Tracing the Slowley family has also proved particularly difficult and I had found very few references to anyone who matches the people I had been searching for.
This situation has changed recently however following a contact from Bob Quin from Canada as will be seen later.
The result of my researches updated with detail provided by Bob is shown in this section which starts with my paternal great great grandparents on the Coe family line.
This situation has changed recently however following a contact from Bob Quin from Canada as will be seen later.
The result of my researches updated with detail provided by Bob is shown in this section which starts with my paternal great great grandparents on the Coe family line.
William Slowley 1845 – ???? and Elizabeth A Johnson 1844 - ????
I know from the marriage certificate of Albert Coe and Jane Slowley that Jane’s father was a William Slowley.
I have obtained the birth certificate of Jane Adelaide Slowly which confirms that her father was William and her mother Elizabeth formerly Johnson. Her parents would have been 23 and 24 respectively when she was born and if they married in 1866 then Jane, who was born in 1868, may have been their first child although I think I have found the family in 1881 which shows that she had an older sister Elizabeth or Eliza Ann.
The most likely birth registry entry for William Slowley is William Slowley born Stepney Q1 1845 vol 2 page 4__. The page number is indistinct but may be 469
Marriage records show that a William Slowley married Elizabeth Abraham Johnson in Mile End Q2 1866 vol 1c page 1094
There is a probable birth record for Elizabeth A Johnson in E London Q4 1843 vol 2 page 218 or alternatively but less likely Et London Q4 1844 vol 2 page 211. Only access to the birth certificate will determine whether either of these are the correct person.
I know from the marriage certificate of Albert Coe and Jane Slowley that Jane’s father was a William Slowley.
I have obtained the birth certificate of Jane Adelaide Slowly which confirms that her father was William and her mother Elizabeth formerly Johnson. Her parents would have been 23 and 24 respectively when she was born and if they married in 1866 then Jane, who was born in 1868, may have been their first child although I think I have found the family in 1881 which shows that she had an older sister Elizabeth or Eliza Ann.
The most likely birth registry entry for William Slowley is William Slowley born Stepney Q1 1845 vol 2 page 4__. The page number is indistinct but may be 469
Marriage records show that a William Slowley married Elizabeth Abraham Johnson in Mile End Q2 1866 vol 1c page 1094
There is a probable birth record for Elizabeth A Johnson in E London Q4 1843 vol 2 page 218 or alternatively but less likely Et London Q4 1844 vol 2 page 211. Only access to the birth certificate will determine whether either of these are the correct person.
The marriage certificate shows that William and Elizabeth were married at St Thomas, Stepney. This church was located in Arbour Square and was consecrated in 1838. The church was severely damaged by incendiary bombs in 1941.
No trace in the 1871 census.
The 1881 census for Mile End gives us a William Slowley and family living in Salmon Street which is less than a mile from Commodore Street. Although Jane who should have been 13 at that time is not shown with the family the fact that William is a twine finisher and on Jane’s marriage certificate he is shown as a twine spinner tends to indicate that this may be the correct family.
No trace in the 1871 census.
The 1881 census for Mile End gives us a William Slowley and family living in Salmon Street which is less than a mile from Commodore Street. Although Jane who should have been 13 at that time is not shown with the family the fact that William is a twine finisher and on Jane’s marriage certificate he is shown as a twine spinner tends to indicate that this may be the correct family.
Commodore Street (Jane Slowley resident in 1883), Salmon Street (William Slowley and family resident in 1881) and St Thomas Arbour Square (marriage of William Slowley and Elizabeth Johnson 1866) as shown in the map above.
We know that William and Elizabeth were married in 1866 prior to the birth of their oldest child Elizabeth Ann in 1867 so there should be a record for them with their three daughters Elizabeth Ann, Jane Adelaide and Hannah in the 1871 census but I have been unable to find it.
We know that William and Elizabeth were married in 1866 prior to the birth of their oldest child Elizabeth Ann in 1867 so there should be a record for them with their three daughters Elizabeth Ann, Jane Adelaide and Hannah in the 1871 census but I have been unable to find it.
The "Maps Descriptive of London Poverty" are perhaps the most distinctive product of Charles Booth's Inquiry into Life and Labour in London (1886-1903). An early example of social cartography, each street is coloured to indicate the income and social class of its inhabitants. As can be seen from the extract above, Salmon Street was not in the very lowest class areas although the Vicious, semi-criminal elements could be found just around the corner. From the grey colouring on both sides of Salmon Street we can see that the Slowley's were classed among the poor. It is clear from the details which follow that the family extricated themselves from their poverty by taking a radical but beneficial step...
There is no trace of the family in the 1891 or 1901 census. The absence of any census records for the Slowley family appears to be explained by the family emigrating to Canada in the early 1880's. It appears that the family or at least most of them emigrated to Canada soon after the 1881 census. The information from Bob Quin is as follows:
"To my knowledge and according to my Mother, my Grandfather (William George Slowley) came to Canada when he was 8 years old. They settled in Montreal, Quebec. They changed the spelling of their last name to Slowleigh. I have no idea why...
My Grandparents (William George Slowley and Anne Lydia Mattison) were were married in about 1897.
My Grandfather worked for the Grand Trunk Railway (later to become Canadian National Railway)...
He started in Montreal, moved to Toronto, Ontario, then Allandale, Ontario, and finally to Fort Erie, Ontario. According to my Mother, he kept moving around the system because he had asthma and Fort Erie was the only place that he had relief.
My Grandparents had 8 children, William Thomas Douglas, Robert Alexander, Violet, Alice, Charles, my Mother – Evelyn Ruth, Dorothy and George. They have all passed away now.
The attachment (shown below) is my Grandmother’s birth certificate (Annie Lydia Slowleigh nee Mattison) . Note that she was born in the Tower of London as her father was a member of the Grenadier Guards."
There is no trace of the family in the 1891 or 1901 census. The absence of any census records for the Slowley family appears to be explained by the family emigrating to Canada in the early 1880's. It appears that the family or at least most of them emigrated to Canada soon after the 1881 census. The information from Bob Quin is as follows:
"To my knowledge and according to my Mother, my Grandfather (William George Slowley) came to Canada when he was 8 years old. They settled in Montreal, Quebec. They changed the spelling of their last name to Slowleigh. I have no idea why...
My Grandparents (William George Slowley and Anne Lydia Mattison) were were married in about 1897.
My Grandfather worked for the Grand Trunk Railway (later to become Canadian National Railway)...
He started in Montreal, moved to Toronto, Ontario, then Allandale, Ontario, and finally to Fort Erie, Ontario. According to my Mother, he kept moving around the system because he had asthma and Fort Erie was the only place that he had relief.
My Grandparents had 8 children, William Thomas Douglas, Robert Alexander, Violet, Alice, Charles, my Mother – Evelyn Ruth, Dorothy and George. They have all passed away now.
The attachment (shown below) is my Grandmother’s birth certificate (Annie Lydia Slowleigh nee Mattison) . Note that she was born in the Tower of London as her father was a member of the Grenadier Guards."
Following on from this useful information I have returned to investigating the Slowley name from the 1991 census onward in case any of them should reappear.
I believe that all of the family left for Canada with the exception of my great grandmother Jane Adelaide Coe nee Slowley. There is however a question mark over her sister Louisa who was 3 years younger than Bob's ancestor William George Slowley. She was obviously too young to have stayed behind alone so unless she stayed with other family of whom I am not aware then she probably emigrated and returned at a later date.
I have managed to trace a Louisa Slowley in marriage and census records which indicates that she was in England in 1893 although there is no sign of her in the 1891 census. I am hopeful that Bob may be able to shed further light on this together with more details of the Slowley family's life in Canada.
Louisa Slowley married Alfred Peniston in 1893 and moved to Yorkshire either before or after the marriage. I suspect that she probably moved to Yorkshire on her return from Canada as there is nothing to indicate that she met Alfred anywhere else.
Alfred Henry Peniston married Louisa Slowley in Rotherham Q3 1893 vol 9c page 897
The family appear in Alfred's birthplace of Wickersley in the 1901 census.
I believe that all of the family left for Canada with the exception of my great grandmother Jane Adelaide Coe nee Slowley. There is however a question mark over her sister Louisa who was 3 years younger than Bob's ancestor William George Slowley. She was obviously too young to have stayed behind alone so unless she stayed with other family of whom I am not aware then she probably emigrated and returned at a later date.
I have managed to trace a Louisa Slowley in marriage and census records which indicates that she was in England in 1893 although there is no sign of her in the 1891 census. I am hopeful that Bob may be able to shed further light on this together with more details of the Slowley family's life in Canada.
Louisa Slowley married Alfred Peniston in 1893 and moved to Yorkshire either before or after the marriage. I suspect that she probably moved to Yorkshire on her return from Canada as there is nothing to indicate that she met Alfred anywhere else.
Alfred Henry Peniston married Louisa Slowley in Rotherham Q3 1893 vol 9c page 897
The family appear in Alfred's birthplace of Wickersley in the 1901 census.
Of the eventual six children of the family the naming of the first three tends toward confirming that Louisa Peniston nee Slowley is the daughter of William and Elizabeth Slowley
Their first born William Henry was probably named after both their grandfathers, William Slowley and Henry Peniston
Jane Adelaide the second child probably named after Louisa's aunt my great grandmother Jane Adelaide Coe nee Slowley. It is worth mentioning that if as I believe, Louisa is the only one of her immediate family to return to England then my great grandmother would be her nearest relative in the country.
Albert Edward the third child was probably named after Louisa's uncle my great grandfather Albert Edward Coe
Their first born William Henry was probably named after both their grandfathers, William Slowley and Henry Peniston
Jane Adelaide the second child probably named after Louisa's aunt my great grandmother Jane Adelaide Coe nee Slowley. It is worth mentioning that if as I believe, Louisa is the only one of her immediate family to return to England then my great grandmother would be her nearest relative in the country.
Albert Edward the third child was probably named after Louisa's uncle my great grandfather Albert Edward Coe
In 1911 all the family except William are still living at home. He can be found living with his paternal grandparents in Rotherham at that time.
As for the whereabouts of the children of the family after 1911, I have located two possible death records both in the first world war. The first was the death of a William Peniston in 1918 serving with the West Yorkshire Regiment and the other a William Penistone also in 1918 serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery. As the family had added an ‘e’ to the surname by 1911 it is quite possible that he is the second of these deaths. There are no other suitable death records.
Jane A Penistone married Nathaniel Thurlby in Rotherham Q1 1920 vol 9c page 1235
Mildred Peniston married John Tann in Rotherham Q3 1929 vol 9c page 1747 Gilbert Penistone married Marjorie P Hilton in Rotherham Q1 1934 vol 9c page 1165
Albert Edward Peniston (reverted to original spelling) married Madge Roe in Rotherham Q1 1935 vol 9c page 967
I have not found any convincing marriage or death records for Harry.
I believe that Alfred Henry Peniston died age 83 in the Rother valley Q2 1954 vol 2c page 599 and his wife Louisa Peniston nee Slowley died age 73 in the Rother valley Q1 1948 vol 2c page 687
Thomas Slowley 1816 – 1875 and Elizabeth ??? 1819 - 1891
Thomas Slowley was born about 1816 in Mile End.
No trace in the 1841, 1851 or 1861 census
Thomas Slowley married Elizabeth ??? before 1841
Elizabeth ??? was born about 1819 in Mile End.
No trace in the 1841, 1851 or 1861 census
In 1871 there is a record of a Thomas Slowley and his family living at 17 Salisbury Street Mile End. Salisbury Street no longer exists but in the same enumeration district and therefore not far from Salisbury Street is Burdett Road which does appear on modern maps. This is only half a mile from Salmon Street where William and his family were living in 1881.
Thomas Slowley was born about 1816 in Mile End.
No trace in the 1841, 1851 or 1861 census
Thomas Slowley married Elizabeth ??? before 1841
Elizabeth ??? was born about 1819 in Mile End.
No trace in the 1841, 1851 or 1861 census
In 1871 there is a record of a Thomas Slowley and his family living at 17 Salisbury Street Mile End. Salisbury Street no longer exists but in the same enumeration district and therefore not far from Salisbury Street is Burdett Road which does appear on modern maps. This is only half a mile from Salmon Street where William and his family were living in 1881.
I believe that these are William’s parents as Thomas is shown as a Rope Maker and it is likely that William would have followed in his father’s occupation. Also William and Elizabeth had a daughter in 1875 whom they named Louisa. If this is the right family then Emma Louisa who died aged 18 in 1871 would have been William’s sister. Louisa is their first child following the death of Emma Louisa and he may well have chosen to name this daughter after his sister.
Thomas Slowley died age about 58 in Mile End Q1 1875 vol 1c page 455
In 1881 Elizabeth Slowley is lodging in Rotherhithe as the servant to a clock maker.
Thomas Slowley died age about 58 in Mile End Q1 1875 vol 1c page 455
In 1881 Elizabeth Slowley is lodging in Rotherhithe as the servant to a clock maker.
There is no trace in the 1891 census
Elizabeth Slowley died age 72 in Mile End Q4 1891 vol 1d page 190.
Elizabeth Slowley died age 72 in Mile End Q4 1891 vol 1d page 190.