William Moffat Cowan (1822 - 1873)

Born 4 Jan 1822 in Nether Murthat Cottage, Kirkpatrick-Juxta, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Janet Livingston Muir — married 16 May 1851 in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 4 Aug 1873 at age 51 in 14 Bannatyne Street, Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland

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William Cowan was born in Scotland.

This profile is part of the Cowan Name Study.

Biography

William Moffat Cowan was born in Kirkpatrick Juxta, Dumfriesshire, Scotland in 1821/2 to parents James Cowan and Grace Waugh. His baptism took place on 4 Jan 1822, so his date of birth is likely to have been in late 1821. He grew up at the family home, Nether Murthat Cottage.

Link to Google Map view of Kirkpatrick Juxta church

William Moffat Cowan Baptism, Jan 4, 1822

In adult life he became an innkeeper. In the 1861 and 1871 Scotland Census he is an innkeeper at 14 Bannatyne St., Lanark.

On 16 May 1851 in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, he married Janet Livingston Muir.

William Moffat Cowan, Janet Livingston Muir, Wedding, 1851

Between 1855 and 1870, he and Janet had seven children: James Cowan, Grace (Cowan) Shand, John Muir Cowan, William Cowan, Richard Muir Cowan, Mary Watson Cowan and Janet Muir Cowan.

He passed away on 14 Aug 1873 at his hotel.

William Moffat Cowan Headstone

The inscription on his headstone mentions eight people and reads as follows:

"Erected by William Cowan In Memory of his sister LILLIAS COWAN who died 12th March 1866 aged 37 years The above WILLIAM COWAN died 4th August 1873 aged 51 years And also JAMES COWAN, his son, died at Wellington, New Zealand 18th October 1879 aged 25 years Also JANET MUIR, his wife, who died 15th June 1881 aged 52 years Also RICHARD COWAN, his son, who died 9th February 1898 aged 33 years Also JOHN MUIR COWAN, his son, who died as the result of an accident 13th January 1923 aged 64 years Also JANE KAY, wife of John Muir Cowan, died 3rd August 1948 aged 88 years ISABELLA PATON COWAN died 20th Dec. 1965 aged 74 years."

Sources

• copies birth cert. Scotland Marriage Record, Church marriage record, Death certificate

• Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950

Name William Moffat Cowan

Gender Male

Baptism Date 04 Jan 1822

Baptism Place , Kirkpatrick Juxta, Dumfries, Scotland

FHL Film Number 1067966

Reference ID - 2:16313QX

Household Members

Name Age

William Moffat Cowan

Grizel Waugh

James Cowan

• 1861 Scotland Census

Name William Cowan

Age 38

Estimated Birth Year abt 1823

Relationship Head

Spouse's Name Janet Cowan

Gender Male

Where born Kilpatrick, Dumfrieshire

Registration Number 648

Registration district Lanark

Civil parish Lanark

Town Lanark

County Lanarkshire

Address 14 Bannatyne St

Occupation Inn-keeper

ED 8

Household schedule number 23

Line 7

Roll CSSCT1861_116

Household Members

Name Age

William Cowan 38

Janet Cowan 31

James Cowan 6

Grace Cowan 4

John Cowan 2

John Muir 9

Mary Greenshield 18

• 1871 Scotland Census

Name William Cowan

Age 48

Estimated Birth Year abt 1823

Relationship Head

Spouse's Name Janet Cowan

Gender Male

Where born Kirkpatrick, Dumfrieshire

Registration Number 648

Registration district Lanark

Civil parish Lanark

Town Lanark

County Lanarkshire

Address Bannatyne St

Occupation Iron Keeper

ED 8

Household schedule number 16

Line 20

Roll CSSCT1871_146

Household Members

Name Age

William Cowan 48

Janet Cowan 41

James Cowan 16

Grace Cowan 14

John M Cowan 12

William Cowan 9

Richard Mccowan 6

Mary W Mccowan 4

Janet M Mccowan 4 Mo

Margaret Renwick 18

• Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950

Name William Cowan

Gender Male

Household Members

Name Age

Grace Cowan

Janet Muir

William Cowan

• Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950

Name William Cowan

Gender Male

Household Members

Name Age

John Muir Cowan

Janet Muir

William Cowan