Why? Because he is from RAPHOE parish, Donegal, home of the merchant Cowans among others. He employed THOMPSON as his emigration agent who happened to reside in Rathmelton on Loch Swilly, County DONEGAL. Patton's daughter married William THOMPSON, Jr. and his father in law William THOMPSON, Sr. donated the land on which TINKLING SPRING Meeting House was built. If your Richard Walker was associated with these gentlemen, Mr. Patton and Mr. Thompson you have just established the most important Wigton-Walker connection to Donegal since I have been on this list. Regards, Robert Cowan Derry Man

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cowan, McKenna, Rogers, Murphy Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DMQ.2ACIB/813 Message Board Post: Looking for info on my g.g.grandmother. Her name was Bridget Cowan. I don't know what her maiden name was. Trying to find out spouse's name. They had 6 children: John, Jennie, Bridget, Kate, Anne & James. Bridget was my g.grandmother who married a McKenna. If anyone has any infor on the Cowans from County Cork, Ireland please get in touch with me. Thanks

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: COWAN MCAUGHTRIE HOUSTON Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DMQ.2ACIB/811 Message Board Post: My ancestor Sarah Cowan married Thomas McAughtrie in Ayr, 20th May 1849. He was from the parish of Ardrossan and she was from "this" parish, which I assume to be Ayr. Neither set of parents names were noted on the OPR records, so I am at a standstill. I would love to hear from any other researchers for this family connection. Although I have info on several Thos. McAughtries in Ayrshire around that time, I have so far been unable to confirm who exactly his or Sarah's parents were. Does anyone have any ideas for me please? Thanks Jeanne Bell NZ

Sounds like a strange lead-in for an e-mail to the Scotch-Irish list but wait to you here this. I would not have believed it but I saw it with my very own eyes. On our last day in Belfast, John was tying up some loose ends at Queens University so I decided to walk downtown to visit a friend of mine, Harold Curran, owner of a fabric store called the Spinning Wheel and within a few minutes we were off having tea. I commented to Harold how prosperous and well-behaived Belfast appeared to be and he almost fell out of his chair. He said, "Lets go for a ride" and off we went to north Belfast to a neighborhood that obviously had not heard of the current peace. You must first understand that Belfast is really two different towns. If you live on the Malone Rd. you are as far away from the troubles as if you lived in Atlanta, but the Falls or the Crumlin Rd is another matter. Many Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods are separated by metal barriers but this north Belfast neighborhood was different. You turned a corner and for two blocks it was Protestant and the next two blocks were Catholic. No dividing line, no walls, but no question about where you were. The Protestant homes all had British flags proudly displayed and the Catholics had the usual Irish tricolor. What was surreal was the flag of Israel flying next to the British flag and the Palestinian flag side by side with the Irish flag. Go figure. And you want to read a book about the troubles? There are still troubles, five people shot in two days on the lower Newtownards road and a seething undercurrant of resentment among some of the combatents. You see, peace is not good for some groups of thugs, the ones who extort money for protection, the ones engaged in the drug trade. It is way beyond religion and culture and it is mostly about money. Follow the money. This is what Harold told me. He lives in Belfast, he has survived the troubles. Regards, Robert Cowan Former Director of the Irish Children's Summer Program, Charlotte

My ancestor who is Col. James Patton who's grandfather was William Patton of the family you wrote about 7/6/2002. I would like to know the Thompson fellow from the Scotch-Irish list who maybe on the same line as me that you mentioned. Col. James Patton married Mary Osborne. Where they married hasn't been found yet. They resided at Whitehaven, England. James Patton was in the Virginia trade transporting indentured servants and Irish linen from Ireland to Virginia and carrying home tobacco and timber. His homebase of operations was Whitehaven, England, Kirkcudbright, Scotland and Dublin, Ireland. He sailed from there to the Chesapeake Bay where it was unloaded at Rappahannock and Potomac landings. He picked up Maryland bright tobacco. This tobacco was inferior to the London merchants, Maryland bright was preferred by the Dutch. This led to the trade triangle between Virginia, the British Isles and Holland. James Patton also picked up Wines in France and Portugal. He was more involved in the tobacco and wine trade first as a employee of Scottish tobacco factors at Kirkcudbright called The Kirkcudbright Company and later of the Lutwidge Company at Whitehaven, England. The Kirkcudbright Company collapsed because of Patton's manipulations, according to Walter Lutwidge, his second employer. Lutwidge a ship owner in the tobacco trade had been sailing to Virginia since 1708. Lutwidge made Patton commander of a ship and send her around the world to transport passengers to settle his plantations in Virginia. He was working for him in 1737 when Patton became a partner of Virginia land speculator William Beverly to get land in Orange county. James was to bring settlers from Northern Ireland to settle the grant. Also Patton's maternal relatives the Lynns and Lewises were also speculating in western lands in Orange County. In 1737 William Beverly wrote Patton that the council had granted them 30,000 acres to settle. Col. James Patton advertized in the Dublin newspaper, April 1738, that the 250-ton ship Cockermouth, well victualed and mounted with great guns, Captain Patton commander, would take passengers at Dublin for Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, those for Pennsylvania to land at Bohemia landing or Elk River. Emigrants were to contact Patton's agents at various places in Ireland. Patton's brother-in-law John Preston and Colin Campbell were his agents in Derry. Patton had to take the Walpoole instead of the Cockermouth and cleared customs at Whitehaven on March 16, 1738. The Walpoole sailed to Dublin and stayed there for several weeks taking on passengers, then went to Lough Swilly, a bay reaching into County Donegal. Patton had agents at Rathmullen and Rathmelton two towns on Lough Swilly near Kilmacrenan, home of the Patton family. John Preston was at Londonderry recruiting and this is where he brought on his wife Elizabeth Patton and their son William Preston and their daughters. Patton had 65 passengers and they reached Virginia August 23, 1738. Patton was to return the Walpoole to Whitehaven. Patton did not return but established his family, friends and servants on the Beverly Manor grant on Shenandoah and he drew on Lutwidge's credit. Lutwidge said Patton bought 6,000 lbs of fresh beef in Virginia, 40 barrels of Indain corn and everything else in proportion and gave it to his families charging all to Lutwidge. He also took 15 indentured servants belonging to Lutwidge. April 28, 1739 Patton sailed the Walpoole back to Kirkcubright carrying over 400 hogsheads of tobacco because Lutwidge was cheating customs in Scotland. By August he was in Rotterdam unloading tobacco. Lutwidge checked the Walpoole's accounts and found how Patton had used him in Virginia. Patton saled to Walpoole into Whitehaven in October Patton and Lutwidge quarreled angrily. Due the efforts of John Thompson did they finally compromise. Lutwidge sent John Thompson Patton's notes where he will pay to him. Lutwidge stated that Patton has outdone them all. Hell itself can't outdo him. On May 1740 landing at chesapeake he brought the William Thompson family with him. May 23, 1740 William Thompson, Isabella Thompson and William Thompson together proved their importation into Orange County, Virginia. Also William Thompson's sister Catherine Stuart Thompson Alexander came in 1740 to Cecil County, Maryland with her husband Andrew Alexander of Ulster, Ireland. William Thompson's family were wealthy, influential people possibly connected to the royal Stuarts of Scotland. William Thompson's family was associated by marriage with the Erskines, Alexanders and Montgomerys. The Thompson family were associated with Patton in his venture. David Thompson at Rathmelton on Lough Swilly, Donegal, Ireland, near Patton's home at Kilmacrenan was an emigration agent for Patton. John Thompson, an associate of Lutwidge, held Patton's notes. Lutwidge fell out with Patton and John Thompson persuaded Lutwidge to settle with him. Mary Osborne wife of Col. James Patton had a sister Margaret who married Rev. John Thompson a Presbyterian minister. John Thompson was born north of Londonderry on the river Foyle. He was licensed to preach by Armagh Presbytery June 23, 1713. John came to America in 1715 landing in York, Virginia. He was licensed to preach by New Castle Presbytery. He preached at Lews, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Shenandoah Valley. William Thompson Sr. settled on Middle River of Shenandoah near Henry Downs. Thompson and wife Jean gave the land for the Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church site. This is where Thompson's kin the Pattons, Prestons, Buchanans, Lewises, Breckenridges worshiped. By 1742 Patton controlled the Roanoke and James River company's 100,000 acre grant. James Patton in 1745 was appointed President of the court and county lieutenant heading the militia with title of Colonel. John Buchanan was appointed a justice. Col Patton challenged John Madison for a burgess seat in 1748. Madison won. In 1754 Patton went to Williamsburg as a Burgess. In the Autumn Virginia sent Patton to Logstown to arrange a treaty with the Iroquois to sell their interest in Allegheny lands opening for settlers. The next summer in 1752 representing Virginia at the treat exploiting the New and Holston region. Col. James Patton died in 1755 at Drapers Meadow by Shawnee Indains. This was the same time that Mary Ingles was taken hostage. James and Mary Patton had two daughters Margaret and Mary. Margaret married John Buchanan and Mary my direct line married William Thompson Jr., who built Fort Thompson and owned Springfield. My names of interest from this early area of Virginia are the following: Patton, Thompson, McCarty, Farley, Clay, Caperton, Kelly, Hounshell, Messersmith. Haven't proved yet but hope to add Cowan to the list. Known data on Cowan is Nancy Ann Kelly born in Franklin Co, Tenn in the town of Cowan. Parents were Caperton Kelly and Elizabeth Cowan. Gay Nix

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cowan Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DMQ.2ACIB/810 Message Board Post: I am looking for my Grandfather - Bert Cowan. He married Lena Margolis in 1941 (approx.) and had 3 children. No contact has taken place with Bert since he divorced Lena in 1942 (approx.). Bert and Lena lived in Manchester, England. Bert may have travelled to Australia for a few years but no other records exist. Please contact me directly - [email protected] Many thanks

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cowan, Cohen Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DMQ.2ACIB/800.2 Message Board Post: I too am trying to find the Cowan liniage. I live in London and the grandson of Bert Cowan (of Manchester). Bert married Lena Margolis but got divorced leaving Lena with 3 children. We have no records of Bert who hasn't been in touch since 1948. Somewhere down the line our name Cowan was Cohen. Have you heard of Bert Cowan?

This post came from Rachel Dysart, researcher in England and is a remarkable find. Read closely Dan, "I don't know what date you are putting on thecigar factory story in St Johnston but if it helps I have the following:- a letter from Andrew FERGUSON merchant of Derry and later MP. 23rd Nov 1779 " I received your much esteemed letterof..... I am much obliged to my friend Mr GILLIES for his kind introduction. I am in partnership with a Mr EWING of this city in the tobacco business. ......... Our firm is FERGUSON and EWING. ................" A John DYSART of Philadelphia ( No I don't know where he fits in to the Derry Dysarts, but he is probably part of the merchant family) was also in correspondence with Flahaven and Wilcox about linen that had not been sold. Also mentioned in the letter is tobacco for sale. Rachel Little pieces, all seemingly unimportant sometimes add up to the BIG find. Regards, Robert Cowan L-S-M-F-T means Fine Tobacco!!

Hi All I'm New to the list so here goes. I'm looking for information on Susanne COWAN born Abt. 1755 in Ireland probably County Donegal and died February 18, 1828 in Crawford County PA. She married Robert MARTIN b. Abt 1755 in Curraghomongan, Stanorlar Parish, County Donegal, Ireland and died January 13, 1829 in Crawford County PA. They came to America with three children in 1805 on the Ship "The Experiment". I have Susanne's, Mother as Catherine Edmonston, but only from old family history. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Patty in MN at [email protected]

Here is the second half of the page from "Ben Reed's History of Kossuth Co." (Iowa). Possibly written ca. 1907. James M. Cowan Mr. Cowan was married in Algona to Miss Rachel R. Foster, a native of Pannsylvania. She died in Algona in 1908 and was laid to rest in Riverview Cemetery. She was the mother of four children: Maud M., the wife of M.E. Schleicher, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is at the head of the Twin City Realty Company; Harold R., an contractor and builder at Algona, who married Alice Smith, by whom he had three children, Harold J., Victor H. and Margaret Emma, the two last named passing away at the ages of eight and thirteen months respectively; Florence J., who is the wife of Marcus S. Norton, a hardware merchant of Virginia, Minnesota, and has one son, James Albert; and Woodson M., who is a cartoonist at Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Cowan has two grandsons living, Harold J., the son of Harold R. Cowan, and James Albert Norton, the son of Marcus S. Norton. Politically, Mr. Cowan is of the democratic faith and takes considerable interest in the affairs of his party and city. He was for ten years constable of Algona, a position which he filled with that efficiency which has characterized his business career. While acting in that capacity he necessarily paid a great deal of attention to collections and in discharging the duties thus enjoined upon him he drove all over northern Iowa. Mr. Cowan in his church relations, is a member of the Congregational denomimation. He has been active in his church relationship and was a member of its building committee when the present parsonage was built. His fraternal relations have been restricted to membership in the United Workmen, an association which he does not now continue. Mr. Cowan's lengthy public, business and social carer in Algona has made him one of its best known and most highly respected citizens. He possesses in a rare degree those traits and qualities which have eminently fitted him for the conspicuous and valuable services he has rendered. His name stands in all circles as a synonym for right dealiing and efficiency. ________ Julie (Cowan) Sergeant

Below is an excerpt from "Ben Reed's History of Kossuth County" (Iowa). This was sent to my uncle years ago, from a relative in Iowa. She had the original volume (of which there were two) containing this passage. The volume was not dated, and she guessed it was written ca. 1907. The James M. Cowan is my great-grandfather. The middle name is Messick. I hope I'm not infringing on a copyright here: James M. Cowan James M. Cowan is a building contractor and owner of numerous city properties here. He was born in Elkhart, Indiana, December 13, 1847, and is a pioneer of Algona, where he settled in 1869. He is of Scotch lineage in both the paternal and maternal lines. The grandfather, Joseph S. Cowan, was born in Virginia or Ohio and was an active public man and an inventor of note, one of his achievements along the latter line being the head of the modern spinning wheel. He was a manufacturer and wheelwright and had a notable military career, serving the United States in its war with England in 1812, and being also a captain in the militia, where he fought in the Indian uprisings in northern Indiana, assisting in the execution of many of them. Mr. Cowan's father and mother were J.W. and Catherine Eliza (McKelvey) Cowan. The father was born in Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, having been an early settler in what was then the west. He remained there until about 1884, when he removed to Brooklyn, New York, where he died and was buried in 1903. He was a progressive farmer and a stock buyer or drover in his earlier life but passed his later years in retirement. The mother was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and her father, James McKinley McKelvey, during his residence in Pittsbury was a furniture manufacturer. On settling in Indiana later in life he became an affluent and progressive farmer, a politician of note and a leader among men generally. His political affiliation was with the democratic party, where he was a conspicuous figure in its councils and work. His wife, the mother of the subject of this review, passed away in 1903, in Brooklyn, and is buried by the side of her life companion in Riverview cemetery. She was the mother of six children: Martha E., who died in 1874; James M.; Anna Eliza, the wife of J.H. Johnson, of Farmington, New Mexico; Joseph, who died in 1892; Eva, who is the wife of I.N. Failor, superintendent of schools of Brooklyn, New York; and P.C., a resident of Spokane, Washington. James M. Cowan was educated in the Indiana common schools and finished his education at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Coming to Algona in 1869, he became associated with S.I. Plumley in the manufacture of brick and in the building business. He and his partner built the courthouse at Emmetsburg, Iowa, and the first brick house in that place. They also executed the basement contract for the courthouse in Algona and completed the building of that structure. This partnership was continued eleven years but after the first two years they dropped the brick manufacturing business, giving their entire time to building and contracting. When the partnership was dissolved J.M. Cowan continued the firm's business, an avocation which he pursued twenty-three years. He then engaged in the manufacture of cigars but after three years thus employed he, in partnership with his son Harold, again embarked in the contracting and building business and took up architectural work in connection therewith. He owns a quarter section of South Dakota land and has extensive interests in Algona city property. (continued in following e-mail...) Julie (Cowan) Sergeant

What started out as an off-hand remark by James Fleming of St. Johnson, Donegal has got me doing some serious thinking. He told John and I a story passed down by his mama about a cigar factory which operated in the 1700's on a spot near his engineering plant. Was this just a bit of local lore or did the story have "legs"? Another fellow from the Scotch-Irish list e-mailed me about his Thompson ancestors and indicated that they were always around the Pattons and that one of the Patton boys was involved in the shipping of tobacco. I consulted my first edition, signed copy of Howard McKnight Wilson's "Tinkling Spring: Headwater of Freedom" and found the following: "William Patton appears as early as 1626 as Rector of the Parishes of Ramoigh, Aughanish, and Clonmany, Diocese of RAPHOE (pronounced Ra-fo with accent on the fo), county Donegal, Ireland. He was the progenitor of the Irish branch of the Patton family. William Patton's grandson, Henry Patton, Esq. only son of Henry Patton, Sr., married Sarah Lynn, almost certainly of the Lynn family seated in county Donegal, Ulster, an ancient and prominent English family. James Patton, born 1692, was the fourth son of the younger Henry Patton and Sarah Lynn Patton. His sister was Mrs. John Preston. For his services to the King, Henry was awarded the Manor of Springfield, Parish of Clondevaddock, Barony of Kilmacrenan, county Donegal. This estate adjoined the "Croghan" estate of his father, Henry Patton, Sr. In accordance with frequent custom in the case of younger sons in that period, James Patton was placed at an early age in the Royal Navy and is said to have taken part in the War with France known as "Queen Anne's War." In the period of quiet after the Treaty of Utrecht James Patton resigned the service and engaged in PRIVATE SHIPPING enterprises. His title of Captain evidently came from his service as a shipmaster, for the Royal Navy's list of officers does not include his name. He married Miss Osborne during this time and is said to have resided either a t Kirkcudbright, Scotland or Whitehaven, county Cumberland, England. From both of these ports a growing trade was developing with the British settlements in North America, and especially the Colony of Virginia where exports of tobacco had early in its history caused it to be dubbed "The Tobacco Kingdom." How many trips Patton made to America is a matter of speculation but the facts remain: Here is a guy whose family is from Raphoe parish doing private shipping trade in tobacco at the same time a cigar factory existed in his own back yard. Imagine that. Patton and Preston are important names closely associated with many of us. They located in one of the settlements adjacent to the tinkling spring and were among those who in the fall of 1738 formed the Triple Forks of the Shenando Congregation-the southern section of which later became the Tinkling Spring Meeting House where these two families were outstanding leaders." Patton and Preston chartered the "Walpole" to carry out their part of the joint venture with William Beverley. During the sailing season of the following spring, the "Walpole" voyaged back to Great Britain under a different master, carrying a cargo of ninety-five hogsheads of tobacco. Regards, Robert Cowan Marlboro Man

I forwarded this post for general interest. Also Dan, I found this obscure reference in "Fighters of Derry" from the epic poem "Londeriados" "Ewing and Wilson gave the same And forty merchants, whom I can not name." Referring of coarse to the defence of Derry in 1689. Do you have merchant connections? "The victory of William, Prince of Orange, on July 12, 1690 will soon be celebrated by many of our Ulster friends. The aid dispatched for the relief of Derry and the conspicuous display of power of the Protestant forces of Europe under the leadership of William and gathered at Carrickfergus was the culmination of long relationship between Scottish and Dutch protestants. The merchant guilds of the Royal Burghs alone had the right of foreign trade. It was necessary to prevent encroachments by unfreemen, unfree burghs and foreign merchants into the trading communities. Wherever control was exercised at a recognized place to facilitate inspections and the collection of customs was known as a "staple." The monoply of trade which belonged to the merchants of the Royal Burghs extended to all those articles from which customs revenue was collected. These were known as "staple goods." [If you've read this far, you've learned something!] The great center of Scottish trade in the Netherlands was the staple colony at Campvere. The trade between Scotland and Holland was so great that there existed for 350 years an established Scots trading station in the latter country, which during most of that time was situated at Campvere on the island of Walcheren. The connection began by the marriage in 1444 of Wolfaert von Borselen, Lord of Campvere, to Mary, fifth daughter of James I. The settlement of the Scots staple at Campvere was effected by an Order under the hand of James V., dated at Stirling, 25th June 1530. Campvere was the great haunt of the Scots merchants. So numerous were the Scots residents that they had a church of their own, and were entitled to be represented at the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland. There was also a Scottish Presbyterian church at Rotterdam. Besides the voyages of merchants, there was much coming and going of officers and men of the Scots regiments in the service of foreign states. There was a Scots Brigade in Holland on continuous service for over two hundred years, being first embodied in 1572 and not dissolved until 1782. {Yes, the kilt was worn after 1745 by Scottish Regiments in service overseas, including the Battle of Bushy Run, outside of Pittsburg, Pennyslvania.] These men were always in the thick of the fighting and bore the brunt of danger. At the battle of Nieuport in 1600, the Scots regiment, under the command of Coloner Edmond, a native of Stirling, and son of a Stirling baker, had 600 men killed. But the more the ranks were thinned the more eager were their countrymen to rush in and fill the vacant places in the fighting Brigade, which Prince Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, called "the Bulwark of the Republic." Stewarts, Kirkpatricks, Balfours, Mackays, Strachans, Barclays, Murrays and nearly every family of note in Scotland sent their sons across the sea to that famous training school of arms. For James and his advocates at the Boyne water, in their attempts to assert an external control over the independence minded Scots and Scots-Irish, they paid dearly. Lose your freedom and you have nothing else to lose. July, aye jcmaclay

Grianan of Aileach is a hugh circular stone fort situated on the Hill of Aileach. It was at one time palace of the Hy Niall dynasty, Kings of Ulster and High Kings of all Ireland, and dates back three thousand years. Built of dry stone the fort is reckoned to be one of the most important antiquities in the North of Ireland. The walls rise about 18 feet and are roughly 13 feet thick. Inside the wall, which encloses an area of grass are terraced steps which lead to the top. It is thought the stone circle was once a temple for the worship of the sun, perhaps by the Druids, as the only entrance, an iron gate, faces towards the East. One of the most valued treasures of the National Musuem in Dublin is the bell of Aileach, which is mentioned in the "Annals of Ulster" as early as 522 A.D. Grianan of Aileach which is marked on the map issued by the geographer Ptolemy around 100 A.D. and is also mentioned in the "Annals of the Four Masters." St. Patrick is said to have prophesied that Kingship and prominence should be over Erin and Aileach "When you lift your foot to approach the flag, the men of Erin shall tremble before you." The view from the fort in marvelous. You can see the River Foyle to the South, Lough Swilly to the West and the Innishowen Pen. to the North. What stands out is the contrast between Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle. The Swilly runs clear and blue and Fleming says he would eat fish from it but not the Foyle which stays muddy brown all the time. He explained as follows: The Foyle is 20 miles long while the Swilly is only 12. The water in both flow at 2 miles per hour. There are two tides per day or one complete cycle every 12 hours. You do the math. The Swilly manages to flush itself each and every tide. There are 6 hours from high tide to low tide and then it starts over so you have a maximum of 12 miles of river that can be discharged in this amount of time. The Foyle is 20 miles long so it never really gets a chance to "flush" itself, hence the brown color of the water. Fleming will not eat fish from the Foyle. He is a wealthy land owner and his family has lived in St. Johnson for over 400 years so I too will not eat fish from the Foyle. Regards, Robert Cowan >From hot and dry North Carolina

One of the more interesting tidbits of local Donegal lore that James Fleming told us about concerned the existance of a cigar factory on the site near where his engineering plant now rests. St. Johnstown is located on a bend in the Foyle and goods can not be shipped from any place further inland. It was a market town during the 1700's and one of the businesses consisted of the manufacture of cigars. Where did the tobacco come from? Virginia? Who was sent from the area to make the necessary arrangments and secure the goods? Donegal merchants? Do we know any merchant families from Donegal who came in the 1700's to Virginia? This speculation only makes it from the plausable to the possible. Pobable and proven are a long way off yet it provides for good mental gymnastics to ponder on what we know. Some of our ancestors left this very spot at the correct time in history and came to precisely the place where tobacco is grown and they brought with them the merchantile tradtion that went back as far as the 1500's in Stirling and continued even up to the founding of the first store in Knoxville in the early 1800's. That is a lot of coincidence. Regards, Robert Cowan Merchant Man

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DMQ.2ACIB/741.2 Message Board Post: I have some information that could be heapful concerning Magus Cowan. This Cowan line settled in present day New Hanford County, NC ( Wilmington) before 1741.Mangus was granted 640 acres in Nov. 1743.It seems likely that Duncan, John, Ann and Thomas were childre of Magus. Mangus died in1766, estate to wife Jennet. In 1787, Magus was on jury duty, so this Mangus must be the son of the original Mangus. From 1772 to1815, these names are mentioned: John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mangus, John, Mangus, and John Cowan will in 1815.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DMQ.2ACIB/145.151.153.154.155.157.590.1.1.2 Message Board Post: Cindy, Did you check the "Seaborn" Surname families that moved from North Carolina to Tennessee & Kentucky in the late 1700s/early 1800s. They were on the move from VA to NC to SC/TN/KY at the same time the Cowans were moving to the Knoxville/Grainger Co. Area from SW VA. Some of them are recorded in Censuses for Knox, Grainger, Bledsoe, Marion and western TN Counties. There was one Seaborn family in the 1850 Marion Co. Census at the same time as your Samuel Cowan. There are "Seaborn" given names for sons of other Surnamed families in these counties also about this time. Good luck, Don Ashburn

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DMQ.2ACIB/145.151.153.154.155.157.590.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Thank you. My ancestors are Ann Cowan and James Roddy.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DMQ.2ACIB/145.151.153.154.155.157.590.1.1 Message Board Post: The children of Andrew Cowan and Mary Walker were: 1. John, m. Leah Lewis, d. aft 4 Mar 1830 2. Robert, m. Jean McSpadden, d. aft 19 Oct 1808 3. Samuel, m. Mrs.Mary (Polly) Walker Rogers 5 Nov 1804,. 1 Apr 1775, d. 27 July 1832 4. Ann m. James Roddy (There are two in the area at that time), d. aft 19 Oct 1808 5. Jane, m. 7 August 1798 to Samuel Roan, d. aft 19 Oct 1808 6. Sally, m. William Hughes, d. aft 19 Dec 1808 7. Martha, m. 9 Feb 1797 Joseph Dixon, d. aft 19 Oct 1808 8. Mary, m. Hugh Dixon, d. aft 19 Oct 1808 9. James, m. 6 May 1796 Betsy Doherty, d. aft 19 Oct 1808 10. Andrew, m. 22 July 1800 Mary Reneau, 11. William d. aft 23 Jan 1806 12. David, d. aft 19 Oct 1808 When Andrew Cowan died, those youngest 3 boys were under age, and the older brothers and sisters (with their husbands) went to court to be made their guardians. I did a lot of research on this family, thinking that this Samuel was mine, but unfortunately, I proved he was not. Cindy Stamps

D/75/1 8 August 1698 Lease to John Cowan Original document viewed at PRONI Rt. Hon. Arthur Earl of Donegall. John Cowan, Londonderry, merchant. Lease to Cowan for 58 years from Nov. 1710. Rent 16 pounds English. On death of Cowan and each succeeding chief tenant a hariot of 3 pounds Ster. to be paid to Earl. Cowan to build within seven years a "good sufficient English-like house with stone walls and oaken roof" and "to plant on every Ballyboe of the premises thirty young oak or elme trees." Also to do suit and service at Court Leet. Bonymain in the manor of Elagh and Crisslaghmore in the manor of Buncranagh, Barony of Enishowen, Co. Donegal. Lately in the possession of Henry Thompson. Regards, Robert Cowan