Genealogy Chat

I went to the cemetery Portsmouth for a map of my ancesters grave Edmund Mcdowell buried 2/1/1926 (was in the navy) and the chap in the office said there was two others in with him a Alfred William Coward buried 23/10/1939 (died in the navy) as mentioned in the war graves also a Mary Emily Coward buried 7/5/1996 age 90 the chap said they were related Edmund McDowell had two sisters Eliz b 1869 born in Devon Emily b 1875 born in Devon perhaps they married a Coward Im confused any help apperciated Joyce

it must be a private grave so their must be a connection . have you tried looking for the marriage of the couple, must be before 1939 if thats when the second chap died.

Cant see death certs for either of them. Someone must have arranged the funeral of the 1996 one .didnt they have any more info.

If you have Alfred Coward's age you could try to find a marriage for him. You know the other was born in 1906. She may have been a daughter?

OND 1905 birth of Alfred William Coward Portsmouth 2b 394 Janice

Shirley Patrina Janice Thank you for the advice and the birth date How did you find it ??? I havent got the marriages of mary and eliz I dont know how they came to be in portsmouth Joyce

From the CommonWealth War Graves Commision Casualty Details Name: COWARD, ALFRED WILLIAM Initials: A W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Petty Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Date of Death: 16/10/1939 Service No: P/J 102078 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 100 (Cobin). Row 8. Grave 51. Cemetery: PORTSMOUTH (KINGSTON) CEMETERY E

My Mum's uncle died during WW2. Because his family did not have a family plot a neighbour gave her premission for him to buried in her plot. The War Graves Commission put up a headstone a few years ago with his name on it. Libby

William Henry McDowell married Editha Harriett Rundle Stoke D 5b 507 JFM 1869 These are Edmund's parents, so Coward isn't his mother's maiden name. (Found on FreeBMD) Janice

Mary Emily Coward's death isn't showing on Ancestry. Any ideas anyone? Janice

BINGO! JAS 1928 Alfred William Coward married May E McDowell Portsmouth 2b 1275 Now who was May? Alfred McDowell's wife was called May (see 1901 when Edmund is living with them). Is this a coincidence or did Alfred die and May remarry? Janice

Bingo again Death not Mary Emily but May May Emily Coward Birth Date: 22 Dec 1905 Death Registration Month/Year: Apr 1996 Age at death (estimated): 90 Registration district: Portsmouth Inferred County: Hampshire Register number: E49A Entry Number: 107

And Ancestry shows the death of May Emily Coward in 1996 aged 90, born 22nd Dec 1905. It was May not Mary.

Elaine. You beat me to it!

and.... Births Mar 1906 McDowell May Emily Portsmouth 2b 458

Do you think she could be Alfred and May's daughter then - Edmund's niece?

May Emily McDowell's birth is on FreeBMD so it's not a 2nd marriage.

Janice At guess I would agree May McDowell who married Alfred Coward was the daughter of Alfred & May McDowel and the niece of Edmund. That would explain the family connection on the buriel plot. Husband & wife buried with her uncle. Shame May never remarried, she was a widow for nearly 60 years. Cheers E x

You're too quick for me Elaine lol!

The McDowell father was a boiler maker. Perhaps he made ships' boilers and that's why they went to Portsmouth - to the Naval base. Devonport is also a naval area so it could have been a job transfer.