My Cowan's begin with John Cowan b. abt 1720 d. 1775 NC. Married Margaret (maiden name unknown) Children: Hannah, John, Joseph (b. 1753, my line), William, and Mary. John Cowen/Cowan was granted 270 acres acres of land on May 17, 1754, in Anson County, NC on the north side of the Catawba River. The 270 acres are located in present day Mecklenburg County where the Duke Power Company's Cowan's Ford Hydroelectric and McGuire Nuclear Stations are located. It is also the location of the Revolutionary War Battle on February 1, 1781, when Militia General William Lee Davidson was killed. As it was common practice to settle on the land before receiving the grant, John was on his land in 1753. His known transactions are: 1754 John Cowan, May 1754, 270 acres in Anson County (later Mecklenburg) on the north side of the Catawba River.....being the place where he now lives" 1757 John Cowan and wife Margaret of Anson County to James Black, 200 acres for 30 pounds, land is part of the grant made to John Cowan on May 17, 1754. So, John had 270 acres but he sold 200 acres leaving 70 acres. He had to have another 130 acres because when he died, he left 200 acres to his son William. When John settled on the Catawba River, he really had his pick of locations. He selected a location where horse and wagon could "ford" the river. This was advantageous because it afforded easy access to both sides of the river. These crossing places were named after the person owning the land adjacent to the river. As John Cowan owned 270 acres on the river at this location, the crossing became known as "Cowan's Ford." Cowan's Ford became the perpetual name for that area where one could cross the Catawba River. The name appears on all present day maps of Mecklenburg County, NC. But that's not all.....the road leading to the river is Cowan's Ford Road. Further, Lake Norman is backed up by the Cowan's Ford Dam. Perhaps of even more importance, General Cornwallis and his British troops crossed the Catawba River exactly at Cowan's Ford. John's name is further immortalized as history books refer to this fighting as the "skirmish at Cowan's Ford." John's will was recorded in the April 1776 session of the Mecklenburg County Court in Will Book A, on page 179. The will was dated April 12, 1775, and names the following: ...youngest son William Cowen all my present Dwelling Plantation; Wife Margaret Cowen; Daughter Hannah Cowen; Son Joseph Cowen; oldest son John Cowen, with Robert Gault to be Executors....witnessed by Joseph Galit (Gault) and Patrick Crawford. William, the youngest son of John and Margaret Cowen, became the owner of the Cowen property at "Cowan's Ford" as designated by the Will of John Cowen. Through DNA testing I know that my line has at least a common ancestor to the line of Cyndi of Baltimore, as well as Cregg Cowan's line, and a close connection to Glyndal Cowan's line of his ancestor, David Cowan born bet 1755-1760 (died 1826 in Laurens County, SC) This David married Celia Garrison. Since my line of John, and Glyndal's line of David, are the furthest back in documentation, Glyndal and myself (as well as other researcher's of my line) believe that his David was perhaps, a son of my John's brother. I urge ALL of you that have not participated in the Cowan DNA testing, to do so NOW. Where, we haven't found "that postive" connection, the testing has certainly given us direction. We have learned that we are of a rare jewish connection, which, believe me, surprised all of the researchers of this line. Most important, I believe, is that we can stop researching the lines of the Cowan brothers of Ireland. This, in itself, has saved us time and energy, from searching those lines anymore. Participate in the DNA testing!!! Never know what it might turn up :>) Warm regards, Becky Cowen-Rutter Big Lake, Alaska

Rebecca, I very much appreciated your sharing many details of your N. Carolina Cowans, and your emphasis on DNA studies. (I am very much involved in DNA studies myself, but NOT on the Cowan line.) BUT, on what basis are you abandoning the research of the Cowan brothers of Ireland? Just because there may be a "rare Jewish connection" to this Cowan line does NOT indicate per se that this Cowan line does not come through Ireland. Please provide more information as to why you want to abandon the Irish connection. Jim jmfreed@midohio.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rebecca Cowen-Rutter" <rebalee@mtaonline.net> To: <COWAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 2:42 AM Subject: [COWAN-L] Cowan roll call >> I urge ALL of you that have not participated in the Cowan DNA >> testing, to do so NOW. Where, we haven't found "that postive" >> connection, the testing has certainly given us direction. We have >> learned that we are of a rare jewish connection, which, believe >> me, surprised all of the researchers of this line. Most important, >> I believe, is that we can stop researching the lines of the Cowan >> brothers of Ireland. This, in itself, has saved us time and energy, >> from searching those lines anymore. > > Participate in the DNA testing!!! Never know what it might turn up > :>) > > Warm regards, > Becky Cowen-Rutter > Big Lake, Alaska