Robert Paul Mahoney
[13.9.1947] (or Paul, as everyone knows him) has been in touch via e-mail. He has been researching his ancestors for the past six months and found that many of them moved to Caerlaverock from Closeburn!
He tells us that the earliest direct Cowan relative in Caerlaverock is James Cowan 1793-1869 moving from Closeburn to Caerlaverock sometime around 1825. He and his growing family, all born in Caerlaverock, lived at Crossrigg Farm and at Holland Park. When the children married, Thomas Cowan lived at Bankend.                             
Paul added a list of relatives he knows lived in the village and dates when they were there:
THOMAS COWAN 1833 – 1887
AGNESS COWAN nee Montieth  1829 – 1892
JOHN TRESHIRE COWAN 1856 – 1889
THOMAS COWAN 1860
JAMES COWAN 1859 – 1937  (my grandfather)
MARY COWAN 1866
JOSEPH COWAN 1864
ROBERT COWAN 1867
AGNESS COWAN 1869
HENERIETTA COWAN 1871
…and enclosed a more detailed list he made of ‘The Cowan Migration’​ in the hope that it might prove of interest to Caerlaverock folks!
Paul continued, ‘My wife and I, together with cousin are planning to come to Caerlaverock at the end of March in an effort to understand more of our past family history.’
He is hoping that they might meet someone/ some people who may have some knowledge of the Cowans… He is keen to get in touch or to meet up – they are visiting from Monday 26th March to Thursday 29th March 2018.
If you have any information that would be of interest to Paul, or you would like to contact him, or to meet up with him on his visit, please get in touch with with us and we’ll pass your details on to him.
Paul is looking forward to reading this wee article and to any discoveries! Can you help him out?