Welcome to the Goyen Family Tree. I’ve spent time gathering the information you find here. I hope you enjoy the site. If you have any corrections, disagree with anything I’ve listed, or need to confirm any details, drop me an email at douggoyen@gmail.com, or leave a message. This site is not complete – probably never will be – but I’d like to make sure everything listed here is as correct as it can be based on the information I have.
(150 years of photos of my Goyen family – 360 years traced, and counting)
Areas of This Website
DNA Studies: I’ve tested my Y-DNA and found several “Goin, Goen, Goins, Gowan” type matches, as well as some other interesting info. Follow this link to see the results:
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/y-dna-for-goyen/
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/ydna-matches/
It appears that the Y-DNA tests from the following two lines of John Hollis b. 1700 and William Going b. 1682 are matches – based on test results to date. This suggests that there was a common paternal ancestor some time before the estimated birth date of John Hollis.
John Hollis b. 1700’s line
William Going b. 1682’s line
Origins of Goyen, Going, Goin-type Names:
I’ve tried to limit this site to just Goyen, Going, Gowen, Goin, Goyne -type names, to keep it manageable. Go to the “Origins of Family Name” section (link below) to see why I’ve included all these variations.
See the following pages/links for explanations regarding the differences in spelling:
Origins of Family Name: https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/goyen-family/
My Goyen Family Line:
Part 1 below is documented. I have no doubt that these people in part 1 are in our direct line for the Goyen family.
Part 2 I have had to determine relationships with a couple people:
a) John Gowing Sr born 1710 as parent of Drury Goyen born 1749 is based on best available information, and
b) Thomas Gowing born about 1660 as parent of William Gowing born about 1682 is based on the best available information.
I believe these two are correct, but if additional information is found that changes this I will update it.
Part 1:
My paternal grandfather is:
John R. Goyen Sr. born 1916 married Mary Louise Foote; John Sr’s parents . . .
William Leslie Goyen born 1884 married Ruth Stayton; William Leslie’s parents . . .
John Bell Goyen born 1860 married Ella Green Parker; John’s parents . . .
William W. Goyen born about 1825 married Sarah Martha Bell; William W.’s parents . . .
Drury B. Goyen born about 1800 married (unknown); Drury B.’s parents . . .
Elijah Goyen born about 1770 married Docea Bland; Elijah’s parents . . .
Drury Goyen born 1749 married Sarah “Sallie” Baxter; Drury’s parents assumed to be . . .
(No documents confirming Drury’s parents – see both Drury Goyen and John Gowing Sr. to see information regarding relationship).
Part 2:
John Gowing Sr. born about 1710 married Mary Keith; John Sr’s parents were . . .
William Gowing born about 1682 married Catherine (unknown maiden name – Catherine was remarried after death of William, and her last name became Padderson); William’s parents are assumed to be . . .
(No documents confirming William’s parents – see both William and Thomas Gowing to see information regarding relationship).
Thomas Gowing born about 1660 married to (unknown); Thomas Gowing’s parents are unknown.
I don’t have enough information to determine ancestry beyond Thomas Gowing born about 1660. He may have been born in America, or he may be the first Goyen, Goyne, Going, Gowing in our direct line to immigrate into the Americas.
List of Pages on this Website:
Site Index: This page is the “Sitemap” and includes a list of names included in this website and where to find them. (In Progress). I have placed the estimated date of birth prior to the name.
Maps:
Maps downloaded and used to locate ancestors.
Colonial Virginia Map:
(Map of Colonial Virginia in 1751 above)
Below are the areas I found with Going, Gowen, Gowing, Goin, Goen, etc., families from about 1633 to 1772. The map is marked with approximate or estimated locations based on deed, grant, court records and descriptions – zoomed in a bit (Click maps to enlarge):
(Above is Colonial Northern Neck and Mid-Virginia. Info boxed in orange is our family line).
Below is the Northern Neck of Virginia – Stafford County and surrounding areas, zoomed in to show areas of property our ancestors were living from approximately 1700-1739:
(Colonial Stafford County, Virginia and surrounding areas – marked with approximate locations of family properties in early 1700s above). (Click to enlarge).
By 1739 most of our Goyen and Going ancestors had moved to the southern part of Virginia along the boundary of North Carolina.
(Above is a marked map of Brunswick, Lunenburg, Pittsylvania Counties (and surrounding areas) of Virginia along border of Granville and Bertie Counties in North Carolina (Map is 1751). Marked areas are from approximately 1737-1781)(Click to enlarge).
Useful Links to Other Sites: https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/information-links/ (These are sites I found helpful in searching for ancestors).
Hi, I am Nancy Brian. Moses Hollis Senior is my 5th grandfather. My great grandfather (who I knew), his mother was a Hollis. This is how I am related.
Moses Hollis SR (1728 – 1794)
5th great-grandfather
Moses Hollis JR (1752 – 1815)
son of Moses Hollis SR
Peter Knighton Hollis (1802 – 1882)
son of Moses Hollis JR
Elizabeth J Hollis (1848 – 1931)
daughter of Peter Knighton Hollis
William Frank Fennell (1880 – 1967)
son of Elizabeth J Hollis
Irene Thelma Orvin Fennell (1900 – 1987)
daughter of William Frank Fennell
Virginia Rose Orvin (1924 – 2014)
daughter of Irene Thelma Orvin Fennell
Nancy Karen Davis Brian
You are the daughter of Virginia Rose Orvin
My son got into the SAR based off of the 2 Moses Hollises being iin the revolutionary war.
I agree that maybe the John Hollis born in Surry England is probably not the father of Moses. It looks like people Just copied each other based on what I see (but I could be wrong.
Anyway, I wanted to congratulate you an your good work and to ask you what is the best way to do the DNA.
Thank you.
Nancy Brian
Nancy,
I’m currently (as typing) adding new Hollis info – so check back.
I’m not saying John Hollis is not Moses’ and James’ father, the more I look, the more it seems he may be the father. Both the Going family and Hollis family came from that area where John Hollis was living in Fairfax Co, Va. John Hollis (Elijah Hollis’ brother – both sons of Moses) stated in his Rev War pension application that he was born in Fairfax Co, Va. There were a couple other Hollis’ who were in that area, but John seems to be the oldest – so seems like he would be the father. There just isn’t a smoking gun that confirms it.
Also, I do not know that John Hollis was from England. I found a Rev War pension application for a James Hollis from NC that said he was from Surry Co, England. He entered Charleston, SC as part of the British army, and deserted, then joining the Americans in SC under Marion. I don’t think there is any connection between him and our Hollis line. I wonder if that record set someone to searching in Surry Co, England, and they found a John Hollis about the correct age and assumed it was the same one that was here. Its possible he came from England, but I don’t know that this is confirmed either.
Yes, I’m researching the Hollis family because we have the same Y-DNA signature. This means that somewhere along the line, either my line is really part of the Hollis (biologically), or the Hollis line is actually part of the Going/Goyen line (biologically). Probably an adoption, but possibly an out of wedlock relation. But regardless, from what I can see, it must have occurred prior to 1700 since both James Hollis b. 1730 and Moses Hollis b. 1728 both have descendants who have that same Y-DNA (so their father had that same Y-DNA).
On the Going side, descendants of brothers John Going b. 1700 and Alexander Going b. 1715 have the same Y-DNA – meaning their father (William Going b. 1680) had that same Y-DNA.
I’d like to confirm who the Hollis father is (John Hollis or whoever) and confirm who their children were.
Somewhere down the line, we might find a split in the Y-DNA signatures – where part of the descendants of a particular person are one signature, and other set of their descendants are another signature. This might tell us when the adoption, or out of marriage event occurred.
The Going family was in the Westmoreland / Stafford County, Va area by at least the 1680’s (maybe before). I’ve seen several Hollis families in that area of Virginia starting in 1638 – but I’m not sure they are related.
Anyway, check back. I’ll be adding info.
I’d like to see more Hollis Y-DNA test results – that might help. You would need to know a male Hollis cousin or relative that is willing to submit the test – the Y-DNA only carries father to son – so it should be a “surname” DNA test – as long as there were no adoptions or out of marriage events.
Also, did you research the Hollis family because they have a common ancestor?
Yes, it appears there was a common paternal ancestor of John Hollis b. 1700’s line and the brothers John Going b. 1700 and Alexander Going b. 1715’s lines. (They had the same of one of the following – father, grandfather, g-grandfather, g-g-grandfather, etc. . . . Somewhere down the line there was a common paternal ancestor . . . I don’t know when or where – other than it appears to be before 1700. A good place to start looking is the Northern Neck of Virginia in the late 1600’s, since this is the earliest I can definitively track both families. It may be earlier than that (both families appear to have possibly been in Maryland prior to Virginia), but I don’t have any definitive documents for either side yet to track back further.
Where did you locate the 1825 Aug 8 estate distribution for William Hollis Jr that includes the relationships to father and siblings? I’ve found records but not the one that shows the relationships? It would be helpful for an application for the SAR I’m completing.
Roger – thanks for pointing that out. I was trying to get all the info on the pages, but forgot to put some of the cites in. I’ve updated the page. The info on where I found this is below:
Name: William J Hollis
Probate Place: Fairfield, South Carolina, USA
Inferred Death Place: South Carolina, USA
Item Description: Probate Records, Book G Vol 9-Book I Vol 11, 1824-1837 (Index)
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=WLx2259&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=William&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Hollis&gsln_x=0&MSAV=1&msddy=1828&msdpn__ftp=Fairfield%20County,%20South%20Carolina,%20USA&msdpn=1002&msdpn_PInfo=7-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C43%7C0%7C1002%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&cp=0&catbucket=rstp&uidh=m37&msdpn__ftp_x=1&msdpn_x=PS&pcat=36&h=1047170&db=USProbateSC&indiv=1&ml_rpos=2
Probate Records, Book G Vol 9-Book I Vol 11, 1824-1837 (Pg 536 – Accounting and estate distribution) – Aug 8, 1825
http://interactive.ancestry.com/9080/007649340_00111?pid=1047170&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com//cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DWLx2259%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-c%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26gsfn%3DWilliam%26gsfn_x%3D0%26gsln%3DHollis%26gsln_x%3D0%26MSAV%3D1%26msddy%3D1828%26msdpn__ftp%3DFairfield%2520County,%2520South%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msdpn%3D1002%26msdpn_PInfo%3D7-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C43%257C0%257C1002%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26cp%3D0%26catbucket%3Drstp%26uidh%3Dm37%26msdpn__ftp_x%3D1%26msdpn_x%3DPS%26pcat%3D36%26h%3D1047170%26db%3DUSProbateSC%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D2&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=WLx2259&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=007649340_00392
Here are the loose probate sources for the same information:
Name: Wm Hollis Jr
Probate Place: Fairfield, South Carolina, USA
Inferred Death Place: South Carolina, USA
Item Description: General Index to Wills and Estate Records, 1780-1865
(Loose Papers – probate paperwork – Index)
http://search.ancestry.com//cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=WLx2259&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=William&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Hollis&gsln_x=0&MSAV=1&msddy=1828&msdpn__ftp=Fairfield%20County,%20South%20Carolina,%20USA&msdpn=1002&msdpn_PInfo=7-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C43%7C0%7C1002%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&cp=0&catbucket=rstp&uidh=m37&msdpn__ftp_x=1&msdpn_x=PS&pcat=36&h=764606&db=USProbateSC&indiv=1&ml_rpos=3
Probate Loose Papers – Cover for Wm Hollis Jr:
http://interactive.ancestry.com/9080/007649344_00031?pid=764606&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com//cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DWLx2259%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-c%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26gsfn%3DWilliam%26gsfn_x%3D0%26gsln%3DHollis%26gsln_x%3D0%26MSAV%3D1%26msddy%3D1828%26msdpn__ftp%3DFairfield%2520County,%2520South%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msdpn%3D1002%26msdpn_PInfo%3D7-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C43%257C0%257C1002%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26cp%3D0%26catbucket%3Drstp%26uidh%3Dm37%26msdpn__ftp_x%3D1%26msdpn_x%3DPS%26pcat%3D36%26h%3D764606%26db%3DUSProbateSC%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D3&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=WLx2259&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=007649364_00505
Beginning of William Hollis Jr’s loose probate papers (4 pages total, 533, 534, 535, 536).
http://interactive.ancestry.com/9080/007649344_00031?pid=764606&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com//cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DWLx2259%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-c%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26gsfn%3DWilliam%26gsfn_x%3D0%26gsln%3DHollis%26gsln_x%3D0%26MSAV%3D1%26msddy%3D1828%26msdpn__ftp%3DFairfield%2520County,%2520South%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msdpn%3D1002%26msdpn_PInfo%3D7-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C43%257C0%257C1002%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26cp%3D0%26catbucket%3Drstp%26uidh%3Dm37%26msdpn__ftp_x%3D1%26msdpn_x%3DPS%26pcat%3D36%26h%3D764606%26db%3DUSProbateSC%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D3&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=WLx2259&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=007649364_00533
Estate Distribution on Aug 8, 1825 for William Hollis Jr – in loose probate papers:
http://interactive.ancestry.com/9080/007649344_00031?pid=764606&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com//cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DWLx2259%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-c%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26gsfn%3DWilliam%26gsfn_x%3D0%26gsln%3DHollis%26gsln_x%3D0%26MSAV%3D1%26msddy%3D1828%26msdpn__ftp%3DFairfield%2520County,%2520South%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msdpn%3D1002%26msdpn_PInfo%3D7-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C43%257C0%257C1002%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26cp%3D0%26catbucket%3Drstp%26uidh%3Dm37%26msdpn__ftp_x%3D1%26msdpn_x%3DPS%26pcat%3D36%26h%3D764606%26db%3DUSProbateSC%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D3&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=WLx2259&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=007649364_00536
Can’t help but notice as missing are any possible links the numerous black Goins/Goyens/Gowen families also native to Buckingham County. My paternal g-grandmother was Nettie Goins, who, though listed in census records as black, looked as white as Donald Trump. I’ve been researching her origins for years, but I see this info won’t get me any closer to the truth. True genealogy does not limit itself to race. White sperm fertilized many a black egg over America’s history. She didn’t come from Africa looking that way, and we can’t simply ignore it.
Here are some pages of Buckingham Co, Going/Goins. I will add additional pages for people I have info on born in the 1700s when I can, but I am not personally researching/going deeply into lines outside my own line for those born in the 1800s and 1900s (too many people for me to add/research on my own). For those born in the 1700s and before in the US area, I am interested in adding their info when possible.
I have copied and pasted from the GRF to my site to ensure that their information is available (not sure the GRF is still being kept up).
If you have some info on a particular line you want to add, I can add a page for it, I can also add it to the county info, and/or can add it to one of the ancestor’s pages that already exists (if we know the ancestor). For Buckingham County, Va info see below:
Moses Going b. abt 1735-40
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/1735-to-1740-moses-going-in-albemarle-co-va-louisa-co-va-buckingham-co-va/
Jesse Goin b. abt 1794
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/1794-jesse-goin-b-in-buckingham-co-va-d-in-appomattox-co-va/
Buckingham Co, Va info from Gowen Manuscript (GRF Foundation):
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/virginia-buckingham-county-1700s-to-early-1800s/
Looks like Buckingham Co, Va was created out of Albemarle Co, Va as well. The Albemarle pages I have are here:
Benjamin Going b. abt 1740-50
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/1740-1750-benjamin-going-of-albemarle-co-va/
David Going b. abt 1750-60
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/1750-to-1760-david-going-of-albemarle-co-va/
James Going b. abt 1768-71
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/6177-2/
Joseph Going b. abt 1770
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/1770-joseph-going-of-albemarle-co-va/
Daniel Going b. abt 1779
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/6240-2/
David Going b. abt 1780
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/1780-david-going-of-albemarle-co-va/
Albemarle Co, Va info from Gowen Manuscript (GRF Foundation):
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/virginia-albemarle-county-1700s-to-early-1800s/
I have tried to add as many pages of those I have investigated personally – but I have many more to go. I’ll keep adding as I can – its mostly pre-1800 info for people I’m not personally related to. Pre-1840 info is tough to sort out, so when I find info on someone born before 1800, I try to make pages for those people so I can sort out which family they belong to. I’ll probably add 1800-1840 info in some time in the future – but it starts to get pretty voluminous.
For anyone born after 1840, if not directly related to me, I haven’t done research on many if not related to my line. I’ve cut and pasted from the GRF to here, but not much additional from me personally. The US Census info from 1850 and on helps sort out who is who – but occasionally I do come across someone I’m not sure about born after 1840 and do some research on them – so I might have info saved on my computer that hasn’t been placed on this site.
If you have any info on your grandmother’s birth year, parents, or siblings, that might help me find info that connects her to someone I’ve looked at. I did notice a Genetta F. Goin in Buckingham Co, Va, born about 1840 in the 1880 US Census on the Buckingham Co, Va page listed above. Not sure if Genetta is the same as your Nettie, this is info I copied from the GRF pages, but there may be a connection there.
Doug
I am attempting to find information on Valentine Bell, Sr. (1740 – 1799). He is 7-times great grandfather on paternal side. Can you provide any information regarding his heritage and how his family came to America.