Clara/Clarissa Howell born about 1786 in St Arvans

I'm struggling to locate Clara. She married William Brown in 1808 in St Arvans and was with him in 1841 census. He died 1842 and she married John Powell. Census 1851 and Census 1861 have her birthplace as St Arvans, but I cannot find the records. Census records imply her birth year is late 1780s, but the burial record in 1862 makes her 76 = born in 1786.

Interesting quirk is that on her marriage to John Powell, her father is omitted.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how I might find her parents?

Thanks
Simon
NZ

Post reply

1491 views

Fod Records

Burial at St Arvans Monmouth - 7 December 1862

Clara POWELL age 76

residence: St Arvans

----

Number of Public Members' trees on Ancestry and quote

'William BROWN marriage to Clara Clarissa HOWELL - Mitchell Troy 1 February 1808 aged 28

Mon OPC records show Wm & Clarissa had children from 1809 onwards. This is the only marriage which could fit. Mitchel Troy is 10 miles N of St Arvans - Freereg has m as St Arvans'

and children

John BROWN - 1809-1822
George BROWN - 1811-1822
Elizabeth BROWN - 1816-1888
Robert BROWN - 1819
Hannah BROWN - 1822-1893
Mary BROWN - 1825-1829

+ the info on the Marriage to John POWELL - Mitchel Troy Mon - 13 January 1846 aged 60

Clara BROWN married John POWELL - CLERK OF PARISH (f John POWELL Gardener) - no other details - She is described as a Widow, Farmer of this Parish . Geo & Sarah HOWELL are witnesses.***

This couple could be

Monmouthshire, St Avans - 1851

George HOWELL - 54, Grocer, born Warwick, Coventry
Sarah HOWELL - 62 - born Mon. St. Avans
Sarah SIMMONDS - 15 - Servant born St Avans

---

? CLDS - Marriage at Mitchel Troy - 26 December 1826

George HOWELL/Sarah HARRY

---

Ancestry : Probate (George is on the 1871 census aged 74, born Coventry, Warwickshire - lodging with Jane BROWN + George JONES - a Servant from St Briavels

George HOWELL - Effects under £200 21 March .

The Will of George HOWELL late of St Arvans in the County of Monmouth Grocer and Postmaster who died 1 March 1873 at St Arvans was proved at the Principal Registry by Samuel Gwynne Watkins of St Arvans Registrat of Births and Deaths the sole Executor.
----

Try studying the 1841 census for clues

1841 census St Arvans, Monmouthshire - Page 4 of 9

John POWELL - 65 Grocer
Margaret - 70
Elizabeth - 10
Elizabeth HOWELL - 60

James PRITCHARD - 85 - Smith

then

William BROWN - 60 Farmer
Clara - 50
Hannah - 15
Thomas BAFSETT - 15 - Ag Lab. (Bafsett family on previous page)

and a few doors away

David HOWELL - 70 - Tyler
Margaret HOWELL - 70 (? CLDS - David HOWELL/Margaret JONES - 29 December 1813 - Mitchel Troy)

and on page 2 of 9

George HOWELL - 45 - Mason
Sarah HOWELL - 50

Post reply

1523 views

Thank you for providing all this information so quickly.

I didn't spot the family trees in Ancestry which stated that William Brown was 28 at the marriage (sometimes reported Mitchel Troy, sometimes St Arvans - e.g. FreeReg site). Where did you find the age reference?

I've prepared a table of all the Howells I can find around that time in St Arvans from all sources - Forest of Dean, FreeReg, Monmouth OPC, Ancestry, Census forms, BMD to try to identify Clara's parents, but cannot positively confirm them. I'll try the route you suggest - looking for children's names derived from the grandparents.

Do you know of any more sources of information, which I haven't tried?

Thanks and regards
Simon
NZ

Post reply

1480 views

Fod Records

William BROWN's Burial records at St Arvans, Monmouth

William BROWN - 17 November 1842 - age 62 = c1780

Just using the Advance Search for witnesses - just in case other family members 'pop up' on the records.

Try and form family groups HOWELL/HOWELS/HOWEL etc from the Forest of Dean records at St Arvans

deaths:
John HOWELL - 9 February 1814 age 49 = c 1765
Mary HOWELL - 9 March 1825 age 73 = c 1752

Do Wills exist for HOWELL in St Arvans - ??

Post reply

1433 views

I've got the families in groups in my table, which now has over 100 Howells in it.

I did wonder about Charlotte being Clarissa. Never heard of that as an alternative though.

Post reply

1443 views

There could be an outside chance - this baptism might be Clarissa ??? with h's looking like l's and ss looking like t's and the middle l a dotted i

1783

Charlotte HOWELS - parents Christopher & Hannah - at St Arvans Monmouth

siblings:

Jas White HOWELL - 1770
Isaac HOWELL - 1773
Mary HOWELL - 1774
Sarah HOWELL 1779

---

Clarissa did have a daughter Hannah..

Post reply

1428 views

I see what you mean about the misreading of Clarissa for Charlotte. I assume the original records will be at Ebbw Vale. I'll try to get a look at them when I next come to UK.

Very helpful to have someone else testing out the things I've seen. Often you'll spot something I didn't notice. Much appreciated.

And the Hannah connection is pretty good, there aren't too many of them. Nor Christophers but I can find no further trace of him.

Cheers
Simon

Post reply

1444 views

Hi Simon,

From this site's PRs, are these your couple ?.

Record_ID: 42591
Entry_Number: 38
Year: 1769
Month: Aug
Day: 13
Grooms_Surname: HOWELL
Grooms_Forenames: Christopher
Grooms_Age:
Groom_Condition:
Grooms_Occupation:
Grooms_Residence: Rogostorstone Grange in the County of Monmouth
Grooms_Fathers_Surname:
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames:
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation:
Brides_Surname: WHITE
Brides_Forenames: Hannah
Brides_Age:
Brides_Condition:
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Woolaston
Brides_Fathers_Surname:
Brides_Fathers_Forenames:
Brides_Fathers_Occupation:
Licence_or_Banns: Licence
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: William Craddock
Witness_2: Mary Craddock
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Rich[ar]d Thomas Curate
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P376 IN 1/6
Page_Number: 10
Parish_Chapel: Woolaston
Soundex_Groom: H400
Soundex_Bride: W300

Woolaston is on the Severn but not far from Tintern etc which is on the Wye so within easy reach.

----

Always worth ticking the Soundex box to help spot spelling variations.
Does this suggest Christopher was a waterman ?

Record_ID: 1004540
Entry_Number: 275
Year: 1805
Month: Sep
Day: 20
Surname: HOWELLS
Forenames: Christopher
Residence: Doward
Age_at_death:
Officiating_Minister: Tho[ma]s Thomas Curate
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death: Drowned in the River Wye.
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P278 IN 1/4
Page_No: 19
Parish_Chapel: St Briavels
Soundex: H420

----

Record_ID: 297550
Entry_Number:
Year: 1852
Month: Mar
Day: 22
Surname: HOWELLS
Forenames: Hannah
Residence: Monmouth
Age_at_death: 83
Officiating_Minister:
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference:
Page_No:
Parish_Chapel: Monmouth
Soundex: H420

So born abt 1770, perhaps the daughter you mention ?

I see several Hannah Howell/Howells PRs in the database within this general Wyeside/Severnside area (Monmouth/Coleford then Chepstow, Lydney, Newnham etc).

Post reply

1459 views

The marriage looks spot on. Christopher & Hannah started having children (in St Arvans) in 1770 - James White Howell.

Not sure about the others, but useful. Thanks

Simon

Post reply

1461 views

Under the heading: Help - FAQ

You can send a 'Data Request Correction Form - and have the record checked for you.

Forest of Dean FHT Forum

Clara/Clarissa Howell born about 1786 in St Arvans (General)