| Notes |
- Contrary to family belief that he was a Banker, Henry Cowe's profession is given on his daughter's marriage certificate (1879) as 'General Merchant. He is stated to be deceased by this time.Actually, he was not deceased. (See below *) He had remarried, to Patricia chalmers Hunter,but was seemingly estranged from the children of his first marriage. Ella was married to DAvid barker at her aunt's.
His occupation is given as Fish Curer on his daughter, Ella's, birth certificate in 1854; on his son, Peter's in 1857, it is 'Herring curer'. He also states he is Fish curer and widower on his 2nd marriage certificate in 1869, and it is given again on his death registration in 1887. Hmmm, fairly clear.
In the 1841 Census he is living at home with the family at 23 Church Street, Berwick, as a carpenter's apprentice.
In the 1851 Census he is still living at home, as a cooper.
Peter C Robertson says, "Coopers made barrels for brewers, ships' provisions and more especially for the salmon trade. According to David Brenchley in his book, A Place By Itself, the more successful coopers came to be drawn further into the trade. The leading coopers became entrepreneurs and merchants. Henry must have followed this pattern and become a fish Curer and then a general merchant. However it should be remembered that his father came to Berwick as a simple inshore white fisherman but became a fish Curer and finally a fishmonger. Clearly these Cowes were enterprising."
Is this the Henry Cowe, aged 56, in the 1881 Census, married to Patricia C H Cowe, 56 living at 26 Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh, and with three children? YES!
- Earl Grey Street is about half a mile from Gillespie Crescent where Ella was married (at her widowed Aunt Margaret's house) in 1879.
- this Henry is listed as "Fish Curer", aged 56, born in Berwick-upon-Tweed (which fits with Ella's father's data.)
BUT
- why did she state he was 'deceased' on her marriage certificate?
- did he remarry after Isabella Murray died? Given the ages of the three children listed as living with him at Earl Grey St (David H,11, Grace C, 9, and Harriet A, 7) this could have been a second marriage for him. Patricia is aged 46, so it was a late marriage for her. She was born in Maxwelltown, KKB - did she know the Barker family? Is this how Ella got the position of Governess there?
- Patricia was Patricia Chalmers Hunter, and the names of the children do not reflect B-u-T Cowes. Did she have some 'social status'? DId Ella not get on with her, hence the fact that she said her father was deceased?
January 2000. Further GRO entries from Peter C Robertson:
Henry Cowe, 44, fish curer and widower, of Tweed Villa, Newhaven Road, Leith, married Patricia Chalmers Hunter, 34, spinster, of George Place, Leith Walk, Edinburgh on 3 June 1869 at her home. He was the son of Peter Cowe, fish curer, deceased, and Catherine Burgeon. She was the daughter of David Hunter, carpet merchant and Grace Chalmers, deceased.
Henry Cowe, 62, fish curer, married to (1) Isabella Murray, (2) Patricia Chalmers Hunter, died at 4.30 am on 23 May 1887, at 4 Argyle Park Terrace, Edinburgh. Dr James Cappel certified Brain Softening. He was the son of Peter Cowe, fish curer, deceased, and Catherine Burgoyne, deceased. David H. Cowe, son, was the informant.)
So
Did Henry not approve of Ella marrying a man almost his own age?
Why did she say he was 'Deceased'?
Why did she marry at his brother's house?
|
Barker - Humphrys Family Tree
1824 - 1887 (62 years)