2011 update (continued)

James Cowey and Jane Lockie had 5 children that we have found:

John b.1800
James b. 1802
Margaret b. 1803
Robert b. 1810
Ellen b.1813

John emigrated to Upper Canada with Jane (Gray) and their 5 children 1n 1840. But what have we found about the others?

Margaret may have had a son (father unknown) Robert, who emigrated to Upper Canada between 1841 and 1850. He worked as a blacksmith in Lakeport, had married and had children.

In the UK census of 1861 Margaret and her sister Ellen, both unmarried, are living in Howtel, a village in the Parish of Kirknewton, where they were born. Margaret was an agricultural labourer, and Ellen was a house servant. By this time there are 2 nieces living with them as well, Catherine, age 13, and Margaret, age 10, daughters of brother Robert.

James Cowey (the spelling changed frequently) lived in High Trewitt, located south of Ilderton. In the 1861 census James is married to a Jane,and they have had at least 8 children:

Elizabeth b.1835
Jane b.1837
Margaret b.1839
Ellen b.1841
Mary b.1843
Georgian b.1848 (could be a Catherine)
Thomasine b.1849
James John b.1852

James was an agricultural labourer (a hind?) and moved at least five times.

Robert Cowie (the spelling changed frequently) lived in Kirknewton, Bamburgh, Berwick, and Unthank Square. He worked as a tilemaker. His wife's name was Margaret, and they had 6 children:

James b.1835 also a tilemaker, born in Kirknewton
John b.1839 also born in Kirknewton
Jane b.1843 born in Bamburgh
Mary b.1846 born in Berwick
Christian or Catherine b.1848 in Berwick
Margaret b.1851 born in Unthank Square

Robert's father James, lived with Robert and his family after the death of his wife Jane and can be found in the 1841 census ,age 75, still working as a husbandman (remember his son John also was a husbandman before emigrating to Upper Canada). The family was living in the Village of Beadnell, near Bamburgh.

There is still much to find regarding this family. It could be an excuse for another trip to Northumbria, England soon!!!!!!!

2011 update

It has been a long time since I last updated. Last February I hired a professional genealogist, Ann Brooker, from Embleton, Northumberland County, England.
I was hoping Ann could find John Cowey's family, parents, siblings, and so on. I was also interested if anything could be found about "the other Robert Cowey", who lived in Lakeport as a blacksmith. He married Mary Craig and together they had four children.
Ann was successful. Here is what she found:

John Cowey's parents were James Cowie b. c 1762 married Jane Lockie June 9 1794 at Cornhill

Their children: John b.1800
James b. 1802
Margaret b. 1803 all of the children were born in the
Robert b. 1811 parish of Kirknewton
Ellen b. 1813

The other Robert Cowey was born in 1826 in the Parish of Kirknewton. His mother was Margaret Cowey (no father was listed) and the supposition is that he is, in fact, John Cowey's nephew and followed John and Jane Cowey to Upper Canada at a later date. He can be found at the age of 15 living in the home of George Johnston, a blacksmith, in Howtel, Parish of Kirknewton. He was a blacksmith's apprentice.

By 1851, Robert has disappeared from the England census. He probably emigrated to be with his uncle before 1850.

Robert's mother, Margaret, can be found in the 1851/1861 census' living with her sister Ellen. Both are listed as paupers. They were living in Howtel, Kirknewton Parish. In 1861, two nieces, Catherine and Margaret are living with the sisters.

James Sr. lived with his son Robert in the 1841 census, but died about 1844.

There is still much work to be done, but I am pleased with the progress. I will keep an update on this blog with further information.