Vowles, Frederick

Singer

Collection date: Jan 1916

Area: Somerset - Bridgwater Surrounds

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Frederick Vowles of Meare (1880-1948): age 35, 2 songs (FT3097/8) on 7 Jan 1916: Vowles is a common local name and it was sometimes spelled Vowles and sometimes Vowels, so there is room for confusion. But it does look like we are dealing with 1 character, namely Frederick John Vowles baptised on 27/3/1881 at Burtle, son of John Vowles, labourer of West Hay and his wife Sarah. In 1891 (RG12/1887 f59 p9) John & Sarah Vowles were at Catcott, Burtle with 3 sons – Albert 22, Fredk 10, Frank 5 and daughter Mary 7.

On 30/10/1899 at Meare church a Frederick John Vowles, labourer and son of John Vowles, married Ada Lee, daughter of Arthur Lee, labourer. Arthur Lee (Leigh) can be found in the 1891 census at Meare but his daughter of the correct age was Edith (not Ada). This may be reconciled by the fact that in 1901 Frederick J Vowles, 20, was listed at Godney nr Meare as husband of Edith but in 1911 the same Frederick J Vowles, 30 (and married 11 years) was listed as husband of Ada with 4 children. Edith and Ada are probably the same person. In 1939 Frederick J Vowles was listed as a general agricultural labourer at Meare with wife Edith. His date of birth was given as 27/12/1880. Frederick died Jan qr 1948 (7c 248).