1771-1775 John Gowan of Petersburg, Virginia

Parents:

Unknown

Children:

Catherine Gowan m. James Cruickshank

Siblings:

Unknown

FACTS and SOURCES:

(Note: Not sure who this John Gowan’s parents were. He moved to Scotland – apparently in the 1830s – he had his daughter attending boarding school there. He lived in Virginia prior to moving to Scotland. It is uncertain if he had migrated from Scotland to the Americas and then returned, or if he was born in the Americas and moved to Scotland for business purposes – additional investigation is needed. He may be a relative of the Gowan’s who lived in Goochland Co, Va, or Henrico Co, Va – who spelled their name Gowan as well – but at this time it is uncertain).

John Gowan born between 1771-1775 (per census recs 1810, 1820, 1830). Moved to Scotland in later life per probate recs (see below). Died in 1852 (wrote will in 1834).

1805 Nov 6 – John Gowan gives deposition testimony in the case of John Lemessurier v. America Jones – Library of Virginia, Chancery Court Record Index, Petersburg, Va.: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=730-1808-016

1810 US Census in Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Virginia
Name: John Gowan
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Virginia
Free White Persons – Males – 16 thru 25: 2
Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44 : 1 (born betw: 1766-1784)
Number of All Other Free Persons: 2
Numbers of Slaves: 18
Number of Household Members Over 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 23
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7613&h=662680&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TqH1057&_phstart=successSource

1810 Oct 15 – John Gowan gives deposition testimony in the case of Thomas Furniss Jr and Mary Ann his wife, late Mary Ann Couper, John Couper and Jane Couper – that John Couper lately decd . . . Thos Couper was appointed executor v. John Clark, admr of John Couper . . . – Library of Virginia, Chancery Court Record Index, Petersburg, Va.: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=730-1817-020

1820 US Census in Petersbug (Independent City), Virgina
Name: John Gowen
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Petersburg, Petersburg (Independent City), Virginia
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons – Males – 45 and over: 1 (born bef: 1776)
Slaves – Males – Under 14: 2
Slaves – Males – 26 thru 44: 6
Free White Persons – Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 1
Total Slaves: 8
Total All Persons – White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 9
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7734&h=1102508&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TqH1057&_phstart=successSource

1830 US Census in Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Virginia
Name: John Gowan
Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Virginia
Free White Persons – Males – 50 thru 59: 1 (born betw: 1771-1780)
Slaves – Males – 55 thru 99: 1
Slaves – Females – 55 thru 99: 1
Total Free White Persons: 1
Total Slaves: 2
Total – All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 3
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8058&h=901541&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TqH1057&_phstart=successSource

1834 Aug 1 – wrote will – John Gowan will: . . . I John Gowans presently residing in the Burgh of Forres County of Elgin and Forres in Scotland being about to embark on a voyage to Petersburg in the State of Virginia America where I for sometime resided and where I still hold property both real and personal and well knowing the certainty of death . . . (long will – only one child, Catharine Gowan – John Gowan was living in Scotland, but had lived in Petersburg, Va – and owned property there).
Alexander Raff Sr, sometime merchant in Forres and residing there, by his bond and disposition in security under reversion dated July 27, 1833 . . . bound himself to pay to me and my heirs and assignees the sum of 750 pounds sterling . . . Alexander Raff Sr did by bond . . . sell alienate and dispose to and in favor of John Gowans . . . that tenement of Burrow bigged land and houses built thereone belonging to him the said Alexander Raff on the south side of the High Street of said Burgh of Forres . . . I John Gowan give . . . in fafor of Alexander White merchant in Forres, John MacDonald Farmer in Croy, and Robert Urquhart writer in Forres . . . as my trustees in Great Britain for the end uses and purposes after mentioned . . . that tenement of Burrow bigged land with the houses built thereon high and low back and fore with shop cellars offce houses garden and universal pertinents thereof lying on the south side of the High Street of said Burgh of Forres and bounded by High Street of said Burgh at the north and tenement of land and yard which belonged to Anderson in Greeshop and Anderson as West Grange and therafter to the representatives of the deceased James Anderson merchant in Campbelltown and Bailee James Mackie merchant in Forres at the east the back passage of the said Burgh at the south and the former manse and garden of the minister of Forres now the property of Andrew MacKintosh merchant there or his representatives and a garden formerly belonging to the now deceased Colonel Duncan Urquhart of Burdsyards now to the representatives of the also decased Thomas Barnes vinter in Forres at the west together with all title and interest . . . these two Roads of Burgh bigged land lying contiguous on the north side of the said Burgh of Forres betwixt the lands now or formerly pertaining to James Anderson on the West and the lands now or sometime pertaining to the heirs of Thomas Purse Weaver in Forres at the east extending from the Kings High Street of the said Burgh at the south to the Burn of Mossat at the North with houses biggins high and low back and fore shops yards parts pendicles and universal pertinents thereto . . . situated in Scotland or any other part of Great Britain that shall belong to me at the time of my death . . . I the said John Gowans give to Mr David May attorney at law in Petersburg Virginia and Mr Samuel Winfree merchant there . . . executors and trustees of properties in America . . . in the Town of Petersurg . . . land and houses on the North side of the Bank Street abt 42 and 1/2 feet fronting said street, second another lot on South Side of the same street and fronting same for length of 89 feet, third a house and lot of land in the Courthouse Square acquired by me in 1818 and sometimes occupied by Charles Rogers my tenant therein. 4th a lot of land in Ravenscroft on which there are several wooden houses occupied by my tenants and 5th a certain piece or parcel of ground lying in the City of Washington in the District of Columbia and known and described in the ground plan of the said City as lot number 9 in square number 256 fronting on E Street north all which lots or tenements are more particularly described in the respective indentures of bargain and sale . . . in favor of me in the Registers of the Districts in which the said lots are situated . . . pay the sum of one dollar to my nephew Charles Coutts sometimes in the United States to whom I hereby give and bequeath that sum accordingly and . . . executors in Scotland to pay my neice Ann Coutts or Falconer spouse of John Falconer farmer Dremine and Jean Falconer or MacDonald also residing in Dremine a free yearly annuity of five pounds sterling each during all the daysof their respective lives . . . I appoint my said Trustees to aliment clothe and educate my daughter Catharine Gowans presently residing with Miss Henry of the Forres Boarding School in a manner corresponding to that hithereto adopted by myself in regard to her and to accumulate whatever may remain of such interest or annual produce for her behoof until she attain majority or be married . . . (continues on to give everthing to daughter Catharine Gowans, but if she die without issue, then to neice, etc – long). Signed: John Gowans. Wits: James Eddie merchant in Forres, Alexander Urquhart writer, Alexander Winchester writer. in Forrest Scotland.
1842 Sept 30 – amended by John Gowan at Lochinver near Elgin – after daughter Catherine Gowan and her husband James Cruickshank died – only one daughter (granddaughter of John Gowan)– 3 yr old Catherine Cruickshank. In the event granddaughter Catharine Cruickshank dieing in minority the whole of estate fall to the children or child of my neice Ann Coutts.
1852 Dec 4 – will proved up (approx year of death). Robert Urquhart Esq, writer in Forres . . . recorded on the 244-260 of Book 10 of the Record of Testamentary Deeds kept at Elgin. Will Book 4. pg. 204-220. Petersburg (City), Virginia.
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9085/007646075_00354?pid=1234808&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D9085%26h%3D1234808%26tid%3D%26pid%3D%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26_phsrc%3DTqH1052%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TqH1052&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=007646075_00467

1839 Petersburg Exchange v. John Gowan – lawsuit re land John Gowan sold to Petersburg Exchange – but since John Gowan was in Scotland at this time, he did not get the deed to Petersburg Exchange in a timely manner after the agreement to sell – a petition was filed with the court. – Library of Virginia, Chancery Court Record Index, Petersburg, Va.: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=730-1839-016

1853 Dec 1 – John Gowan decd – Acct sales: Sales of real estate on bank nt for a/c of David May and S Winfree excrt of John Gowans decd. Sums 6and 12 ? for approved ordered nego notes: Title retainied till final payment possession given Jany 1, 1854; purchasers to receive rents from Dec 1, 1853 Petg Nov 18, 1853.
A F Crutchfield – Tenement occupied by Foster next Ms E Lemonnes store, about 26 ft, 10 in front near about 26 ft. $3000.00.
Alex Denman – Joynes and Denmans office about 27 ft 4 in front $2100.00.
Thos Baxter – Teenement occupied by Butts and Branch about 34 ft 5 in front. $2325.00.
Total: $7425.00
Charges: Advertising in Exp and int – $6.75
Commiss – 10/20/0 – $111.37.
Total: $118.12.
E E – p/reds : $7306.88
Peteg Dec 14, 1853. Pannill and Sons.
In the clerks office of the Hustings Court of the City of Petersburg in the 4th of May 1854.
This account of sales of David May and S Winfree executors of J. Gowan decd was this day lodged in the said office and admitted to record. Teste: J F Page. DC. Will Book 4. pg. 238-239. Petersburg (City), Virginia.
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