Cowie, Peterhead 1841/1851

[Forfarian]

If Alexander was 21 on his wedding day, 1 January 1857, he must have been born in 1835, not in the 1840s.

I read the marriage year as 1867.

You could be right - still looks like a 5 to me.

[Forfarian]

Curiouser and curiouser.

According to the index at Scotland's People, there were 6 Cowie children with mother's maiden surname Murcar or Murker born in Peterhead
Margaret 1872
Annabella 1875
Jane and Alexander (twins) 1877
Christian Ann 1881
Elizabeth 1884

so there's a gap between 1867 and 1872 when you'd expect there to be at least some older children. So where were Alexander and Jane living in the 1861 and 1871 censuses?

There's a death of a James Murcar Cowie, aged 57, in 1927. Is he one of theirs? Where and when was he born?

[Neale1961]

1871 census
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/63dbe8dcf493fd29216a7684/alexr-cowie-1871-aberdeenshire-peterhead-1846-?locale=en

[Forfarian]

Got him - b 1869, mmn not indexed.

[Andrew C.]

Thanks both the year isn’t clear but it is 1867.

Alexander and Jane had eight children in total and I think I am okay from that point on. I thought the William and Margaret were mine, but I suppose I can’t be sure, and from there I was hoping to go a generation back.

I will troll through the OPRs and see if anything jumps out.

[Andrew C.]

Spent a couple of hours looking at the census and OPRs for Peterhead. And I know there will be gaps but this is what I can see.

Births

1836 George father George
1837 George father William
1839 William Mearns father George
1842 William father William
1842 Alexander father William
1843 George father James

Deaths

George 1845 - 1848

1841

George age 5 with George and Jane
George age 4 with William and Margaret
William age 2 with George and Jane
William age 5 with Barbara
William age 1 with William and Margaret

1851

George age 14 with Grandmother Isabella
William age 12 with grandmother
William age 12 with Jane
William age 10 Orphan
Alexander age 8 Orphan
Alexander age 7 with Barbra

1861

Alexander 16 with Barbara

The OPR has William born to William in 1842 that can’t be the William aged one with William and Margaret in 1841.

To my surprise I found a death for George Cowie age 74 in 1913 in Peterhead he was born in Peterhead mother surname Martin. He married Isobella Hall in New Deer in 1861 and by 1871 they were in Peterhead. Is this the George with Isabella Brown? In 1841 Isobella is in Pitmillan, Foveran and Fetterangus in 1871 still carrying letters. I think this confirms that George and my Alexander are brothers. I need to confirm if it is the William and Margaret on the 1841 census with the other sibling William. Still need to work out where they are in 1851, the only George I can see is with Isabella so where is Alexander? If he is 21 in 1867 that doesn’t correspond with being 8 in 1851, he is 45 on his 1890 Death cert.

[Neale1961]

To my surprise I found a death for George Cowie age 74 in 1913 in Peterhead he was born in Peterhead mother surname Martin. He married Isobella Hall in New Deer in 1861 and by 1871 they were in Peterhead.

What does the marriage certificate. say about parents - names and occupations and if deceased?

This would be a better way to confirm George and Alexander were brothers.

Do you have a marriage for William?

[Neale1961]

Isobel BROWN 1841
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a140366f4040b9d6ee7d10f/isabell-brown-1841-aberdeenshire-old-deer-1791-?locale=en

Isobel BROWN 1851
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59026774e9379091b1cd14de/isabel-brown-1851-aberdeenshire-old-deer-1790-?locale=en

Isobel BROWN 1861
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59026ae5e9379091b1db4211/isobella-brown-1861-aberdeenshire-old-deer-1790-?locale=en

Isobel died in 1865 - Old Deer age 74
Her death certificate may give you useful information about the name and relation of the informant.

[Andrew C.]

Alexander’s marriage certificate is the one I posted earlier. Father William, mother Margaret Martin. I will get some SP credits later and check the certs.