Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Mark DOWLEN (1829-1904)

and Ann MAY (1834-1901)

Mark Dowlen and Ann May married in the second quarter of 1853 in the Brighton registration district.  (They were not my direct ancestors.  Mark was the brother of my 2x Great Grandfather, Charles Dowlen.)

Mark Dowlen was born on 6 April 1829 and baptised on 7 June 1829 in Slaugham, Sussex.  He was the second son of 5 23 John Dowlen (1802-1875) and Elizabeth Mansbridge (1808-1879).  He was an agricultural labourer.  Mark died on 20 June 1904 in Henfield, Sussex.  He registered the death of his brother Charles in 1896.

Ann May was baptised on 1 June 1834 in Chailey, Sussex and was the daughter of Thomas May and Harriet Smith.  She died in 1901 in Henfield.

In 1861 the family were living at West End, Henfield.  In 1881 the family were living at Blundens, Henfield.

Mark Dowlen and Ann May had 8 known children:

1. Clarissa Dowlen was born in 1854 in Brighton.  She died aged 14 years and was buried on 1 February 1868 in Henfield.

2. Ann West Dowlen was baptised on 16 February 1856 in Cowfold.

   As Ann Dowlen she married Henry Hiles on 30 December 1877 at St. Peter in Brighton.

   Henry was born about 1853 in Newark, Lincolnshire and was the son of Henry Hiles.

   When the 1881 census was recorded the couple were living at 4 Kew Street in Brighton.  His name was then recorded as Christopher H. Hiles, whilst her name was down as Ann West Hiles.  Christopher Henry was a Gas Lamplighter in 1881.

   They had at least 1 child:

   1. Emily Bertie Hill was baptised on 17 September 1879 at St. Peter in Brighton.  She was 2 years old when the 1881 census was recorded.

3. Charles Mark Dowlen was baptised on 10 April 1859 in Henfield, although his birth was registered as Mark Dowlen.  In 1881 he was an agricultural labourer living with his parents.  He died in 1940 in Surrey.

   Charles married Edith Blunden on 7 March 1885 in Henfield.  The witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Dowlen and Annie Blunden.

   Edith was born about 1865 in Hove, and was the daughter of John Blunden.

   Mark and Edith had 4 known children:

   1. Edith Dowlen was baptised on 8 August 1886 in Henfield and buried there on 10 March 1887, when she was 8 months old.

   2. Mark Dowlen was born about 1888 in Henfield.  In 1901 he was a Garden Boy.

   3. Emily Elsie Dowlen was baptised on 9 March 1890 in Henfield.

   4. Clarisa Dowlen was baptised on 8 March 1891 in Henfield.  She died aged 5 years and her death was registered as Clara Dowlen in the third quarter 1895 in the Horsham registration district.

   Edith may have died shortly after the 1891 census was recorded and Mark may have married another Edith, as the 1901 census records that Mark was married to Edith aged 30 and born in Milland, Hampshire.  Mark was then a stockman on a farm in Balcombe, Sussex.

   Mark and Edith had 5 known children:

   1. Albert Edwin Dowlen was born 1893 in Crawley, Sussex

   2. Annie Dowlen was born 1894 in Crawley.

   3. William Dowlen was born about 1897 in Balcombe.

   4. Lawrence Dowlen was born about 1899 in Balcombe.

   5. Percival Dowlen was born 1900 in Balcombe.  He was 8 months old when the 1901 census was recorded.

4. Edwin Dowlen was baptised on 10 August 1862 in Henfield.  He married Ellen Payne in 1887 in East Grinstead, Sussex.  She was born 1864 in Southwick, Sussex and died 1956 in Brighton.

5. Thomas Dowlen was baptised on 17 March 1865 in Henfield.  He died in 1948 in Brighton.

   Thomas married Eliza Cox on 2 April 1891 in Brighton.

   In 1901 Thomas was a locomotive stoker and the family were living in Preston, Sussex.  Eliza was born about 1869 in Brighton.  She may have been baptised on 8 November 1868, the daughter of Charles Cox and Mary Ann Hobden, or on 16 February 1869, the daughter of George Cox and Susan.  Both baptism were at St. Nicholas in Brighton.  Both Eliza's may have survived childhood and the other may have married Thomas James Braybon on 19 May 1888 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.  (I need to check the marriage certificates.)

   By 1901 they had 3 known children:

   1. Emily Dowlen was born about 1892 in Brighton.  Her birth may have been registered as Emily May Dowlen in the second quarter 1892 in the Steyning registration district.

   2. Mabel Dowlen was born about 1894 in Brighton.  Her birth may have been registered as Mabel Henrietta Dowlen in the second quarter 1893 in the Steyning registration district.

   3. Annie Dowlen was born about 1900 in Brighton.  Her birth may have been registered as Annie Florence Dowlen in the fourth quarter 1899 in the Steyning registration district.

6. Harriet Dowlen was born about 1869 in Henfield.

   Harriet married Harry Howland in the fourth quarter of 1893.

   When the 1901 census was recorded the family were living in St. Leonards, Hythe, Kent.

   Harry was born in Hythe in about 1871 and was a carpenter and joiner.

   By 1901 the couple had 2 known children:

   1. Dorothy Howland was born about 1899 in Hythe.

   2. Sydney Howland was 2 months old when the 1901 census was recorded.

7. Emily Dowlen was born about 1873 in Henfield.

8. David Dowlen was born about 1876 in Henfield.  He died aged 58 years and was buried on 4 July 1934 in Bosham, Sussex.  In 1901 he was a 25 year old agricultural labourer living in Henfield.  He may have married Ellen Elizabeth, who died aged 75 years and was buried on 5 March 1959 in Bosham.

 

DOWLEN          MAY