Thanks, David. But since I only know of him (except for 1841 census and christening record) via his descendants living in Australia who have posted on Ancestry dot com, they pretty much have covered his Australian records and depending on whether the person supplying his information at death in Victoria knew his parentage or not, they do list his parents as Isabella Christian and Thomas Cowan. The Cowan spelling is pretty common when the people surnamed Cowin leave the Isle of Man. I sure would like to know when he got to Australia and his migration route on the way because he's gone from the family censuses before he reaches the age of 21. Haven't really scoured the Manx censuses though. But he marries Maria O'Keefe in Victoria in 1864 and nine of his children born there are accounted for as follows:
Isabella Ann Cowan 1866–
Catherine Jane Cowan 1868–1945
Grace Alice Cowan 1870–
Jane Blanche Cowan 1872–
James Douglas Canning Cowan 1875–
Annie Margaret Cowan 1877–1928
Lydia Dorothy Cowan 1880–1959
Evelyn Mary Cowan 1881–1955
Thomas Stuart Cowan 1884–1960
I stumbled on this engrossing family trying to make a peripheral connection to my branch of Cleggs via his possible and dare I say probable sister Margaret. Just looking for descendants who might be able to help me seal the deal.
Thanks,
Kay