George was the eldest child of James Vowles and Unity (nee Wilcox). Like his father, George's occupation was a sawyer (sawing timber in to planks or board). This was hard physical labour in a dry, dusty atmosphere. Not surprising then that the sawyers had a reputation of being heavy drinkers. The Sawyers worked in pairs one on each end of a long saw cutting timber into planks. The worst job was in the pit where the sawyer was constantly covered in sawdust. The 'topman' was more senior and worked the other end of the saw from above the pit. The iron fixing which held the timber in place was called a dog and this may be the origin of the expressions 'top dog' and 'underdog'.
Note - transcripts of the 1881 census incorrectly show George's occupation as Lawyer.

George and Eliza had twelve children over 25 years including twins Alice and Thomas. Geroge died of heart disease aged 61. Shortly after his death, the 1891 census showed his widow Eliza 'Kept by my sons'. Her five youngest sons living with her, all but the youngest, Albert, were working as labourers. By 1901 Eliza gave her occupation as midwife. Few women had access to trained attendants in childbirth at the time and many of the poor had to depend on local untrained midwives such as Eliza. In 1902 the Midwives Act introduced compulsory training and registration of midwives.