Apologies Annie. I was browsing through this website for the first time since 2016 and saw your request. I was told about the original post and got in touch with Jenny 57 and shared all the info that I had. It never occurred to me that others might be interested.
John Cowan Reid had at least 2 brothers and 1 sister. Samuel born on 16th May 1825, Margaret Jane born c.1830 and James Martin born c. 1832. Their parents were Samuel and Jane Reid, farming at Corbally, Garvaghy, Co Down. Samuel died in 1842 and Jane died on 29th July 1872 aged 82.
The brothers Samuel and John Cowan went to Norwich and set up business as drapers and tea dealers. Samuel married Dorothy Aitken, 20, on 11th July 1848 in the Parish Church of Heigham, Norwich. They had at least 12 children, more than 7 of whom died young. Samuel died there aged 59 in 1884 and Dorothy died aged 89 in 1915. Both of them and most of their family are buried in Rosary Cemetery, Norwich.
John Cowan married Marianna Crawford on 22nd July 1856 in St Andrews Parish Church, Norwich. Her father was Douglas Crawford, deceased. They had 3-4 children in Norwich, John Crawford in 1858, Margaret Jane in 1860, Dugald Crawford in 1862 and Samuel c.1864 (I cant find his birth certificate). They then moved to Belfast 1864 - 1865 and James Porter was born on 6th March 1866, Rachel Mary on 10th August 1868, Ebenezer Martin on 13th January 1872 and Joseph on 11th April 1875. Marianna aged 62, died on 13th January 1898 and was buried in plot F12, Belfast City Cemetery with 4 of her children. John Cowan aged 77, died on 23rd September 1904 and was buried in plot O115.
James Martin inherited the family farm and married Anne Jane Mulholland from Shanrod on 26th April 1864 in Kilkinamurry Presbyterian Church, Co Down. Their 8 children were all born on the Reid family farm at Corbally. Samuel on 22nd March 1865, William James on 4th October 1866, John Andrew on 9th April 1866, Ebenezer on 8th February 1871, Robert McCheyne on 7th July 1873, George on 6th January 1875, Jane Anne on 18th April 1877 and Joseph Martin on 24th February 1879. He disappeared around 1879, leaving Anne Jane to raise 8 small children.
Margaret Jane married a widower Robert Mack, son of David Mack of Shanaghan on 16th May 1862 in Kilkinamurry Presbyterian Church. Robert had married his 1st wife, Dorothea Reid, daughter of Robert Reid, farmer of Clintagh on 20th August 1852 in Loughaghery Presbyterian Church. They had 4 children, David, Mary Ann, Isabella and Robert. Dorothea died c.1860.
Robert and Margaret Jane had 5 children, Ellen born before 1864, Dorothea Reid on 11th October 1864, Samuel on 28th September 1866, Hugh Kennedy on 12th December 1868 and Agnes on 5th
February 1872. They farmed at Mullaghdrin. Robert Mack died on 21st October 1893 aged 74 and his widow Margaret Jane died on 12th November 1900 aged 70, both at Mullaghdrin. Roberts will is online at proni.
