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. 117

In 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 Elphine
George 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 33

George 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. 120

George 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

Death cert said he was born in Staffordshire
Marriage in Parish Records P59 #118, issued 18 Nov 1883 gives father as William ROWLEY..
•1 Gladys WALLIS née ROWLEY
•2 Kathleen ROWLEY née AYERS

• Have Death Cert 13275
•3 Story from Frank Rowley, date from death cert of son Albert - 47 years in Vic when he died in 1959