Child Bride Nancy Powell Gowan
Fast-Forwarded Through Life
When Meredith Gowan came calling on Nancy Powell, her
family disapproved. When he asked for her hand in marriage,
James and Patience Powell were appalled—she was only 14!
But true love won out, and they were married in 1825 in North
Carolina. Shortly afterward, Meredith Gowan announced
plans to move to Mississippi—more consternation for the
Powells.
Meredith Gowan moved his family to Copiah County,
Mississippi where they were enumerated in the 1830 census.
Nancy Powell Gowen was listed as the mother of five and still
had not reached her 20th birthday!
Meredith Gowan died there in March 1838, according to
Phillip Alan Gowan of Nashville, GRF boardmember, and
Nancy Powell Gowan became the head of a household of eight
people—at the age of 27! She died in Simpson County,
Mississippi in 1855 at the age of 44.
Children born to Meredith Gowan and Nancy Powell Gowan
include:
[daughter] born about 1825
James A. Gowan born January 26, 1826
Rose Gowan born about 1827
John C. Gowan born about 1828
Ann Gowan born about 1830
Ebenezer Jahue Gowan born about 1833
Henry Gowan born about 1834J
Thomas Robert Gowan born about 1836
Goyen Family Tree 