Cowdry, William

COWDRY, William (1850–1924) was born at Chelsea, Middlesex, England, youngest son of eight children of Francis Cowdry, an engineer and later clerk of works to the Metropolitan Police; and Mary Smith. After his mother’s death in 1854, he was raised by his elder sisters and by 1871 he was working as a clerk for Thomas Salter, a brickmaker. He married Mary Flack at London in 1873 and in 1881 was working as a clerk to a building surveyor. In anticipation of the family’s arrival in Queensland in June 1886, he advertised in Brisbane for a position as ‘a draftsman or general architect’s or building contractor’s assistant’ in Brisbane, giving his address as c/- Arthur FLACK, his brother-in-law at Roma. After arriving in Brisbane in June 1886, he may have worked with Flack, before, in 1889, he was a clerk of works in Brisbane where he became better known as a musician. In August 1893, he won a prize for a music stand at the Brisbane Exhibition, but he remained a clerk of works at Brisbane where he died.

Education

Son of engineer/clerk of works, London

Migration and Travel

1886

17 Jun 1886; Arr. Brisbane from London, passengers on “Duke Of Argyle”

Employed:

-1871-

Clerk to Thomas Slater, brickmaker, London

-1881-

Clerk to building surveyor, London

1889-

Clerk of works, Brisbane

Self-employed:

Musician, Brisbane

Genealogy

[F] Francis Cowdry

[S, 16 Mar 1825, Romsey, Hampshire, Eng. / M] Mary Smith (1804–1854) b. c1804, Romsey, Hampshire, Eng; d. Jan 1854, Chelsea, London, Eng.

[8C/1-4B] Samuel Cowdry (1826–1895) b. c1826, Middlesex, Eng.; d. 1895, Wandsworth, London, Surrey, Eng.
[8C/1-4G] Jane Cowdry (1830–1872) b. 26 Jan 1830, Paddington, London, Middlesex, Eng.; d. 27 Sep 1872, Battersea, Surrey, Eng.
[8C/2-4G] Martha Cowdry (1839–1855) b. c1839, Paddington, London, Middlesex, Eng.; d. July 1855, Chelsea, London, Middlesex, Eng.
[8C/2-4G] Emily Cowdry (1840–?) b. Dec 1840, Marylebone, London, Middlesex, Eng.; d. ?
[8C/2-4B] Edwin Francis Cowdry (1843–?) b. Mar 1843, Kingston, Surrey, Eng.; d. ?
[8C/3-4B] Henry Cowdry (1845–?) b. c1845, Chelsea, Middlesex, Eng.; d. ?
[8C/4-4G] Mary Cowdry (1848–1907) b. c1848, Chelsea, London, Eng.; d. 26 Feb 1907, Sleaford Lincolnshire, Eng.
[8C/4-4B]William COWDRY(1850–1924), b. 1850, Chelsea, Middlesex, Eng; d. 9 Oct 1924, Brisbane, Qld.
[S, 1873, London / M] Mary Flack (1848–1918) b. 18 Mar 1848, Chisick, Middlesex, Eng; d. 9 Nov 1918, Qld.
[BiL] [9C/2-4B] Arthur FLACK (1854–1931) b. 29 June 1854, Chiswick, Middlesex, Eng; d. 29 Apr 1931, Qld.

References

Brisbane Courier, 1 Jun 1886, 8; Telegraph, 10 Aug 1893, 5 and 28 Nov 1924, 15.