I'm interested in anyone else's perspective on this person. I found his birth 1867 - 882 - 133 Homer Cowan, was born at 7am on the 22nd of August, 1867 at Maxwelltown, Dumfries, Scotland. Mother - Janet Cowan. Registered as Illegitimate. Next, he was listed on the 1871 census as Homer Hannay 1871 census Civil Parish of Troqueer, Parlimentary Burgh of Dumfries, Police Burgh of Maxwelltown, Town of Maxwelltown No. of Schedule: 67 29 Church St. inhabited Margaret Howat Head Wid 50 b. County of Dum., Dum. 2 rooms with one or more windows Mary dau unmarried 20 wollen weaver b. Kirkcudbright, Troqueer Samuel son unmarried 15 Mill worker b. Kirkcudbright, Troqueer John son 13 Mill Worker b. Kirkcudbright, Troqueer Homer Hannay boarder 3 b. Kirkcudbright, Troqueer Then, on the 1881 census Dwelling: Stirling Road Census Place: St Ninians, Stirling, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203544 GRO Ref Volume 488-1 EnumDist 7 Page 40 Marr Age Sex Birthplace John MC INTYRE M 32 M Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Head Occ: Woollen Winder Mary MC INTYRE M 28 F Gallowayshire Maxwellton Rel: Wife Thomas MC INTYRE 5 M St Ninians, Stirling, Scotland Rel: Son Occ: Scholar Margaret MC INTYRE 4 F St Ninians, Stirling, Scotland Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar John MC INTYRE 2 M St Ninians, Stirling, Scotland Rel: Son Samuel MC INTYRE 9 m M St Ninians, Stirling, Scotland Rel: Son Samuel HOWAT U 22 M Gallowayshire Maxwellton Rel: Brother By Law Occ: Power Loom Turner William HOWAT U 20 M Gallowayshire Maxwellton Rel: Brother By Law Occ: Power Loom Turner Homer COWAN 13 M Gallowayshire Maxwellton Rel: Wifes Cousin Occ: Scholar Finally, he died April 23, 1907 at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, ae 40 yrs., engine keeper, single, of cardiac atheroma, son of John Cowan, confectioner (deceased), & Janet Cowan, maiden surname Hannah (deceased). If his mother, Janet, was a Cowan at his birth, then why was he listed as a Hannay on the 1871 census. Why wouldn't he be living with his mother on the 1871 census. Could she have died? But, then on the 1881 census he is listed as a Cowan. What would cause the change. The Mary McIntyre on the 1881 census is Mary Cowan (Howat) McIntyre. Her mother is the Margaret Howat listed as head on the 1871 census, and is Margaret Kennedy (Ross) Howat. She is the widow of James Howat who is the son of another James Howat and Mary Cowan. Thus it appears that the relationship between Homer Cowan and Mary McIntyre would be distant, but still cousins. Mary Cowan, wife of James Howat is possibly the Mary Cowan b. Dec. 3, 1786 in Torthorwald, Dumfriesshire dau. to a Homer Cowan, which could explain the naming of the cousin Homer Cowan, and also Mary Cowan (Howat) McIntyre had a brother named Homer Cowan Howat. Many thanks, Marc Archer Flint, MI ==== DUMFRIES-GALLOWAY Mailing List ====