Cowen family of Kings Lynn, Norfolk

[tenterfieldjulie]

The Cowen family of Kings Lynn who I have found, had a sad, hard life.

James the father, was born to James and Mary and was baptised at 9 months at St. Nicholas on 16/8/1769.

I have not found his marriage to Jane, but they buried two children, James and Sophia on 11/2/1791, George 1795/1796, Sarah 1801/1801, when Jane the mother died in childbirth.

The only child that I can see who survived was Cornelius and he was transported to Australia for stealing, where he then became James Cohen and died in 1855 at Windsor, NSW.

Can anyone find anything more about this family? Hopefully something not so sad. Thanks .. Julie

[kiterunner]

FreeREG has the baptism of a James Cowen, son of James and Ann, 1 Oct 1792, at St Nicholas, King's Lynn. I haven't checked the image on FamilySearch yet to see whether it is a mistranscription or another family or what.

[kiterunner]

Looking at the image on FamilySearch, it does say James and Ann but I wonder whether it is a mistake.

[tenterfieldjulie]

Yes it would make you wonder Kate. James sen died a pauper in 1784 name Cowin. He was born 1739 and married Mary King in 1761. They also had a high infant mortality. Mary 1763-1772, Sarah 1765-1767, James 1766-1767, then James 1769 who married Jane. Then there appear to be 2 children, George and Sarah born in 1776, who appear to survive.
James born 1739 son of Alexander and Sarah - siblings John 1741-1751, Sarah 1745-1745, Mary 1746.
Such a high childhood mortality in 3 generations. Was it the era, the area or just this family?

[Michael]

I live in KL (when I'm not abroad!), so next time I'm home I could pop down to St Nicholas to see if there's anything to be found there - although presumably if the family were poor, none of them would have a gravestone.

[tenterfieldjulie]

Thanks Michael that would be appreciated. Julie

[Mary from Italy]

Such a high childhood mortality in 3 generations. Was it the era, the area or just this family?

I have certain families where the mortality levels are extremely high; it may just be a question of poverty, but when it goes on for several generations I do wonder if there's something genetic, especially in one or two families where the deaths weren't infants but young men and women in their late teens or early twenties.

[Olde Crone]

I have one large family which was virtually wiped out by all the children dying in young adulthood in the 1850s and 60s. They all died of TB.

OC

[marquette]

In OHs tree we have Cohens who changed to become Cowens, not the other way around.

Have you seen this website ?
http://australianroyalty.net.au/individual.php?pid=I14915&ged=purnellmccord.ged


Di

[tenterfieldjulie]

I have some time back Di. Thanks it confirmed things that I found. Like Isabella's 3 marriages and the fact that her father was a soldier. I've never found her birth at Kilmarnock though.