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Independent Islands => Isle of Man => Topic started by: History Lives on Sunday 24 November 19 15:47 GMT (UK)
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Hi there, I'm looking for some assistance tracing the parents of William James Cowin, who was born circa 1844 (according to later census records). He moved from the IOM to Birkenhead, Wirral and married Isabella Cubbon. Census records state he was born in Douglas, IOM. Unsure whether they married on IOM or mainland though she was also Manx.
I think I have found earlier census records from when he was living on the island with his grandparents, here is the one for 1861, though there is also one for 1851 and 1871 too. However, none of these records list William's father or mother, and I am struggling to bridge this gap and find the generation between James Cowin and William James.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have been stuck on this for quite a while.
James
Cowin
Head
Married
Male
70
1791
Gardener
Isle of Man, Isle of Man
Catharine
Cowin
Wife
Married
Female
69
1792
Gardeners Wife
Isle of Man, Isle of Man
Eleanor
Cowin
Daughter
Unmarried
Female
30
1831
Sempstress
Isle of Man, Isle of Man
Jane
Craine
Daughter
Married
Female
25
1836
Stone Masons Wife
Isle of Man, Isle of Man
William Jas
Cowin
Grandson
Unmarried
Male
17
1844
Plasterer
Isle of Man, Isle of Man
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Could this be their marriage
Sep 1878 Birkenhead 8a 375
William Cowin
Isabella Cubbin
James McCrink
Mary Ann McLeavy
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Bit of info online
William Cowin age 34 labourer Wood St Birkenhead
son of John Cowin engine driver
married 9 Jul 1878 Methodist Chapel
Isabella age 32 Oxton Rd Birkenhead
daughter of William Cubbin joiner deceased
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Thanks Millipede, I will see what more I can dig out with this info.
It seems that some of William's children were born several years before 1878, so I think Isabella was his second wife. Looks like a William Cowin also married a Mary Cowell (possible first wife)
I'll see if I can find any info about John Cowin (engine driver)
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Catherine (1875), John James (1876), Mary A (1878) all have Mother's Maiden Name of Cowell.
William (1880) has a mmn of Cubbin.
Mary Ann Cowin died in Birkenhead Registration District in March qtr 1878, age 38.
So, it was a very quick marriage? ;D
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It seems Mary Ann Cowell and William Cowin married in 1872 in Birkenhead.
Yes, it seems he remarried very soon (6 months) after Mary Ann's death; not very romantic :/
As for William's father John, who his marriage record states is an engine driver, I'm having trouble locating him
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Is it possible Elinor Cowin 49 unmarried in 1871 was his mother :-\
It could be William gave his grandfather James as father but I can't see where the engine driver bit comes in.
Would be helpful to know what father he put for his first marriage.
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William also put down "John Cowin, Engine Driver" as his father on his first marriage on 23rd of November 1872, also in Birkenhead.
Did a keyword search on Findmypast and not having any luck so far
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Is it possible Elinor Cowin 49 unmarried in 1871 was his mother :-\
This is worth looking at
James & Catherine (nee Collister) baptised the following daughters, do you have any evidence of them having sons and when did these daughters marry
Mary 11 Jun 1815
Eleanor 11 Mar 1821
Cath 18 Jan 1824
Jane 10 Apr 1831
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William also put down "John Cowin, Engine Driver" as his father on his first marriage on 23rd of November 1872, also in Birkenhead.
Did a keyword search on Findmypast and not having any luck so far
Engine Driver could mean Stationary Engine Driver/Operator, as well as the obvious.
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May be correct? Is "machine labourer at mines" too much of a stretch to engine driver?
John Cowin Head Widower Male 35 1816 Machine Laburer At Mines Isle of Man, Isle of Man
Elenor Cowin Daughter - Female 9 1842 Scholar -
William Cowin Son - Male 8 1843 Scholar -
Catherine Cowin Daughter - Female 5 1846 - -
Thomas Cowin Son - Male 2 1849 - -
Elenor Choule Servant Unmarried Female - - House Servant -
John Cowin Head Married Male 45 1816 Lead Miner Isle of Man, Isle of Man
Ellenor Cowin Wife Married Female 29 1832 Miners Wife Isle of Man, Isle of Man
William Cowin Son Unmarried Male 18 1843 Miner Isle of Man, Isle of Man
Catherine Cowin Daughter Unmarried Female 15 1846 Servant Isle of Man, Isle of Man
Thomas Edward Cowin Son - Male 13 1848 Scholar Isle of Man, Isle of Man
Margaret Cowin Daughter - Female 4 1857 - Isle of Man, Isle of Man
Elizabeth Cowin Daughter - Female 1 1860 - Isle of Man, Isle of Man
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Are we looking at the wrong family when William James is with grandparents on the census. :-\
William's marriage only has him as William, does he have the middle name James at any time on census or official documents
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Are we looking at the wrong family when William James is with grandparents on the census. :-\
William's marriage only has him as William, does he have the middle name James at any time on census or official documents
Hi Rosie, seems like I've mixed my William up with William James Cowin who is living with his grandparents. He was always simply William on later census records when he was living in Birkenhead.
Seems my William's father may be the John Cowin from the above census records but not sure.
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The William Cowin with parents John & Eleanor appears with them in 1851 & 1861
Possible marriage for him :-\
07 May 1863 at Lonan
William Cowin (Single) - father John Cowin
Margaret Cowle - Father John Norris Cowle
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As he was at Laxey (probably the Great Laxey Mines, near Lady Isabella, the largest working water wheel in the world!) there would be no mobile steam engines.
Except a small, narrow-gauge service, now running again!
Very few steam engines of any sort, as coal had to be imported.
http://www.laxeyminerailway.im/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxey_Mine
The IOM Steam Railway ran in the south & west of the island.
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As he was at Laxey (probably the Great Laxey Mines, near Lady Isabella, the largest working water wheel in the world!) there would be no mobile steam engines.
Except a small, narrow-gauge service, now running again!
Very few steam engines of any sort, as coal had to be imported.
http://www.laxeyminerailway.im/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxey_Mine
The IOM Steam Railway ran in the south & west of the island.
I think it may be possible though that William might describe a mining machine as an "Engine", though perhaps not. What exactly is a mining machine?
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Great Laxey Mines consisted of 3 shafts:
the Engine Shaft (1820), The Welsh Shaft (1840) and the Dumbell Shaft (late 1850s).
Each shaft needed its own winding house to lift the mined ore to the surface.
This was powered by a waterwheel, with the water being carried down a long pipe from a cistern on the hillside above. Later a water turbine replaced the waterwheel and a machine house was built above the engine house for it.
Men had to climb up and down a series of wooden ladders at the beginning and end of their shift. At 1800 feet this could take well over an hour. The shaft slopes at an angle 12˚ from the vertical so it was impossible to replace the ladders with a winding cage. Instead, the mine owners invested in a water powered machine referred to as a ‘man engine’ A heavy wooden rod ran down the depth of the mine shaft moving on roller wheels fixed to the shaft walls Wooden standing platforms were attached to the rod allowing miners to step on and off at the different levels. This reduced the time needed to reach the work face or surface by half.
As I said before: no coal on the Isle of Man; so no steam engines! ;D
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Have you climbed the waterwheel KG ;D
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This is the marriage record of William's parents I believe. Elizabeth died and John Cowin remarried to Ellenor Coole in 1852. I'm having trouble reading what is written under "condition", could someone clarify whether this says "a labouring man in lawful circumstances"?
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I think it says " a seafaring man ". The other part I read as " in low circumstances " and I believe applies to the bride.
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I think it says " a seafaring man ". The other part I read as " in low circumstances " and I believe applies to the bride.
do you think this is in reference to financial position or something else?
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Have you climbed the waterwheel KG ;D
Oh yes! Many times ;D ;D
Just have to mind your head on the way down; but magnificent views.
I've also walked the Laxey Mines trail to see Engine House, Compressor House and Machine House as well as going inside the Old Adit.
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I think Elizabeth is described as "in low circumstances" and "a servant maid"?
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I've never seen any comments like that on a certificate before goodness.
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The William Cowin with parents John & Eleanor appears with them in 1851 & 1861
Possible marriage for him :-\
07 May 1863 at Lonan
William Cowin (Single) - father John Cowin
Margaret Cowle - Father John Norris Cowle
Have you eliminated this William from being the son of John and Elizabeth/Eleanor
Have you climbed the waterwheel KG ;D
Oh yes! Many times ;D ;D
Just have to mind your head on the way down; but magnificent views.
I've also walked the Laxey Mines trail to see Engine House, Compressor House and Machine House as well as going inside the Old Adit.
It is a lovely area. ;D
Old Adit was a bit muddy for me wearing sandals. Getting past the bit on the wheel where you have to mind your head is like doing a limbo dance. Best avoided when school parties are there.
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It is a lovely area. ;D
Old Adit was a bit muddy for me wearing sandals. Getting past the bit on the wheel where you have to mind your head is like doing a limbo dance. Best avoided when school parties are there.
When I first moved to IOM, I did look at a rental property in Agneash - that's on the road that goes past the wheel! Rather a long walk to the bus stop in Laxey ;D
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It is a lovely area. ;D
Old Adit was a bit muddy for me wearing sandals. Getting past the bit on the wheel where you have to mind your head is like doing a limbo dance. Best avoided when school parties are there.
When I first moved to IOM, I did look at a rental property in Agneash - that's on the road that goes past the wheel! Rather a long walk to the bus stop in Laxey ;D
If I remember the roads were quite narrow too. :)