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He is born Stockton Durham in this census (if correct family) and wife a lot older:
1891 England Census
John Bowman Age: 50 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1841
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Isabella Bowman
Gender: Male Where born: Stockton, Durham, England
Civil parish: Haswell Ecclesiastical parish: St Pauls Town: Haswell
County/Island: Durham Country: England
Occupation: Hawker of pots
Registration district: Easington Sub-registration district: Easington
ED, institution, or vessel: 4 Piece: 4106 Folio: 122 Page Number: 27
John Bowman 50 Stockton, Durham,
Isabella Bowman 50 Durham
Jane Bowman 14 Ferryhill, Durham,
Joseph Bowman 12 Ferryhill, Durham,
Hannah Bowman 8 Spennymoor, Durham,
John Bowman 6 Cornforth, Durham,
Isabella Bowman 3 Cornforth or Carnforth
Elizabeth Bowman 1 Haswell Lane, Durham,
Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 4106; Folio: 122; Page: 27; GSU roll: 6099216.

Isabella in 1881 dies and another Isabella born?
Deaths Mar 1882
Bowman Isabella 1 Durham 10a 206

Hi Patchem, sorry to be a nuisance but as they are problems with ages/names, can I ask you to include the place of birth? Sorry to be a pain. No problem if you can't but I thought I would ask.

I have added to the censuses some places of birth, not necessarily all checked on actual image.
Unfortunately there is not consistency, it was just the 1881 and 1911 that looked so like him - how many John Bowmans would claim born in Preston when living in Durham?
Once one starts looking there are several possible families in various years, I was trying to fill the 'gap' between 1871 (John born Preston) , 1881, (John born Preston) and 1911 (John born Preston)

I am now getting bemused.
The 1891 agrees with the 1881, but this 1901 agrees with the 1891, and ages and his birthplace still out.
See what you think:
1901 England Census
John Bowman Age: 52 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1849
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Isabella Bowman
Gender: Male Where born: Hartlepool, Durham, England
Civil parish: Hetton le Hole Ecclesiastical parish: Lyons St Michael and All Angels Town: Easington Lane County/Island: Durham Country: England
Occupation: General Hawker
Registration district: Houghton Le Spring Sub-registration district: Hetton le Hole
ED, institution, or vessel: 7 Household schedule number: 32 Piece: 4696 Folio: 39 Page Number: 5
John Bowman 52
Isabella Bowman 50 Hartlepool, Durham,
Hannah Bowman 18 Spennymoor
John Bowman 16 Thrislington, Durham,
Isabella Bowman 13 Thrislington, Durham,
Elizabeth Bowman 10 Hanwell, Durham,
Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 4696; Folio: 39; Page: 5.

John does remain a hawker throughout, not a miner or other occupations, I am assuming 'earthenware dealer' in 1911 is 'career progression'.

Thank you again Patchem

To be honest, although this is bemusing, I can forgive it. I imagine John had a very hard life and probably wanted little connection to any kind of offical.

Also, I am still a little lost trying to find the death of Mary Bowman and John's remarriage.

This is important because, Mary's brother died in the York Clifton Asylum in 1877. It stated a sister had already died there and I now wonder if that was this lady.

However, there are another FOUR sisters whose deaths/marriage I can't account for so it maybe I am stabbing in the dark. What do you think?

John claims married 35 years on 1911 census, so about 1875/1876. On the 1881 census Jane is 4, which agrees with that sort of date.
There is this possible marriage from free bmd:
Marriages Mar 1875
xxx BOWMAN John Auckland 10a 294
CHAPMAN Anne Auckland 10a 294
RIPLEY William Auckland 10a 294
xxx SIMPSON Isabella Auckland 10a 294
or you could also apply for a birth certificate of one of the children.
It depends how much you want to track down all the family.

Perhaps her age was recorded inaccurately?:
Deaths Jun 1873
Bowman Mary 37 Stockton 10a 67

Thank you - you came to the same conclusion as myself. I have emailed about the 1873 death and will look into the 1875 marriage when I hear back.

Your opinion is much appreciated. Now to find this sister who died in the asylum.

Thanks, Peter.
Could you update the thread when you hear about the death or get the marriage certificate, as we are always interested in hearing about any new information?

Yes I emailed the register office last night regarding the death in 1873 so I will post their responce.

Thanks again!

Perhaps her age was recorded inaccurately?:
Deaths Jun 1873
Bowman Mary 37 Stockton 10a 67

This appears to be her death. I asked:

... was Mary Bowman the wife of John Bowman a hawker? Her age should be about 33 and in 1871 she was living in St. James Parish, Stockton. Thank you

The reply was she was NOT 33 (obviously recorded as 37) and the wife of John Bowman a hawker.

Thank you so much for your help!