William Andrew Cowie - diaries, 1875-1876, and In a search for gold: The diary of William Andrew Cowie, 1998

MLMSS 7063/Box 1X

fonds

1875-1876;1998

413220

0.16 metres of textual material (1 outsize box)
Textual Records
Textual Records - (printed)

William Andrew Cowie (1847-1922) was born at Glasgow son of William and Sarah Jane Cowie. In 1875 William Cowie departed Glasgow for Brisbane, Australia on the ship 'St James' along with his brother Thomas. Unable to find work in Brisbane he travelled to Sydney and then to the Newcastle area where he found work in the mines at Greta. In 1887 William Cowie married Drusilla Pryor at Greta. By 1887 Cowie had spent some years on the gold fields at Adelong and had worked for CSR as an engineer. After his marriage he worked as an engineer for CSR until his retirement in 1912.
Judith Ashdown is a descendant of William Cowie. She researched and published In a search for gold: The diary of William Andrew Cowie (1998), edited by Russell Mackenzie Warner. The publication includes William Cowie's diaries, 1875 to 1876. Judith Ashdown ascertained that further diaries of William Cowie which were loaned to a journalist in 1945 were not returned to the family and have probably been destroyed. Excerpts of these further diaries, covering Cowie's time on the gold fields at Adelong, were published in the Adelong and Tumut Express and are included in the book In a search for gold.

1 Oct.1875 - 17 Jan.1876; Journal of William Cowie, being small leather bound notebook with daily ms. entries in pencil, entries from 8 Jan. 1876 to 17 Jan. 1876 on loose sheets at back of notebook. The journal describes Cowie's departure from Glasgow and the voyage to Brisbane. Cowie was a steerage passenger and gives a lively account of the journey, including weather conditions, shipboard activities, details of passengers and crew, births on board ship, and the ship's bearings. The journal ends with the arrival of the 'St James' at Brisbane. (Call No.: MLMSS 7063/1X)
18 Jan. 1876 - 30 Apr. 1876; Journal of William Cowie, being small (10cm X 7cm) leather bound notebook with ms. entries in pencil. Describes Cowie's time spent in Brisbane; his voyage on 18 Apr. 1876 to Sydney; his impressions of Sydney; his journey to the Newcastle area; his travels in the Newcastle area looking for work. (Call No.: MLMSS 7063/1X)
1 May 1876 - 31 Dec. 1876; Journal of William Cowie, being small (10cm x 7cm) leather bound notebook with ms. entries in pencil. Describes his efforts to find work at Newcastle; journey back to Sydney and return to Newcastle area; working in the mines at Greta. (Call No.: MLMSS 7063/1X)
16 Oct 1875; Letter sent by William Cowie, being ms. draft or unsent letter to his friend Sandy describing the early part of his ship voyage. (Call No.: MLMSS 7063/1X)
1998; In a search for gold: The diary of William Andrew Cowie, researched by Judith Browning Ashdown and edited by Russell Mackenzie Warner, published privately 1998. Including a transcription of the diaries of William Cowie, 1875-1876; excerpts of later diaries previously published in the Adelon and Tumut Express, 1883-1885, describing life on the gold fields at Adelong; and genealogical charts of the Cowie family. (Call No.: MLMSS 7063/1X)