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Thanks Maureen. With the help of New Zealand Roots Chat members I found that my first instinct of James McGowan and bride was wrong and have identified James Ingram McGowan and wife Mary Jane Robinson from Armagh, Ireland as the true contenders. So, the plasterer and his wife from Kerry Castle are no longer our viable family members.

Thanks for your help,
Alleson

Hello Jean and Lu,

Wow! Jean, I believe these are my children's ancestors. I could not find the one 1901 census with Thomas, a wife, and a 2 year old daughter, but I quickly found a Canadian census (love Quebec as they give so much information) of Edward, Annie, and Morris. They immigrated in 1890 and he was b. Aug 12, 1975 in New Zealand. He is Episcopal and a mechanic. Interestingly, he lists his heritage as Irish not Scottish like James Ingram.

I will look again at the Irish censuses on the weekend. And I will look into contacting Christchurch Archives. I cannot imagine you being out of pocket to order records. 

AMAZING AND THANK YOU:D

PS I would say from the few Northern Irish censuses I have seen that the majority of the women are MARY JANE:)

Thanks so much,
Alleson

Ambly, you are such a good historian/story teller, how fortunate for me get this benefit.

I have added these candidates onto my tree, including the brother John Magowan b. in New Zealand and I downloaded the 1901/1911 Ireland censuses. For better searching properties I like to see all the possibilites and can always delete if proven wrong.

By 1905 James Ingram had a sizable plot of land in Saskatchewan and I think that family farm just got sold this century. I guess a farmer (as he possibly started on the New Zealand farm) learns to be any occupation needed: a one size does all, hence the mechanic.

Nothing is exact and I need to stop trying to justify an 1894 immigration to Canada to an 1897 marriage in Ireland.  Crazy making. Maybe they were married in Canada and then again in Ireland.

Thanks for all your help.
Alleson

Hi again...

Just playing around with the Ireland census info. All guesswork so take it with a grain of salt. :-)

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I reckon the Mary Jane ROBINSON of Drumnacanvy (Carrowbrack, Armagh) is the mother-in-law of your James Ingram McGOWAN

Here is her 1868 marriage to Thomas ROBINSON. Mentions the respective fathers, which is helpful.

Thomas ROBINSON to Mary Jane ENGLAND
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGZT-554

The 1911 census mentions that she has had ten children. Most of them can be found on the FamilySearch website, including a Mary Jane ROBINSON who (I think) was the wife of your James Ingram McGOWAN.

Unfortunately FamilySearch says Mary Jane ROBINSON's birth date was 10 April 1876 which disagrees with the 1901 Canadian census. But the same Canadian census also has what I think is the wrong birthdate for your James Ingram McGOWAN...so who knows.

Like I said, just playing around. Grain of salt :-)

Regards
Beg

I just starting looking into Family Search, what a great website. Thanks!!!

The only immigration or emigration record that seemed remotely familiar was "the plasterer." Again, I don't think James Ingram Magowan/McGowan's father was the plasterer. As James Ingram was always a farmer, I think his father was a farmer.

I could not find Mary or Mary Jane McGowan emigrating from NZ back to Ireland or James Ingram. I guess the best hope is waiting for Mary Jane's probate. I am curious--if Mary died in Ireland why would her probate be in NZ?

James Mcgown, "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973"
Name:    James Mcgown
Event Type:    Immigration
Event Date:    29 Aug 1874
Event Place:    Canterbury, New Zealand
Gender:    Male
Age:   
Marital Status:   
Nationality:    Lanarkshire
Occupation:    Plasterer
Birth Year (Estimated):   
Shipping Company:   
Ship Name:    Cathcart
Departure Port:   
Departure Place:   
Departure Date:    1874
Arrival Port:    Canterbury
Arrival Place:    Canterbury
Digital Folder Number:   004412016
Image Number:    00024

Thanks for all the hints and help