Maria (Rowe) Howlett (bef. 1843 - 1918)

Born before 26 Jan 1843 in St Blazey, Cornwall, England

Wife of John Bray — married 19 Jul 1860 in Par, Cornwall, England

Wife of Heinrich Gustavus Pockrandt — married about 24 Aug 1875 in Wallarroo, South Australia [uncertain]

Wife of George Howlett — married 2 Jul 1913 in Redfern, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 7 May 1918 after age 75 in Bourke, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rhonda Lucas [send private message]

Hannah (Rowe) Howlett migrated from Cornwall to Australia.

Biography

Maria, whilst baptised Maria was known as Annie, Hannah, Hannah Maria, and Anna Maria.

Maria was born before 26 Jan 1843 when she was baptised^[1] in the Parish of Saint Blazey, Cornwall, her parents were John Rowe a miner and Elizabeth and they were residing at Biscovey.

In the 1851 census recorded on 30th March 1851 Maria is residing at Biscovey with her parents and sister Ellen.

On 19th July 1860 Maria married John Bray in the Parish of Par, the following year they are recorded in the 1861 census at Biscovey:

Soon after on 2nd July 1861 Maria gave birth to first child Louisa at Saint Blazey who was baptised^[2] in the Parish of Par on 4th August 1861, at the same time William Bray Rowe, Maria's nephew, born to her sister Elizabeth Jane was baptised.

1865 onwards - Immigration to Australia
Next came young William who is mentioned as an infant in the shipping records to Australia, however no baptism in Cornwall has yet been found or noted, maybe the family were too busy preparing for their journey to Australia to have him baptised.

On 4th February 1865 Maria (Rowe) Bray aged 22, her husband John aged 24 and children Louisa aged 3 and infant son William left Plymouth, Devon onboard "The Clara"^[3] arriving in Port Adelaide, South Australia on 5th January 1865.

Aboard the same ship is John Rowe and Caroline Hicks and family, Miner of Cornwall and William J Rowe and Mary and family, Miner of Cornwall, I suspect they may have been Hannah's siblings, but have not proven it at this stage. We shouldn't discount the George and Jane from Westminster, Middlesex either.

Just 6 months after their arrival young William died^[4] on 10th December 1865 at Wallaroo Mines.

From this point until later in life records for Maria become rather murky. She changes her name from Maria to 'Hannah Maria' for the birth^[5] of William John Bray in 1866, the birth^[6] of Theodore Bray in 1870 and Hermann Bray in 1876^[7], all at Wallaroo Mines. For the birth^[8] of Averilda in 1873 she is recorded as 'Anna Maria'. Note: Evidence supports that William John Bray and John Pockrandt who died 1930 at Cunnamulla, Qld are the same person and that he changed his name to Pockrandt, on his marriage and death certificates his parents are listed as Henry Pockrandt and Maria Rowe.

From here we have the transition to children being recorded under the name of Pockrandt with Emma being the first having been born^[9] at Kinchega Station on the Darling River near Wilcannia in 1877, her birth was registered by her father Henry Pockrandt of Germany and he stated that there were 1 male, and 2 females living and 1 male deceased. Mother was 'Anna Maria Bray' and they were married 25th December 1871 at Port Wallaroo, South Australia. Over the next few registrations the date of marriage varies. Evidence supports the fact that 'Henry' Heinrich Gustavus Pockrandt were never married; his Naturalization^[10] papers in 1915 declare him to be a single man and his death^[11] at Magill, SA in 1919 does not indicate any children or marriages.

In May 2015 it was found that Maria Bray married^[12] George Howlett on 2nd July 1913 at The Parsonage, May St, Redfern, she states that she was a widow and her parents were John Rowe and Elizabeth Harbour, as she still could not read and write she wasn't able to correct the surname Hobba incorrectly recorded as Harbour.

Maria Howlett died^[13] 7 May 1918 at Wilson St, Bourke; listed on her death record by her husband are a total of 11 children. Louisa 55, William J 51, Elva H 44, Lucy M 40 all living and 5 males and 1 female deceased.

The following newspaper notices have appeared for Maria: A death notice in the "Western Herald" on the 11 May 1918^[14] advising of her death which read as follows:

On Tuesday last May 7, Mrs. Howlett, wife of Mr. George Howlett, of this town, died at her residence in the Wilson-street at the ripe age of 76. Her remains were interred on Wednesday, the Rev. Consterdine officiating at the grave.

The old lady had lived in Bourke and Brewarrina districts for many years, and was well-known and respected.

A Return Thanks notice was published on 15 May 1918^[15]:

WE hereby desire to publicly express our SINCERE THANKS to SR. F. F. BROWN, for his care and attention, and also to KIND FRIENDS who were unremitting in their assistance, to our late Wife and Mother also to all FRIENDS for their tributes of sympathy, GEORGE HOWLETT & FAMILY.

In Memoriam on 19 May 1919^[16]:

HOWLETT.-In loving memory of our dear mother MARIA HOWLETT who died May 7th, 1918.
Inserted by her loving son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Mary Pockran and grandchildren Hilda, Jack and Norman. R.I.P.

In Memoriam on 8 May 1920^[17]:

HOWLETT.-In loving memory of my dear mother, and grandmother, HANNAH HOWLETT who died on 7th May, 1918. "Rest in Peace."
Inserted by her loving grandchildren, Vera, Dorrie and Lillie. and Mr. and Mrs. Leahy.

HOWLETT.-In loving memory of my dear mother, and grandmother, HANNAH HOWLETT who died on 7th May, 1918. "Rest in Peace."
Inserted by her loving son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Mary, and grandchildren Hilda, Jack, Norman and Douglas.

Conclusion: Evidence supports that John Bray probably died between 1865 and 1870 at the latest and that all children born on Australian soil are born of Henry Pockrandt, the only way to solve this mystery is to continue to gather DNA from descendants and compare the percentages.

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

Research was conducted by Rhonda Lucas and Jan Muir, biography compiled by Rhonda, 30 May 2015.

1. ↑ "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch : accessed 15 Dec 2012), Maria Rowe, 26 Jan 1843; citing SAINT BLAZEY,CORNWALL,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 0226194, 0090240.
2. ↑ Baptism for Louisa Bray and William Bray Rowe, "England, Cornwall and Devon Parish Registers, 1538-2010," index and images, FamilySearch : accessed 27 Mar 2015), Cornwall > Par > Baptisms, 1849-1901 > image 27 of 88, (page 50, entries 399 and 400; Record Office, Truro.
3. ↑ TheShipsList, online database, "The Clara"
4. ↑ GenealogySA 22/43 Death; Record for John Bray
5. ↑ GenealogySA Birth 1866//43/238; Record for William John Bray
6. ↑ GenealogySA Birth 1870/83/243; Record for Theodore Bray
7. ↑ GenealogySA Birth 1876/162/40; Record for Hermann Bray
8. ↑ GenealogySA Birth 1873/125/419; Record for Averilda Bray
9. ↑ NSW Birth Transcription 1877/15040 Wilcannia; Record for Emma Pockrandt
10. ↑ NAA Naturalistion Record for Heinrich Gustavus Pockrandt, NAA: A1, 1914/20429.
11. ↑ SA Death Transcription 1919/420/10 Norwood; Record for Heinrich Gustave Pockrandt
12. ↑ NSW Marriage Transcription M8958/1913 Newtown; Record for George Howlett and Maria Bray
13. ↑ NSW Death Transcription 7535/1918 Bourke; Record for Maria Howlett
14. ↑ EVERYTHING. (1918, May 11). Western Herald (Bourke, NSW : 1887 - 1970), p. 2. Retrieved May 22, 2015, from Trove
15. ↑ Family Notices. (1918, May 15). Western Herald (Bourke, NSW : 1887 - 1970), p. 2. Retrieved May 22, 2015, from Trove
16. ↑ Family Notices. (1919, May 10). Western Herald (Bourke, NSW : 1887 - 1970), p. 2. Retrieved May 22, 2015, from Trove
17. ↑ Family Notices. (1920, May 8). Western Herald (Bourke, NSW : 1887 - 1970), p. 2. Retrieved May 30, 2015, from Trove

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