I assume he fought in Boer war prior to marriage? however a birth of a
John Thomas Cowley was registered 10 Oct 1884 to John Patrick Cowley + Eleanor Hudson - father John was a fisherman in 1881 - maybe him - in days of impressment many would use their mother's maiden name but can't see any obvious births reg during Oct in Peel that would match Jack

might be worth checking 1891 + 1901 censuses