Gordon Aronhime Papers - Southwest Virginia Card File - Library of Virginia ~~Cards 132 & 133~~DAVID COWAN [Handwritten, difficult to read] Born ---- Died ---- Wife: Jane (DB1, p.33) ~08Apr1774 - 264A both sides Mill Creek, Plat _?_, p.72 ~06Jul1783 - w/James Smith __ to govern road from Castlewood to El___ Gardner or Gordon - OB1, p. 73 Fincastle [Co.] ~30Jan/Jun1786 - 264A land adj. "Porter's Line" to Charles Bickly 100 [pounds]. DB1, p.33 ~1786 - In Sevier Co, Tenn (18Apr1786) - DB1, p.33 FRONTIER FORTS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA By Emory L. Hamilton From Historical Sketches of Southwest Virginia, Number 4, 1968, pages 1 to 26 FORT PRESTON The fort that Russell named Fort Preston was on the lands of David COWAN in Upper Castlewood, (Russell Co., Va.) and stood just back of the present Masonic Lodge Hall. It was called Russell's Fort by some because it was here that Captain Russell had his military headquarters and used the fort also for personal shelter. It is also sometimes referred to as COWAN's Fort and later Charles Bickley bought the COWAN land and it was then called Bickley's Fort. A fort in this area was also called Bush's Fort and is probably this same fort, but some contend otherwise. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LIST OF TROOPS AT MOORE'S FORT JUNE 30, 1777 1. Patrick Porter, Sergeant       2. Lewis Green, Jr. 3. Robert Kilgore                 4. James Alley 5. Charles Kilgore                 6. Samuel Alley 7. Samuel Porter                   8. Zachariah Green 9. John Alley           10. Alexander Montgomery, Sr. 11. Alexander Montgomery, Jr.     12. ANDREW COWAN 13. Frederick Friley               14. John Kinkead 15. John Barksdale         16. James Ozburn (Osborne) 17. Thomas Osburne                 18. Nehemiah Noe (Draper Mss I XX 20 and I XX 24)