We are the ancestors of our grandchildren’s children.
We look after them, just as our ancestors look after us.
We aren’t here for ourselves.
We are here for each other and for the children of our grandchildren.
-Roy Sesana

It’s for our future generations why I strive my hardest to piece together the lives of these incredible people. In doing so, not only will learn about our history, we learn a little about ourselves along the way.
We feel their joys, their achievements, their failings and their sorrow. We connect with them, cherish them and honour their lives and their loves.

When I first started researching my children’s paternal family, I worried I wouldn’t connect, that my heart wouldn’t feel the love for them like it does for my own ancestors.  How very wrong I was.
They have pulled on my heartstrings just as much as my own flesh and blood. They have brought tears to my eyes as well as happinesses. 
One lady in particular has won a piece of my heart and touched my soul deeply. 
It’s with the great honour and privilege that I get to share what I know about her life through documentation with you all.
So without further ado, I give you, 

The life of Caroline Chown 1818-1894.

Caroline Chown was born around the year 1818 to Henry Chown, a smith and possibly Sarah Chown nee Jenkins (I’m 99% sure sarah was, Sarah Jenkins, but I need to do a little more research, so please don’t quote me on it.)  The census’s gave her birth location as follows 

1841 – 1821 in Ethan Surrey.

1851 & 1891 – 1821 in Windsor, Berkshire.

1861 – 1831 in Windsor, Berkshire 

1871 – 1827 in Windsor, Berkshire

1881 – 1820 in Windsor, Berkshire.

At present I am unable to find a christening or baptism for her and her brother William.) A few trees on Ancestry have a baptism for Caroline for the 22nd of August 1819, in Heston, Middlesex. I’m unsure about this due to the location and her father being named as Henry and mother Mary.

From the 1851 census of Caroline’s brother William, it shows that William has his mother Sarah Chown, residing with him.

Jumping forward to the year, 1838, Caroline is a witness to her brother William Chown’s marriage to Charlotte Field, Daughter of William Field. William, a Blacksmith and Charlotte, marry on Monday the 10th of December 1838, at The Parish Church of new Windsor, Windsor, Berkshire, England (possibly St John the Baptist Church.) Their other witness was Samuel Boyley.

Caroline was a 20 years old spinster and later that month, Caroline, married bachelor, Samuel Boyley, aged 26, on Christmas Day, Tuesday the 25th of  December 1838, at St Mary’s, The Parish Church of Thorpe, Surrey, England. Caroline was a Servant and Samuel a Smith. They were both residing in Staines. Their witnesses were Caroline’s brother William Chown and C Chown, whom I’m guessing is her sister in law, Charlotte Chrown, nee Field.

It wasn’t long until Caroline, was in the family way and in the year 1839 gave birth to a son, whom they called Solomon.

Caroline and Samuel had Solomon baptised on the 20th October 1839 at, Staines, Middlesex.

On the eve of Sunday the 6th of June 1841, Caroline, Samuel, their son Solomon and Caroline’s father Edward, we’re residing at, Thorpe Road, Egham, Surrey, England. Samuel was working as a smith.

Household Members:

Name	Age
Samuel Bayley	25
Caroline Bayley	20
Solomon Bayley	1
Edward Chenard	50

Caroline was expecting and gave birth to their second son, Charles William Boyley, in the October-December quarter of the year 1841, in the, Windsor Union district of Berkshire.

They baptised him on the 5th December 1841 at, Egham, Surrey, England.

Somewhen between October 1841 and October 1843, Caroline, Samuel, Solomon and Charles, packed up all their belongs and moved to Southampton, Hampshire, England.
I wonder the reason? Had work dried up, maybe a midnight flit or did they just fancy a change? I guess  we will never know, but what every the reason, it was incredibly brave, to leave everyone and everything you known behind and start a fresh, especially as Caroline may have been in the family way as between October and December 1843, in the Southampton district of Hampshire, Caroline gave birth to their first born daughter, whom they named, Sarah.

Their lives were about to change forever as on, Friday the 27th of October 1843, Caroline and Samuels son, Charles William Boyley died, in the parish of St. Mary’s, Southampton, Hampshire. Charles died from, Measles, one week and Pneumonia, one week. Samuel was present and registered his death on Saturday the 28th of October 1843. Samuel gave his residence as, Cossack Street, St Mary’s, Southampton, Hampshire and his profession as a Blacksmith.

The family’s new beginnings wasn’t off to the best start. I can only imagine the pain, the heartbreak and devastation they must have felt. My heart aches for them. I sincerely hope that the birth of their daughter Sarah, helped to relieve a little of their sorrow.

Roughly a year and a half later, Caroline gave birth to their Second daughter in the July-September quarter of the year 1845, in Southampton, Hampshire. They named her Emma Boyley.

Caroline must of been very fertile because she was soon pregnant again (or as my husband said, she didnt have a tv.) and gave birth to their third daughter, Ruth Boyley, in the October-December quarter of the year 1847, in Southampton, Hampshire.

Caroline and Samuels fourth daught, Rebecca Boyley, my husbands 2nd Great Grandmother, was born on the 22nd December 1849 in Millbrook, Southampton, Hampshire, England. Caroline Boyley, registered her birth on the 11th January 1850. They were residing at Paradise Place, Shirley, Southampton, Hampshire.

Rebecca was baptised on the 3rd February 1850, in Shirley, Southampton.

Caroline and Samuel were residing at, Pound Street, Millbrook, South Stoneham, Hampshire, England on the eve of Sunday the 30th of March 1851 with their children, Sarah, Rebecca, Emma and Ruth. They had four lodgers, Mr Robert Simmonds, Mrs Charlotte Simmonds and their children, William and Henry George Simmonds. Samuel was working as a Black Smith.

Their first born, Solomon was residing with Caroline’s brother, William, his aunt Charlotte and his Grandmother Sarah, at Red Lion Street, Richmond Surrey, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey, England.

It wasnt long until, Caroline was pregnant again and between the months January and March 1852, in Southampton, Hampshire, Caroline gave birth to their daughter Charlotte Boyley.

Poor Caroline must have felt like she has spent most of her adult life pregnant, as in the January to March quarter, of the year 1854, in South Stoneham, Southampton, Hampshire, she once again gave birth for the 8th time, to a baby girl whom they named Martha Boyley.

Caroline and Samuel christened Martha, on Sunday the 12th of February 1854, at St. Mary’s Church, South Stoneham, Southampton, Hampshire, England.

St. Mary’s Church, South Stoneham is one of the two remaining medieval churches in the city of Southampton, England. Parts of the building date from the Norman period and the chancel arch is 12th century. The church lies in a secluded position off Wessex Lane, near the north-eastern edge of Southampton and is almost hidden in the Southampton University accommodation campus.

Caroline and Samuels, 9th Child, their 7th daughter, was born between the January and March, quarter of the year 1856, in South Stoneham, Southampton, Hampshire. They named her Kate Boyley 

Caroline and Samuel, christened Kate, at St. Mary’s Church, South Stoneham, Southampton, Hampshire, England, on Sunday the 27th of January 1856.

And in the July-September quarter of 1857, in South Stoneham, Southampton, Hampshire, Caroline gave birth to their 3rd Son and 10th child, Nathan Boyley.

On Friday the 4th of October 1859, Caroline must have had the shock of her life, when she gave birth to twin girls, Rachel and Leah Boyley, at Adelaide Road, Saint Denny’s, Southampton, Hampshire, England.
Leah was born at 11.20am and Rachel was born at 11.50am.
Their father, Samuel was working as a Shipsmith, at the time of their births.
Caroline registered their births on Thursday the 10th of November 1859.

Caroline must have been absolutely exhausted. 12 births, 13 mouths to feed, 13 body’s to cloth and boy what about the amount of washing she would have had to do by hand.  But what a lovely experience to have a home filled with love and family, but I’m sure as sure can be, I wouldn’t have wanted to be the last in the bath water. 🤢
How I would have loved to see the hustle and bustle of everyday life in their home, heard the stories they would have told each other, the secret whispers between siblings.

Heartbreakingly sorrow was soon to hit the family, when Rachel became sick with Impetigo , 1 month and Effusion on brain, 12 hours and passed away, on Friday the 27th of April 1860, at their home, Adelaide Road, Saint Denny‘s, South Stoneham, Hampshire, England.
Caroline was present and registered Rachels death on Sunday the 29th of April 1860.

The loss must have been horrific. I only hope the love and support from her husband Samuel and all their children got her through those dark days. Maybe the busyness of her life would have kept her from breaking, that the daily chores were a blessing instead of a hardship.

The 1861 census was taken on the eve of Sunday the 7th April. It shows the Caroline, Samuel and their children, Emma, Ruth, Rebecca, Charlotte, Martha, Kate, Nathan and Leah Boyley, residing at, Number 1, Seaside Terrace, South Stoneham, Southampton, Hampshire.
Samuel was working as a General Smith.

Caroline was once again pregnant and on Saturday the 10th of November 1861 at Adelaide Road, Saint Denny‘s, South Stoneham, Hampshire, England, Caroline gave birth to a baby boy, whom was not named.
Samuel was working as as Blacksmith Journeyman, at the time of his sons birth. Caroline registered his birth on Thursday the 15th of November 1861.

Devastatingly, Baby Boy Boyley died on 12 November 1861 at Adelaide Road, Saint Denny‘s, South Stoneham, Hampshire, England, when he was 3 days old, from weakness from birth. Emma Boyley was present and registered his death on the 15th November 1861.

Loss is terrible at any time, but a child death has to be the absolute worse.
This little tot hasn’t left my mind since I discovered his birth and death. He has really pulled on my heartstrings. I just cant get my head around the fact he was never named.
My dear friend Bruce being the exceptional man he is, got straight on the case to try and locate a burial for him. We already knew he wasn’t buried at the, Old Cemetery in Southampton, as Samuel Boyley, is the only Boyley to be buried there. Of course he could have been put in with someone else, aka an unmarked grave. This was very common for stillborn births, but as he lived for three days, he would have been entitled to his own burial. Bruce also had the burials in South Stoneham, looked into but there are no Boyley burials there either. Thank you Bruce for trying, I greatly appreciate your help as always.

Heartbreakingly more heartbreak followed when Caroline’s Husband, Samuel Boyley  died on, Thursday the 19th July 1866, at their home in Dundee Road, St Deny’s, South Stoneham, Southampton, Hampshire, when he was 51 years old. Samuel died from Phthisis, also known as Tuberculosis. Caroline was present and registered his death on Friday the 20th of July 1866.

I seriously wonder how Caroline coped. So much loss in such a short time and the fear of her children and herself catching the devastating disease. 🦠 She must of been an incredibly strong lady and I take me hat off to her. I’m extremely proud to call her family, even though I’m not blood related, my hubby and children are and I love the fact her dna is running through their veins. What an absolute incredible women.

Caroline and family laid Samuel to rest at, Southampton Old Cemetery, in, Row C, Block 15, Number 58, Int Number 20630, on Sunday the 22nd of July 1866. May he rest peacefully.

On the 2nd April 1871, Caroline who was now a widower, was residing at 31 Adelaide Road, South Stoneham, Southampton, Hampshire, England, with three of her children, Martha, Nathan and Leah Boyley. Caroline was working as a laundress.

In the year 1875, Caroline finds happiness again, in the arms of a boiler maker, James Turner, son of James Turner.

Caroline and James marry on Saturday the 9th of January 1875, at  The Parish Church of St Mary’s, Southampton, Hampshire, England.

Both Caroline and James are widowers. Caroline and James are both residing at, 22 Glebe Street, Southampton.
Their witnesses were Joseph and Jane Moignard.
Their fathers were named as Edward Chown, a farrier and James Turner, a engineer.
For some reason, Caroline used the name, Catherine Boyley and gave her age as 48, she was 57, going by the birth year of 1818.

Caroline was residing at, Number 19, Bellevue Street, Southampton, Hampshire, England, on Sunday the 3rd April 1881, with her new husband James Turner and her daughter Leah. Caroline was working as a Laundress. Lee was a domestic servant and James was a boilermaker.

Caroline was living at, Number 17, Northampton Street, St Mary, Southampton, Hampshire on Sunday the 5th of April 1891, with her husband James. They were living off their own means and James had recently been paralysed.

Married life was short lived, as on Sunday the 3rd of September 1893, Caroline’s saving grace, James Turner died from Dementia and Brain Atrophy, at Number 13, John Street, Kingsland, Southampton, Hampshire, England. Elizabeth Turner, James daughter in-law, was present and registered his death on the Tuesday 5th September 1893

Caroline and family laid, James Turner, to rest, at Southampton Old Cemetery, Southampton, Hampshire, England, on Thursday the 7th September 1893. He was buried in, Row P, Block 133, Number 221.

RIP James Turner.

A few short months later, Caroline, died on Thursday the 11th January 1894, when she was 75 years old, at Number 14, Northam Street, Southampton, Hampshire, England. Caroline died from, Bronchitis, Influenza and Exhaustion. Her Daughter Leah Mitchell Nee Boyley, of Orchard Lane, Southampton, was present at her death and registered it on the 12th January 1894. 

Caroline was laid to rest in the, Southampton Old Cemetery, in Row C, Block 15, number 58, With her first husband, Samuel Boyley, on Monday the 15th of Janurary 1894.

RIP
Caroline Chown
1818-1894

“Our dead are never dead to us,
until we have forgotten them” 

🦋🦋🦋

A huge thank you to Bruce for taking the time to find Caroline, Samuel and James burial and for visiting them and photographing them for me. You are one of the good ones and I wish more people had your incredibly kind heart.

I have brought and paid for all certificates throughout, Intwined.blog.
Please do not download or use them without my permission.
Thank you.