After 37 years, on and off researching my Cowan ancestor. I have had no luck. Is there anyone who may have information that could help me get out of this dead end night' mare. Following is clues and source's I have found, perhalps someone out there can see what I can't. Mary Elizabeth Cowan was born ca 1803 or around 1808 according to three census I have on her. 1.Mary married Caperton Kelly in Tenn around 1827, their daughter Nancy Ann Kelly was born Dec 9th 1828 in Franklin Co, Tenn, source for that, is her death certificate and says Father Mr. Kelly and Mother Miss Cowan, both born in Va. According to 1850 and and 1860 it states E. Tenn as to her birth. 2. Caperton and Mary Elizabeth Kelly are in the 1840 and 1850 census for Morgan Co, Mo. 3. I find them in 1860 Monteague Co, Texas, and they moved from there to place unknown, a son did stay there for 1870 then he disappears. 4. Their children were: Nancy Ann 1828 Tenn, Emaline born ca 1834 E. Tenn, Thompson ca 1836 E. Tenn, John ca 1844 Mo, Eliza ca 1847 Mo and Alcinda ca 1849 Mo. I can not find them in 1830 for Tenn or Mo. Thought they could be in household with a relative. 5. Now Caperton's father was James Kelly who had married Nancy Caperton in 1782 in Greenbrier Co, Va. Nancy Caperton's father was John Caperton and Mother was Polly Thompson of Augusta and Greenbrier Co, Va. Children of John and Polly Caperton were: Adam md Elizabeth Miller. Hugh md Rhoda Stodghill. Elizabeth md Joshua Townsend, who came to Franklin Co, Tenn and has Rev. War papers there that shows he also was in Greenbrier Co, Va and mentions Lt. William Kananaugh, Rev. William Woods, Wallace Estill and Abigail Woods. Nancy md James Kelly. Sarah md Col. James Gibson. Mary md George Swope and also came to Franklin Co, Tenn. William md Lucy Woods md in Madison Co, Ky. James md Sally Wells 1791 Madison Co, Ky, moved Williamson Co, Tenn. James Kelly and Nancy Caperton Kelly moved to Madison Co, Ky and moved again to Franklin Co, Tenn about 1810, source is James Kelly was a witness for Andrew Woods will dated 19th March 1810 wife Hannah. Tax list for 1812 Franklin Co, Tenn. Court mintues of Lincoln Co, Tenn for Aug 10th 1815 State of Tenn against Caperton Kelly assault and battery in the case of Thomas Landreth and John Rossin. State of Tenn vs Archibald Caperton assult and battery against William Roberts. Caperton Kelly was in the war of 1812 and discharged in 1816 in Franklin Co, Tenn under Eli Hammond and Capt William Russell, witness's James Estill and Greenville Burnside, theses same surnames show in Greenbrier and New River area's. Archibald Caperton was in Capt. Cowan's mounted Rangers Tenn militia. The Wallace, Estill's, Woods family were close friends to James Kelly as they also went to Madison co, Ky to Tenn. Another name is Samuel Handley. One more interesting item is James Simms and Rachael McGarity who lived in Franklin Co, Tenn and migrated also to Cooper County, Mo same time period of James Kelly, James Simms had children who married into the Susanna (Kelly) Estes family. Rachael's father was William McGarity of South Carolina. From notes I have is that Maj. William Russell also lived on Boiling Fork near Cowan, Tenn. John Cowan also had 200 acres on Boiling Fork. Now by 1818 History of Cooper Co, Mo states the first settlers of Kelly township were William Stephens, James D. Campbell, James Kelly, Wm J. Kelly, Caperton Kelly, Gen. Charles Woods, I just mentioned those of intrest. So the author of this history book just assumed Caperton came with his father, but haven't found evidence he was there until 1840. There were 12 children born to this marriage and they were: 1.Susanna md John Estes who is found also in Franklin Co, Tenn where James Kelly sold his land Aug 27th 1818 to John Estes on the waters of Boiling fork of Elk River, witness's Anderson Robinson and Caperton Kelly. Now what Cowan's lived in this area? I know that James P. Cowan did, who is his father? 2. John md Johanna Stephens, may have md Franklin Co, Tenn 3. Nancy md John C. Rochester Cooper Co, Mo. 4. Esther md John Cox '' 5. Sarah md Rice Challis '' 6. Mary Elizabeth md Archibald Woods '' 7. Thompson md Sarah Spencer. 8. Caperton md Mary Elizabeth Cowan. 9. William J. md Martha Macklin. 10. Lucy md David B. Peters. 11. Mourning md David W. Johnson. 12. Williams md ? Wasn't there a Capt. James B. Cowan born ca 1777 in Md married Nancy Williams and were in Franklin Co, Tenn and he died in 1831, Mary Elizabeth Cowan Kelly did name a child Williams, any comments and anyone know the names of the children of the James B. and Nancy Cowan??????? Now if Mary Elizabeth Cowan lived in Franklin Co, Tenn in 1820 she would be listed as 10 to 16 or 16 to 26. So for possiblities for her father would be James Cowan Sr., or Polly Cowan or Robert Cowan. Is the above Robert the one who had will and named children such as Serena, Polly Newberry? If so he didn't name a Mary Elizabeth, so who is Polly listed head of household for 1820 who was she married to and help here for a list of children, and then leaves James Cowan Sr., so need his children and who he was md too. 1830 Franklin County, Tenn there is still possiblity that James Cowan pg 58 has daughter 20 to 30 with possiblities of Caperton could also be in the hosehold at age 20 to 30 with daughter Nancy under 5, James Cowan was born ca 1770 to 1780 so could this be my lost Mary Elizabeth and Caperton who do not show under Kelly on the 1830 census? If you know who this James Cowan is and can prove he didn't have a daughter Mary Elizabeth please let me know, I need all advise and help I can get. And do you know of any of this family that may have went to East Tenn, where Mary Elizabeth says that her two children were born above. Nancy Ann Kelly never has said E. Tenn, always says Tenn. Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gay Nix

This from last week's Rootsweb Review: New DAR Online Index. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has enhanced its online index to the Genealogical Records Committee Reports -- the name for its collection of genealogical information from family Bibles, tombstones, church records and the like. You can search this 18- million name index for your ancestors at: http://grc.dar.org/dar/darnet/grc/grc.cfm?Action=New_Search The results will show you the book title and a link to its catalog record with the volume number and location in DAR's library. You'll also see the contents of the subject and notes fields, which can help you determine if the book is relevant to your research. Click "Ordering Page Copies" for details on requesting photocopies of the pages of interest. The DAR, founded in 1890, is a volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and preserving American history. As the most inclusive lineal society in America, the DAR boasts 170,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally. It has an outstanding genealogical library in Washington, D.C. ================== Lots of hits for Cowan, Cowen, Cowin - just in time for the Fourth! Valorie

My experience is that how this appears depends on the locality and the nature of arrangements. I have seen notes in county records of such contracts. I once came across a document written by a minister as a witness to such a transaction, I presume that his official capacity lent some additional weight to the "contract," but do not know; he might have just been a neighbor. The particular note I referred to was more like a handwritten promissory note. I think it is one of the things that I copied. I'll look for it. (It isn't in my long-lost files, just in my office somewhere.) As kberry mentioned, (I apologize, but I am uncertain as to kberry's first name,) sometimes slaves were given the opportunity to work on the side and make money for their own use or to buy their freedom. I strongly suspect that this was not the case here. --- LHHead2@aol.com wrote: > I've heard that folks would contract for, or "rent" > the services of slaves > from the actual owners. Don't know whether or how > that would appear in the > records. > > > ==== COWAN Mailing List ==== > Messages sent to this list will be archived. Do not > send copyrighted > material or anything that you do not want available > for public viewing > (your name & address, for example). > > ____________________________________________________ Yahoo! Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com

In a message dated 7/2/2005 10:00:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time, COWAN-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: I've heard that folks would contract for, or "rent" the services of slaves from the actual owners. Don't know whether or how that would appear in the records. HI: I just saw "Slavery and the Making of America" on PBS; in recounting the story of Robert Smalls, it noted that the slave owner hired out his services and gave him a cut of the pay. I think these transactions can be found in household records. I have also seen apprenticeship records, post Civil War, in Freedmen's Bureau records. Kberry

I've heard that folks would contract for, or "rent" the services of slaves from the actual owners. Don't know whether or how that would appear in the records.

I have not found any evidence yet of specific slaves owned by Dr. Cowan. He may not have had any himself, though I suspect that he did. His father owned a fair bit of land, acquired through his wife, and it included several farms that were large enough to have used enslaved labor, but as yet the only record that I have found of slaves is a transaction where they two of them jointly borrowed the services of a slave and agreed to feed and clothe him for the time that they had him with them. I will keep my eyes open. I have seen your posts and looked through what census records, marriage records and wills that I could find in TN for some sign of your folks. I have seen nothing yet, but Wilson is easy enough a name to remember that I will notice it if I come across it. As you have probably noticed, a lot of the Cowan's were fairly mobile back then. My own ancestor moved back and forth between TN, AL, and MS. I have had trouble locating him much of the time. Your ancestor may have been born in TN but lived awhile in AL or MS (or even GA). Don't give up. Jim --- Kdberr1@aol.com wrote: > HI: > I'm researching WILSON COWAN/COWEN of Tenn. He was > born in 1820 and by the > 1850 Census he was living in Brown Co., OH. When he > left TN he was married to > Eliza (maiden name?). I would like to know whether > Dr. James B. Cowan was a > slave owner in Blount Co., TN; maybe he emancipated > Wilson Cowan? Do you have any > information about this possibility? > Thanks, > Kberry > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

There was a Mortimer Steele question many years ago - like July or August 2000 when I was going to Salisbury, NC about Mortimer Steele and I don't remember what was wanted. I am sure I have it in my notes, but felt that it might be faster to just ask who it was and what they wanted to know. McCormick, Andrew Phelps,Scotch-Irish in Ireland and in America : as shown in sketches of the pioneer Scotch-Irish families McCormick, Stevenson, McKenzie and Bell, in North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri and Texas; New Orleans: unknown, 1897, 251 pgs. Info starts on page 27. Laura Cowan Cooper of Kodak, TN lauracowancooper@comcast.net

Yes, I was pleased to find that bio. The style and language tell a good bit about the time as well. As to your comment on the thesis...no, unfortunately it has not gone as far as I would prefer it had. It is not exactly on a genealogical slant, though it does have a connection. It is on concepts of shared authority applied to archives of religious institutions and is exactly as exciting as that sounds. The genealogical aspect comes into play as I make the argument that, in some types of institutions, it may be appropriate to take the needs and desires of researchers into account when designing policies for archival institutions. In many cases this is contrary to current archival theory, though it is a well known (if not always accepted) concept in Museum Studies. I have been training in both museums and archives and I am hoping to show ways that theories of the two different fields can be better mixed. I have been doing user studies and evaluations of collections and policies of reference and access. Unfortunately, as with many projects that require doing research with the public, I have had delays. Now I have to find the time to write while working full time at a paying job, part time as the historian/archivist for a church, and spending time with my wife and dog. Granddad is fond of saying, "this too shall pass." As to my grandfather’s lockbox (not my uncle), I don't push him. He is 96 and not that interested in making the trip to the bank that often. I will have access to all eventually. He only has 2 kids, my father and aunt, and they have been sure to send me what they get their hands on. He has already given me the family Bible, some old pictures, his mother's scrapbook, a lot of stuff from the Havron side of the family. On my wall is a framed "memoriam", a handwritten bio/eulogy given to Nancy C. Cowan on the death of her husband by his church. (I intend to transcribe it and post it.) I have scanned a few letters from Rev. Cowan to his son, Dr. J.B. Cowan, dated from early in the War, as well as some account records and a contract for the loan of a slave belonging to another family. (Reading such things always gives me a peculiar feeling.) The other letters will have to wait. I did get a partial run of his father's newspaper, the Cumberland Presbyterian Banner, that is in very bad shape. I am practicing my newly acquired restoration skills on this, but it will take a long time. I have also been promised his bound copy of the first version of the Confederate Veteran, which was published for a year or so (1891, I think) by T.A. and W.H. Havron before they relinquished (sold?) the operation to Sumner Cunningham. All good stuff. I am way ahead of you on recording the stories. I have a shelf full of video and audiotapes and have been writing notes since I was a boy. I am taking steps to preserve them all. Eventually copies will likely be given to the Gore center at MTSU and made available for research. He is a valuable asset and was my primary inspiration as a historian; he was taking me to cemeteries when I was 3 years old. He is a lawyer who keeps his files far better organized than I and actually has names and dates on most all the pictures he has. I am trying to get Comcast to fix the FrontPage extensions on my tiny, personal Website so I can put a few pictures up for those who may wish to view them. Jim Jim --- Laura Cowan Cooper <lauracowancooper@comcast.net> wrote: > Jim, > > That is one of the best Bio's that I have seen done > and you can tell that > he knew him. That was in 1888!!!!! Thanks for taking > the time to share > that!!!!\ > > Laura > Laura Cowan Cooper of Kodak, TN > lauracowancooper@comcast.net > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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/1066.2.2 Message Board Post: We are soory to hear that we have lost another "older" member of the family. Angie, for many of us on the Cowan List, you and your Uncle are distant family members. Please make sure that family members that are closer kin to him do not toss out any papers that might be of interest to you as a researcher. It is a difficult time, but at the same time many things are tossed just to get rid of things - there maybe obits, funeral cards, old pictures, etc. that are of no interest to his children, but to others that research this family they may be a lost piece of important family info.

Sorry, all! I'm having difficulty posting an attachment. No matter how I save it. It comes out messed up. So, I will copy and Paste for you below. Grooms will be first. Brides will be second. SOURCE: Marriages of Rowan County, North Carolina 1762 - 1850 Transcribed by, Jeffrey A. Campbell Publisher: Closson Press ISBN# 1558564179 LB NO. 2004100559 ***************************************************************************************************** FROM PAGE 17 (GROOMS): Cowan, A. Varner TO Rebecca Cowan-- 31 Jul 1827 Cowan, Abel TO Sucretia Brandon-- 6 May 1816 Cowan, Abel TO Maria McKenzie-- 28 Jan 1826 Cowan, Abel Armstrong TO Margaret McConnehey-- 20 Jun 1818 Cowan, Benjamin TO Anne Henly Jenkins-- 9 Apr 1778 Cowan, Benjamin F. TO Elizabeth Cowan-- 16 Jul 1822 Cowan, Christopher J. TO Eliza C. McNeeley-- 4 Dec 1824 Cowan, D. P. TO Sarah McNight-- 31 Aug 1841 Cowan, David TO Rebekah Dobbins-- 23 Aug 1790 Cowan, Henry TO Elizabeth Rex-- 8 Jan 1824 Cowan, Isaac TO Jinsy Swann-- 9 Sep 1812 Cowan, James TO Nancy L. Gillispie-- 22 Dec 1828 Cowan, James TO Ester Lewis-- 22 Aug 1775 Cowan, John TO Lucinda Kilpatrick-- 18 Jun 1819 Cowan, John TO Mary G. Roberson-- 30 Dec 1835 Cowan, John TO Sally Robinson-- 7 Jun 1820 Cowan, John F. TO Elizabeth C. Smith-- 27 Oct 1828 Cowan, Joseph TO Rebecca Howison-- 22 Oct 1823 Cowan, Joseph TO Elizabeth Swann-- 20 Jan 1818 Cowan, Joseph TO Sarah Young-- 4 Sep 1826 Cowan, Nathan TO Ruhamah Briggs-- 20 Feb 1833 Cowan, Richard O. TO Elizabeth Irvine-- 7 Jan 1845 Cowan, Robert V. TO Nancy Capels-- 16 May 1832 Cowan, Samuel TO Phebe Lewis-- 14 Jun 1783 Cowan, Stephen To Patsy Caldwell-- 21 Oct 1782 Cowan, Stephen TO Unice Holland-- 19 Sep 1820 Cowan, Stephen F. TO Ann M. Graham-- 21 Mar 1842 Cowan, Thomas TO Margaret Young-- 4 Aug 1841 Cowan, Thomas L. TO Elizabeth Brown-- 26 Apr 1810 Cowan, William TO Ruannah Cowan-- 31 Oct 1826 Cowan, William TO Mary Hinds-- 7 Jul 1784 Cowan, William TO Jane Steel-- 11 Apr 1786 Cowan, William TO Sarah Stewart-- 23 Dec 1759 Cowan, William S. TO Polly Anderson-- 7 Sep 1808 Cowden, John TO Jane Brown-- 25 Mar 1768 Cowin, Isaac TO Mary Pelton-- 8 Nov 1780 Cowin, Isack TO Sarah Steward-- 17 Dec 1783 ***************************************************************************************************** BRIDES (THE PAGE NUMBER REFERENCE IS LISTED FIRST): 98 Abbigail Cowan TO John Vail-- 16 Jul 1817 37 Ann Cowan TO Moses Graham-- 31 May 1804 30 Ann F. Cowan TO Osborne G. Foard-- 6 Jan 1846 5 Ann H. Cowan TO John Barr-- 24 Jan 1817 104 Ann J. Cowan TO William Young-- 4 Feb 1824 35 Ann S. Cowan TO George Gillespie-- 17 Nov 1830 78 Anna Cowan TO Benjamin Owen-- 28 Jan 1825 97 Betsy Cowan TO William Thompson-- 5 Feb 1805 99 Casey Cowan TO John W. Wade-- 8 Jan 1825 34 Catharine Cowan TO Edward Garner-- 18 Nov 1829 61 Catharine Cowan TO James Locke-- 22 Mar 1803 27 Cathrine Cowan TO Joseph Erwin-- 17 May 1792 14 Edith Cowan TO Maskle Clampert-- 1 Aug 1816 17 Elizabeth Cowan TO Benjamin F. Cowan-- 16 Jul 1822 66 Elizabeth Cowan TO Alexander McBroom-- 12 Mar 1823 97 Elizabeth H. Cowan TO Thomas Thompson-- 28 Jul 1830 11 Eunies Cowan TO R. H. Carter-- 19 Oct 1837 76 Isabella C. Cowan TO Nathaniel H. Neely-- 27 Oct 1847 9 Jane Cowan TO John B. Burke-- 12 Dec 1816 13 Jane Cowan TO Henry Chambers-- 2 Nov 1815 60 Jane C. Cowan TO Moses Lingle-- 4 Nov 1848 82 Jane V. Cowan TO Benjamin Phifer-- 20 Dec 1826 37 Jean Cowan TO James Graham--22 Jun 1803 69 Jean L. Cowan TO Robert McNeely-- 26 Dec 1832 49 Levina Cowan TO Benjamin Huie-- 5 Mar 1825 45 Lydia Cowan TO James Hide-- 3 Dec 1808 10 Margaret Cowan TO Samuel A. Campbell-- 28 Jul 1817 60 Margaret Cowan TO Nathaniel B. Lester-- 5 Feb 1848 68 Margaret Cowan TO Archibald McNeely-- 1 Dec 1795 76 Margaret Cowan TO John Niblack-- 20 Sep 1814 42 Margaret A. Cowan TO Hezekian T. Harrison-- 16 Nov 1825 103 Margaret M. Cowan TO D. B. Wood-- 31 Mar 1849 3 Margaret Cowan TO Abel Armstrong-- 16 Sep 1768 8 Mary Cowan TO John Brandon-- 20 Dec 1814 30 Mary Cowan TO David Foster-- 27 Feb 1773 37 Mary Cowan TO Thomas C. Graham-- 21 Nov 1832 40 Mary Cowan TO Josephus W. Hall-- 1 Dec 1803 41 Mary E. Cowan TO Robert Harris-- 27 Aug 1849 98 Mary S. Cowan TO Zepheniah Turner-- 5 Sep 1837 82 Matilda Cowan TO Silas Phifer-- 6 Dec 1823 88 Matty Cowan TO Humphry Roberts-- 20 Jan 1811 49 Myra Cowan TO Samuel Huie-- 13 Feb 1826 67 Nancy Cowan TO Lewis McCorkle-- 14 Sep 1815 88 Nancy Cowan TO George S. Robinson-- 18 Feb 1824 92 Phoeby Cowan TO Charles Smith-- 21 Aug 1793 9 Polly Cowan TO William Burke-- 20 Oct 1812 13 Polly Cowan TO Henry Chambers-- 11 Jan 1823 68 Polly Cowan TO John McNeely-- 22 Jul 1802 16 Priscilla Cowan TO John Cooper-- 9 Jan 1811 17 Rebecca Cowan TO A. Varner Cowan-- 31 Jul 1827 26 Reuhanah Cowan TO Upshaw Elliott-- 3 Oct 1850 17 Ruannah Cowan TO William Cowan-- 31 Oct 1826 41 Ruth Cowan TO John Harris-- 30 Jul 1795 60 Sally Cowan TO Jacob Lewis--22 Oct 1802 97 Sally F. Cowan TO Samuel M. Thrift--24 Apr 1811 31 Sarah Cowan TO Peter Frazer--11 Jun 1794 51 Sarah Cowan TO Daniel Jackson --17 Feb 1795 72 Sarah Cowan TO Joseph Mingis--1 Jan 1842 13 Susannah Cowan TO William S. Chambers --20 Jan 1843 66 Susannah Cowan TO Samson McConaughey--2 Apr 1789

I pulled out one old folder from my old files. The following may be of interest. It is one of several biographies don on my g-g-grandfather in various “Who’s Who” type books. This one is particularly good as Judge Speers was a friend and fellow Mason with J. B. Cowan, and supposedly obtained much of his information directly from the good doctor. Much of this can be verified through other records. The genealogical information represents what Dr. Cowan believed, and is therefore no more accurate that his understanding was. It does, however, fit with a lot of what we know. I particularly like the wording of the last line and the fact that Mr. Speers added Dr. Cowan’s dimensions to the sketch. Jim Source: Speers, William S., ed. Sketches of Prominent Tennesseans. Nashville: Albert B. Tavel, 1888. JAMES BENJAMIN COWAN, M.D. TULLAHOMA. JAMES BENJAMIN COWAN, one of the most prominent surgeons and physicians in Tennessee, was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee, September 15, 1831. His grandfather, Maj. James Cowan, was a soldier in the Seminole and Creek wars; was with Jackson in 1812, and held a commission from the United States government for a number of years as commander of what was known as “Regulators,” engaged in keeping Indians off the frontier of Tennessee. He was a farmer, originally from Virginia, and came to Blount county, [sic] Tennessee. At the age of fifteen he was captured by the Cherokee Indians, kept prisoner a year, but managed to escape. At the same time of his capture his mother, nee Mary Walker, was also captured and carried to the northern lakes, kept a prisoner seven years, when she also made her escape. The Cowans are of Scotch-Irish descent. They emigrated to Ireland at an early day amid the difficulties in Scotland. They were Presbyterians, settled in Londonderry, Ireland, and from Londonderry emigrated to Virginia, before the Revolution, and are now scattered west and south. Dr. Cowan’s father, Samuel Montgomery Cowan, was born in Blount county, Tennessee, March 10, 1801, and moved with his father to Franklin county, [sic] Tennessee, in 1806, when that country was a wilderness, his father being the second man that moved into that county. At the death of his father, in 1815, he found that the support of the family devolved upon his exertions. He went to work upon the little farm left by his father and did support and take care of his widowed mother, four sisters and one brother, all younger than himself At eighteen he determined to educate himself, worked upon the farm, continued to support the family, and began a private course of study, and ultimately succeeded in acquiring a finished and classical education. In 1822 he entered the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and became one of the most distinguished men of that denomination, both as a scholar and popular pulpit orator, and followed his vocation until age and declining health forced him to resign his mantle to others. Probably no man of his age was more popular or better known in Tennessee and adjoining States. [sic] He married, July 20, 1830, Miss Nancy Coker Clements, of Fayetteville, Tennessee, daughter of Maj. Benjamin Clements. She was born December 6, 1811. Her parents emigrated from South Carolina to Lincoln county, [sic] Tennessee, in the spring of 1811. Her mother, Sarah Brazil, was a daughter of Joel Brazil, of South Carolina. Her paternal grandfather, Maj. Reuben Clements, was of French Huguenot origin. Maj. Clements made an immense fortune surveying government lands in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. He made the first coast survey of Florida, in connection with his oldest son, Gen. Jesse B. Clements, who afterwards served as United States marshal under Presidents Polk, Pierce and Buchanan, and died in 1877, in Edgedfield, [sic] Tennessee. Dr. Cowan’s mother is a most remarkable lady, universally beloved for her purity of life, her good influence in society and her high Christian character. She has but one child, James Benjamin Cowan, subject of this sketch. In 1842 Dr. Cowan’s father removed from Fayetteville to Horn Lake, DeSoto county, [sic] Mississippi, and remained there on his plantation and in Memphis until 1851, when he returned to Fayetteville. Here it was that the young man Cowan began reading medicine, under the eminent Drs. William and Moses Bonner, which he continued eighteen months. He then entered, in 1852, the University Medical College of New York city, [sic] and graduated in March, 1855, under Profs. Valentine Mott, John W. Draper, Martin Paine, Alford C. Post, Gunning S. Bedford, William VanBuren, [sic] J. T. Metcalfe and Chancellor James Ferris. In the same year he graduated as so M.D. from Aylett’e Institute of Medicine, and from the faculty of the University Medical College of New York city [sic] he received a certificate of honor, in addition to his diploma. The reason of his lengthened medical course was that he spent eighteen months in taking a full course of clinical instruction in the New York city [sic] hospitals. Thus exceptionally equipped for his profession, he practiced two years at Meridianville, Madison county, [sic] Alabama, and next practiced at Memphis, and out on his plantation near that city, until the war broke out, when he went to Pensacola, Florida, with the first troops that volunteered from Mississippi for the Confederate army. On March 27, 1861, he was commissioned acting assistant surgeon, and assigned to duty with the Ninth Mississippi regiment, Col. Chalmers commanding, then at Pensacola. The latter part of November, 1861, he accepted a commission as surgeon in charge of Forrest’s cavalry battalion, then at Hopkinsville, Kentucky. In June, 1862, he was appointed chief surgeon of cavalry, and assigned to personal duty with Brig-Gen. N. B. Forrest, then organizing his brigade in East Tennessee, and remained on the staff of that cavalry chieftain until the close of the war. In January, 1865, he was promoted to medical director of Lieut.-Gen. Forrest’s cavalry corps, and surrendered as such at Gainesville, Alabama, May 12, 1865. For a more detailed war record of Dr. Cowan, the reader is referred to Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley’s Military Annals of Tennessee. He has the reputation among medical men of having performed more capital operations than almost any man in the service. After the war, finding himself prostrated in fortune and his family refugeeing [sic] at Marion, Alabama, he joined them at that place. The September following, having collected sufficient means to pay his way to Memphis, he returned to that city, where by the assistance of friends, he was enabled to open an office and resume the practice of his profession. The following fall he found himself enabled to return to Marion and move his family to Memphis, where be remained until the terrible cholera epidemic in 1866, when he was seized with that dreadful disease himself, and upon recovering from it found his general health utterly broken down. He then moved his family to Franklin county, [sic] Tennessee, and after several mouths’ recuperation, resumed the practice of medicine. In 1870 he received an invitation from friends at Selma, Alabama, to locate there. He found, after remaining there two years, that his family was completely at the mercy of the malarial influences of that low latitude, and that he would either have to take them back to the mountains or bury them. Therefore, in 1873, he abandoned bias lucrative practice at Selma and brought his family to Tullahoma, where they rapidly regained health. In 1877 he opened an office in Nashville, at the solicitation of his friends, and remained there seven months, until he saw a practice rapidly growing up around him with most encouraging prospects for the future. These brilliant prospects he laid down and returned to Tullahoma for the purpose of nursing and taking care of his invalid father, which he did with exemplary filial devotion, until his death, May 5, 1881, in his eighty-first year. Since then Dr. Cowan has continued to reside at Tullahoma, enjoying a large practice, and devoting his leisure to scientific researches. Dr. Cowan was married at Huntsville, Alabama, October 20, 1857, to Miss Lucy C. Robinson, who was born in Madison county, [sic] Alabama, October 5, 1883, daughter of James B. Robinson, a cotton planter and large slaveholder. Her mother, Frances Otey Robinson, now living with the daughter at Tullahoma, in her seventy-sixth year, is a cousin of Bishop Otey. She was horn in Bedford county, [sic] Virginia, May 19, 1810, daughter of Capt. Walter Otey, an officer in the war of 1812, and a prominent planter. Her mother, Mary Walton, was born in Roanoke county, [sic] Virginia, daughter of William Walton, who married a Miss Leftwich. Mrs. Cowan’s paternal grandfather, Littleberry Robinson, wan a native of Russell county, Virginia; a merchant in Virginia, but a planter in Alabama. He died in Madison county, [sic] Alabama. Mrs. Cowan was educated at Huntsville; is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, as are also most of her family. She is a lady of culture and accomplishments, the pride of her parents, a devout Christian, and has nobly filled her station in life. During the war she underwent all the privations of separation from her husband, and of refugeeing, [sic] without a murmur. By his marriage with Miss Robinson Dr. Cowan has seven children: (1). James M.., born September 3, 1858; now in the insurance business at Cincinnati; is a Knight Templar, and is noted for his piety, steady habits and fine talents. (2). Mary Lou Coker, born October 19, 1859; graduated at the Cumberland Female College, McMinnville, and is now a member of the faculty of Tullahoma Female Seminary, (3). Otey Clements, born August 18, 1861. (4). Lilly Forrest, born November 1, 1863; married Robert Johnson November 20, 1883. (5). Presley Strange, born May 9, 1867. (6). Minnie Horton, born April 1, 1869. (7). Fannie Robinson, born January 27, 1871. In 1851 Dr. Cowan was made a Mason in Fayetteville, Tennessee, and took the Chapter and Council degrees in 1854; the former at Columbus, Mississippi, and the latter at Verona, Mississippi. He was made an Odd Fellow in 1855, at Huntsville, Alabama. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias, and of the Independent Order of Red Men, and in all of these orders is a past officer. In politics be is a Democrat, holding his faith as an inheritance from his grandfathers down, but has never held office, being wedded to his profession as a science. His motto in life has been to do right, act honorably with all men, and let principle be the foundation of all his actions, with thoroughness in qualification for every duty. He is, when occasion calls forth his animation, among the most earnest and impressive orators of the State. Social and convivial in his temperament, he in liberal to a fault, impulsive, quick to resent an insult or an injury, and has always been a stickler for the ethics of his profession, preferring an honorable position among his professional brethren to the emoluments or esteem of the world. He is always ready to lend a helping hand to young men in the profession, to lift them up and advance them to higher planes. He is six feet high, weighs two hundred pounds, and is in physique a fine specimen of Tennessee manhood. “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past.” -- Edward Gibbon ____________________________________________________ Yahoo! Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com

I thought that I had figured out who the other Samuel M. Cowan was last summer when I worked at the TN State Lib. & Archives and spent some of my break time looking at abstracts. I am not positive now that I had it correct. As with so many of these things, I will look for my notes. The reason I say I am not sure is that I had also believed that P.D.'s line was connected to ours. My g-g-grandfather apparently thought so, though I suspect that the presence of the Russell line in Perez's had something to do with it. We have some Russell connection as well, though I think it is mostly through the families that married our Cowans. Anyway, there were enough entries for James, John, Samuel, etc. that they may have gotten crossed in my brain. (I guess I should say we may have Russell connections. I recall having found some connections, but do not have the citations anywhere. I wonder what my thesis director would do if I told her I was going to leave my thesis alone for awhile and work on genealogy?) :-) Jim --- Laura Cowan Cooper <lauracowancooper@comcast.net> wrote: > No, Jim. I had not read that before. Thanks for > sending it to me. The > difference in the two Samuels caught my eye. Do you > have in your vast > knowledge who the other one was suppose to be??? I > know that there were two > different ones and that they are often crossed - > just thought that maybe > you had sorted them in detail at some time. > > P.D. Cowan is Perez Dickinson Cowan that married > Margaret Rhea here in > Knoxville in a double wedding - her brother married > Perez's sister. This is > Dickinson Cowan's grandfather and Dickinson is part > of our DAN Project. He > is in no way related to you - the DNA is too far > off. I mean really far > off. This line goes back to James Cowan that married > Margaret Russell. He > died in 1801 and she then married a Humes and then a > Ramsay. The Ramsey > House here in Knoxville was built for her. This line > of Cowans were early > founders of Knoxville, but the DNA sawed them off > the tree from your group. > > Dick has his grandfather's research papers, but he > has put genealogy aside. > The DNA study presented many questions once the DNA > came back since it did > not match as we had expected it to so. He no longer > tied to Samuel Cowan > that was Killed By Indians. The families may have > thought that they were > kin and lived as kin, but DNA says no. What is > worse, there is Jewish > heritage in that line. They tested R1a haplogroup > instead of R1b like your > group. I think that Dick's family believed that they > were from Samuel Cowan > KBI long before Fleming's book. > > Thanks again for sending that - I found it very > interesting. > > Laura > Laura Cowan Cooper of Kodak, TN > lauracowancooper@comcast.net > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html

I have a copy of that petition (I believe it was denied) somewhere, but cannot lay my hands on it immediately. I think it was William Montgomery, but I am uncertain. It may have been Hugh. This is most embarrassing. The primary reason, other than those I have already stated, for my not posting too much is that I cannot always find the evidence that I have to back-up what I say. I am a historian and used to providing footnotes. I will try to find the time to dig through some of what I have and throw it out there for those interested. One of these days I'll get some copies of more of what my grandfather has in his lock box. Since this might require his passing away, I hope it will not be soon. --- Charlotte H Henson <mimi516@juno.com> wrote: > Thanks for your reply Jim. > > I was looking through the first page of your > information. I have located > the 1850 Census in Mississippi for Chester > Montgomery and he has his > wife, Lavina, his mother, Elizabeth Montgomery and > his grandmother > Mary Cowen, living with him. I do not show that > Elizabeth's step-son > John Cowan Montgomery ever moved from Tennessee. > > I know that you are trying to get organized. I > believe that is an > on-going battle for all of the researchers that I > know. You think you > have everything in it place, until you try to find > something. > > I appreciate you taking the time to answer my query. > I will continue > working through your information. > > You also stated that James Cowan's Brother in Law > petitioned Congress > for reimbursement for supplies, but you failed > to mention the brother in law's name. That would be > nice to have too. > > There is a lot of information here. It will take a > while to go through > it all. > > Thanks again, > > Charlotte Henson > mimi516@juno.com > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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/1066.2.1 Message Board Post: Angie, I am sorry to hear of Mr. Thompsom's passing. I believe the last time we spoke you had just made contact with his daughter? or granddaughter about the Cowan family bible. Were you able to follow up on that before his death?

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/1066.2 Message Board Post: Iam sad to report that my great uncle, Earnest Thompson, passed away in May 2005. Angie

Hi List, Several months ago a kind man, who lives and works near the place where Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware meet, sent me some tombstone readings for Cowan graves in his area.. Hope someone can find a relative who could not find their gravesite. Cowans @ Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Newark, Delaware These 3 are together: Benjamin Cowan .. died 1876 in his 70th year Jane Cowan .. died 1881 in her 75 year Daughter Janett .. died ? These 4 are together (not far from the 3 above): William Cowan.. died 1834 in his 76th year? (hard to read, need to see it again at a different time of day) Ann Cowan .. died 10/26/1826 in her 47th year (Wife #2) Martha Cowan .. died 5/16/1816 age is either 36 or 56 (Wife #1) Robert (son of William & Martha) ..died 4/15/1815 .. age 10 Sharps Cemetery (Rock Presbyterian Church, Fair Hill Maryland) James Cowan, July 20th, 1824, 8 y. Joseph Cowan, August 15th, 1825, 25 y. David Cowan, August 1826, 18 y. David Cowan, October 1826, 80 y. John Cowan, sr., October 4th, 1833, 65 y. Martha Cowan, December 10th, 1846, 77 y. William B. Cowan, August 10th, 1849, 38 y. John Cowan, December 12, 1850, 45 y. Mary Cowan, September 16th, 1861, 75 y. _________________________________________________________________

I don't know why the Cowan's moved to Arkansas....perhaps the grass was greener on the other side of the hill, the hardships of the Civil War or they were just restless. Joseph Skiles Cowan died in 1846 in Tennessee. Often back then, when a Patriarch died, his children moved on with allied families, but I do not think that is the case here because they didn‘t leave Tennessee until later. In this case, they left 4 or 5 years after the Matriarch died in 1866. With the settlement of the will (and Joseph Skiles Cowan had 13 children), there probably wasn't enough money for each son to buy land in Tennessee (remember Tennessee land was granted to Revolutionary War Soldiers for their "service") and it is very possible that Arkansas was a place where Joseph Skiles Cowan's children could buy cheaper land. Sections of his will are included below as I try to figure this out. I'm trying to figure out WHAT land the Cowan boys got and WHEN they got it. From the will below, they did receive 1/3'rd each of 1/2 of the property that Jane Cowen Graham was living on immediately from their father‘s will. But did he own OTHER land than what Jane Cowen Graham was living on? If so, he left the boys quite well off and they had enough money to buy farms in Arkansas in 1846. Notice he gives Jane Cowen Graham the land and houses for her "lifetime". I have included only parts of the Will below to help explain where I'm going with this. WILL OF JOSEPH COWAN, DECEASED FEBRUARY TERM 1846 THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, WILLIAMSON COUNTY, THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOSEPH COWAN. I DO MAKE AND CONFIRM THIS MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT IN MANNER AND FORM THAT IS TO SAY 1ST, I WILL AND BEQUESTH TO MY BELOVED WIFE JANE COWAN ABOUT HALF OF MY FARM ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CREEK THAT IS TO SAY THE UPPER FIELD ADJOINING WM. BURNES FARM AND ABOUT HALF OF THE FIELD ADJOINING IT BELOW ALSO THE LITTLE LOT OPPOSITE THE HOUSE ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE CREEK, TOGETHER WITH MY DWELLING HOUSE, OUTHOUSES OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS, ORCHARD AND LOTS ABOUT THE HOUSE, WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF RAIL TIMBER FIREWOOD AND ETC. ON ANY PART OF MY LAND, TWO BEDS AND FURNITURE AS MUCH AS MY COOKING UTENSILS & CUPBOARD-WARE AS SHE MAY WISH TO KEEP. MY WAGON AND GEAR WITH THREE HORSES, HER CHOICE OF WHAT I MAY POSES AT MY DECEASE WITH AS MANY OF MY FARMING TOOLS AS SHE MAY THINK PROPER TO KEEP, FIVE HEAD OF CATTLE HER CHOICE, TEN SHEEP HER CHOICE, TWENTY HEAD OF HOGS, HER CHOICE, AND AS MUCH CORN FODDER, HAY, ETC., AS MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN HER FAMILY AND STOCK UNTIL SHE MAY HAVE TO MAKE A CROP TO BE SET APART BY MY EXECUTORS, AS MUCH PROVISIONS IN MEAT, WHEAT, SUGAR, COFFEE! , SALT AND BUTTER AS HERSELF AND MY EXECUTORS MAY THINK SUFFICIENT FOR ONE YEAR, IF THERE SHOULD BE AS MUCH ON HAND, AND IF NOT MY EXECUTORS ARE HEREBY EMPOWERED TO BUY WITH THE PROCEEDS OF MY EFFECTS SAID ARTICLES, I ALSO GIVE HER TWO NEGROES, CHARLES AND MARY. 2ND. ALL THE ABOVE NAMED PROEPERTY WHICH I HAVE GIVEN TO MY WIFE, JANE COWAN, I DO GIVE IT TO HER FOREVER, EXCEPT THE LAND AND HOUSES WHICH SAID LAND AND HOUSES I GIVE AND BEQUETHE TO HER DURING HER NATURAL LIFE TIME. 3RD. THE REMAINDER OF MY LAND TO BE RENTED UNTIL THE DEATH OF MY WIFE. And then he goes on to say: 4TH. I GIVE AND BEQUEATHE ALL MY LAND TO MY THREE SONS JOHN COWAN, RICHARD G. COWAN, AND DAVID A. COWAN, TO BE EQUALLY DIVIDED AMONG THE THREE IN THREE LOTS OR SOLD AND THE PROCEEDS EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN THE THREE PERSONS ABOVE NAMED, TO WIT, JOHN COWAN, RICHARD G. COWAN AND DAVID A. COWAN. So after Jane Cowen Graham dies in April 1866 (in Tennessee--she is buried in the cemetery with Joseph Skiles Cowan--at the Cowan Cemetery)--all of the land may have been sold then. I am assuming she lived on the land until she died in 1866 since she is buried next to Joseph Skiles Cowan. And finally he says: 15TH. THE REMAINDER OF MY PROPERTY TO BE SOLD BY MY EXECUTORS, AND AFTER PAYING ALL MY JUST DEBTS, FUNERAL CHARGES, ETC. THE REMAINS OF THE PROCEEDS TOGETHER WITH THE RENTS OF THE LAND TO BE EQUALLY DIVIDED AMONG MY HEIRS, TO WIT, MY WIFE JANE COWAN, AND MY CHILDREN, ELIZABETH MEACHAM, ROSANNA MEACHAM, JOHN COWAN, NELLY BAXTER, SUSANNA COWAN, POLLY ANN MEACHAM, RICHARD G. COWAN, JANE COWAN, SALLY HILL COWAN AND DAVID A. COWAN AND LASTLY I APPOINT RICHARD G. COWAN AND MATTHEW MEACHAM MY EXECUTORS OF THIS MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. What was "THE REMAINDER of my land to be rented until the death of my wife, Jane Cowen Graham" and then to be "sold by my executors, Richard G. Cowan and Matthew Meacham"? There was probably other "farm equipment", "sheep", "hogs", "horses", "furnishings" etc., and it looks like probably other parcels of land which were rented (by whom?). He speaks of “The remains of the proceeds together with the RENTS of the land to be equally divided”. I need to find deeds and see if he had other land. Okay, on with the search. The Civil war lasted from 1861 to 1865. Was Jane Cowen Graham the one who took a suitcase of Confederate Money and kept it--thinking it would be worth some money again? I think it was more likely Richard Graham Cowan Sr. ended up with the suitcase. My Grandfather Hosea Keether Cowan, b. 1892 (son of Josiah Murray Cowan b. 1858, son of Richard Graham Cowan, b. 1817) told stories of the suitcase of Confederate Money he used to play with when he visited his grandmother when he was a child. My Uncle, JM Cowan, Hosea Keether Cowan's son, and my father's half brother, just recently told me verbally (within the last three months) that my Grandfather played with the suitcase full of Confederate money--it was a story he told his children often, my father included. Uncle JM (yes that's his real name--just JM--it does not stand for Josiah Murray). But who's suitcase was it? Was it packed by Jane Cowen Graham or was it packed by Richard Graham Cowan Sr. after ! Jane Cowen Graham died in 1866--after the Civil War? I believe that Jane Cowen Graham packed the suitcase, because she died a year after the war ended. It was probably Richard Graham Cowan who ended up with the suitcase because he was one of the the Executors of the will. Richard Graham Cowan and Matthew Meacham would probably have been the ones who went in for an "inventory" after her death since they were the executors. Since the "money" was worthless after the Civil War, Matthew Meacham probably didn't care what happened to the suitcase. And Richard Graham Cowan was not a son-in-law, he was a blood relative. Richard Graham Cowan’s wife, Louisa Jane Cowan died in 1899--7 years after my grandfather, Hosea Keether Cowan, was born. Probably, Hosea Keether visited his grandmother, Louisa Jane Chapman Donegan Cowan, and she let him play with the suitcase full of Confederate money. Does any other Cowan have family lore about “the suitcase”? Unless it was thrown out on a “cleanin! g day”, it may still be in somebody’s closet or under their bed (or in a safe deposit box!). Joseph Skiles Cowan was already deceased when the Civil War started. Did Jane Cowan Graham die after the Civil War because her heart and spirit were broken--remember “Gone with the Wind” and “Tara“? The plantation was very probably destroyed or burnt during the Civil War. Both sides, the Union and the Confederates were "slashing and burning" to prevent the other side from obtaining supplies. Was Jane Cowen Graham and her grown children caught in that kind of destruction? Her children would have been all adults, her last being born in 1825. Did they have to walk away and start all over again--in Arkansas or did they make repairs and go on? Evidently they moved from Arkansas after March 1870 and before October 1872. That would have given them (The Cowan Brothers) at least 4 to 5 years to clean up the mess after their mother's death, make it a working farm/plantation again and sell it and move to Arkansas. How did I come up with those dates? Please read the next paragraph. Now, Richard Graham Cowan Sr, the executor of Joseph Skiles Cowan’s will, would have had 9 children by the end of the Civil War. (Was one of his slaves the “Mammy” who did not wish to depart the Cowan’s, but wished to stay and help Louisa Jane Chapman Donegan (Dunagan) raise their children because “she had too many children to raise alone“? I do not know if this is fact or fiction--it has been in our family lore for years.) Louisa Jane and Richard Graham Cowan had three more children after the Civil War ended….for a total of 12 children. Their last child (their 12th) was born in 1872 in Arkansas! The 11th child was born in 1870 in Tennessee. So I have it narrowed down to they moved before 16 Oct 1872 and after 15 March 1870. I still don't know for sure WHY they moved. Well, now, that turned into quite a long explanation. But now we know where to start looking for land deeds in Arkansas. Also, when I went to look back at Richard Graham Cowan Sr's cihldren, I have some of the children being born in Washington County, Arkansas in 1850 to 1853. Then in 1855 back to Tennessee, and between 1870 and 1872 back to Arkansas. It is possible they moved back and forth. Can anybody confirm the birth places/dates of Richard Graham Cowan Sr's children? Is it possible or probable they moved to Arkansas, back to Tennessee and then back to Arkansas...or is my information just wrong on the birth places? I hope this answered your question. Do you know when your Baxter’s went from Tennessee to Arkansas? Karen (Cowan) Thomas PS: I'm so glad you appreciate the package I sent to you. There is no need to reimburse me for anything. I am just glad to share and contribute for a change, rather than "take". I've been picking people's brains and receiving input for nearly 28 years....now it's my turn to share with others what they were so kind to share with me. Melanie Wood <melaniewood@hotmail.com> wrote: Karen, I have just spent about 2 hours going through your packet. I appreciate it so much! Could I reimburse you for the postage or something? Gee, you spent a lot just mailing those. My ancestor, John Fondren, was in the Revolutionary War, but he was a Tory. His plantation was right where the Battle of Kings Mountain was fought. So I am especially interested in the excerpts from the books. I keep thinking that when I retire I will get to read all of these articles I want to read so I can put all the puzzles together. Looks like you have done a great job on the Cowans, Grahams, Catheys, etc. Why did your ancestors leave Williamson Co., TN, and go to Arkansas? Some of the Baxters did the same thing and they went to Washington Co., ARK. (They probably traveled with the Cowans.) It certainly is a small world, isn't it? Thanks again for all the information. When you write your book, I want a copy!! Will write more later, Melanie

Here's what I sent Charlotte the other day in reply to her request for more info on the people in my "roll call" post. Answer to Charlotte Henson 6 22 05 I'm sorry I am so long in answering, Charlotte. I have not been able to check this e-mail on a regular basis for a few months. To start with, I must say that I have hard copies of information for several things that I know are in my files, but were never unpacked when I married 3 years ago. When my computer crashed and I found my back-ups of my genealogical files corrupt, I began entering bits and pieces over time. There are things that exist in my files that I have not found yet, and so not added to my computer record, and things that survived in the computer record that I cannot, at this time, find the sources for. I try to either post only what I have proven or to identify what I say as conjecture. I hope to one day soon start fishing out some of my evidence from the files. Now... James and Mary "Polly" Montgomery Cowan. Married in Blount Co. TN, 23 April 1800. There is a record for that. Family letters, both those in my grandfather's hands and those published by various cousins, state that Polly was born in Augusta Co. VA. Family records, including Bible records, list 1773 as the year. Her family is listed in tax lists and Census. Her parents were James Montgomery and Margaret Weir, both born in Lancaster Twnshp, PA, married in Augusta Co. VA; this supported by records. The Montgomery family was among the founding families of Cowan, TN and their family cemetery became the town cemetery. James died in 1814, or perhaps 1815. His brother-in-law petitioned Congress for reimbursement for supplies he provided for his company of men on behalf of his widow in 1815. He apparently died as a result of wounds or fever contracted while on campaign, but that comes primarily from family tradition. Among my "lost" documents in my files I have a source that lists him as having been buried in the cemetery in Cowan, Franklin Co. TN, where he lived at the time. This is certainly family tradition, but I have not verified it. There is almost certainly no surviving marker today. Mary moved to De Soto Co. Mississippi with her daughter, Elixabeth and her children after the death of Elizabeth’s husband, William Montgomery, in 1829. She lived with her step-son on land he had inherited from his father. Several Montgomery’s and Cowan’s lived in the area and Elizabeth's brother, Rev. Samuel M. Cowan (I always use the title to distinguish him from another Samuel M. that was alive at the same time and in the same area) also owned land there. Mary and Elizabeth both appear in the 1850 Census. Mary disappears from the Census by 1860. I have been unable to locate her grave. Much of the area where they lived was heavily developed years ago, so I am not optimistic. This, by the way, is where Elizabeth's daughter, Mary Anne, met N. B. Forrest. Reverend Samuel Montgomery and Nancy C. (Clements) Cowan had only one child. This is stated in a letter by her to her daughter-in-law, and also in letters written by that child, Dr. J. B. Cowan. No other child shows up in any of the records. There was some confusion about this on the list awhile back, but I traced in to the little book, In the Shadow of Chilhowee, by P.D. Cowan. Mr. Cowan quotes a letter from J.B. Cowan referring to Rev. Samuel as his father. Some one had read the passage and mistakenly thought that it was P.D. Cowan making the claim. It was not. P.D. was a cousin living, (and now buried, in Blount Co. Rev. Samuel and Nancy were married 20 July 1830 in Madison Co., AL. I have seen a transcript of the record, though not the record itself. I have a photocopy of the announcement in the Huntsville paper and it is recorded in the family Bible in Nancy's handwriting. The same documentation (transcripts, paper, Bible) establishes the date and place for their son's wedding to Lucy Caroline Robinson as 20 October 1857 at her parents home in Meridian (just outside of Huntsville)AL. Her parents were James Berry Robinson and Mary Frances (Otey) Robinson, both originally from VA. (Mary was kin to the Walkers.) Tyre Algers Havron was the son of James Phagan (1832-1904) and Mary Jane (Taylor) Havron (abt. 1842- 1878). He was born in Knox Co. TN, her location is uncertain. Both died in Marion Co. TN and are buried in Dade Co. GA. They were married 28 April 1859. I cannot recall where. I have a copy of the record in my files somewhere. I think it was Knox Co. TN, but it may have been in Dade Co. GA. Tyre married Minnie Horton Cowan 2 January, 1890 in Tullahoma, Coffee County, TN. I have a copy of the record somewhere. Jane Bright was the daughter of William Irby Bright (1884-1957) and Margaret Malvina Haley (1884-1969), of Eagleville Williamson/Ruthorford Co. and Nashville, respectively. (Eagleville is on the border of 2 counties and the border shifted quite a bit.) Jane married James Cowan Havron 7 January 1931 in Franklin KY. I have copies of all marriage records, some birth records and death records on all these folks. James Tyre Havron married Barbara Burt Eagan, d/o Jack Hyland Eagan and Katherine Hill (Johnson) Eagan, both from Nashville, TN, in San Leandro, CA on 26 August 1956. James and Barbara were divorced ( I don't have the date on hand but I think 1970) and he remarried Jane Dement McKelly, d/o Clemmie Dement and James McKelly, I don't have the date on hand but it was around 1883 or 84. They have two children, Jessica and Kathleen, born in 1984 and 1991, respectively. (yes, dad was born in 1932.) I have a fair amount on most of these branches, though I am having a dickens of a time with my mother's Johnson line past my g-g-grandfather. Whatever you wish to know, I will provide if I can. --- Laura Cowan Cooper <lauracowancooper@comcast.net> wrote: > I will look for the post, but I don' remember a > long one from you. Send > it to me and I will tell you if I have seen it or > not. > > Laura > > > At 02:22 PM 6/24/2005, you wrote: > >Thanks, Laura. I must first verify the existence if > >the hair. It will likely be beyond my expense, but > I > >was curious. > > > >For what it worth, I reponded a few minutes ago to > >Charlotte's request (6/14/05) for more info on > various > >ancestors with a rather lengthy e-mail that may be > >more information than others want to know. I > realized > >after I sent it that I may have sent it to her > only, > >not the list. If anyone else wants the answers to > the > >questions she asked, let me know and I'll send it > to > >everyone. > >Jim > > > >--- Laura Cowan Cooper <dacooper@usit.net> wrote: > > > > > Jim, > > > > > > Never too late for a good post!!! <g> > > > > > > Thre is one group that is doing DNA testing on > hair, > > > but I am not sure how > > > it is working out or how the results fit with > the > > > type of DNA testing we > > > are doing for the Cowan Project. I do know that > > > Family Tree DNA is not > > > doing that type of DNA testing. I think that I > could > > > probably locate the > > > lab if your were serious on spending the money > to do > > > the testing. > > > > > > Let me know about the hair interests. Robert > Cowan > > > might be interested in > > > it!!! <g> > > > > > > At the DNA Conference, I learned that the DNA > stuff > > > done on programs like > > > CSI are not exactly the way it is in the real > world > > > of DNA testing. > > > > > > Laura > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >__________________________________________________ > >Do You Yahoo!? > >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > protection around > >http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > > >==== COWAN Mailing List ==== > >Do not forward "chain letter" type e-mail to this > list. Most messages > >of this sort are blocked by Rootsweb, but any > making it through will > >receive a warning from list manager. Repeated > abusers will be removed. > > Laura Cowan Cooper of Kodak, TN > lauracowancooper@comcast.net > > > ____________________________________________________ Yahoo! Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com

Thanks, Laura. I must first verify the existence if the hair. It will likely be beyond my expense, but I was curious. For what it worth, I reponded a few minutes ago to Charlotte's request (6/14/05) for more info on various ancestors with a rather lengthy e-mail that may be more information than others want to know. I realized after I sent it that I may have sent it to her only, not the list. If anyone else wants the answers to the questions she asked, let me know and I'll send it to everyone. Jim --- Laura Cowan Cooper <dacooper@usit.net> wrote: > Jim, > > Never too late for a good post!!! <g> > > Thre is one group that is doing DNA testing on hair, > but I am not sure how > it is working out or how the results fit with the > type of DNA testing we > are doing for the Cowan Project. I do know that > Family Tree DNA is not > doing that type of DNA testing. I think that I could > probably locate the > lab if your were serious on spending the money to do > the testing. > > Let me know about the hair interests. Robert Cowan > might be interested in > it!!! <g> > > At the DNA Conference, I learned that the DNA stuff > done on programs like > CSI are not exactly the way it is in the real world > of DNA testing. > > Laura > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

ROBERT MITCHEL & MARY COWAN (my 5XGGrandparents, born abt. 1740's) (m#119544, S.#1040206, P#6902180, F#458140) Their children were: 1) ISOBEL MITCHEL (b. March 22, 1755 at Alloa, Clackmannan, Scotland) (Chr. March 22, 1755 at Alloa) 2) JAMES MITCHEL* (b.1763/1764 at Avonbridge) (My 4XG.Grandfather) (m. Mary Cranston in 1783 in Bo'ness) (d. Oct. 09, 1823 at Bo'ness, aged 59) 3) JOHN MITCHEL (Lieutenant Black Watch) (Chr. 25July 1764 in Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland) 4) ANN MITCHEL (m. Peter Mclay) 5) GEORGE MITCHEL (Alias Solomon Brodziac) (d. aged 62) 6) WILLIAM MITCHEL (m. Ann Cuming) ...More children were born, up until 1791 -------------------------------- JAMES MITCHEL & MARY CRANSTON (my 4XGgrandparents, born abt. 1765) Their children were born in Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland 1)MARGARET MITCHEL (chr.04Apr.1785) 2)JULIANA MITCHEL (chr.03Dec.1790) (my 3XG.Grandmother) 3)AGNES MITCHEL (chr.22Feb.1793) __________________________________________________________________ Switch to Netscape Internet Service. As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register Netscape. Just the Net You Need. New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups. Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp