Hi Lesley: The family are there in my copy of the census (it's on a CD, and is a copy of the original census papers):
1861Census: RG_09_folio 4417_Piece 48b pp 18&19; Dgls_District 4_Schedule 90: 4, James Street Douglas: John Cowley, Head, M, 30, Labr, Marown; Charlotte Cowley, Wife, M, 32, Ballaugh; Thomas, Son, U, 17, Boatman, Bride; Wm, Son, 7, Dgls; Alfred, Son, 5, Dgls, Eliz, Daur, [0], Dgls.
The writing is quite "flowery" so if you're usng a source other than a photostat of the actual entry it's possible it's been mistransposed.
Brian Lawson's site at www.lawsons.ca has the census index for 1861 and this confirms the entry for: Cowley, Charlotte, 32, Dou 4417 48 90, plus all the rest of the family.
JohnL