Author Topic: Oscar Cowan, Rockland, Maine, 1934 to 1941  (Read 703 times)

Offline oldohiohome

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Oscar Cowan, Rockland, Maine, 1934 to 1941
« on: Saturday 13 October 18 14:07 BST (UK) »
Could someone see if they can find any other mention of an Oscar Cowan, who is on the records in Rockland, Maine, from 1934 to 1941? Here is what I have:

1940 Census, Rockland, Knox County, Maine
renting for $10 at 7 Pink St

Oscar Cowan 58, head, divorced, 6 years of school, born in Maine, parents also, lived in Rockland in 1935, is working at public work, 30 hours a week [but scratched out, I think because the column was not for public work], 200 weeks out of work at the time [but scratched out and code V3 entered instead], occupation: laborer at a brook project, worked 52 weeks last year for $528

Oliver Abbott 31, son, married but apart from mate, 6 years of school, born in Maine, unknown where he lived in 1935, is not working, is seeking work, 2 weeks out of work, occupation: seaman on a barge, worked 52 weeks last year for $600

Also in the household is a housekeeper and her son. There is no indication of who provided the information for this household.

[Note: I have no idea why Oscar and Oliver, "father and son" have different surnames.]

Oscar is also listed in the Rockland City Directories for these years:
1934: 43 Lime St
1935 and 1936: 43 Lime, St
1941: 7 Pink St

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And here is where I have looked so far:

Oscar Cowan is not found in:
Maine censuses, 1900 to 1930.
Maine, Marriages, 1771-1907, indexes at familysearch.org
Maine, Births and Christenings, 1739-1900, indexes at familysearch.org
Social Security Applications, indexed at ancestry.com
Thomaston Village Cemetery (Knox County Maine) index cards, 1700's to 2007, images at familysearch.org
Thomaston Village Cemetery and Elm Grove Cemetery (Knox County Maine)  inscriptions, 1700s-2007, images at familysearch.org

not listed in:
1921, 1931, Rockland City Directories
1947, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1961, or 1962 City Directories

There is no death record for Oscar Cowan in Rockland, Knox County, Maine, from 1941 to 1960. (Email from city clerk's office, June 2012).

Thank you,
Ed H

Offline jorose

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Re: Oscar Cowan, Rockland, Maine, 1934 to 1941
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 13 October 18 16:44 BST (UK) »
A possible link?

A Charles O Abbott, seaman, is giving his birthplace as Thomaston, Maine in 1943 (about the right age for Oliver Abbott)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-994K-K9LW-N?i=303&cc=1923888

A Charles O Abbott is in Rockland, Maine, in 1930:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMD9-95T
This family are interesting.  According to the dates of "first marriage", they've only been married 4 years.  So is "Cleveland C Abbott" not the father of the children?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HM-2MCF
 - in WWI a George Oscar Abbott, wife Lizzie, was in the Knox Co area.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MR3H-FJ6
 - and in 1910 a George O. Abbott appears with wife Lizzie F and two children including Charles O.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RY6-S43B?cc=1803978
 - death of another young girl in 1913

I haven't been able to pin them down in the 1920 census yet...
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline RJ137

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Re: Oscar Cowan, Rockland, Maine, 1934 to 1941
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 13 October 18 17:53 BST (UK) »
A possible link?

A Charles O Abbott, seaman, is giving his birthplace as Thomaston, Maine in 1943 (about the right age for Oliver Abbott)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-994K-K9LW-N?i=303&cc=1923888

A Charles O Abbott is in Rockland, Maine, in 1930:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMD9-95T
This family are interesting.  According to the dates of "first marriage", they've only been married 4 years.  So is "Cleveland C Abbott" not the father of the children?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HM-2MCF
 - in WWI a George Oscar Abbott, wife Lizzie, was in the Knox Co area.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MR3H-FJ6
 - and in 1910 a George O. Abbott appears with wife Lizzie F and two children including Charles O.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RY6-S43B?cc=1803978
 - death of another young girl in 1913

I haven't been able to pin them down in the 1920 census yet...


Here is some more bits and pieces that seem to support your theory.

I think George O, G.O., Charles O, Oscar (Cowan?)  are all the same person.

Marriage 1905 to Lizzie F.Tilden: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZ3Q-RBQ

Son Wilbert birth 1911: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24X-G17B

Lizzie gets married to Cleveland in 1925.
Marriage: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCJ8-HN7

Cleveland's WWI: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HM-KG18

Offline oldohiohome

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Re: Oscar Cowan, Rockland, Maine, 1934 to 1941
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 13 October 18 18:04 BST (UK) »
Thank you both, I'm still putting the Abbotts together.

I found this as well, which could be Oliver Abbott of Rockland, marrying in 1939. Both he and his bride are listed in 1940 as living apart from their spouse:

Charles O Abbott, of Thomaston Maine, married Ruth P Clark of Vinalhaven, ME on 25 September 1939, somewhere in Maine

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCJX-Z14

And here is his wife Ruth with family in Vinalhaven in 1940. She is "married, living apart from her husband", same as Oliver Abbott in Rockland.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMMJ-R2B

----
The next step I think, is to see if Lizzie's first husband George Oscar died or they divorced. If neither, then he could be Oscar Cowan in Rockland.


Offline oldohiohome

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Re: Oscar Cowan, Rockland, Maine, 1934 to 1941
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 13 October 18 18:23 BST (UK) »
George O Abbott's age on both the 1905 marriage to Lizzie Tilden and in the 1910 census matches "Oscar Cowan's" age in 1940.

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And it looks like Lizzie Tilden's first husband George O was alive and well in 1940.

A George O Abbott marries Evelyn B Howard on 23 October 1942, both of Rockland, Maine
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCNB-X4J

Which makes him the most likely suspect to be "Oscar Cowan" in the original post.

My original theory was that "Oscar Cowan" was my wife's grandfather William Page, of Bangor and Brewer Maine. His father's name was Oscar and his mother's maiden name was Cowan. It seemed like a good alias to use--I would have.:) He left his wife in 1927 and no one in recent times can find a trace of him.

But I think there is enough evidence that this Oscar Cowan was George Oscar Abbott. He is much closer to home and is identified as Oliver's father, which he actually would be.

Thank you all--one mystery cleared up, hopefully, though not in the way I had hoped.

I might post an inquiry looking for William Paige/Page separately someday, if so I will cross link them if I remember.

Ed H