Thanks so much for that info Brian.

I have incorporated that into what I now know of these Garretts of mine and here it is for those that might be interested.

When Margaret Garret married Philip Cowin on 8 April 1843 at Lonan Parish, the certificate (page 31 of General Registry 1843) records Philip, 33 years, as a farmer in good circumstances with father Thomas Cowin, and records Margaret, 20 years, as a farmer’s daughter with father William Garrett. Both fathers were recorded as farmers. The couple were recorded as resident in the parish of Lonan.

The IGI has a Margaret Garrett born 10 August 1823 in Lezayre to William Garrett and Judith Killip. Despite Garretts being in Lonan for some generations, this is the best fit and all my leads so far take me back to Lezayre.

Less likely is a Margaret Ann Garrett born Lonan 11 July 1821 to Thomas Garrett and Jane Caine, according to the IGI. Census 1851 lists a Jane Garrett, widow aged 65 living at Sulby Village, Lezayre with a son John aged 26, both born Lezayre. This may be the John Garrett that has been assumed to be the brother of Margaret and William Garrett, all three of which migrated to Australia in the 1850s.

In Census 1841 (Lonan, District 2, Page 15, Grawe [?]) we find William Garrett (60, farmer), Judith Garrett (60), William Garrett (20), Margaret Garrett (15), Ann Garrett (20, female servant) and James Corlett (35, male servant).

In Census 1851 at Lonan, District 2, Grawe we find children Ann and Thomas Cowin with the Garrett family, William (b1785) and Judith (b 1781), and their son William age 30. The children are thought to be of daughter Ann Garrett (b1814) and William Cowin (b approx 1814) married on 14 October 1837 at Lonan. All the Garretts were listed as coming from Lezayre.

Our Margaret Garrett was born 1823 and could be the sister of Ann (b1814) and William Garrett. Could Ann’s husband William Cowin be the brother to Philip? Our William is thought to have been born 21 June 1818 which is 4 years later than the William in the census but many of the ages quoted vary by this magnitude. Did William and Ann Cowin also emigrate to Australia – it is thought likely.

What became of the people that ventured to Australia? Philip Cowin died accidentally on the Bendigo Goldfield within a year of arrival leaving wife Margaret and four young children. The Cowins moved to Kapunda, South Australia in 1855 with William and John Garrett and worked on the copper mines before acquiring land at Allendale and later Pine Creek where Margaret died. The Garretts and Margaret’s sons obtained large landholdings in the Flinders Ranges to the north which was their undoing. Persistent drought in the 1880s destroyed them financially and many family members died, often at a young age. John Garrett’s tombstone on the Willochra Plain still stands as a sombre reminder of the harshness of the country into which they blundered. John shares the plot with his grand-daughter Amy.

Despite the hard times, there are some Garretts (William never married) and many Cowins across all states of Australia, thanks to the courage and hard work of these fine Manx folk.

I loved my visit to Man in June 2006 and can't wait to get back. A scenic isle, lovely people!