John Rowatt

[marguerite70]

Hi all
My great grandfather was born in Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire in 1850.  I cant find any mention of him after the 1861 Census.   He came out to Australian in 1882.  There is quite a gap there.  Any suggestions??

Dot

[greeneyedgirl]

Hi, I wonder are you sure about the arrival of John being in 1882? I ask as I have come across only 2 John Rowatts arriving in Australia, both in 1878. One is quite interesting as he arrives with who appears to be his sister Margaret.

John Rowatt-Margaret Rowatt
born 1850-born 1852
age 28-     age 26
ship: Robert Lees
departed London, England
arrived Moreton Bay,Queensland
date 2 April 1878
*is this a possibility??

It is possible that John may have just missed the census on the night it was taken. I checked 1871 & 1881 censuses for him in United Kingdom with no luck.If he sailed from London he may have been moving around a fair bit before he left for Australia. If I can help in any other way let me know. Kim

** John born 19 May 1850 Cumbernauld, Dunbarton
*** James Rowat & Mary MacKinlay married 24 March 1837 Cumbernauld,Dunbarton

[marguerite70]

Thankyou for your reply Kim.   I have seen that entry before, but ignored it as I didn't think John was married when he came out.  Also, I thought there was an infant that travelled with them.  I didn't dream that maybe it was his sister.  He did have a sister 2 yrs younger.  Wow!  When you say that it appears to be his sister , how did you find that out?



Kind Regards
Dot

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[doddsie4]

     Perhaps this is them in 1871 and 1881...

     1871 at So Muirhead, Cumbernauld.
     James Rowat, 56, Cotton Weaver, b Cumbernauld
     Mary (wife)     56, Cotton Winder,  b Kilsyth.
     William           25, Limestone Labourer, b Cumbernauld.
     Margaret        23, Cotton Weaver,        b Cumbernauld.
     Agnes            17, Cotton Weaver,        b Cumbernauld.
     Alexander       14, Cotton Weaver,        b Cumbernauld.

     Note: James Rowat is listed as Jams Rowat, so if you were looking for James perhaps this is why you couldn't find him.

     1881 at Main Street, Cumbernauld.
     James Rowatt [Spelt with two "T"s] 66, Cotton Winder, b Kilsyth.    [I think he was actually born in Cumbernauld]
     Mary, wife,      66, Cotton Winder, b Kilsyth.
     James,            7,  GRANDSON, b Cumbernauld.

     In 1881, none of their children are living in the same house.
            -----     -----

     Dates of birth (or christening dates ?)of some children.    These are on Scotlands People, OPR records.

     James Rowat  15 April 1838.
     Mary              16 Aug 1840.
     Robert           26 Mar 1843.
     William             3 Aug 1845.
     Margaret          8 Aug 1847.
     John               19 May 1850.

     The above are all Old Parish Register records.

     Agnes Rowat    1854
     Alexander Rowat 1857

     These are also on Scotland People but are not OPR's.     All these children were born at Cumbernauld to James Rowat and Mary McKinlay.       

                              Hope this helps a little bit,
                                                                     Brian
     

[marguerite70]

Hi Kim
I made the mistake of typing in my email address and the moderator deleted it.  I am not sure if the complete posting would have also been deleted or not.
I thanked you for your reply and wondered how you found that John and Margaret were siblings?  If they are, it certainly puts another perspective out there.

Cheers
Dot

[marguerite70]

Yes Brian, that is John Rowatt's family.  Thankyou

Dot

[greeneyedgirl]

Hi Dot,  I cannot be 100% sure of them being brother and sister. I did find a John Rowatt marrying an Annie Elizabeth Bryant in Orange, NSW in 1882 and dying in 1923 in the same place. Of the death it says his parents were James & Mary, so I am assuming that this is your John Rowatt.

I located a marriage for a Margaret Rowatt in 1916 in Perth to a Arthur H Green. There is no way of knowing if she is related to John unless you get the complete marriage cert.

I also checked Scotland & England/Wales for any marriages for John Rowatt to a Margaret or anyone else and could find none that would fit so I am assuming that the John & Margaret may be relatives. Hope something helps, Kim

[loobylooayr]

Hi Dot,
I've also had a look for John Rowatt on the 1871 Census both north and south of the border and have had no luck.
I haven't looked at the shipping list of the Robert Lees so can't comment in whether the John and Margaret Rowatt listed by Kim are brother and sister. If it is then Margaret Rowatt knocked some years off her age to travel (not unheard of  , many folk got ages wrong or were economical with the truth). However the Margaret onboard the Robert Lees in 1878 is 26. Margaret Rowatt of Cumbernauld would have been 30 years old.
You thought the couple were travelling with a child . If so what was his/her name please?

Looby

[loobylooayr]

A quick update, Dot 
If that shipping record is that of your John Rowatt , then I'm cautiously  99% sure that the Margaret he is travelling with is not his sister.
Did a free check on Scotlands People - there is a Margaret Rowat with year of birth 1847 dies in Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire in 1872. She is recorded as age 25.
As James Rowat and Mary McKinlay's daughter Margaret Rowat is the only woman with that name/year of birth on the 1871 Census in Dunbartonshire , there is a very good chance the death is hers. The original death registration can be viewed on Scotlands People's site for a small charge and this would confirm Margaret's parentage and obviously rule her out as the woman John Rowatt travels to Australia with.

Looby