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I am hoping someone might be able to help me. Emma Ada Maria Tratt born Devon 1867 married Edward Bowerman in 1884. Edward re-married in 1897. 1891 census shows Emma with a John Hocking but I cannot find a marriage and after his death she married a Mr Chapman in 1924. Is there anywhere I can look for this second marriage. Thanks in advance for any help.

Jayne :-)

Jayne, divorce was extremely rare in those days so there's a chance she never actually married John Hocking.

BUT, let's have a look and see what we can find .....

For reference, is this her in 1911:

HOCKING, John Head Married 26 years M 61 1850 Joiner Out Of Work Churston Ferrers Devon
HOCKING, Emma A M Wife Married 26 years F 44 1867 Bedminster Somerset
HOCKING, Winifred May Daughter Single F 21 1890 Tailoress Willand Devon

Registration District: Bristol
Sub District: Stapleton
Enumeration District: 3
Parish: Bristol

Address: 28 Cemetery Road Eastville Bristol
County: Gloucestershire

So, IF they did marry it would've been around 1885? Didn't stay with first hubby long.

Hi, thanks for the prompt reply, yes this is her Winifred was my gran and she was from her first marriage and her name is Bowerman but she was recorded as Hocking, you may be correct regarding the marriage, may be she was never divorced from Edward Bowerman but there is a marriage recorded for Chapman in 1924. Thanks Jayne

Tried all the usual saerch tricks, but nothing coming up for her and second "marriage".

Just looking at Marie's post above.........Is Emma refering to her first marriage...........26 years???????????

Name: Emma A M Chapman
Birth Date: abt 1868
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1946
Age at Death: 78
Registration district: Bristol
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 219

Emma had 3 children with Edward Bowerman, 2 were born in Australia in 1886 and 1887 they were out there for a short time. My gran was born in the UK in Devon in 1889. The 1891 census records Emma as a widow working in the rectory in Willand and her 3 children are with her parents. Edward married again in 1897. Thanks for all the help. Jayne

Jayne
Do you have Emma's marriage certificate to Edward Bowerman?

Hi Astra, Thanks for the message, I do not have a marriage certificate but the records show they were married in Exeter in 1884. By 1891 the census shows he was a lodger in Town House, Culmstock, Holcombe Rogus. Emma was a servant at the Rectory in Uffculme, Willand and the census shows her as a widow! The 3 children Marie, Arthur and Winifred were living with their grandparents (Tratt family). Cheers Jayne :-)

Yes they were definitely married. But which Edward Bowerman did she marry.
The reason I queried it is because of this.

Edward Bowerman
Death Date: 1888
Death Place: New South Wales
Registration Year: 1888
Registration Place: Redfern, New South Wales
Registration Number: 5530


New SouthWales Coroners inquest

Name: Edward Bowerman
Inquest Date: 16 Nov 1888
Inquest Location: Sydney
Age: 42
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Birth Place: Devonshire, England


He worked for the railways and was killed in an accident. He left a wife and two children.

It is completely possible that Emma really was a widow in the 1891census as she states.

The Edward Bowerman born 1866 who is a carpenter was noted as single in the 1891 so the later marriage (1897) may well have been his first.

I would strongly suggest that before you go any further you ask our Australian friends for any more information they can find about Edward Bowerman who dies in 1888 and see if his wife is named anywhere. And you should always back up your findings with certificates. You need to get Emma's marriage certificate to Edward to confirm.

12962/1885 BOWERMAN MARIA B EDWARD EMMA A M GOULBURN
22450/1887 BOWERMAN ARTHUR T EDWARD EMMA A M COOTAMUNDRA
23089/1888 BOWERMAN ELIZA EDWARD EMMA A M COOTAMUNDRA

Eliza died in 1888 as well.

This fits with the newspaper article that states Edward left a wife and 2 children. Emma must have left NSW very soon afterwards (and who could blame her!)

I thank you very much for your message and I apologise for the delay in replying - have not had internet access for several days but all is well now. I knew about the two children and where they were born, did not about Eliza. Also did not know Edward died there. I am going to do some more research. Thanks alot. You mention a newspaper article, where did not find this? Would be most interested to read it. Thanks again. :-)

The inquest article I found here

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13704041?searchTerm=edward bowerman&searchLimits=


But you really do need to get the marriage certificate to prove which Edward Bowerman she married other wise this is pure speculation.

Hi,

Is this John Hocking in 1891?

1891 England Census
about John Abraham Hocking
Name: John Abraham Hocking
Age: 41
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Susan E Hocking
Gender: Male
Where born: Churston Ferrers, Devon, England

Civil parish: St Philip and St Jacob
Ecclesiastical parish: St Luke
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Barton Regis
Sub-registration district: St Philip
ED, institution, or vessel: 36
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1984
Folio: 79
Page Number: 2
Household Members: Name Age
John Abraham Hocking 41
Susan E Hocking 46
Edith Hocking 10
George F Hocking 8
Abraham M Hocking 33


If it is him, did Susan die.......... if not maybe this is the reason why you can't find a marriage??


Dee x

Looks like Susan is still alive;

1901 Wales Census
about Susan E Hocking
Name: Susan E Hocking
Age in 1901: 56
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation: Sister-in-Law
Gender: Female
Where born: Aveton Gifford, Devon, England

Civil parish: Canton
Ecclesiastical parish: St Catherine
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales

Street Address: View image
Condition as to marriage: View image
Education: View image
Employment status: View image
Occupation: View image

Registration district: Cardiff
Sub-registration district: West Cardiff
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 447
Piece: 4984
Folio: 111
Page Number: 69
Household Members: Name Age
Abraham M Hocking 43
Susan E Hocking 56
Edith Hocking 20
Geo F Hocking 18

I would like to thank everyone who has helped me. I am almost sure I have the correct Edward. The records in NSW show 3 children born to them in 1885, 1887 and 1888 and a death of the baby also in 1888. Emma was pregnant with my gran when her husband was killed in November 1888, she was born in May 1889 in Devon. I do not know when they exactly came back but found out that she was awarded £200 compensation after the accident - quite a good bit of money in 1888. Does anyone know of a site that lists passenger ships coming to UK. Thanks in advance for any more info. Jayne :-)

Hi again Jayne

I searched the incoming passenger lists on Ancestry when we first looked into this but I couldn't find her coming back into the country at all but i couldn't find them travelling out either. It's frustrating but at least you are now on the right track.

I would again suggest you get their marriage certificate to find the name of his father and his true age. Then you should be able to get further back with your research.

Astra
xx

Thanks Astra, I very much appreciate your help. Cheers
Jayne
xx :-)