St. Clements Church and Graveyard
Bonnet Bowers was born in West Acre, Norfolk, England about October 12, 1795.[1] On April 27, 1822 he married Eliza Linford in Terrington-St Clements Norfolk, England.[2] Eliza was a widow according to their marriage record, and had a son William Linford[3] from her previous marriage. You can read about William in my blog post Finding Brother William dated 11/24/2012. Bonnet and Eliza had four children Richard born 1822[4], Robert born 1825[5], Eliza born in 1827[6] and Charles born in 1828.[7] All the children were born in Terrington-St Clements, Norfolk, England.[8] The daughter, Eliza, died when she was less than 3 days old and was buried in Terrington-St. Clements, Norfolk, England[9] along with her mother Eliza, who was also buried in Terrington-St. Clements, Norfolk, England on January 22, 1831.[10]
The population of Terrington-St Clements in 1801 was 824.[11] “In AD 970 Godric gifted part of the lands of Turrintonea to the monks of Ramsey Abbey. The name Terrington comes from the early Saxon “Tun” meaning enclosure or homestead of Tir(a)s people. The settlement is referred to in the Domesday Book as Tilinghetuna. By the medieval period the small settlement which began on raised ground on the edge of the marsh had grown substantially. The magnificent Parish Church, dedicated to St Clement (i.e. Pope Clement I), known as the “Cathedral of the Marshland”, was built in the 14th century by Edmund Gonville, Rector of Terrington, who founded Gonville Hall (now Gonville and Caius College) at Cambridge University.”[12]
“During the 1840’s Social problems dominated the economic and scene. The first part of the decade was referred to as the “hungry forties”. Food prices were high. A depression threw people out of work. By 1842 fifteen percent of the population received public assistance and many more received assistance from charities. In the late 1840’s a new prosperity arose because of the technological revolution and the coming of the railways.”[13]
By 1841 Bonnet Bowers is found living in Stockport, MacClesfield, Cheshire, England along with sons Richard, Robert, and Charles.[14] Bonnet Bowers was an agricultural laborer.[15] This means that he was one of the poor working class and earned just enough money to stay alive. Because manual labor was so physically demanding, men were paid the most during their 20’s when they were in peak physical condition. After that their pay would go down as they got older.[16]
Women worked as domestic servants, did needlework, midwife, cooking, and many, many more jobs. Some women even worked in the coal mines until 1842 when the practice of using women underground to haul sledge and coal ended, however women continued to work above ground sorting and loading coal. Other physical jobs women held during this time were brick making, chain making, and collecting trash from city streets. [17]
The children started working very young and had little schooling. Some children started working as early as three or four year of age. In general most children were working by the time they were nine years old.[18] With the children working the family might be able to accumulate a little savings which they would need once the children married and set up their households. By the time the children married, the poor food and hard labor weakened the parent’s health. If they lived to be very old they might end their days in a workhouse unless their children earned enough to take care of them.[19]
The countryside, laborers’ cottage was one or two rooms and the floor was dirt (packed tight) or paving stones. The cottage was furnished with a table, chairs, cupboard, a shelf, and one or two beds. Food was cooked over an open fire in a large fireplace. All eating, sleeping and living were done in a single room. Sometimes a curtain was pulled for privacy. The tables sometimes were not big enough for the whole family to sit around. It was not uncommon for children to be sent elsewhere to sleep, perhaps with an older couple, whose family was grown so teenagers of opposite sex would not have to share beds.[20]
Since Bonnet Bowers and his family were very likely poor, his children might not have had much time to play because they were working. If they had time to play as children, they played with whatever was available at little or no expense. Games were outdoor running and chasing, and hide and seek. Purchased toys such as tops and rubber balls were special treats brought home from a fair or put into a Christmas stocking.[21]
Bonnet came to the United States in 1851 with his son Charles.[22] He lived in Onondaga, Onondaga, New York with his son Robert.[23] Bonnet died on February 9, 1871 in the town of Onondaga, New York.[24]
[1] Baptism for Bonnet Tomas Bowers baptized 12 October 1795; Church of England. Parish Church of Westacre, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers for Westacre 1665 – 1903; manuscript on microfilm #2262704 item 9 Page 276; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah 2001.
[2] Marriage Record for Bonnet Bowers and Eliza Linford married 27 April 1822; Register of Marriages in the Parish of Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; 1813-1838 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 item 2; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England.
[3] Baptism for William Linford, 28 August 1811; Terrington-St. Slement, Norfolk England: Parish Register Baptism and Burials 1772 – 1812 Item 2; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs., filmed 26 July 1988, Film Number 13640109, film unit # 2161 NCD 2 Roll # 5.
[4] Baptism Record for Richard Bowers baptized 20 April 1822; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England.
[5] Baptism Record for Robert Bowers baptized 25 February 1825; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England.
[6] Baptism Record for Eliza Bowers baptized 10 June 1827; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England.
[7] Baptism for Charles Bowers baptized on 2 October 1828; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England.
[8] See footnotes 4 – 7.
[9] Burial record for Eliza Bowers (daughter of Bonnet & Eliza Bowers) buried on 21 June 1827. Church of England, Parish Church of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; Terrrington St. Clements Parish Register Burials 1813 – 1856; manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 8; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah 1988 at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England.
[10] Burial record for Eliza Bowers (wife of Bonnet Bowers) buried on 22 January 1831. Church of England, Parish Church of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; Terrrington St. Clements Parish Register Burials 1813 – 1856; manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 8; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah 1988 at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England.
[11] http://visionofbritain.org.uk Vision of Britain website.
[12] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrington_St_Clement#History Wikapedia the Free Encyclopedia.
[13] Sally Mitchell, Dailey Life in Victorian England (Westport Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1996), p. 5.
[14] Ancestry.com. 1841 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841.Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. Class: HO107; Piece 109; Book: 8; Civil Parish: Stockport; County: Cheshire; Enumeration District: 8; Folio: 19; Page: 33; Line: 4; GSU roll: 241242.
[15] Ancestry.com. 1841 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841.Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. Class: HO107; Piece 109; Book: 8; Civil Parish: Stockport; County: Cheshire; Enumeration District: 8; Folio: 19; Page: 33; Line: 4; GSU roll: 241242.
[16] Sally Mitchell, Dailey Life in Victorian England (Westport Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1996), p. 18 – 20.
[17] Sally Mitchell, Dailey Life in Victorian England (Westport Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1996), p. 47-48.
[18] Sally Mitchell, Dailey Life in Victorian England (Westport Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1996), p. 43 – 44.
[19] Sally Mitchell, Dailey Life in Victorian England (Westport Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1996), p. 20.
[20] Sally Mitchell, Dailey Life in Victorian England (Westport Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1996), p. 114.
[21] Sally Mitchell, Dailey Life in Victorian England (Westport Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1996), p. 229.
[22] Year: 1851; Arrival: New York, United States; Microfilm Serial: M237; Microfilm roll M237_107; Line: 26; List number: 1664. Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls); Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[23] Year: 1860; Census Place: Onondaga, Onondaga, New York; Roll: M653_829; Page: 579; Image: 370; Family History Library Film: 803829.
[24] Syracuse Standard (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York) Death Notice for a Burnett (sp) Bowers.
Family Tales from Gail 
Pingback: Almost 2018 Happy New Year! | Family Tales from Gail