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Photos & maps from 2005
Newington Parish Church
Folkestone-Cheriton
The section of Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone, indicated by the
census.
Looks like a late 19th century christening photo - possibly Elizabeth, or could be a relation.
Pavilion Road, Folkestone
Shaftesbury Ave. and Tile Kiln Lane, Cheriton. Location of Rose
Cottage.
Two photos from 1992 of the same area.
postcard sent to Mr. A. Gower at Rose Cottage, opposite laundry, Cheriton, 1905
Royal Military Avenue, Folkestone.
No.107 below.
Postcard from Chris to Queenie in 1908
Chris Gower (Jack's brother) as a choir boy prior to emigrating
to Australia. [he was 16 when he left in 1911]
Matatua - that Christopher Gower took to Australia in 1911
on the back: "Mr Law in our hot house after he took our house in Military Avenue Folkestone, England"
On the back: Arthur & Lizzie Gower with Chris' two eldest,
Ron & Norman.[probably taken in Australia in the 1920s]
Elizabeth Startup and Jack Mount, Christopher Mount and Fred Mount
(Queenie's children 1920s)
Arthur Gower death certificate, 1925
Elizabeth Startup/Gower and Sam Pearson (Berth's 2nd husband)
Sam Pearson, Elizabeth 'granny' Gower age 86, and Bertha, at
the house that Chris built. All 1940s
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Click on the photos
for larger versions and more scenes.
Marriages Sep 1879
GOWER Arthur Thomas Elham 2a 1397 (age 20)
STARTUP Elizabeth Ann Elham 2a 1397 (age 24)
Marriage Certificate:
1879. Marriage solemnized at Newington in the Parish of Newington in
the County of Kent.
August 10th 1879
Arthur Thomas Gower of full age Bachelor Gardener Folkestone Edward
Gower Labourer
Elizabeth Ann Startup of full age Spinster - Newington - -
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of
the Established Church after Banns by me Walter Howen (?)
This marriage was solemnized between us Arthur Thomas Gower, Elizabeth
Ann Startup in the presence of us Edwin Boyce Gower, Ellen Jane Gower
The photographs are from Bertha Gower's collection,
sent by her grandaughter to Vera Gower in Gosport and David Gower in
Saltwood. The italics are what is written on the back of each picture
by the granddaughter.
Births Sep 1880 - Gower Alice Lucy Elham 2a 979
1881 Census -
Civil Parish: Folkestone; Municipal Borough: Folkestone; Municipal Ward:
West; Parliamentary Borough of: Hythe; Town: Folkestone; Ecclesiastical
Parish: Holy Trinity.
Road: 3 Plain Cottages, Shorncliffe Road
Arthur T. Gower, head, 22, labourer, b. Kent Lyminge
Elizabeth A., wife, 25, b. Kent East Farleigh.
Alice L. Gower, daughter, 9 months, b.Folkestone
- there was a large family called Mount sharing the same cottage, including
Henry Mount b.1878 - the Harry Mount that married Florence
Gower b.1884, after they had both gone to Australia. (The Mounts were in Cheriton in 1891, and Newington in 1901)
1883 birth - Name: GOWER, Arthur Thomas ; Record Type: Births
; Quarter: September ; Year: 1883 ; District: Elham ; County: Kent ;
Volume: 2a Page: 979
1884 birth - Gower Florence Emily Elham, Sep, 2a 1019 (known
as Queenie)
1887 birth - Fred Gower b.1887, Elham, Dec, 2a 1015
1889 Death Name: GOWER, Fred ; Record Type: Deaths ; Age at
death: 1 ; Quarter: June ; Year: 1889 ; District: Elham ; County: Kent
; Volume: 2a Page: 540
1889 death - Arthur Thomas Gower, age 6, Elham Jun 2a 541
1889 death - GOWER Alice Lucy 9 Elham Jun 2a 541
- all three died in the same quarter, which would be consistent with
the family story of a typhoid epidemic
Births Dec 1889 - Gower John Elham 2a 1002
Birth certificate (right)
1889 Birth in the Sub-district of Folkestone in the County of Kent
Twenty fourth September 1889, Plain Cottages, Folkestone, U.S.D.
John, boy, Arthur Thomas Gower, Elizabeth Ann Gower formerly Startup,
General Labourer
A. T. Gower, father, Plain Cottages, Folkestone, Twenty fourth October,
1889, W. P. Birch, registrar
1891 Census -
Admin county: Kent; Civil Parish: Folkestone; Municipal Ward: North;
Urban Sanitory District: Folkestone; Parliamentary Division: Hythe;
Ecclesiastical Parish: St. Mary's
Road: 48 Pavilion Road.
Arthur T. Gower, head, 39, Gardener, b.Lyminge, Kent
Elizabeth A., wife, 35, b. East Farleigh, Kent
Florence E., daughter, 6, b. Folkestone, Kent
John, son, 1 b. Folkestone, Kent
Hector Clayson(?), boarder, 16, grocer, b. Elham, Kent
1892 birth - Hector John Gower, Elham Dec. 2a 951
Birth cerifticate (right)
1892 Birth in the Sub-district of Folkestone in the County of Kent
Seventeenth October 1892, Pavillion Road, Folkestone USD
Hector John, Boy, Arthur Thomas Gower, Gardener not Domestic, Elizabeth
Ann Gower formerly Startup
A. T. Gower, father, Pavillion Road, Folkestone, Tenth November
1892, W.P. Birch, registrar
1893 death -Name: Gower, Hector John ; Record Type: Deaths ; Age
at death: 0 ; Quarter: March ; Year: 1893 ; District: Elham County:
Kent Volume: 2a Page: 683
Births Mar 1895 - Gower Christopher Elham 2a 1036 (born Dec.
13 1894)
transcription of Chris Gower's birth certificate:
Registration District Elham 1895 Sub-District of Folkstone in the
County of Kent.
Thirteenth December 1894 48 Pavilion Road Folkestone U.S.D
Christopher ; Boy
Father Arthur Thomas Gower, Gardener; Elizabeth Ann Gower Formerly Startup
Informer: A.T. Gower, Father, 48 Pavilion Road, Folkstone; Eleventh
January 1895
Signature of Registrar T.P. Birch registrar
Births Sep 1898 - Gower Bertha Ellen Elham 2a 1060
1901 Census -
Admin County: Kent; Civil Parish: Cheriton, part of; Ecclesiastical
Parish: All Saints, part of; Urban District: Cheriton, part of; Parliamentary
Borough: Hythe, part of.
Road: 1 Rose Cottage (other families at 2 & 3 Rose Cottage); number
of rooms if less than 5: 4
 Arthur Thomas Gower, head, 42, jobbing gardener, b. Kent Lyminge
Elizabeth Ann, wife, 45, b. Kent East Farleigh
John Gower, son, 11, b. Folkestone
Christopher, son, 6, b. Folkestone
Bertha Ellen, daughter, 2, b.Cheriton
- Florence 16, was a servant at a house in Folkestone.
- on the back of the photo: "for florry with is mother love October 1900"
(difficult writing to decipher) - it is just possible that this might be Rose Cottage, with Elizabeth on the right and two unknown younger women. The photo possibly sent to Florence.
Above - two old photos of Cheriton 'Shaftesbury Avenue
Cheriton' [looking east] and 'Fosters Imperial Steam Laundry, Cheriton'
- the area where the Gowers were living in the 1901 Census. Bertha says
she was born there, which means the family moved from Pavilion Rd. between
1895 (Chris's birth) and 1898 (Bertha). The text by Bertha:
1. "Near where I was born at Cheriton. The little church was
Congregational, was slowly slipping over so must be gone now. X is flour
mill. Used to work by wind. The arms were removed and an engine installed
when I was about 8 years old. [1906].
Note how the houses are all joined. | | is two fronts to 2/6 roomed
houses 2 storied, like this 1.2. space 1.2. Space is the two front rooms,
big ones with bay windows. 1/ is a lamp post. Gas in those days. At
the shop a little hill started and we lived on the right side of that
road opposite a big laundry. Dad used to hop off his old solid tyred
bike at the top of the long hill at the right. Put me on and run down
beside me, catch me at the shop and push me up the hill on his bike.
2. I was born opposite this laundry. The house is not in the
picture, right side. The hill is names Ceasar's Camp. When the Romans
went over the English Channel they camped on top. There is a splendid
view over to Calais on the French side and in every direction. The hills
are all white chalk. See the white patches, scraggy grass. The Romans
built a road 70 miles long from Dover to London, laying big stone blocks
4ft down as a base. On this was a smaller, then smaller layers till
the final top dressing of shale. This road has never gone into holes
nor had to be repaired unless damaged in 1 and 2 World Wars, that I
have heard about. It will never wear out. Sheep feed on the grass. Mum.
Aug? 1908 - the postcard from Chris to Queenie, on the right, gives her address as Chesham House, Landgates Road, Folkestone, Kent.
Nov. 1908 - a post card to Queenie, apparently from her cousin Lucy Amos, was sent to 107 Military Avenue.
1910 - a postcard from Jack to Queenie gave her address as c./o Mrs. Peel, Horenden, Tenterden, Kent (see 'Jack in the marines' for the card).
1911 Census
107 Royal Military Avenue,
Kent.
Dist. Elham, Sub,Dist. Folkestone
Arthur Gower, Head, Married 31 years, M 52, Jobbing Gardener, b. Lyminge Kent
Elizabeth Gower, wife, married 31 years, F 55, b. East Farleigh, Kent
Christopher Gower, son, single, M 16, Jobbing Gardener, b. Folkestone Kent
Bertha Gower, daughter, F 12, school, b. Cheriton, Kent
By 1908 the family were living at 107 Royal Military Avenue.
The whole family, except Jack, emigrated to Australia. Christopher 17, in 1911; Florence 28,
in 1913; Then Arthur 55,
Elizabeth 59, and Bertha 15, followed in 1914. Jack died 1916, Battle of Jutland, otherwise would probably have joined
them.
Chris Gower left London on November 2, 1911 sailed to Australia on the Matatua (Shaw Saville Line) - arrived in Sydney on December 19. He was 17 on December 13. The ship was on it's way to New Zealand. No other members of his family were on board.
MATATUA - BUILT IN BELFAST BY WORKMAN CLARK IN 1904.SHE WAS THE SISTER SHIP TO MAMARI (2nd) IN 1928 SHE WAS SOLD TO A.BERNSTEIN ( GERMANY ) AND RE-NAMED ' ILSENSTEIN '. IN 1940 SHE WAS SUNK AT SCAPPA FLOW AS A BLOCKSHIP.SHE WAS FINALLY CUT UP FOR SCRAP IN 1950.
MATATUA -
The Shaw Savill Line's "Matatua" was a 6,488 gross ton cargo liner, built in 1904 by Workman Clark, Belfast. Her details were - length 448ft x beam 56.4ft, and she was reputed to have the tallest funnel in the world at the time. There was accommodation for 6-1st and 200-steerage class passengers. In 1916 she had a serious fire on board while in Canadian waters and the master was killed. Sold to Arnold Bernstein of Hamburg in 1928 and renamed "Ilsenstein"; used on the Havre and later Antwerp to New York service. She sailed to Blyth for scrapping in 1939 but was later towed to Scapa Flow and was sunk there as a blockship in 1940. Demolished on site in 1951. [The Shaw Savill Line by Richard P.de Kerbrech] [North Star to Southern Cross by John M.Maber] [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor, vol.4, p.1633] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch 3 May 1998]
Florence Emily Q. Gower (she was listed that way) left from London (probably late April 1913) on the Miltiades, arriving in Sydney on June 9, 1913, she was 28. No other members of her family were on board. Henry Mount, 35, whom she had known from childhood, was already in Australia and she married him on November 11, 1913.
Miltiades - was built in 1903 by Alex Stephen & Sons at Glasgow with a tonnage of 6793grt, a length of 454ft 10in, a beam of 55ft and a service speed of 15 knots. She was built as the Miltiades for the Aberdeen Line and commenced her maiden voyage from London - to Sydney via Cape Town and Melbourne on 3rd November 1903. In 1913 she was lengthened to 504ft 4in, which increased her tonnage to 7814grt, and given a second dummy funnel. She was requisitioned as a troopship in 1915 and returned to commercial service to Australia on 4th June 1920. At the end of 1920 she was purchased by Royal Mail and renamed Orcana. She was transferred to PSNC in 1922 as a replacement for the three 'O's which were transferred to the North Atlantic. On 11th August 1922 she commenced the intended 'Round South America' service, Liverpool - Montevideo - Valparaiso - Panama Canal - Liverpool but as she was expensive to operate after one voyage she was laid up, firstly at Liverpool and then at Dartmouth. In 1924 she was towed to Holland and broken up at Hendrik-ido-Ambracht.
Arthur Thomas, Elizabeth Ann & Bertha Gower left London 27 August 1914 on the Themistocles - they landed in Sydney on October 12, 1914.
THEMISTOCLES - BUILT FOR THE ABERDEEN LINE BY HARLAND AND WOLFF IN 1911.SHE WAS THE SISTER SHIP TO DEMOSTHENES. SHE WAS USED AS A TROOP SHIP IN 1914.SHE WAS TAKEN OVER BY SHAW SAVILL & ALBION IN 1932 ( ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE ABERDEEN VESSELS ) SHE WAS USED ON THE UK TO AUSTRALIA RUN BOTH IN ABERDEEN SERVICE AND ALSO WHEN SHE WAS TAKEN OVER BY SSA. SHE WAS LAID UP IN 1946 AND SCRAPPED THE FOLLOWING YEAR AT DALMUIR.
Most of the photos from Australia were sent by the granddaughter of Bertha
Gower, the notes in italics are hers.
Arthur Gower death certificate:
Death Registered in New South Wales, Australia
1925, 11th November, District Hospital Lismore Municipality
Arthur Thomas Gower, Labourer Male, 68 years
Two of causes of death are listed, hard to decipher, include the word
Dropsy and the date 10th November
Certified by E. W. Smith, Matron, and D. A. Mahoney (doctor?), 11th
November, indicating possibly that he died overnight on the 10th and
was certified dead the following morning?
The certificate indicates he was buried on the 11th November, 1925,
the same day he was certified dead in the baptist section of the General
Cemetry (the old cemetry), Lismore (NSW)
Birthplace: Kent, England and 'Eleven years in NSWales'
Lace of marriage, age, and to whom is given as Newington, England, 22
years, and to Elizabeth Baker.
Children of marriage (at the time of death) Florence (Queen) 40, Christopher
32, Bertha 26 Living, Four males, one female deceased.
Elizabeth Ann Gower, death certificate:
Date and place of death: 1948, 3rd February, 5 Venn Street,
City of Lismore
Name and occupation: Elizabeth Ann Gower
Sex and age: Female, 92 years
Cause of death; duration of last illness; medical attendant, when
he last saw deceased: (a) Uraemia, (b) (1) senility, (2) (a) 7 days,
(3) D.B. Sillar (Registered), (4) 3rd February, 1948
Name and occupation of father; Name and maiden surname of mother: (1)unknown Startup, (2) Farmer, (3) (Mother's maiden name) unknown
Informant: C. Gower, Son, 5 Venn Street, Lismore,
Particulars of registration: (Signature and registration date,
6th Feb, 1948)
When and where buried; undertaker: 1948, 4th February, Baptist
Cemetry, Lismore, Claude Riley of the firm William Riley & Son
Name and religion of minister: A.C.Le Claire, Baptist (other
signatures)
Where born and how long in Australian Colonies or States: Maidstone,
Kent, England; 34 years in NSW [New South Wales]
Place of marriage, age, and to whom: Newington, Kent, England,
23 years, Arthur Thomas Gower, Widow
Children of marriage: Florence E, 64; Christopher, 54; Bertha
E. 49 [all] Living; Four males and female deceased.
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Arthur & Elizabeth's marriage certificate
A photo of a water colour painted by Lizzie Gower of the church
at Newington where she and Arthur were married. She is said to have
lived in one of the residences she has painted behind the church.
John Gower birth certificate
Jack Gower. Caption in Granny Gower's
handwriting says "Our dear little Jackie aged 1 year" (ie
taken in 1890)
Hector John Gower, birth certificate 1892
Taken in England by CT Saunter,
Folkestone. Inscription (probably in Elizabeth Gower's hand) 'Queenie
and Bertha'. My grandmother later added ages, for Queenie 15 years and
herself 1 year old. She also noted that Queen liked to be in the fashion
always. Probable date: 1899.
above: in the same chair and same background as the photo above. Looks like Chris on the left. The woman is possibly Elizabeth with Bertha, or a relation.
Chris Gower as a boy
Caption on original photo says "Jack standing Ralf sitting"in
my grandmother's handwriting. [Ralf seems to have been a friend of Jack's, possibly from the marines. Poss about 1907]
postcard from 'cousin Lucy' - almost certainly Lucy Amos, to Queenie, 1908 - the village looks like Newington.
Two views of the Miltiades - that took Florence/ Queenie to Australia, June 1913
Themistocles - that Arthur, Elizabeth and Bertha took to Australia in 1914
Captions (originally in Bertha's handwriting) say "Grandad
Gower arrived in Australia October 12, 1914 with Grannie [Elizabeth
Ann] and daughter Bertha." Chris and Florence [Queen] were apparently
already here.
The other photo is Elizabeth taken with my father Robert [Bob] Newman
[their grandson]. The caption says "Grannie [Elizabeth Gower] age
70. Bobbie age 4, 1926"
Identified as Elizabeth, nee Startup
Elizabeth Ann Gower, death certificate, 1948
Family tradition which I have heard from Ron Gower's
family as well as my father and grandmother is that Granny got tired
of living. All her friends were gone, so she refused food and drink
and eventually died. She must have been a very strong-willed person.
Although she was buried in the Baptist cemetry, [both Chris and Bertha
(and I don't know about Queen) having turned Baptist], my father said
Granny continued to be Church of England. I have a Church of England
hymn book/prayer book that belonged to her dating from the time of Edward
VII, so this may be so. |
