Born at Nottingham.
1841 Census
Attenborough, Notts.
William Towlson, 35.
Maria Towlson, 35.
Josiah, 9.
Also Caroline, 15; Mary, 15; John, 12; William, 7; George, 4; Edward, 1.
1851 Census
Attenborough, Notts.
William Towlson, 44. Framework Knitter.
Maria Towlson, 44.
Josiah, 17, Framework Knitter.
Also George, 17 [?]; Edward, 10; Emma, 8; Elizabeth, 5; Alfred, 2.
[PB, March, 2014: It appeared possible he could have been a relative of 838, Thomas Towson, 17th Lancers, whose surname was also recorded as "Toulson" and "Towlson". But this now seems unlikely.]
Enlisted at Nottingham on the 3rd of March 1854.
Age: 21.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Frame-worker.
"Deserted" from Maas on enlistment and rejoined on the 4th of April 1854.
Sent to the Cavalry Depot on the 19th of April 1854.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 14th of July 1855.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 18567. [date?]
[PB: Info on India service?]
Discharged, "time expired", from Brighton on the 4th of November 1866.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah and Gwalior.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.
Marriage registered
Josiah Towlson married Maria Harris, March Quarter 1867, Kings Norton.
Births registered
Louisa Maria Towlson, June Quarter 1868, Kings Norton.
William Towlson, December Quarter 1869, Kings Norton.
Edward [sic] John Towlson, March Quarter 1871, Aston.
1871 Census
24, Frank Street, Aston.
Josiah Towlson, 37, Gardener, born Attenborough.
Maria Towlson, 27, born Haxon, Wiltshire.
Louisa Maria, 2; William, 1; Edwin, 3 months.
Death registered
Josiah Towlson, aged 40, June Quarter 1874, Birmingham.
Marriage registered
Maria Towlson [second marriage] to Henry Gough, March Quarter 1875, Aston.
Census information for 1841, 1851, 1871, and details of a number of registrations of births, deaths and marriages kindly provided by Chris Poole.