Helen,

Do you know where your great-grandfather James POWELL & Elizabeth THOMAS were married, and was James a widower at the time?

If your grandfather Thomas POWELL was born in 1879, he would have been 2 at the 1881 census. He doesn't appear to be in the household at the time, although two other children (Elizabeth age 2 & John age 1) are. I've not been able to find John subsequently, so assume that possible "Tom" may have been mis-heard by the enumerator as "John" [see message above of November 11, 2008, 21:47].

I'd be interested to know where & when Elizabeth POWELL (nee MADDOX) died if you have that info.

Tony