Timothy Towner

I know very little about this man.  He is noted by Chailey Parish Magazine once only and that is in November 1914 where it is stated that he is serving his King and Country. 

He is probably the same Timothy Towner who was born at Barcombe, Sussex in 1878 and appears on the 1881 census living at Barcombe with his family.  The household comprised: William Towner (head, aged 41, working as an agricultural labourer), his wife Sarah (aged 42), Timothy (aged three) and Kate Towner (aged eight months).  Sarah had been married before to George Heasman.  They were married in 1857 but in 1872 George had died.  Sarah then re-married William Towner in 1877.  Included on the 1881 census are the three children from her first marriage: Edward Heasman (aged 19, an agricultural labourer), Ellen Heasman (aged 17, a general servant) and Ruth Heasman (a ten year old scholar). 

William Towner died in June 1882 and the 1891 census shows a very much reduced household.  Sarah Towner (widow, aged 51, working as a charwoman) is recorded as the head of the household and with her are her daughter Ellen Heasman (recorded as 24 years old but actually aged 27 and working as a servant), Timothy (aged 13, working as a stable boy) and Kate (a ten year old scholar). 

By the time the 1901 census was taken, Timothy had moved away from Sussex and is recorded as a 23 year old police constable, one of many, resident at District Section House in the district of St John, St Margaret and Westminster in London.  

Timothy is possibly related to Edgar Lancelot and Henry William Towner who also served their King and Country during the First World War.