This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cowan Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DMQ.2ACIB/806 Message Board Post: Looking for a living Cowan name Jessie Ray Cowan, born January 20, 1933 in MO. He had a sister Inez or Inice or some spelling like that. They moved to Illinois when they were both children. They are relatives and we would like to find them. Thanks.

This post will ramble a bit but is full of great stuff. While John was doing the hard research viewing the Derry council minute books from the late 1600's I wandered up the street from the Harbor Museum to St. Columb's to find Aubrey Fielding, Bell-ringer and genealogist who just so happened to have in his possession a 1910, first (only) edition of the following: Register of the Derry Cathedral William Pollard & Co. ed. by Rev. Hays, 1910 If you know where a copy of this book is located here in the US, I would love to know. It contains the earliest records of the church and unlike the second and third volumes has never been reprinted. There is a copy at Queens University and one at PRONI but I could not sweet-talk anyone into making me a copy. The best I could do was to bribe the gal at PRONI into making me a copy of the index. Aubrey sat with me in his office for an hour while I scribbled furiously to get as many of the early records as I could. Here are some: James Glin/Elizabeth Cowan married, pub. Aug. 25th, 1661 John Guy/ Jennett Cowan married Nov. 24th 1662 ROBERT COWAN/Ellin Hogge married Jan 12th 1663 ((this is Alderman John Cowan's father) David, son of Alexander Warke, bap. 23rd May 1663, HUGH COWAN, John Greg, Marrian Rowen, gossips (Aubrey told me gossips were what we call God parents) Other information I thought interesting but no genealogical ties intended. Humphrey Price/Ann Walker married Sept. 26th 1661 Patrick Porter/Xian McClunton married Dec. 5th 1661 Mayre, daughter of Paterick Porter, Capt. Bridges soldier, baptised May 31, 1678 James, son of William Killgore/Jane bap. June 7th, 1702 Heres a record I thought interesting since it was one of the earliest recorded at St. Columb's: The banes of matrimony between Richard Willis and Elizabeth Crawfford, both of this city published. The marriage of Richard Willis and Elizabeth Crawfford was solemnized (before John Hannfford, esq. Mayor of London Derry) James Morgan, William Mason, with diverse others being present at London Derry this last of July 1656. The marriage of Andrew Porter and Affricke ny Connall was solemized before the hon. Ralph King, esq. Mayor of London Derry in the presence of Alexander McConnall and John Porter at London Derry this 21st Feb. 1653. John Walker/Jannett Graham married Aug. 13th 1663 William Walker/Margaret Morrison Aug 27tth 1663 Many references to the Porter's being from Burt, just to the north of Derry city. Aubrey told me the story of the morning he came to ring the bells for easter communion and discovered the Rev. George Walker had been blown off his statue and was resting in a pile of rubble. The funny thing was the IRA did a fantastic job of blowing him up but he landed perfectly and was found sitting upright with the loss of only one hand. He now sits in a locked alcove a block or so away from his original perch on the Derry wallls and looks a bit forelorn. It just so happened that the day I visited Mr. Fielding a group of ten bell-ringers from all over Northern Ireland were conducting a quarter peel (a full peel is 5000 notes) and I had the opportunity to climb to the top of the church and observe these musicians tugging on long ropes which rang the bells. The bells of St. Columb's predate the cathedral which was built in the 1640's. The records also indicate Rrobert Cowan was buried Oct. 14th 1715 and Alderman John Cowan was buried April 20th, 1733. One of the important discoveries in these records is the existance of a Hugh Cowan in Derry in 1660's which was previously unknown. We will tie these early Cowans together in a later post. It was now time to move on to Belfast but we suffered a set-back of a couple of days by not anticipating the Queen's Jubilee which closed all public buildings for TWO days. Monday and Tuesday were spent motoring around the Antrim coast road, Giant's causeway, and in pub's. We managed to watch the England/Argentina match at the "Egg" which is a favorite watering hole of Queen's University students and England upset the favored team from South America and Belfast was a happy town. (Protestant Belfast) Regards, Robert Cowan Guinnessman

It appears to me that we are looking at Cowans that should have been around when the 1724 Immigrant 4 Cowan Brothers were born. Below we have dates of 1695, 1693, 1700, 1703 - these are good dates for me these could be grandfathers or fathers of the 4 Brothers. This is interesting to find Cowan men during this period of time in Ireland and think about that in about 20 years 4 Cowans immigrate to PA and they were known to be very young - that was where the grandfather thought came from <g> The men that appear in these records appear to be established or at least mature enough to hold an appointment of importance. I can't picture these appointments being given to an 18 year old. Now, I live in Sevier county, TN and some of the judges son's and banker's sons enter into Alderman positions early, but early around here appears to be about 25 to 35 - now some of these guys may be older than they look, but I have a 25 year old son and they all appeared to be a little older than he was 7 years ago and were holding places of position in the community then - so I figure they were probably 25 then and 32 to 35 now. I know back in the 1700's people grew up faster - so really, my point was that I was trying to think about what age of the men in this post. At this period of time what is a Burgess? So it sounds like a search of the records page by page - volume by volume might turn up the missing pages. Did they happen to have any lose papers that have not been bound???? Was there a date on the Index of Derry Merchants? Laura > In an Appendix to Vol. 2, p. 8, there appears to be an alphabetical > index of the Derry Merchants. > ROBERT COWAN is listed in alphabetical order with no other explanation. > On page 65 of the Appendix to Vol. 2, there is a listing of the > Mayors/Sheriffs. Listed for 1695 > are JOHN COWAN and HUGH DAVEY . > The INDEX contains an entry for “Alderman Resignations of” for Book II, > pages 285 and 286. > The pages cannot be found in Book II. They have been lost or > misplaced. Bernadette Walsh, the > Archivist Assistant, said Vol. 3 and Vol. 5 of the Minutes are missing. > However, I did find some > pages listed as being in Vol 3 bound in Vol. 4. > Similarly, in the Index under the entry, “Test Act, Several Members of > Corporation resign > under”, in Book 3, P. 4, 5 , the entries cannot be found. > P. 100 Bottom, as entry for P. 99 in Index.] > At a Comon Council held the 10 day of Sept. 1693. > On the debate of a fitt person to supply the place of Burg. Vacant by > the death of M. John > Nightingall was put on the Ellection > 6 Mr. Alex Shipton > 11 Mr. John Cowan > 3 Mr. Charles Norman > 1 Mr. Joshua Pickard > 3 Mr. Samuell Ervin > 0 Mr. Samuell Glanvey > of whom Mr. John Cowan was chosen by majority of voices and is therefore > ellected to serve a > Burgress of this City in the place of Mr. John Nightingale deceased who > being sent for had the > usuall oathes administered to him, which he took with the declaration > required by actg of > Parliament. > P. 115, B > 2 JANUARY 1700. > The Committe appointed for letting the Sherriffs Mountain do report that > they did on the 20th of > November last let the same to Mr. John Cowan and Mr. Rob. Gamble for a > term of 21 years > from the 2nd. Day of February next, at the rent of 10 p. Per annum > payable quarterly, a lease to be > ____________ before the comencement and the City Council do appoint the > Committee for > Letting the Clerkship of the Market to perfect the said lease. > Page 236. > 13 Sept. 1703. John Cowan Present as a Burgess. > The Court of Ald.er do propose these six Burgesses, out of them to Elect > an Alderm.n, viz. Jn > Crukshank, Jn Cowan, Hugh Davey, Alex Coningham, Jos Morrison and Jn. > Dixon of whom upn > the Passing by the ballott Mr. John Cowan is elected an Ald.n & is > accordingly sworn an Ald of > this City. > At. A Common Councill held 23 Nov. 1703. Aldn Jn’ Cowan present. > Therefore the Court of Aldermen recomending to the Court Councill, for > Mayor, Ald.m Ash, > Ald. Long, Ald. Morrisson, aldm Mackie, and Aldm. Cowan, and of them to > elect on to the > office of Mayorally for the Ensueing year, on the passing byRoll Aldm > Mackie is Elected to the > Office by this Council. He is accordingly elected. jcmaclay </A> ==== COWAN Mailing List ==== Please contact the list manager if you have problems or questions: Laura Cowan Cooper mailto:[email protected]

Robert and List Members, Robert, I keep telling you that you are the luckiest researcher that I know - I guess that I have an advantage over most of the list reading you posts - I have talked with you many times and have spent time with you. I would have expected that the entire trip was one lucky find after the other!!!!! I sure would have loved being the little fly along with you!!!! If it can be found, Robert will find it - if it is an out of print book that is important to Cowan research, Robert will locate a copy for his collection. I just can't tell all of you how important this trip that John and Robert took will end up being in all of our Cowan/Ireland Research so please say all of these posts and read them with care - you will learn a lot. I am sure that this was a big adventure!!!! Another thing that you all need to know as you read - Robert researches from a much different view point than most researchers - the best way that I can even attempt to explain it - (and I guess that this comes from knowing him now for several years) - is that he looks at all of the general knowledge info or the type that is right there or known. He then appears to look to see what is left out and explores why that piece of info isn't there. Well, some where along the line he appears to figure out a theory and then sets out to locate the info that he needs to either prove it or to dis-prove it. He appears to look at what was going on at that period of time and explore where the Cowans were in that area. Pieces of the puzzle seem to just jump up and say find a way to make me fit. It is very hard to explain, but his results are always very logical and interesting. I guess one could say that his brain works at a tangent to the brain of most researchers - it provides a wealth of interesting information and often missing pieces. Thanks for posting - I can't wait until the next e-mail arrives!!! Laura Cowan Cooper List Manager

<A HREF="mailto:[email protected]"> > The Notes I took from the Derry Corporate Minute Books follow just as I > transcribed them. While I was working on the books in the luxury of the > Boardroom of the Harbour Museum, Robert Cowan was at St. Columbs transcribing > entries from the Cathederal Records' 1st book which we found very hard to > come by in the U.S. Robert also made the acquaintance of the gentleman in > charge of the small genealogical office and in our 2nd visit on a subsequent > day Robert accompanied the man to the cathederal tower and got an earful of a > coordinated 100 bell peal. My only gripe on the trip was that the 1st Derry > Presbyterian Church was only open for Sunday services and I was not able to > get the list of the Presbyterian officials who resigned rather than sign the > Test Act. The men are commemorated on a plaque inside the church. I > expressed my concern later to our tour guide in St. Columbs, who answered > matter of factly ...." of course not. They do what they want. They're > Presbyterians." > Index to Corporation Minute Book from 1673 - 1841. > COWAN, JOHN. BURGESS, SHERIFF, ALDERMAN & MAYOR > Book 2, Page 79 - P. 99, 115, 119, 235, 240. [The entry may be on the > page indexed or the > following page.] > B. 2, P. 194 - Sheriff’S Mountain leased to [John Cowan] > There is a handwritten index in a large ledger book The entries for John > Cowan are the same in > the ledger index as they are in the typescript index. > The entries in Book 2 are early photo copies on folded folio sheets > written in a clear, legible > hand. Book 1 and Book 1A were also given me. Thery were also > photocopied on folio sheets. > The handwriting was legible but more difficult to read than in Book 2. > In an Appendix to Vol. 2, p. 8, there appears to be an alphabetical > index of the Derry Merchants. > ROBERT COWAN is listed in alphabetical order with no other explanation. > On page 65 of the Appendix to Vol. 2, there is a listing of the > Mayors/Sheriffs. Listed for 1695 > are JOHN COWAN and HUGH DAVEY . > The INDEX contains an entry for “Alderman Resignations of” for Book II, > pages 285 and 286. > The pages cannot be found in Book II. They have been lost or > misplaced. Bernadette Walsh, the > Archivist Assistant, said Vol. 3 and Vol. 5 of the Minutes are missing. > However, I did find some > pages listed as being in Vol 3 bound in Vol. 4. > Similarly, in the Index under the entry, “Test Act, Several Members of > Corporation resign > under”, in Book 3, P. 4, 5 , the entries cannot be found. > P. 100 Bottom, as entry for P. 99 in Index.] > At a Comon Council held the 10 day of Sept. 1693. > On the debate of a fitt person to supply the place of Burg. Vacant by > the death of M. John > Nightingall was put on the Ellection > 6 Mr. Alex Shipton > 11 Mr. John Cowan > 3 Mr. Charles Norman > 1 Mr. Joshua Pickard > 3 Mr. Samuell Ervin > 0 Mr. Samuell Glanvey > of whom Mr. John Cowan was chosen by majorityof voices and is therefore > ellected to serve a > Burgress of this City in the place of Mr. John Nightingale deceased who > being sent for had the > usuall oathes administered to him, which he took with the declaration > required by actg of > Parliament. > P. 115, B > 2 JANUARY 1700. > The Committe appointed for letting the Sherriffs Mountain do report that > they did on the 20th of > November last let the same to Mr. John Cowan and Mr. Rob. Gamble for a > term of 21 years > from the 2nd. Day of February next, at the rent of 10 p. Per annum > payable quarterly, a lease to be > ____________ before the comencement and the City Council do appoint the > Committee for > Letting the Clerkship of the Market to perfect the said lease. > Page 236. > 13 Sept. 1703. John Cowan Present as a Burgess. > The Court of Ald.er do propose these six Burgesses, out of them to Elect > an Alderm.n, viz. Jn > Crukshank, Jn Cowan, Hugh Davey, Alex Coningham, Jos Morrison and Jn. > Dixon of whom upn > the Passing by the ballott Mr. John Cowan is elected an Ald.n & is > accordingly sworn an Ald of > this City. > At. A Common Councill held 23 Nov. 1703. Aldn Jn’ Cowan present. > Therefore the Court of Aldermen recomending to the Court Councill, for > Mayor, Ald.m Ash, > Ald. Long, Ald. Morrisson, aldm Mackie, and Aldm. Cowan, and of them to > elect on to the > office of Mayorally for the Ensueing year, on the passing byRoll Aldm > Mackie is Elected to the > Office by this Council. He is accordingly elected. jcmaclay </A>

It seemed James Fleming could not do enough for us during our stay in St. Johnston. He took us on an extended drive all over the Laggan and pointed out obscure places and interesting things a tourist could never find. The question I asked John was, "Why did he do this?" He was obviously a very well to do long time resident of the area and owned hundreds of acres of land in and around St. Johnston stretching all the way down to the Foyle. Was this simply Irish hospitality? Was it a bond between fellow genealogists and historians? Did he feel obligated to "host" a couple of Americans who stumbled into his little town? James likes to drive fast in his Mercedes and we covered a lot of ground. He took us up to Sheriff's Mountain, all through they country to an old round stone fort that was a couple thousand years old with a view to die for and into Derry where he played on the walls as a kid. We dined at his expense at the finest restaurant in Derry and had lamb. It was delicious and the company was great. He brought his buddy to make a fourth and this guy was great company; a member of the Irish army and a fine story-teller. It just didn't get any better than this. We were two Yanks being treated like royalty by people who knew more local history than anyone else in the area. The travel Gods were with us. I can only surmise that James Fleming felt content living in an area for 400 years (his family) and loved showing it to people who were as excited to see it as we were. He was the teacher and we were his students. If he ever decides to come to North Carolina to play golf my wish is that he finds the hospitality here equal to what we found and I would be honored to make that happen. Regards, Robert Cowan

Any one out there that has COWANS from St. Francis, Ca moving on to Maine in the 1870-80's? Have found a Frank COWAN in Readfield, Me in the 1900 census, age 35 and a widow with a young daughter. He lived next door to a Joseph COWAN, age 45 in the same census. Think this Jos. came over the border in 1873. Do not know if these are the same family altho it would seem likely. Joseph lived in Hallowell, Me. in the 1880s working in the Granite industry. Had a family of nine children. Would like to heard from any with Cowans in Maine. [email protected]

Three and one-half hours of driving gets you from Westport, Co. Mayo to a pub in Lifford where they give you directions to St. Johnston. Just up the road in Carrigans is Mount Royd, a nice Country Home that became our home for about a week. Its cheaper staying in Donegal because euros are the currancy of choice rather than that Brit money used just over the border. We were close to everything we needed; the genealogical records in Derry, the Innishowen Peninsula, the Ulster American Folk Park (what a pleasant surprise) James Fleming and J.B. Shannon and that pub in Lifford which just so happened to be the home pub for the goalie on the Irish World Cup team. I will digress for a moment now that we are talking soccer. We got up at 6 AM one day, drove to the pub to get a seat (hahaha, fat chance) to watch the 7:30 match between Ireland and the Cameroon) and along with the other 200 people who got there before us, stood toe to toe with pint in hand and cheered the Irish team on to a respectable 1-1 tie with the favored Africans. Good crack, that was!! Drinking before 8:00 AM is different. It seems now looking back over my many trips to Ireland that I have not given Donegal the respect it deserves. Seems so far out of the way when you are down on the Ring of Kerry or over in Dublin. What a mistake, it is beautiful and it is Ireland without the hordes of tourists you find in the south. The Innishowen Peninsula presents quite an unexpected picture, it is more heavily populated, with picture postcard viliages and tidy homes than most rural areas of Ireland and the views of the sea are nice, as long as you can see the sea through the rain. Without question the single most important device for a successful Irish motoring experience is the windshield wiper and ours worked flawlessly. I mentioned James Fleming and JB Shannon because they became important as local historians and offered us every piece of knowledge they had. Some of you have purchased the two Laggan Presbytery books from me and those that have not, should. They are THE most detailed records of early Presbyterians in Ulster and if you read closely you will find JB Shannons name in the book thanking him for his assistance. In other words, he was the source for most of the technical info. in the 1975 reprint of Lecky's 1905 and 1908 original version. He is also over 90 and is the last person alive who had anything to do with these books and we got to sit with him and pick his brain and listen to old stories and drink hot tea. That meeting was worth the price of an airplane ticket. When he dies, a chapter in Donegal history will be gone forever, and it was special to have had the chance to peek inside. On the Way to Derry, Robert Cowan

This is the first of a group of posts that Robert Cowan and I will make reporting on our Ireland research trip beginning Memorial Day and lasting through June 10, 2002. We met at Atlanta International early Sunday afternoon as planed for our overseas non-stop flight on Delta to Shannon Airport, Ireland. Our goals were clear and well-defined ... (1)to gather information and first hand experience on the Laggan area in Co. Donegal, Ireland, an area from which many of our Cowan kin and associated families left in the early 1700's for North America; (2) to visit Derry, the famous siege city, for research on Alderman John Cowan and certain other families whose valor and "No Surrender" attitude set a standard for independence and freedom in the Colonial Revolution and at King's Mountain; (3) to fruther our research and knowledge of the Cowan families in the North of Ireland through research in Belfast at Queen's University and at the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI). The Delta flight was full and we could track our travel path north along the coast of the eastern US, through Maine and over Nova Scotia and Labrador and then east, just south of Iceland over the Atlantic (the Great Circle route) then south to the west of Ireland to Shannon. It was 7:30 A.M or so, wet, overcast and chilly. Robert took care of arranging for our 4-door Fiat and I exchanged dollars for Euros. We set out for Westport, one of Robert's favorite resort sites in County Mayo, just a few hours to the north. We would explore the area as tourists and spend the evening there, resting from the long flight and giving our bodies time to adjust. There's a great deal of residential building going on in Ireland, a reflection of the improved Celtic Tiger economy and infrastructure improvements as well to the major roads funded by EEC loans. We paid tribute to Patrick, Ireland's patron Saint by visiting Krough Patrick, Ireland's Holy Mountain, quite spectacular, craggy and shrouded in mist and fog. The ascention to the top ... we left to the faithful pilgrims and moved on to a hearty traditional Irish lunch and libations at a nearby pub at the foot of the mountain. We toured with Robert at the helm the vast and wild area around Clifton ... enjoying the grandeur of the mountains and a somewhat peaceful desolation in the remote and unpopulated peninsula jutting westward into the Atlantic. The soil is rocky and thin and the pastures suitable only for sheep which ranged freely over the inhospitable terrain. In early evening, we returned to Wesport, the roads torn beyond Robert's prior recognition and much to his chagrin. We were able to secure accomodations at a central location, the Old Railway Hotel, a Victorian era watering hole, the soft, creaky floors heavily carpeted, the hallways and anterooms filled with authentic period furniture. Thackery called the Hotel the "most comfortableist inn in Westport," and they haven't tried to alter that impression to be a Holiday Inn, although the bath had been modernized and was commodious. Half a block down the street, over a small bridge and into the colorful area of shops and stores was Matt Malloy's Pub ... our destination of choice. The place gradually got fuller and fuller, seems that a contingent of Canadians on a Celtic music voyage and excursion had tied up in the harbor. Then the word started to spread, Matt was in and was going to play. In 15 years, Robert had never seen Matt Malloy at the Pub let alone heard him play there. Matt is the head musician of the Chieftians, the very popular and long-time successful Irish instrumental group. Elegant in a long black leather jacket, well-trimmed beard, balding, Matt made his way through the pub to the back room, where he picked up his flute and started to jam with two County Mayo accordianists. It was such a surprise and a wonderful and special experience to be just inches away from a world class musician just playing and playing because he loves the music ... no agenda set except the well known local favorites. Little did we know at that time, that surprise, the unexpected and quality would set the tone of our research and social efforts. jcmaclay

This is our first post from the trip. I don't know if Alex Latta of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is on this list but he is deserving of my thanks. He sent Robert Cowan a list of a couple of contacts for us to look up in St. Johnstown, Donegal, Jim Fleming and J. B. Shannon, and they proved to be very knowledgable, personalble, friendly and intelligent conversationalists. Alex. drew out on an OS (Ordinance Survey) map 6 km to the inch map (or whatever that scale is that shows every huckleberry bush on the back roads) how to find Mr. Fleming's engineering plant and as I was talking with him on the passenger side of our car he noticed our map. As "navigator," I was using the map to find Fleming, and Fleming was using the map to inform us about St. Johnstown (don't say "town," say "ton,") He pointed out that DUNDEE was the townland just the other side of the wee burn that ran by his Engineering plant just down the road, but that we were now in the village of ST. JOHNSTOWN. I asked him about the Gaelic, and he explained that "Baille Suingean" on the road signs, that "gean" was like "Sean," another name for John in Gaelic. St. Johnstown was named for St. Johns in Scotland, the old name for PERTH, St. John being the patron Saint of Scotland before St. Andrew, and the Perth football team ("soccer") is still called St. Johns. We were on the Foyle, on the eastern lip of Donegal and just to the south of Derry. It's a part of the old Laggan Presbytery and in a valley drained by the Laggan River which empties into the Foyle. This eastern crescent of Donegal, is the one area of Donegal in which there is a small concentration of Presbyterians which constitute about 3.0% of the Donegal population of approximately 40,000. About 10.0% of Donegal is protestant, with Church of Ireland, Methodists, and Presbyterians being the three protestant denominations. By Jesus, Fleming knew his stuff. The town and townland were named for an earlier pre-King James plantation colony from Elizabethan times in the 1500's, and Fleming's family had been there from that early period in the 1580's. We were two Cowans in the town where the Cowans were the local history heroes. After supper we met at a small, inconspicuous pub and warmed ourselves before a peat fire and consumed pints of Guiness (I lost count at 5, for me) to the wee hours of the morning talking about Robert Cowan and King James, and John Cowan, Robert's son, who led 100 men from St. Johnstown to the Defence of Derry, and who later became Sheriff of Derry and an Alderman before he resigned rather than signing the Test Act. One of our drinking buddies was the brother of the author of the History of the Monreagh Presbyterian Church, and I was gived a signed copy. The church is the 2nd oldest Presbyterian meeting house in Ireland, 1644. His last name was Raulston, and I explained that I had been born in Cowansville, PA and grew up on a farm next to Bob Raulston where I first learned to milk a cow. Robert told about how the author of the key Cowan resource, Cowans of County Down, was the Rev. John Fleming, and that the Flemings were intermarried with the Cowans in Virginia and the Carolinas. Jim's weakness, we found out was golf, and Robert in his 15 or so trips to Ireland had played every major course on the island. We were tight, a band of new born brothers. Jim wanted to show us around the next day. More on our Mercedes tour, later. He was surprised that neither Robert nor I was hung over. We had staggered our way through the rights of passage. The next week, in Belfast, I found a new (to me) book, PATRICK MC KAY, A DICTIONARY OF ULSTER PLACE-NAMES, The Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast, which confirmed all that Jim Fleming had shared with us about St. Johnstown and Dundee. The Scottish origins of the community are preserved for posterity in the name of the community and townland. jcmaclay

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cowan, Long Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DMQ.2ACIB/732.1.2.1 Message Board Post: Steve, Appreciate your reply. I really know very little of William Cowan except he was the youngest son of Joseph and Mary Malinda Long Cowan. His mother died in 1857 shortly after his birth, 1855, 1856, or 1857. He had an older sister Susan, who married Isaac Newton Biggerstaff 1866 in Rutherford Co. NC. They had two sons and two daus. William or W. A Cowan(the way he signed the power of attorney which came back to the Rutherford Co. Court for his father, Joseph Cowan, to act in their behalf in selling their inherited land) William b. 1855/56/57 was the youngest of three brothers--Thomas Cowan b. 1849 being oldest, John Cowan b. 1853 middle brother. Rebecca Cowan-Cornelius descends from John Cowan who settled in Bowie Cty. Texas. Fort Smith, AR court records state in 1890 they found him in Red River Valley, Texas. Rebecca and I have found records of Thomas Cowan in the 1890 Census of Cleveland Cty. OK , as Thomas Cowan b. NC on pg. 628. In the 1920 Census he is listed in McClean Cty with his son Joseph N. age 30. Thomas is listed as b. NC, age 70. Rebecca has a picture of Thomas, his wife, and Joe when Joe was a baby which her family had kept and passed down. We cannot be certain but Rebecca has found who we believe to be our William A. in the 1880 Census of Fannin Cty. TX as follows: Census Place: Precinct 6, Fannin, Texas Source: FHL Film 1255303 National Archives Film T9-1303 Page 499B Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Wm. A. Self M M W 24 NC Occ. Farmer Fa.NC Mo. NC Jane S. Cowan Wife F M W TX Occ. Keeps House Fa. GA Mo. AR Jas. C. Cowan Son M S W 1 Tx Fa. NC Mo. TX Thomas Cowan Brother M S W 30 NC Laborer Fa NC Mo NC We believe this is our William now married with a one year old son and his brother, Thomas Cowan living with them. Any comments or corrections please. Where do you fit in? Looking forward to your reply. Betty Frazer frazerjr @vci.net

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DMQ.2ACIB/732.1.2 Message Board Post: Apparently from the messages that I have seen and the contact that I have had with Vonietta, we are also related. My Mother was/is Patty Cowan, twin sister of Betty. Their Mother was Mildred Miller. I have taken to looking up relatives on this site after taking a history course at the University of Fairbanks Alaska just for fun, but I'm finding alot more than I thought I would, I can't believe how many relatives I have found. I'd be interested in hearing from you, Please email me. Steve

I am excited to announce the launch of the Selkirkshire Free Census project. This is part of the larger UK Free Census Project - an Internet-based 'free-to-view' database that will enable researchers to view details of UK Censuses between the years 1841 and 1891, especially the ability to search by surname across census years and counties. I am the county coordinator and am sending out an appeal for transcribers for all Selkirkshire parishes. As you know, Selkirkshire is a small county, and only 5 parishes of the 1841 survive. All you need to take part, is a computer and access to a microfilm or microfiche reader. We supply everything else including the film/fiche and the software. This project is a global on-line venture designed for ordinary family historians wherever they are, who would like to make a contribution to our great hobby. If you are interested in learning more, please contact me, Valorie Zimmerman, at [email protected] The UK FreeCEN project: http://freecen.rootsweb.com The Scotland FreeCEN project: http://www.speakeasy.org/~jgribble/scotland.html Thank you, Valorie Cowan Zimmerman Selkirkshire Coordinator Black Diamond, Washington USA http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~valorie/Selkirk-1841-FreeCen/

Tue, 11 Jun 2002 14:15:15 -0400 From: Laura Cowan Cooper To: [email protected] Subject: [COWAN-L] Cowan Surname Info This was sent to me by a friend that has made the records in Scotland talk to her - it has been really interesting to watch her order the FHC films and make them come alive. So I said to her that I could look at them if we knew where the Cowan's had been before Ireland. So she she looked where she got her start on her research and below is what she found on the Cowan surname. In a friend's book of Scottish surnames here's the info on COWAN: A Lowland surname which is thought to be a transliteration of one of several Celtic names; there are no Cowans in the records before about 1560. Candidates are the Irish patronymic O Comhdhain (pronounced Cowan), and the Gaelic patronymic Mac gille chomghain (usually shortened to MacCowan); the etymologies are uncertain. Cowan's Hospital in Stirling was founded in 1639 by John Cowan, a merchant in the town. With such diverse origins, the surname has no particular location within Scotland. ----------------------------------------------- Hey, Ms. Cooper If those two names are the only candidates, then they are both right. Irish "o" and Scottish "Mac" both mean "son of", & it's not uncommon for words to appear with a "gh" in Irish and a "dh" in Scotland. (I also seem to fuzzily recall a "gillie" to be a scottish title, sort of a castle steward or a thane/carl-like rank.) As for the meaning, well I don't have a clue there. I mean, there is the Welsh root "kom-" that is the source of Cambria & Cymry (Wales and Welsh, respectively), and the "bhain"/"ghain" to this amateur etymologist looks related to a few IndoEuropean roots that mean "from" or "living", but you need to talk to real scholar to see if your terms might mean "From Cambria" or "Cambrian". (I happen to favor this, personally, only because also have "Walsh" name in my family tree.) But, if you found those two spellings around 1560, they likely had a common source not long before -- the spelling of the time would have made wide differences in no time. In fact, maybe they did, and other branches of the tree with different spellings have this info. Hope you keep looking into this. I'm curious what the name actually derives from. Thanks. Concludant Felicitations, Khyran Leander Baldwin '[' --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Sign-up for Video Highlights of 2002 FIFA World Cup

Websites for Counties in Ireland: Antrim - http://www.countyantrim.com Armagh - http://www.countyarmagh.com Carlow - http://www.carlowtourism.com Cavan - http://www.countycavan.com Clare - http://www.county-clare.com Cork - http://www.cometocork.com Derry - http://www.derry.net Donegal - http://www.travelireland.org/donegal Down - http://www.countydown.com Dublin - http://www.dublin.ie | http://www.timeout.com/dublin Fermanagh - http://www.countyfermanagh.com Galway - http://www.galway.net | http://www.galway1.ie Kerry - http://www.kerry-insight.com Kildare - http://www.kildare.ie/touristguide/index.asp Kilkenny - http://www.kilkennycraic.com Laois - http://www.laois.ie/tourism.htm Limerick - http://www.visitlimerick.com Louth - http://www.countylouth.com Mayo - http://www.mayococo.ie/ArtsCulture/WhatsOn.asp Meath - http://www.meathtourism.ie Monaghan - http://www.monaghantourism.com Offaly - http://www.offaly.ie/visitoffaly.html Shannon - http://www.shannon-dev.ie/tourism/holidays/act-cycling.asp Sligo - http://www.sligotourism.ie Tipperary - http://tipperary-central.com Tyrone - http://www.countydown.com Waterford - http://www.waterfordcorp.ie/tourism.htm Wexford - http://www.wexfordtourism.com Wicklow - http://www.wicklowtoday.com All counties at http://www.ireland.travel.ie ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Blessings,Ben STREET Sessions, GG G'Son of Adaliza Stewart Cowan,b.1818,GA,USA GGG G'Son of Isaac Cowan,B.1783 ******************************************* Benjamin Street Sessions [email protected] ******************************************* --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Sign-up for Video Highlights of 2002 FIFA World Cup

RootsWeb will be working on their equipment starting yesterday - so if mail doesn't seem prompt, blame it on the upgrade. I guess that it means that they are growing again!!!! They promise no lost messages. <g> So until this upgrade is complete be patient if you are unhappy with the way your list mail or a RootsWeb service is working - it should get better. For the most part - none of you will probably even notice!!!!! Laura Cowan Cooper List Manager

This was sent to me by a friend that has made the records in Scotland talk to her - it has been really interesting to watch her order the FHC films and make them come alive. So I said to her that I could look at them if we knew where the Cowan's had been before Ireland. So she she looked where she got her start on her research and below is what she found on the Cowan surname. In a friend's book of Scottish surnames here's the info on COWAN: A Lowland surname which is thought to be a transliteration of one of several Celtic names; there are no Cowans in the records before about 1560. Candidates are the Irish patronymic O Comhdhain (pronounced Cowan), and the Gaelic patronymic Mac gille chomghain (usually shortened to MacCowan); the etymologies are uncertain. Cowan's Hospital in Stirling was founded in 1639 by John Cowan, a merchant in the town. With such diverse origins, the surname has no particular location within Scotland.

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Hi, Found this online--hope it helps someone! Cyndi in Baltimore SURNAME GIVEN NAME PAGE COMMENTS Cowen Elijah 19 . Cowen James 71 . Cowen Isaac 83 . Cowen Stewart 83 . Cowen George 83 . Cowen Joseph 5 . Russel Thos. J. 47 (George N. Lyle, Agent) Russel Caleb 63 . Russel Andrew 59 . Russel John 59 . Russel Robert W. 73 . Russel John 23 . Stovall David 29 . Index to the 1809 Jackson County Tax Digest INDEX TO THE 1809 TAX DIGEST JACKSON COUNTY, GEORGIA http://www.rootsweb.com/~gajackso/1809taxdigest.htm

Hi again, Incidentally, George rec'd land in Muscogee, GA in the 1827 land lottery and appears on the 1820 Jackson Co, GA census. Cyndi in Baltimore