My Great grandfather John Cowan, was only 4 years old when his family left Cork Co., Ireland. He was born in 1827, and according to the census records, it states that he had been living in the US since 1831. However I found this to not be true. For he was married in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in the early 1850's. In the end of 1850 he moved to Redwood City, CA, then shortly thereafter moved his family to Douglas Co., OR, where they raised their family of 14 children.

According to John's death certificate it stated he was born in Cork Co, Ireland, and that his parents were Ian Cowan and his mother they just listed her maiden name, which was REYNOLDS.

When Ian Cowan and his wife and two children at that time left Ireland, it is unknown where they were headed, whether it was for the US or for Canada. To this date I have found no record of my family until the early 1850's; I have no idea where they were between 1831 to 1850.

The Ship that Ian Cowan and his wife were on shipwrecked so they all had to swim to shore, which shore that was, I have no idea. During the whole time of them swimming to shore the parents took turns holding the children, as they swam to shore, their daughter did not survive to shore, however their son, my great grandfather John Cowan did.

If anyone has any ideas for me how I can even begin to track them, I would love to hear from you. I have checked the passenger Lists of Ireland, and no luck; I have tried church records of Cork Co., Ireland, for my family with no luck.

Just one word of advice for those of you who are stuck and cannot find your ancestors on Ship passenger lists, try checking to see if they were naturalized; sometimes that maybe the only record available, in cases like mine. Also sometimes if you know the area where they landed check the old newspapers of that area. Many times a list of those who were on a ship that wrecked would list the passengers.