James Cowan: 1879 - 1934 - Canadian Emigration

[Ian Cowan]

I think that my grandfather, James Cowan, emigrated to Canada around about 1905, returned to Paisley sometime later to marry Margaret Wilson in 1912, the returned to Toronto where my Father, John, was born in 1914. A daughter (Margaret?) was born in Toronto, but wife Margaret died in 1920, and James, John and Margaret (?) returned to Paisley in 1921.

I have been totally unsuccessful in finding shipping records to and from Ontario, apart from a 1905 entry. Can anyone help please?

Also, family lore has it that James worked at the Eastman Kodak factory in Toronto. It is always interesting to discover why things happened at a particular time. So, does anyone know if Kodak had a recruitment drive in Scotland around this period?

Incidentally, James was the father of Jimmy Clews Cowan - my dad's half brother - goalkeeper when Scotland beat England in 1949, when Jimmy was carried off in triumph and the game went down in football history as "Cowan's Wembley".

[rosie17]

Hi is this him James Cowan age 42 carpenter
John age 7
Agnes age 5 address going to is 12 North Street Paisley
Departure Montreal Quebec Canada arrival Glasgow 2 August 1921
Ship Saturnia
Rosie

Welcome to rootschat 

[CaroleW]

Welcome to Rootschat

James Cowan aged 33 occ joiner sailed from Glasgow to St John, New Brunswick on 1.3.1913 - no wife with him

[CaroleW]

Possibility perhaps??

James Cowan aged 34 occ contractor returned to Liverpool from St John, New Brunswick, Canada on 6.1.1912.  No other info shown

[rosie17]

Is this the record in 1905 you have
James Cowan age 26 joiner arrival 3July 1905 Montreal
Ship Mongolian
Rosie

[rosie17]

Is this the death for his wife Margaret Cowan birth year 1890 died 9 th October 1920 York  Ontario
Burial 20/10/1920 Prospect
Rosie

[dbree]

Hi, and Welcome 

I think that he may have been recruited through an Ontario Government programme, but not
specifically for Kodak unless he had a very specialized skill in that business.

Having said that, from Margaret's death and burial record, James gives his address as Mt.
Dennis. Mount Dennis was referred to as Kodak Heights, as a large majority of people who
lived there, worked for Kodak.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Dennis

He gives his address as 15 Chryessa Ave., Mt. Dennis on Margaret's burial record.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ibk/
There are some directories available for that time frame, but for the moment their search feature isn't working for me. Perhaps you'll have better luck. If not, you will have to leaf through. Besides
his name and address they sometimes list the company he would have worked for.
https://sites.google.com/site/onlinedirectorysite/Home/can/on/toronto
And here
http://torontofamilyhistory.org/researching-toronto-ancestors/city-directories/

Cheers,
DB
 

[Ian Cowan]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to reply - information, inspiration and leads to follow.

Rosie17 - Returning on the Saturnia in 1921 seems right.

CaroleW - The 1912 and 1913 sailing dates correspond with coming home to Paisley to get married to Margaret in Paisley in July 1912 and then return to Canada. But slight age discrepancy and why sail from / to New Brunswick and not Quebec?

Rosie17 - 1905 Mongolian is what I have.

Rosie17 - Yes to Margaret's death. The record states that she lived in Ontari for 20 years, so more work to be done.

Dbree- When my father was born in 1914 the family address is 28 Pape Avenue, Toronto. Coincidentally, Pape Avenue is not far from Cowan Avenue! Thank you for deciphering the address on Margaret's burial record.

I still have to find out when Margaret emigrated to Canada - presumably around 1900, aged 10 - and came back to Paisley to marry James then returned to Toronto.

Once again, thanks to one and all.

Ian Cowan

[Rosinish]

Hi Ian,

Rosie17 - Yes to Margaret's death. The record states that she lived in Ontari for 20 years, so more work to be done.

I still have to find out when Margaret emigrated to Canada - presumably around 1900, aged 10 - and came back to Paisley to marry James then returned to Toronto.

You will know who Margaret's parents are from the marriage so may be an idea to check census records for a guide as to when they disappear.

Annie