ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L Archives

From: "Donald Massey" <>
Subject: [HRT] ROWLEY Family, Hemel Hempstead up to 1870
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:23:48 -0000

This family, headed by Thomas and Jesslyn Nee Norris, marr Bletchley 1857,
had a mobile early few years, but thereafter seemed to settle in the Hemel
Hempstead area.

By 1866, they had five children, Alfred, Jesslyn, Thomas, Mary Ann and
Albert, Jesslyn born in Norfolk but the remainder in Herts.

In the early 1860s, they were connected with the Red Lion, Water End which
had been in the Snelling and Norris families for many years, but by 1866,
Thomas (father) had reverted to his earlier occupation of cattle dealer,
under which he is listed in Trade directories at Green, Boxmoor, until 1870.

But by the 1871 Census, something drastic must have occurred: Father,
mother, Albert and Mary Ann can not be found anywhere: Thomas and Albert
are lodging with an apparently unrelated family in Boxmoor, and Jesslyn
(dau) is with her grandmother in Gt Gaddesden.

I have searched the marriage and death indexes for the next few years for
Father and Mother without trace.

The only child I have found in England in 1881 is Albert who was living with
his uncle Arthur Norris in Marsworth (under the name surname Rowland):
Jesslyn (dau) does not appear in marriage or death indexes for the next few
years, and nowhere in 1881: the final part of the mystery is that Alfred
turned up in Des Moines USA in the 1900 Census, having arrived apparently in
USA in 1886, and having been married for 11 years - to Sarah Ann Hemley born
in Hemel Hempstead!!

I am in touch with descendents of Alfred in USA, who can not help with any
info, and in fact are relying on me to turn something up! I am satisfied
that he is the correct Albert, as two generations of his descendents use the
unusual name of Jesslyn.

Any ideas?

Donald Massey

This thread:

• [HRT] ROWLEY Family, Hemel Hempstead up to 1870 by "Donald Massey" <>