This is part two of our on-going two generation study of the families of Charles Hall Shearn and his father Mark Hall Shearn. (Read part one and read part three)
Charles and and his first wife Matilda Hart spent many years together. Their story is therefore a bit longer. However, Charles’ second wife, Arabella Cowley, had a short marriage. Arabella died at a young age, within 18 months of the marriage. This is the story of Charles and Arabella.
Background
Not far from the city of Bath in western England, in Woodborough, Radstock, Somerset, Charles Hall Shearn was born 26 April 1830.[1] He died not far from London on 23 December 1921 in Camberwell, Surrey, England.[2] He was the son of Mark Hall Shearn born 1800 in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England died 1886 in Three Rivers, St Joseph, Michigan and Sarah Ann Parfitt born about 1800 in Somerset, England died October 1856 in Somerset, England.[3] Charles Hall Shearn married Matilda Hart on 15 March 1856 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.[4] The couple had two sons Charles James Hall Shearn in 1858 and James Parfitt Shearn in 1862.[5] Matilda Hart died in January 1875.[6] Charles Hall Shearn married Arabella Cowley on 27 April 1876 in Fairford, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.[7] They had one son, Robert Austin Shearn born about 1877.[8] Arabella died in 1877.[9] Charles Hall Shearn married Eliza Smith on 3 June 1879 in Westminster, St James, Paddington, England. Charles and Eliza had two sons Albert, born about 1883; William; and a daughter Lilian, born about 1881.[10]
Charles Hall Shearn and Arabella Cowley
On their marriage record, Arabella Cowley was the daughter of Robert Cowley, cordwainer.[11] When Arabella and Charles married on 27 April 1876 in the parish church at Fairford, Gloucestershire, she was 31 years old, born about 1845. Charles was a 45 year old widower working as a house steward at St. Georges, Hanover Square, London, likely in the home of the Marquess of Lansdowne on Berkeley Square. This was the earliest found record that showed Charles worked for the Marquess of Lansdowne. It is further support that Charles also worked at Bowood when his first wife Matilda passed away. The marriage to Arabella was about two and a half years after the passing of Matilda.
Charles' second wife Arabella gave birth to his third child, Robert Austin Shearn.
Robert Austin Shearn
Charles and Arabella had one child, Robert Austin Shearn. Robert was Arabella's father's name. Austin was a name in Charles' family. Robert Austin Shearn was born 29 April 1877 in St Georges, Hanover Square.[12] He was baptized 5 November 1877. No England or Wales marriage or death documents were found for Robert Austin Shearn in civil registration or church records. Many records were found for Robert Austin Shearn or McFarlane or other variation of the name which are likely the same person. The records indicated that Robert ended up in Australia or New Zealand at some point.
Robert was born at St. Georges, Hanover Square during the June quarter of 1877.
Arabella's Death
Arabella died at St. Georges, Hanover Square during the June quarter of 1877.[13] It is possible that she died during birth or as a result of giving birth. Her death record should show how, where and when she died. The death certificate was obtained from the British governmental archive.
Arabella died from an infection that she contracted as a result of giving birth to her only child, Robert Austin Shearn.
Arabella died of puerperal fever.[14] She died at 5 Carpenter Street, Hanover Square, Middlesex. She was 33 years old. Her occupation was listed as wife of Charles Hall Shearn, House Steward. Charles’ signature is on the death document. He was “widower of deceased. Present at the death, Lansdowne House, Berkeley Square.” Puerperal fever was also known as childbed fever.[15] It was caused by an infection in the reproductive organs after childbirth. Arabella died from an infection that she contracted as a result of giving birth to her only child, Robert Austin Shearn.
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Citations
[1] 1881 census of England, London, Hanover, St Georges, Registration District Chelsea, Enumeration District 3, folio 65, page 33, Charles H. Shearn; imaged, “1881 England Census,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 May 2020); citing RG 11, piece 95, 1881 Census Returns of England and Wales, The National Archives of England, Kew, document 5.
[2] The National Archives Vital Records, death certificate, Charles Hall Shearn, 23 December 1921, document 34.
[3] 1841 census of England, Somersetshire, Midsomer Norton, Enumeration District 1, folio 11, page 14, line 13, Charles Hall Shearn; imaged, “1841 England Census,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 May 2020); citing class H0107, piece 939, book 16, GSU roll 474596, 1841 Census Returns of England and Wales, The National Archives of England, Kew, document 1.
[4] "Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938," database, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 May 2020), Charles Hall Shearn and Matilda Hart, marriage 15 March 1856, document 44.
[5] 1871 census of England, Wiltshire, Calne, Studley, Registration District Calne, Enumeration District 12, folio 78, page 20, household number 111, Matilda Shearn; imaged, “1871 England Census,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 May 2020); citing RG10, piece 1902, GSU roll 830866, 1871 Census Returns of England and Wales, The National Archives of England, Kew, document 4.
[6] "FreeBMD Entry Information," index database with digital images (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=55738358:7683&d=bmd_1588661647 : accessed 16 May 2020), death entry for Matilda Shearn, March, 1875, Calne, volume 5a, page 65, document 14.
[7] "Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938," database, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 May 2020), Charles Hall Shearn and Arabella Cowley, document 47.
[8] 1881 census of England, London, Hanover, St Georges, ED 3, p. 33, Charles H. Shearn, document 5.
[9] "FreeBMD Entry Information," index database with digital images (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=59914800:2499&d=bmd_1588661647 : accessed 15 May 2020), death entry for Arabella Shearn, June, 1877, Hanover Square volume 1a, page 22, document 16.
[10] 1891 census of England, London, Hanover, St George, Registration District Mayfair, Enumeration District Christ Church, folio 131, page 30, Charles H. Shearn; imaged, “1891 England Census,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 May 2020); citing RG 12, piece 69, GSU roll 6095179, 1891 Census Returns of England and Wales, The National Archives of England, Kew, document 7.
[11] "Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938," database, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 May 2020), Charles Hall Shearn and Arabella Cowley, document 46.
[12] "Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1913," database, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 May 2020), Robert Austin Shearn, 5 November 1877, document 45.
[13] "FreeBMD Entry Information," index database with digital images (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=59914800:2499&d=bmd_1588661647 : accessed 15 May 2020), death entry for Arabella Shearn, June, 1877, Hanover Square volume 1a, page 22, document 16.
[14] The National Archives Vital Records, death certificate, Arabella Shearn, 14 May 1877, document 88.
[15] “Puerperal fever,” Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/science/puerperal-fever : accessed 6 July 2020).
