Perhaps this post will help explain the relationship between the Londonderry Cowans and their connection to County Down. We decided that the last day in Northern Ireland should be devoted to a drive from Belfast over to the Ards and a visit to Mount Stewart, ancestral home of Alexander Stewart and his wife Mary Cowan followed by the short ferry trip from Portaferry to Strangford and a leisurely drive through the Mourne mountains ending up that night just outside of Dublin. We arrived Mount Stewart around ten, parked the car and wandered up to the big house just to learn that it did not open until 12:00. The gift shop was open as was the tea room but since it was Sunday the house did not open to the public until noon. We were a bit depressed because our schedule was tight and waiting for two hours was not part of the program. I struck up a conversation with the lady at the entrance desk and told her we were related to the folks who built this place and it was a shame we were not going to be able to see it. She disappeared for a couple of minutes and when she returned she was with the house manager, a young girl who was in charge of the entire property. She asked if we would like a private tour of the house and after thinking about it for about two nanoseconds said "hell yes" For the next hour she took us all through the house and we received a grand tour. She even explained that the beautiful set of china in the tall corner cabinet was that of Mary Cowan and had been in the Cowan family for generations. If you look on page 4 of the "Discover Mount Stewart" guide published by The National Trust you will see a picture of the china. The pattern consists of an impressive crest containing the St. Andrew's cross, the flag of Scotland. They may have lived in Ireland, but they were Scots. Alexander Stewart came from Presbyterian Scottish planter stock. When he married Mary Cowan (youngest daughter of Alderman John Cowan of Derry), the sister of Robert Cowan (the guy from Bombay, her older brother), her hugh fortune allowed the family to move from Donegal to County Down. He was described as "a man of polite and pleasing manners, a clear and comprehensive understanding and principles truely liberal in politics and religion." Just how did Mary Cowan come into this pile of money? Laura, you provided some of the best information on the Stewart-Cowan relationship by finding the two films from the LDS #0908972, and 0908973 titled Stewart Family records which are the writings of the Rev. Samuel Stone to Mary Cowans son Robert Stewart, Lord Londonderry. I have written extensively about these two films. Remember that Alderman John Cowan, merchant of Derry was married to a Stewart and his daughter married a Stewart. Robert Cowan son of Alderman John Cowan made his money while employed by the East India Company and when he died it was to pass to his younger brother William. Problem was, William died in India at almost the same time Sir Robert died in England. This left the entire fortune to sister Mary who received it after a protracted legal battle. One good thing about legal battles is that they produce lots of written records. Lucky again! The marriage agreement between Alexander Stewart and Mary Cowan is one of the most beautiful documents I have ever seen. Written on some sort of animal skin it is as clear now as it ever was and the wax seals are bright red and still intact. We held it in our hands and it made us feel rich! The connection to Stirling is an interesting one and the Stirling Cowans are well documented because of a gentleman named John Cowan who was Dean of the Merchant Gild and was the Cowan who began the merchant tradition in Scotland by providing goods to the royal family at Stirling Castle. There is a book that details these relationships but I have never made it available because I was not sure our Cowans were part of the Stirling-Londonderry-Va. Cowans until now. It is: The Stirling Merchant Gild and Life of John Cowan(e), Founder of Cowan's Hospital in Stirling, David B. Morris, Town Clerk, Stirling, Jamieson and Munro, 1919 There are two know copies of this book outside of Scotland and they are both in my library. Perhaps it is time to release this information to those interested or related. Regards, Robert Cowan Merchant