Misc. Notes
George ROWLEY was born on 17 Sep 1859 in Chesterton, a small former mining village located in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. Chestertont sits near the market town of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
5 George was baptised eight days later in Worfield, Shropshire.
117In the
1861 census, one-year old George was living with his family at 88 Chesterton Mile, Worfield. His parents and eldest sister, Phoebe, were all agricultual labourers. By
1871, it seems that George’s mother, Elizabeth, had died and his father had moved to the nearby village of Ackleton and married a younger woman, Lidia. George was now eleven and had become an agricultural labourer. His sisters Phoebe, Sarah Rowley, Jane Rowley and Eliza were no longer living at home.
George married Maria BINNERSLEY in Chelmarsh, Shropshire, in 1883. The parish register names his father as William ROWLEY and shows that it was the first marriage for each; George was 24, Maria was 23, both were residents of Chelmarsh, a witness was Phoebe ROWLEY.
119 George was away from home for the
1891 census Present at 14 Leek St, Wem, Shropshire, were:
Pheobe F Rowley 4, their daughter, b ca 1887 in Eardington, Shropshire, England
Reginald Rowley 3, their son, b ca 1888 in Eardington, Shropshire, England
Albert C Rowley 1, their son, b ca 1890 in Baskers Green; Westmeath, Shropshire, England
1901 census for Lancashire lists at 45 Willis Street, Warrington in parish of St ElphineGeorge Rowley, head, 42, b Chesterton, Staffs (ie Staffordshire), Wheelwright, worker.
Maria Rowley, his wife, 40, b Shifnall, Salop (ie Shropshire)
Florrie Rowley, his daughter,14, b Eardington, Salop , Dressmaking , worker
Reginald Rowley, his son, aged 13, b Salop Eardington, Joiner Carp.
Albert Rowley, his son,, 11, b Wem, Salop
Cecil Rowley, his son, 9, b Wem, Salop
Daisy Rowley, his daughter, 5, b Warrington, Lancs
John Binnersley, boarder, single, 22, sawyer timber, worker, b Shifnal, Salop
33George emigrated to Victoria, Australia, with his son Reginald, taking £10 between them and leaving home his wife Maria, other children, Reginald's wife and baby, Hilda, with £10 between them. In 1912 George and Reginald sent for the rest of the family.
120George died of T.B. Eight children listed on his death cert include the twins Ernest and Harry who died as babies, then Phoebe Florence 41, Reginald 40, Albert Cyril 38, Cecil Howard 36, Sydney deceased and Daisy 33. According to George’s death certificate, he was born in Staffordshire but the informant, his son Reginald, did not know the names of George's parents. The 1901 census for Warrington, Shropshire, confirms that George was born in Chesterton, Staffordshire in 1859.
118
Spouses
Birth31 Dec 1860, Shropshire121
Christen12 Feb 1860, Shifnal, Shropshire122
Death5 Dec 1931, Horsley St, Bentleigh, Victoria
Burial7 Dec 1931, Cheltenham Cemetery, Melbourne
ResidencesCardington, Shropshire; Melbourne
Misc. Notes
According to his granddaughter Gladys, George had a gang which travelled around the countryside raising barns. He got drunk on the way home on Fridays and, if Maria argued, he threw money in the fire. Fortunately it was sovereigns so his wife could retrieve the money out of the fireplace the next morning.
96George and Maria lived in a terrace house. On pay days, Maria would have followed the local custom whereby the wife put on her best white apron to meet her man at the front white-washed step onto the street and held out her apron skirt for the breadwinners (husband and children) to put the money in it. This was done with pride so one can imagine Maria's chagrin when George arrived late and none too sober. However George was a red head with a fiery temper.
96Maria had a piano which was frequently pawned. It was the custom to pawn things such as a piano. George was jealous because Maria used to go into the next house to play the piano, so one day he went next door and smashed their piano. Most likely the Rowley piano was in pawn at the time!
96Maria was considered "very artistic"; she painted with oils and played the piano by ear. Her children Reginald and Daisy played in the same way.
Maria wore all black, all brown or all white, complete with matching high buttoned boots, beads and hair combs.
Maria raised her sister's son, John BINNERSLEY Snr.
In the
1891 Census for St Peter and St Paul parish in the town of Wem, Shropshire (Ed 2 Household 196), at 14 Leek Street, Wem, with three rooms:
Mary Rowley 29, b ca 1862 in Shifnal, Shropshire, England, wife
Pheobe F Rowley 4, b ca 1887 in Eardington, Shropshire, daughter
Reginald Rowley 3, b ca 1880 in Eardington, Shropshire, son
Albert C Rowley 1, b ca 1890 in Baskers Green; Westmeath, Shropshire, son
The head of the household was not at home.
Maria's death certificate [#16126, reg in Prahan] shows that she died at Horsley St, Bentleigh, on 5 Dec 1931, aged 70. Her parents are named as George Binnersley, general dealer, and Mary Binnersley, maiden name unknown. Maria's birthplace is given as Shropshire.
Research
The christening is the only possibility on IGI - mother given as Mary
Order Film 503522 Bts Shropshire 1824-1865 plus "printout" 0883752
Marriage12 Nov 1883, Chelmarsh, Shropshire, England123,124
ChildrenHarold (Twin) (-<1901)
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