Ancestors of Mandy Willard

David DOWLEN (1848-1927)

and Matilda WOOLGAR (1859-1916)

David Dowlen and Matilda Woolgar married on 21 August 1875 in Henfield, Sussex.  The witnesses to their marriage were Abraham Woolgar and Caroline Slatter.  (They were not my direct ancestors.  David was the brother of my 2x great grandfather, Charles Dowlen, and Matilda was the great niece of my 4x great grandfather, William Woolgar.)

David Dowlen was born on 10 April 1848 and baptised on 11 June 1848 in Henfield.    He was the youngest son of 5 23 John Dowlen (1802-1875) and Elizabeth Mansbridge (1808-1879).  David died aged 78 years and his death was registered in the first quarter of 1927 in the Cuckfield registration district.  The 1851 census recorded that he was 3 year old David Bray and he was living with his mother and her new partner and their young daughter in Crowhurst, Sussex.  In 1861 David Dowlen was a 12 year old scholar and living with his father in Henfield.  The 1871 census recorded that he was an unmarried 23 year old agricultural labourer and living with his father at Cannons in Henfield.

Matilda Woolgar was baptised on 12 June 1859 in Henfield.  She was the daughter of Stephen Woolgar (1820-?) and Harriet Edwards.  In 1871 she was an 11 year old scholar and living with her parents at Cannons, next door to the Dowlen family.  Matilda died aged 57 years and her death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1916 in the Steyning registration district.  She was a witnesses to the 1890 marriage of James Stillaway (1860-?) and Kate Caroline Slaughter (c1871-?).

In 1881 the family were living at Cannons, Henfield, and David was a coal merchant's labourer.

David Dowlen and Matilda Woolgar had 15 known children:

1. David Stephen Dowlen Woolgar was baptised on 9 March 1874 in Henfield as the illegitimate son of Matilda.  He died aged 9 years and was buried on 9 October 1883 in Henfield.

2. Matilda Sophy Dowlen was baptised on 12 December 1875 in Henfield.  She may have died aged 7 years and have been buried on 19 August 1883, by the name of Sophia Amelia Dowlen.  (Her birth was registered as Matilda Sophy.)

3. Ada Maria Dowlen was baptised on 17 June 1877 in Henfield.

4. John Dowlen was baptised on 9 December 1878 in Henfield.  In 1901 he was living with his parents and he was a cowman on a farm.  His age was recorded in the the census as 27 years, making his birth about 1874.

5. Charles Dowlen was baptised on 12 December 1880 in Henfield.  In 1901 he was a 20 year old cowman on a farm living with his parents.

6. Mark Dowlen was baptised on 8 October 1882 in Henfield.  In 1901 he was an 18 year old farm labourer living with his parents.

7. Annie Dowlen was baptised on 9 March 1884 in Henfield.  She died aged 15 years and was buried on 14 December 1899 in Henfield.  The burial register noted that she was from Cannons in Henfield.

8. Frank Dowlen was baptised on 14 February 1886 in Henfield.  In 1901 he was a 15 year old living with his parents and he was a cowman on a farm.

9. Edith Kate Dowlen was baptised on 12 October 1887 in Henfield.  She died aged 12 years and was buried on 4 December 1899 in Henfield.  The burial register noted that she was from Cannons in Henfield.

10. Arthur Dowlen was baptised on 11 August 1889 in Henfield.  He was an 11 year old in 1901.

11. Harriet Dowlen was baptised on 10 May 1891 in Henfield.  She was 10 years old in 1901.

12. Ethel Dowlen was baptised on 10 September 1893 in Henfield.  She died aged 6 years and was buried on 14 December 1899 in Henfield.  The burial register noted that she was from Cannons in Henfield.

13. Ernest Dowlen was baptised on 19 March 1895 in Henfield.  He died aged 19 days and was buried on 22 March 1895 in Henfield.  The burial registered noted that he was from Cannons in Henfield.

14. Emily Dorothy Dowlen was baptised on 13 December 1896 in Henfield.  She was 4 years old in 1901.

15. Frederick Roy Dowlen was born in the first quarter of 1900 in Henfield.  He died in 1969.  In 1901 he was a year old and the youngest child at home.

1851 Census, Cannons, Henfield, Sussex (HO107/1647, folio 517, page 3)

John Dowlen, Head, Mar, 50, Ag. Lab, born Sussex, Cowfold

Mark Dowlen, Son, U, 21, Ag. Lab, born Sussex, Slaugham

Anne W. Dowlen, Daur, 14, Housekeeper, born Sussex, Cowfold

Emily Dowlen, Daur, 11, Scholar, born Sussex, Henfield

Ester Dowlen, Daur, 5, Scholar, born Sussex, Henfield

1851 Census, ? Street, Crowhurst, Sussex (HO107/1636, folio 135, page 15)

William Bray, Head, Mar, 30, Railway Labourer, born Henfield

Elizabeth Bray, Wife, Mar, 34, born Boney

David Bray, Son, 3, born Henfield

Lewcy Bray, 3mo, born Crowhurst, Sussex

1861 Census, West End, Henfield, Sussex (RG9/606, folio 134, page 4)

John Dowlen, Head, Widr, 59, Ag Lab, born Cowfold, Sussex

David Dowlen, Son, 12, Scholar, born Henfield, Sussex

Mark Dowlen, Head, Mar, 32, Ag Lab, born Slaugham, Sussex

Ann Dowlen, Wife, Mar, 27, born Chailey, Sussex

Clarissa Dowlen, Daur, 7, Scholar, bron Brighton, Sussex

Ann Dowlen, Daur, 5, born Cowfold, Sussex

Mark Dowlen, Son, 2, born Henfield, Sussex

1871 Census, Cannons, Henfield, Sussex (RG10/1095, folio 60, page 10)

John Dowlen, Head, Widr, 70, Ag Lab, born Cowfold, Sussex

David Dowlen, Son, Unm, 23, Ag Lab, born Henfield, Sussex

on the previous page, Cannons, Henfield (RG10/1095, folio 60, page 9)

Stephen Woolgar, Head, Mar, 50, Ag Lab, born Henfield, Sussex

Harriet Woolgar, Wife, Mar, 44, born Shipley, Sussex

Matilda Woolgar, Daur, 11, Scholar, born Henfield, Sussex

DOWLEN          WOOLGAR