James Cowdrey

There are plenty in my tree, people who appear in the census for a couple of years and then just simply disappear without trace. This one is worth commenting on, for future reference at least.

Born c1849 in Brighton, Sussex.

1851 England Census: James Cowdrey listed as the son of William Cowdrey and Henrietta (Stillwell) in Brighton. Birth year shown as 1844, but suspect that this is due to age 1 being mistranscribed as age 7.
1861 England Census: James Cowdrey listed as a servant, still in Brighton.
1871 England Census: Off in China aboard the 'Dove'.

Then no record.

In the Ancestral File on FamilySearch, marriages:

Spouse: Maria Elizabeth MADDOX
Marriage: 18 May 1879, Camberwell, London, England

Spouse: Harriett Jane BARNES
Marriage: 16 Mar 1889, Southwark, London, England

There is a marriage record in the BMD index for James Cowdry and Maria Elizabeth Maddox that matches, but no confirming record in the 1881 England Census. The Ancestral file also lists a son, Frederick born 1879 who also fails to appear in 1881.

There is no corresponding marriage record for the Harriett Barnes marriage in the BMD.

Another of life's mysteries. Perhaps he went off to sea and settled abroad somewhere?

Which William Twine

I have a marriage record in the Bosham Parish records for William Twine and Susannah Dudding, married in Bosham on 09 August 1770. Unfortunately, the record doesn't list the parents of either of the couple, or any other information for that matter.

I've been unable to locate a death record in the Bosham or Fishbourne Parish records for William either, so it's difficult to confirm his birth date that way.

Assuming that William was born in Bosham, there are two possible records:

05.10.1744 born to Thomas and Jane Twine
17.08.1735 born to John and Mary Twine

Searching on Ancestry, I found another user that had the same marriage in their tree, and had listed Thomas and Jane as the parents - perhaps they have some information I don't? I've sent a message via Ancestry to find out!

If William was born in 1735 the following would be true:

• Married aged 35
• First child at 36
• Last child at 62

Stranger things have happened, Susannah would have been 49 when the last child was born!