By Alva “Bobbie” Davies

Robert Isaac was born about 1843 in Hull, England. He was christened in 1843. Robert came to Australia circa 1864. He became a railways employee. He was also a storeman. At the time of his marriage he was living in George St., Sydney.

Robert married Charlotte Nicsen (or Nixon) Arrowsmith in Sydney on 29th March 1865. Charlotte was living in Riley St., Sydney. and their marriage took place at A. Fenton Yurong, Wooloomooloo. (Mrs. A. G. Davies, one of his descendants has a photo of the place where he was married in Sydney taken in 1998 and also a photo of the house where his grandson was born.)

His children were:

Agnes Elizabeth: born in Sydney 1866. Died 1867.
Louisa Esther Frances: born in Sydney 1868 (Died in Ballarat)
Emma Ruth: born in Ballarat. Died in Ballarat 1871
John William Cowen born in Ballarat 14/1/1871. Died South Yarra 1956)

Robert Isaac's father was John Cowen, and his mother was Jane Darley Cowen (nee Clark).

Robert arrived in Australia in 1864, had 3 years in NSW. then lived in Victoria. This birthdate is shown in a pocket sized Book of Common Prayer given to him by his Godfather when he was confirmed (this book is still in the family—English side—and fits in with the age of Robert in 1851 (Wendy Peacock’s notes).

Robert died in Melbourne at 87 Chetwynd St., North Melbourne on 30/4/1913.

From notes on ‘The family tree of Daryl Raymond Cowen and Wendy Narelle Peacock (nee Cowen)’

Robert Isaac Cowen was born in Hull on 27th May 1843, and was the second eldest son of John Cowen, the Baker (the birthdate is shown in a pocket sized Book of Common Prayer given to him by his God-Father when he was confirmed, which book is still in the family, and fits in with the age shown for Robert Isaac in the 1851 Census).

His wife Charlotte Nixon Arrowsmith was born in Manchester, England in 1836, was the daughter of a Doctor George Arrowsmith. Robert and Charlotte were married by a Minster of the Baptist Church on 29th March 1865 in a house in Yurong Street, Woolloomooloo, Sydney. They lived in Sydney until 1868, then went to Victoria. They had six children but only a son, John William Cowen, survived.

It seems they lived in Ballarat for about 18 years before moving to Melbourne, where they lived at 87 Chetwynd Street, North Melbourne. Robert Isaac Cowen, a railway worker, died on 30th April 1913, when he was nearly 70, and Charlotte Nixon Cowen died on 11th March 1914, at the age of 78. Both are buried at the Fawkner Cemetery (Grave sites 115 & 116 Section F, Church of England). A George Arrowsmith who was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England died at the age of 85 at Maldon, Victoria, and was buried in a public grave somewhere in the Maldon Cemetery. It is possible this person was Dr. Arrowsmith, the father of Charlotte Nixon Cowen, especially as there is some link with the Gretton family, formerly of Sydney. Further investigation in this connection would need to be undertaken.