James Cowan 1840–1881

Jaames Cowan lived most of his life in South Grafton, this is an early photo of the area.

Early photograph of South Grafton

2nd Great-grandfather – Maternal mother’s line of Randall Family

When James Cowan was born on 14 November 1840, in Stonehenge, New South Wales, his father, William, was 48 and his mother, Alexandrina, was 44. He married Isabella Smail on 17 September 1863, in South Grafton, New South Wales. They had seven children in 16 years. He died on 15 January 1881, in South Grafton, New South Wales, at the age of 40.

Place holder for birth details.

James Cowan was born on 14 November 1840, in Stonehenge, New South Wales to Alexandrina McLeod, age 44, and William Cowan, age 48.

This fan chart shows the parents of James Cowan

Parents of James Cowan

Watercolour of Stonehenge Beardie Plains in New South Wales by Edward Thompson c.1848

Watercolour of Stonehenge Beardie Plains in New South Wales by Edward Thompson c.1848

Stonehenge is a rural locality on the Northern Tablelands of New England in New South Wales, Australia. The locality was named because of the local granite outcrops that were reminiscent of Stonehenge, England. James Cowan’s father William and his mother Alexandrina worked at Stonehenge station that was occupied by Thomas Hewitt on behalf of Archibald Boyd. Thomas Hewitt was the first settler in the Glen Innes district. The above Watercolour of Stonehenge is Shared under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 2.1 Australia Licence

Baptism: James Cowan was baptised on 19 March 1843, in the Church of England in the district of Clarence River, New South Wales

Death of Father: James father William passed away on 24 April 1860, in South Grafton, New South Wales, at the age of 68.

Place holder for marriage details.

James Cowan married Isabella Smail on 17 September 1863, in South Grafton, New South Wales by James Collins, Presbyterian Minister.

Because Isabella was under the age of 21 years, the consent of her mother Jessie Smail, was given to the marriage of her daughter, Isabella Smail, with James Cowan. At the time of their marriage James was a Storekeeper and Isabella was described as a Lady.

This half fan chart shows the children of James Cowan and Isabella Smail

Children of James Cowan and Isabella Smail

  • Jessie Alexandrina Cowan was born in 1865;
  • William Cowan was born in 1867;
  • Our direct ancestor Isabella Marion Cowan was born in 1869 in Grafton, New South Wales;
  • James Cowan was born in 1871 in Grafton, New South Wales;
  • Archibald Cowan was born on 7 June 1874, in Grafton, New South Wales;
  • Ethel B Cowan was born in 1878; and,
  • Clarabell Cowan was born in 1881.

Death of Brother: James brother Norman McLeod died on 13 August 1872, in Grafton, New South Wales when James Gardiner was 31 years old. Norman McLeod Cowan (1822–1872)

Death of Sister: James sister Elizabeth Scott died on 19 September 1874, in Grafton, New South Wales when James Gardiner was 33 years old. Elizabeth Scott Cowan (1823–1874)

Death of Brother: James brother Donald McLean died on 22 May 1877, in Grafton, New South Wales when James Gardiner was 36 years old. Donald McLean Cowan (–1877)

Place holder for death details.

James Cowan died on 15 January 1881, in South Grafton, New South Wales, when he was 40 years old.

Reviewed and updated on 2 September 2022

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