John McGeown

John McGeown left his village near Lurgan, Armagh as one of a group of young people of promise under the guidance of Dr Dickson, ship's doctor. They embarked on the Westminster which departed Plymouth, England and arrived in Port Phillip (Melbourne) Australia on the 30th July 1841.

Other passengers from Armagh were: J Corner, William Elizbeth and Thomas Irvine, John, Sarah and Edward Lauden, William and Alice Porter, William and Alice Quinin, Thomas, Jane and James Sebey, George and Maryanne Waston, William Brerson, George Develin, John Gamble, Joseph Hall, Isaac Hyde, John and Hugh Kittson,  Thomas Love, Hugh McVeah, James McCue, Robert Mitchell, Richard Monoco, Aaron Smith, Bannar, Sarah and Hannah Cooper, Jane Cuthbert, Elizaberth Duke, Catherine Ford (in the tents - Melbourne), Jane Gamble, Mary Greenway,   Mary Hadden, Margaret Holland, Eliza Jones, Sarah Lawson,  Jane McMiller, Ellen McCann, Ellen Taggart, Elisa Thompson, Mary Willis, M Laouton.

After his arrival in Australia he became known as John McGowan. On the 31st August, 1842 John married Margaret Phillips who had arrived with her sister Ann from  Edinburgh on the Marques of Bute on 30th November, 1841 at St James in Melbourne. They would not have been able to marry in a catholic church at that time because Margaret had not yet converted from protestant.

John was a bootmaker in and around Geelong where he received a scribed letter from his mother dated 11/6/1846. she mentions the family has moved from Ballynery to Aghacommon. She also mentions Catherine Ford and news from Dr Dickson.

The family moved to Spring Creek (Jan Juc) and farmed several properties there before they moved in 1875 to newly opened up land at Witchipool (now Litchfield) in the Victorian Wimmera. A mudbrick dwelling was constructed. 

The Children's names were Jane, Mary, Margaret, Alice, Ann, Ellen, James, John Joseph (Jack).

On John's death certificate his parent's names are given as John McGowan and Mary Mahan.