My ROWLEY and East Hertfordshire connections came as a complete surprise to me when I started researching. I had been brought up in Bushey in west Hertfordshire, and found that the east and west of the county had no contact with each other. This is probably because there were few cross county roads, and no railway which linked the two sides: all the major roads, railways, rivers and canals ran north-south (towards or from London), and local people looked towards London for employment, entertainment and other activities not available locally.
I had never heard Much Hadham mentioned before, even though the mother of my grandmother Ada nee WATERTON, a great story teller, had been born there.
I am in contact with a descendent of Alfred (b1858), but if you are are a distant cousin (in any meaning of distant), please E-mail me.
Since the last update of this page, I have found a serious error in the line previously shown: it seems that the John who married Elizabeth Goodwin in 1769 was not the son of Humphrey, but of his brother Robert: fortunately, it takes me back to their mutual father.
Here is what I have found so far: I have checked all the entries from Parish Registers (micro-films), but with the narrow choice of first names used by several families in a small area, some of the links are at best probable rather than 100% certain.
Robert ROWLEY (b1720 Braughing) m Mary Nee?
John ROWLEY (bapt1749 m1769) Elizabeth GOODWIN*
Robert ROWLEY bc1773 d1854 unmarried
Thomas ROWLEY
(b c1775 d1844) m Ann (nee ??)(bc1779 Albury d1857)
Ann ROWLEY b1807 d in infancy
Ann ROWLEY (b1809 d1846) m William Snelling NORRIS
Eleanor NORRIS (bapt Widford 1831)
William Thomas NORRIS (bapt1834)
Robert Walter NORRIS (bapt 1834)
Henry NORRIS (bapt 1836) m Sarah Ann DIMMOCK *
Jesseline Elizabeth NORRIS (bapt 1837 Widford) m Thomas ROWLEY
Alfred ROWLEY bc1858 m Sarah HEMLEY (in USA?)
descent in USA available
Jesslyn A ROWLEY bc1860 Wareham NFK
Mary Ann (Elizabeth) ROWLEY bapt 1865 Hemel Hempstead
Thomas ROWLEY b Water End 1864
? Albert ROWLEY b Hemel Hempstead c1865
Arthur Frederick NORRIS b 1839 m (before 1861) Ann ??? *
Emily Ann NORRIS b1840 m(1864 Marsworth) Arthur WATERTON
7 WATERTON children including
Ada Emily WATERTON b1872 Lt Gaddesden m Herbert MASSEY
Edward Norris MASSEY b1902 Brighton m Dorothy SUTHERLAND
Donald J MASSEY (me) b1932 Watford m Joyce TASKER 1965
Mary ROWLEY b1811 d1824
Robert ROWLEY (b1812 d1882 Hoddesden m. Elizabeth FOUNTAIN
Charlotte ROWLEY b1814 d1814
Thomas ROWLEY b1815 marr twice
(1)by Jane ROOK
Thomas ROWLEY b1837 Hoddesden m Jesselyn NORRIS
See under Jesslyn NORRIS above
(2)by Amelia (?Widow Waller?) nee?
Frederick b1853 Hoddesden u/m1881
Amelia b1855 Hoddesden
Lydia ROWLEY b1817
Harriet ROWLEY b1820
d1837
Emily ROWLEY b1822
Ann ROWLEY bapt1751
Elizabeth ROWLEY bapt1753
Richard ROWLEY bapt & bur1755
Judith ROWLEY bapt & bur1758
Notes:
My direct line underlined. All events Much Hadham unless stated.
If you compare with the NORRIS page, you will realise that Thomas ROWLEY
(b1837) and Jesslyn NORRIS were first cousins.
If you think you have a connection, can add to or correct anything, or just want a chat, E-mail me.
I am in contact with some other, so far unconnected, ROWLEY Much Hadham descendents, Email me for details.
Return to Index page
Last Updated 02/05/99
Contact Donald Massey at : [email protected]