Parents:

The parents of William COWIE were William COWIE, b: Abt. 1781 in Stirlinghsire, also a shoemaker, & Christian WALKER (who may have been the daughter of John WALKER & Christian McNAIR, b: Bef. 13 May 1792 Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland, but this is not proved).

Military:

William COWIE was a Pvt. 5th. Dragoon Guards from 1835 to 1855; otherwise a shoemaker. He was wounded 05 Nov 1854 in the Battle of Inkerman during the Crimean War & received the Crimean Medal with clasps for Alma (20 Sep 1854) & for Inkerman (05 Nov 1854), as well as the Turkish Medal. (These medals were later distributed among the family, according to old notes.)
He served in the following locations:

06 Aug 1835 - Enlisted 5th. Dragoon Guards, Piershill, Edinburgh, Scotland (Map),
(Piershill barracks, built 1793, were on the site of Piershill Squares East & West)
Age 22, Height 6'1", Comlexion fair, Eyes grey, Hair light brown, No distinctive marks,
Bounty paid to recruit £2-12s-0d, Daily pay 1s-4d,
(Note: 1s-4p in 1835 equals approximately GB£4.02 in 2002
& £2-12s-0p in 1835 equals approximately GB£156.83 in 2002);
06 Oct 1837 - Birmingham, Warwickshire, England (Map);
Jul 1841 - Apr 1844 - Cahir and Dublin, Ireland (Map);
Apr 1844 - Apr 1845 - Manchester, Lancashire, England (Map);
Apr 1848 - Mar 1850 - Birmingham, Warwickshire, England;
05 Nov 1854 - Battle of Inkerman, Crimea (wounded);
24 Nov 1854 - To Scutari, by ship;
11 May 1855 - Sent to Regiment;
28 Aug 1855 - Discharged (19y 359d service, "Permanently disqualified for further Service in consequence of Paralysis and varicose condition of the veins of the left lower extremity.")
1861 - Chelsea Pensioner
(Many thanks to J. VERNON for this information!)

Marriage:

William COWIE married first Margaret CHALMERS (a.k.a. Margaret CHAMBERS) on 23 Dec 1844 in Manchester Cathedral, Lancashire, England ("Coll** - Collegiate Parish Church of Manchester"). The marriage was witnessed by Samuel HIGGINSON & Barnaby WARD. Margaret CHALMERS was the daughter of David CHALMERS, "Shawl Manufacr." & Grace CHALMERS. She was said to have been a nurse during the Crimean War. Margaret COWIE (Margaret CHALMERS) died 22 Jul 1858 in Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire, Scotland & is buried in the Churchyard, St. Ninians. William COWIE married Margaret King MC NIE (a.k.a. Margaret King MCNIE), daughter of George Mc NIE & Mary ARCHIBALD on 8 Apr 1860 at St. Ninians, Stirling. She was born 23 Apr 1832 in Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland.

The Three Children from the First Marriage:

1. William COWIE was born about 1846 in England, perhaps Manchester, Lancashire. In the 1861 Census of Cambusbarron, St. Ninians, Stirlingshire, he was listed as "Gold smith 'Jeweler'". As another son named William was born in 1865 during the second marriage, it seems that this William had died by that time.

2. Margaret Jane COWIE was born 29 Jan 1849 at 2 Henry St., (District and Sub District - Duddeston Nechells), Aston, Warwickshire, England (Map). This was near the cavalry barracks. (Henry & other nearby streets have been replaced by a motorway.) Margaret Jane married John Duncan GALL in Cambusbarron, St. Ninians, Stirlingshire, Scotland, where she was a domestic servant. They then resided in Edinburgh, where he was a Shorthand Writer. They had one son, John Stewart Smith GALL (1875 - 1960) & one daughter, Margaret Cowie GALL (a.k.a. Maggie GALL, 1877 - 1889). Both John Duncan GALL & Margaret Jane COWIE died in Edinburgh, he on 05 Sep 1881 & she on 06 May 1944.

3. Christina COWIE (a.k.a. Tina COWIE) was born after Aug 1851 in Dublin, Ireland. She was listed as a dressmaker (unmarried) in the 1871 census of Cambusbarron. "C. COWIE" witnessed the marriage of Margaret Jane COWIE to John Duncan GALL 02 Jan 1874 in Cambusbarron, St. Ninians, Stirlingshire, Scotland.

The Five Children from the Second Marriage:

4. George McNie COWIE (a.k.a. George MacNie COWIE, Sir George McNie COWIE) was born 25 May 1861 at St. Ninians, Stirlingshire, Scotland. In 1885 George M. COWIE was President of the Edinburgh Deaf & Dumb Benevolent Soc. He "was deaf & dumb following scarlet fever. He was in spite of that Head Illustrator for the world known book publishers Nelson & Co. of Edinburgh." After 1911 he was Art Editor of Nelson's. "Mr. COWIE had an 'estate' somewhere on the outskirts of Edinburgh [in 1918 he resided at 14 Glenisla Gardens, 14 Glen Isla? He] illustrated . . books when he worked at Nelson's the book publishers. [Friends] spoke to him through sign language. He was a nice old man sitting smoking his pipe looking at his little garden & watching the trains go by." He died at age 87 in 1948; he never married.

5. John COWIE was born 24 Mar 1863 at St. Ninians, Stirling, Scotland & died in 1867 aged four.

6. William COWIE (a.k.a. Willie COWIE) was born 30 Oct 1865 at St. Ninians, Stirling, Scotland; "went to the States (USA) at an early age & died in Brooklyn (NY) many years ago . . he was in the printing business."

7. Alexander COWIE was born 17 Jan 1868 at St. Ninians, Stirling, Scotland & died in 1870 aged two.

8. Isabella Mary COWIE (a.k.a. Bella COWIE) was born 2 Apr 1871 at St. Ninians, Stirling, only ten days after the death of her father & one day before the 1871 census. Bella was said to be "matron of a hospital in Georgetown, British Guiana (Map), & married to the Military Governor of British Guiana, Col. MAY? Retired to south of England."

(Some information on Bella, George, Tina & Willie COWIE taken from notes
& not considered "fact".
We have recently received information & photos regarding George M. COWIE.)