Henry Howitt McGowan (abt. 1830 - 1905)

Born about 1830 in Bonhill, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Jane (Gibbs) McGowan — married 30 Sep 1859 in Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 16 Nov 1905 at about age 75 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sharon Ruby [send private message]

Biography

Henry was born in 1830. He passed away in 1905. Most records show his birth between 1827 & 1830. He may have changed it when he immigrated to the US as it shows 1830 on his Naturalization paper and his headstone. In the 1851 Scotland he is shown as living with his siblings with no parents listed. It looks like they both died before 1851. (Initial bio by Sharon Ruby)

Henry McGowan tells us on his Naturalization Certificate 1890 that he was born at Dunbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. On his marriage certificate dated 30 Sept 1859 he states that his parents were Robert McGowan (note mother's name not given) that he is currently residing in Blandford his age is 29 and his occupation is Currier. (Blandford in 1850 had two tanneries he may have been employed there as a Currier, Curriers were highly skilled leather finishers they would have served a seven year apprenticeship.) We can assume from this that he was born around 1830 in Scotland. Unfortunately his birth is not recorded in the Scottish OPRs it is thought that his mother was Margaret Currie from information given by Sharon Ruby his descendent. ( Now known to be incorrect Margaret Currie was not his mother Drummie-1 ) His wife Mary Jane Gibbs gives her age as 20 and her father as Israel Gibbs she was born in Blandford but at the time of marriage was resident in Worthington. The marriage was registered at Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States.

Sharon Ruby has provided me with a letter from Henry's brother Porterfield McGowan MacGoun-13 writing in 1901, a rather sad melancholy letter. Tracing back from Porterfield MCGowan's death in 1909 eventually led me to the McGoun family in Bonhill Dunbartonshire and Henry in the 1841 and 1851 Census. Whilst there is no written record in the OPR's of Henry's birth he is living with his brother Porterfield and other siblings at Burn Street Bonhill in 1841, by the 1851 census he has flown the coop a fully fledged Smith employed in a Smithy at Rhu a few miles along the coast from Bonhill. Sharon has also provided us with a handwritten list of his immediate families birth dates and full names I think written by Henry himself. (Attached to this profile) Top of the list is Henry Howitt McGowan and his first born is Alvah H. H. McGowan then Agnes H. McGowan. Porterfield and Henry's other siblings were all born to Robert McGown and Agnes Howat. Henry having his mother's maiden name as his middle name adds credence to Henry being part of this family. Agnes also had a brother Henry Howat so looks like Henry Howitt McGowan is called after his mother's brother. Agnes and Henry Howat's mother was Elizabeth Porterfield. Drummie-1

"Note this following resume of Henry's parentage is incorrect but I am leaving it in as an explanation for anyone who returns to this biography of Henry McGowan having perhaps picked up on it previously, Robert McGowan born 1782 and Margaret Currie born 1781 were not his parents.

(In-depth searching taking up many hours has failed to bring to light the recorded birth of Henry however the 1841 Census at Bothwell in Lanarkshire throws up this information Census 1841 Robert McGown Male 59 1782 Lanarkshire, Scotland Occupation Stocking m (maker) Margaret McGown Female 60 1781 Lanarkshire, Scotland Robert McGown Male 28 1813 Lanarkshire, Scotland Cotton hand-loom weaver Janet McGown Female 20 1821 Lanarkshire, Scotland James McGown Male 17 1824 Lanarkshire, Scotland Cotton hand-loom weaver Full address Maltkiln Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland Record set 1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census Having already found the births of both Robert McGown 1782 and Margaret 1781 and their marriage in 1803 we can be fairly certain that this census record is showing Henry's parents and some of his siblings. Robert McGowan born 1782 had an older brother also named Robert born 1775 who would presumably have died between the births of Peter and Robert second 1782. From the 1841 census we can assume that Robert born 1813, Janet born 1821 and James born 1824 are children of Robert McGowan and Margaret Currie and from the family history provided by Sharon Ruby and of course Henry McGowan himself conclude that this is Henry's family. 1782 Robert McGown had children but none of them appear to have been entered into the Old Parish Records—Other Churches---or---RC Records of their time. ) THIS IS INCORRECT Drummie-1

Timeline

1828 Birth of Henry Howit/ Howat McGown not found his age is taken from the 1841 Census at Bonhill Dunbartonshire, Scotland 1841 Bonhill Dunbartonshire and the 1851 Census at Row/Rhu Dunbartonshire, Scotland I favour 1828 from the fact that his brother Porterfield was born 11th June 1827 . (Henry Not Found after 1851 in Scotland)

William McGown Male 20 1821 Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Hendry McGown Male 13 1828 Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Porterfield McGown Male 11 1830 Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Agnes McGown Female 15 1826 Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Burn Street, Bonhill, Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Record set 1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census

CENSUS 1851 John McMurrich Head Married Male 66 1785 Smith Arrochar, Dunbartonshire, Margaret McMurrich Wife Married Female 62 1789 - Luss, Dunbartonshire, Daniel McMurrich Son Unmarried Male 24 1827 Smith Helensburgh, Grace McMurrich Daughter Unmarried Female 21 1830 – Helensburgh, William McMurrich Son Unmarried Male 18 1833 Scholar Helensburgh, George McMurrich Servant Unmarried Male 24 1827 Smith Luss, Henry McGowan - Unmarried Male 24 1827 Smith Bonhill, Clyde Street, Row, Dunbartonshire, Scotland 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census

1859 Marriage of Henry McGowan and Mary Jane Gibbs at Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts. ^[1]

"1888" - Naturalization Records at age of 60. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/71369632/person/34236504907/facts#:~:text=Source%20citation%20for-,Massachusetts%2C%20State%20and%20Federal%20Naturalization%20Records%2C%201798%2D1950,-Ancestry%20record

1905 Death of Henry McGowan as provided by Sharon Ruby https://ancestry.com/U.S./FindAGraveIndex,1600s-Current View record

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage of Henry McGowan and Mary Jane Gibbs ( https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XX63-B57?i=353&cc=1469062&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AN4ZR-CN5 )

Alan Drummie & Sharon Ruby

Ancestry - https://www.Ancestry.com Birth: 1841 Scotland Census Birth & residence: 1851 Scotland Census 1880 United States Federal Census 1900 United States Federal Census Residence: U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 Voter: Massachusetts Town & Vital Records 1620-1988 https://anncestry.com/NewYorkPassengerLists1820-1957 Passenger & crew list 1820-1963 Death: Massachusetts Death Records 1841-1915 UK & Ireland incoming passenger list 1878-1960 Marriage: New England, Select United Methodist Church Records, 1787-1922 Marriage to Massachusetts Marriage records 1840-1915 Massachusetts Death records 1840-1915 Massachusetts Wills & probate 1635-1991

• Naturalization: Massachusetts State & Federal Naturalization Records
• From the family Bible