 He was the son of Henry Vowles (13 October 1816 – 17 February 1883, Reading ) of Bath and Mary Yeoman Harding (18 December 1812 – 10 January 1886, Lyme Regis) of "The Chancellor" Wanstrow, Somerset.The parents of Henry Vowles (b.1816) were James Vowles (a dairyman) of 2 Quiet Street Bath, (born 2 March 1785 buried 6/2/1859) and Martha Edney (born 1789).