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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: Ian Cowan on Wednesday 27 June 18 15:14 BST (UK)

Title: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: Ian Cowan on Wednesday 27 June 18 15:14 BST (UK)
Agnes Cowan was born in Toronto in 1916 to James and Margaret Cowan, both of whom emigrated from Paisley. Margaret died in 1920 in Canada, and James, Agnes and John (my father, born Toronto in 1914) came back to North Street, Paisley, Scotland in 1921 on the Saturnia. Sometime between 1921 and 1930 Agnes was fostered to John McInnes (1864 - 1931) a Paisley publican and Elizabeth McInnes / nee Cowan (1868 - 1934). I have a family photo dated 1930 with Agnes and "stepfather" John McInnes. I can trace the full history of James, Margaret and John Cowan, plus John and Elizabeth McInnes, but not a trace of Agnes in Scotland's People, Find My Past or Ancestry using both Cowan and McInnes surnames.

I have had help in earlier threads regarding James Cowan. Can anyone offer any suggestions regarding Agnes? I would be very grateful. Many thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: Rosinish on Wednesday 27 June 18 15:44 BST (UK)
This may seem an odd suggestion but have you tried Gowan &/or Mc/Mac G/Cowan?

Annie
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: shanghaipanda on Thursday 28 June 18 08:49 BST (UK)
Have you checked Scotlands People for the Agnes Martin MacInnes who died in Shettleston 1936 age 22 ?
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: Ian Cowan on Thursday 28 June 18 11:48 BST (UK)
Annie - I have searched these variants on Scotland's People without any success.

Shanghaipanda - the birth year does not fit and "my" Agnes had no middle name. Also, family gossip has it that she was alive at least until the 1960's, if not longer.

Thank you both for your help.

Ian
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: Rosinish on Friday 29 June 18 16:42 BST (UK)
Quote from: Ian Cowan on Wednesday 27 June 18 15:14 BST (UK)
Sometime between 1921 and 1930 Agnes was fostered to John McInnes (1864 - 1931) a Paisley publican and Elizabeth McInnes / nee Cowan (1868 - 1934).

Just thinking aloud!

Agnes was b 1916, fostered 1921 - 1930 aged 5 - 14 yrs old.

Foster father John McInnes died 1931 & Elizabeth died 1934 (Agnes c 18 yrs old)

Did John & Elizabeth have children of their own?
Who was the informant on Elizabeth's death?
Where did Elizabeth die?
What relationship was Agnes to Elizabeth Cowan/McInnes?
Was there any mention of Agnes having married?
Have you looked for a marriage for Agnes?
Often timelines in family stories can be out by quite a lot of years.
Is it possible Agnes used the surname M(a)cInnes?
If she never married, used the surname McInnes then it's possible when she died the informant may not have known her actual birth surname?

Annie
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: Rosinish on Friday 29 June 18 16:59 BST (UK)
What was the maiden surname of Agnes' mother?

Annie
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: ev on Friday 29 June 18 17:35 BST (UK)
Looking at the earlier thread it was Wilson -
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=754637.0


ev
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: Rosinish on Friday 29 June 18 18:04 BST (UK)
Thanks Ev!,

Was actually about to request links to previous posts for info. possibly already given.

Annie
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: Ian Cowan on Saturday 30 June 18 14:30 BST (UK)
Annie

Thanks for your input, and apologies for taking so long to get back to you.

I have found no record of John and Elizabeth McInnes having children of their own.

The informant for Elizabeth's death - Paisley 1934 - was Daniel Carlton, someone I have no knowledge of. John's death informant was his brother Thomas.

James Cowan (1879 - 1934) was Elizabeth Mcinnes's brother. Parents were John Cowan (1840 - 1923) and Janet Cowan nee Gardener (1840 - 1919). John and Janet has the following other children - Agnes, John, Hugh and Colin.

I have no knowledge of Agnes having married and extensive searches on Scotland's People using both the Cowan and McInnes surnames have drawn a blank.

Ian
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: Rosinish on Saturday 30 June 18 14:42 BST (UK)
This is just a quickie but was there no indication of relationship/neighbour or other for Daniel Carlton or an address?

May be worth looking for Agnes under surname Carlton, may not have married & if he predeceased her then whoever registered her death may not have known her maiden name?

It's scraping the barrel I know  ???

Annie
Title: Re: Agnes Cowan / McInnes (?) - Frustrating Lack Of Success
Post by: Ian Cowan on Sunday 01 July 18 13:43 BST (UK)
Annie

Please ignore all references to Daniel Carlton - I very carelessly read the wrong line on the death certificate. Elizabeth McInnes's death was reported by her brother, Archibald Cowan from Paisley.

My apologies

When Elizabeth died Agnes would only have been 18, and I wonder if she would have been fostered to another relative or gone into service somewhere. There were various relatives living in Paisley and I will now search Valuation Rolls for clues. Plus, Agnes Irons nee Wlson, who was a sister of Agnes Cowan's natural mother Margaret Cowan nee Wilson was at that time living in Chicago with her husband James Irons. I will also check passenger lists to see if Agnes Cowan / McInnes was shipped out to the States.

Once again, thanks for your help.

Ian