Find Ancestors

I've bought an old postcard from eBay, and it seems to be that the sender and recipient are distant relations to me !!

Sent from Auldgirth House, Low Pittington, Co Durham, where one of my Carson family members lived, to a cousin in Auldgirth, Scotland.

Postcard dated to November 5,1905. Sunderland post mark.

The address in Scotland is:-

Miss Lizzie Cowan (?)
Smith's Croft,
Auldgirth, Scotland

Sender - cousin Tom (Carson)?

Can anyone help with Miss Lizzie Cowan at this address in Auldgirth?

Not sure how related even though Tom calls himself as "Your cousin".

Thanks,

Have you tried the 1901/1911census and have you tried looking for her on Scotlands People.

For info: Auldgirth seems to be in Dumfries

On 1901 census with parents Thomas and Elizabeth and sister Mary

Have a look yourself for full details

If you don’t subscribe to either FMP or Ancestry, buy credits on Scotland’s People for a small sum.

OR………take out a free trial with FMP

In 1891, there is a stepson George Wilson, so either Elizabeth had been married before she married Cowan, or she had a child out of wedlock.

1881 looks even more complex………..find it on familysearch………FREE

Do some research on Scotland’s people.

Lizzie Cowan
1901 Scotland Census
Name Lizzie Cowan
Age 20
Estimated Birth Year abt 1881 [abt 1881]
Relationship Daur (Daughter)
Father's Name Thomas Cowan
Mother's Name Elizabeth Cowan
Gender Female
Where born Closeburn, dumfriesshire
Registration Number 816
Registration District Closeburn
Civil parish Closeburn
County Dumfriesshire
Address Smith Croft <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Occupation Rural Post Girl
ED 1
Household schedule number 33
Line 13
Roll CSSCT1901_428
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Thomas Cowan 57 Head - coal carter
Elizabeth Cowan 57 Wife
Mary Cowan 22 Daur (Daughter)
Lizzie Cowan 20 Daur (Daughter)
George Wilson 29 Stepson (Step Son)


Parents' marriage:

COWAN, THOMAS
WILSON, ELIZABETH
1876
833 / 4
Keir [Dumfries-shire]


George Wilson
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
Detail
Name George Wilson
Gender Male
Birth Date 30 Mar 1872
Birth Place Torthorwald, Dumfries, Scotland
Mother Elisabeth Wilson

Thos Carson
1911 England Census
Name Thos Carson
Age in 1911 56
Estimated Birth Year abt 1855 [abt 1855]
Relation to Head Head
Gender Male
Birth Place Thornhill, Dumfriesshire
Civil parish Pittington
County/Island Durham
Country England
Street Address Auldgirth House Pittington Durham
Marital Status Married
Occupation Assistant Overseer
Registration District Number 551
Sub-registration district Durham
ED, institution, or vessel 19
Piece 29980
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Thos Carson 56 Head
Jessie Carson 54 Wife
James S Carson 23 Son
Eva Carson 20 Daughter
Nichol Briggs 17 Adopted Son
Stephen Briggs 14 Adopted Son



Thomas Carson
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
Name Thomas Carson
Gender Male
Birth Date 30 Apr 1854
Birth Place , Morton By Thornhill, Dumfries, Scotland
Baptism Place , Morton By Thornhill, Dumfries, Scotland
Residence Date 1854
Residence Place Morton, Dumfries, Scotland
Father Robert Carson
Mother Cathrine Wilson

Marriage of Thomas's parents:

CARSON, ROBERT
CATHERINE WILSON/FR359 (FR359)
29/06/1852
843
20 / 181
Morton

Thomas Carson
1861 England Census
Name Thomas Carson
Gender Male
Age 6
Relation Son
Estimated Birth Year 1855
Father's Name Robert Carson
Mother's Name Catherine Carson
Where born Scotland
Civil parish Winlaton
Ecclesiastical parish Stella St Cuthbert
Town Blaydon
County/Island Durham
Country England
Registration District Gateshead
Sub-registration district Winlaton
ED, institution, or vessel 6
Neighbors
Household schedule number 101
Piece 3809
Folio 14
Page number 22
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Robert Carson 31 Head
Catherine Carson 35 Wife - Scotland
Thomas Carson 6 Son
Mariah Carson 5 Daughter
Henry Mills 26 Boarder

Lizzie's marriage?

First name(s) Lizzie Mcmillan
Father's last name Cowan
Last name Cowan
Father's first name(s) Thomas
Spouse's father's first name(s) Hugh
Sex Female
Spouse's father's last name Burnett
Marriage year 1909
Working title Dumfries and Galloway Standard and Advertiser
Marriage year 1909
Publication title Dumfries And Galloway Standard
Marriage date 12 Feb 1909
Publication year 1909
Marriage place Auldgirth
Publication date 17 Feb 1909
Marriage county Dumfriesshire
Page number 5
Marriage country Scotland
Publication city Dumfries
Spouse's first name(s) Alexander Thom
Publication region Dumfries and Galloway
Spouse's last name Burnett
Publication county Dumfriesshire
Spouse's sex Male
Publication country Scotland
Spouse's residence place Birse
Record set British Newspaper Marriage Notices
Spouse's residence county Aberdeenshire
Category Newspapers & publications
Spouse's residence country Scotland
Subcategory Newspaper Marriage Notices


and her mother's death.

Auldgirth, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

First name(s) Elizabeth Wilson
Publication year 1914
Last name Cowan
Publication date 01 Jul 1914
Sex Female
Page number 5
Death year 1911
Publication city Dumfries
Death date 30 Jun 1911
Publication county Dumfriesshire
Place Auldgirth
Publication region Dumfries and Galloway
County Dumfriesshire
Publication country Scotland
Country Scotland
Record set British Newspaper Death & In Memoriam Notices
Spouse's first name(s) Thomas
Category Newspapers & publications
Spouse's last name Cowan
Subcategory Newspaper Death & In Memoriam Notices
Working title Dumfries and Galloway Standard
Collections from Great Britain, Scotland
Publication title Dumfries And Galloway Standard

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Blaydon, Winlaton, Gateshead, Durham, England

Household members (5 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Robert Carsane (should be Carson) Head
Married Male 31 1830 Glass bottle dealer Scotland
Catherine Carsane Wife
Married Female 35 1826 - Scotland
Thomas Carsane Son
Unmarried Male 6 1855 - Scotland
Hannah (should be Mariah) Carsane Daughter
- Female 5 1856 - Scotland
Henry Mills Boarder
Widower Male 26 1835 Engine fitter Blaydon, Durham, England


1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Robinson Street, Winlaton, Gateshead, Durham, England

Household members (6 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Robert Carson Head
- Male 38 1833 Teaser Scotland
Catherine Carson Wife
- Female 37 1834 Teaser Scotland
Thomas Carson Son
- Male 16 1855 Grocer apprentice Scotland
Maria Carson Daughter
- Female 15 1856 - Blaydon, Durham, England
William Carson Brother
- Male 35 1836 Glass founder Blaydon, Durham, England
Andrew Mair Lodger
- Male 23 1848 Labourer Blaydon, Durham, England


1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Village, Cramlington, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England
Household members (5 people)

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Carson Head
Married Male 26 1855 Grocer shopowner Scotland
Jessie Carson Wife
Married Female 23 1858 - Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland, England
Agnes Carson Daughter
Single Female 3 1878 - Winlaton, Durham, England
Catherine Carson Daughter
Single Female 0 1881 - Cramlington, Northumberland, England
Agnes Spears Mother in law
Widow Female 64 1817 - Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland, England



1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census
House & Shop, 56, Front Street, Pittington, Durham, Durham, England

Household members (7 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Carson Head
Married Male 36 1855 Grocer Scotland
Jessie Carson Wife
Married Female 32 1859 - Scotland
Agnes Maria Carson Daughter
- Female 13 1878 Scholar Blaydon, Durham, England
Catherine Swinston Carson Daughter
- Female 10 1881 Scholar Cramlington, Northumberland, England
Maria Andison Carson Daughter
- Female 5 1886 Scholar Durham, Durham, England
James Spiers Carson Son
- Male 3 1888 - Durham, Durham, England
Eva Carson Daughter
- Female 0 1891 - Durham, Durham, England



1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Front Street, Old Pittington, Pittington, Durham, Durham, England

Household members (10 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Carson Head
Married Male 46 1855 Hay & straw dealer Scotland
Jessie Carson Wife
Married Female 44 1857 - Scotland
Catherine Carson Mother
Widow Female 85 1816 - Scotland
Catherine S Carson Daughter
Single Female 20 1881 Hardware saleswoman Cramlington, Northumberland, England
Maria A Carson Daughter
Single Female 15 1886 Pupil teacher Pittington, Durham, England
James S Carson Son
- Male 13 1888 Hay & straw dealer assistant Pittington, Durham, England
Eva Carson Daughter
- Female 10 1891 - Pittington, Durham, England
Thomas Spiers Nephew
Single Male 30 1871 Engine man on road roller Scotland
George Tate Visitor
Married Male 35 1866 Photographic agent Sherburn Hill, Durham, England
William Stark Visitor
Married Male 46 1855 Blacksmith Thornley, Durham, England


1921 Census Of England & Wales
Auldgirth, Pittington, Durham, England

Household members (8 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship to head Sex Birth year Age in years Birth place Occupation Employer
Thomas Carson Head
Male 1854 67 - Assistant Overseer & Collector Of Rates & Taxes Pittington Parish Council, Commissioners Of Inland Revenue
Jessie Carson Wife
Female 1856 65 Swinton, Berwickshire, Scotland Home Duties -
Stephen Briggs Adopted son
Male 1896 24 Pittington, Durham, England Assistant Onsetter Underground Lambton & Hetton Collieries Ltd, Out Of Work
Annie Foster Granddaughter
Female 1901 19 Blaydon, Durham, England Home Duties -
Cornelius Foster Son-in-law
Male 1881 39 Durham, Durham, England Joiner -
Catherine Foster Daughter
Female 1880 41 Cramlington, Northumberland, England Home Duties -
Thomas C Foster Grandson
Male 1913 8 Durham, Durham, England - -
Cecil Foster Grandson
Male 1918 2 Durham, Durham, England - -

Big thanks everyone for the help so far....
Certainly a lot of information to catch up with and process.

It looks like Elizabeth and Catherine are siblings, hence Lizzie and Thomas are cousins.

It looks like Elizabeth was born c1844 & Catherine c1828. Quite a large age gap!

Would this be possible to find via Scotlands people given the date range?

Thanks again for the help with this.

Why not take a look.

Lizzie Cowan's family going back with attention to her mother.


1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Smiths Croft, Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (5 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Cowan - Married Male 57 1844 Coal carter Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
>>Elizabeth Cowan - Married Female 57 1844 Carters wife Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary Cowan - Single Female 22 1879 - Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Lizzie Cowan - Single Female 20 1881 Rural post girl Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
George Wilson - Single Male 29 1872 Wood sawyer Collin, Dumfriesshire, Scotland


1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Smith's Croft, Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (6 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Cowan Head
Married Male 48 1843 Carting contractor Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
>>Elizabeth Cowan Wife
Married Female 48 1843 Contractors wife Dumfriesshire, Scotland
George Wilson Step son
Unmarried Male 19 1872 Sawyer Torthorwald, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Maggie Ann Wilson Daughter
- Female 14 1877 Scholar Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary Cowan Daughter
- Female 12 1879 Scholar Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Lizzie Cowan Daughter
- Female 10 1881 Scholar Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland



1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Grocers Croft, Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (9 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Cowan Head
Married Male 37 1844 Carter Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
>>Elizabeth Cowan Wife
Married Female 37 1844 Housekeeper Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Agnes Jane Hunter Step daughter
Unmarried Female 16 1865 Domestic servant Dumfriesshire, Scotland
George Wilson Step son
Unmarried Male 9 1872 Scholar Torthorwald, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Maggie Ann Cowan Daughter
Unmarried Female 4 1877 - Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary Morin S Cowan Daughter
Unmarried Female 2 1879 - Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Elizabeth Mcmillan Cowan Daughter
Unmarried Female 0 1881 - Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
James Anderson Wilson Nephew
Unmarried Male 14 1867 Scholar Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Agnes Wilson Cousin
Unmarried Female 14 1867 Scholar Rerwick, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland

On sp, Elizabeth's death in 1911. I would hazard a guess that McMic may be McMillan and McTavhirr may be McTavish?

COWAN
ELIZABETH MCMIC
71
MCTAVHIRR
F
1911
816 / 3
Closeburn

Given the age gap, I think it more likely that Catherine was a sister or cousin of Elizabeth's father Thomas (c1813 - varies), or perhaps Catherine and Elizabeth were cousins, and that Tom (writer of postcard) meant "cousin" loosely when addressing Lizzie.

Her age, and Elizabeth's, both vary quite a bit in different censuses, which doesn't help.

I think Elizabeth's mother's mn was McWhirr - although Elizabeth's age in 1851 doesn't match the later censuses posted by Alviegal.



Elizabeth Wilson
1851 Scotland Census
Name Elizabeth Wilson
Age 12
Estimated Birth Year abt 1839 [abt 1839]
Relationship Daughter
Father Thomas Wilson
Mother Ann Wilson
Gender Female
Where born Slancairn, Dumfries [Glencairn]
Parish Number 848
Civil parish Sanquhar
Town Sanquhar
County Dumfriesshire
Address Sane [Lane] Off High Street
ED 2
Page 2
Household schedule number 6
Line 6
Roll CSSCT1851_210
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Thomas Wilson 40 Head - Kirkpatrick Durham, Kirkcudbrightshire
Ann Wilson 40 Wife
Ann Wilson 17 Daughter
Charlotte Wilson 14 Daughter
Elizabeth Wilson 12 Daughter
Mary Wilson 10 Daughter
Margt Wilson 7 Daughter
Agnes Wilson 4 Daughter
Jean Wilson 2 Mo Daughter
Elizabeth Marnell 65 Mother-in-law



Thomas Wilson
Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910
Name Thomas Wilson
Gender Male
Marriage Date 23 Jun 1833
Marriage Place Glencairn, Dumfries, Scotland
Spouse
Anne McWhirr
FHL Film Number 1067962


I can't see Elizabeth's birth, but here are two of her sisters' :

WILSON, AGNES
THOMAS WILSON/ANNE MCWHIR FR186 (FR186)
F
03/12/1846
826
20 / 44
Glencairn

WILSON, MARGARET
THOMAS WILSON/ANN MCWHIR FR79 (FR79)
F
17/11/1843
822
20 / 25
Dunscore

Elizabeth Cowan
UK and Ireland, Find a Grave® Index, 1300s-Current
Name Elizabeth Cowan
Maiden Name Wilson
Gender Female
Birth Date 1838 <<<<<<<<<<<<
Death Date 30 Jun 1911
Death Place Auldgirth, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Cemetery Closeburn Churchyard
Burial or Cremation Place Closeburn, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Has Bio? N
Spouse
Thomas Cowan
Children
Elizabeth McMillan Burnett

I've had a look at Elizabeth's death cert.

Elizabeth McMichael Cowan, married to Thomas McMichael Cowan, postman.
Died 30/6/1911 at Smith's Croft.

Parents: Thomas Wilson, ploughman, deceased.
Ann Wilson, ms McQwhirr, deceased.

Cause of death: Apoplexy 14 days; cardiac failure.
Informant: Thomas McMichael Cowan, widower.

It's a pity Catherine died in England, as it means we can't see her death cert online, to check parent's names. [ EDIT: But no - not on English death certs.]


CARSON, CATHERINE 77
GRO Reference: 1907 J Quarter in GATESHEAD Volume 10A Page 576


Catherine Carson
UK and Ireland, Find a Grave® Index, 1300s-Current
Name Catherine Carson
Death Date 11 May 1907
Cemetery Blaydon Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place Blaydon, Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England


Born c1830, therefore not a child of Thomas and Ann, who married in 1833.


???? Wild guess at her birth (because she married in Morton):

WILSON, CATHARINE
JAMES WILSON/JANET BLACKLAY FR249 (FR249)
F
31/10/1830
843
20 / 30
Morton



Catharine Wilson
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
Name Catharine Wilson
Gender Female
Age 0 [0]
Birth Date 23 Oct 1830
Baptism Date 31 Oct 1830
Baptism Place , Morton By Thornhill, Dumfries, Scotland
Residence Date 1830
Residence Place Morton, Dumfries, Scotland
Father
James Wilson
Mother
Janet Blacklay

Continung with that guess:

Catherine Wilson
1851 Scotland Census
Detail
Name Catherine Wilson
Age 19
Estimated Birth Year abt 1832 [abt 1832]
Relationship Daughter
Father
James Wilson
Mother
Janet Wilson
Gender Female
Where born Morton, dumfrissh
Parish Number 867
Civil parish Irongray
County Kirkcudbrightshire
Address Barbnie
Occupation Farmers Daur
ED 3
Page 15
Household schedule number 42
Line 19
Roll CSSCT1851_212
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
James Wilson 53 Head
Janet Wilson 51 Wife
Robert Wilson 25 Son
Mary Wilson 23 Daughter
Adam Wilson 21 Son
Catherine Wilson 19 Daughter
Janet Wilson 14 Daughter



Catherine Wilson
1841 Scotland Census
Name Catherine Wilson
Age 10
Estimated Birth Year abt 1831 [abt 1831]
Gender Female
Where born Scotland
Civil parish Kirkpatrick Irongray
County Kirkcudbrightshire
Address Barbine
Parish Number 867
Household Members (Name) Age
Jame Wilson 40
Jennet Wilson 40
Jane Wilson 15
Robert Wilson 16
Mary Wilson 14
Adane Wilson 12
Catherine Wilson 10
Grace Wilson 6
Jannet Wilson 4

The parents' names won't be on the death cert..................seeing it won't help

Have you tried doing any research yourself, Marcus?