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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Possum99 on Saturday 21 February 09 01:45 GMT (UK)

Title: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: Possum99 on Saturday 21 February 09 01:45 GMT (UK)
Hi

I am looking for more information on the Cowin family of Mauritius, South Africa and Australia.

There were Cowins in shipping in Mauritius at least by the 1880s and Mr John Cowin, who died in 1895, was the first surveyor to Lloyd’s Register in Mauritius. Later, the Managing Director of the Cowin company was Mr T J Cowin who was also a director of La Flore Mauricienne, a well-known restaurant.

My cousin Arthur Bottrell left an obscure note in his papers that read: "Our Orry Cowin, sea captain and Commander in the RN, spent his retirement in South Africa with visits to his brother in Mauritius until his death in 1954 aged over 70. Cared for by his niece Iris Howard of Fishhock, Cape Province.”

In the census of 1881, a Thomas J Cowin is recorded as being 13 years of age, born 1868 Mauritius, a scholar and residing with a William Perry at Low Leyton, Essex. William had been born in Surrey, was married and his occupation a mariner. Also present was an Orry A de Lissa Cowin, a 9 year old scholar born in 1872 at Beau Bassin BS (boat station?), Mauritius. The boarders may well have been brothers.

I can find very little extra information on this family except that a William Cowin and wife Adela Janet Willmott came to South Australia in the 1880s and their eldest child Thomas Alexander Cowin was born c1877 at Mauritius. It suggests the families were linked.

Hoping someone can help.

Cheers, Ross of Canberra
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: winston on Saturday 21 February 09 08:03 GMT (UK)
HI Ross

Haven't found much - yet!

but did find these two items in addition to the 1881 census you have seen

Orry Andrew Lissa Cowin appears on the Seattle Passenger list of 1907 shown as been a Chief Officer aboard the Tango Maru.  They left Yokohama Japan and arrived in Seattle 16 Dec 1907.



Seen as Capt Orry Cowin on an incoming Uk passenger list for June 1933 aboard the Ulysees last permanent place of residence South Africa.  Intended place of visit C/o British Society, Northumberland Avenue London.  Shown as bieng retired and aged 62


Wendy


Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: winston on Saturday 21 February 09 08:10 GMT (UK)
Hi Ross


Just to add that I found Orry going back to South Africa in Sept 1933,

there was another Cowin name present not necessary connected so I'm doing some digging and will post any finding if found.

Wendy
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: ShaunJ on Saturday 21 February 09 09:21 GMT (UK)
London Gazette

4 March 1913:

In accordance with the Regulations for the Royal Naval Reserve:

Lieutenant Orry Andrew de Lissa Cowin has this day been placed on the Retired List
with permission to assume the rank of Commander


19 March 1920

R.N.R.
Cdr. (Retd.) Orry A, de L. Cowin, R.D., ............to be Capt. (R.N.R. (Retired), from 11th Nov. 1918, in recognition of services during the War.



Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: Possum99 on Saturday 21 February 09 10:12 GMT (UK)
Thanks Shaun

Every little bit helps!

Ross
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: Possum99 on Saturday 21 February 09 10:14 GMT (UK)
Thanks Wendy

Keep up the good work! I thought I had exhausted web sources!

Ross
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: ShaunJ on Saturday 21 February 09 10:24 GMT (UK)
You've probably got these already if you've done a Google search:

His 2nd Mate's ticket was issued in New Zealand in 1891

Cowin, Orry Andrew de Lissa 688 5 Nov. 1891 2nd Mate Wellington Port Louis, Mauritius 1871

http://www.anmm.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/index_certs__Masters___Mates_-NZ.pdf

And he got his master's ticket in 1897:

http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/capsC.pdf

From a press report, he was in England in May 1897 doing RNR service and was posted to the Excellent for a short gunnery course. He had been confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant in January of that year.
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: ShaunJ on Saturday 21 February 09 10:36 GMT (UK)
In the Seattle arrivals lists he features 12 times between 1906 and 1909 as an officer on vessels arriving from Japan. In December 1913 he arrives in Portland Oregon from Newcastle NSW as master of the Koyu Maru.
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: Possum99 on Saturday 21 February 09 10:58 GMT (UK)
Shaun
Thanks one more time!
Ross
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: ShaunJ on Saturday 21 February 09 11:05 GMT (UK)
On that 1933 voyage to South Africa, that Wendy found, there is also a Miss Mona Margaret Cowin aged 63 who is on a round trip ticket in 1st.

In 1937 there is a Mona M Cowin aged 64, last resident in  Mauritius, arriving in London on the City of Nagpur. She is accompanied by a medical man Philip J Cowin (no age given) also last resident in Mauritius.

She leaves England, stated age 70, on 1 April 1939 on the Jagersfontein with Mauritius as ultimate destination.
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: ShaunJ on Saturday 21 February 09 16:11 GMT (UK)
There are so many Manx references in this family! Orry, Mona and now Tynwald  http://www.rootschat.com/links/05n5/


Norris Tynwald Cowin born Mauritius 1875.

The 1891 census has NTC  in lodgings in Leyton Essex (with William Perry again) aged 16 with medical student Douglas HF Cowin (17) and fellow scholar William W Cowin (14) all born Mauritius.

William White Cowin b. Mauritius is in Salford in 1911. In 1901 there is a Charles Cowin from IoM with a White family in Salford ... all this must be connected.


Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: Possum99 on Saturday 21 February 09 21:30 GMT (UK)
Hi Shaun

Thanks so much for your effort - just the breakthrough I need.

Let me work on what you have given and I will report back as others may be interested. I have to trace this family back to Isle of Man and I think those clues might enable this.

Cheers, Ross

PS I visited IoM in 2006 and met some distant family (my Philip Cowin left Lonan in 1852). Had a great time with people who were very warm, generous and so unpretensious. A great place.
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: winston on Sunday 22 February 09 05:53 GMT (UK)
HI Ross

Shaun has covered most of what I found early yesterday.

So far I can only add that the young man Phillip John Cowin who travelled with Miss Mona Margaret Cowin was listed in 1933 as being born in 1903/4,  as of that passage back to England he'd been last resident in Uganda.  In 1929 when Philip came back from Spain he was shown as a Doctor and his intended residence was shown as St Bartholemeus Hospital London.

On the same list was a Mrs Isabella Cowin who was age 55 and was last resident in Mauritus.




Wendy
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: Possum99 on Sunday 22 February 09 06:31 GMT (UK)
Hi Wendy and Shaun

You have both made my weekend! You are both lovely people!

With the information you two have provided I have pushed it along and think I have the linkages but some speculation is involved. Here is the story:

John Cowin b1803 married Margaret Clague 1825 at Braddan, IoM

Two eldest sons: John b1825 and William b 1827, both at Douglas

John the father of most of those mentioned including Norris Tynwald AND Mona Margaret (the young Mona of Wendy's more likely an error or a g'dau)

William also at Mauritius but, around 1880, brought his family to South Australia.

My challenge now is to link to my Lonan Cowins but I already know they have links to both Braddan and the Clague family. END

When I get it written up and test it a bit more thoroughly, I would be happy to share with any interested persons - do I post it here or invite people to email me???

Also, do you have anything more on Philip in Spain? Intriguing.

Many thanks to you both, Ross

PS William’s son Norris (born 1893, SA) was killed in action on the Western Front about 4 km east of Ypres on 1 October 1917 and the memory of this brave man is memorialized at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 7.



Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: winston on Sunday 22 February 09 06:33 GMT (UK)
HI Ross

Have you seen this article regarding Norris bn 1874


http://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/archframes.php?archid=320&orig_form=archlistframes.php&bldgorder=%60tblbldg%60.%60name%60&orderby=Surname&initial=All&source=0&backbutton=1


Wendy
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: winston on Sunday 22 February 09 06:35 GMT (UK)
Ross

I forgot to add - yes please post your info on site then anyone else can read it who may be related or be able to help at a later stage.


Wendy
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 22 February 09 08:12 GMT (UK)
Philip John Cowin was son of TJ ( marriage announcement in The Times 1938) and was a doctor in Uganda in the 1930's (lots of mentions in Google books hits)  then seems to have settled in London (London phone books 1951-1975)
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 22 February 09 08:20 GMT (UK)
If you search for Cowin in the National Archives of South Africa databases you will get 52 hits, includng Orry, Mona, Norris, and many others

http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300gi?20090222101608CD55808B%26DB%3DRSAE
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: teddybear1843 on Tuesday 09 October 18 13:14 BST (UK)
I have a photo of a large house called The Anchorage and five people around it. One is John Cowin, one L Cowin, one T J Cowin and one M M Cowin. John & L appear to be parents/inlaw to TJ and MM. There is also a young boy in the centre, apparently called Hugh Goold? Are these the same family?
Title: Re: Captain Orry COWIN of Mauritius
Post by: Noblettski on Monday 04 March 24 18:13 GMT (UK)
I am the great great granddaughter on my father's side of John Thomas Cowin, who was born in the Isle of Man, died in Mauritius.  He was a captain and owner of a freighter trading sugar and sundries between the IoM and Mauritius. He was married in 1861 in St Louis, Mauritius, to Elizabeth Kidson of Holborn, London.  They had 8 children (two of whom died) - John, Anna, Thomas, Douglas, Orry (1871-1953), Mona, Norris Tynwald (my great grandfather), & William.  Mona and Orry never married. The boys were all taken to England on reaching the age of 7 and left in the care of a seaman friend known as 'Uncle Perry'.  This is probably a William Perry, recorded in the 1891 Census as living at 85 Wallwood Road in Leyton, North East London.

According to my grandfather, Douglass Cowin's, research - which funnily enough I have been studying just today having unearthed it from the back of a drawer - Orry was a Captain in the Royal Navy until 1919 and retired to a fruit farm in Cape Province, South Africa.

Orry's brother Norris was born in Mauritius in 1875 and educated in London. He worked as a quantity surveyor in London.  At the outbreak of the Boer War he joined the City Imperial Volunteer Regiment and fought in South Africa.  After the war he decided to stay there, starting his own business and eventually working for and running his father-in-law's architectural practice.  In 1892 he married Grace Ellis (1881-1961 in SA) and they had 6 children - Ethel, Kathleen (twin), Mona (twin), John, Douglas (my grandfather) and Grace. 

John and Douglas became very successful architects in South Africa.  My dad, Alistair Norris Cowin, was born in 1941 and spent his early years in Swaziland before moving back to the UK with his British mother in the late 40s.  He has lived here ever since and acquired British Citizenship in the early 60s.

Douglass's elder sister, Kathleen Mary Cowin (1904-1980), married Sid Sauerman who was in tin mining and they lived in Rhodesia. Their daughter, Pam, met her Australian husband on a working holiday over there and she has been there ever since and has two sons (no grandchildren).

I am sorry if I'm repeating what many of you probably already know.  Personally I have found it really interesting trying to work out how and why the Cowin family have spread across the globe! I only wish I knew more, but I will keep researching.