Descendants meet 110 years later

Tim McDonald was scrolling through a genealogy website back in 2000 when he saw a request from Jonathan Cowie of San Jose, California.

Cowie was looking for information about his Liverpool ancestors.

The family once owned a tannery and saddle shop near the town well, which John More Senior built in 1810.

Andrew Cowie arrived in Nova Scotia from Scotland in 1816.

Two years later he settled in Liverpool.

Cowie married More’s daughter in 1820 and lived in the More house.

Cowie eventually purchased the tannery, expanding it over time.

He also had a sawmill, shipping business and a saddle and harness shop.

The tannery was located on Main Street, near the town well, where Francis Well now resides, said McDonald.

McDonald started contacting Jonathan Cowie via email on a daily basis to exchange information.

With the information McDonald realized he knew Cowie was excited. “Of course any of us who do genealogy, it’s kind of a thrill to find your own stuff,” said McDonald, “and it’s just as much of a thrill to help other people find their stuff.”

McDonald met Cowie in September 2002, when he visited Liverpool.

With McDonald as a tour guide, Cowie visited the local Anglican Church where his family had donated items in the late 1800s.

Cowie also got to see the home his ancestors built, as it still stands today.

Cowie had collected photographs of each generation of Cowie, except for the photograph of Andrew Cowie’s son, Alexander.

McDonald was able to find that photograph at the Queens County Museum. “All I could think was, wow,” said Cowie. “The simple joy you feel when the last piece of a puzzle is put into place overwhelmed me.”

Cowie still gets goosebumps to this day when he recalls the story.

Another connection between the two occurred in 1893.

McDonald said his great, great grandfather bought a property in Liverpool.

Cowie’s great, great grandfather was looking after the sale of the property. “So our families had a business connection in 1893 and then we met almost 110 years later,” explained McDonald.

In October 2005, McDonald met up with Cowie in San Francisco while on vacation.

McDonald said they met again early this year. “I never thought in a million years that I would ever learn so much about my own family from someone who started off as a perfect stranger and who became such a good friend,” said Cowie.

McDonald is hoping someone has information, articles or photographs of the tannery.

Anyone with information can telephone him at 354-2450.