Hi Janis

From what I have managed to get from free searches and wangling is that William Dowson was with an Elizabeth Dowson on the 1841 census, possibly his wife. He seems to be a widow on the 1851 census with a young servent girl, Mary Carr (his future wife) and is then with Mary on the 1861 Census.

I also believe his father and mother(William and Mary (pos nee Madgin)) out lived him and were both on the 1871 Census. William is given as being 80 yrs and Mary as 78 along with many of their children you listed in one of the previous posts. I have no idea where they or what they do etc., only that they are in Durham, again just from using the free search and wangling.

I did manage to find Mary Dowson (nee Carr) now married to a George Swift on the 1881 Census in Stockton. All the Dowson kids are down as Swift! Thomas Dowson b.1865, my direct ancestor, was with his grandmother Elizabeth Carr and Cousin Edwin Graham in Houghton le Spring.

I hope this helps and look forward to hearing from you.

Once again thank you so much for this help.

Regards
Brian