William Gowen III (abt. 1740 - abt. 1815)

Born about 1740 in Fairfax, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Rains) Gowen — married 3 Dec 1797 in Davidson County, Tennessee

Descendants

Died about 1815 at about age 75 in Williamson Co., Tennessee

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Biography

William Gowen III was born circa 1740 in Fairfax Co., Virginia.

William first shows up on his father's tithe in 1757 in Granville Co, NC, indicating he is at least 16 years old (b. 1741).

In 1761 he is on his own tithe as an adult in Granville Co, NC, indicating he has turned 21 years of age, so b. abt 1740.

PARENTS:

William Gowen Jr. and [Allen-2879|Sarah (Allen) Gowen]].

CHILDREN:

Unknown

SIBLINGS:

Joseph Gowen (abt.1737-bef.1796) (not in will, but listed as son in tithes in Granville NC. May have predeceased his father)
William Gowen III (abt.1740-abt.1815) (not in will, but listed as son in tithes in Granville NC)
James Gowen (abt.1742-abt.1789) (presumed, records indicate he predeceases his father)
John Gowen (abt.1743-abt.1810) (listed in will)
Ann (Gowen) Easley (1750-1801) (listed in will)
Christiana Elizabeth (Gowen) Rains (1755-1826) (presumed)

FACTS and SOURCES:

The Spartanburg/Greenville Co, SC Gowen family and the Gowen families found in Davidson Co, TN are related to one another as shown by records, including Allen Gowen's deed record in 1796. Of particular interest is the death of a William Gowen in 1790 in Davidson Co, TN, and the Last Will & Testament of William Gowen filed in Spartanburg in 1792 (the will was written in 1785) showing he was the father of John "Buck" Gowen & Ann Gowen Easley. The 1790 probate records in Davidson Co, TN show a "Sarah" as admx in the Inventory & Sale of the estate.

There is not enough information in those records to clearly identify which William this is. It may be William Gowen b. 1740, or possibly it could be his father William Gowen b. est 1704-1716 who may have moved to TN with his children who moved there. His children John & Ann who stayed in the Spartanburg area may have had a copy of his will in Spartanburg, and filed it there to clear title to William's property that was in SC. The records are not clear enough to verify which William this is in Davidson Co, TN that dies in 1790.

GRANVILLE CO, NC RECORDS

1757 Granville Co tax lists List of Richard Harris
William Gowen List Son Joseph Gowen & William Gowen 3 0
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K37G-8?i=464&cat=353959
Taxables, Undated -1800 Granville Co NC

1758 Granville Co NC Tax Lists
A List of Tyths taken for the year 1758 Taken by me James Yancey
William Gowing and son William Gowing – 2 0
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K3W6-6?i=544&cat=353959

1761 Granville Co NC Tax Lists
Country Line District by Larkin Johnston – Aug Court 1761
Joseph Gowin – 1
William Gowin Junr, Jesse Chandler – 2
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K37K-T?i=618&cat=353959

1761 Aug 12 – Granville Co NC Tax Lists
A List of Taxables sumd by Gawin Black in the County Lin District for the year 1761
William Gowin – William Gowin Junr – Joseph Gowin
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K37J-B?i=680&cat=353959

1762 Granville Co NC Tax Lists
Taxables in the Country Line District
Joseph Gowin – 34
William Gowin – 56
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K33G-X?i=741&cat=353959

1762 Granville Co NC Tax Lists
Countryline District
Joseph Gowin with John Moore – 2
William Gowin with William Gowin Jr – 2
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K33L-T?i=790&cat=353959

1764 Granville Co NC Tax Lists
Mr Yanceys List
John Easley – 1
Joseph Gowen – 1
William Gowen – 1
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K3WT-1?i=960&cat=353959

1764 Granville Co NC Tax Lists
A List of John Smith … by Philip Pryor
John Easly – 1
Joseph Gowen – 2
James Gowin – 2
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K3WW-D?i=966&cat=353959

1765 Granville Co NC Tax Lists
by James Yancey
Joseph Goine – 1.0.1
John Easley – 1.0.1
William Goine – 1.0.1
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K3Q3-V?i=989&cat=353959
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K3WW-F?i=990&cat=353959

1766 Granville Co NC Tax Lists
A List of Taxables taken by James Yancey. Countryline District.
white.black.total
Joseph Goine – Melunton Easley – 2.0.2
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVR-K37V-N?i=1037&cat=353959

SOUTH CAROLINA

1773 Feb 2 – William Gowan, Junior received 100 acres on the South Fork of the Pacolet River, bound on all sides by vacant land. District 96, North Carolina, USA. “William Gowen District 96, South Carolina. Dist 96, SC.
https://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/

1773 May 4: WILLIAM GOWAN JR, PLAT FOR 100 ACRES ON PACOLET RIVER.
Series: S213184 Volume: 0016 Page: 00182 Item: 03
Names indexed: BREMAR, JOHN; GOWAN, WILLIAM; THOMPSON, ANDREW.
Document type: PLAT
Locations: CRAVEN COUNTY; PACOLET RIVER, South Carolina.
https://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/ (Image)

1774 Dec 8: WILLIAM GOWAN, LAND GRANT FOR 100 ACRES ON PACKOLET RIVER.
Series: S213019 Volume: 0034 Page: 00286 Item: 000
Names indexed: GOWAN, WILLIAM
Document type: LAND GRANT
Locations: PACOLET RIVER, South Carolina.
https://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/

1775 June 20: WILLIAM GOWAN, MEMORIAL FOR 100 ACRES ON PACOLET RIVER.
Series: S111001 Volume: 0013 Page: 00516 Item: 003
Names indexed: GOWAN, WILLIAM
Document type: MEMORIAL
Locations: PACOLET RIVER, South Carolina
https://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/

1784 May 21 William Gowen Jr has 116 acres surveyd on Mill Creek waters of S Pacolate River bounded on all sides vacant land, delivered to Capt Gowan. 96 Dist, Greenville Co, SC No 304, pg 111.
1784 May 21 warrant date – William Gowin Jr – date warrant May 21, 200 acres in warrant, date survey June 21, 162 acres in survey, Surveyor – William Benson,
file 304, page 111. Land Grants and Surveys Book A, 1784-1794 Greenville Co SC
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKJ-TSCJ-B?i=87&cat=78975

SOUTH CAROLINA & TENNESSEE RECORDS RELATED TO DAVID GOWEN

1781-1798 – Land of David Gowen in Davidson Co, TN.
A David Gowen was killed by Indians in Davidson Co, TN in 1780/81. He was in possession of a 640 acre tract of land in that county, and several documents give hints to his family relationships.

The following records indicate the following:
1) An unsigned inventory in 1781 indicates David Gowine died in 1781.
2) William Gowen is granted admin of David Gowen decd’s estate in 1783.
3) Early Times of Middle Tennessee states David Goin was killed at Manskers Station by Indians
4) Levi Goyen is the brother of David Goyen, both free mulattos according to the power of attorney and affidavit filed in 1792, and both are children of David Goyen & Becky Goyen. (Becky had remarried to an Elliott by the time she files her affidavit in 1792)
5) Levi Goyen appoints John Goyen Gent, of Davidson Co, NC (TN), as his power of atty – calls him his “beloved friend”.
6) The 1792 power of atty sais the 640 acres of land was left to Levi Goyen as David’s proper heir in law, Levi is also noted as David’s oldest brother.
7) William Easley witnesses the power of attorney given to John Goyen/Gowen.
8) The Benj Boyd (the justice) states that, “it is said” that Levi Goyen was born in Fairfield Co, SC

The information does not give the exact relationship, if any, of Levi Gowen to William Gowen & John Gowen of Davidson Co, TN. The fact that William Easley signs as witness in the 1792 power of attorney to John Gowen indicates this is the John Gowen of Spartanburg Co, SC that signed this affidavit.

They may be 2d cousins. Levi & David may descend from James Gowen b. 1680’s presumed side of the family. Possibly related to the Granville Co, NC Gowen family that was near the Tarr River. One of the brothers in that group named Edward Gowen purchased 200 acres of land in Fairfield County in 1770 on the Broad River and had his payments in the indents from the Revolutionary War delivered to Capt. John Gowen. Edward Gowen’s father named Edward & John Gowen’s father named William would be 1st cousins if this is the case. It is presumed that James Gowen b. 1680 may have had a spouse that was mixed race – as most of his presumed children are identified at different times as mulatto in records. Thomas Gowen b. 1650 would be their common paternal g-grandparent.

See the following related records:

1781 Inventory of the estate of David Gowine,
An Inventory of the Estate of David Gowine who died in the year 1781 the ___ of was in the proceedings of Com.er.
To wit: One cow & calf 5.10.0, one cown and calf 5.12.0 – 11.2.0
One heifer 2.10.0, one heifer 1.9.0 – 3.19.0
One gun at 2.19.0, one bell at 0.7.0 – 3.12.0
One wedding bed(sp?) 0.5.0, one buckskin 0.5.0 – 0.10.0
One handkerchief 0.1.0, one pair of buckskins 0.1.0 – 0.2.0
(No signature on inventory)
Will Book 1, pg 11. Davidson Co, TN
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77TV-1MY?i=26&cc=1909088&cat=307760

1783 March 4 “William Goings entered into bond in Davidson County with James Shaw, security, in the amount of £200 specie” and was granted the administration of “the estate of David Goings, deceased” by the Nashville Committee. William Gowen signed the return of the estate of David Gowen presented to the court. Shortly afterwards “William Gowens” as administrator of the estate of “David Gowens, deceased” sued John Gibson in a “plea of detinue*.”
Worth S. Ray, writing in “Tennessee Cousins” stated, “The court of the Cumberland District met again of June 3, 1783, and the Estate of David Gowen came up against John Gibson.” The estate was awarded £2 “for a heifer he disposed of,” according to early Nashville court records.
“David Goin, Patrick Quigley, Betsy Kennedy, John Shockley, James Lumsley and William Neely” were killed at Mansker’s Station, according to “Early Times in Middle Tennessee” published in 1857 by John Carr. Davidson Co, TN   1783 March 4: William Goings was granted administration of David Goins estate (David Goins killed by Indians at Mansker’s Station) by the Committee of the Cumberland Association. [ref. 44b].  Davidson County, North Carolina.  Richard Carlton. 1770–1790 Census of the Cumberland Settlements. Davidson, Sumner and Tennessee Counties (In What is Now Tennessee). Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987.
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/3006/censuscumberland-001201_44?pid=953&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DPXv360%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-c%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26msT%3D1%26gsln%3DGoin%26gsln_x%3D0%26msypn__ftp%3DNorth%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msypn%3D36%26msypn_PInfo%3D5-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C36%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26msypn_x%3D1%26msypn__ftp_x%3D1%26cpxt%3D1%26cp%3D12%26catbucket%3Drstp%26MSAV%3D1%26MSV%3D0%26uidh%3Dm37%26pcat%3DCEN_1790%26h%3D953%26recoff%3D8%252020%26dbid%3D3006%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=PXv360&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=censuscumberland-001201_44

1783 July 1: William Gowen plaintiff in lawsuit against John Gibson concerning cattle belonging to the estate of David Gower, deceased, before the Committee of the Cumberland Association [ref. 49b].
Davidson County, North Carolina. Richard Carlton. 1770–1790 Census of the Cumberland Settlements. Davidson, Sumner and Tennessee Counties (In What is Now Tennessee). Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987.
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/3006/censuscumberland-001201_44?pid=953&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DPXv360%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-c%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26msT%3D1%26gsln%3DGoin%26gsln_x%3D0%26msypn__ftp%3DNorth%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msypn%3D36%26msypn_PInfo%3D5-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C36%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26msypn_x%3D1%26msypn__ftp_x%3D1%26cpxt%3D1%26cp%3D12%26catbucket%3Drstp%26MSAV%3D1%26MSV%3D0%26uidh%3Dm37%26pcat%3DCEN_1790%26h%3D953%26recoff%3D8%252020%26dbid%3D3006%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=PXv360&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=censuscumberland-001201_44

1788 Oct 9 – William Gowen v. The heirs of David Gowen decd – William Gowen pleads the estate of David Gowen is justly indebted to him L 27.14.3. Oath that the heirs of the sd Gowen are not resident in this county or otherwise are unknown to him. William Gowen asks the sheriff to attach the estate of David Gowen to pay his debts. Jury finds for Plt.
Davidson Co, TN – Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions court records, 1783-1789 p. 110. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-M3LD-Q?i=62&cat=134460

1792 Sept 17  – Affidavit / appointment of John Goyen as power of atty for Levi Goyen to sell land as heir to David Goyen decd, in Davidson County, NC. (Davidson Co, TN).
“Know all men by these presents that I Levi Goyen of the State of South Carolina, Fairfield County and for divers good causes & consideration thereunto moving have made ordained constitute and appoint my trusty and well beloved friend John Goyen of the State of North Carolina Daverson County Gent my true and lawfull attorney for me to take out of the rights in his the said John Goyen’s own name to sell make over convey and confirm at his pleasure unto whoever may or shall agree with & purchase of him the said John Goyen a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being on Mill Creek of the East side of Daversons County aforesaid.
The said land being first in the hands of David Goyen dec’d a free mullato went to Cumberland River in the year 1779, and were killed by the Indians in the year 1780, and left the said malatto Levi Goyen his proper heir in law the said tract of land containing 640 acres.
And I do hereby grant unto my said attorney my sale and full power & authority to take pursue and follow such legal courses for confirming the right of sd land unto himself as I myself might or could do were I personally present. Ratifying and confirming whatsoever my said attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done in and about the execution of the premises.
By virtue of these presents, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 17th September in the year of our Lord 1792.
Signed: Levi Gowen (his mark)
Signed sealed & del’d in the presence of us: William Easley.
Levi Gowen made his mark as his signature to the above instrument of writing in my presence. Signed: Benjamin Boyd.”
(The following AFFIDAVIT of Becky Gowen follows the above power of attorney):
“Before me personally appeared Becky Elliot formerly Becky Gowen by a former husband David Gowen and after be duly sowrn deposith and said that she had a son by the afore David named David Goyen who about fourteen years ago left this county (and as she was informed went to Cumberland River in N Carolina and was there killed by the Indians. Sd deponent further saith on oath that Levi Gowen who now appoints  John Gowen as his attorney is the full and oldest brother to the aforesaid David Gowen.
Signed: Becky Elliot (x her mark)
Sworn & subscribed this 17th day of Sept 1792 before me. Signed: Benj Boyd J. FC.
Fairfield County: I hereby certify that the above named Levi Gowen passeth in this County for a free Mulatto & it is said was born here.
Given under my hand this 17th day of September 1792.
Signed: Benj Boyd J.F.C.”
Fairfield County } I do hereby certify that Benjamin Boyd Esqr is one of the Judges of this our County Court & that full faith and credit is to be given to the above and to his siganture the same being his proper hand writing.
Given under my hand & seal of office this 18th day of September in the year of our Lord 1792 & the 16th of American Independence. Signed: D Evans, CFC
Recorded 18th Sept 92.
Deed records v. A-C 1785-1789. Bk A, pg 162-164. Fairfield Co, SC 
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKW-JQSR-Z?i=344&cat=207758

1794 May 19: John Gowen received on May 19, 1794 640 acres from the State of North Carolina on Warrant No. 350. The land lay on Mill Creek about one-half mile west of his father’s pre-emption site, between land grants of Ebenzer Titus. Cleve Weathers, a descendant of Nashville, identifies the section as the one which was issued to David Gowen who was killed in 1780 “in the settlement and defense of Nashville.”
The land was described in Davidson County Deed Book C, page 281:
“State of North Carolina to John Gowen . . . 640 acres on the East side of Mill Creek . . . beginning at a white walnut on the bank of Mill Creek, being the Northwest corner of James Meness’s guard right on the East boundary line of said Meness’ preemption, thence East 390 poles to a dogwood on Ebenezer Titus’s West boundary line, then north 340 poles to a hickory, thence West 164 poles to a sycamore on the bank of said creek, thence up said creek with its meanders 333 poles to a poplar on said Meness’s East boundary line, then South with said line to the beginning 120 poles.”

1798 Mar 10 – John Gowen to Jonathan Phillips – 150 acres Mill Cr – part of a tract of 640 acres granted to the sd John Gowen by Patent No. 395 dated June 26th 1793, originally entered in the name of David Gowen’s heirs etc No. 115 Jan 15 1784 and transfered to the sd John Gowen Oct 30, 1792 …
Signed: John Gowen LS.
Wit: Andrew Ewing.
Deed bk D, p 416. Davidson County, TN.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4R-1S99-L?i=238&cat=229234

DAVIDSON CO, TN RECORDS

1783 March 4 “William Goings entered into bond in Davidson County with James Shaw, security, in the amount of £200 specie” and was granted the administration of “the estate of David Goings, deceased” by the Nashville Committee. William Gowen signed the return of the estate of David Gowen presented to the court. Shortly afterwards “William Gowens” as administrator of the estate of “David Gowens, deceased” sued John Gibson in a “plea of detinue*.”
Worth S. Ray, writing in “Tennessee Cousins” stated, “The court of the Cumberland District met again of June 3, 1783, and the Estate of David Gowen came up against John Gibson.” The estate was awarded £2 “for a heifer he disposed of,” according to early Nashville court records.
“David Goin, Patrick Quigley, Betsy Kennedy, John Shockley, James Lumsley and William Neely” were killed at Mansker’s Station, according to “Early Times in Middle Tennessee” published in 1857 by John Carr. Davidson Co, TN 1783 March 4: William Goings was granted administration of David Goins estate (David Goins killed by Indians at Mansker’s Station) by the Committee of the Cumberland Association. [ref. 44b]. Davidson County, North Carolina
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/3006/censuscumberland-001201_44?pid=953&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DPXv360%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-c%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26msT%3D1%26gsln%3DGoin%26gsln_x%3D0%26msypn__ftp%3DNorth%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msypn%3D36%26msypn_PInfo%3D5-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C36%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26msypn_x%3D1%26msypn__ftp_x%3D1%26cpxt%3D1%26cp%3D12%26catbucket%3Drstp%26MSAV%3D1%26MSV%3D0%26uidh%3Dm37%26pcat%3DCEN_1790%26h%3D953%26recoff%3D8%252020%26dbid%3D3006%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=PXv360&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=censuscumberland-001201_44

1783 July 1: William Gowen plaintiff in lawsuit against John Gibson concerning cattle belonging to the estate of David Gower, deceased, before the Committee of the Cumberland Association [ref. 49b]. Davidson County, North Carolina
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/3006/censuscumberland-001201_44?pid=953&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DPXv360%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-c%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26msT%3D1%26gsln%3DGoin%26gsln_x%3D0%26msypn__ftp%3DNorth%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msypn%3D36%26msypn_PInfo%3D5-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C36%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26msypn_x%3D1%26msypn__ftp_x%3D1%26cpxt%3D1%26cp%3D12%26catbucket%3Drstp%26MSAV%3D1%26MSV%3D0%26uidh%3Dm37%26pcat%3DCEN_1790%26h%3D953%26recoff%3D8%252020%26dbid%3D3006%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=PXv360&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=censuscumberland-001201_44

1783 Oct 7: William Gowen was listed as a grand juror October 7, 1783 on the first grand jury panel in Davidson County and again in January 1784, according to “First Records of Davidson County, Tennessee.” Davidson County, at the time, embraced all of the present counties of Davidson, Cheatham, Williamson, Rutherford, Maury, Marshall and Bedford Counties. Davidson Co, TN

1783 Oct 7: William Gowen North Carolina land grant [ref. 49d]. Davidson County, North Carolina
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/3006/censuscumberland-001201_44?pid=953&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DPXv360%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-c%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26msT%3D1%26gsln%3DGoin%26gsln_x%3D0%26msypn__ftp%3DNorth%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msypn%3D36%26msypn_PInfo%3D5-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C36%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26msypn_x%3D1%26msypn__ftp_x%3D1%26cpxt%3D1%26cp%3D12%26catbucket%3Drstp%26MSAV%3D1%26MSV%3D0%26uidh%3Dm37%26pcat%3DCEN_1790%26h%3D953%26recoff%3D8%252020%26dbid%3D3006%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=PXv360&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=censuscumberland-001201_44

1784 Jan 4: William Gowen was appointed to the Davidson County grand jury January 4, 1784. Davidson Co, TN

1784 Jan 15: The pre-emption of William Gowen was “located and entered” January 15, 1784 and surveyed by John Buchanan on March 16, 1785 in consequence of Warrant No. 116, according to Cleve Weathers. William paid the State of North Carolina £10 per 100 acres for the land which was recorded March 11, 1788 in Davidson County Deed Book A, page 161. Davidson Co, TN

1784 Jan 15 – William Gowan receives 640 acr on the Et. branches of Mill Creek. Other names: Ebenezer Titus, 1787 Apr 17. In Davidson Co., TN.
http://www.nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.2.1043&qid=82716&rn=4
1787 Apr 17 – William Gowan 640 acres – east side Mill Cr, adj to Ebenezer Titus. Davidson Co, TN
http://interactive.ancestry.com/2882/33118_290595-00004?pid=15545&backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2f%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3findiv%3d1%26db%3dTNNCLandRecordc%26gss%3dangs-d%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gsln%3dgoin%26gsln_x%3d0%26MSAV%3d0%26uidh%3dm37%26pcat%3d36%26fh%3d31%26h%3d15545%26recoff%3d9%26ml_rpos%3d32&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true

1785 Dec 19: William Gowen sold to Frederick Stump “one negro fellow named Guy” according to a bill of sale dated December 19, 1785 recorded in Davidson County Will Book 1, page 161. Davidson Co, TN

1786 January 2 “William Gowan” appeared on a Davidson County jury which tried Robert Espey “for profane swearing and Sabbath breaking,” according to Davidson County court minutes. Espey was acquitted. Davidson Co, TN

1786 April 17: “William Gowan” received North Carolina Land Grant No. 20 on Warrant No. 116 to “640 acres on a small branch of Mill Creek” in Davidson County April 17, 1786, according to Tennessee State Land Book C7, page 8 in Tennessee State Archives. His deed was recorded March 11, 1788 in Davidson County Deed Book A, page 161. The property was described in the deed as: “640 acres on the east side of Mill Creek . . . beginning at a hickory on Ebenezer Titus’ east boundary line and running east 320 poles to an oak, south 320 poles to a white oak, west crossing a branch of Mill Creek at 160 poles and another at 266 poles, cornered at 320 poles, north to the beginning . . . ”
The land, “320 poles [1 mile] square” lay on both sides of a tributary of Mill Creek and was located about six miles south­east of present-day downtown Nashville. The Murphreesboro Pike later crossed the northern portion of his property. The Central Tennessee State Hospital for the Insane was built on his property before the Civil War and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport was later installed on the pre-emption. Davidson Co, TN
1786 Apr 17 – William Gowan 640 acres – Davidson Co, TN. Grant 20, Warrant 116, bk G7, pg 8.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998J-SG8J?i=9&cat=351626

1786 Apr 17 – William Gowen fr State of North Carolina … 640 acres lying and being in our County of Davidson on the East branchis of Mill Creek … surveyed for said Gowen on March 16, 1785 by John Buchanan DS in consequence of a warrent No 116 .. entered in the preemption Jan 15, 1784 … Deed bk A, p 161. Davidson Co, TN
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS54-93YX-D?i=96&cat=229234

1787 Oct 3 William Gowen was selected as a juror January 2, 1786 and again October 3, 1787, according to early Nashville Court records. On the latter date, the Court minutes reflected the seriousness of the Indian threat by bringing in regular troops, “For the better furnishing of the troops now coming to this county under command of Maj. Evans, Resolved that one-fourth of the County tax be paid in corn, two-fourths in beef, pork, bear and venison, one-eighth in salt and one-eighth in money to defray expenses of removing provisions from place of collection to troops.” Ten collection points, “including Maj. Buchanan’s” were established. Davidson County, TN

1788 Jan: The Davidson County Court Minute Book records that “William Gowens” sued the heirs of “David Gowens” in the January, 1788 session of court. The defendants, unnamed, did not appear in court, and the court awarded to the plaintiff “£7:14:3 in damages.” A writ of attachment [legal means of seizure] was granted by the court to William Gowen October 9, 1788, and the sheriff was ordered to sell the land. Davidson Co, TN

1788 March 11: On March 11, 1788, William Gowen received his title from the State of North Carolina to his 640-acre land grant, according to Davidson County Deed Book A, page 161. Davidson Co, TN.

1788 Oct 7: “William Gowens” appeared as a juror for the last time October 7, 1788. Shortly afterward, a new lawyer, Andrew Jackson, Esquire “produced his license to practice law in the several county courts of the state and took oath” January 5, 1789.

1788 Oct 8 – John Boyd v. Wm Gowens – Gowen appeals judgment of 18 dollars, court finds for Plt and orders William Gowen to pay. Davidson Co, TN
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions court records, 1783-1789 p. 105
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-M3LD-C?i=60&cat=134460

1788 Oct 8 – John Murdock v. William Gowens – Trespass on the case
damages 300 pounds. John Murdock says William Gowen played a game of cards with him on Oct 10, 1787. That John won 120 pounds N. Carolina currency. William promised to pay. William has refused to pay. The July Term 1787 Dft appeared, prayed and obtained and imparlaned and Apr term 1788. The jury found for the Plt for 132 pounds.
Davidson Co, TN – Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions court records, 1783-1789 p. 105
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-M3LD-C?i=60&cat=134460

1788 Oct 9 – William Gowen v. The heirs of David Gowen decd – William Gowen pleads the estate of David Gowen is justly indebted to him L 27.14.3. Oath that the heirs of the sd Gowen are not resident in this county or otherwise are unknown to him. William Gowen asks the sheriff to attach the estate of David Gowen to pay his debts. Jury finds for Plt.
Davidson Co, TN – Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions court records, 1783-1789 p. 110.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-M3LD-Q?i=62&cat=134460

1790 Sometime before 1790 William Gowen witnessed a bill of sale of a negro girl, age 12, price £150 pounds
according to Davidson County Will Book 1, page 90.
As late as 1789, the county was still referred to as Davidson County, North Carolina. It is believed that a slave named Guy accompanied William Gowen in his move to Tennessee. Steve Rogers of the Tennessee Historical Commission found evidence that Guy lived in a small slave cabin adjacent to the home of William Gowen.

1790 July William Gowen died in Davidson County sometime before July 1790 at about age 70. Harriette Simpson Arnow, writing in “Flowering of the Cumberland,” states that William Gowen was “killed,” suggesting that he, too, was a victim of the Indians.
Cleve Weathers wrote, “The uncertainties of life in the Mero District are partially reflected in an account by Harriette Simpson Arnow, in a section of her book dealing with Indian warfare and the role of women. From “Flowering of the Cumberland,” published by The Macmillan Company, 1963, page 31: ‘Around two-thirds of the wives of the original settlers were widowed before the ending of the Indian Wars in Middle Tennessee in 1795. Numerous others, settling later–Mesdames Anthony and Isaac Bledsoe, Edwin Hickman, Jacob Castleman, John Donelson, Sr., Henry Rutherford, William Ramsey, to name only a few, were also widowed.’” Davidson Co, TN

1790 July 12 On July 12, 1790 the County Court granted a court order to “Sarah Gowens” authorizing her to sell the estate of her husband. In Davidson County Will Book 1, page 168 Sarah Gowen, administrator of the estate of her husband, returned an inventory of the estate of “William Gowen deceased of Davidson County, North Carolina” listing “one mare & colt, saddles, farm and carpenter’s tools, shoemaker tools, razor, guns, household goods, cotton cards, six pounds of powder, eight pounds of lead, eight dry cows, eight steers, ducks, hens, some money and bonds.” Davidson Co, TN
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77TV-1M3J?i=106&cc=1909088&cat=307760 (Inventory Bk 1, pg 168)

1790 July 13 On July 13, 1790, apparently after the death of William Gowen, Andrew Ewing acknowledged before the County Court that William Gowen had indeed executed a bill of sale [probably] for “one Negro fellow named Guy” to Frederick Stump, according to the Court minutes. Davidson Co, TN

1790 October: 1790 October: In Davidson County Will Book 1, page 175, dated October 1790, Sarah Gowen returned into a court a total of the proceeds of the estate sale of William Gowen, “£597:11 for articles sold”–livestock, household goods and farm equipment. Until 1792, American currency was still based on the English system of pounds, shillings and pence.
“An Inventory of the Sale of the Estate of William Gowens, Decd. as delivered into court October Term, 1790 by Sarah Gowens, Admx. of the estate of sd. Gowens Decd. Amount-ing on the sale to £597:11 shillings [two words illegible]:
Purchaser Item Price–Pounds:Shillings
John Hague One cow & calf 6:00
John Hague Two cows, one calf 16:15
Sarah Gowens One black & white steer 5:01
Sarah Gowens One small red steer 3:11
Sarah Gowens One red yearling heifer & calf 6:
Sarah Gowens One barren white faced cow 8:11
Sarah Gowens One small red bull 3:11
Sarah Gowens One two-year-old heifer 5:01
Samuel Deason One 3-year-old heifer & 2 bulls 8:15
Timothy Demumbre One-year bay colt 39:
Sarah Gowens One roan mare 16:
Sarah Gowens One gray horse 26:
Sarah Gowens One great plow 2:06
Sarah Gowens One shear & cotton 2:12
Sarah Gowens One pair of iron wedges 1:16
Sarah Gowens One axe 1:
Sarah Gowens One pair of doubletrees 1:
Sarah Gowens One auger 1:
Sarah Gowens One 3/4″ auger 1:14
Sarah Gowens One drawing knife 1:03
Robert Weakly One foot adze 1:14
Dan Hill One handsaw 18:
Nimrod Williams One cow & calf 6:15
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 6:
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf [Illegible]
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 6:
Sarah Gowens One steer 7:
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:15
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:08
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:05
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:11
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 9:05
Sarah Gowens One steer 5:07
Sarah Gowens One steer 5:05
Sarah Gowens One steer 5:16
Sarah Gowens One barren cow 6:01
Francis Armstrong One cow & calf 6:10
George A. Sugg One red heifer 5:
Lardner Clark One cow & calf 6:08
Benjamin Barnes One cow & calf 7:10
George A. Sugg One yearling steer 3:10
George A. Sugg One cow & calf 6:06
George A. Sugg One steer 4:10
George A. Sugg One steer 5:12
George A. Sugg One cow & calf 6:
John Hague One cow & calf 10:06
James Bosley One cow & calf 6:10
James Bosley One barren cow 9:
Francis Armstrong One dark bull 4:06
William Anderson One cow & calf 8:
Sarah Gowens One woman’s saddle 1:
Sarah Gowens One man’s saddle 6:05
Sarah Gowens One pot 1:01
Sarah Gowens One pot & hooks 3:05
Sarah Gowens One Dutch oven 4:05
Sarah Gowens One pot rack 1:
Sarah Gowens One pair of steelyards [scales] 4:02
Sarah Gowens One grindstone 1:02
Sarah Gowens One smooth iron 0:08
Sarah Gowens Two snaffle bridles 1:09
Sarah Gowens One shotgun 2:01
Sarah Gowens One riffle gun 6:10
Bradley Gambrel One pair of spectacles 0:07
Timothy Demumbre One razor 0:24
George Augustus Sugg One pair of saddle bags 1:01
Lardner Clark One sow & pigs 3:06
Sarah Gowens Three chisels 1:01
Sarah Gowens One ax 1:03
Sarah Gowens One razor 1:10
Sarah Gowens One hoe 1:05
Sarah Gowens Two clevises 2:05
Sarah Gowens Two hoes 1:04
Sarah Gowens One cart 9:
Sarah Gowens One feather bed & furniture 20:
Sarah Gowens Two bedsteads 3:
Sarah Gowens One lot of spools 0:10
Benjamin Barnes One brod ax 2:01
Bobo Stovall One hatchet 0:18
Jonas Manifee One ax 1:03
Bradley Gambrel Two axes 2:02
Sarah Gowens Tanned leather 2:08
Sarah Gowens More tanned leather 1:01
Sarah Gowens Two tin kettles 1:06
Sarah Gowens Six pewter basins, 2 dishes,
6 plates 15:08
Sarah Gowens Seven tin cups & six spoons 0:19
Sarah Gowens One slate 0:20
Sarah Gowens Six lbs. powder & 8 lbs. of lead 6:
Sarah Gowens Seven 1/2 pt. bottles 0:09
Sarah Gowens Four water pails, 2 coolers,
2 churns, 5 chairs 2:02
Timothy Demumbre Tanned leather 1:12
John Hague Tanned leather 0:14
Jonas Manifee One tin strainer and 1 chair 0:05
Sarah Gowens One big wheel 0:10
Sarah Gowens One little wheel 0:07
Sarah Gowens One hogshead 0:08
Sarah Gowens Two bells 1:12
Sarah Gowens One sifter 0:08
Sarah Gowens One pr. cotton cards 1:
Sarah Gowens Two pair snuffers 0:04
Sarah Gowens Eighteen ducks 1:04
Sarah Gowens Two gimblets
[small augers] 0:03
Sarah Gowens Six curls 0:06
Sarah Gowens One pair nippers
& file 0:03
Sarah Gowens Ten barrows 30:11
Sarah Gowens Six sows & 14 shoats 16:01
Sarah Gowens One sow & 2 pigs [Illegible]
Jonas Manifee One hogshead 0:07
George A. Sugg Thirty hens 1:11
Hanson Williams One gimblett 0:01
Lardner Clark One barrow 3:05
John Hague Two sows & 15 pigs 5:12
John Hague Two sows & pigs 3:
George A. Sugg One sow 1:04
George A. Sugg One pied steer 5:09
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 2:01
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 6:
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 5:
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 3:
Sarah Gowens One yearling steer 0:20
Sarah Gowens One steer 3:
Sarah Gowens One steer 1:01
Sarah Gowens One grubbing hoe 0:20
Sarah Gowens One heading hoe 0:08
Sarah Gowens Six knives & 4 forks 0:06
Sarah Gowens Five lbs. cotton 0:20
Sarah Gowens Forty wt. flax 3:
Sampson Williams Hone & razor 1:15
The commissioners made return of a judgment obtained of Twenty-nine dollars due.” Davidson Co, TN
(Sale of Inventory Bk 1, pg 175. Davidson Co, TN).
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77TV-1M32?i=109&cc=1909088&cat=307760

1791 Oct – Sarah Gowen v George Augustus Sugg and John Hague – Pltf to recover against Defs
Davidson Co, TN County Ct Mins 1783-1802 p 27
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ8-Y5Q5?i=283&cat=11980

1791 Oct – Sarah Gowen v James Bosley – Plt to recover agt Deft
Davidson Co, TN County Ct Mins 1783-1802 p 28
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ8-Y5WB?i=284&cat=11980

1791 Oct – Sarah Gowen v John Hague and George W Sugg – jury finds for Plt
Davidson Co, TN County Ct Mins 1783-1802 pg 38
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ8-Y538?i=289&cat=11980

1792 April 10 – William Gowen dies in 1792, and his will is probated:
Estate: will, 10 Mar 1785, 96th District, South Carolina, USA. “William Gowen wrote his will March 10, 1785. The will read:

“In the name of God, Amen: I William Gowen of Ninety Six District in the State of South Carolina, planter, being in a low state of health, but of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the Immortality of my Soul and That it is appointed for all men once to Die, Do make and ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following.
“1st. I recommend my soul into the hand of Him who gave it & my Body to Be Buried in a Christian Like manner at the Discretion of Executors.
“2nd. I Do Constitute and appoint my Son, John Gowen, and my wife, Sarah Gowen, Executors of this my last will and Testament. And as for my worldly goods which it has been please God to Bestow me I Dispose of them in the manner and form following: Viz:
“Item: I Give & Bequeath to my well Beloved Wife, Sarah Gowen, all my Stock of Cattle, Hogs & Horses [Except Two Cows & Calves for my Daughter, Anne Easily] which with all my household furniture, she, my said wife, is to hold as her property during her Life and after her death to be the property of my said son, John Gowen.
“Item: I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter, Anne Easily, Two Hundred and seventy acres of land, more or less, it being part of a survey of Three Hundred and Ninety-five acres Run for me on the Sink Hole fork of Tyger River, Beginning for the Dividing Line at a stump agreed upon by her and John Gowen & running a south course to the other line of said tract.”
“Item: I Give & Bequeath to my son, John Gowen, All the Remaining part of said tract of land above mentioned,
and for the true performance of these presents I have hereunto set my hand and seal to this my Last Will & Testament This Tenth Day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five the Ninth year of American Independence.”
(Signed): William [X] Gowen
Signed & Sealed in the presence of us the undernamed Witnesses by him, the Said William Gowen as his Last Will & Testament.
Wits: David Jackson, Millington Easley” “This Last Will & Testament of William Gowen, deceased, being proven by the Evidence of Millenton Easley & approved by the Court at the term aforesaid, was thereupon admitted to record, a true copy of which is this day transcribed & this Original filed in office 8 June 1792.” by M. Lancaster, S.C.S.
Wm. Gowen, decd, Last Will & Test’t. Copyed, 8 June, 1792, 96 Dist, SC William Gowen decd/will. Spartanburg Co, Va – Estate File No. 1093.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34T-BZ4X?i=386&cat=2432211
John Buck Gowen – son, Anne Gowen Easley – daughter, James Gowen – son.

It is reported that William Gowen died April 10, 1792. The Spartanburg County, South Carolina probate court accepted the will of William Gowen in its session of April 1792. The following entry was made in the court minutes: Carolina Spartanburgh County April Court, 1792

A possibility is that the William Gowen that died in 1790 in Davidson County, TN was the William Gowen whose will is probated in 1792 in Spartanburg Co, SC. His will had been written in 1785 - likely while still in South Carolina - and it is possible that William Gowen Sr had moved to Davidson Co, TN with some of his children/grandchildren, and there was no need to probate the will in Spartanburg Co, SC until 1792 - as the property there was already in the possession of his children that stayed in South Carolina. They may have decided to probate the will when they decided to sell some of the land they received from William Sr, and needed to make sure title was clear The will and estate paperwork do not mention the date of death unfortunately, so it is difficult to know.

1793 May 6 Sarah Gowen appeared again in the Nashville Court Record, Entry No. 270 in connection with a sheriff’s sale May 6, 1793 in Nashville “by virtue of a writ of fiere facias” in the suit of Sarah Gowen against George A. Sugg and John Hague. The fiere facias was a writ of execution ordering a levy on goods to satisfy a judgment. Apparently the two had not made payment on goods purchased at the estate auction of William Gowen. By court order the sheriff, Sampson Williams, sold at auction a negro slave woman named “China” for £80:2 shillings to John & George M. Deadrick, Nashville merchants, and the debt was settled out of the proceeds. Davidson Co, TN

Marriage

Billy married twice:

1. Jemima (Burns) Gowen
2. Patsy (Rains) Gowen

Death

Billy died circa 1815 in Williamson Co., Tennessee.

Sources

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gowenrf/genealogy/Gowenms044.htm

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Gowan-6 created through the import of Lent_Vise_2011-05-11aa.ged on May 26, 2011 by Bryan Sypniewski.