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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Kirkcudbrightshire => Topic started by: snwood on Thursday 14 May 09 04:27 BST (UK)

Title: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: snwood on Thursday 14 May 09 04:27 BST (UK)
I want to find out about Sproat, Houston, Cowan in Borgue, Kirkcudbrightshire around 1600 to 1800.  Specifically, I want to know about Barbara Houston (born 1746) who married Hugh Sproat (born 1740).  Also, want to find out about Thomas Cowan born 1805  and Robert Cowan born 15 August 1822 in Glasgow
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 14 May 09 22:21 BST (UK)
Hi  :)

I'll try to help. There is a Barbara Houston showing as being baptised in New Abbey, Kirkcudbrightshire on 9 August 1749. Father was Matthew Houston. No others listed from 1740 to 1754.


I'll check up in my MIs for the other names.

If the Cowans were born in Glasgow, it might be best to put a separate request on the Lanarkshire Board

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,102.0.html




Gadget
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 14 May 09 22:25 BST (UK)
The Scotlands People site have 43 baptisms for Houston (and variations) in Borgue in the Old Parish Records to 1854.

It is a pay to view site but very reasonable. Reviewing these baptisms would cost you 2 credits (1 credit = 20p)

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

You could also check out the IGI - the Borgue records are online:

www.familysearch.org

Two Barbara Houston bpts are listed there - one in 1785 and one in 1791


gadget
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 14 May 09 22:30 BST (UK)
Barbara Houston and Andrew Sproat's marriage is listed on the IGI (extracted) (above) for 10 Feb 1767, Borgue.


Gadget
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: Erato on Thursday 14 May 09 22:40 BST (UK)
Not sure from your question how Oregon works in ….

But there is a Robert Cowan in Benton County, Oregon Territory in 1850

Robert Cowan, 27, farmer, b. Scotland
Caroline, 25, Missouri
Mary, 5, Missouri
Emeline, 3, Missouri
James S., 1, O.T. [Oklahoma Territory]
Thomas, 45,  Scotland
Oliver Jeffries, 38, wagon maker, Pennsylvania


EDIT - sorry, meant to say O.T. = Oregon or Oklahoma Territory
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: nickgc on Thursday 14 May 09 23:01 BST (UK)
If the Robert that Erato found is of interest, he shows up in 1860 as "Robert Cowen" with wife and 9 kids in Locust Grove Oregon, Umpqua Co.

Nick
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 14 May 09 23:05 BST (UK)
Back to Borgue, Kirkcudbrightshire -

I've checked through my MIs for Borgue and there are 29 Monumental Inscriptions for Spro(a)t plus a will; 20 for Houstan/en/on; and 4 for Cowan.

Do you have any names to go on besides the ones that you've mentioned. Otherwise it's a lot of transcribing for me  ::)


Gadget
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 14 May 09 23:25 BST (UK)
I've been through the Houston MIs and there seem to be a few Houston/Cowan marriages and one or two Houston/Sproat marriages showing but none of the people you've mentioned.

Do you have the children of Barbara and Hugh in birth order to see if there's a traditional naming pattern discernible?


Gadget
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 14 May 09 23:44 BST (UK)
A similar pattern with the Sproats (as expected given the cross refs!) but nothing definite.

I have the following children's birth/bpts from the IGI:

1762- William (submitted)
1764 - Mary
1767 - Andrew (submitted)
1768 - John (submitted)
1769 - James (submitted)
1772 - Thomas (submitted)
1776 - David (submitted)

Note that they married in Feb 1767

As can be seen, all except Mary are patron submissions which aren't always as accurate as those from the controlled extraction programme. They would need to be checked against the parish records on the Scotland's People site (link already given above) or you could hire the film for Borgue from your nearest Family History Centre (locations given on the Family Search website)


Gadget
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: nickgc on Friday 15 May 09 01:36 BST (UK)
Robert Cowan is apparently dead by 1870, but Caroline "Cowen" age 48  and kids are now in Yoncalla, Douglas Co, Oregon.  She has real estate valued at $10,000, quite a bit for the time.  Also, Thomas "Cowen" age 66 is living with them.

In 1880 they are still in Yoncalla, Caroline's age now given as 60.  Son James and family next door.


Here is a Douglas County Historical Society treatment on this early Oregon family:  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ordchs//Selected_Histories.htm

Nick
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: nickgc on Friday 15 May 09 01:51 BST (UK)
RC froze up for a while after my last post...  Go to Worldconnect and look for "Robert Cowan" with spouse Caroline.  Lots of info, some stating that Caroline was nee Jones. 

Most interesting:

p. 633 Robert Cowan, a native of Scotland, emigrated to Missouri, where he
married, and joined the Oregon companies of 1847. In the following year he
settled in the Umpqua Valley, Yoncalla Precinct, and with the exception of Levi
Scott and sons, was the first white settler in Douglas County. "His cabin
stood near the old trail which the pioneer gold-seekers of 1848 and 1849
travelled, and is remembered by many as the last mark of civilization north of
the Sacramento Valley." He was killed by a splinter from a tree which he was
felling Mar 9, 1865
. Or. Statesman, March 20, 1865

(from:  Author Milne, Frances W., Mrs. Title Roster of 1847 emigrants to Oregon : a
genealogical study of their families / by Mrs. Frances W. Milne, compiled ca
1970-1995 while she lived ca NW 1450 Deane St, Pullman WA. Imprint [1995?],
then ca 2005 manuscript photocopied into 4 volumes by Kay & Warren L. Forsythe
and by ca.2005 archived at Oregon Historical Society Research Library,
Washington State University Libraries, and Clackamas County [Oregon] Historical
Society Library.)

Robert's and Thomas's parents said to be (IGI submitted) Alexander Cowan & Barbara Wilkinson.

Nick
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: snwood on Saturday 16 May 09 09:19 BST (UK)
Thanks very much for the surprisingly earnest attempt to help in my research.  I have physically talked this week to a living relative in Yoncalla who is "getting on" in age and she said to hurry up with my research.  She has no computer but has written numerous items and one book  so she will be very pleased with the sort of information you folks can come up with.  I am sure she knows nothing about Thomas and Roberts parents.  If Alexander Cowan and Barbara Wlkinson can be further researched in Scotland, that would be great.  I will be responding in more detail when I sort everything out but want you to know I greatly appreciate this!  Oregon State is having its Sesquicentennial this year and I have been involved in some activities and meetings.  You should know that the Cowans are a big deal in Oregon.  Not many came all the way from Scotland to be the first white people to settle in this Umpqua Valley.  Especially when Robert and Caroline  had the first white child born here.  Their neighbors were Applegates and Scotts.  If you read Oregon history you will realize how important these families were in establishing the state.  One thing I mentioned to the relative referenced above was the following.  Thomas and Robert Cowan are brothers yet one is born in1805 and one in 1822.  I told her this seems unusually unless there were two different mothers, or they really were father and son.  She looked at me with amazement then said I never thought of it!  I would like to get tis right for her and posterity.  Steve
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: nickgc on Saturday 16 May 09 11:25 BST (UK)
Quote
one is born in1805 and one in 1822.  I told her this seems unusual

Not that unusual for a time when women married young and there was no foolproof birth control.  I had a 2x grt gma who had 15 children between 1853 and 1879 - a span of 26+ years.

Important update:  Please ignore the likelihood of Alexander Cowan and Barbara Wilkinson being the parents of your Robert.  I did some additional checking, and some complete idiot found a christening for a Robert Cowan in June 1822, and stupidly assumed it was the same person... it is a little difficult for someone to be born in August and christened more than 2 months before the fact.   I don't want to be the idiot that is responsible for adding to something like this.

Nick
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: Gadget on Saturday 16 May 09 12:06 BST (UK)
I'll do some more checking in Kirkcudbrightshire over the weekend.

To add to Nick's comment re birth intervals, my 3 x great grandparents from Kirkcudbrightshire had their first child in 1809 and their last in 1833. The first child then had her first in 1830 and her last in 1856.


Gadget
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: Gadget on Saturday 16 May 09 14:39 BST (UK)
Hi

Again to add to Nick's comments about Robert & Thomas  Cowan and their parents.

IGI (extracted):

Marriage 22 March 1822, Innerleithen, Peebles - Alexander Cowan and Barbara Wilkinson

Baptisms to children of Alexander and Barbara

2 June 1822, Temple, Midlothian - Robert
22 Oct 1826 Temple, Midlothian - William
19 April 1840 Temple, Midlothian - Helen

These are all IGI extracted records.

1841 Census

Castleton, Borthwick, Midlothian
Parish - 674 ED 5 page 12

Cowan
Alexander, 40, Ag lab
Barbara, 40
William, 14
Jane, 11
Alison, 6
Helen, 1
All b. Midlothian

Note that in the 1841 the ages of those of 15 and over were grouped into 5 year age bands so that Alexander and Barbara would be between 40 and 44

The  most likely entry for Robert is one in Carrington (Parish 675 ED 1 Page 9). He is an Ag Lab and aged 15-19.

Given the ages of Alexander and Barbara, it would seem impossible for Thomas and this Robert to be brothers.


Gadget
Title: Re: Cowan From Scotland to Oregon
Post by: snwood on Tuesday 26 February 13 10:46 GMT (UK)
Well it has been 4 years since I last heard from Gaget and others about Robert and Thomas Sproat who settled in Oregon's Umpqua Valley.  All the inpu I got was accurate.  Still, I have parents for them.  Has anything changed in the data bases over these years to break down this wall?  ???