John Hunter GOWAN

[kelsey64]

Hi Claud,
Not sure if we have the same Henry.  The Henry I am following emigrated to Leicester around 1879.  He gives his birth year on the british census as 1851.  He was married to Sarah Gowan Bentley and had three children I know of: Thomas Henry Gowan born 23/12/1874, James Gowan born 29/09/1876, and Sarah Gowan born 26/05/1878.  All three children were born in Dublin.

[Claud]

Hi Kelsey64
That's the one.
They emigrated about 1879.  The son James died before then in 1878.  Henry's wife was Sarah Bentley (no Gowan), she was born in England.  They had 4 more children in England. My grandmother was their daughter Sarah.
Claud

[kelsey64]

Hi Claud,
Looks like it is the same Henry.  The different date of birth confused me!
Henry born 1829 had 4 brothers and one sister :Hunter, James, John, Thomas and Martha.  He married Margaret Griffin 7/11/1849 in St. Tomas' Church Dublin. Her father was Phillip Griffin.They had the following children that I know of: Henry, William 12/07/1854, Mary Jane 23/04/1856, Martha 4/03/1859, Margaret 10/08/1860, John 16/08/1861 and James 21/11/1866. Apart from Henry the other children were baptised in St. Mary's Church Dublin.  Two of Henry's children Thomas Henry (1874) and James (1876) were baptised in St. Peter's  Dublin.
I'm related to Martha 4/03/1859.

[Claud]

Hi kelsey64
Thanks for the info.  I have never been able to find any children of Henry(b1829) apart from my family: Henry(b1853) and just that James was b in 1866.
Would you like info from me and if so how should I send it?
Claud

[kelsey64]

Hi Claud,
Would be great to hear the family history from your side.  You could send via a PM if that suits.

[Claud]

Hi kesley64
Here are Henry(b1853) and Sarah's children

Thomas Henry Gowan b. 27 Dec 1874 Dublin
James Gowan b. 1876 d. 1878, Dublin
Sarah Gowan b. 26 May 1878 Dublin
Henry Gowan b.  Jun 1880 Leicester, d. 1884 Leicester
Martha Gowan b. 26 Jun 1885 Leicester
William Gowan b.  17 Nov 1888 Leicester
Harriet Gowan b.  Aft. Mar 1891 Leicester
If you would like further information I think it would be easier to print and mail it.
Claud

[kelsey64]

Thanks for that information Claud,
I didn't realise they had more children in England.  I had found the records of the three born in Dublin.  I already knew about Thomas through family history as he visited Martha's children in Dublin and brought his own family several times.  This means that Martha and Henry obviously kept in touch after he emigrated. 

[Claud]

Hi kelsey64
I don't know what contact there was between Martha and Henry but I knew Thomas and his wife Ann had been to Ireland.  I thought it was once, as nothing has been passed down about the Dublin people.  Ann's grandparents were born in Ireland, I don't know about her parents, but her family would have been a further reason for contact.
Just at the end of the war an older man and somewhat younger woman (don't know their relationship) from Ireland visited the families in Leicester, I do not know their names though.  I have in the past tried to find contacts in Ireland but couldn't get any.  Not knowing any names even was a drawback.  So I'm pleased to have the contact now. 
Claud

[kelsey64]

Hi Claud,
Thomas and Annie visited several times and also brought some of their children.  Their son Thomas Frances also visited on his own as a young man not very long before he was killed in the war.  Martha's children also visited leicester several times both before and after the war. The two people you mention don't sound like them as Martha's son was the youngest of the family.  Nothing seems to have been passed down about your grandmother Sarah.