Ralph Cowgill

  General Notes:

It has been reported that Ralph was arrested and put to death (hanged) in 1682 for his religous views. Ellen Cowgill is mentioned in the "Settle Certificate" dated 07Aug1682 showing intention on removing from Settle,Yorkshire,England to Pennsylvania. She and 4 children embarked on the ship 'Lamb' with William Penn's group arriving in Pa. 22Oct1682. Their eldest son, Ralph, came on the ship 'Friends Adventure' at the same time. The certificate was recorded at Middletown,Bucks,Pa. Although the surname Stackhouse has been accepted by many researchers as being Ellen's maiden name, a primary source has not been located to verify this.

  Research Notes:

Ellen’s husband was said to have been Ralph Cowgill, who was hanged in 1682 for being a Quaker. His execution took place in England. I first came across this information in a document entitled "Cowgill" by Chester A. Cowgill, who does not give his source (Salt Lake film #0974080). It is also stated by Ellen Logan Sands in her Genealogy of the Sands, Cowgill, Rober, Wager, Rittenhouse, Logan, Carver, Carter, Magill, Mower and Related Families (1939) that Ellen‘s dates are 1636-1705 (baptized Nov 1673) and that she and Ralph were married in 1656. This information has been posted by Steven Beckler of Medford, Oregon on his website, but with the caution that no primary source verifies that Stackhouse was Ellen’s maiden surname.

Ralph married Ellen Stackhouse, daughter of Thomas Stackhouse and Anna Unknown, in 1656 in England. (Ellen Stackhouse was born about 1639 in Giggleswick, West Riding, Yorkshire, England and died about 1705 in Middletown Township, Bucks, Pennsylvania.)