucy was a problem for a long time because she disappeared after her father died in 1851. A Lucy DAWES b. 1834 married a George WARE (1828-1873) in Newick on 22 Aug 1858 but she identified her father as Laban DAWES. Because of the age discrepancy and father's name I didn't pay much attention to her until I was researching her sister Ann. Ann married James PHILLIMORE (see The Ann (DAWES) PHILLIMORE Family) and in 1874 named a son George Ware PHILLIMORE. That brought me back to Lucy because her first husband was George WARE and he died in 1873, the year before young George Ware Phillimore was born.

I then found a marriage for Lucy WARE to William CHAPMAN (1833-) who listed her father as Thomas DAWES - bricklayer. William had 6 children with his first wife Deborah MOSCROP (1829-1875) and the youngest son (E.J. CHAPMAN b. 1873) was the informant on Lucy's death certificate where she was identified as the widow of William CHAPMAN so he died before 1917. In fact, he is missing from the 1911 census where she is found in the Aged Pilgrims Asylum, Islington, London so he died before 1911. Other than step-children, this line ends with Lucy.

The Joseph DAWES Line

Joseph was the first child of Thomas DAWES (1809-1851) and Ann LANGRIDGE (1814-1876). He was born in 1835 (baptised 08 Nov 1835 at Holy Cross Church, Uckfield) but this was before civil registration started so his actual birth date is unknown. His parents were married a year before on 10 Nov 1834 in Lewes.

Joseph married Elizabeth WALLER (1836-1915) on 11 Oct 1856 in Ditchling, Sussex. They had two children, William b. 1861 and Ann b. 1863.

Joseph died on 01 Jan 1874 at age 39 in the Sussex Lunatic Asylum of Progressive Paralysis. Was this an early term for MS or ALS?

Elizabeth re-married William MANN (1877 - Brighton) but had no further children.

The BARTON Family

William and Elizabeth DAWES' other daughter who married was Charlotte (1838-1914). She married Thomas BARTON (1839-1927) 1861 in Uckfield. Jonathon and Thomas both married and added new BARTON's to the family while Elizabeth married a HOLFORD adding a new name to the mix.

The GURR Family

William and Elizabeth Dawes' oldest child Elizabeth (1828-1883) married George GURR (1831-1896) in 1850 in Uckfield. They had a family of 6 children several of which lived into the twentieth century.

George's death is still in question as the only match in the GRO index that makes any sense is an 1896 one in Sevenoaks, Kent where the George GURR who died is 68 putting his birth year 1828 vs. 1831 as indicated by the census returns.

Sons William and George produced a total of thirteen new Gurrs while Sarah Ann married George BILLINGS adding a new surname to the mix with their 7 children.

In the chart to the left you'll see some codes which are explained at the front of this blog but basically © followed by a year means that I have found the individual in the associated census. GRO is followed by the GRO Index reference to order the associated registration certificate.