Benjamin W. Cowan

Birth Name Benjamin W. Cowan
Gender male
Age at Death about 68 years, 19 days

Narrative

In September 2007, I received an e-mail a descendant of Benjamin Cowan by his second wife, Sarah Newell. The information said that

'Benjamin was orphaned when he was about 16 and not long after that married Roseanna Inman. They had two children, Martha and Augustus. (Augustus seems to have died young.) Ben went off to the Civil War. His wife Roseanna put Martha and Augustus in the Hampden, Maine "poorhouse" (which appears to have been a boarding house that the local sheriff ran - that was pretty common then - that the sheriff boarded the poor) while Roseanna worked as a housekeeper for a family named Carey.

Ben acknowledged Augustus and Martha as his children, but it appears that when he came home from the war there was a third child, Eva. Ben never claimed Eva as his child; Ben and Roseanna divorced and Roseanna married a son of the Carey family that she had been working for. (Probably Eva's father). Even after she married him, Augustus, Martha and Eva remained at the Hampden poorhouse.

Ben then moved up to Greenville where he was a logger; he married my gr-grandmother Sarah Newell who had been widowed twice. (If the census calls her "Susan" it is an error - her name was Sarah.) They had seven children.

My grandmother Flora knew her half-sister Martha; the local paper also mentioned that "Ben Cowan's daughter Martha is visiting," so Ben and Martha were not estranged.

Ben was a sergeant in the 28th Maine infantry stationed in Louisiana; then he joined the 2nd Maine Cavalry as a private (and a blacksmith); he was stationed at Pensacola, FL. He was wounded in the knee in a battle in Alabama.'

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Page 7 of The 1870-71 Report of the Selectmen of the Town of Hampden, Maine lists Martha, Augustus and Cora E Cowan as pauper inmates of the alms house during the year ending March 1871. Page 8 says that Hampden received $351.34 from Salem Maine in the past year for the support of the Cowan children.

Report found at: http://heirloomsreunited.blogspot.com/2012/03/1870-71-report-of-selectmen-of-town-of.html

So was Benjamin in Salem Maine in this time period? I haven't found him on the census and he didn't remarry until the 1870's, according to sources online.

 

Events

Event Date Place Description Sources
Birth about 1835 Salem, Franklin County, Maine, United States   1
General

for his birth year:
1850 Census with his brother Zenas says Benjamin was born about 1834
1850 Census in Lovina Grant's household says he was born about 1835
1860 Census says he was born about 1833
His first Civil war enlistment record says he was born about 1834
His second Civil war enlistment record says he was born about 1836
His 1880 Census says he was born about 1848.
His 1900 Census says he was born in April 1847.
His death record says he was born about November 19, 1838

Census (Boarder) July 31, 1850 Hampden, Penobscot County, Maine, United States Lovina Grant household 2a
Event Note

1850 Census of Hampden, Penobscot County, Maine, family 362, stamped page 338
July 31, 1850

Lovina Grant, 40, born in Maine
Florilla Grant, 4, attended school within the year, born in Maine
Sewell W Grant, 2, male, born in Maine
Benjamin Cowan, 14, attended school within the year, born in Maine

 

Census (Brother) August 1, 1850 Hampden, Penobscot County, Maine, United States Zenas Cowan household 2b
Event Note

1850 Census, Hampden, Penobscot Co Maine
August 1, 1850

Zenas Cowan, 28, farmer, real estate: $700
Sarah Cowan, 22
Joseph Cowan, 3
George Cowan, 1
David Cowan, 17
Lucretia Cowan, 50
Benjamin Cowan, 15

all born in Maine

Census (Head) June 18, 1860 Hampden, Penobscot County, Maine, United States West Hampden Post Office 3a
Event Note

1860 Census, Hampden, Penobscot Co., Maine
Post Office: West Hampden
June 18, 1860
Series M653, Roll 447, Page 357, family 413 and 414
June 18, 1860

Inman, Benjamin, 86, farmer, real estate: $700, personal estate: $600
Inman, Rhoda, 73
Page, Joana, 36, domestic
Page, Abba D., 6
Page, Anne D., 6
Page, Thomas P., 4

Benjamin Cowan, 26, male, laborer, no real estate or personal estate
Rose Cowan, 20, female
Martha E Cowan, 1, female
Sarah Davis, 8, female

All born in Maine

----
Rose Cowan was the daughter of Benjamin and Rhoda (Davis) Inman
Rhoda Inman was a Davis by birth

 

Census (Head) June 23, 1880 Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine, United States   4a
Event Note

1880 Census Monson, Piscataquis Co., Maine
Series T9, Roll 487, Page 155
June 23, 1880
Cowen, Benjamin W., 48, quarry man
-----, Sarah J., 39
-----, Flora, 5
-----, Frank, 5
-----, Orin, 4
-----, Lizzie, 2
-----, Benjamin, 2 months

All born in Maine, parents also

Census (Head) June 21, 1900 Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine, United States   5a
Event Note

1900 Census Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine
Series T623, Roll 598, Page 202
June 21, 1900

Cowan, Benjamin, Apr 1847, 53, married 26 years, no occupation
Cowan, Sarah, Sep 1839, 60, married 26 years, 12 children, 8 alive, born in Maine, father in England, mother in Maine
Cowan, Bennie Feb 1880, 20, day labor
Cowan, David Mar 1882, 18, day labor
Cowan, Alvin Jun 1884, 12
All sons.
All birthplaces beside Sarah's father: Maine

 

Death January 20, 1903 Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine, United States   6a
Event Note

Benj W. Cowan
place of death: Monson, Maine
Date of death: 20 Jan 1903
Age at death: 64y, 1 m, 21d
Place of Birth: Salem, Maine
white, male, married
Occupation: Laborer
Father: James Cowan, a farmer, born in England
Mother: Lucrecia Winslow, born in Avon, Maine
Cause of death: Cerebral apoplexy

 

Burial   Hillside Cemetery, Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine, United States   7a
Event Note

Benjamin W. Cowan
Birth 30 Apr 1839
Salem, Franklin County, Maine, USA
Death 20 Jun 1903 (aged 64)
Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine, USA
Burial Hillside Cemetery, Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine, USA
Memorial ID 134204992

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134204992/benjamin-w.-cowan

Military Service from 1863 to 1865      
Event Note

----------------------
Civil War record transcriptions from ancestry.com:
Name: Benjamin Cowan
Residence: New Portland, Maine
Age at Enlistment: 28
Enlistment Date: 13 Oct 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: Maine
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, Maine 28th Infantry Regiment on 13 Oct 1862.
Promoted to Full Corporal on 06 Apr 1863.
Mustered out on 31 Aug 1863 at Augusta, ME.
Birth Date: abt 1834
Sources: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine

---------------
Name: Benjamin Cowan
Residence: New Portland, Maine
Age at Enlistment: 27
Enlistment Date: 24 Dec 1863
Rank at enlistment: Sergeant
State Served: Maine
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company K, Maine 2nd Cavalry Regiment on 24 Dec 1863.
Promoted to Full Private.
Mustered out on 06 Dec 1865 at Barancas, FL.
Birth Date: abt 1836
Sources: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine

 

Parents

Relation to main person Name Birth date Death date Relation within this family (if not by birth)
Father James Cowan
Mother Lucretia Winslow
         Benjamin W. Cowan about 1835 January 20, 1903

Families

Family of Benjamin W. Cowan and Rosanna Inman
Married Wife Rosanna Inman ( b. about 1838 d. January 20, 1916 )
   
Event Date Place Description Sources
Marriage July 26, 1856 Orrington, Penobscot County, Maine, United States   8a
General

Orrington Maine, Vital Records, Marriages, 1847 to 1863, film at familysearch.org
page 82 of the original book, record #132
image 363 at familysearch.org

Orrington, July 26, 1856
This day Mr Benjamin Cowan of Orrington and Miss Rosanna Inman of Newburgh entered their intentions of marriage in the records of the town of Orrington
Attest: Simeon Fowler, town clerk
The parties above named were joined in marriage at Orrington by me this twenty sixth day of July, 1856
Attest: John C Prescott, preacher
witness: Betsey Pickard

Divorce October 17, 1870 Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine, United States   9a
Event Note

October 18, 1870, Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, page 3
Supreme Judicial Court - October Term
Appleton, Chief Justice, presiding
Monday, October 17, 1870

Rosannah W Cowan vs Benjamin Cowan - Libel for divorce; cause, drunkenness and desertion. Divorce decreed; custody of the children entrusted with the mother.

York [attorney] for Liballant

  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
Martha Ellen CowanSeptember 14, 1859October 14, 1943
Augustus Cowanabout 1864
Cora Eva Cowanabout 1866

Family of Benjamin W. Cowan and Sarah Newell
Married Wife Sarah Newell ( b. d. ... )

Source References

  1. Censuses
  2. 1850 United States Census
      • Page: Hampden, Maine, family 362, stamped page 338
      • Citation:

        "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6V3-BMD : 22 December 2020), Benjamin Cowan in household of Lovina Grant, Hampden, Penobscot, Maine, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

      • Page: Hampden, Maine, Zenas Cowan household
      • Citation:

        "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6VQ-ZNL : 29 February 2020), Benjn Cowan in household of Zenas Cowan, Hampden, Penobscot, Maine, United States; citing family 389, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

  3. 1860 United States Census
      • Page: Hampden, Penobscot Co., Maine, Series M653, Roll 447, Page 357.
      • Citation:

        "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDCW-3WR : 18 March 2020), Benjamin Cowan, 1860.

  4. 1880 United States Census
      • Page: Monson, Piscataquis Co., Maine, ED 70, sheet 155D
      • Citation:

        "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFQS-F9G : 19 February 2021), Benjamin Cowen in household of Benj W Cowen, Monson, Piscataquis, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district ED 70, sheet 155D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,487.

  5. 1900 United States Census
      • Page: Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine, ED 131, sheet 9B, family 203
      • Citation:

        "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMLB-NPT : accessed 11 August 2021), Benjamin Cowan, Monson Town, Piscataquis, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 131, sheet 9B, family 203, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,598.

  6. Maine Vital Records
      • Page: deaths, Benj Cowan, 20 Jan 1903, Monson, Maine
      • Citation:

        "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZ3P-3XV : 2 March 2021), Benj W Cowan, 20 Jun 1903; citing Monson, , Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.

  7. findagrave.com
      • Page: Memorial ID 134204992
  8. Maine Marriages, 1771-1907
      • Page: Cowan-Inman, Orrington, July 26, 1856, p 82 of the original book, image 363 on the film
      • Citation:

        "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4DN-2HW : 14 January 2020), Benjamin Cowan, 1856.

  9. Bangor Daily Whig and Courier
      • Page: October 18, 1870, page 3