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/nFQ.2ACEB/149.154.1.1.1 Message Board Post: I corresponded with Margaret Shields for many years. We've sent each other records over the years. Terry has contacted me once, I think. Margaret's work shows Lynn Cowden being born in North Carolina, because the census showed that on one year. The other census records show SOUTH Carolina, and indeed, that is where I looked. Lynn Cowden didn't die until after 1880 - he is listed on the 1880 Benton Co., AR census. However, we don't know if he died in Benton Co., AR, or if he took a trip back home to Sevier Co., TN., or was taken back after his death. The reason I question Margaret's record on this is because I found an L. W. Cowden, 1800-1880, buried in Hill Cemetery, in Sevier Co., TN. This cemetery is near where Lynn is reported to have owned land in Sevier Co., TN. [No deeds, of course.]. Another reason is because Walnut Hill Cemetery is, if I remember right, and haven't confused it with the one Mary and Hannah are buried in, across the county from where they were living about the time of his death. I haven't found any relatives living near this cemetery, etc. Cattern - I THINK that Lynn was the son of this Thomas and Cattern Cowden. They lived in the Spartanburg and Greenville Cos., SC area in 1790 (where they show up like a newly wed couple, and in 1800, have children in the household born BEFORE the 1790 census), and moved to Williamson Co., TN, about 1806, if I remember right. This has been proven by the deed records in Spartanburg Co., SC. Cattern signed away her Dower rights to the land in Greenville Co., SC., with a LYNN WALKER witnessing. Intriguing, isn't it? Anyway, Thomas and Cattern moved to Williamson Co., TN., where they lived on McCutcheon's Creek, until about 1810, then they moved to Blount Co., TN. I cannot find records from 1810 until the 1830 census to prove or disprove this. We know Thomas Cowden (one anyway) shows up then, along with Henry Cowden, who in later census records, also was born in SC., along with a Samuel. I don't know, but I also think perhaps that there might be another Thomas Cowden in the line, perhaps the one in Bradley Co., TN (Thomas, son of Thomas and Cattern ????) OR Cattern died, and Thomas remarried to Nancy Crews/Crewse. I can't prove any of this yet. Still digging. I do know some on the Bradley Co Thomas and family. But there are several unlinked Cowden individuals in Sevier and Blount Cos.! Early Cowdens....Jane M. W. Cowden married Francis Samuel Pickens, and they lived in both Blount and Sevier Cos., buried Eusebia Church, Blount Co., TN. Another Jane Cowden married William Burns, and they lived right next door to some of our bunch, I think on the 1870 Sevier census. Then there are the James Cowdens, and the John Cowdens of Sevier. I know some on their family, too. Then I found mention of a Matt Cowden who died 1858 in Sevier Co., but that is the ONLY mention of him I can find. Oh, Jane Cowden Burns' daughter, Mary Wilson (Burns) Parson, died in Bradley Co., TN. They also had a daughter Nancy who died 1880/1890s in Sevier Co., TN. Then there was the Montgomery Cowden listed on the 1840 census. He was evidently a free person of color, from his census record (no family listing at all). This means he could have been Melungeon, Native American, Black, etc., or just from the Matthew Cowde! n family.