This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cowden, Thomas, Biggs, Lawson, Barber, Flournoy, Marshall, Webb, Fox, Basham Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nFQ.2ACEB/26.92.2.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Ted, The "daughters" in question were Martha and Elizabeth Wilson, daughters of Samuel Wilson and Martha (?) of Augusta Co., VA. His widow, Martha, re-married to Samuel Cowden of Augusta Co., VA., and later of Mecklenburg Co., NC. Elizabeth Wilson first married James Cowden, who acted as her attorney in settling her father's estate, and then either divorced or he died - don't know which - and she married to John Griffen. Martha married Patrick McDavid or McDivit (appears both ways in the records). Samuel Cowden and his brothers knew Matthew Cowden of Lancaster Co., PA., and so knew his son John Cowden of Iredell & Rowan Counties, NC. They also knew the Rev. John Elder, for that is whom Robert Cowden sold his land to in Spartanburg Co., SC. I don't think that William Cowden, brother of above Robert, Samuel and Walter Cowden, had any issue of his own, as he left his property to Robert. Walter Cowden (I) seems to have not had any children, either, due to the way they handled his estate. Samuel had his two sons, John and Walter (II) Cowden, and names no other children. The only known child of Robert & Hannah Cowden was Robert Cowden who married Mary Alcorn, BUT there could have been others! The 1790 census shows Hannah Cowden as the Widow Cowden, and there is a man and woman living with her that could have been a son and wife or a son and a daughter.... I, too, am looking for the parents of Thomas Cowden of Spartanburg Co., SC & Williamson Co., TN...Robert may be our candidate..... Where did your Mary & Richard Martin live? If in the same areas as these Cowdens, could possibly be on the right track... Will keep checking my records...Please feel free to email me.