Matthew Sowden (~1804 - 1871)

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Sowden

Matthew Sowden, brother of Francis Sowden - Return to Family of Matthew Sowden-525

There are 15 Profiles including Matthew's to be created from this page.

Matthew Sowden (1804-) is the son of Henry (Souden) Sowden and Rebecca Hicks

Matthew Sowden was born about January 1804 in Cornwall, England and was baptised on 5 February 1804 at Saint Martin on Looe Bay in Cornwall, England^[1] the son of Henry (Souden) Sowden (bef.1763-bef.1846) and Rebecca (Hicks) Sowden (bef.1764-bef.1847).

His siblings were:

1. Henry Sowden (1789 - )
2. John Sowden (1789 - )
3. Francis Sowden (1797 - 1878)
4. Joseph Sowden (1808 - )
5. Samuel Sowden (1808 - )

Matthew married Elizabeth (Langdon) Sowden (1805-) (~1805 - ) on 11 October 1831 at St Martin by Looe, Cornwall^[2].

Their children were:

1. Elizabeth (Sowden) Symons (bef.1840-bef.1901)
   • Married:George Henwood Symons (abt.1834-1915), the son of George Symons (abt.1810-1884)
   • Children:
     1. Elizabeth Jane Symons (1864-)
     2. Olive Mary Symons (1870-1956)
     3. William James Symons (1872-1901)
        • Married: Mary Jane Blake (1873-)
        • Children:
          1. Edward John Symons (1896-)
          2. William George Symons (1901-)
          3. Olive Annie Symons (bef.1905-bef.1908)
     4. Edward Matthew Symons (1872-1873)
2. Edward Sowden (abt.1841-)

In the 1841 England Census Matthew was said to be 35 years old and employed as a Gardener. He was not living with his wife and children, instead residing at Gerrans in Cornwall^[3].

In the 1851 Census Matthew is said to be 36 years old and employed as a Gardener. The image of both the 1841 and 1851 census entries are clear as 35 and 36 years respectively. Going by his baptism record Matthew would have been around 37 years in 1841 and therefore 47 in 1851. Maybe he didnt really know how old he was or he just didnt want to age^[4].

In the 1851 Census he is residing with his wife Elizabeth (33) and children Edward (11) and Elizabeth (7), again the ages are clearly written. The previous census (1841) has Elizabeth aged (30)^[5] with their daughter Elizabeth aged 1 year and the unnamed son as 1 day old. Could the elder Elizabeth died and another be born in the 1844?

This is then confused further when in the 1861 England Census Matthew is said to be 57 years and employed as a Master Gardener. His wife Elizabeth is now said to be 56 years while their daughter Elizabeth is now said to be 21 years. Leading to the question of have they confused all their ages. Also in the household in 1861 is their niece Jane Sowden the daughter of Samuel Sowden and Ann.^[6]

Matthew Sowden died at the age of 67 years before 30 June 1871 at Penzance, Cornwall^[7].

Sources

1. ↑ Matthew Sowden's Baptism: "England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
   England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 916895
   Ancestry uk Record 9841 #49852115 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Matthew Sowden baptism on 5 Feb 1804, son of Henry Sowden & Rebecca, in Saint Martin On Looe Bay, Cornwall, England.
2. ↑ Matthew Sowden's Marriage: "England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973"
   England, Marriages, 1538-1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 916895
   Ancestry uk Record 9852 #5273927 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Mathew Sowden marriage to Elizabeth Langdon on 11 Oct 1831 in Saint Martin On Looe Bay, Cornwall, England.
3. ↑ Matthew Sowden's entry in the 1841 Census: "1841 England Census"
   Class: HO107; Piece: 147; Book: 10; Civil Parish: Gerrans; County: Cornwall; Enumeration District: 10; Folio: 7; Page: 7; Line: 9; GSU roll: 241269
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 8978 #531080 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Mathew Sowden (35) in Gerrans in Truro registration district in Cornwall, England. Born in Cornwall, England.
4. ↑ Matthew Sowden's entry in the 1851 Census: "1851 England Census"
   Class: HO107; Piece: 1918; Folio: 618; Page: 32; GSU roll: 221072-221073; ED, institution, or vessel: 4d; Household Schedule Number: 104
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 8860 #17135564 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Matthew Sowden (36) head of household in Penzance, Madron in Penzance registration district in Cornwall, England. Born in St Martins, Cornwall, England.
5. ↑ Elizabeth Langdon, Elizabeth Sowden and Edward Sowden in the 1841 Census: "1841 England Census"
   Class: HO107; Piece: 153; Book: 12; Civil Parish: St Martins; County: Cornwall; Enumeration District: 2; Folio: 13; Page: 19; Line: 2; GSU roll: 241274
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 8978 #16578693 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Elizabeth Sowden (30) in St Martins in Bodmin registration district in Cornwall, England.
6. ↑ Matthew Sowden and family in the 1861 Census: "1861 England Census"
   Class: Rg 9; Piece: 1593; Folio: 4; Page: 1; GSU roll: 542837; ED, institution, or vessel: 9; Household schedule number: 1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 8767 #17860392 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Mathew Souden (57) head of household in Madron in Penzance registration district in Cornwall, England. Born in St Martins, Cornwall, England.
7. ↑ Matthew Sowden's Death Registration: "England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915"
   England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office; Volume: 5c; Page: 213
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 8914 #31666554 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Matthew Sowden death registered Apr-May-Jun 1871 in Penzance (age 67).