Person Page

     Mary Ann Cowen was born in 1876 at Tasmania, Australia.

     Mary Anne Cowen was also known as Mary Ann Cowen. She was baptized; Baptised as the daughter of Thomas Cowen. Mary Anne Cowen was also known as Granny Bone Cowen. Her married name was Bones. She was born on 29 September 1834 at Trial Bay, Van Diemen's Land, Australia. She married Convict James Bones, son of William Bones and Mary Butcher, on 16 January 1852 at St. Peter's Church, Bruny Island, Van Diemen's Land, Australia. Mary Anne Cowen died on 27 January 1927 at Tasmania, Australia, at age 92. She Administrative Appeals Tribunal and Independent Indigenous Advisory Committee findings 18 October 2002 (Extract from page 32)

Mary Ann Cowen was born two years before her father married MaryBlease. Mary Cowen's natural mother was also named Mary. It is believed Mary Cowen was an aboriginal woman adopted by Thomas Cowen.

In the case of Mary Ann Cowen, the oral history is so strong as to an aboriginal line of descent that the historical record poses more questions than it answers. It cannot explain the features of Edwin Robert (Ned) Bones if Mary Ann Cowen was white and of white parents, much less can it account for Edwin Bones telling the applicant Baden Bone that Edwin’s mother Mary Ann Cowen was part aboriginal or the description of her as very dark skinned by her greatgrand daughter Beryl Denny.It is quite possible that those facts area ccounted for by Mary Ann Cowen being a part aboriginal child taken in by Thomas Cowen and his wife some years before they themselves married. on 18 October 2002.

     Mary Edith Cowen was born in 1885 at Tasmania, Australia.

     Her married name was Challis. Matilda Cowen was born in 1865 at Tasmania, Australia. She married William Challis, son of William Challis and Convict Sarah Linton, in 1886 at Tasmania, Australia.

     Her married name was Smith. Matilda Anne Cowen was also known as Aunt Til (Challis) Cowen. She was born on 6 October 1847 at Port O France, Esperance, Van Diemen's Land, Australia. She married William Smith in 1871 at Tasmania, Australia.

     Richard Cowen was born on 23 June 1842 at Gardners Bay, Cygnet, Van Diemen's Land, Australia. He married Emma Challis Linton, daughter of William Challis and Convict Sarah Linton, on 24 December 1872 at Tasmania, Australia. Richard Cowen died in 1909.