James Cowie

   Cause of his death was Asthma and old age, months.

  General Notes:

He married twice. Janet is believed to have died young, possibly on 9 Feb 1815 as there is a Janet Allan buried in the Lesmahagow Churchyard who died then. James was living in Lesmahagow in later years and he and his two youngest daughters with Janet both died there, with Jean also buried in the same Churchyard.

It is very curious but there is no marriage record to be found for James and Helen/Ellen and no records of the baptisms of the children. However, William and Janet WERE both baptised in Lesmahagow on 9 July 1854 at ages 23 and 15 respectively. It is possible they were members of a non-traditional Church, perhaps.

At the time of the 1841 Census he was living at Abbey Green, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire. He was aged 60, a Labourer, born in the County. Living with him was his (possibly defacto) wife Helen, aged 35 (although she was 43) and children Matthew, 12, William, 10, Eleanor, 6 and Janet, 2. All born in the County.

At the time of the 1851 Census he was living in Turfholm St, Lesmahagow and working as a "Sawyer (Wood)". He was aged 71 and birthplace clearly recorded as Bothwell, Lanark. His wife Helen was recorded as aged 46 and born in Lesmahagow. Living here was a new son James a scholar aged 9, born in Lesmahagow and a granddaughter, Helen Riddle, aged 4 born in Avondale, Lanark. Daughter Janet, aged 12, was working as a "cowherd" and resident at the Auchrobert farm, 4 miles to the east of Lesmahagow. She is recorded as a servant, working as a cowherd, born in Lesmahagow.

At various time as yet unidentified grandchildren lived with him or Helen at Census times including: Janet Black, Janet Cowie, Helen Riddell. These grandchildren are yet to be identified.

  Medical Notes:

The informant on his death record was son William.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He resided at the time of daughter Elisabeth's birth on 7 Jan 1800 in Greenhead Jerriston (?), Bothwell, , Lanark, Scotland.

• He resided at the time of Jean's birth on 2 Aug 1807 in Orbiston newtown, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Weaver according to daughter Elisabeth's birth certificate on 7 Jan 1800 in Bothwell, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Forester according to daughter Elizabeth's Death Certificate.

• He worked as a Weaver at the time of Jean's birth on 2 Aug 1807 in Orbiston newtown, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Sawyer according to daughter Margaret's death certificate.

• He worked as a "General labourer, latterly a Pauper" according to daughter Margarets death certificate in 1860.

• He worked as a Sawyer according to 2nd wife Helen's death certificate. in 1873.

James married Janet Allan. (Janet Allan was born circa 1779, died on 9 Feb 1815 in Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland and was buried on 9 Feb 1815 in Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland.)

James next married Helen Affleck, daughter of Hugh Affleck and Jean Piercy. (Helen Affleck was born on 8 Apr 1798 in Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland, christened on 15 Apr 1798 in Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland and died on 13 Oct 1873 in Abbey Green, Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland.). The cause of her death was Bronchitis, 1 year.