Cowin/Cannon
Manx Smugglers in 18th & 19th centuries
I am descended on the maternal line from John&Margaret Cowin. Married in 1863 at either Santon or Castletown. They farmed at Ballacregga and then at Knock Fry (Cronk Froy?). My maternal grandmother Helena Catherine married James Phipps Cannon of Douglas in October 1900 at Bolton, Lancs. They returned to the island for some years and then moved to Wallasey, Merseyside where my mother, Helena Jean was born in December 1920.If any members could fill in any gaps for me I would appreciate it. Also, I'm in my final year of university, working on a dissertation in history for a BA(hons). The topic is "smuggling and Wrecking in the 18th and 19th centuries in North East Wirral" (i.e. Wallasey),so, naturally I have consulted the historian Frances Wilkins regarding the part that Manx smugglers had to play in all of this!! If anyone has come across references to this trade, particularly after the Act ofRevestment in 1765( since U.K. govt records treat the matter of Manx Smuggling as closed form this date!!) I would be interested., not to say grateful. All contributions will be gratefully received and fully acknowledged in the finished dissertation. As a mature and disabled student I have difficulty physically "getting" to archives, hence my plea.
I can be reached at:
tony.pereira@cwcom.net