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Scottish Diaspora Tapestry

 

David McCowan, Trinidad

It is strongly believed that David McCowan (B 1775) and his brother James had been emancipated from the virtual slavery of coalmining in Scotland in 1799.

David sailed from Port Glasgow for Trinidad on December 6 1800. After working as a mason, he became a very busy importer of Scottish goods. He had perhaps taken advantage of the interuption in trade with the American republic during the war of 1812 to launch his own trading business with Britain. Financial difficulties evidently caused him to return to the building trade that he knew so well. He was eventually considered an architect.  It appears that his brother, James, in Scotland was on the hook for some of David's debts. David wrote a number of letters to James, 1800 to 1820. James brought the letters to Canada and they are still in safe-keeping. 

The Scarboro Heights Record V12 #3
The McCowans' Who's Who Vol. 9