Identity area
Reference code
AU AU-MTC 118-2
Title
Personal and clerical manuscripts of William Macquarie Cowper
Date(s)
- 1835-1906 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
1 ring-bound folder, 3 manila folders
Context area
Name of creator
(1810-1902)
Biographical history
William Macquarie Cowper was born in Sydney, the son of the assistant colonial chaplain William Cowper. He travelled to England and studied at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, taking an M.A. degree in 1835. That same year he was ordained by the Bishop of Exeter and married Margaret Burroughs. He and his wife returned to Sydney in 1836 and he worked as chaplain to the Australian Agricultural Company. In 1856 Bishop Barker appointed him acting principal of the newly established Moore Theological College, a position he held until the arrival of the first principal William Hodgson 6 months later. He was a trustee of the College from 1877-1902. He served as Rector of St Philip's, Church Hill, and was Dean and Archdeacon of Sydney from 1858. Margaret died in 1854 and he remarried Mary French in 1866. He is buried at St Jude's Randwick.
Archival history
Michael Pain is a descendant of W.M. Cowper and the manuscripts have been handed down through the family. Transferred April 2026.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
- Letters dated 27.2.1835, 21.4.1835 to WMC at Dartmouth from W.G. Broughton giving advice about possible moves back to Australia to a position with the Australian Agricultural Company.
- Hand written Ecclesiastical Returns for 1841.
- Circular letter posted to WMC at Stroud dated 2.9.1846 concerning private burial places. Written circular from W.G Australia with instructions to deliver a sermon promoting the work of the SPCK.
- Letters to WMC from the Bishop of Newcastle : 1856 offering a position at Morpeth; 1852 outlining plans for diocesan visitation; 1853 relating to establishment of a theological college.
- Written instrument dated 3 11.1840 granting permission for WMC to remove the remains of Elizabeth Jane Cowper to another place of burial.
- Correspondence from Bishop Frederic Barker (recuperating at St. Remo, Italy but ultimately dying there) dated 26.1.1882, 4.2.1882, 3.3.1882.
- Correspondence from Alexander Gordon giving WMC names of possible successors to Bishop Barry and subsequent advice, dated 20.2.1889, 7.3.1889, 25.7.1889, 10.10.1889, 14.12.1889, 30.7.1890.
- Correspondence from Canon Saumarez-Smith relating to his actions over the controversy of his election dated 30.1.1890, 6.2.1890, 12,6,1890.
- Letter dated 19.9.1889 from Cyril Blacket concerning the state of the chapel at Moore College.
- Printed circular from WMC dated November 1900 concerning election of clerical canons.
- Letter from Assistant Bishop, Newcastle dated 27.12.1901.
- Letter from Bishop Selinger, Norfolk Island dated 13.7.1888
- Letters from Bishop Patterson dated 15.12 1868, 19.12.1870 concerning the Melanesian Misson.
- Letter from R.H. Codington dated 6.12.71 following death of Bishop Patterson.
- Letter from Bishop Sargent, South India dated 12.10.1882.
- Letter from WMC dated 9.6.1900 to supporters urging giving to reduce Cathedral debt.
- Printed letter from WMC dated Ash Wednesday 1900 to St. Andrews congregation urging increased giving.
- Letters to Miss (Katie) French (WMC's step-daughter) expressing sympathy at WMC death-CMS Great Britain, CMS NSW, Archbishop of Sydney, Bishop of Adelaide, Bishop of Ballarat, Bishop of The Riverina, Revs. William Hough, William Martin, W R Mossop.
-
- not present.
- Correspondence from J.T. Ford (WMC’s son-in-law) to Bishop A.W. Pain as executors of WMC’s estate. Dated between 1901-1906.
- Correspondence from Katie French to Bishop Pain and J.T. Ford concerning arrangements for sorting WMC’s effects Dated July 1902.
- Will of WMC dated 21.9.1884 with instructing memoranda dated 23.6.1896, 15.9.1889. 18.10,1898, 22.8.1901.
- An illuminated address signed by 59 clergy expressing appreciation of WMC’s role as Administrator during the time between Bishops Barry and Saumarez-Smith. Undated but probably September 1890.
- Letter to Katie French from the Diocesan Registrar, East Maitland (Diocese of Newcastle) relating to the date of Bishop Tyrell's installation, 11 Aug 1902.
- Printed memorandum from the Archbishop of Sydney to accompany a pastoral letter concerning the Church Thanksgiving Fund, William Saumarez Smith, 1901.
- Photograph of painting of W.M. Cowper.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Chronological
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Moore Theological College (Subject)
- Broughton, William Grant (Subject)
- Pain, Arthur Wellesley (Subject)
- Barker, Frederic (Subject)
- Barry, Alfred (Subject)
- Saumarez Smith, William (Subject)