William BOWERS was born 04 August 1847 in Brackley, Northamptonshire, England. He married Phoebe KNIBBS 24 December 1885 in Brackley, Northamptonshire, England. He died 08 December 1895 in Brackley, Northamptonshire, England. Phoebe KNIBBS, daughter of Thomas N KNIBBS and Sarah GIBBARD , was born 07 April 1846 in Deddington, Oxfordshire, England. She died July September, 1927 in Brackley District, Northamptonshire, England.


Marriage Notes for William BOWERS\Phoebe KNIBBS:

William and Phoebe married at the Chapel of St John & James at Brackley, Northamptonshire, England. He was aged 39 she was 40. The witnesses were Richard Jones and Ellen Bowers, his sister.
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From the Bucks Herals, Saturday 09 January 1886:
Bowers-Knibbs.—At the College Church, Brackley, on the 24th December., the Rev. M. F. Egerton, Mr. William Bowers, of Brackley, to Miss Phoebe Knibbs, of Buckingham.

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There were no children born from this marriage.


Notes for William BOWERS:

William was the son of William and Mary Bowers from Brackley, Northamptonshire, England. He had a brother Joseph and sisters Rose & Ellen. I was contacted in April 2004 by Margaret Hawkins who is the great grand-daughter of Joseph.
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In 1851, we see his family living at Goose Green, St James, Brackley, Northamptonshire:
William Bowers Head Mar 25 ????? Labourer Northants Brackley
Mary Bowers Wife Mar 31 Northants Brackley
William Bowers Son 3 Northants Brackley
Joseph Bowers Son 2 Northants Brackley
Hannah Bowers Daur 2 months Northants Brackley
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In 1861, the family were still living at Goose Green:
William Bowers Head Mar 37 General Labourer Northants Brackley
Mary Bowers Wife Mar 41 Northants Brackley
Louisa Bowers Daur UnM 20 Lace Maker Northants Brackley
William Bowers Son 13 Agricultural Labourer Northants Brackley
Joseph Bowers Son 11 Northants Brackley
Hannah Bowers Daur 9 Northants Brackley
Jane Bowers Daur 6 Northants Brackley
Rose Bowers Daur 4 Northants Brackley
Agnes Bowers 6 months Northants Brackley
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We see them again in 1871, living at Brackley Street, Goose Green:
Mary Bowers Head Wid 50 Lacemaker Northants Brackley
Wm. Bowers Son UnM 23 Labourer Northants Brackley
Rose Bowers Daur 13 Labourer Northants Brackley
Agnes Bowers Daur 9 Northants Brackley
Ellen Bowers Daur 6 Northants Brackley
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William appears in the 1881 census living with his mother, brother and sister at Goose Green, Brackley, Northamptonshire, England:
Mary Bowers Head Wid 61 Lacemaker Brackley Northampton
William Bowers Son UnM 33 Gen Lab Brackley Northampton
Rose Rebecca Bowers Daur UnM 24 Dom Serv Brackley Northampton
Emily Ellen Bowers Daur UnM 16 Lacemaker Brackley Northampton

I believe his mother Mary Bowers died aged 64 during q2/1884 at Brackley District, Northamptonshire.
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William married Phoebe in 1885.
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William and his wife Phoebe appear in the 1891 census living at Bridge Street, Goose Green, Brackley, Northamptonshire, England in the parish of St James.
William Bowers Head M 43 Brewers Drayman Northants Brackley
Phoebe Bowers Wife Mar 43 Oxon Deddington
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William died of Chronic Alcoholism at the Cottage Hospital in Brackley, Northamptonshire, England, aged just 47 years.

Sources for William BOWERS:

  1. Personal Contact with Margaret Hawkins, a Bowers descendant,
  2. 1891 British Census,
  3. 1881 British Census,

Notes for Phoebe KNIBBS:

In 1871, Phoebe was living with her parents at Olney, Silverstone, Northamptonshire, England.
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Phoebe is listed in the 1881 census living with her parents at Stratford Rd, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. She's listed as aged 35, unmarried, and a lacemaker by trade.
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Phoebe married William Bowers at Goose Green, Brackley District in 1885, so fairly late in her life (39 years old). They appear in 1891, living at Goose Green, Brackley, Northamptonshire:
William Bowers Head Mar 49 Brewers Drayman Northants Brackley
Phoebe Bowers Wife Mar 43 Oxon Deddington
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She appears in the 1901 census, living alone at Brackley, Northamptonshire, England. William died in 1895:
Phoebe Bowers Head Wid 50 Laundress Oxon Deddington
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In 1911, she was still living alone at Goose Green, Brackley, Northamptonshire:
Phoebe Bowers Head Widow F 66 Laundress Oxon Deddington

Sources for Phoebe KNIBBS:

  1. Oxfordshire Parish Register - Deddington,
  2. GRO England & Wales, GRO England & Wales gives 2Qtr1846 
  3. 1861 British Census,
  4. 1851 Census of Woodstock Union, Oxfordshire,
  5. FreeBMD,
  6. 1881 British Census,
  7. 1901 British Census,
  8. 1911 British Census,