Family History Notes - Fowler

FREDERICK FOWLER

Apparently came to SA as a newly-married man. Place of origin and date of emigration not known. Cabinetmaker Murray St Gawler, from at least 1870 (not listed in any almanacs before that date). Builder and Carpenter Brougham Place 1892 then Stanley St, 1897 North Adelaide then Advertising agent Stanley St, North Adelaide 1909-1912. Not listed in SA records after this date, unless he became the Frederick Fowler orchardist in Penola (although I should imagine getting on too much in years to be starting out in a new career by this time). None of the rest of his family, apart from the Hancocks, listed after this date either so far as can be ascertained quickly. Only one grandchild found so far as well.

m Johanna Mobin nee TOZER

Florence Amelia Fowler b 26/11/1870 Gawler

Albert Edwin Fowler b 21/10/1873 Gawler d 14/11/1873 Gawler

Lilla Tozer Fowler b 2/7/1877 Gawler

Amy Evelyn Fowler b 9/9/1879 Gawler

Florence Amelia Fowler m 29/4/1896 Groom’s father residence East Adelaide, Robert Learmonth Hunter 26, son of Robert Morris Hunter. RL Hunter of East Adelaide (and apparently an agent like his father-in-law), d 10/3/1910 North Adelaide. This son-in-law apparently not born in SA.

Lilla Tozer Fowler m 14/3/1912 Methodist Church Archer St North Adelaide, Charles Hamilton Leyland Catchlove 35 son of George Catchlove. This son-in-law also apparently not born in SA.

Joan Margaret Catchlove b 26/5/1913 North Adelaide.

Amy Evelyn Fowler m 25/4/1900 Bride’s father residence North Adelaide, Harold Ethelbert Hancock (b 1/12/1874 Alberton), son of Wallace Hancock agent Alberton and Mary Jane nee Soper. The HE Hancocks lived at Hylands 222 Brougham Place North Adelaide. HE Hancock was a partner in the firm of Butterworth, Hancock & Co, Customs, Shipping and Forwarding Agents, Bonded and Free Stores Pt Adelaide and Pt Pirie. Agencies – Broken Hill, Melbourne, Sydney, Fremantle, Albany and London.

Letter 26 January 2006

Dear Bill

Just a note of appreciation for the generous hospitality you and your family showed me on that precious occasion when you said your final goodbyes to your beloved Beth. I felt much privileged to be able to take part, as I admired Beth very much and the endless work she performed on behalf of so many people and organisations in the community.

I enclose a copy of St Michael’s Messenger which I received at St Michael’s at the early morning service before coming with Beryl and Brian to St Agnes. Perhaps the mention of so many names well-known to you will bring back pleasant reminders of the long time you lived amongst us in the Hills.

Please also find enclosed some information which I have cobbled together about Frederick Fowler, the Gawler cabinetmaker who made your family heirloom chairs. I have not found any information to link him with any of the prominent SA Fowler families in colonial times, nor any easy link with several Tozer families which lived in and around Gawler now and again until the 1870s.

Just as annoying, I cannot find any sign of F Fowler’s arrival in SA to indicate whether he came here as a young married man or whether his marriage in the colony was not registered. A search through the Maritime Museum shipping lists at Pt Adelaide may yield results now that you know the names of both husband and wife – late 1860s, because written evidence confirms their residence at Gawler in 1870. It would be wonderful to find a marriage certificate in SA because that would give the father’s name for both partners.

Also irritating is the lack of any death date for this couple. I tend to think that most of this family could have left the state c1913, but you could try to find death dates for the parents and girls in the extensive records of the SA Genealogical Society at Unley. Then go to the State Library Advertiser and the Register newspapers on microfilm for any death notices and obituaries of the daughters and their husbands. The Hancock ones could prove useful because of the social prominence of this family.

You could also try to find a newspaper marriage announcement for each of the daughters – in those days, such entries could appear some weeks after the event, but often gave much more information about the families involved than is the case now.

Anyhow, perhaps my ramblings may inspire you to renew your searches for the identity of someone who created such beautiful furniture which you now have in your home. Do feel free to contact me if you think I can help you further in this matter.

Once again, thank you for that wonderful opportunity to be with you all after such a long time, and to renew ties which have proved wonderfully strong despite the lack of contact.

God bless you all