Louisa Grove was the fourth child of William Grove & Hannah King christened February 17th, 1822 at St John the Baptist, Croydon, Surrey.
In 1851 Louisa was working as a servant for widower Thomas Dowling, an engraver, at 14 Panton St, St Martins in the Fields, Middlesex. Thomas had a son John T. Dowling, an engineering surveyor, living at home who was to become Louisa’s husband.
Louisa married John Thomas Dowling (profession given as an engraver) on April 8th, 1857, at St. Pancras Church, Middlesex, by licence. John was born May 8th, 1830 at Hanover Square, London & was christened June 4th, 1830 at St George, Westminster, Hanover Square, the son of Sophia & Thomas Dowling. Witnesses at the wedding were George Smith and another (illegible!). Louisa's father William was described as "contractor".
Louisa & John were living at 21 Frampton Park Rd, South Hackney, Middlesex in 1861 & John was a proprietor of houses & a fund holder. They had 2 daughters – Mary A (3) & Emily L (1) & a son Frank, 1 month old.
In 1871 they were living at 10 Frampton Park Rd & John was now described as a house proprietor. Mary, Emily & Frank were all at home & they now had another daughter, Annie, aged 5.
John died on November 18th, 1880, aged 50, at 21 Frampton Park Road. Administration (with will) was granted on December 9th to Mary Alice Clara Dowling (daughter), one of the residual legatees. John's personal estate was under £4,000.
In 1881 widowed Louisa & daughter Annie were living at 53 Frampton Park Rd. Louisa was described as an annuitant.
Louisa & Annie were living at 23 Mayola Rd, Hackney in 1891, Louisa being described as ‘on own means’.
Louisa & daughter Annie were both still at the same address in 1901& 1911. At the time of the 1911 census daughter Mary Alice Clara, a publisher’s clerk, was living with her sister Emily Louisa who had married Daniel Thomson, a law clerk, in 1883. Emily & Daniel were living at 81 Ryverdale Rd, Stoke Newington & had had 3 children, but only Emily May was still at home in 1911.
Louisa lived to the age of 91 & died in April-June 1913 at Hackney.
Interestingly Annie was still living at 23 Mayola Rd, Hackney as shown in the electoral registers of 1921, 1925 & 1926 and with her were brother Frank, a draughtsman, & sister Mary Alice Clara.
The children of Louisa Grove & John Thomas Dowling were:
g.4.1 Mary Alice Clara Dowling born October 5th, 1857 at Hackney, & christened March 31st, 1885 at St Mary Newington, Middlesex; died May 9th, 1939 at Pine Lodge, Thundersley Grove, Thundersley, Essex.
g.4.2 Emily Louisa Dowling born April-June 1859 at Hackney, Middlesex; died May 12th, 1944 at Hackney Hospital, London
g.4.3 Frank Dowling born February 27th, 1861 at Hackney, Middlesex; died Jan-March 1943 in Surrey
g.4.4 Annie Eva Dowling born July-September 1865 at Hackney, Middlesex; died Oct-December 1932 in Rochford, Essex