Mark Cowie
Mary Gray (Cowey) Broomfield
The home of John and Jane Cowey until their passing. Their son, Mark, lived here until his tragic fall from the roof of his barn. The bricks are the original bricks.
The barn.Monday, September 8, 2008
September 8, 1840 (part 2)
Mark Cowie The barn.
Sptember 8, 1840 (part 1)
John Cowey
Jane (Gray) Cowey and her daughter, Mary Gray Cowey
John Cowey and his eldest son's daughter, Margaret
Robert Semple Cowie
John Campbell Cowie
It was 168 years ago, on September 8, 1840, that John and Jane arrived in Colborne, Upper Canada, with their five children. Unfortunately, we have yet to find a photo of the eldest son, James.
Friday, September 5, 2008
A New Beginning
On May 29, 1840, John and Jane Cowey, along with their five children, set sail from Leith, Scotland bound for a new life in British North America. They eventually arrived at the port of Colborne, in Upper Canada, on September 8, 1840. There were familiar Northumbrian place names waiting for them: Wooler, Warkworth, Norham, and Alnwick.
The family settled in Cramahe Township and became tenant farmers. Using tenancy as a means of moving up the agricultural ladder to ownership was a common and viable strategy used by Cramahe farmers.
Life was harsh in the beginning. Among the worst winters ever recorded was the winter of 1842-1843 in which many animals starved to death.
The family witnessed the dawn of a new country. In 1841, the Act of Union came into force and Upper and Lower Canada ceased to be separate entities.
In the 1842 census of Cramahe Township, John and his family are living on property owned by J. Steel, Esquire. The family was blessed with four sons to help with the difficult tasks involved in agricultural survival.
In the census of 1851, John and Jane are living in a 1 1/2 story log house with their son Robert, a miller, their son Mark, a farm labourer, and their daughter Mary, on 100 acres in Cramahe Township. The two eldest sons, James and John, had become labourers on D. Campbell's 200 acre farm 2 miles west of the Cowey farm.
The log homes were temporary residences. Most were either 18 X 20 ft., or 20 X 30 ft. The were usually 9 logs high. Most consisted of a single room with an overhead loft. Walls were of planked or square logs with dove-tailed corners. Wood burning stoves were essential for heating and cooking.
Recorded in the 1851 agricultural census, we find the following information about the Cowey farm: Of the 100 acres, 40 acres was under cultivation and 60 acres was forested. John had 5 acres of wheat, 2 acres of peas, 2 acres of oats, and 2 acres of potatoes. The family also had 3 milk cows, 2 calves, 4 horses, 7 sheep, and 6 pigs.
With hard work the family prospered. In eleven short years, John and Jane were in a position to accomplish something that would have been impossible back in the English Border region. Land ownership. By financial success in farming, and obtaining mortgages, the family was able to begin purchasing acerage in 1853. John had also indicated intent to purchase property in Simcoe County, but changed his mind and stayed in Cramahe Township.
By 1861, their home was listed as a 1 1/2 story framed house.
By the 1880's, Robert had married Christina Inglis, and had built a grist mill in Norham on the Salt Creek. He prospered and then began his move out West, following the footsteps of his son.
James, the eldest, had married Ellen Kerr and was raising a family on land purchased in Lakeport. John Campbell had married Amelia Bawden and was also raising a family. He was able to acquire land near Castleton from his father to take up farming.
Their daughter, Mary Gray, had married Robert Laing Broomfield, a prosperous saw mill owner.
Only Mark remained unmarried and lived with his parents until their passing, then continued to farm on the family homestead.
John and Jane Cowey celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 1896. John had been slightly injured in a fall, and Jane was "poorly", also due to a fall.
On May 16, 1896, Jane Gray Cowey passed away from old age. The funeral service took place at the family residence. Burial was in the Castleton Cemetary.
On January 29, 1899, John passed away. His funeral service was held at his residence. Burial was also in Castleton Cemetary.
Both John and Jane had gambled that they could leave behind lives as a hind and a bondager, moving from one farming estate to another in the English Border country of Northumbria, and make a better life for their family in British North America. They prospered, as did their offspring, through hard work, perseverance, and a determination to put to history their life of servitude back in England.
The family settled in Cramahe Township and became tenant farmers. Using tenancy as a means of moving up the agricultural ladder to ownership was a common and viable strategy used by Cramahe farmers.
Life was harsh in the beginning. Among the worst winters ever recorded was the winter of 1842-1843 in which many animals starved to death.
The family witnessed the dawn of a new country. In 1841, the Act of Union came into force and Upper and Lower Canada ceased to be separate entities.
In the 1842 census of Cramahe Township, John and his family are living on property owned by J. Steel, Esquire. The family was blessed with four sons to help with the difficult tasks involved in agricultural survival.
In the census of 1851, John and Jane are living in a 1 1/2 story log house with their son Robert, a miller, their son Mark, a farm labourer, and their daughter Mary, on 100 acres in Cramahe Township. The two eldest sons, James and John, had become labourers on D. Campbell's 200 acre farm 2 miles west of the Cowey farm.
The log homes were temporary residences. Most were either 18 X 20 ft., or 20 X 30 ft. The were usually 9 logs high. Most consisted of a single room with an overhead loft. Walls were of planked or square logs with dove-tailed corners. Wood burning stoves were essential for heating and cooking.
Recorded in the 1851 agricultural census, we find the following information about the Cowey farm: Of the 100 acres, 40 acres was under cultivation and 60 acres was forested. John had 5 acres of wheat, 2 acres of peas, 2 acres of oats, and 2 acres of potatoes. The family also had 3 milk cows, 2 calves, 4 horses, 7 sheep, and 6 pigs.
With hard work the family prospered. In eleven short years, John and Jane were in a position to accomplish something that would have been impossible back in the English Border region. Land ownership. By financial success in farming, and obtaining mortgages, the family was able to begin purchasing acerage in 1853. John had also indicated intent to purchase property in Simcoe County, but changed his mind and stayed in Cramahe Township.
By 1861, their home was listed as a 1 1/2 story framed house.
By the 1880's, Robert had married Christina Inglis, and had built a grist mill in Norham on the Salt Creek. He prospered and then began his move out West, following the footsteps of his son.
James, the eldest, had married Ellen Kerr and was raising a family on land purchased in Lakeport. John Campbell had married Amelia Bawden and was also raising a family. He was able to acquire land near Castleton from his father to take up farming.
Their daughter, Mary Gray, had married Robert Laing Broomfield, a prosperous saw mill owner.
Only Mark remained unmarried and lived with his parents until their passing, then continued to farm on the family homestead.
John and Jane Cowey celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 1896. John had been slightly injured in a fall, and Jane was "poorly", also due to a fall.
On May 16, 1896, Jane Gray Cowey passed away from old age. The funeral service took place at the family residence. Burial was in the Castleton Cemetary.
On January 29, 1899, John passed away. His funeral service was held at his residence. Burial was also in Castleton Cemetary.
Both John and Jane had gambled that they could leave behind lives as a hind and a bondager, moving from one farming estate to another in the English Border country of Northumbria, and make a better life for their family in British North America. They prospered, as did their offspring, through hard work, perseverance, and a determination to put to history their life of servitude back in England.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
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