114925: James Gowans

James Gowans (born c1863) married Jane Ann Robertson in 1890.

James worked for the Stornoway School Board; in 1890 he became the headmaster at North Tolsta Junior and Secondary School.

He had no Gaelic, but had some  medical knowledge, which he shared with the community. He was interested in sea fishing and had his own yawl, skippered by Murdo Macinnes. Norman Macleod, 53 North Tolsta, borrowed  this when he went to Ness to bring back his new skiff “Ocean Gift’ in 1910. 

In 1910 the couple emigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia. He paid a visit to the school in 1919.