GOWER

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One of my maternal great-great-great-grandmothers was Jane Gower (1812-92). She was born at Mersham, the second child of Thomas (1787-aft.1871) and Mary NEWMAN (1792-bef.1871). The Gowers were quite numerous in Mersham and the surrounding area, sorting out who was who has required a great deal of census searching.

Jane Gower (1812-92) married Edward ANDREWS (1813-84) at Hythe in 1833. They had nine children at Mersham. Most of the Mersham information has been supplied by Mia Maguire, a descendant of Edward and Jane.

Thomas Gower (1787-aft.1871) married Mary Newman at Mersham in 1810. They had 13 children there, three died shortly after birth. Nine of the other children are known to have married. Three of their sons are known to have had families in the area: William, Benjamin and Charles. William Gower (1821-?) married Emma, they had at least four children at Mersham and Bilsington before moving to Willesborough. Benjamin Gower (1824-?) married Mary, they had four children at Mersham. The later census entries for Benjamin and his oldest daughter Sarah suggest some unusual relationships. Charles Gower (1829-?) married Mary, they had at least five children at Mersham, Ruckinge and Willesborough. In 1871 the widowed Thomas, aged 84, was living with his son Benjamin.

Thomas Gower (1787-aft.1871) was the second son of Richard Gower (1757?-1831) and Elizabeth CRUMP (1760?-1813). They married at Mersham in 1785 and had two children there. Their first son, Richard (1785-1868), was probably born at Bredgar. Four more children were born at Bonnington. Five of Richard and Elizabeth's six sons are known to have married and had families in the area. Thomas's married brothers were Richard, Benjamin, James and Charles.

Richard Gower junior (1785-1868) married Sarah WILSON (1792-1876) in 1811. They are known to have had at least five children at Mersham. The oldest, James, married Lucy and had three children at Mersham before moving to Willesborough. James and his two sons worked in the factory there, both sons, Edward and Frederick, became boiler makers.

Benjamin Gower (1792-?) married Hester TWYMAN (?-1831). They had children at Mersham, the sons who married were Edward, George and Charles. Edward (1816-?) married Sarah and they had William at Ebony, Sussex in 1844, followed by five more children at Mersham. One of Edward's sons, Frederick Gower, moved to Brabourne. George (1820-?) married Caroline, they had eight children at Mersham. Charles Gower (1828-?) married Elizabeth Jane, they had four children at Mersham before moving to Willesborough where they had six more.

James Gower (1798-?) married Catherine (1808-?) They had at least nine children at Mersham. Four of their sons, Daniel, Alfred, George and Robert are known to have married and had families in the area. Two of their other sons had the unusual names of Handel and Abraham.

Charles Gower (1800-78) married Sarah JOHNS? (1795-1873?). They had at least seven children at Mersham. One of their sons, James Gower (1825-?) is known to have had at least seven children in the area.

Richard Gower (1757?-1831) does not appear to have been born at Mersham. There is a suggestion that he may have come from the area around Godmersham or maybe from one of the villages near Sittingbourne. His origins have not yet been investigated.
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