Amelia Cowan – Gentlewoman

William Cowan married Amelia Roberts at the parish church in Corse, Gloucestershire in 1879. It was a second marriage for both of them.

William had previously been married to Frances Weston who appears to have arrived in Swindon via Brixton after a few stops along the way (much as I have). She died in 1870 and is buried in Reading Cemetery.

Amelia had lived her entire life in the Gloucestershire parish of Ashleworth where she married John Roberts, a farmer of 40 acres, in 1827.

At her second marriage Amelia describes her status as that of ‘Gentlewoman’ an old fashioned term which has slipped out of usage but one I’d like to see revived! The definition of a gentlewoman is a woman who belongs to a high social class; one who is kind, polite and honest, cultured, educated and well mannered. Aren’t we all, ladies, aren’t we all?

Amelia and William’s marriage was of a relatively short duration, which was probably unsurprising given their ages – William was 79 and Amelia 70 when they married.

Amelia died at her home, 23 King William Street, and was buried on August 7, 1882 in grave plot E8636. William died in 1889 aged 89 years and lies buried with Amelia.