James Fowler, 1870 - 1907

James Fowler remains a bit of a mystery. We have been unable to find a record of his birth or his death and in 1871 and 1901 he disappears completely from the national census returns, only to reappear in 1902 and father another two children.

James was born in Bedford in about 1870. His parents James and Rebecca had moved to Bedford from Somerset sometime between 1863 and 1868, possibly in search of work. James senior was an iron moulder and Bedfordshire was an important centre for the manufacture of agricultural machinary. James and Frederick Howard Ltd had opened the Britannia Iron Works in Kempston Road in 1859, as a manufactory of steel ploughs and it is likely that it was here that James' father found employment.

Britannia Iron Works, Bedford, 1872

By 1881 the family had moved again and were living in Nottingham. They lived in Derby Terrace Sneinton where James attended the local school. Within ten years James had found work with the local railway company, possibly through his brother in law William Prince who was already a railway worker. In 1891 he was lodging with his sister and brother in law in Victoria Square Sneinton.

1891 Census

At this time there were two major rail operators in Nottingham. Living in Sneinton there was a good chance that James worked for the Midland Railway, but there is also the possibility that he could have worked for the Great Northern. It is even possible he worked for a private contractor as a lot of the painting of stations and bridges in Midland times was tendered out. James was described as a signal painter and bridge painter.

Midland Station Nottingham 1897

James married local girl Eliza Peck in October 1891at St Albans church and they had four children between 1891 and 1901. They were Harry, Lilly, Clara and Bert. In 1901 James disappears as the family are living in Manvers Street with Eliza's mother. James could have been working away from home but does not seem to appear in the census anywhere in the UK. Alternatively he may have joined the army as this was the time of the Boer War.

James fathered three further children, including May Fowler, before his death in about 1907. He was only in his mid-thirties and left Eliza to look after seven children. We have still to trace his death and the cause.

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September 29, 2011