1680 Lemuel Gowen, son of William Alexander Gowen and Eliza­beth Frost, b. February 9, 1680 at Kittery

Lemuel Gowen, son of William Alexander Gowen and Eliza­beth Frost Gowen, was born February 9, 1680 at Kittery, married January 5, 1709 to Sarah Wadsworth, then later m. Judith

Parents: 

Children:

  • Unk

Siblings: 

FACTS and NOTES: 

Lemuel Gowen, [William Alexander1] son of William Alexander Gowen and Eliza­beth Frost Gowen, was born February 9, 1680 at Kittery.

He witnessed a deed for 20 acres of land January 13, 1702-03 at Kittery purchased fromThomas Butler by his brother, Nicholas Gowen, [check original] according to “York County Records.”

On November 14, 1702 Lemuel Gowen “of Berwick” wrote a receipt to his brother, John Gowen, according to “York Deeds,” Volume 6, page 38:

“Received of my brother, John Gowen, the sum of 3 pounds, 6 shilling & eight pence, being in full of that part of my father, William Gowen’s Estate which he, ye said John Gowen, was appointed to pay me before ye decease of my mother, Elizabeth Gowen.
Lemuel Gowen”

On July 6, 1703 Lemuel Gowen appeared in Infe­rior Court of Common Pleas on behalf of his mother, ac­cording to York Court Records as abstracted in “Province & Court Records of Maine.” The court verdict was recorded as:

“Lemuel Gowen, assignee & attornye to Elizabeth Gowen, relict widow & administratrix to the estate of William Gowen, Late of Kittery, Yeoman, deceased, is plaintiff against William Goodwin, Executor to the Last Will and Testament of John Taylor & defendant in an action of the case for withholding and not paying unto the plaintiff the sum of three pounds money due from the estate of one James Berry decd. unto the Es­tate of Wm. Gowen decd as per attachment. The jury Finds for the Plaintiff the debt sued for and cost of Court allowed 3 pounds, 1s 4d.”

Lemuel Gowen purchased for 10 pounds, 100 acres of land at Kittery from James Gowen, his brother, December 14, 1702, according to “York Court Records,” Book 7, Folio 19. The land had been inherited from their father. James Gowen was identified as “James Gowen, blacksmith of Wells.”

Lemuel Gowen received a donation of “one shilling” from tax money in 1704 while living at Kittery. He was also men­tioned in “Manuscript of New England” by Vassall.

“Lemuel Gowen” was married January 5, 1709 to Sarah Wadsworth by Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, ac­cording to “Boston Marriages” by Edward W. McGlenen. Of Sarah Wadsworth Gowen nothing more is known.

Lemuel Gowen must have remarried later because in his will he mentioned “my beloved wife, Judith.”

Lemuel Gowen wrote his will December 27, 1737 and it is recorded in York County Will Book 5, page 195, ac­cording to “Maine Wills, 1640-1760” by William M. Sargent:

“In the Name of God Amen the twenty seventh Day of December in ye Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty seven, I, Lemuel Gowen of Kittery in the County of York within his Majesty’s Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England Yeoman being bound on a Voyage to Sea and not Knowing wheather it will please God to preserve my life and return me in safety to my Native Country. I do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testatment.

“Imprimis I do Resign and submit both Body & Soul to God in hope his favour & Grace in Christ and as to such Worldly Estate as it has been pleased God to give me in this Life and bequeath in manner & from form follow­ing.

“That is to say I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Judith all my Real & Personal Estate to her Dis­posall for ye benefit of my Children & I likewise ap­point my said Wife Judith my whole & sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament Disannualling all former Wills by me heretofore made.

“In Witness whereunto I have Set my hand & Seal ye date written above.
Lemuel Gowen [seal)

“Signed, Sealed, Pronounced & Declared by ye said Lemuel Gowen as his last Will & Testatment in the pre­sense of

John Watkins, James Fferguson, Thomas Emery.”

Apparently the fears of Lemuel Gowen were real­ized, and it is believed that he perished at sea because his will was probated October 17, 1740. Of Lemuel Gowen, Sarah Wadsworth Gowen and Judith Gowen and their children nothing more is known.