Hi,

This email is a spin off from the James Brown 1822 thread, but involves the innumerable Christians and Cowles of Bride. Nigel Crowe suggests that the Elisa Cowle who married Wm Christian of Ballakey, Bride in Nov 1827 was the widow of Thomas Cowle of Bride who died in 1813. If so, she was Eliza Corlett the daughter of John Corlett of Loughan e Yeigh and Ann Casement. This would make good sense as the Brown family later had an interest in Loughan e Yeigh.

Nigel has given me a splendid Corlett tree, but Thomas Cowle’ s will is interesting. He appoints T A Corlett on his wife’s side of the family as guardian for their daughter Ann, and great uncle Wm Christian Jnr on his side of the family. Therfore Thos Cowle had Christians on the female side.

In 1813, at Ballakey, there were two Wm Christians, WM senior 1752-1815, and WM Jnr (1777-1852) so Wm Jnr would be a correct description for the guy who was to marry his widow !!! But IS THIS A COINCIDENCE ???

Not being on the Island at present I can’t check the parish registers, but the IGI shows that a Thos Cowll was baptised at Bride on 23 June 1791 to Thos Cowll and Ann Christian. Without further supporting detail, eg farm name added, that is not a proven entry, but is probably right. In Constance Radcliffe’s book on Bride, reference is made to an Ann Christian Ballayonaigue who married a Thos Cowle, and that the Ballayonaigue family had a lot of Wm Xtians in it, who became CPs in 1725, 1746, 1818 and 1838. Therefore, is the Wm Christian Jnr who is the great uncle and guardian of Ann Cowle of 1813 one of the Ballayonaigue family, or is he a Ballakey Christian. My guess is Ballayonaigue, but does anyone have any thoughts !!

Robert Hendry