Ilderton

Ilderton was, and is, a village in Northumberland that is basically a farming estate. It has a church, but it is doubtful that John Cowey worshipped there. Ilderton was not far from Wooler, an important market town. It was a place where estate farmers sold their sheep, wool, and grains. It would have been the locale for the large gatherings in March where labourers would try to secure employment with the estate farmers. They would then "flit" to the next estate on Whitsuntide, around May 11 or 12, to begin their year's contract.

Wooler was also a centre of worship. There are several churches in Wooler, one of which was a gathering place for the Presbyterian worshippers. John Cowey was a follower of the religion which spread from Scotland. Although he married Jane Gray in Eglingham, he most likely became interested in the non-conformist church during visits to Wooler, while working at Loanend, or Ilderton. A Robert Semple was one of the original dissenters in the 17th century. Mark Cowie was baptized in the Wooler, Cheviot Street Church. It is a non-conformist church, or Presbyterian.

It was in Ilderton that John would be employed as a husbandman, and his wife, Jane, would work in the fields, spin wool for the estate farmer's wife, and care for the chickens each "hind" was required to raise for the farmer. Their sons, James and Robert, would be working from the age of 10 on the farm as carters, or field workers. All of them would have been paid.

Loanend

Loanend. Part of the original estate cottages, and the Manor House.

The River Tweed and the Union Bridge.


The labourers' cottages that are still being used today.

G'day! Loanend is the birthplace of Robert Semple Cowie, 2nd son of John and Jane. It is a large farming estate located about 3 miles from Wooler, the main market town in this area of Northumbria, or "the Borders". The famous Union Bridge, a suspension bridge, spans the River Tweed with Scotland on one side, England on the other.

Each estate farmer provided his hinds with a cottage, usually rent free. These cottages still exist, but the roofs are no longer thatched, but tiled. The floors are no longer dirt.

As John and Jane's family grew, John would most likely have been contracted to the estate in Ilderton.

East Lilburn

The large farming estate at East Lilburn was where Jane Gray and her family were living when Jane met John Cowey. There would have been a gathering of men, and families around mid March in Wooler, only 5 miles to the north, or perhaps in Eglingham. It was at these gatherings that men sought work, and the large estate farmers would be looking for labourers to begin work about May 15.

Eglingham St. Maurice

G'day! With the help of Skye, my cousin's daughter, I'm able to send photos. This is a photo of the church in Eglingham where John and Jane were married. The banns were read out in this church on three Sundays preceeding their marriage on the 21 May, 1826. John had found his "bondager", Jane, to fufill his contract obligation to work on the Ilderton farm estate. His contract would have begun on, or about, May 12.

Jane was from East Lilburn farm estate located about 3-5 miles from Eglingham.

Cambridge

Gday! I've now arrived in the University town of Cambridge, a city of bicycles. My Aussie nephew and I are going punting on the river today. I feel I should buy a white boater, or straw hat.
My 2 days with Linda Bankier, the archivist in Berwick-upon-Tweed, was an amazing experience. Her knowledge of family history, local history, and sources was beyond belief.
My main mission was to find the family of John Cowey. I'm not sure I have succeeded. Jane Gray's family was easier. I have taken several notes and will try to sort out what I may have found at a later date. I may now have to go to London to follow up a couple of leads. John may have come from Scotland originally, and may have indeed been Cowie. I need to scour English records next.
What I have learned from Linda, however, is a detailed history of the family prior to leaving for Canada. Again, I have pages of notes which will have to be organized. I have also purchased several interesting books written about life in the Borders.
Basically, John Cowey was a "hind", a farm labourer, a husbandman. He travelled from farming estate to farming estate. Part of the condition of employment at his first estate was to find a "bondager", a woman to work in the fields. Hence Jane. Contacts were for a year. At the end of the term, around May 12, the labourers would "flit", that is, move on to the new estate depending on their needs, and depending on the needs of his family.
Children were a valuable asset at "flitting" time. They were eligible to work, and indeed were needed, beginning at the age of 10.. James and Robert would have been valuable assets prior to the family's decision to "flit" to North America. The family would have been able to accumulate a fair sum of money while working on the estate in Ilderton, to be able to afford passage.
We know that the famly left Leith in May of 1840. John had made the decision not to take up a new contract which would have begun on or about May 15.
I was unable to find the name of the ship that brought them to Canada. There were several adverts in the local newspapers for passengers willing to go to New Zealand or Australia. We could find no advert for passengers to Upper Canada. Most of the Border people went to New Zealand. Linda is not convinced they sailed from Leith to America. She thinks they probably sailed to Liverpool and then found passage on one of the ships that left from there. Ships were leaving twice a month for America. One in paricular was The Scotia, which made regular crossings to Quebec and Montreal.
I have so much more information. For example, their social life revolved around the Whitsuntide gatherings to find a job on the estates. Usually the farmer would have "spoken" to his "hinds" concerning continued employment in February. The "hinds" and their families would then prepare to travel to the nearest market town, in their case, Wooler, to try to be hired by another estate farmer. These were large gatherings. It was also an opportunity for the men to find the required "bondager".
Until next time, Neil.
For now, that is some more information. I should be able to send photos soon.

Loanend

G'day from Northumbria. I finally found Loanend. This is supposedly where Robert Semple Cowie was born. Again, this a large farming estate, located near the banks of the River Tweed. There is a suspension bridge, called Union Bridge. Scotland on one side, England on the other. Wonderful scenery, with sheep running free all over the roads, and the occasional cyclist crossing the bridge, which is barely wide enough for a Smart car, nevermind my Zafira.
I have enjoyed a day researching the life that John and Jane would have had before leaving for Upper Canada. Not a pleasant life. I have much to tell. I have so many unanswered questions, however. I'm hoping that Linda Bankier, an archivist, will be able to help me.
Cheers, Neil.

travels in Northumbria

G'day! I'm now into my 4th day of tripping around Northumbria visiting the Cowey/Cowie sites. I've been to Wooler and the church where Mark Cowie was baptized. I've been to Ilderton, where John and Jane lived. It is a massive farming estate. The church is being renovated, new roof, shoring up the walls, etc. I then went to East Lilburn, where Jane was living when she met John. This is another large farming estate. Finally, I've been to Eglingham, where they were married. Nice pub.
I've taken many photos but will not be able to upload them until I reach "civilization", ie. a relative with a computer that takes memory sticks. Hopefully in Cambridge next weekend, or in Littlehampton, on Monday, the 19th.
If anyone has requests for photos, please email me quickly, as I leave this area (Berwick-upon-Tweed) on Friday, May 16.
The weather has been fantastic. The locals are in shock, although coming back from the records centre in Woodhorn today, I drove into a fog soup.
At the Woodhorn Center, I have found Jane Gray's parents. Robert Gray married Mary Mather in 1799 in Chillingham. Mary could not write but signed the marriage certificate with an "X". Robert's brother, Andrew, was a witness.
Nothing on John Cowey, yet. I expect to find something when I visit Linda Bankier, an archivist, at the Berwick Records Office this week.
This has been quite the experience. I have been here before, but now it has meaning.
Cheers, from Northumbria. Neil.