While combing through both the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Census, I came across various pieces of information about William Cogan. In the 1860 U.S. Census, I was able to locate him, a then twenty-nine-year-old gas fitter. Cogan’s combined value of property in 1860 was $4,500.[1] In Alexandria’s local newspaper, The Alexandria Gazette, I was able to locate an advertisement for Cogan’s gas fitting enterprise dated January 24, 1862, which meant that he continued working throughout the Civil War in Union-occupied Alexandria.[2] Additionally, according to the Voting Viva Voce website, I located Cogan’s home in Alexandria and other personal information. According to the site, Cogan did not own or rent slaves.[3] The 1860 census also lists William’s wife, Virginia, who was born in the United States.[4]
Courtesy of Chronicling America
To track possible changes, I also looked at the 1870 U.S. Census. When looking at the 1870 U.S. census in Alexandria, William Cogan was listed again. His job is now listed as Gas & Steam fitter. Where in 1860 his property value was $4,500, in 1870 that value was risen to $10,000.[5]
Cogan was born in the year 1828 in London. The gravestone at Presbyterian Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia reads, “In memory of/my husband/William Cogan…aged 60 years/native of London/England.”[6] Virginia passed away on December 22nd, 1912 in her house on 1012 Prince Street in Alexandria.[7]
Courtesy of Find a Grave.com
[1] 1860 U. S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, William Cogan, digital image, accessed September 20, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.
[2] “The Local news,” The Alexandria Gazette, 24 Jan. 1862.
[3] Voting Viva Voce. University of Virginia. http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu/.
[4] 1860 U. S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, William Cogan, digital image, accessed September 20, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.
[5] 1870 U. S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, William Cogan, digital image, accessed September 20, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.
[6] Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
[7] “Mrs. Virginia Cogan Dead,” The Washington Post Dec. 22, 1912.
