William Beckford Evans and Esther Gabbaday

St George In The East
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Raymond E Hawkins - geograph.org.uk/p/510487

William Evans (reputedly b. 18 Sep 1772 in Rotherhithe), bachelor, married Esther Gabbaday (b. 16 Feb 1775), spinster, daughter of John Gabbdey and Elizabeth Travally, at the church of St George in the East, Cannon Street Road, Tower Hamlets, on 8 Apr 1792. At that time, the bridegroom wasn't yet 20 and the bride was just 17. Witnesses to the marriage were Edward Penfold, the bride's step-father, and Esther Travally, her aunt.

William and Esther Evans appear to have at least six children:

1. Esther Elizabeth Evans b. 20 Jan 1793, bap. 20 Feb 1793 (31 days old), daughter of William, Boat Builder and Esther, at St Anne's Limehouse
2. Ann Evans b. Thursday, 1 Dec 1796, bap. 30 Dec 1796 (at 29 days old), daughter of William, Boat Builder and Esther at St Dunstan's, Stepney
3. Edward Evans b. 6 Feb 1801, bap. 2 Apr 1806 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, son of William, Boatbuilder of Poplar, and Esther.
4. George Evans b. 3 Jun 1803, bap. 2 Apr 1806 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, son of William, Boatbuilder of Poplar, and Esther.
5. Charles James Evans b. 1 Oct 1805, bap. 2 Apr 1806 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, son of William, Boatbuilder of Poplar, and Esther.
6. Eliza Jane Evans b. 11 Dec 1807, bap. 21 Jan 1816 at All Saints Church, Poplar, daughter of William, Boatbuilder of Poplar, and Esther.

The Last Will and Testament of William Beckford Evans of Limehouse Hole in the Hamlett (sic) of Poplar in the County of Middlesex, Boat Builder - First I desire my just Debts to be paid as soon as Convenient. I leave and bequeath my Dear wife Esther Evans all my Household Furniture, linen, china, etc., with all my Stock in Trade, Book Debts, Moneys and every thing whatsoever I am in possession of at the Hour of my Death ... I likewise leave and bequeath unto my wife the Lease of my House and Premises situate at Limehouse Hole. I appoint my Dear Wife my sole Executrix. The Will was dated 5 Oct 1810 and had four witnesses to William's very shaky signature, so I have to assume he was very ill. William Evans otherwise William Beckford Evans the testator was late of Limehouse Hole in the Hamlet of Poplar in the Parish of St Dunstan Stepney in the County of Middlesex and died [he was only 38] this 9th day of November 1810. The Parish records of St Dunstan Stepney show that William Evans of Poplar was buried, at Poplar, on 16 Nov 1810. Listed as being buried at Poplar, from St Dunstan, generally means being buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church). William Beckford Evans' Will was proved in London on 10 Dec 1810 and his estate valued at £600.

Esther Evans died, at 42, and was buried on 3 Apr 1817 at All Saints, Poplar.

Limehouse Hole - Charles Napier Hemy (1841–1917)
Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC)

Richard Rowland and Caroline Tooze

Church of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mike Searle - geograph.org.uk/p/3157603

Richard Rowland (bap. 25 Dec 1819 in Upottery), son of William Rowland and Betty Hill (m. 11 Mar 1802 in Upottery, Devon), married Caroline Tooze (bap. 22 Feb 1829 in Holcombe Rogus), daughter of Richard Tooze and Eliza Disney, at St Mary Magdalene, Taunton (now Taunton Minster) on 8 Apr 1856. The witnesses were Samuel Tooze and Robert Dyer.

Richard and Caroline had eight children, none were baptised:

1. Alfred James Rowland b. 1857 S Quarter in WELLINGTON-SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 369. Died, aged 6, in 1864, and was buried in Nynehead, Somerset.
2. Emma Jane Rowland b. 1859 M Quarter in WELLINGTON - SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 427. Died at 26, in 1885 in Wellington.
3. Alfred Richard Rowland b. 1860 D Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 368. Registered as Alfred Richard, but appears to have been known as Francis.
4. Ann Rowland b. 1863 J Quarter in WELLINGTON - SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 440. Died at 8, in 1871 J Quarter in WELLINGTON - SOMERSET AND DEVON Vol 05C Page 252.
5. Rosa Rowland b. 1865 S Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 378
6. Emily Rowland b. 1867 J Quarter in WELLINGTON - SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 386. Died, aged 10, in 1877, in Wellington.
7. Alfred Rowland b. 1869 S Quarter in WELLINGTON-SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 355
8. Walter Rowland b. 1872 in Wellington, Somerset.

In 1861, Richard Rowland (34) Shepherd from Upottery, Devon was living at Haywood Cottage, Nynehead, Somerset with wife Caroline Rowland (32) from Holcombe Rogus, Devon; Alfred (3) and Emma Jane (2) born in West Buckland, Somerset; Francis Rowland (5 months) [must be the child registered as Alfred Richard] born in Nynehead and James Tooze (21) Chairmaker, Lodger (this is Caroline's younger brother).

In 1871, living in Payton, Wellington, were Richard Rowland (50) Farm Labourer, Caroline Rowland (40), Francis (10), Anne (8), Rosa (6), Emily (4) and Alfred (2) - the last two having been born in Langford, Somerset.

Caroline Rowland died, age estimated to 48, in 1876 D Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 238.

In 1881, Richard Rowland (68) Agricultural Labourer from Upottery, was an Inmate in Wellington Union Workhouse. Wellington Workhouse was the first to be built after the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, which ordered that every area in England and Wales should have a purpose built place to house the poor. [Source] Also Inmates, in a different section from their father, were Alfred Rowland (13) Scholar (pauper) born in Langford Budville, Somerset and Walter Rowland (9) Scholar (pauper), born in Wellington, Somerset. There was a Rose Rowland (16) Woolen Feeder, living in Wellington as head of the household, living with her was Mary A Stevens (14) Lodger.

In 1891, Richard Rowland (age estimated to 75) Widower, Agricultural Labourer was still an Inmate of Wellington Union Workhouse. Rose Rowland married Tom Winter in 1887 and they were living in Rockwell Green. Alfred Rowland (21) Assistant Butcher, Servant, born in Langford, Somerset was in the household of James Moorish (29) Butcher, at 27 Rockwell Green.

Richard Rowland died, at 73, in 1892 M Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 252.