Cowan From Scotland to Oregon

[snwood]

I want to find out about Sproat, Houston, Cowan in Borgue, Kirkcudbrightshire around 1600 to 1800.  Specifically, I want to know about Barbara Houston (born 1746) who married Hugh Sproat (born 1740).  Also, want to find out about Thomas Cowan born 1805  and Robert Cowan born 15 August 1822 in Glasgow

[Gadget]

Hi 

I'll try to help. There is a Barbara Houston showing as being baptised in New Abbey, Kirkcudbrightshire on 9 August 1749. Father was Matthew Houston. No others listed from 1740 to 1754.


I'll check up in my MIs for the other names.

If the Cowans were born in Glasgow, it might be best to put a separate request on the Lanarkshire Board

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,102.0.html




Gadget

[Gadget]

The Scotlands People site have 43 baptisms for Houston (and variations) in Borgue in the Old Parish Records to 1854.

It is a pay to view site but very reasonable. Reviewing these baptisms would cost you 2 credits (1 credit = 20p)

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

You could also check out the IGI - the Borgue records are online:

www.familysearch.org

Two Barbara Houston bpts are listed there - one in 1785 and one in 1791


gadget

[Gadget]

Barbara Houston and Andrew Sproat's marriage is listed on the IGI (extracted) (above) for 10 Feb 1767, Borgue.


Gadget

[Erato]

Not sure from your question how Oregon works in ….

But there is a Robert Cowan in Benton County, Oregon Territory in 1850

Robert Cowan, 27, farmer, b. Scotland
Caroline, 25, Missouri
Mary, 5, Missouri
Emeline, 3, Missouri
James S., 1, O.T. [Oklahoma Territory]
Thomas, 45,  Scotland
Oliver Jeffries, 38, wagon maker, Pennsylvania


EDIT - sorry, meant to say O.T. = Oregon or Oklahoma Territory

[nickgc]

If the Robert that Erato found is of interest, he shows up in 1860 as "Robert Cowen" with wife and 9 kids in Locust Grove Oregon, Umpqua Co.

Nick

[Gadget]

Back to Borgue, Kirkcudbrightshire -

I've checked through my MIs for Borgue and there are 29 Monumental Inscriptions for Spro(a)t plus a will; 20 for Houstan/en/on; and 4 for Cowan.

Do you have any names to go on besides the ones that you've mentioned. Otherwise it's a lot of transcribing for me 


Gadget

[Gadget]

I've been through the Houston MIs and there seem to be a few Houston/Cowan marriages and one or two Houston/Sproat marriages showing but none of the people you've mentioned.

Do you have the children of Barbara and Hugh in birth order to see if there's a traditional naming pattern discernible?


Gadget

[Gadget]

A similar pattern with the Sproats (as expected given the cross refs!) but nothing definite.

I have the following children's birth/bpts from the IGI:

1762- William (submitted)
1764 - Mary
1767 - Andrew (submitted)
1768 - John (submitted)
1769 - James (submitted)
1772 - Thomas (submitted)
1776 - David (submitted)

Note that they married in Feb 1767

As can be seen, all except Mary are patron submissions which aren't always as accurate as those from the controlled extraction programme. They would need to be checked against the parish records on the Scotland's People site (link already given above) or you could hire the film for Borgue from your nearest Family History Centre (locations given on the Family Search website)


Gadget