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Introduction - Potted History- Beginnings

The Bowles families are traced from the late 18th, eighteenth century, originating in Great Yarmouth Norfolk, England.  Mainly residing in the parish of St Nicholas.

     Norfolk - Suffolk in the year 2001 is very different from the way it would have been 200 years or more ago when the early Fuller families struggled to exist.!     No running water, no sanitary utilities, no education, no medical services, no electricity, but lots of poverty, lots of misery and for many - an early death. 

     The town of Yarmouth standing in a peninsula was unique, the lack of building space between the river and the sea meant more houses were built than was usual and many people became confined in such a small area.   There were three main streets, and from these streets narrow passages led off to provide access to the dwellings of the people. Theses narrow passages were longer than normal and eventually they became joined up to form through passages, which became to be known as Rows.  In 1785 there were 145 of these rows each one named after some notable.  Many of these named rows became duplicated by name, on numerous occasions, each row was known by as many as 3/4 different names.   It became difficult to control the populas, therefore In 1804 in the interests of efficiency every row received a number.   Every house was given a number within the row.

A typical row in 1800 (Wall to wall 27" wide)

     Imagine if you can the problems that would have existed at this time.  The removal of waste?  The open gutters that truly were, running sewers.   Even though these rows had been built so that the pavements ran East to West,  following the natural fall of the land to the sea, the sewerage and rain encouraged to dispersed naturally.  it also ensured that there was always a flow of strong air blowing through the streets helping to  remove much of the stale air and smoke that hung in these narrow pebbled walkways.   Imagine children playing  in these open gutters  helping spread throughout the rows; the horrendous diseases of the time. 

         Most of the heritage was lost due to bombing during WW2, many properties were completely destroyed, and others pulled down to make way for new developments in the twentieth century.   It is only in recent years that organisations such as "English Heritage",  the local government of the town of Great Yarmouth, decided that those rows that remained were worth preserving.   Now those who search for the history of past generations can wander the streets of Great Yarmouth, the signs are all there.   Each row is numbered and, with a bit of imagination and colourful thinking, you can feel how it must have been to live in these tiny places just like:

Robert Bowles born Yarmouth, Norfolk c. 1799 married Elizabeth Clark born Yarmouth c.1799. on 18th March 1827 at St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. (Source: FHL Number 1526456)

This union produced at least the following  6 children between 1827 - 1840.   

At The UK Census of 1841 this family were found as follows:

(Source 1841 UK Census HO/107/0793)

First Child.   Daughter Elizabeth Bowles b. c. 1832 Yarmouth.

First Child.  Son James Bowles b. c. 1830 Yarmouth.

Second Child.  Daughter Maria Bowles b. c. 1832 Yarmouth.

Third Child.    Daughter Ann Bowles b.c.1833 Yarmouth.

Fourth Child.    Son Robert Bowles b.c.1837  Yarmouth.

Fifth Child.    Son John Alexander Bowles b.c.1840  Yarmouth. ***

At the census of 1851 this family where residing at Hog Hill Alms House, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk   (Source HO/107/1806 Folio 393 Page 40)

 ***John Alexander Bowles (fifth child of Robert and Elizabeth Bowles) born Great Yarmouth Norfolk, England c.1840 married Sarah Ann Ely Westport born c.1847 on 23rd December 1866 at St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. (Source: FHL Number 1526457 Dates: 1847-1869) this union produced the following seven children between 1871 - 1890.

At the uk census of 1871 this family were residing as follows:

Source UK Cenus 1871 RG10/1784

First Child.   Daughter Elizabeth Bowles b. Gt Yarmouth c.1871

Second Child.   Daughter Sarah Ann Bowles b. Gt Yarmouth c.1873

Third Child.   Daughter Jessie Maria Bowles b. Gt Yarmouth c.1875.

 Jessie Maria Bowles born 1875 at St Nicholas, Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk England .  Jessie Maria was the third daughter of John Alexander (1849) and Sarah Bowles (1847), residing at 8 Row 125 (previously Gun Row)  Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.  On 23rd July 1895 Jessie married Henry Howard Fuller. (Source St Nicholas parish records Great Yarmouth) born 1873 residing at No 6 Row 85, North Side, Great Yarmouth, England, (previously known as: 'Crown & Heart or Baptist Meeting South Row').  The fifth child of  Samuel John Fuller born in 1838 and Johanna Margaret Paston Howard (1840-1886).   Son Henry followed his father Samuel Fuller into the profession of a fisherman.  On the 5th April 1891 he was aboard the fishing smack 'Maid Marion'.   His occupation was that of 6th hand. (Source page 156 Rg12/1503 1891 census)

Fourth Child.   Son John Bowles b. Gt Yarmouth c.1879. 

At the uk census of 1881 this family were residing as follows: John Bowles was not present at this time.

Source UK Cenus 1881 RG11/1910

Fifth Child.   Daughter Beatrice Bowles b. Gt Yarmouth c.1882.

Sixth Child.   Daughter Florence Bowles b. Gt Yarmouth c.1885.

Seventh Child.   Frances Bowles Bowles b. Gt Yarmouth c.1890.

At the census of 1891 this family where residing at No 9 Row 142 Great Yarmouth. 

  (Source PRO RG12/1499 folio 103.)

At the census of 1901 this family where residing at No 9 Row 142 Great Yarmouth. 

  (Source 1901 UK Census PRO RG13/1809 folio 56.)

The Fuller Family

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