Lieutenant Colonel Humphrey Owen

Lieutenant-Colonel Humphrey Owen, born Canada circa 1774. Brother of Edward Owen of Mancuo and probably of Elizabeth James, née Owen, mother of Thomas James (q.v.) . Awarded compensation, with Thomas James, Thomas Mason, Rev Edward Owen and William Turner, for three claims in Manchester, Jamaica, as executors of Edward Owen.

1. Humphrey Owen was born circa 1774 at the Citadel, Quebec, Canada. (The Citadel is part of the fortifications of the city.) It seems very likely that he was a brother to Elizabeth Owen, born circa 1771, who married John Thomas James and became the mother of Thomas James (q.v.). John Thomas James and Elizabeth had six children, the youngest of whom was John, born 08/10/1804 in London. Humphrey’s will names John James, nephew, of Littlebourne, as one of the executors. Several members of the James family, including John, were in Littlebourne in the censuses: see notes on Thomas James. Humphrey Owen was identified as his brother in the will of Edward Owen of Mancuo, Jamaica, father of Rev. Edward Owen (q.v.).

2. Humphrey joined the Royal Regiment of Artillery and it seems, from Army Lists, that he was appointed First Lieutenant on 01/01/1794, Captain on 12/09/1803 and Lieutenant Colonel on 23/12/1815. He doesn’t appear on Army Lists after 1819 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel as he is described as such in the 1851 and 1861 censuses. No other evidence of his army career has been found.

3. There is no obvious sign of him in the 1841 census – he is definitely not in Upper Montague Street at this point – but in both the 1851 and 1861 census he is at 73 Cambridge Terrace, Paddington, London. In 1851 he is recorded as unmarried, aged 76, Late Lieutenant Col R Artillery, born Canada, Quebec. There is no family living with him but there is a butler, a cook and a housemaid. In 1861 he is described as unmarried, aged 87, Formerly Lieut. Col: Ro Artillery, born At the Citadel Quebeck. There are two servants and a cook in the household, two of whom were with him in 1851.

4. Humphrey died 06/07/1862 at 73 Cambridge Terrace, Paddington. He is buried in All Souls, Kensal Green, as Lt Colonel Humphrey Owen. His address is given as 73 Cambridge Gardens, Paddington. He was buried, aged 88 years, on 11/07/1862.

5. The National Probate Calendar records the following: ‘1862 7 August Owen, Humphrey Esq Effects under £45,000 The Will with four Codicils of Humphrey Owen formerly of Upper-Montague-street Montague-square but late of 73 Cambridge-terrace Hyde Park both in the County of Middlesex Esquire heretofore a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Artillery deceased who died 6 July 1862 at 73 Cambridge-terrace aforesaid was proved at the Principal Registry by the oaths of John James of Littlebourne in the County of Kent Esquire the Nephew the Reverend John Henry Hughes Hallett of Westbere near the City of Canterbury Clerk and William Elisha Smith of Hythe in the County of Kent Esquire Adjutant on the Staff of the School of Musketry the Executors.’ (The claim notes describe Humphrey as of Upper Montague Street.)

T71/860: Manchester claim nos. 113, 114 and 222.

1. 1851 and 1861 census online; England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941 online.

2. Army Lists online; 1851 and 1861 censuses online.

3. 1851 and 1861 censuses online.

4. FreeUKGen, England and Wales Free BMD Database, Deaths, 1837-1983 [database online]; Ancestry.com, London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980 [database online].

5. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941.