Anstruther McGOWAN at Torbay, New Zealand

Anstruther McGowan was born 5 Sept 1868 plus 1 at Dumfries, Scotland. Anstruther's parents were James Hairstens McGowan c1836-1918 and Annie Fuller Marshall c1841-bef1901.

At the time of the 1891 Scotland census, Anstruther was employed as a Clerk. The 1901 England census index, online at www.census.pro.gov.uk, shows Anstruther at St Helier parish, Jersey. He was age 33 and a solicitor. Also resident in the same parish was Jane McGowan, age 56, born at same place. (I did not download an image of this census record.)

Some time later, Anstruther resided at Torbay, near Auckland, in New Zealand. According to an item posted by the Torbay Community buttociation to its web site at www.torbay.co.nz:

"Waiake Beach also used to be known as McGowanÕs Beach, after Anstruther McGowan, affectionately known as Father McGowan. He owned a large block of land from the beach, up the South bank of Deep Creek to the falls at the top, some of it in apple orchard.Ó

I have also learned that there is an Ellangowan Road in Torbay: Ellangowan was the name given to the McGowan home in Dumfries.

If this information strikes someone as familiar, please drop me a line. Our family relationship is through the Marshall line, to Aghaloo parish in County Tyrone, Ireland.

Alison Causton Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia