William Rowe

William Rowe¹

• Father: Matthias Rowe^1,2,3 b. 25 Dec 1780, d. 21 Feb 1835
• Mother: Ann King^1,3 b. 26 Mar 1788, d. 15 Jan 1850

• Charts: KING, ROWE

• Relationship: 2nd great-grandfather of Lorna Henderson.

• Birth*: William Rowe was born cir. Oct 1827 at Hele, Par. of Bickleigh, DEV, ENG, c. 1828 by 1851 census, which says b Bickleigh, and death cert. which says b HeleBarton. Brenda has/had Tate, which I can see she got from the poor p/copy of the baptism cert. Hindsight, and further research, means I can interpret the "Abode" column as Hele, not Tate, nor Exeter, which I'd initially read it as. Peter Billing (Feb 2000) thinks could be the manor house Hele nr Bickleigh (Tavistock) as old Devon houses often had "Barton" after the name years ago - meaning Manor. Sounds the most likely theory to date, esp. as a family of KINGs lived there in 1881 and were associated with it for a number of years. Now that I've been there and spoken to relations etc, I can indeed confirm that Hele Barton is the one nr Bickleigh, which can be seen up the hill from the farm yard.^1,4,5
• Baptism: He was baptized on 17 Oct 1827 in the Par. of Bickleigh, DEV, ENG; the entry reading: William, son of Matthias & Ann Rowe of Hele, Yeoman.^5,6
• Death: William Rowe was about 8 when his father Matthias Rowe died on 21 Feb 1835.^7,8
• Marriage*: William Rowe married Honor Daw, daughter of Isaac Smith Dawe and Bettsey Metters, on 26 Sep 1850 in the St Andrews Par. Ch, Plymouth, DEV, ENG, Reg. Plymouth Qtr 3 Vol 9 page #455 (same year volume and page as the marriage in the March qtr, Plympton St Mary, of William's brother Joseph to Honor's sister Thirza) Cert reads: William, 23, mariner resident 6 Gilwell St, s/o Matthew Rowe, farmer, married Honour Daw 22, resident 56 Cambridge St, d/o Isaac Smith Daw, miller. Performed at Parish Ch. of St Andrew, Plymouth 26 Sep 1850. Wit: Isaac Daw and Eliz Staddon (all signed) (assumed⁹ to be Honor's brother and his wife to be).^{10,2,11,12,9,13}
• LetterFull*: The full text of the letter Elizabeth Collings sent to William Rowe on 20 Nov 1860 from 3 Princess St, Plymouth, DEV, ENG, reads: My dear Brother & Sister
  I am indeed sorry to hear that there is as yet no chance, of the war being stoped (sic), I was in hope that it would have been over, long ere this but I suppose we must hope for best, althou' I have no doubt but that you find it very disheartening Me and my little family were in Exeter, when I received your letter I was very glad to get it, and hope, that you will not fail to write me again, when you have the time.
  John is still in business with Mr Raddall, and I believe after Christmas is to be equal partners.
  If you think of coming to England again; we should be most happy to do all in our power for you.
  You would be much surprised to see Uncle William poor old man, he is not like the same
  I suppose you will have heard from Sarah about their going in business I should think that it will be a good thing for them.
  Sarah was looking much better, when I was in Exeter than, when she was here in the summer; her children are a great trouble to her; they are such great spirits, and are indulged a great deal, by Davey, and Uncle James.
  Mine are I am happy to say pretty good being made to stand in fear the two oldest, are growing away nicely, but baby is very small, altho' I think pretty healthy.
  I suppose Matty is got a fine Boy by this time, I should very much like to see you all.
  Mr Madden that went with you to Australia, seems to be getting on very well since his return; he repaired and new fitted up, a Dog Cart for John, in the Summer, and did it very well.
  Plymouth is getting quite a large and important town, there has been a daily newspaper published here, for nearly twelve months past, which seems to pay very well, the price of it is only a penny.
  John, and the children are quite well and write with me in kind love to you all, hoping this will find you in a much better position than when last you wrote. I remain your very affectionate sister E Collings.^14,15
• LetterFull*: The full text of the letter Joseph King Rowe sent to William Rowe on 19 May 1862 from Exeter, DEV, ENG, reads: Dear Brother, I now write you a few lines hoping they will find you in better prospects than you have at present though I am afraid Sir G Grey will not be able to bring the natives in your province to terms before they are beaten more than they were last time though I hope he may as it must be very bad as it is almost as well be at war. it is very unlucky for you to have gone to what at present is worst part of New Zealand but it may be better after a time, but while the grass is growing the horse is starving. now I must let you know some home news. Uncle William died on the 21st of April he had been sinking for a long time he has been helpless for more than 12 months but we have always got him up and sat him in his chair by day but we had to tie him to keep him from falling for a long time he was kept to his bed about 3 weeks and during that time he fell away almost to a skeleton and could hardly bear to be moved thought I don't think he was in pain else, in fact I think he had very little feeling left for a long time, as for the contents of the will I will put it on a sheet by itself. We have had 4 of our children ill in the measles and the youngest died on the 14th April (identified as Matthias, Ann must have been born after this letter), so we have had a sick house lately but are all well at present though I cannot stand any thing hardly since I caught a cold last August and had inflamation of the chest, though I hope it will wear off in time. Sarah's children have had the measles but they are getting better now, in fact almost everybody children and some grown people have had them Uncle James is almost blind, Mr Bennett left Milehouse a few months ago and went to Devonport where they are gone somewhere about the five fields to live, (he must have returned to Milehouse as the 1871 census shows Edward and Bettsey at the Milehouse Inn) Thirza sends her kind love to you and same from your affectionate brother J K Rowe.¹⁶
• Death: William and Honor were predeceased by their dtr Sarah Peeke Rowe on 11 Mar 1863.^17,18
• LetterFull: The full text of the letter Joseph King Rowe sent to William Rowe on 19 Oct 1863 from Heavitree Rd, Exeter, DEV, ENG, reads: Dear Brother
  I am sorry to inform you Honours mother is no more in this world she died October 8th at E Bennetts at Plymouth she was ill but little more than a week, only had the doctor on Saturday and she died on Thursday morning. She had put on a piece of paper what she wished to have done, and I have sent you a copy there are some things she did not put down and several things did not belong to her the money is £100, I have £60 and E Bennett £40 and the rent that is due will about clear the funeral expenses. I don't know wither you will leave where you are if you do we had better not send the money until we hear from you. I suppose you understand that the rents of Honicknowle will all belong to Mrs Brooking untill (sic) her death, it seems you are in for a hot war with the natives this time and very likely to teach them to keep the peace for the time to come. I hope it will soon be over but not very likely at present Mr and Mrs Davey and family and Mr and Mrs Collings and family are all well present and so is our family with the exception of myself. Thirza joins with me in kind love to you all, hoping this will find you all in good health
  I remain your affectionate brother J K Rowe
  PS she was buried at Tavistock as it was her wish.¹⁹
• LetterFull: William Rowe was mentioned in the letter Thirza Rowe sent to Honor Rowe on 19 Oct 1863 from Heavitree Rd, Exeter, DEV, ENG, "my love to your self and William and all the dear Children
  from your affectionate sister T Rowe."²⁰
• Death*: William Rowe died on 25 Apr 1915 at Kelly Rd Farm, Lepperton, TNK, NZ; cert reads: Died 25th April 1915 Lepperton William Rowe retired farmer 87; c.o.d. Senile heart pulmonary Hypostasis, duration 3 days, last seen by E A Walker 25 Apr 1915. Father Matthias Rowe, farmer
  Mother Elizabeth Ann Rowe formerly King. Buried 27th April 1915, Huirangi by A F K Harrison, Church of England. Born HeleBarton, Devonshire, England, in NZ 61 years Married Plymouth England at age 23 to Honour Dow (sic), deceased. Surviving issue: M 57, 51, 47, 42, 40 F: 53 Informant: H Spurdle, Undertaker, Waitara
  Dth notice (26 April 1915 Personal column) "the death occurred on Sunday of Mr William Rowe, of Huirangi. The deceased, who was 88 years of age, was a very old settler. He served in this Maori war, and has resided in this district ever since."
  Funeral notice read: "The Funeral of the late William Rowe will leave the residence of William Rowe, jun., Kelly Road, Lepperton on Tuesday April 27 at 2 o'clock for the Huirangi Cemetery. Friends will kindly accept this intimation H Spurdle, Undertaker for Topless Bros, Waitara"
  Obit: mentions Australian Goldfields, adventures, shipping.^1,21,22,23
• Burial*: He was buried with Honnour Rowe in the Huirangi Cem., nr Waitara, TNK, NZ, Plot 66 h/stone reads:ILMO Honnour the beloved wife of William Rowe died Jun 6th 1897 aged 66 years; Also William Rowe died 25th Apr 1915 aged 88 years. Sarah Rowe died 26 Sep 1901 aged 31 yrs. (Honnour was buried 9 Jun 1897, Sarah (their dtr who died in a fire) on 29 Sep 1901 and William on 27 Apr 1915, William is between his wife an ddtr).^24,25,26,27

• Last Edited: 11 May 2008