RAWLINGS OF MUCH COWARNE AND KINGTON
The William Rawlings who was the father of Naomi (Rawlings) Harrison was said
in census returns to have been born at Hereford,[1] with the
1891 returns specifically stating All Saints, Hereford.[2] However,
no William Rawlings is recorded in the All Saints
parish registers as having been baptised there in the period 1810 to 1820.
William’s age was given as seventy-six in the 1891 census returns and
seventy-nine on the certificate for his death in 1894. His age in 1881 was
given as fifty-six, apparently an error. The baptism of William Rawlings at
Much Cowarne in 1815, son of William and Eleanor, is
the only one I have been able to find which fits with the age of Naomi’s
father. The fact that William and Eleanor (Child) Rawlings were married at All
Saints and lived in that parish prior to William’s birth, coupled with William
(husband of Eleanor Child) being a mason, the same occupation as that of
William (husband of Ellen Jones), supports the identification of the latter as
a son of the former. Derek Vincent Davies, a descendant of Naomi (Rawlings)
Harrison, has DNA matches of 27 cM and 24 cM with descendants of Fanny (Rawlings) Potter, a daughter
of William and Eleanor (Child) Rawlings.[3]
Richard Rawlings and Mary, parents of the William Rawlings who married Eleanor Child, were apparently the Richard and Mary who were the parents of Richard Rawlings (baptised in 1769 at Much Cowarne) and Ann Rawlings (baptised in 1771 at Much Cowarne). The gap between the baptism of Ann in 1771 and the baptism of William in 1784 raises the possibility that the parents were not the same. However, only one likely marriage has been located, that of Richard Rawlings and Mary Taylor at Moreton Jeffries on 13 February 1768.
There was another contemporary Richard Rawlings in Much Cowarne who appears to have married, first, Elizabeth Weaver on 2 February 1767 at Tarrington, and second, Ann Rowbury on 3 June 1770 at Much Cowarne. Richard was buried at Much Cowarne in 1779 and his widow Ann may have married Thomas Godfrey there later the same year.
One Richard Rawlings was baptised at Much Cowarne on 14 January 1736, son of John and Sarah. The other Richard Rawlings was apparently the one baptised on 20 November 1743 at Ullingswick, son of Thomas and Ann. Thomas Rawlins of Ocle Pychard married Ann Bridgewater at Bishops Frome in 1738. Thomas was a son of William Rawlings of Ocle Pychard who also held land in Much Cowarne.[4] The Richard Rawlings buried at Much Cowarne on 13 January 1821 when his age was given as seventy-five was evidently the one married to Mary. This indicates a birth around 1745. Although not a perfect match, the age clearly corresponds much more closely with the 1743 baptism than the 1736 one.
William Rawlings, father of Naomi (Rawlings) Harrison, may have been married twice in view of the mother’s maiden names given on his children’s birth certificates: Edwards and Jones. In both cases, the wife’s name was Eleanor, or Ellen as it appears in some records. However, no marriage has been found for William with the bride’s surname as either Edwards or Jones, nor has a death or burial of the first wife been found which would allow William to marry again. It is possible that Eleanor Edwards and Ellen Jones were the same person, with the different surnames being due to a late use of the Welsh patronymic system or some other reason. Ruth Rawlings, born in 1842 with the mother’s name recorded as Edwards, is listed in the 1851 census returns along with other members of the family including Boaz Rawlings who was born in 1850 with the mother’s name recorded as Jones, so it seems clear that the father William Rawlings in each case is the same person.
An Elinor, daughter of John Edwards and Elizabeth his wife, was baptised on 23 June 1816 at Llanbrynmair Old Chapel.[5]
Derek Vincent Davies, a great-great-grandson of William and Ellen (Jones) Rawlings, has several DNA matches with descendants of individuals from Llanbrynmair surnamed Bebb. There was an Elinor Edward, illegitimate daughter of Blaney Edward and Elinor Bebb, baptised at Llanbrynmair on 24 February 1815. Blaney Edward and Elinor Bebb were married there later the same year.
Another possibility is suggested by DNA matches (17, 14
and 10 cM) Derek Vincent Davies has with descendants
of three children of David Robinson and Eleanor Edwards who were married in
1858 in Ohio. David was evidently from Llanbrynmair
and born in 1824, son of Evan Robinson and Elizabeth Jones. Eleanor was also
from Llanbrynmair and was a daughter of Josiah
Edwards and Margaret Jones who were married there in 1825. If Ellen, wife of
William Rawlings, was an illegitimate daughter of Margaret Jones, then the use
of the names Edwards and Jones would make sense. However, I have not found a
birth or baptism record for such a daughter, and the fact that Margaret had a
daughter called Eleanor who married David Robinson makes it less likely that
she was also the mother of an Eleanor or Ellen who married William Rawlings.
I welcome comments on this page. My e-mail address is on my home page.
RAWLINGS
1 RICHARD RAWLINGS of Much Cowarne, Herefordshire, was buried on 12 December 1676 at Much Cowarne.[6] He married on 26 September 1668 at Bodenham, ANN HILL.[7]
Children
of Richard and Ann (Hill) Rawlings:
i RICHARD
RAWLINGS of Much Cowarne, bap 8 Aug 1669, Much Cowarne,[8] bur
1728, Much Cowarne;[9] m 7 May
1702, Stretton Grandison, MALINE JAY.[10]
ii JOHN
RAWLINGS, bap 2 Sep 1670, Much Cowarne;[11] m 7 Sep
1701, Canon Frome, ELIZABETH WINGMORE.[12]
2 iii WILLIAM RAWLINGS (1671-1760); m MARGARET JAMES.
iv THOMAS
RAWLINGS, bap 21 Dec 1673, Much Cowarne;[13] m 17
Apr 1710, Bromyard, REBECCA PHILPOTS.[14]
v HENRY
RAWLINGS of Much Cowarne, yeoman, bap 23 Jan 1675,
Much Cowarne,[15] bur 11
Oct 1716, Much Cowarne;[16] m 16 Feb
1701, Edvin Ralph, ELIZABETH UNETT.[17]
vi FRANCIS
RAWLINGS of Much Cowarne, bap 1 Sep 1677, Much Cowarne,[18] bur
1700, Much Cowarne.[19]
2 WILLIAM RAWLINGS of Ocle Pychard was baptised on 21 December 1671 at Much Cowarne[20] and buried on 19 January 1760 at Ocle Pychard.[21] He married on 9 September 1700 at Much Cowarne, MARGARET JAMES.[22] She was buried on 17 July 1747 at Ocle Pychard.[23]
Children
of William and Margaret (James) Rawlings:
i WILLIAM
RAWLINGS of Ocle Pychard,
bap 4 Jul 1701, Much Cowarne,[24] bur 16
Jun 1749, Ocle Pychard;[25] m
ELIZABETH.[26]
3 ii THOMAS RAWLINGS (bap 1708); m ANN BRIDGEWATER.
iii FRANCIS
RAWLINGS, bap 5 Feb 1717, Ocle Pychard,[27] bur Jan
1741, Ocle Pychard.[28]
3 THOMAS RAWLINGS of Ocle Pychard and Ullingswick was baptised on 25 April 1708 at Much Cowarne.[29] He married on 13 November 1738 at Bishops Frome, ANN BRIDGEWATER,[30] daughter of John and Joan Bridgewater (see here). Ann was baptised on 7 August 1715 at Bishops Frome and buried on 8 March 1771 at Much Cowarne.
Children
of Thomas and Ann (Bridgewater) Rawlings:
i ELIZABETH
RAWLINGS, bap 10 Jun 1739, Ocle Pychard.[31]
ii WILLIAM
RAWLINGS of Canon Frome and Ullingswick, bap 17 May
1741, Ullingswick,[32] d ca
1803;[33] m 7 Jul
1762, Ocle Pychard, URSULA TROVELL.[34]
iii THOMAS
RAWLINGS, bap Nov 1742, Ullingswick,[35] bur 12
Dec 1742, Ullingswick.[36]
4 iv RICHARD RAWLINGS (1743-1821); m MARY TAYLOR.
v MARY
RAWLINGS, bap 16 Mar 1745, Ullingswick.[37]
4 RICHARD RAWLINGS of Much Cowarne was baptised on 20 November 1743 at Ullingswick[38] and
buried on 13 January 1821 at Much Cowarne,
Herefordshire.[39]
He married on 13 February 1768 at Moreton Jeffries, MARY TAYLOR.[40] She was
born ca 1743 and buried on 27 March 1831 at Much Cowarne.[41]
Children
of Richard and Mary (Taylor) Rawlings:
i RICHARD RAWLINGS of Much Cowarne, farmer, bap 4 Mar 1769, Much Cowarne,[42] d 26
Feb 1843, Much Cowarne;[43] m 4 Aug
1814, Much Cowarne, MARY HARRIS.[44]
ii ANN RAWLINGS, bap 20 Jan 1771, Much Cowarne,[45] d 7 Jul
1843, Much Cowarne;[46] m 16
Aug 1792, Much Cowarne, PHILIP THOMAS.[47]
5 iii WILLIAM RAWLINGS (1784-1866); m(1) ELEANOR CHILD; m(2) JANE ROGERS.
5 WILLIAM RAWLINGS of Burley Gate, Much Cowarne, mason, was born at Much Cowarne, baptised on 18 January 1784 at Much Cowarne[48] and
died on 10 March 1866 at Much Cowarne.[49] He
married first, on 26 May 1808 at All Saints, Hereford,
ELEANOR CHILD.[50] Eleanor was born about 1782 and buried on 24
September 1822 at Much Cowarne.[51]
William married second, on 21 August 1823 at Much Cowarne,
JANE ROGERS.[52]
Jane was born about 1795 at Bishops Frome[53]
and died about 1856.[54]
Children of William and Eleanor (Child) Rawlings:
i FANNY RAWLINGS, b Hereford, bap 19 Mar 1809, All Saints,
Hereford,[55] d 9 Nov 1870, Bethnal
Green;[56]
m 24 Feb 1834, Edgbaston, SAMUEL POTTER.[57]
6 ii WILLIAM
RAWLINGS (1815-1894); m(1)
ELEANOR EDWARDS; m(2) ELLEN JONES.
iii MARY RAWLINGS, bap 27 Jul 1817, Ocle Pychard.[58]
Children of William and Jane
(Rogers) Rawlings:[59]
iv ELIZABETH
RAWLINGS, bap 2 Jan 1825, Bromyard.[60]
v JOHN
RAWLINGS of Sedgley, builder, b ca 1829, Much Cowarne,[61]
d 25 Jun 1898, Roseville;[62]
m 28 Sep 1854, Walsall, MARY ANN BAKER.[63]
vi ELIZA
RAWLINGS, b ca 1837, Preston Wynne;[64]
m(1) 3 Jul 1866, Pencombe,
THOMAS GURNEY;[65]
m(2) 11 May 1896, Moreton Jeffries, JOHN TURNER.[66]
6 WILLIAM RAWLINGS of Crooked Well, Kington, stone mason, was baptised on 14
May 1815 at Much Cowarne[67] and
died on 10 May 1894 at Kington.[68] He
married first, ELEANOR EDWARDS,[69] who was
born about 1815.[70]
William married second, ELLEN JONES,[71] who was
born about 1817 at Llanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire,[72] and
died on 22 January 1884 at Kington.[73]
Children of William and Eleanor (Edwards) Rawlings:[74]
i RUTH RAWLINGS, b 8 Nov 1842,
Abbey Dore,[75]
d 28 Nov 1851, Leebotwood, Shropshire.[76]
ii NAOMI
RAWLINGS, b 16 May 1845, Hereford.[77]
Children of William and
Ellen (Jones) Rawlings:
iii NAOMI RAWLINGS, b 27 Nov 1847, Lymm, Cheshire,[78]
d 27 Apr 1903, Kington;[79]
m 30 Oct 1870, Kington Wesleyan Chapel, CHARLES HARRISON[80]
(see here).
iv BOAZ RAWLINGS, b 26 Feb 1850, Congleton, Cheshire,[81]
d 31 May 1854, Bodenham, Herefordshire.[82]
v RUTH
RAWLINGS, b 9 Dec 1852, Hereford,[83]
d 10 Feb 1855, Little Dean, Gloucestershire.[84]
[1] For example, the 1861 census returns for Kington (National Archives, RG 9/4230, fol. 44).
[2] 1891 census returns, Kington (National Archives , RG 12/2077, fol. 41).
[3] Results from AncestryDNA.
[5] Llanbrynmair Old Chapel Congregational registers (National Archives, RG 4/4068).
[6] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6Z6N-22Z7).
[7] Ann’s forename is given in the baptism entries for her children. Despite the difference in the name, she was apparently the “Johan” Hill of Much Cowarne who married Richard Rawlins in 1668 at Bodenham (Herefordshire Marriages, online at www.findmypast.co.uk). An abstract of the 1683 will of Anne Hill of Much Cowarne names Henry Rawlings and makes Anne Rawlings an executor.
[8] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9WY-Z2R).
[9] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZX8-XL91); England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZX8-XLS3).
[10] Herefordshire Marriages (online at www.findmypast.co.uk); England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7H6-QMT).
[11] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9WY-Z2B).
[13] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N8V5-6PK).
[14] Herefordshire Marriages (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[15] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N8V5-6PG).
[16] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZXM-22LK).
[17] Herefordshire Marriages (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[18] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NRD9-75J).
[19] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZX3-8KBY); England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZX3-8K1H).
[20] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7H6-QMP).
[21] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W3BL-37ZM); abstract of will in Rosemary Lockie’s collection.
[22] England Marriages, 1538–1973 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKNQ-D9Q); Herefordshire Marriages (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). Margaret was stated to be of Moreton Jeffries at the time of the marriage.
[23] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZJB-37PY).
[24] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9WY-Z2G).
[25] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4KB-GY6Z).
[26] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J32M-H2F). Perhaps of the family of Bennett of Bosbury as Richard Bennett of Bosbury was a party in the marriage settlement of a daughter of William and Elizabeth Rawlings in 1769.
[27] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J74R-Y25).
[28] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZJV-KZXR); England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D45B-QPT2).
[29] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NRD9-75D). He was probably the Thomas Rawlings buried on 18 Jun 1780 at Much Cowarne, although that could be the Thomas, son of John and Sarah Rawlings, who was baptised in 1750.
[30] Herefordshire Marriages (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[31] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4VT-BV2M). She may be the one of her name who married William Hide at Ocle Pychard in 1763.
[32] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J71R-C79). He was probably the William Rawlings of Ullingswick who married Ursula Trovell at Ocle Pychard in 1762 and whose will, written in 1796, was proved in 1806 (National Archives, PROB 11/1446/56). Witnesses to the will included Phillip Thomas and Mary Rawlings, suggesting that the testator was the William whose brother Richard Rawlings married Mary Taylor and had a daughter Ann who married Philip Thomas. However, there was a contemporary William, son of John and Sarah Rawlings, and the will of John Rawlings shows a Trovell connection.
[33] National Archives, PROB 11/1446/56. This will, written in 1796, was proved in 1806. Witnesses included Phillip Thomas and Mary Rawlings, suggesting that the testator William Rawlings was the William whose brother Richard Rawlings married Mary Taylor and had a daughter Ann who married Philip Thomas.
[34] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W7KJ-XGMM).
[35] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKJT-NFD); England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZG1-RHR5).
[36] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZG1-RHR1).
[37] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZP9-2XH8). Perhaps the Mary Rawlings who married Richard Badham at Ullingswick in 1768.
[38] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZG5-Z6T4).
[39] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WQVK-YYPZ).
[41] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WQVR-BK6Z). One possible baptism for Mary is at St Nicholas, Hereford, on 19 Oct 1742, daughter of George Taylor and Martha. A Francis, son of George Taylor and Elizabeth, was baptised on 4 Dec 1748 at Moreton Jeffries.
[42] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N8V5-65Z). Another Richard Rawlings, son of Richard and Ann, was baptised at Much Cowarne in 1771, but he was buried there the same year.
[43] Death certificate; England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WQVV-ZF3Z); 1841 census returns, Much Cowarne (National Archives, HO 107/418/16, fol. 18).
[44] England, Herefordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1900 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WQK2-LX6Z).
[45] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7H6-QMJ).
[46] Death certificate.
[47] Herefordshire Marriages (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). Derek Vincent Davies, a great-great-grandson of William and Ellen (Jones) Rawlings, has DNA matches with some descendants of Philip and Ann (Rawlings) Thomas, including a match of 27 cM.
[48] Much Cowarne parish registers (Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre); 1851 census returns, Preston Wynne (National Archives, HO 107/1977, fol. 374).
[49] Death certificate.
[50] All Saints, Hereford, parish registers (Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre). Richard Child and Fanny Child were witnesses. It is possible that Eleanor was a daughter of Richard and Ann Child who had children (including a daughter Fanny) baptised at All Saints, Hereford, around the time that Eleanor was born. Richard and Ann’s son Richard has descendants who have DNA matches of 10 cM and 9 cM with Derek Vincent Davies, a great-great-great-grandson of William and Eleanor (Child) Rawlings.
[51] Much Cowarne parish registers.
[52] Much Cowarne parish registers.
[53] 1851 census returns, Preston Wynne (National Archives, HO 107/1977, fol. 374).
[54] 1851 census returns, Preston Wynne (National Archives, HO 107/1977, fol. 374); 1861 census returns, Much Cowarne (National Archives, RG 9/1828, fol. 28).
[55] All Saints, Hereford, parish registers; 1851 census returns, Tower Hamlets (National Archives, HO 107/1547, fol. 193).
[56] Death certificate.
[57] Edgbaston parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[58] Ocle Pychard parish registers.
[59] See the 1841 census returns for Preston Wynne (National Archives, HO 107/419/20, fol. 3).
[60] England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J327-C2V).
[61] 1851 census returns, Sedgley (National Archives, HO 107/2031, fol. 148); 1881 census returns, Sedgley (National Archives, RG 11/2870, fol. 14).
[62] The Birmingham Daily Post, 28 Jun 1898.
[63] Walsall parish register abstracts (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/61804e33f493fd422e92f8e0).
[64] 1851 census returns, Preston Wynne (National Archives, HO 107/1977, fol. 374); 1881 census returns, Little Cowarne (National Archives, RG 11/2601, fol. 52).
[65] Marriage certificate.
[66] Marriage certificate.
[67] Much Cowarne parish registers.
[68] Death certificate. His daughter Naomi (Rawlings) Harrison was the informant.
[69] Her maiden name is from the birth certificates of her daughters Ruth and Naomi.
[70] 1841 census returns, Tillington (National Archives, HO 107/422/6, fol. 18). She is shown as not born in Herefordshire.
[71] Her maiden name is from the birth certificates of her children Naomi, Boaz and Ruth.
[72] 1861 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 9/4230, fol. 44). However, in the 1851 census returns (National Archives , HO 107/2167, fol. 498), she is said to have been born at Manchester in Lancashire.
[73] Death certificate.
[74] They probably also had a daughter Margaret, born about 1839: 1841 census returns, Tillington (National Archives, HO 107/422/6, fol. 18).
[75] Birth certificate (as Ruth Rowlands); 1851 census returns, Congleton (National Archives, HO 107/2167, fol. 498).
[76] Death certificate.
[77] Birth certificate.
[78] Birth certificate. Her birth was registered under the spelling Rowlands.
[79] Death certificate.
[80] Marriage certificate.
[81] Birth certificate.
[82] Death certificate. This identifies the child as Boaz Rollings, aged four years, a labourer’s child, who was accidentally drowned. See also Hereford Journal, 14 Jun 1854, where he is called Boyce Rawlings.
[83] Birth certificate.
[84] Death certificate.