JC & Liz
I'm away from home for a few days. Have laptop with me but no references.
From my database
Robert Caine 1829 Patrick s/o Robert Caine & Christian Faragher I believe it was this Robert but have conflict in my database I can't check out until I get home. If I'm right, the 2nd one might be the carter Robt
or
Robert Caine 1828 Patrick s/o William Caine & Elizabeth Kelly
I only have him in 1841 and 1851 censuses
1841 Patrick
William 50 tenant & fisherman, Elizabeth 50, William 22, Thomas 17, Robert 13, Robert Clark 25, Catharine 25 spinner, Thomas Cain 8

1851 Patrick Mullin-e-Clee
William 57 farmer 11 acres b Patrick, Elizabeth 62 b German, William 30, John 28, Thomas 24 impotent, Robert 23, Margaret Crellin 15 servant

Either Robt #1 or Robt #2
md Margaret Garrett 1852
Patrick Monumental Inscripstions
New Yard
#216
In loving memory of Robert Cain formerly of Ballaspet who died July 21st 1886 aged 57 years
Also, Margaret beloved wife of the above who died September 4th aged 59 years
Also Philip son of the above who died June 1st 1884 aged 17 years
Also John son of the above who died July 5th 1884 aged 25 years
Also James Cubbon formerly of Gordon Patrick who died October 1905 aged 70 years
Also Catherine Cubbon beloved wife of the above who died January 1922 aged 86 years.

DJD
***************************

So John Cowell refers to his daughter, Harriet, by her married surname, and to his granddaughter, Alice, by her married name----and yet he refers to his daughter, Edith Ann, as Cowell. This suggests that Edith hadn't married John Cain, but was living with him as man and wife ----so they could be the couple who married in 1917.

I've found a Robert Cain, an unmarried carter, who could be the father of John Cain, if John was illegitimate, in which case, John could have been known by his mother's surname until his marriage.

**********************************************
1901

CAIN Robert 73 German 5306 88 53

German 3b/8
Ballig
Robert Cain head unm 73 coal carrier b Patrick
living alone

******************************************

1891

CAIN Robert 60 German 4682 76 16

German A 2a/3
Starveg Rd ?

Robert Cain head unm 60 carter horse b Patrick
Eliza Christian housekeeper unm 50 b German
Thomas Garratt boarder unm 23 farm lab b German

*********************************************
1881
German-Peel B 3a/14
45 Patrick St

Robert Cain head unm 48 coal porter b Patrick
sharing a house with several others

************************************
Possibly this one ?
1871
German 1a/19
CAIN Robert 38 Peel 5771 143 92

Upper Market St
Robt Cain lodger unm 38 pauper b Patrick (transcribed by Ancestry as Ada 33)
in a lodging house with lots of others

***************************************
Possibly this one ?
1861

CAIN Robert 25 German 4420 20 4

German 2a/2
Kew Cottage

William Cain head unm 30
Robert Cain brother unm 25
both "drainer of land" b Patrick

*********************************
Possibly this one ?

1841
Patrick 4/2
Kiewellyn ?

Robt Caine 40
Christian Caine 35
Charlotte Caine 15
Wm Caine 14
Robt Caine 13
Thos Caine 9
John Caine 8
Cath Caine 6
Ellen Caine 11 MO
Ann Caine 85

Christian alias Fargher ?

*************************************************
ROBERT CAINE Pedigree
Male

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening: 04 JAN 1829 Patrick, Isle Of Man, England

Death:
Burial:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents:
Father: ROBT CAINE Family
Mother: XTIANA FARGHER

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Messages:
Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.

*************************************
This is all speculation, though.

Donna, can you supply info on the Robert Cain who was a carter in 1881, 1891 and 1901 (unmarried, b Patrick circa 1830). Also, the Robert b 1829, son of Robert Cain and Christian Fargher (can he be ruled out--- eg did he marry someone ?)

Is there an MI for this burial ?

CAIN, Robert 71 German 30 Dec 1901

********************************************