Person Page 626

Cause of Death
Census 1851 England
Death Age
England - All
Somerset - ALL

Father*	Meshack Dowling (b. 1819, d. between July and September 1881)
Mother*	Ann Shepherd (b. 1822, d. between July and September 1892)

Partner: Richard Garrett (b. before 1864, d. DECEASED)

Children:

Son*	Ernest Garrett (b. 1880, d. DECEASED)

Vital Facts

Death	Susana Dowling died DECEASED.
Marriage	She and Richard Garrett were married between January and March 1880 in Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG, Index: Clutton - 1880 Jan-Mar Volume 5C; Page number 833.²
Birth	She was born in 1846 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England.¹

Census Summary

Census
30 Mar 1851¹

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

Name Susannah Dowling
Citation: 2
Marriage | Richard Garrett
Between January and March 1880 | Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG
Richard Garrett
Birth before 1864
Death: DECEASED
Susana Dowling and Richard Garrett were married between January and March 1880 in Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG, Index: Clutton - 1880 Jan-Mar Volume 5C; Page number 833.
Citation: 2
Residence
Between January and March 1880 | Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: (at marriage to Richard Garrett.)
Citation: 2
1846
Birth
1846 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citation: 1
1851
Residence
30 March 1851 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: (7) Midsomer Norton.
Citation: 1
1851
Census
30 March 1851 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 5; Marital Status: Unmarried; Relation to Head: Daughter.
Citation: 1

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Susana Dowling has the reference number 15627.

Ethnicity

25.00% English
75.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S2557] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1851%2F4294512%2F00679&parentid=GBC%2F1851%2F0009999795,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, MESHAC household of Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Archive reference: HO107; Piece number: 1939; Folio: 345; Page: 3; , Schedule: 7; Record ID: GBC/1851/0009999795; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Meshac Dowling Head Married Male 30 1821 Mason Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Ann Dowling Wife Married Female 30 1821 - Temple Cloud, Somerset, England Susanna Dowling Daur - Female 5 1846 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England James Dowling Son - Male 3 1848 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sophia Dowling Daur F Female - - - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2012 via Service:Findmypast; Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1851/0009999795; -(via ORA).

Census-1851-ENG-Dowling-Meshac-1821-Somerset-Clutton
[S5620] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FM%2F1880%2F1%2FAZ%2F000065&parentid=BMD%2FM%2F1880%2F1%2FAZ%2F000065%2F186,
Repository: see citation,
Citation Detail: Marriage of DOWLING, SUSANNAH to RICHARD GARRETT, ELIJAH MOON in Clutton, Somerset, England; Index: Clutton - 1880 Jan-Mar Volume 5C; Page number 833,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 26 February 2024 in Page "Record Transcription: England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005 | findmypast.co.uk" of Service: Findmypast; -(ORA); Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FM%2F1880%2F1%2FAZ%2F000065%2F186,

MarriageIndex-Dowling-1880-Q1-E&W

Sophia Dowling^1,2

F, #15628, b. December 1850, d. DECEASED

Cause of Death
Census 1851 England
Census 1861 England
Death Age
England - All
Somerset - ALL

Father*	Meshack Dowling (b. 1819, d. between July and September 1881)
Mother*	Ann Shepherd (b. 1822, d. between July and September 1892)

Vital Facts

Death	Sophia Dowling died DECEASED.
Birth	She was born in December 1850 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England.^1,2

Census Summary

Census
30 Mar 1851¹

Census
7 Apr 1861²

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1850
Birth
December 1850 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citations: 1,2
1851
Residence
30 March 1851 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: (7) Midsomer Norton.
Citation: 1
1851
Census
30 March 1851 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 4 months; Marital Status: Unmarried; Relation to Head: Daughter.
Citation: 1
1861
Occupation
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Scholar.
Citation: 2
1861
Residence
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 6 Clay Batch.
Citation: 2
1861
Census
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 10; Marital Status: Unmarried; Relation to Head: Daughter.
Citation: 2

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Sophia Dowling has the reference number 15628.

Ethnicity

25.00% English
75.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S2557] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1851%2F4294512%2F00679&parentid=GBC%2F1851%2F0009999795,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, MESHAC household of Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Archive reference: HO107; Piece number: 1939; Folio: 345; Page: 3; , Schedule: 7; Record ID: GBC/1851/0009999795; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Meshac Dowling Head Married Male 30 1821 Mason Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Ann Dowling Wife Married Female 30 1821 - Temple Cloud, Somerset, England Susanna Dowling Daur - Female 5 1846 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England James Dowling Son - Male 3 1848 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sophia Dowling Daur F Female - - - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2012 via Service:Findmypast; Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1851/0009999795; -(via ORA).

Census-1851-ENG-Dowling-Meshac-1821-Somerset-Clutton
[S3203] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1861%2F1680%2F01408A&parentid=GBC%2F1861%2F0009274070,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, MESHAC household of Midsomer Norton, 4 Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Enumeration district: 2; Archive reference: RG09; Piece number: 1680; Folio: 27; Page: 2; Schedule: 6; Record ID: GBC/1861/0009274070; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Meshac Dowling Head Married Male 40 1821 Mason Wetton, Somerset, England Ann Dowling Wife Married Female 40 1821 - Cameley, Somerset, England James Dowling Son - Male 13 1848 Tailor apprentice Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sophia Dowling Daughter - Female 10 1851 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sarah Dowling Daughter - Female 8 1853 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Elizabeth Dowling Daughter - Female 6 1855 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Harriet Dowling Daughter - Female 4 1857 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Louisa Dowling Daughter - Female 1 1860 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2008 at via Service:Findmypast; Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1861/0009274070; (via ORA).

Census-1861-ENG-Dowling-Meshac-1821-Somerset-Clutton-A

Sarah Dowling¹

F, #15629, b. 1853, d. DECEASED

Cause of Death
Census 1861 England
Death Age
England - All
Somerset - ALL

Father*	Meshack Dowling (b. 1819, d. between July and September 1881)
Mother*	Ann Shepherd (b. 1822, d. between July and September 1892)

Vital Facts

Death	Sarah Dowling died DECEASED.
Birth	She was born in 1853 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England.¹

Census Summary

Census
7 Apr 1861¹

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1853
Birth
1853 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citation: 1
1861
Residence
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 6 Clay Batch.
Citation: 1
1861
Census
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 8; Marital Status: Unmarried; Relation to Head: Daughter.
Citation: 1
1861
Occupation
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Scholar.
Citation: 1

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Sarah Dowling has the reference number 15629.

Ethnicity

25.00% English
75.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S3203] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1861%2F1680%2F01408A&parentid=GBC%2F1861%2F0009274070,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, MESHAC household of Midsomer Norton, 4 Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Enumeration district: 2; Archive reference: RG09; Piece number: 1680; Folio: 27; Page: 2; Schedule: 6; Record ID: GBC/1861/0009274070; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Meshac Dowling Head Married Male 40 1821 Mason Wetton, Somerset, England Ann Dowling Wife Married Female 40 1821 - Cameley, Somerset, England James Dowling Son - Male 13 1848 Tailor apprentice Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sophia Dowling Daughter - Female 10 1851 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sarah Dowling Daughter - Female 8 1853 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Elizabeth Dowling Daughter - Female 6 1855 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Harriet Dowling Daughter - Female 4 1857 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Louisa Dowling Daughter - Female 1 1860 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2008 at via Service:Findmypast; Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1861/0009274070; (via ORA).

Census-1861-ENG-Dowling-Meshac-1821-Somerset-Clutton-A

Elizabeth Dowling¹

F, #15630, b. 1855, d. DECEASED

Cause of Death
Census 1861 England
Death Age
England - All
Somerset - ALL

Father*	Meshack Dowling (b. 1819, d. between July and September 1881)
Mother*	Ann Shepherd (b. 1822, d. between July and September 1892)

Vital Facts

Death	Elizabeth Dowling died DECEASED.
Birth	She was born in 1855 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England.¹

Census Summary

Census
7 Apr 1861¹

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1855
Birth
1855 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citation: 1
1861
Residence
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 6 Clay Batch.
Citation: 1
1861
Census
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 6; Marital Status: Unmarried; Relation to Head: Daughter.
Citation: 1
1861
Occupation
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Scholar.
Citation: 1

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Elizabeth Dowling has the reference number 15630.

Ethnicity

25.00% English
75.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S3203] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1861%2F1680%2F01408A&parentid=GBC%2F1861%2F0009274070,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, MESHAC household of Midsomer Norton, 4 Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Enumeration district: 2; Archive reference: RG09; Piece number: 1680; Folio: 27; Page: 2; Schedule: 6; Record ID: GBC/1861/0009274070; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Meshac Dowling Head Married Male 40 1821 Mason Wetton, Somerset, England Ann Dowling Wife Married Female 40 1821 - Cameley, Somerset, England James Dowling Son - Male 13 1848 Tailor apprentice Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sophia Dowling Daughter - Female 10 1851 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sarah Dowling Daughter - Female 8 1853 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Elizabeth Dowling Daughter - Female 6 1855 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Harriet Dowling Daughter - Female 4 1857 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Louisa Dowling Daughter - Female 1 1860 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2008 at via Service:Findmypast; Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1861/0009274070; (via ORA).

Census-1861-ENG-Dowling-Meshac-1821-Somerset-Clutton-A

Harriet Dowling^1,2

F, #15631, b. 1857, d. DECEASED

Cause of Death
Census 1861 England
Census 1871 England
Death Age
England - All
Somerset - ALL

Father*	Meshack Dowling (b. 1819, d. between July and September 1881)
Mother*	Ann Shepherd (b. 1822, d. between July and September 1892)

Vital Facts

Death	Harriet Dowling died DECEASED.
Birth	She was born in 1857 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England.¹

Census Summary

Census
7 Apr 1861¹

Census
2 Apr 1871²

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1857
Birth
1857 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citation: 1
1858
Birth
1858 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citation: 2
1861
Residence
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 6 Clay Batch.
Citation: 1
1861
Census
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 4; Marital Status: Unmarried; Relation to Head: Daughter.
Citation: 1
1871
Occupation
2 April 1871 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Scholar.
Citation: 2
1871
Residence
2 April 1871 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 190 Smith's Cottages.
Citation: 2
1871
Census
2 April 1871 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 13; Marital Status: Unmarried; Relation to Head: Daughter.
Citation: 2

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Harriet Dowling has the reference number 15631.

Ethnicity

25.00% English
75.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S3203] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1861%2F1680%2F01408A&parentid=GBC%2F1861%2F0009274070,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, MESHAC household of Midsomer Norton, 4 Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Enumeration district: 2; Archive reference: RG09; Piece number: 1680; Folio: 27; Page: 2; Schedule: 6; Record ID: GBC/1861/0009274070; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Meshac Dowling Head Married Male 40 1821 Mason Wetton, Somerset, England Ann Dowling Wife Married Female 40 1821 - Cameley, Somerset, England James Dowling Son - Male 13 1848 Tailor apprentice Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sophia Dowling Daughter - Female 10 1851 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sarah Dowling Daughter - Female 8 1853 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Elizabeth Dowling Daughter - Female 6 1855 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Harriet Dowling Daughter - Female 4 1857 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Louisa Dowling Daughter - Female 1 1860 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2008 at via Service:Findmypast; Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1861/0009274070; (via ORA).

Census-1861-ENG-Dowling-Meshac-1821-Somerset-Clutton-A
[S2877] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1871%2F2472%2F0047&parentid=GBC%2F1871%2F0010803887,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, MESHAH household of Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Enumeration district: 1E; Piece number: 2472; Folio: 23; Page: 38; Schedule: 190; Record ID: GBC/1871/0010803887; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Meshah Dowling Head - Male 50 1821 Mason Mid Norton, Somerset, England Ann Dowling Wife - Female 50 1821 Mason's wife Combe, Somerset, England Harriet Dowling Daughter - Female 13 1858 Scholar Mid Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 26 February 2024 at "Record Transcription: 1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk" via Service:Findmypast; Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1871/0010803887; (via ORA),

Census-1871-ENG-Dowling-Meshak-1821-Somerset-Clutton-A

Louisa Dowling¹

F, #15632, b. 1860, d. DECEASED

Cause of Death
Census 1861 England
Death Age
England - All
Somerset - ALL

Father*	Meshack Dowling (b. 1819, d. between July and September 1881)
Mother*	Ann Shepherd (b. 1822, d. between July and September 1892)

Vital Facts

Death	Louisa Dowling died DECEASED.
Birth	She was born in 1860 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England.¹

Census Summary

Census
7 Apr 1861¹

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1860
Birth
1860 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citation: 1
1861
Residence
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 6 Clay Batch.
Citation: 1
1861
Census
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 1; Marital Status: Unmarried; Relation to Head: Daughter.
Citation: 1

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Louisa Dowling has the reference number 15632.

Ethnicity

25.00% English
75.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S3203] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1861%2F1680%2F01408A&parentid=GBC%2F1861%2F0009274070,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, MESHAC household of Midsomer Norton, 4 Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Enumeration district: 2; Archive reference: RG09; Piece number: 1680; Folio: 27; Page: 2; Schedule: 6; Record ID: GBC/1861/0009274070; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Meshac Dowling Head Married Male 40 1821 Mason Wetton, Somerset, England Ann Dowling Wife Married Female 40 1821 - Cameley, Somerset, England James Dowling Son - Male 13 1848 Tailor apprentice Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sophia Dowling Daughter - Female 10 1851 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Sarah Dowling Daughter - Female 8 1853 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Elizabeth Dowling Daughter - Female 6 1855 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Harriet Dowling Daughter - Female 4 1857 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Louisa Dowling Daughter - Female 1 1860 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2008 at via Service:Findmypast; Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1861/0009274070; (via ORA).

Census-1861-ENG-Dowling-Meshac-1821-Somerset-Clutton-A

Simon Dowling^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14}

M, #15633, b. 1796, d. between January and March 1866

1700s All
Cause of Death
Census 1841 England
Census 1851 England
Census 1861 England
Death Age
England - All
England, Lancashire - ALL
England, London - ALL
England, Manchester - ALL
England, Nottinghamshire - ALL
France
Scotland - ALL
Somerset - ALL
Wales - All

Father*

Thomas Dowling (d. DECEASED)

Partner: Meriel Symes (b. before 1795, d. 1821)

Children:

Daughter*	Elizabeth Dowling (b. 1810, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Emma Dowling (b. 1811, d. 1820)
Daughter*	Sarah Dowling (b. 1814, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Henry Dowling+ (b. before 11 June 1815, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Matilda Dowling (b. 1817, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Meshack Dowling+ (b. 1819, d. between July and September 1881)

Partner: Susan Dowling (b. before 1810, d. before 11 September 1837)

Children:

Son*	Mansel Dowling+ (b. before 22 August 1824, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Leonard Hooper Dowling (b. before 27 May 1827, d. between October and December 1839)
Daughter*	Mary Dowling (b. before 6 January 1833, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Mark Dowling (b. before 6 January 1833, d. between July and September 1882)
Daughter*	Susan Dowling (b. before 30 July 1834, d. DECEASED)

Portrait-0-Marriage

Partner: Martha Sheldon (b. 1801, d. DECEASED)

Children:

Daughter*	Elizabeth Dowling (b. 1838, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Arthur Dowling (b. September 1840, d. DECEASED)

Vital Facts

Death	Simon Dowling died between January and March 1866, in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England. Note: Age: 77; Formerly: Somerset; Index: Clutton - 1866 Jan-Mar; Volume 5C, Page 493.^13,12
Birth	He was born in 1796 in Somerset, EnglandG. Note: Somerset.^4,3
Marriage	He and Meriel Symes were married on 5 November 1809 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England, Parish; Both in 1st marriage; By Banns; Witnesses: John Smith & Thos James; (Phillimore transcription of parish marriage register.)³
Marriage	He and Susan Dowling were married before 22 August 1824 (ESTIMATE: BEFORE BIRTH OF FIRST KNOWN CHILD.)⁵
Marriage	He and Martha Sheldon were married on 11 September 1837 in Bathwick, Somerset, EnglandG, Both shown as widowed; By Banns; Witnesses: James Faulkener, Henry White & Ann Cawe.¹⁰
Burial	He was buried after 1866 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England, St. John the Baptist Churchyard; Memorial ID: 249181740.¹²

Census Summary

Census
7 Jun 1841⁴

Census
30 Mar 1851¹¹

Census
7 Apr 1861¹⁴

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

Residence
Between January and March 1866 | Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG
1788
Birth
1788 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Simon Dowling was born in 1788 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England. Note: Midsomer Norton, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, Somerset, England.
Citations: 12,14
1789
Birth
1789 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
He was born in 1789 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England. Note: Mids Norton, Somerset.
Citations: 11,13
1796
Birth
1796 | Somerset, EnglandG
He was born in 1796 in Somerset, EnglandG. Note: Somerset.
Citations: 4,3
1801
TIMELINE
1 January 1801 | United Kingdom
Acts of Union unite Great Britain and Ireland. Creates the United Kingdom; affects legal and administrative records. in United Kingdom on 1 January 1801.
1801
TIMELINE
2 April 1801 | Copenhagen, Denmark
Battle of Copenhagen. British naval victory under Admiral Nelson; impacts military enlistment and pension records. in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 2 April 1801.
1802
TIMELINE
1802 | United Kingdom
Treaty of Amiens signed. Temporary peace with France; military families experience brief respite from war. in United Kingdom on 1802.
1802
TIMELINE
1802 | United Kingdom
Factory Act introduced. Begins regulation of child labour; early shift in working-class family dynamics. in United Kingdom on 1802.
1803
TIMELINE
1803 | United Kingdom
War resumes with France. Napoleonic conflict reignites; enlistment and wartime disruption affect households. in United Kingdom on 1803.
1805
TIMELINE
21 October 1805 | Cape Trafalgar, Spain
Battle of Trafalgar. Major British naval victory; Admiral Nelson dies. Widows and dependents appear in naval pension records. in Cape Trafalgar, Spain, on 21 October 1805.
1806
TIMELINE
1806 | United Kingdom
Beaufort Scale introduced. Standardises wind measurement; maritime and agricultural communities begin using it. in United Kingdom on 1806.
1807
TIMELINE
1807 | United Kingdom
Slave Trade Act passed. Abolishes slave trade in British Empire; impacts shipping records and abolitionist movements. in United Kingdom on 1807.
1808
TIMELINE
1808 | Spain
Peninsular War begins. British troops deployed to Spain; families affected by military service and correspondence. in Spain on 1808.
1809
TIMELINE
1809 | Corunna, Spain
Battle of Corunna. British forces retreat; General Sir John Moore killed. Military records reflect casualties and pensions. in Corunna, Spain, on 1809.
1809
Marriage | Meriel Symes
5 November 1809 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Meriel Symes
Birth before 1795
Death: in 1821
He and Meriel Symes were married on 5 November 1809 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England, Parish; Both in 1st marriage; By Banns; Witnesses: John Smith & Thos James; (Phillimore transcription of parish marriage register.)
Citation: 3
1809
Religious Affiliation
5 November 1809 | EnglandG
Anglican / Church of England (Protestant) on 5 November 1809 in EnglandG.
Citation: 3
1809
Residence
5 November 1809 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: Parish; (at marriage to Meriel Symis.)
Citation: 3
1809
Marriage | Meriel Symes
12 November 1809 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Meriel Symes
Birth before 1795
Death: in 1821
Citation: 1
1810
TIMELINE
1810 | United Kingdom
Prince of Wales becomes Prince Regent. Regency era begins; cultural and political shifts affect public life. in United Kingdom on 1810.
1811
TIMELINE
1811 | Yorkshire & Nottinghamshire, England
Luddite riots erupt. Workers destroy textile machinery; criminal records and newspaper reports document unrest. in Yorkshire & Nottinghamshire, England, on 1811.
1812
TIMELINE
1812 | United Kingdom
War declared with United States. British-American conflict affects naval and merchant families. in United Kingdom on 1812.
1813
TIMELINE
1813 | Vittoria, Spain
Battle of Vittoria. British victory under Wellington; military promotions and casualties recorded in service documents. in Vittoria, Spain, on 1813.
1815
Residence
11 June 1815 | Norton, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: Baptism of son Henry.
Citation: 2
1815
Occupation
11 June 1815 | Norton, Somerset, EnglandG
Mason.
Citation: 2
1815
TIMELINE
18 June 1815 | Waterloo, Belgium
Battle of Waterloo. Final defeat of Napoleon; widespread impact on veterans, pensions, and national identity. in Waterloo, Belgium, on 18 June 1815.
1817
TIMELINE
1817 | Manchester, England
Blanket protests and economic unrest. Workers demand relief; local newspapers and court records document events. in Manchester, England, on 1817.
1819
TIMELINE
16 August 1819 | St Peter’s Field, Manchester, England
Peterloo Massacre. Cavalry charge into peaceful protestors; deaths and injuries recorded in parish and legal records. in St Peter’s Field, Manchester, England, on 16 August 1819.
1820
TIMELINE
29 January 1820 | United Kingdom
King George IV ascends the throne. Regency ends; national mourning and succession ceremonies documented in newspapers. in United Kingdom on 29 January 1820.
1820
TIMELINE
23 February 1820 | London, EnglandG
Cato Street Conspiracy uncovered. Plot to assassinate Cabinet; conspirators tried and executed for treason. in London, EnglandG, on 23 February 1820.
1823
TIMELINE
1823 | United Kingdom
Gaols Act passed. Begins reform of prison conditions; impacts records of incarceration and penal reform in county archives. in United Kingdom on 1823.
1824
TIMELINE
1824 | United Kingdom
Repeal of the Combination Acts. Legalises trade unions and collective bargaining; working-class organisation begins to appear. in United Kingdom on 1824.
1824
Marriage | Susan Dowling
Before 22 August 1824
Susan Dowling
Birth before 1810
Death: before 11 September 1837
He and Susan Dowling were married before 22 August 1824 (ESTIMATE: BEFORE BIRTH OF FIRST KNOWN CHILD.)
Citation: 5
1824
Residence
22 August 1824 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: Parish; (Baptism of Mansel Dowling.)
Citation: 5
1824
Occupation
22 August 1824 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Mason.
Citation: 5
Religious Affiliation
Between 22 August 1824 and 11 September 1837 | EnglandG
Anglican / Church of England (Protestant) between 22 August 1824 and 11 September 1837 in EnglandG.
Citations: 6,5,7,8,9,10
1825
TIMELINE
1825 | United Kingdom
Stock market crash triggers economic downturn. Bank failures and unemployment affect families across industrial towns. in United Kingdom on 1825.
1826
TIMELINE
1826 | United Kingdom
Bankruptcy Act passed. Simplifies procedures for debt resolution; impacts small traders and artisans in urban centres. in United Kingdom on 1826.
1827
Occupation
27 May 1827 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Mason.
Citation: 6
1827
Residence
27 May 1827 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: Parish; (Baptism of son Leonard Hooper Dowling.)
Citation: 6
1828
TIMELINE
1828 | United Kingdom
Repeal of Test and Corporation Acts. Opens public office to non-Anglicans; impacts civic participation and religious records. in United Kingdom on 1828.
1829
TIMELINE
1829 | United Kingdom
Catholic Emancipation Act passed. Roman Catholics permitted to sit in Parliament; affects political and religious dynamics. in United Kingdom on 1829.
1830
TIMELINE
1830 | United Kingdom
William IV becomes king. Political reform debates intensify; succession ceremonies and mourning reflected in parish records. in United Kingdom on 1830.
1831
TIMELINE
1831 | Southern England
Swing Riots erupt. Agricultural labourers protest mechanisation; many arrested or transported. in Southern England on 1831.
1832
TIMELINE
7 June 1832 | United Kingdom
Reform Act passed. Expands voting rights to middle-class men; reshapes political districts and civic records. in United Kingdom on 7 June 1832.
1833
TIMELINE
1833 | United Kingdom
Factory Act passed. Limits child labour and mandates schooling; impacts working children and school attendance. in United Kingdom on 1833.
1833
Residence
6 January 1833 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: Parish; (Baptism of son Mark and daughter Mary Dowling.)
Citations: 7,8
1833
Occupation
6 January 1833 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Mason.
Citations: 7,8
1834
TIMELINE
1834 | United Kingdom
Poor Law Amendment Act passed. Creates workhouses and centralised relief; major shift in parish and family support. in United Kingdom on 1834.
1834
Residence
30 July 1834 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: Parish; (Baptism of daughter Susan Dowling.)
Citation: 9
1834
Occupation
30 July 1834 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Mason.
Citation: 9
1837
TIMELINE
20 June 1837 | United Kingdom
Queen Victoria ascends the throne. Start of Victorian era; cultural and social shifts begin to shape family life. in United Kingdom on 20 June 1837.
1837
TIMELINE
1 July 1837 | England and Wales
Civil Registration begins. Births, marriages, and deaths now officially recorded hitherto information only availabe via religious parish records. in England and Wales on 1 July 1837.
1837
Marriage | Martha Sheldon
11 September 1837 | Bathwick, Somerset, EnglandG
Martha Sheldon
Age ~36
Birth in 1801 | Somerset, EnglandG
Death: DECEASED
He and Martha Sheldon were married on 11 September 1837 in Bathwick, Somerset, EnglandG, Both shown as widowed; By Banns; Witnesses: James Faulkener, Henry White & Ann Cawe.
Citation: 10
1837
Occupation
11 September 1837 | Bathwick, Somerset, EnglandG
Mason.
Citation: 10
1837
Residence
11 September 1837 | Bathwick, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: 30 Grove Street; (at marriage to Martha Jefferis.)
Citation: 10
1840
TIMELINE
1 May 1840 | United Kingdom
Penny Black issued. First adhesive postage stamp; communication becomes more accessible to ordinary families. in United Kingdom on 1 May 1840.
1841
TIMELINE
4 January 1841 | Isles of Scilly, EnglandG
Storms of 41: SS Thames wrecked in storm; 61 lives lost. One of many shipwrecks that day; maritime tragedies documented in newspapers and parish records. in Isles of Scilly, EnglandG, on 4 January 1841.
1841
Occupation
7 June 1841 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Mason.
Citation: 4
1841
Census
7 June 1841 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 45; Marital Status: APPARENTLY Married; Relation to Head: Head.
Citation: 4
1841
Residence
7 June 1841 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: (1658) Welton, Sub district: Midsomer Norton.
Citation: 4
1842
TIMELINE
1842 | United Kingdom
Mines and Collieries Act passed. Bans employment of women and children under 10 in underground mines; impacts working-class families. in United Kingdom on 1842.
1842
TIMELINE
1842 | Manchester, Lancashire, EnglandG
Plug Plot Riots erupt during Chartist protests. Economic hardship and political unrest affect industrial communities. in Manchester, Lancashire, EnglandG, on 1842.
1843
TIMELINE
1843 | United Kingdom
Income Tax reintroduced by Robert Peel. Affects middle-class households and government revenue; debated in newspapers and Parliament. in United Kingdom on 1843.
1844
TIMELINE
1844 | United Kingdom
Factory Act limits working hours for women and children. School attendance encouraged; census records begin to reflect changing child labour patterns. in United Kingdom on 1844.
1845
TIMELINE
1845 | United Kingdom
Railway boom peaks. Expansion of railways transforms travel, employment, and migration patterns; census entries reflect new occupations. in United Kingdom on 1845.
TIMELINE
Between 1845 and 1852 | United Kingdom
Great Famine devastates Ireland. Mass starvation and emigration; many Irish families immigrate to England (Ireland was then part of the United Kingdom). in United Kingdom on between 1845 and 1852.
1846
TIMELINE
1846 | United Kingdom
Corn Laws repealed. Food prices begin to fall; working-class families benefit, though rural farmers face economic shifts. in United Kingdom on 1846.
1847
TIMELINE
1847 | United Kingdom
Ten Hours Act passed. Limits factory workday for women and children to 10 hours; impacts employment and schooling. in United Kingdom on 1847.
1848
TIMELINE
1848 | London, EnglandG
Chartist rally on Kennington Common. Largest political demonstration of the era; working-class political engagement peaks. in London, EnglandG, on 1848.
1849
TIMELINE
1849 | United Kingdom
Cholera epidemic spreads. High mortality in urban areas; parish burial records and census gaps reflect impact on families. in United Kingdom on 1849.
1850
TIMELINE
1850 | United Kingdom
Public Health Act passed. Local boards of health established; sanitation improves slowly in urban districts. in United Kingdom on 1850.
1851
Residence
30 March 1851 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: (120.)
Citation: 11
1851
Census
30 March 1851 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 62; Marital status: Married; Relation to Head: Head.
Citation: 11
1851
Occupation
30 March 1851 | Welton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Mason.
Citation: 11
1851
TIMELINE
1 May 1851 | Hyde Park, London, England
Great Exhibition opens in Crystal Palace. Showcases industrial innovation; many families travel or work in connection with the event. in Hyde Park, London, England, on 1 May 1851.
1852
TIMELINE
1852 | United Kingdom
Public Libraries Act passed. Enables local authorities to establish free libraries; literacy and access to information begin to expand for working families. in United Kingdom on 1852.
1853
TIMELINE
1853 | United Kingdom
Vaccination Act strengthens enforcement of smallpox vaccination for infants; parish records begin to reflect compliance and resistance. in United Kingdom on 1853.
1853
TIMELINE
1853 | United Kingdom
Gladstone’s budget reforms reduce duties and aim to abolish income tax; economic shifts affect tradespeople and small businesses. in United Kingdom on 1853.
TIMELINE
Between 1854 and 1856 | Crimea, UkraineG
Crimean War fought. British soldiers deployed; families affected by enlistment, casualties, and Florence Nightingale’s nursing reforms. in Crimea, UkraineG, on between 1854 and 1856.
1855
TIMELINE
1855 | United Kingdom
Stamp Duty on newspapers abolished. Working-class readership expands; local news and obituaries become more accessible. in United Kingdom on 1855.
1855
TIMELINE
1855 | Scotland
General Register Office for Scotland established. Civil registration and census administration now managed separately from England and Wales. in Scotland on 1855.
1856
TIMELINE
30 March 1856 | United Kingdom
Peace declared in Crimea. Veterans return home; pension records and military service entries begin to appear in parish documentation. in United Kingdom on 30 March 1856.
1856
TIMELINE
11 November 1856 | United Kingdom
Henry Bessemer patents steel-making process. Industrial expansion accelerates; employment shifts in manufacturing towns. in United Kingdom on 11 November 1856.
1857
TIMELINE
1857 | South Kensington, Kensington & Chelsea, London, England
South Kensington Museum founded (later Victoria and Albert Museum). Cultural access expands; families visit or work in museum-related trades. in South Kensington, Kensington & Chelsea, London, England, on 1857.
1858
TIMELINE
1858 | United Kingdom
Government assumes control of India from East India Company. Public interest in empire grows; some families affected by military or colonial service. in United Kingdom on 1858.
1859
TIMELINE
1859 | United Kingdom
Charles Darwin publishes *On the Origin of Species*. Public debate begins; intellectual shifts influence education and religious communities. in United Kingdom on 1859.
1859
TIMELINE
1859 | United Kingdom
Liberal Party formed under Palmerston. Political reform movements gain traction; working-class engagement increases in urban areas. in United Kingdom on 1859.
1860
TIMELINE
1860 | France
Cobden–Chevalier Treaty signed. Free trade agreement with France; economic impact on textile and agricultural sectors. in France on 1860.
1861
Occupation
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Mason.
Citation: 14
1861
Residence
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: (24) 4 Midsomer Norton.
Citation: 14
1861
Census
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 73; Marital status: Married; Relationship to Head: Head.
Citation: 14

Events - Death & Burial

Death
Between January and March 1866 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Simon Dowling died between January and March 1866, in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England. Note: Age: 77; Formerly: Somerset; Index: Clutton - 1866 Jan-Mar; Volume 5C, Page 493.
Citations: 13,12
1866
Burial
After 1866 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
He was buried after 1866 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England, St. John the Baptist Churchyard; Memorial ID: 249181740.
Citation: 12

Facts - Non-Chronological

Associates
Simon Dowling had the following associates: "John Smith & Thos James."
Citation: 3
Associates
He had the following associates: "James Faulkener, Henry White & Ann Cawe."
Citation: 10
National Origin
The national origin of Simon Dowling was English.
Citations: 4,11,14
Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Simon Dowling has the reference number 15633.

Ethnicity

English

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S1098] SOURCE: (Full): Ancestry.com,
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pallotm&h=1491836&indiv=try,
Repository: Internet Service: Ancestry.com,
Citation Text: Record for Meriel Symes

Pallot's Marriage Index for England 1780 - 1837 - Simon Dowling
[S4068] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FSOMERSET%2FBAP%2F003646404,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Baptism of DOWLING, HENRY ; Baptism date: 11 Jun 1815; Residence: Norton; Denomination: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant); Place: Midsomer Norton; County: Somerset; Country: England; Father's first name(s): Simon; Father's last name: Dowling; Mother's first name(s): Muriel; Father's occupation: Mason; Event type: Baptisms, marriages & burials; Archive: Somerset Archives; Document type: Bishop's transcripts; Page: 15; Archive reference: D/D/ RR 280A; Year range: 1813-1837,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study 22-Feb-2021:-
[S5625] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBOR%2FPHILLIMOREMARS%2FYPSOM14%2F0134_1&parentid=GBOR%2FPHILLIMORE-MARS%2F0970188%2F1,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Marriage of DOWLING, SIMON to MERIEL SYMIS; on 5 November 1809; in Midsomer Norton parish, Somerset, England; Record set: England, Phillimore Marriage Registers, 1531-1913, Record ID: GBOR/PHILLIMORE-MARS/0970188/1; Volume: Somerset Marriage Registers, Vol 14; Year: 1809 ; Includingf Bishop's Transcripts D/D/ RR 280,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955) on 26 February 2024; Page.HostName: findmypast.co.uk; Page.ServiceName: Findmypast; Page.URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR%2FPHILLIMORE-MARS%2F0970188%2F1; Page.Visible URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR%2FPHILLIMORE-MARS%2F0970188%2F1; (via ORA),

Marriage-Dowling-Simon-Symis-Meriel-1809-11-5-ENG-Somerset-Midsomer-Norton
[S2607] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1841%2F0939%2F0320&parentid=GBC%2F1841%2F0003315706,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, SIMON household of , Welton, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Archive reference: HO107, Piece number: 939, Schedule: 1658; Record ID: GBC/1841/0003315706; First name(s) Last name Sex Age Birth year Birth place Simon Dowling Male 45 1796 Somerset, England Martha Dowling Female 40 1801 Somerset, England Mansel Dowling Male 16 1825 Somerset, England Mary Dowling Female 11 1830 Somerset, England Mark Dowling Male 9 1832 Somerset, England Susan Dowling Female 6 1835 Somerset, England Arthur Dowling Male 0 1841 Somerset, England Anne Jeffries Female 13 1828 Somerset, England Elizabeth Jeffries Female 4 1837 Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 31 May 2022 at "Record Transcription: 1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk" via Service:Findmypast. Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1841/0003315706 -(ORA).

Census-1841-ENG-Dowling-Simon-1796-Somerset-Clutton
[S4068] SOURCE (Short):, Title: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant) / Church of England (England, SOMERSET), "Parish BAPTISMS; Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records 1538-1975; England, Somerset Index Transcripts", Citation Detail: Baptism of DOWLING, MANSEL in Midsomer Norton, Somerset on 22 August 1824; Denomination: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant); Apparent Gender: Male; Father: Simon & Mother: Susan Dowling; Record ID: GBPRS/SOMERSET/BAP/003648009; Archive reference: D/D/ RR 280A;
[S4068] SOURCE (Short):, Title: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant) / Church of England (England, SOMERSET), "Parish BAPTISMS; Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records 1538-1975; England, Somerset Index Transcripts", Citation Detail: Baptism of DOWLING, LEONARD HOOPER in Midsomer Norton, Somerset on 27 May 1827; Denomination: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant); Apparent Gender: Male; Father: Simon & Mother: Susan Dowling; Record ID: GBPRS/SOMERSET/BAP/003648202; Archive reference: D/D/ RR 280A; Parish Baptism Page: 109;
[S4068] SOURCE (Short):, Title: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant) / Church of England (England, SOMERSET), "Parish BAPTISMS; Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records 1538-1975; England, Somerset Index Transcripts", Citation Detail: Baptism of DOWLING, MARK in Midsomer Norton, Somerset on 6 January 1833; Denomination: Anglican; Apparent Gender: Male; Father: Simon & Mother: Susan Dowling; Record ID: GBPRS/SOMERSET/BAP/003648654; Archive reference: D/D/ RR 280A; Parish Baptism Page: 165;
[S4068] SOURCE (Short):, Title: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant) / Church of England (England, SOMERSET), "Parish BAPTISMS; Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records 1538-1975; England, Somerset Index Transcripts", Citation Detail: Baptism of DOWLING, MARY in Midsomer Norton, Somerset on 6 January 1833; Denomination: Anglican; Apparent Gender: Female; Father: Simon & Mother: Susan Dowling; Record ID: GBPRS/SOMERSET/BAP/003648656; Archive reference: D/D/ RR 280A; Parish Baptism Page: 165;
[S4068] SOURCE (Short):, Title: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant) / Church of England (England, SOMERSET), "Parish BAPTISMS; Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records 1538-1975; England, Somerset Index Transcripts", Citation Detail: Baptism of DOWLING, SUSAN in Midsomer Norton, Somerset on 30 July 1834; Denomination: Anglican; Apparent Gender: Female; Father: Simon & Mother: Susan Dowling; Record ID: GBPRS/SOMERSET/BAP/003648920; Archive reference: D/D/ RR 280A; Parish Baptism Page: 182;
[S5610] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: Not available as at 7 March 2026,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Marriage of DOWLING, SIMON to MARTHA, JEFFERIS in Bathwick, Somerset, England, on 11 September 1837; Residence: 30 Grove Street; Spouse's residence: 30 Grove Street; Record ID: GBPRS/SOMERSET/MAR/001701397/1,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 7 March 2026, using the Page Service: Findmypast; Page Host: findmypast.co.uk; URL (Transcript): https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS/SOMERSET/MAR/001701397/1. - (extracted using ORA (Online Registry Assistant)).
[S2557] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1851%2F4294512%2F00755&parentid=GBC%2F1851%2F0010000945,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, SIMON household of Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Archive reference: HO107; Piece number: 1939; Folio: 384; Page: 29; , Schedule: 120; Record ID: GBC/1851/0010000945; Age: 62; Birth year: 1789; Birth place: England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 7 March 2026, using the Page Service: Findmypast; Page Host: findmypast.co.uk; Page Title: "Record Transcription: 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk"; URL (Transcript): https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1851/0010000945. - (extracted using ORA (Online Registry Assistant)).

Census-1851-ENG-Dowling-Simon-1789-Somerset-Clutton-A
[S1447] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: Not available as at 8 March 2026,
Citation Detail: Grave for DOWLING, SIMON in St. John the Baptist Churchyard, Midsomer Norton, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, Somerset, England; , Birth Date: 1788, Birth Place: Midsomer Norton, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, Somerset, England, Death Date: 1866, Death Place: Midsomer Norton, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, Somerset, England; Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249181740/simon-dowling: accessed March 8, 2026), memorial page for Simon Dowling (1788–1866), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249181740, citing St. John the Baptist Churchyard, Midsomer Norton, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, Somerset, England; Maintained by ancestryinterest (contributor 50079330).; Record ID: 249181740,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 8 March 2026, using the Page Service: Find a Grave; Page Host: findagrave.com; Page Title: "Simon Dowling (1788-1866) - Find a Grave Memorial"; URL (Transcript): https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249181740. - (extracted using ORA (Online Registry Assistant)).
[S4617] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FD%2F1866%2F1%2FAZ%2F000102&parentid=BMD%2FD%2F1866%2F1%2FAZ%2F000102%2F194,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Death of DOWLING, SIMON in Clutton, Somerset, England; Age: 77; 1789; Index: Clutton - 1866 Jan-Mar; 1866- Volume 5C Page 493,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 8 March 2026, using the Page Service: Findmypast; Page Host: findmypast.co.uk; URL (Transcript): https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD/D/1866/1/AZ/000102/194. - (extracted using ORA (Online Registry Assistant)).

DeathIndex-Dowling-1866-Q1-E&W
[S3203] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1861%2F1680%2F01485A&parentid=GBC%2F1861%2F0009275557,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, SIMON household of Midsomer Norton, 4 Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; Enumeration district: 5; Archive reference: RG09; Piece number: 1680; Folio: 66; Page: 5; Schedule: 24; Record ID: GBC/1861/0009275557; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Simon Dowling Head Married Male 73 1788 Mason Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Martha Dowling Wife Married Female 63 1798 - Litton, Somerset, England Arthur Dowling Son Unmarried Male 20 1841 Boot & shoe maker Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Susan Dowling Daughter Unmarried Female 25 1836 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 8 March 2026, using the Page Service: Findmypast; Page Host: findmypast.co.uk; URL (Transcript): https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1861/0009275557. - (extracted using ORA (Online Registry Assistant)).

Census-1861-ENG-Dowling-Simon-1788-Somerset-Clutton-A

Meriel Symes¹

F, #15634, b. before 1795, d. 1821

1700s All
Cause of Death
Death Age
England - All
Somerset - ALL

Partner: Simon Dowling (b. 1796, d. between January and March 1866)

Children:

Daughter*	Elizabeth Dowling (b. 1810, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Emma Dowling (b. 1811, d. 1820)
Daughter*	Sarah Dowling (b. 1814, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Henry Dowling+ (b. before 11 June 1815, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Matilda Dowling (b. 1817, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Meshack Dowling+ (b. 1819, d. between July and September 1881)

Vital Facts

Birth	Meriel Symes was born before 1795. Note: (ESTIMATE: 14 YEARS BEFORE MARRIAGE.)²
Marriage	She and Simon Dowling were married on 5 November 1809 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England, Parish; Both in 1st marriage; By Banns; Witnesses: John Smith & Thos James; (Phillimore transcription of parish marriage register.)²
Death	She died in 1821.

Census Summary

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

Name Merial Symon
Name Meriel Symis
Citation: 2
Name Muriel Dowling
Citation: 3
1795
Birth
Before 1795
Meriel Symes was born before 1795. Note: (ESTIMATE: 14 YEARS BEFORE MARRIAGE.)
Citation: 2
1809
Marriage | Simon Dowling
5 November 1809 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Simon Dowling
Age ~13
Birth in 1796 | Somerset, EnglandG
Death: between January and March 1866 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
She and Simon Dowling were married on 5 November 1809 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England, Parish; Both in 1st marriage; By Banns; Witnesses: John Smith & Thos James; (Phillimore transcription of parish marriage register.)
Citation: 2
1809
Religious Affiliation
5 November 1809 | EnglandG
Anglican / Church of England (Protestant) on 5 November 1809 in EnglandG.
Citation: 2
1809
Residence
5 November 1809 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: Parish; (at marriage to Meriel Symis.)
Citation: 2
1809
Marriage | Simon Dowling
12 November 1809 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Simon Dowling
Age ~13
Birth in 1796 | Somerset, EnglandG
Death: between January and March 1866 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citation: 1
1815
Residence
11 June 1815 | Norton, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: Baptism of son Henry.
Citation: 3

Events - Death & Burial

1821
Death
1821

Facts - Non-Chronological

Associates
Meriel Symes had the following associates: "John Smith & Thos James."
Citation: 2
Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Meriel Symes has the reference number 15634.

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S1098] SOURCE: (Full): Ancestry.com,
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pallotm&h=1491836&indiv=try,
Repository: Internet Service: Ancestry.com,
Citation Text: Record for Meriel Symes

Pallot's Marriage Index for England 1780 - 1837 - Simon Dowling
[S5625] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBOR%2FPHILLIMOREMARS%2FYPSOM14%2F0134_1&parentid=GBOR%2FPHILLIMORE-MARS%2F0970188%2F1,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Marriage of DOWLING, SIMON to MERIEL SYMIS; on 5 November 1809; in Midsomer Norton parish, Somerset, England; Record set: England, Phillimore Marriage Registers, 1531-1913, Record ID: GBOR/PHILLIMORE-MARS/0970188/1; Volume: Somerset Marriage Registers, Vol 14; Year: 1809 ; Includingf Bishop's Transcripts D/D/ RR 280,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955) on 26 February 2024; Page.HostName: findmypast.co.uk; Page.ServiceName: Findmypast; Page.URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR%2FPHILLIMORE-MARS%2F0970188%2F1; Page.Visible URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR%2FPHILLIMORE-MARS%2F0970188%2F1; (via ORA),

Marriage-Dowling-Simon-Symis-Meriel-1809-11-5-ENG-Somerset-Midsomer-Norton
[S4068] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FSOMERSET%2FBAP%2F003646404,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Baptism of DOWLING, HENRY ; Baptism date: 11 Jun 1815; Residence: Norton; Denomination: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant); Place: Midsomer Norton; County: Somerset; Country: England; Father's first name(s): Simon; Father's last name: Dowling; Mother's first name(s): Muriel; Father's occupation: Mason; Event type: Baptisms, marriages & burials; Archive: Somerset Archives; Document type: Bishop's transcripts; Page: 15; Archive reference: D/D/ RR 280A; Year range: 1813-1837,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study 22-Feb-2021:-

Elizabeth Dowling

F, #15635, b. 1810, d. DECEASED

Father*	Simon Dowling (b. 1796, d. between January and March 1866)
Mother*	Meriel Symes (b. before 1795, d. 1821)

Vital Facts

Death	Elizabeth Dowling died DECEASED.
Birth	She was born in 1810.

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1810
Birth
1810

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Elizabeth Dowling has the reference number 15635.

Ethnicity

50.00% English
50.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

Emma Dowling

F, #15636, b. 1811, d. 1820

Father*	Simon Dowling (b. 1796, d. between January and March 1866)
Mother*	Meriel Symes (b. before 1795, d. 1821)

Vital Facts

Birth	Emma Dowling was born in 1811.
Death	She died in 1820.

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1811
Birth
1811

Events - Death & Burial

1820~9
Death
1820

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Emma Dowling has the reference number 15636.

Ethnicity

50.00% English
50.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

Sarah Dowling

F, #15637, b. 1814, d. DECEASED

Father*	Simon Dowling (b. 1796, d. between January and March 1866)
Mother*	Meriel Symes (b. before 1795, d. 1821)

Vital Facts

Death	Sarah Dowling died DECEASED.
Birth	She was born in 1814.

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1814
Birth
1814

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Sarah Dowling has the reference number 15637.

Ethnicity

50.00% English
50.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

Henry Dowling^1,2,3,4

M, #15638, b. before 11 June 1815, d. DECEASED

Cause of Death
Census 1851 England
Census 1861 England
Census 1881 England
Death Age
England - All
Somerset - ALL
Stone Workers

Father*	Simon Dowling (b. 1796, d. between January and March 1866)
Mother*	Meriel Symes (b. before 1795, d. 1821)

Partner: Elizabeth Hood (b. 1821, d. DECEASED)

Children:

Daughter*	Mary Jane Dowling (b. 1842, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Merial Dowling (b. 1844, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Thomas Dowling+ (b. 1846, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Benjamin Dowling (b. 1848, d. DECEASED)
Son*	George Dowling (b. 1850, d. DECEASED)

Vital Facts

Death	Henry Dowling died DECEASED.
Marriage	He and Elizabeth Hood were married between July and September 1839 in Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG, Index: Clutton - 1839 Jul-Sep Volume 11 Page 105.⁴
Birth	He was born before 11 June 1815 in Norton, Somerset, EnglandG.⁵

Census Summary

Census
30 Mar 1851³

Census
7 Apr 1861²

Census
3 Apr 1881¹

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

Marriage | Elizabeth Hood
Between July and September 1839 | Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG
Elizabeth Hood
Birth in 1821 | Marlborough, Wiltshire, EnglandG
Death: DECEASED
Henry Dowling and Elizabeth Hood were married between July and September 1839 in Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG, Index: Clutton - 1839 Jul-Sep Volume 11 Page 105.
Citation: 4
Residence
Between July and September 1839 | Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: Marriage.
1815
Birth
Before 11 June 1815 | Norton, Somerset, EnglandG
Citation: 5
1815
Baptism
11 June 1815 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
He was baptised on 11 June 1815 in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England.
Citation: 5
1819
Birth
1819 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citations: 2,3
1821
Birth
1821 | Farrington Gurney, Somerset, EnglandG
Citation: 1
1851
Census
30 March 1851 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 32; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head: Head.
Citation: 3
1851
Occupation
30 March 1851 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Mason.
Citation: 3
1851
Residence
30 March 1851 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: (84.)
Citation: 3
1861
Census
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 42; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head: Head.
Citation: 2
1861
Occupation
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Mason.
Citation: 2
1861
Residence
7 April 1861 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: (13) Gunnings Buildings, Old Wetton.
Citation: 2
1881
Occupation
3 April 1881 | Farrington Gurney, Somerset, EnglandG
Stone Mason.
Citation: 1
1881
Residence
3 April 1881 | Farrington Gurney, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: (98.)
Citation: 1
1881
Census
3 April 1881 | Farrington Gurney, Somerset, EnglandG
Enumerated on the census as Age: 60; Marital Status: Widowed; Relation to Head: Boarder.
Citation: 1

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Henry Dowling has the reference number 15638.

Ethnicity

50.00% English
50.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S3405] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1881%2F4314920%2F01087&parentid=GBC%2F1881%2F0010929770,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, THOMAS household of Farrington Gurney, Clutton, Somerset, England; Archive reference: RG11; Piece number: 2429; Folio: 98; Page: 18,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study 21-Feb-2021:-
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Dowling Head Married Male 39 1842 Stone Mason Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England
Lavinia Dowling Wife Married Female 36 1845 - Farrington Gurney, Somerset, England
Charles Dowling Son Single Male 11 1870 Scholar Farrington Gurney, Somerset, England
Amelia Dowling Daughter Single Female 9 1872 Scholar Farrington Gurney, Somerset, England
Edward Dowling Son Single Male 3 1878 Scholar Farrington Gurney, Somerset, England
Edith Dowling Daughter Single Female 2 1879 ((Scholar)) Farrington Gurney, Somerset, England
Henry Dowling Boarder Widower Male 60 1821 Stone Mason Farrington Gurney, Somerset, England

Census-1881-ENG-Dowling-Thomas-1842-Somerset-Farrington-Gurney
[S3203] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1861%2F1680%2F01409A&parentid=GBC%2F1861%2F0009274106,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, HENRY household of Gunings Buildings, Old Wetton, Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England; Enumeration district: 2; Archive reference: RG09; Piece number: 1680; Folio: 28; Page: 3,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study 21-Feb-2021:-
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Henry Dowling Head Married Male 42 1819 Mason Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England
Thomas Dowling Son - Male 16 1845 Mason Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England
Benjamin Dowling Son - Male 13 1848 Agricultural Labourer Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England
George Dowling Son - Male 11 1850 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England

Census-1861-ENG-Dowling-Henry-1819-Somerset-Midsomer-Norton
[S2557] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1851%2F4294512%2F00645&parentid=GBC%2F1851%2F0009999245,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, HENRY household of Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England; Archive reference: HO107; Piece number: 1939; Folio: 328; Page: 24,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study 21-Feb-2021:-
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Henry Dowling Head Married Male 32 1819 Mason Somerset, England
Elizabeth Dowling Wife Married Female 30 1821 Domestic Duties Marlborough, Wiltshire, England
Mary Jane Dowling Dau - Female 9 1842 Scholar Somerset, England
Merial Dowling Dau - Female 7 1844 Scholar Somerset, England
Thomas Dowling Son - Male 6 1845 Scholar Somerset, England
Benjamin Dowling Son - Male 3 1848 - Somerset, England
George Dowling Son - Male 1 1850 - Somerset, England
Benjamin Wood Lodger W Male 79 1772 Miller Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire, England

Census-1851-ENG-Dowling-Henry-1819-Somerset-Midsomer-Norton
[S453] SOURCE: (Full): FreeBMD,
Source Combined Fields: England. "Civil Registration MARRIAGE Index: 1837-Present; FreeBMD ".

General Register Office, England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England: General Register Office. © Crown copyright. Published by permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Office for National Statistics. You must not copy on, transfer or reproduce records without the prior permission of ONS. Database Copyright © 1998-2003,
Repository: United Kingdom General Register Office,
Citation Detail: Marriage of DOWLING, HENRY to ELIZABETH HOOD in Clutton, Somerset, England; Index: Clutton - 1839 Jul-Sep Volume 11 Page 105,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study 21-Feb-2021:-
[S4068] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FSOMERSET%2FBAP%2F003646404,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Baptism of DOWLING, HENRY ; Baptism date: 11 Jun 1815; Residence: Norton; Denomination: Anglican / Church of England (Protestant); Place: Midsomer Norton; County: Somerset; Country: England; Father's first name(s): Simon; Father's last name: Dowling; Mother's first name(s): Muriel; Father's occupation: Mason; Event type: Baptisms, marriages & burials; Archive: Somerset Archives; Document type: Bishop's transcripts; Page: 15; Archive reference: D/D/ RR 280A; Year range: 1813-1837,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study 22-Feb-2021:-

Matilda Dowling

F, #15639, b. 1817, d. DECEASED

Father*	Simon Dowling (b. 1796, d. between January and March 1866)
Mother*	Meriel Symes (b. before 1795, d. 1821)

Vital Facts

Death	Matilda Dowling died DECEASED.
Birth	She was born in 1817.

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1817
Birth
1817

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Matilda Dowling has the reference number 15639.

Ethnicity

50.00% English
50.00% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

Harriett Whittaker¹

F, #15641, b. 1850, d. 28 May 1938

Cause of Death
Census 1881 England
Census 1891 England
Census 1901 England
Census 1911 England
Death Age
England - All
England, Bristol - ALL
England, Gloucestershire - ALL
Somerset - ALL

Partner: James Dowling (b. between January and March 1848, d. between January and March 1920)

Children:

Son*	Edwin James Dowling (b. between April and June 1884, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Ivan Henry Dowling (b. between July and September 1882, d. between July and September 1942)
Daughter*	Lilly Dowling (b. about 1877, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Kate Flora Dowling (b. 1879, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Harvey James Dowling (b. 1881, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Charles Henry Dowling (b. 1889, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Alfred Stanley Dowling+ (b. 10 September 1891, d. 27 May 1958)

Vital Facts

Marriage	Harriett Whittaker and James Dowling were married between January and March 1877 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, EnglandG, Index: Bristol - 1877 Jan-Mar Volume 6A; Page number 13.¹
Birth	She was born in 1850 in Ston Easton, Somerset, EnglandG.^2,3,4,5,6
Death	She died on 28 May 1938, in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England. Note: Age: 88; Marital Status: Widowed; Index: Norton Radstock - 1938 Apr-Jun; Volume 5C, Page 539.^7,6

Census Summary

Census
3 Apr 1881³

Census
5 Apr 1891⁴

Census
31 Mar 1901²

Census
2 Apr 1911⁸

Census
19 Jun 1921⁵

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

Name Whittaker
Citation: 9
Name Harriet Dowling
Citations: 8,2,3,4,5,7,6
Marriage | James Dowling
Between January and March 1877 | Bristol, Gloucestershire, EnglandG
James Dowling
Birth between January and March 1848 | Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG
Death: between January and March 1920 | Wells, Somerset, EnglandG
Harriett Whittaker and James Dowling were married between January and March 1877 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, EnglandG, Index: Bristol - 1877 Jan-Mar Volume 6A; Page number 13.
Citation: 1
Residence
Between January and March 1877 | Bristol, Gloucestershire, EnglandG
Detail: Bristol, Avon; (at marriage to James Dowling.)
Citation: 1
Event or Activity
Between January and March 1920 | Wells, Somerset, EnglandG
She was in Wells, Somerset, EnglandG, between January and March 1920. Note: Death of husband James Dowling (probably in mental hospital.)
Citation: 10
Residence
Between April and June 1938 | Norton Radstock, Somerset, England
Citation: 6
Residence
Between October and December 1891 | Clutton, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: (Birth of son Alfred Stanley Dowling.)
Citation: 9
1850
Birth
1850 | Ston Easton, Somerset, EnglandG
Citations: 2,3,4,5,6
1850
Birth
1850 | Taunton, Somerset, EnglandG
Citation: 8
1881~31
Residence
3 April 1881 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: (18) Midsomer Norton.
Citation: 3
1881~31
Census
3 April 1881 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 31; Relation to Head: Wife Marital Status: Married.
Citation: 3
1891~41
Census
5 April 1891 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 41; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head: Wife.
Citation: 4
1891~41
Residence
5 April 1891 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 134 High Street , Three Horseshoes.
Citation: 4
1901~51
Census
31 March 1901 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 51; Marital status: Married; Relation to Head: Head.
Citation: 2
1901~51
Residence
31 March 1901 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 36 High Street.
Citation: 2
1911~61
Residence
2 April 1911 | Kingswood, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: Tennis Court Road.
Citation: 8
1911~61
Occupation
2 April 1911 | Taunton, Somerset, EnglandG
Household Duties.
Citation: 8
1911~61
Census
2 April 1911 | Kingswood, Somerset, EnglandG
Enumerated on the census as Age: 61; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head: Mother.
Citation: 8
1921~71
Census
19 June 1921 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 71 years, 3 months; Marital status: Widowed; Relation to Head: Head.
Citation: 5
1921~71
Residence
19 June 1921 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: Somerset; 36 High Street; Parish: Midsomer Norton.
Citation: 5
1921~71
Occupation
19 June 1921 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
At Home.
Citation: 5
1938
Residence
Before 28 May 1938 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 36 High Street.
Citation: 7

Events - Death & Burial

1938~88
Death
28 May 1938 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Harriett Whittaker died on 28 May 1938, in Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England. Note: Age: 88; Marital Status: Widowed; Index: Norton Radstock - 1938 Apr-Jun; Volume 5C, Page 539.
Citations: 7,6
1938
Probate
17 August 1938 | Bristol, Gloucestershire, EnglandG
The estate of Harriett Whittaker was probated on 17 August 1938 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, EnglandG, Administration; to Ivan Henry Dowling, gardener. Effects: £139.7s.11d.
Citation: 7

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Harriett Whittaker has the reference number 15641.

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S5319] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FM%2F1877%2F1%2FAZ%2F000062&parentid=BMD%2FM%2F1877%2F1%2FAZ%2F000062%2F179,
Repository: United Kingdom General Register Office,
Citation Detail: Marriage of DOWLING, JAMES to HARRIETT WHITTAKER in Bristol, Gloucestershire Until Apr 1974, England; Index: Bristol - 1877 Jan-Mar Volume 6A; Page number 13,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 27 February 2024 in of Service: Findmypast; -(ORA); Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FM%2F1877%2F1%2FAZ%2F000062%2F179,

MarriageIndex-Dowling-1877-Q1-E&W
[S3403] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1901%2F2330-2332%2F0533&parentid=GBC%2F1901%2F0000336176,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, HARRIET household of Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; , Enumeration district: 2, Parliamentary borough or division: Northern, Ecclesiastical parish or district: Midsomer Norton St John the Baptist, Archive reference: RG13, Piece number: 2332, Folio: 33, Page: 16, Schedule: 95; Record ID: GBC/1901/0000336176; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Harriet Dowling Head Married Female 51 1850 - Somerset, England Harry J Dowling Son Single Male 20 1881 Shoe maker clicker Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Ivan H Dowling Son Single Male 18 1883 Shoemaker rounder Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Edwin J Dowling Son Single Male 17 1884 Shoemaker rounder Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Charles H Dowling Son Single Male 12 1889 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Alfred S Dowling Son Single Male 9 1892 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2024 via Service:Findmypast. Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1901/0000336176 -(ORA).

Census-1901-ENG-Dowling-Harriet-1850-Somerset-Clutton-A
[S3405] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1881%2F4314920%2F00632&parentid=GBC%2F1881%2F0010924519,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, JAMES household of Midsomer-Norton, Midsomer-NortonSomerset, England; Archive reference: RG11; Piece number: 2428; Folio: 18; Page: 4; Schedule: 126; ; Record ID: GBC/1881/0010924519; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place James Dowling Head Married Male 33 1848 Tailor Somerset, England Harriet Dowling Wife Married Female 31 1850 - Somerset, England Lilly Dowling Daughter Single Female 4 1877 Scholar Somerset, England Kate Dowling Daughter Single Female 2 1879 - Somerset, England Harvey Dowling Son Single Male 1 1880 - Somerset, England Alfred Gillingham Boarder Single Male 15 1866 Shoe makers apprentice Bristol, Gloucestershire, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2024 at "Record Transcription: 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk" via Service:Findmypast. Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1881/0010924519 -(ORA).

Census-1881-ENG-Dowling-James-1848-Somerset-Clutton-A
[S3404] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1891%2F1927%2F0067&parentid=GBC%2F1891%2F0013323599,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, JAMES household of Midsomer Norton, Midsomer Norton, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; , Enumeration district: 2, Parliamentary borough or division: North Somerset, Ecclesiastical parish or district: St John Baptist, Archive reference: RG12, Piece number: 1927, Folio: 33, Page: 21, Schedule: 134; Record ID: GBC/1891/0013323599; Across two pages; First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place James Dowling Head Married Male 43 1848 Tailor Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Harriet Dowling Wife Married Female 41 1850 - Somerset, England Harry J Dowling Son - Male 10 1881 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Ivan H Dowling Son - Male 8 1883 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Edwin J Dowling Son - Male 7 1884 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Charles H Dowling Son - Male 2 1889 - Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Kate F Dowling Daughter - Female 12 1879 Scholar Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2024 at "Record Transcription: 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk" via Service:Findmypast. Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1891/0013323599 -(ORA).

Census-1891-ENG-Dowling-James-1848-Somerset-Clutton-A
Census-1891-ENG-Dowling-James-1848-Somerset-Clutton-B
[S5318] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F11449%2F0105&parentid=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F11449%2F0105%2F01,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, HARRIET household of 36 High Street, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; , Parliamentary borough or division: Somersetshire PC, Frome Div.Folio: ; Page: ; Record ID: GBC/1921/RG15/11449/0105/01; Registration district number: 315; Sub-district number: 4; Enumeration district number: 5; Archive series: RG 15; Piece number: 11449; Schedule number: 52; Schedule type code: E; Schedule type: England household, single page, 10 entries; District reference: RD 315 RS 4 ED 5; Gender: Female; Age: 71; Birth year: 1850; Birth place: Somerset, England; Other household member's - Last name(s): Dowling; First name(s): Charles, Edith, Ivan,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 27 February 2024 Service: Findmypast; (via ORA). Paid for Transcript: >https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1921/RG15/11449/0105/01

Census-1921-ENG-Dowling-Harriet-1850-Somerset-Clutton-A
[S4617] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image URL: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FD%2F1938%2F2%2FAZ%2F000242&parentid=BMD%2FD%2F1938%2F2%2FAZ%2F000242%2F002,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Death of DOWLING, HARRIET in Norton Radstock, Somerset, England; Age: 88; 1850; Index: Norton Radstock - 1938 Apr-Jun; 1938- Volume 5C Page 539,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on of Service: Findmypast; -(ORA); Transcript URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FD%2F1938%2F2%2FAZ%2F000242%2F002

DeathIndex-Dowling-1938-Q2-E&W
[S5631] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBOR%2FGOVPROBATE%2F1938%2FD001206-DOWEY-1938&parentid=GBOR%2FGOVPROBATE%2FC%2F1938-1938%2F00036408,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Probate for DOWLING, HARRIET, of Midsomer Norton, Somerset; England; Death date: 28 May 1938; Probate date: 17 August 1938; Probate year: 1938; Record ID: GBOR/GOVPROBATE/C/1938-1938/00036408,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 28 February 2024; Page.HostName: findmypast.co.uk; Page.ServiceName: Findmypast; Page.URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR%2FGOVPROBATE%2FC%2F1938-1938%2F00036408, Page.Visible URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR%2FGOVPROBATE%2FC%2F1938-1938%2F00036408; URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR/GOVPROBATE/C/1938-1938/00036408,

DeathIndex-Dowling-1938-ENG-Probate
[S4116] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1911england&h=55530280&indiv=try,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, EDWIN J household of Kingswood, Kingswood, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, England; , Enumeration district: 15, Piece number: 14765, Schedule: 264; Record ID: GBC/1911/RG14/14765/0527/1; First name(s) Last name Relation to Head Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Edwin J Dowling Head Single Male 27 1884 Shoemaker rounder Somerset Taunton Edwin Carpenter Boarder Single Male 31 1880 Shoemaker rounder Somerset Taunton Harriet Dowling Mother Married Female 61 1850 Household duties Somerset Taunton,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 13 January 2022 at Record Transcription: 1911 Census For England & Wales | findmypast.co.uk via service: Findmypast. Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1911/RG14/14765/0527/1

Census-1911-ENG-Dowling-Harriet-01.jpg
Class: RG14; Piece: 14765; Schedule Number: 264
[S5623] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image URL: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FB%2F1891%2F4%2FAZ%2F000157&parentid=BMD%2FB%2F1891%2F4%2FAZ%2F000157%2F236,
Repository: United Kingdom General Register Office,
Citation Detail: Birth of DOWLING, ALFRED STANLEY; Mother's maiden name: Whittaker; in Clutton, Somerset, England; Index: Clutton - 1891 Oct-Dec Volume 5C Page 532,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2024 in of Service: Findmypast; -(via ORA); Transcript:https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD/B/1891/4/AZ/000157/236&expand=true,

BirthIndex-Dowling-1891-Q4-E&W.jpg
[S4617] SOURCE (Short):, Title: England, SOMERSET, "Civil Registration DEATH Index: 1837-Present", Citation Detail: Death of DOWLING, JAMES in Wells, Somerset, England; Age: 71; 1849; Index: Wells - 1920 Jan-Mar; 1920- Volume 5C Page 548;
DeathIndex-Dowling-1920-Q1-E&W

Edith Sarah L Battle¹

F, #15642, b. 1885, d. DECEASED

Cause of Death
Census 1911 England
Death Age
England - All
Somerset - ALL

Vital Facts

Death	Edith Sarah L Battle died DECEASED.
Marriage	She and Ivan Henry Dowling were married between July and September 1906 in Wells, Somerset, EnglandG, Volume 5c Page: 857.^2,1
Birth	She was born in 1885 in Chewton Mendip, Clutton, Somerset, England.^2,3

Census Summary

Census
2 Apr 1911²

Census
19 Jun 1921³

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

Name Edith S L Dowling
Citation: 2
Name Edith Dowling
Citation: 3
Marriage | Ivan Henry Dowling
Between July and September 1906 | Wells, Somerset, EnglandG
Ivan Henry Dowling
Birth between July and September 1882 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Death: between July and September 1942 | Bath, Somerset, EnglandG
Edith Sarah L Battle and Ivan Henry Dowling were married between July and September 1906 in Wells, Somerset, EnglandG, Volume 5c Page: 857.
Citations: 2,1
Event or Activity
Between July and September 1942 | Bath, Somerset, EnglandG
She was in Bath, Somerset, EnglandG, between July and September 1942. Note: Death of husband Ivan H Dowling.
Citation: 4
1885
Birth
1885 | Chewton Mendip, Clutton, Somerset, England
Citations: 2,3
1911
Residence
2 April 1911 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: 36 High Street.
Citation: 2
1911
Census
2 April 1911 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 26; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head: Wife.
Citation: 2
1921
Occupation
19 June 1921 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
At Home.
Citation: 3
1921
Census
19 June 1921 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 36 years, 9 months; Marital status: Married; Relation to Head: Daughter-in-law.
Citation: 3
1921
Residence
19 June 1921 | Midsomer Norton, Clutton, Somerset, England
Detail: Somerset; 36 High Street; Parish: Midsomer Norton.
Citation: 3

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Edith Sarah L Battle has the reference number 15642.

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S453] SOURCE: (Full): FreeBMD,
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=freebmdmarriage&h=8254941&indiv=try,
Repository: United Kingdom General Register Office,
Citation Text: Record for Ivan Henry Dowling

England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915 - Ivan Henry Dowling
[S3402] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1911england&h=55413013&indiv=try,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, IVAN HENRY household of Midsomer Norton, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; , Enumeration district: 2, Piece number: 14652, Schedule: 142; Record ID: GBC/1911/RG14/14652/0283/1; First name(s) Last name Relation to Head Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place Ivan Henry Dowling Head Married Male 29 1882 Brewery hand Midsomer Norton Edith S L Dowling Wife Married Female 26 1885 - Chewton Mendip Somerset Somerset Mendip Charles Henry Dowling Brother Single Male 22 1889 Miner - carting boy Midsomer Norton Alfred Stanley Dowling Brother Single Male 19 1892 Clerk - Midsomer Norton,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 13 January 2022 at Record Transcription: 1911 Census For England & Wales | findmypast.co.uk via service: Findmypast. Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1911/RG14/14652/0283/1

Census-1911-ENG-Dowling-Ivan-H-01.jpg
Class: RG14; Piece: 14652; Schedule Number: 142
[S5318] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F11449%2F0105&parentid=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F11449%2F0105%2F01,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, HARRIET household of 36 High Street, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England; , Parliamentary borough or division: Somersetshire PC, Frome Div.Folio: ; Page: ; Record ID: GBC/1921/RG15/11449/0105/01; Registration district number: 315; Sub-district number: 4; Enumeration district number: 5; Archive series: RG 15; Piece number: 11449; Schedule number: 52; Schedule type code: E; Schedule type: England household, single page, 10 entries; District reference: RD 315 RS 4 ED 5; Gender: Female; Age: 71; Birth year: 1850; Birth place: Somerset, England; Other household member's - Last name(s): Dowling; First name(s): Charles, Edith, Ivan,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 27 February 2024 Service: Findmypast; (via ORA). Paid for Transcript: >https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1921/RG15/11449/0105/01

Census-1921-ENG-Dowling-Harriet-1850-Somerset-Clutton-A
[S4617] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image URL: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FD%2F1942%2F3%2FAZ%2F000207&parentid=BMD%2FD%2F1942%2F3%2FAZ%2F000207%2F084,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Death of DOWLING, IVAN H in Bath, Somerset Then Avon Until 1996, England; Age: 60; 1882; Index: Bath - 1942 Jul-Sep; 1942- Volume 5C Page 554,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on of Service: Findmypast; -(ORA); Transcript URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FD%2F1942%2F3%2FAZ%2F000207%2F084

DeathIndex-Dowling-1942-Q3-E&W

Portrait-Dowling-Eric-Perry-Digger-RAF

Eric Perry Dowling¹

M, #15646, b. 22 July 1915, d. 21 July 2008

Cause of Death
Census/Register 1939 England
Death Age
England - All
England, Gloucestershire - ALL
Military Service
Millers
Notable
Somerset - ALL
Teachers
World War 2

Father*	Alfred Stanley Dowling (b. 10 September 1891, d. 27 May 1958)
Mother*	Christiana Sophia Perry (b. 1891, d. between January and March 1937)

Vital Facts

Birth	Eric Perry Dowling was born on 22 July 1915 in Glastonbury, Somerset, EnglandG. Note: Index: Wells - 1915 Jul-Sep Volume 5c Page 644.^2,3,4,5,1
Marriage	He and Agnes M Ostmann-Lie were married in 1946 in Norway.⁶
Death	He died on 21 July 2008, in Stoke Bishop, Bristol, England. Note: Age: 92; 'One day before his 93rd birthday'.^2,3
Burial	He was buried after 21 July 2008 in Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucestershire, England.³

Census Summary

Census
19 Jun 1921¹

Census
29 Sep 1939⁴

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

Name Lieut Eric Perry "digger" Dowling
Citation: 3
Name Eric P Dowling
Citations: 5,4,6
Aka Digger Dowling
Event or Activity
Between January and March 1937 | Taunton, Somerset, EnglandG
Eric Perry Dowling was in Taunton, Somerset, EnglandG, between January and March 1937. Note: Death of mother Christiana S Dowling nee Perry.
Citation: 7
Residence
Between January and March 1949 | Taunton, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: (Birth of daughter Susan C Dowling.)
Citation: 8
Residence
Between October and December 1947 | Taunton, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: (Birth of son Peter S Dowling.)
Citation: 9
1915
Birth
22 July 1915 | Glastonbury, Somerset, EnglandG
He was born on 22 July 1915 in Glastonbury, Somerset, EnglandG. Note: Index: Wells - 1915 Jul-Sep Volume 5c Page 644.
Citations: 2,3,4,5,1
19183
TIMELINE
1 November 1918 | World
World War 1 ends with armistice in Germany in World on 1 November 1918.
19215
Census
19 June 1921 | Taunton St James Within, Somerset, England
Enumerated on the census as Age: 5 years, 11 months; Marital status: ; Relation to Head: Son.
Citation: 1
19215
Occupation
19 June 1921 | Taunton St James Within, Somerset, England
Whole time education.
Citation: 1
19215
Residence
19 June 1921 | Taunton St James Within, Somerset, England
Detail: Somerset; 22 Addison Grove, Taunton; Parish: Taunton St James Within.
Citation: 1
193924
TIMELINE
1 September 1939 | Europe
World War 2 starts with German invasion of Poland in Europe on 1 September 1939.
193924
Census
29 September 1939 | Taunton, Somerset, EnglandG
Enumerated on the census as Age: 24; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head: APPARENTLY Son.
Citation: 4
193924
Residence
29 September 1939 | Taunton, Somerset, EnglandG
Detail: Oldbury Lodge, parish of Bishops Hull.
Citation: 4
193924
Occupation
29 September 1939 | Taunton, Somerset, EnglandG
Traveller for Miller & Cattle Food Manufacturers.
Citation: 4
Military
Between 1942 and 1944 | Germany
Prisoner of War.
Occupation
Between 1942 and 1944
Navigator Flight Lieutenant RAF Bomber Command; 29 Missions.
194530
TIMELINE
2 September 1945 | World
World War 2 ends with armistice in Japan (VJ Day) in World on 2 September 1945.
1945
Occupation
After 1945 | Norway
Aircraft Crash Investigator.
1946~31
Marriage | Agnes M Ostmann-Lie
1946 | Norway
Agnes M Ostmann-Lie
Birth before 1930 | Norway
Death: DECEASED
Citation: 6
1946~31
Residence
1946 | Norway
Detail: Armed Forces Station; (Marriage to Agnes M Ostmann-Lie.)
Citation: 6
2003
Occupation
Before 2003 | Filton, Bristol, England
Parts procurement for British Aerospace Concorde.
Residence
Between 2003 and 2008 | Nailsea, Bristol, England
Detail: Retirement home.

Events - Death & Burial

200892
Death
21 July 2008 | Stoke Bishop, Bristol, England
Eric Perry Dowling died on 21 July 2008, in Stoke Bishop, Bristol, England. Note: Age: 92; 'One day before his 93rd birthday'.
Citations: 2,3
2008
Burial
After 21 July 2008 | Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucestershire, England
Citation: 3

Facts - Non-Chronological

NOTABLE
Forget the Hollywood 'Great Escape' nonsense - Our Eric was the real World War 2 'Digger'!
Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Eric Perry Dowling has the reference number 15646.

RAF Navigator Eric "Digger" Dowling, one of the leaders of "The Great Escape" from a German POW camp in 1944. Mr. Dowling passed away last month, at the age of 92. His death was confirmed this week (AP photo).

One of the leaders of World War II's "Great Escape" has died. Former Flight Lieutenant Eric Dowling passed away on July 21st, one day before his 93rd birthday. His death was confirmed earlier this week. Jill Lawless of the AP recounts Dowling's role in organizing one of the largest mass escapes of Allied airmen from a German POW camp:

Seventy-six Allied prisoners escaped from the Stalag Luft III prison camp on March 24, 1944, in a daring breakout. All but three were recaptured, and 50 were shot on the orders of Adolf Hitler to deter future attempts.
The escape attempt was one of the most celebrated incidents of the war, recounted in a 1963 film starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough. Dowling played a key role in planning the escape. He forged documents, made maps and was nicknamed "Digger" for his work helping to excavate the three escape tunnels, code-named Tom, Dick and Harry. Over almost a year, prisoners surreptitiously dug the tunnels 30 feet (9 meters) underground, shored up with bedboards and wired with stolen electrical wire. Tom was discovered by guards and Dick was abandoned, but the 300-foot (90-meter) long tunnel Harry was eventually completed.

Dowling was not among the more than 200 prisoners chosen by lottery to make the escape attempt on the cold and moonless night. By the time German guards discovered the breakout, 76 men had crawled free.
While Dowling's leadership made him a prime candidate for the escape attempt, poor luck in the escape lottery likely saved his life. The Gestapo moved ruthlessly against the escapees, executing two out of every three airmen who fled the camp.

According to Dowling's son, the former RAF navigator was less-than-enthused over Hollywood's version of the escape effort. The 1963 film "The Great Escape" gave too much credit to American fliers (from Dowling's perspective), and he believed the final sequence, with Steve McQueen trying to jump a motorcycle over a border fence, was "simply over the top."

Dowling was on his 29th mission as a Bomber Command crew member when he was shot down in April of 1942. The escape attempt occurred almost two years later, after months of effort by Dowling and his fellow POWs.
Labels: Eric "Digger" Dowling; The Great Escape; RAF - POSTED BY GEORGE SMILEY AT 5:25 PM
-------------------
From The Times August 7, 2008 Great Escape tunneller Eric Dowling dies aged 92

Simon de Bruxelles
Eric “Digger”Dowling, who forged passports, made maps and helped to dig the one tunnel that the Germans did not discover before the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III, has died, aged 92.
On March 24, 1944, 250 prisoners lined up to await their turn to crawl through the tunnel to freedom. Many of them were equipped with documents that had been forged by Mr Dowling, who learnt to speak five languages fluently during his three years in the prison. The prisoners were due to get out via a tunnel nicknamed Harry - the other two, Tom and Dick, having been discovered by the guards. But the tunnel fell short and the escaping men were forced to make a dash across open land. The 77th was spotted by a sentry, who sounded the alarm. All but three of the 76 were swiftly rounded up and 50 of them were executed on the personal orders of Hitler. Mr Dowling, an RAF flight Lieutenant who was navigator of a Wellington bomber, was imprisoned in Stalag Luft III in occupied Poland after his aircraft was shot down in April 1942.
Times Archive, 1945: Stalag Luft III escape: first uncensored account
There were three tunnels called Tom, Dick and Harry and a secret society called the 'X organisation'
The tragedy of Stalag Luft III
Shot air force officers
Related Links - High drama behind the German great escape
Although he was not among the 250 prisoners chosen by lot to take part in the Second World War’s biggest break-out - which was made into a film starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough - he played a vital role in the preparations. His son, Peter Dowling, said: “His main job was forging documents and copying maps. He was known for his neat, meticulous handwriting. He was also involved in digging the tunnels, which is why he was called Digger.”
The tunnellers worked in cramped conditions 30ft (9m) below the surface to escape detection by listening devices. The tunnel that Mr Dowling helped to excavate was barely 2ft square and, because of the sandy soil, was in constant danger of collapsing.
Mr Dowling, a father of two, died in his sleep in a nursing home near Stoke Bishop, Bristol, on the eve of his 93rd birthday.
His son, now aged 60, who lives in Easton-in-Gordano, Bristol, said: “Many of the men who were in the camp with him, and all the ones he kept in touch with, are now dead. But he never forgot the seven friends who were among the 50 escapers who were shot by the Germans. He later created a commemorative booklet showing where each of them had been shot around Germany.”
Mr Dowling was not impressed by the 1963 film The Great Escape, based on the book by another former prisoner, Paul Brickhill. In particular, he thought that the famous scene in which McQueen leaps the wire fence on a stolen German motorcycle was “well over the top”. He also resented the fact that the movie made light of the hardships that were endured by the diggers.
His son said: “He was a fountain of knowledge about the war but he didn’t think much of the Steve McQueen film. The film left out a lot of the reality of digging the tunnels. He wasn’t one of America’s greatest fans and said it wasn’t like it was in the film at all and that the scene with the motorbike was rubbish. Parts of it he acknowledged were quite realistic, but then he felt it turned into something that was completely untrue. For someone who was actually there, that was upsetting.”
RAF Wing Commander Ken Rees, 87, who was the last escaper in the tunnel when it was discovered, knew Eric Dowling during his time in the camp. He said yesterday: “I knew him quite well because he was one of the digging team. On the night of the escape I was just nearing the exit in the tunnel when I heard the shot and I knew it had been discovered.
“It’s quite surprising that I can tell you about him because it was such a big camp and there were about 15 huts in North Compound and he wasn’t in mine.”
Mr Dowling said that his father often told him about good times in the prison camp as well as the hardships that had to be endured as supplies of food dwindled and then ran out while the Soviet forces advanced. His father spent the remainder of the war in the prison until its evacuation in January 1945, when prisoners were forced to march through the freezing Polish winter to other camps inside Germany. After the war, he stayed with the RAF and was sent to Norway to investigate aircraft crash sites. It was while he was in Norway that he met his wife, Marie, with whom he had two children. Later he went to work for British Aerospace in Filton, Bristol, where he put his skills to work procuring parts for the Concorde project. His son now regrets that he did not spend more time talking to his father about his wartime experiences. He said yesterday: “It was something I don’t suppose I ever really told him myself, but I certainly was proud of him.”
A great man amongst many. These days they would all be quivering at the back, claiming allowances for PTSD, which is fine, in these enlightened times. But one cannot help but think that his generation were made of better stuff. Goodbye " Digger" and rest well. - Estevan, Meltford, Suffolk
Mr Dowling was Brilliant. He used is excellant skills in helping to create the needed Documents to escape the POW camp and blend in the general population. We need to learn more on the history of the past wars from the people who was involved. History is very important. Thank You Mr. Dowling ! - William May, Savannah, Georgia, U.S.A
Many people gave everything so we could live in freedom, We repay them how? By letting crimanals and terrorist rule Come on Great Britian get sorted and become Great again. I am one of the Baby Boomers and want my grandchildren to grow up in a safe and happy world - Name Withheld, Maidstone,
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The Guardian:
'Digger' Dowling, hero of the Great Escape, makes his final exit at (almost) 93. Son says veteran of Stalag Luft III found plot of Steve McQueen film inaccurate
Maev Kennedy
The Guardian, Thursday 7 August 2008
Article history
Eric 'Digger' Dowling in his heyday. Photograph: PA/family handout
Eric "Digger" Dowling, the English airman who helped excavate the tunnel but was left behind when the Great Escapers crawled out of Stalag Luft III and into history, has died peacefully a day short of his 93rd birthday.
The escape from the German camp on March 24 1944, through tunnels dug with tools and equipment scavenged from scrap materials, has become one of the most famous in the annals of the second world war, and inspired an equally famous film, The Great Escape - which Dowling very much disliked.
Peter Dowling: 'He was proud the film roughly depicted what happened' Link to this audio
"He couldn't understand why they hadn't made it more true to life," his son Peter said yesterday. "He said some of the details were very accurate, the materials, how they did the tunnelling, the confined spaces - but they made up a lot of the plot and he didn't like that at all." One of the most celebrated scenes in the 1963 film, when Steve McQueen charges a barbed wire perimeter fence on his motor bike, was invented.
Unlike some survivors, Eric Dowling spoke readily about his war and, though a modest man, became a local celebrity - but he kept a few secrets to his grave. It was only after his death last month in a nursing home near Bristol that Peter Dowling sorted through a lifetime's letters, diaries, photographs and memorabilia, and was horrified to find a German army revolver and several rounds of live ammunition.
"I phoned the police in Bristol, and they came round pretty promptly. They took the gun away to be decommissioned - but when they heard who it belonged to, they refused to charge the usual fee before they returned it to me."
"One of my great regrets now is that we didn't persuade my father to write a book: he had a fantastic memory until quite recently, and I found meticulous records he kept in the camp, including many photographs - I think they must have got hold of a German camera by barter - details of everyday life and lists of every wine he knew about that he planned to taste when he got out. He remembered life in the camp and relations with the Germans as pretty good. He was an excellent cricketer, which they organised by county, so he led for the Stalag III Somerset. He was devastated when Hitler had 50 of the recaptured prisoners murdered, including seven very good friends."
Stalag Luft III, south-east of Berlin in what is now Poland, was intended for downed American and British airmen, but by 1943 usefully included former Polish mining engineers. The March 1944 escape was only one of many - the Germans kept a small museum of captured escape materials for training purposes. The prisoners, many trained as designers or engineers, forged passports, passes and identity papers, and made German uniform and insignia, civilian clothes, compasses and maps, and digging tools and ventilation shafts from powdered milk tins.
The plan devised by Squadron Leader Roger Bushell was for the most elaborate escape of all, 250 prisoners through three long tunnels called Tom, Dick and Harry - with the entrance to Harry hidden under a hut stove. The first shallow tunnels collapsed in the sandy soil burying the diggers. They then dug deeper, shoring with the boards from bunks - survivors remembered sleeping on nets of ropes made of rags, because all the planks had gone. The telltale bright yellow soil dug out had to be hidden under the huts, or smuggled in trouser legs and shaken out into the garden plots.
Dowling, born in Glastonbury, became an RAF navigator and flew 29 missions before his plane was shot down and he was captured: his son said his most traumatic memory was not the camp, but a training flight he missed which crashed with the loss of the entire crew. He survived the war with no worse than ear damage from the appalling noise in the cockpits, and returned happily to county cricket. He became a county bridge champion with his Norwegian wife Agnes Marie and spent 20 years working for British Aerospace in Bristol on the Concorde project. He moved into a retirement home in Nailsea five years ago: the owner renamed it Dowling House in his honour. His son hopes that his papers and memorabilia may find a place in a national museum.
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The Daily Mail: 'Digger' Dowling, the modest war hero who inspired - but hated - The Great Escape
By Tony Rennell
Last updated at 12:39 AM on 07th August 2008
Comments (4)
Add to My Stories
To have any chance of succeeding, an escape tunnel had to be deep. Experience taught British World War II prisoners- of-war that anything shallow would quickly be discovered.
The German guards would have only to drive a heavy truck over the sandy compound, there would be a cave-in and the game would be up.
So dig deep - 25ft down - was what the Royal Air Force inmates of the Stalag Luft III camp at Sagan in Poland did in 1944. And dig long - 340ft to the other side of the barbed wire.

Tunnel king: 'Great Escape' war hero Eric Dowling
For those toiling beneath the ground, conditions were hellish. Just enough room for two men at the bottom of the entrance shaft. Oxygen so sparse that the primitive candle made from animal fat would flicker and die, leaving nothing but the blackness of the tomb. And then you struggled with nothing more than a spoon to hack away at the sub-soil, pushing it back behind you as you went, worrying constantly that a foot or a shoulder out of line might bring the roof down on your head. Flight Lieutenant Eric Dowling was one of those fearless tunnellers, playing an important part in the incident, both inspiring and tragic, that would come to be known as The Great Escape and which became the subject of a classic war film.
Eric 'Digger' Dowling (left), pictured with an inmate at the Stalag Luft camp, from which he helped organise the breakout which inspired The Great Escape. His death, announced this week, just short of his 93rd birthday, is a reminder of an age of quiet heroes and a generation who never knew when to give up and so they didn't. They were survivors through the darkest of days.
He never liked the film The Great Escape. People were always trying to liken him to the characters in that fictionalised depiction - 'The Tunnel King', played by Charles Bronson, and Donald Pleasence's master-forger in particular. But he always said the film bore little resemblance to reality. Dowling was a navigator in a Wellington bomber on a raid over Hamburg in April 1942. It was his 30th mission. If he made it home from this one, his tour would be over and he would be assigned away from front-line duties. But his plane was shot down, one of eight RAF aircraft lost that night. He never forgot the searchlights that seemed to freeze the attacking aircraft in their glare and make them perfect prey for the waiting German fighter planes. His Wellington limped away, but was fatally hit. He recalled in his diary that 'the ensuing 15 minutes until the crash seemed like an eternity'. He expected to die, and to emerge from the wreck of the Wellington alive was 'an unbelievable remission'. His fate was to be caught on the ground by young thugs of the Hitler Youth, but it could have been worse. Digger Dowling with his aircrew, before they were shot down and captured He was fortunate not to be strung up on a lamppost as a terrorflieger - or 'terror pilot' - as happened to numerous British aircrew shot down after bombing German cities.
Following interrogation, the handsome, pipe-smoking 27-yearold was shipped - like tens of thousands of other RAF men unlucky enough to drop into hostile territory - to the easterly reaches of the Third Reich, as far from England as possible. The distance was meant to deter them from trying to escape. It did not. Captivity took men differently. Some moped, their morale shattered. Others found ways to thrive. Dowling was one of these, finding much to pass the time at Sagan. He played cricket, keeping meticulous records of all the scores of the batsmen and bowlers. He began writing a book on wines and cocktails - a considerable feat given that, apart from the illicit (and highly toxic) hooch distilled at Christmas, the camp was dry and he can have been drawing only on memory and imagination.
He also taught himself a number of languages with the help of foreign-speaking prisoners. But in addition, he found time for that other great passion of the POW camps: escaping. In later life Eric Dowling would speak freely about his time in war, although he was never a fan of the Steve McQueen film The Great Escape The escapers - the Tally-ho boys as they were often called for both their bravery and their foolhardiness - were an elite group who, like magnets, pulled many fellow prisoners into their activities. When Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, Stalag Luft III's chief escape officer (and known as 'Big X'), planned a mass break-out from the camp - as opposed to the individual, opportunistic evasions that were the norm - everyone willing was hauled in to help. Shift after shift of moles were needed to go down into that black hole, and 'Digger' Dowling - as he was henceforth called - was one of them.
Three tunnels, code-named Tom, Dick and Harry, were started in an attempt to thwart the German 'ferrets', specially trained security guards who patrolled the camp trying to detect escape attempts. They found 'Tom' and dynamited it. 'Dick' was abandoned and used to store dirt from 'Harry', into which all efforts were then concentrated. Digger' Dowling then moved jobs - from tunnelling to other equally vital duties. On his orders, 50 of the recaptured POWs were shot without trial in defiance of the Geneva Convention. Seven of those murdered were Dowling's friends. Only three of the escapers made it home.
Mr Dowling 'wasn't a fan' of the Great Escape film, in which his role was played by Charles Bronson. Big X's plan was to get 200 men out in one go, to flood the area with escapers and to throw the German military and police forces into chaos. But to have any chance of getting any distance from the camp, those men would need maps and false papers. Dowling became a forger, perhaps the most important role of all as well as the most tricky, given the scale of the planned exodus. They had little enough to go on. Raw materials - pens, inks, paper and so on - were smuggled in by MI9, a secret intelligence operation in London, in food parcels to prisoners, or stolen or bought from corruptible guards inside the camp. Anything and everything was cannibalised. Toilet tissue was used as tracing paper, rubber from boot soles was carved into official-looking stamps. Nor was it a question of just concocting a simple identity card. To travel around any part of Hitler's Reich, a shoal of permits, chits and passes was needed.
Providing each man who got away with even the remotest possibility of fooling a Gestapo agent at a railway station was a formidable task. Dowling played his part in that vital production line. But for all his efforts he was not to be one of the favoured 200 picked to make the freedom dash. Lots were drawn among the British contingent in the camp and he was not on the final list. It must have been galling for him at the time, but that throw of the dice saved his life.
Legendary: Eric 'Digger' Dowling pictured in a slightly less adventurous time, pushing his son in a pram. On the night of March 24, 1944, the escapers gathered in Hut 104, before crawling along Harry on all fours and out past the goon towers and the trip wires towards the woods beyond. There was a snag. The tunnel had fallen short by 10ft, which meant a risky sprint over open ground to cover. This slowed the whole process and only 76 men had got away by 4.45am. The following morning, when a patrolling sentry stumbled on the exit from the tunnel, Stalag Luft III went into lockdown. Outside, a massive manhunt began for the escapers, and over the next days and weeks one by one they were caught. Hitler was furious. His security forces had been made fools of. Nine months later, Dowling and the remainder of the Stalag Luft III prisoners finally made it past the barbed wire themselves - but on a trek that was as hazardous as any other aspect of their war. In the bitter winter of January 1945, the camp was evacuated ahead of the advancing forces of the Soviet Union. At gunpoint, through blizzards and snow drifts, the inmates tramped westwards on a forced march in which many died of illness and starvation.
For men who had endured so much, this final 'death march', as it has been called, was unbearable. Fictional heroics: Dowling called the big-screen version of events, starring Steve McQueen, 'rubbish' as there were no Americans at the camp It is a tribute to their incredible resilience that so many survived to reach German camps near the Allied front line from which they were eventually liberated. Dowling returned to the West Country, where he had grown up, and worked in the aircraft industry in Bristol. As for the film, which came out in 1963, he was contemptuous of the baseball-bashing Steve McQueen character and described the whole business of his attempted escape from capture on a motorbike, one of the most memorable incidents in the film, as 'rubbish'.
In fact, no Americans were involved in the Stalag Luft III escape. And he couldn't identify himself with the Bronson and Pleasence characters because in the film they both escaped, whereas he never did. But his main complaint was, according to his son, Peter, that 'the film left out a lot of the reality of digging the tunnels'. The heat, the shortness of breath, the suffocation, the awful claustrophobia, the fear - no film could capture that. Only a man called 'Digger' could really know what it was like.
•TONY RENNELL is the author of Home Run: Escape From Nazi Europe (Penguin, £8.99).

Ethnicity

6.25% English
93.75% No 'National Origin' data found for this person

Photo-Dowling-Eric-Perry-Digger-RAF

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S5318] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F11241%2F0697&parentid=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F11241%2F0697%2F01,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, ALFRED STANLEY household of 22 Addison Grove, Taunton, Taunton St James Within, Somerset, England; , Parliamentary borough or division: Somersetshire PC, Taunton Div.Folio: ; Page: ; Record ID: GBC/1921/RG15/11241/0697/01; Registration district number: 305; Sub-district number: 3; Enumeration district number: 8; Archive series: RG 15; Piece number: 11241; Schedule number: 347; Schedule type code: E; Schedule type: England household, single page, 10 entries; District reference: RD 305 RS 3 ED 8; First name(s) Last name Relation to Head Sex Birth year Age in years Birth place Occupation Employer Alfred Stanley Dowling Head Male 1891 29 Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England Assistant Cultivation Officer Somerset Count Council (Country Agricultural Committee) Christanna Sophia Dowling Wife Female 1890 30 Somerset, England Home Duties - Eric Perry Dowling Son Male 1915 5 Glastonbury, Somerset, England - - Joyce Christine Maude Dowling Daughter Female 1918 3 Somerset, England - - Joan Harriet Dowling Daughter Female 1921 - Taunton, Somerset, England - -,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2024 at Record Transcription: 1921 Census Of England & Wales | findmypast.co.uk; Service: Findmypast; (via ORA). Paid for Transcript: >https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1921/RG15/11241/0697/01

Census-1921-ENG-Dowling-Alfred-Stanley-1891-Somerset-Taunton-A
[S406] SOURCE: (Full): George Smiley,
Repository: On-line,
Citation Detail: http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2008/08/digger-dowling-rip.html,
Citation Text: Eric Digger Dowling Dies
RAF Navigator Eric "Digger" Dowling, one of the leaders of "The Great Escape" from a German POW camp in 1944. Mr. Dowling passed away last month, at the age of 92. His death was confirmed this week (AP photo).

One of the leaders of World War II's "Great Escape" has died. Former Flight Lieutenant Eric Dowling passed away on July 21st, one day before his 93rd birthday. His death was confirmed earlier this week.

Jill Lawless of the AP recounts Dowling's role in organizing one of the largest mass escapes of Allied airmen from a German POW camp:

Seventy-six Allied prisoners escaped from the Stalag Luft III prison camp on March 24, 1944, in a daring breakout. All but three were recaptured, and 50 were shot on the orders of Adolf Hitler to deter future attempts.

The escape attempt was one of the most celebrated incidents of the war, recounted in a 1963 film starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough.

Dowling played a key role in planning the escape. He forged documents, made maps and was nicknamed "Digger" for his work helping to excavate the three escape tunnels, code-named Tom, Dick and Harry.

Over almost a year, prisoners surreptitiously dug the tunnels 30 feet (9 meters) underground, shored up with bedboards and wired with stolen electrical wire. Tom was discovered by guards and Dick was abandoned, but the 300-foot (90-meter) long tunnel Harry was eventually completed.

Dowling was not among the more than 200 prisoners chosen by lottery to make the escape attempt on the cold and moonless night. By the time German guards discovered the breakout, 76 men had crawled free.

While Dowling's leadership made him a prime candidate for the escape attempt, poor luck in the escape lottery likely saved his life. The Gestapo moved ruthlessly against the escapees, executing two out of every three airmen who fled the camp.

According to Dowling's son, the former RAF navigator was less-than-enthused over Hollywood's version of the escape effort. The 1963 film "The Great Escape" gave too much credit to American fliers (from Dowling's perspective), and he believed the final sequence, with Steve McQueen trying to jump a motorcycle over a border fence, was "simply over the top."

Dowling was on his 29th mission as a Bomber Command crew member when he was shot down in April of 1942. The escape attempt occurred almost two years later, after months of effort by Dowling and his fellow POWs.
Labels: Eric "Digger" Dowling; The Great Escape; RAF
POSTED BY GEORGE SMILEY AT 5:25 PM
[S1095] SOURCE: (Full): Ancestry.com,
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=websearch-4181&h=338126&indiv=try,
Repository: Internet Service: Ancestry.com,
Citation Text: Record for Lieut Eric Perry "digger" Dowling
[S1791] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=TNA%2FR39%2F7087%2F7087H%2F019&parentid=TNA%2FR39%2F7087%2F7087H%2F019%2F39,
Citation Detail: Census for DOWLING, ALFRED S household of Oldbury Lodge, Parish Of Bishops Hull, Taunton, Somerset, England; Archive reference: RG101/7087H/019/39, Piece number: 7087H, E D letter code: WPWN, Item number: 19, Line number: 39, Record ID: TNA/R39/7087/7087H/019/39, Schedule: 199, Schedule Sub Number: 1; ; First name(s) Last name(s) Birth date Sex Occupation Marital status Schedule Schedule sub number Alfred S Dowling 10 Sep 1891 Male Company Director Provender Mills & Cattle Food Manufacturers Married 199 1 Agnes E Dowling 25 Sep 1906 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties (Late Matron Of Hospital) Married 199 3 Eric P Dowling 22 Jul 1915 Male Traveller For Miller & Cattle Food Manufacturers Single 199 5 Joan H Dowling 15 Jan 1921 Female Shorthand - Typist Assisting Father Single 199 4 Nora Anne Freeman (Radcliffe) 23 Nov 1910 Female Domestic Servant Single 199 5,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2015 at Page "" via service: Findmypast. Transcript: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=TNA/R39/7087/7087H/019/39,

Census-1939-ENG-Dowling-Alfred-S-1891-Somerset-Taunton
Census-1939-ENG-Dowling-Alfred-S-1891-Somerset-Taunton-2
SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=freebmdbirth&h=402332&indiv=try

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 - Eric Dowling
[S5622] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FOVS%2FARM2%2F000872&parentid=BMD%2FOVS%2FARM2%2F000872%2F068,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Marriage of DOWLING, ERIC P to (MarriageFinder™: Eric P Dowling married one of these people- Agnes M Lie); in Norway, Norway 1946; General Register Office, Archive Referene: ARM2, 3932, Page: 3932, Line number: 68, Place type: Place; Record ID: BMD/OVS/ARM2/000872/068,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2024; using Service or Portal: Findmypast; Page.HostName: findmypast.co.uk; Page.URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FOVS%2FARM2%2F000872%2F068; Page.Visible URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FOVS%2FARM2%2F000872%2F068; (via ORA),

Marriage-Dowling-Eric-P-Agnes-M-Lie-1946-Norway-Armed-Forces
[S4617] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image URL: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FD%2F1937%2F1%2FAZ%2F000315&parentid=BMD%2FD%2F1937%2F1%2FAZ%2F000315%2F124,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Death of DOWLING, CHRISTIANA S in Taunton, Somerset, England; Age: 46; 1891; Index: Taunton - 1937 Jan-Mar; 1937- Volume 5C Page 384,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on of Service: Findmypast; -(ORA); Transcript URL: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FD%2F1937%2F1%2FAZ%2F000315%2F124

DeathIndex-Dowling-1937-Q1-E&W
[S5623] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image URL: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FB%2F1949%2F1%2FAZ%2F000367&parentid=BMD%2FB%2F1949%2F1%2FAZ%2F000367%2F096,
Repository: United Kingdom General Register Office,
Citation Detail: Birth of DOWLING, SUSAN C; Mother's maiden name: Ostman-Lie; in Taunton, Somerset, England; Index: Taunton - 1949 Jan-Mar Volume 7C Page 291,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for the Dowling One-Name Study on 25 February 2024 in of Service: Findmypast; -(via ORA); Transcript:https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FB%2F1949%2F1%2FAZ%2F000367%2F096,

BirthIndex-Dowling-1949-Q1-E&W
[S5623] SOURCE (Short):, Title: England, SOMERSET, "Civil Registration BIRTHS Index: 1837-Present", Citation Detail: Birth of DOWLING, PETER S; Mother's maiden name: Ostmann Lie; in Taunton, Somerset, England; Index: Taunton - 1947 Oct-Dec Volume 7C Page 310;
BirthIndex-Dowling-1947-Q4-E&W

Patrick Doolan¹

M, #15647, b. about 1888, d. DECEASED

Census 1901 Ireland
Ireland - ALL
Ireland, Galway - ALL

Father*	Thomas Doolan (b. about 1856, d. DECEASED)
Mother*	Kate Doolan (b. about 1865, d. DECEASED)

Vital Facts

Death	Patrick Doolan died DECEASED.
Birth	He was born about 1888 in Galway, IrelandG.¹

Census Summary

Census
31 May 1901

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1888
Birth
About 1888 | Galway, IrelandG
Citation: 1
1901
Residence
31 March 1901 | Portumna, Galway, Ireland
Detail: 35 Old Street.
Citation: 2
1901
Occupation
31 March 1901 | Portumna, Galway, Ireland
Scholar.
1901
Census
31 May 1901 | Portumna, Galway, Ireland
Enumerated on the census as Age: 13; Relation to Head: Son.

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Patrick Doolan has the reference number 15647.

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S830] SOURCE: (Full): Ancestry.com,
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=websearch-4150&h=12049918&indiv=try,
Repository: Internet Service: Ancestry.com,
Citation Text: Record for Patrick Doolan
[S830] SOURCE (Short): Ancestry.com, Title: Web: Ireland, Census, 1901

Kate Doolan¹

F, #15648, b. about 1865, d. DECEASED

Census 1901 Ireland
Ireland - ALL
Ireland, Galway - ALL

Partner: Thomas Doolan (b. about 1856, d. DECEASED)

Children:

Daughter*	Anne Doolan (b. about 1887, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Patrick Doolan (b. about 1888, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Molly Doolan (b. about 1891, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Thomas Doolan (b. about 1892, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Nora Doolan (b. about 1894, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Kathleen Doolan (b. about 1896, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Sarah Doolan (b. about 1898, d. DECEASED)
Son*	John Doolan (b. about 1901, d. DECEASED)

Vital Facts

Death	Kate Doolan died DECEASED.
Birth	She was born about 1865 in Galway, IrelandG.¹

Census Summary

Census
31 Mar 1901

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1865
Birth
About 1865 | Galway, IrelandG
Citation: 1
1901
Residence
31 March 1901 | Portumna, Galway, Ireland
Detail: 35 Old Street.
Citation: 2
1901
Census
31 March 1901 | Portumna, Galway, Ireland
Enumerated on the census as Age: 36; Relation to Head: Wife.
1901
Occupation
31 March 1901 | Portumna, Galway, Ireland
House Keeping.

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Kate Doolan has the reference number 15648.

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S830] SOURCE: (Full): Ancestry.com,
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=websearch-4150&h=12049918&indiv=try,
Repository: Internet Service: Ancestry.com,
Citation Text: Record for Patrick Doolan
[S830] SOURCE (Short): Ancestry.com, Title: Web: Ireland, Census, 1901

Thomas Doolan¹

M, #15649, b. about 1856, d. DECEASED

Census 1901 Ireland
Ireland - ALL
Ireland, Galway - ALL

Mother*

Anne Doolan (b. about 1836, d. DECEASED)

Partner: Kate Doolan (b. about 1865, d. DECEASED)

Children:

Daughter*	Anne Doolan (b. about 1887, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Patrick Doolan (b. about 1888, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Molly Doolan (b. about 1891, d. DECEASED)
Son*	Thomas Doolan (b. about 1892, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Nora Doolan (b. about 1894, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Kathleen Doolan (b. about 1896, d. DECEASED)
Daughter*	Sarah Doolan (b. about 1898, d. DECEASED)
Son*	John Doolan (b. about 1901, d. DECEASED)

Vital Facts

Death	Thomas Doolan died DECEASED.
Birth	He was born about 1856 in Galway, IrelandG.¹

Census Summary

Census
31 Mar 1901

Events - Chronological (including alternatives)

1856
Birth
About 1856 | Galway, IrelandG
Citation: 1
1901
Residence
31 March 1901 | Portumna, Galway, Ireland
Detail: 35 Old Street.
Citation: 2
1901
Census
31 March 1901 | Portumna, Galway, Ireland
Enumerated on the census as Age: 45; Relation to Head: Head.
1901
Occupation
31 March 1901 | Portumna, Galway, Ireland
Bank Porter.

Events - Death & Burial

Death
DECEASED

Facts - Non-Chronological

Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Thomas Doolan has the reference number 15649.

Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling:

No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling

This person appears in the following lists:-

[S830] SOURCE: (Full): Ancestry.com,
Source Combined Fields: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=websearch-4150&h=12049918&indiv=try,
Repository: Internet Service: Ancestry.com,
Citation Text: Record for Patrick Doolan
[S830] SOURCE (Short): Ancestry.com, Title: Web: Ireland, Census, 1901

Anne Doolan¹

F, #15650, b. about 1836, d. DECEASED