Apparently, this tiny little parish church was a very popular place to get wed during the 17th century. Some 40,000 marriages were recorded as having taken place here between 1644 and 1691. Described a "Aldgate’s own version of Gretna Green", it was famous for performing irregular marriages. It's clear that St Dunstan's, Stepney was their home parish, so it's perhaps reasonable to surmise that John and Mary's marriage in this parish was one of the irregular ones, for some reason (that the records don't explain).
John and Mary had two daughters, both baptised at St Dunstan's:
- Susanna Cowtley b. 24 Aug 1862, bap. 28 Aug 1692
- Elizabeth Cowtley bap. 4 Oct 1696, in Stepney
On Susanna's baptism, it notes that the child was 4 days old; that the family lived in Ratcliffe and gives John's occupation as a Brewer's Servant.
Found no further records of John or Mary Cowtley nor of their deaths.
