Sections in this issue:
1) James Gowen Defied North Carolina Over Family Taxes in 1762;
2) 300 years of Goings; From Virginia to Louisiana. Part 3;
3) Melungeon Research Conference At Wise Draws 700 Researchers;
4) Dear Cousins.
All Gowen Manuscript Pages and Newsletters: https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/gowen-research-foundation-pages-and-info/
GOWEN RESEARCH FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER
Volume 8, No. 12 August 1997
1) James Gowen Defied North Carolina Over Family Taxes in 1762
James Gowen, son of Edward Gowen, Jr, was born about 1725, probably in Charles City County, Virginia. He was married about 1742, wife’s name unknown. It is believed that he removed to Granville County, North Carolina about 1750. James Gowen was regarded by some historians as a Melungeon.
“James Gowin” was a “sworn chain carrier” on a patent of 616 acres issued March 1, 1752 to James Hunt “on branches of Island Creek and Mitchell’s Creek, adjoining Davis’s corner, Hunt’s line, Collin’s line, Tynel’s line and Holly’s line,” according to Granville County Surveyor’s Book 11, page 382.
“James Going” received a land grant from the Earl of Granville March 4, 1752, according to Granville County Deed Book B, page 439. James Gowen and William Gowen, his son were taxable in the 1759 tax list of John Pope and were delinquent taxpayers that year.
On November 29, 1760 “James Going” received a patent to 529 acres in Granville County located in St. John’s parish, “adjoining Winnirgum’s line, Melone’s line and Robert’s line,” according to Surveyor’s Book 14, page 108. The survey was signed by James Gowen and Joseph Gowen. “William Going, sworn chain carrier” was a witness.
“James Gowing and his son, William Going” were tithables in Fishing Creek District in the 1762 tax list of Granville County, page 45. “James Gowing refused to list his wife and children,” suggesting that he was regarded as “free colored.” At that time, the law required that tithes were to be paid by all white men over the age of 16 on the blacks in their household, male and female, including “all mulattos, mustees, quadroons and all persons of mixed blood to the fourth generation over the age of 12.” Therefore, if a white man had a mixed blood wife, he paid a tithe on her and her children over 12. When a notation appeared on the tax list that a man refused to pay a tithe on his wife, he was arguing that she was “white.” This law was in force until 1786. James Going was recorded as “insolvent” from 1762 through 1764.
Dr. Virginia Easley DeMarce, researcher of Alexandria, Virginia, suggests that James Gowen may have moved back across the state line to Virginia to settle in adjacent Brunswick County. She reported that James Gowen received a land grant in Brunswick County in 1762, citing Virginia Land Office Book 15, If this is the same James Gowen, his finances and [perhaps his character] greatly improved. He went from insolvency to be a property owner, a slave owner and a taxpayer.
It is believed that James Gowen was remarried about 1775. wife’s name Amy.
Greensville County was formed from Brunswick County in 1783 and James Gowen found himself in the new county.
“James Going” was listed as the head of a household of seven people in the 1783 census of Greensville County, page 54, near
the locations of “Drury Going” and “Thomas Going.” He was taxable in that year on “1 poll, 2 slaves, 2 horses and 8 cattle,” according to “The 1787 Census of Virginia,” page 778.
“James Gowing, Henry Gowing and Avant Massey jointly posted a bond of £50 “to Miherris Parish to help support the child of Mary Hill who was an unlawful child as yet to be born,” according to Greensville County Deed Book 1, page 173.
“James Gowing” was listed as surety for the marriage of “Amy Gowing” to William Harris December 19, 1805 in Greensville County, according to “Greensville County Marriages, 1781-1825” by Catherine Lindsey Knorr.
“James Gowing” was recorded as the head of a household in 1810, according to “Index to 1810 Virginia Census.” His household was composed of “2 whites and 7 slaves.”
“James Gowing, Sr.” wrote his will August 12, 1816, according to Greensville County Will Book 2, page 447. Mentioned in the will was “wife, Amey; son, James Gowing, Jr; grandson, James Alked Gowing; son, Henry Gowing; son, Benjamin Gowing; grandsons, Benjamin Howard, Harbart Howard, Hartwell Howard and James Howard and daughter, Amy Harris.” Benjamin Young was his executor.
Children born to James Gowen and his first wife are believed to include:
William Gowen born about 1743
Drury Gowen born about 1748
Thomas Gowen born about 1763
James Gowen, Jr. born about 1764
Frederick Gowen born about 1766
Children born to James Gowen and Amy Gowen are believed to include:
Nancy T. Gowen born about 1776
Henry Gowen born about 1779
Benjamin Gowen born about 1782
Amy Gowen born about 1785
Going Family Traced 300 Years
2) 300 years of Goings; From Virginia to Louisiana. Part 3
By Col. Carroll Heard Goyne, Jr.
Foundation Editorial Boardmember
10019 Canterbury Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71106
On June 10, 1761, John3 Going, Sr. and wife Mary Going of Lunenburg County deeded to son William4 Going of Lunenburg County, “for love and affection, 100 acres, part of 400 acres by patent to said Going Sr, on both sides of the Great Branch [of Allen’s Creek] where said William Going now lives, adjacent John Ruffin.” The signature [or mark] of John3 Going, was a vertical line, with three cross lines. Mary signed with a “M.” The deed was witnessed by Sarah Going, and others, according to “Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed Book 6. 1760-1761” by June Banks Evans.
On the same date, son John4 Going, Jr. was deeded 100 acres of his father’s 400 acres with the same description. It was witnessed by Sarah Going and Elizabeth Going. [ibid]
On December 7, 1761, John3 Goin sold his remaining 200 acres of land located on both sides of Long Branch in Lunenburg County to William Sandifur. Mary Goin relinquished her dower. This is the last record found of John3 Going and Mary Keith Going.
On July 6, 1762, William4 Going of Orange County, North Carolina sold 100 acres in Lunenburg County, Virginia on Great Branch of Allen’s Creek adjacent to William Sandifur. Other records show that William4, son of John3 Going, moved from Lunenburg County to Orange County, North Carolina.
The move was made between December 30, 1761 and July 6, 1762. This is proof that William4 Going of Orange County was the son of John3 Going and Mary Keith Going of Lunenburg County.
Alexander3 Going first appeared in the records of Orange County in September 1753, according to “Orange County, North Carolina Court Minutes, 1753-1761,” Book 1, by Weynette Parks Haun. Subsequently, the name of Alexander3 Going appeared numerous times in the records of Orange County. The November 1763 Court of Orange County shows both an Alexander3 Going and a William4 Going in its records, according to “Orange County, North Carolina Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of September 1752-August 1766” by Ruth Herndon Shields.
In 1773, several persons signed a petition for the partition of the north part of Orange County. Among them were Alexander3 Gowen, Sr, Alexander4 Gowen, Emos4 [Amos] Gowen, Daniel4 Gowen and John4 Gowen, according to “The Colonial Records of North Carolina, 1771-1775,” Vol. 9, by Sanders.
Apparently, William4 Going, son of John3 Going, had removed from Orange County prior to the date of the petition. Probably the Gowens who signed the 1773 petition in Orange County, were Alexander3 Going, son of William2 Going and Catherine Going and some of his sons. It might be that one or more of the sons of John3 Going were included on this list.
William4 Going, son of John3 Going, and possibly his brother John4 Going joined his kinsmen in Orange County, North Carolina. It is likely that their younger brother, James4 Going accompanied them to Orange County. James4 Goyne stated in his Revolutionary War pension application that he was born in 1755 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. Almost certainly, that date and location identifies him as a son of John3 Going.
On May 22, 1773, William4 Going was a witness to a writ in the Court of Tryon County, North Carolina concerning land on Ward’s Creek, according to “Deed Abstracts of Tryon, Lincoln & Rutherford Counties, 1769-1786,” Deed Books A and AD by Brent H. Holcomb.
Subsequently, other records connected William4 Going with land on Ward’s Creek and First Broad River in the area that became Rutherford County. They gave his wife’s name as Hester. In 1779, Tryon County was abolished, and Lincoln and Rutherford Counties were created. Three major Revolutionary War battle sites are located in this area. A road running from near the home of William4 Going to Wynnesborough, South Carolina, county seat of Fairfield County where the other Orange County, North Carolina Going individuals lived.
The 1782 Tax List of Rutherford County, Capt. Whiteside’s Company, listed William4 Going as owning 350 acres of land and Alexander4 Going as owning no land. They were listed in consecutive order, probably indicating that they lived in the same or adjacent dwellings, according to “The 1782 Tax List of Rutherford County, North Carolina” by Brent H. Holcomb. Also, on August 22. 1782, Alexander4 Going was paid £2 on a military clothing ticket in Rutherford County. The military service would indicate that this was Alexander4 Going, Jr.
On July 14, 1785, William5 Going, Jr. was married to Polly Griffin in Rutherford County. Bondsman was William4. The 1785 tax list for Rutherford County listed only William4.
He owned 150 acres of land. The last entry found for William4 Going in Rutherford County was dated 14 July 1788. No Going individuals were enumerated in Rutherford County in the 1790 census.
On November 5, 1784, Alexander4 Going appeared in the records of Fairfield County, South Carolina as a buyer from the widow Barber’s estate. On August 17, 1786, Alexander4 Goyen appeared in a Fairfield County, South Carolina court record, according to “Fairfield County, South Carolina Minutes of the County Court. 1785-1799.” Alexander4 Gowen was enumerated in the 1790 Census of Fairfield County, South Carolina, listed between Daniel Gowen and Henry Gowen.
All of the Gowen names contained in the 1773 petition in Orange County, North Carolina were also found in the records of Fairfield County, South Carolina in 1782. The actions of Alexander4 Going, of moving from Orange County, North Carolina to Rutherford County, North Carolina to live with, or adjacent to, William4 Going,” then moving to Fairfield County, South Carolina to live among the other Going individuals strongly suggests a kinship among these people.
James4 Goyne was first called to serve in the Fairfield County, South Carolina militia in 1776. His granddaughter, Susan Goynes Dickerson, stated in a newspaper interview in 1905 that her grandfather and his four brothers had served in the Revolution. This suggests that a mix of Going brothers and cousins moved from Orange County, North Carolina to Fairfield County, South Carolina by 1776.
(To be Contineued)
3) Melungeon Research Conference At Wise Draws 700 Researchers
By Evelyn McKinley Orr
Chairman, Melungeon Research Team
8310 Emmet Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68134
An overflow crowd, exceeding all expectations of the organizers, turned out for “First Union” on the campus of Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia July 25-26-27. The meeting, originally conceived by Melungeon Genealogy Group, a unorganized research association on the Internet, was expected to attract 50-100 researchers. Early planning changed drastically as widespread interest developed, and the event blossomed into full academic lectures, Melungeon-related vendors, guided tours of the area and Appalachian entertainment.
Seven hundred registrants swelled accommodations, and Clinch Valley College set up colorful circus tents on the lawns with video monitors so that everyone could see and hear the lectures. A lucky 300 were admitted to the largest dining-room on the campus where Dr. N. Brent Kennedy spoke on his Melungeon research at a dinner meeting.
A delegation of Turkish officials from the Washington area was joined by Nuri Ertan, mayor of Cesme, Anatolia [Turkey], sister city of Wise, Virginia and Mehmet Topcak of Istanbul. After “First Union,” the Turkish delegation was joined by the mayor of Wise for a flight to San Diego to receive the Sister City International Award.
Several Foundation members appeared on the three-day program. The work of Arlee Gowen, Foundation president who has devoted 56 years to genealogical research, was recognized among the Special Friends of First Union. He began researching the Melungeons in 1969 and began publishing his findings in 1989 in the Foundation Newsletter. Ruth Johnson’s new book, “My Melungeon Heritage” was on display. To secure a copy, contact the authoress at 3705 Bloomingdale Road, Kingsport, TN, 37660, 423/288-6922.
Because of the outstanding success of this first Melungeon conference, an executive committee met at its conclusion to make plans for an annual event. The committee is also expected to draft a charter and by-laws for a permanent organization.
4) Dear Cousins
With reference to the Curtis Jacobs files which were destroyed in the library fire [Newsletter July] I wanted to mention that the collection of John Cupit, a contemporary of Jacobs, was not involved. Since some researchers might confuse the two collections, I wanted to mention that the John Cupit Collection is safely locked up in the Genealogy section of the Memorial Library in Shreveport. It is unindexed and occupies about four feet of shelf space. Cupit lived in Rosepine, LA in Vernon Parish and spent a livetime studying the history of the families of that area. I found in Cupit’s papers enough information to provide a Perkins researcher with four additional generations to take her research back to before the Revolution. Carroll H. Goyne, Jr. 10019 Canterbury Dr, Shreveport, LA, 71106, cgoyne@softdisk.com.
==Dear Cousins==
John Goins was married March 6, 1841 to Margaret Fix in Augusta County, VA. They appeared there in the 1860 census with children, Joseph 16, William 14, Harvey 10 and John 6. After 1870, they removed to Clay County, IL. Their son “William Goen” was my gggf. He was married about 1872 to Ellen Rose. Their daughter “Margaret Jane Goen” was married to my ggf George Warren Pearson. Any help on this family will be appreciated. Kathy Gardner, 3195 Beaver Creek Dr, Lexington, KY, 40517. KG4KINFOLK@aol.com.
==Dear Cousins==
In reply to Don Lee Gowen’s call for speaker nominations for the Foundation Research Conference in Salt Lake City in 1998, I would like to submit Troy Keesee, 151 Skyline Lane, Powell, TN, 37849-7008, 423/945-1309. After five years of research, he has just published “The Wataugah Land Purchases.” [$25]. Since so many of our ancestors [and the Melungeons] came through the Watauga on their way west, I believe his lecture would be beneficial to our program and to our personal research.
I was in Shreveport in June and went to a meeting of the Shreveport Genealogical Society to hear our esteemed “Cousin Carroll” Goyne present a program on his trip to Turkey.
As to E-mail, I am still without this luxury. I have made many hints to husband Henri about our relocating in the Chapala area where we can get access to a Tel-Mex line and the Internet. He is beginning to take me seriously. Sandra M. Loridans, Apartado Postal 844, 45900 Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico.
==Dear Cousins==
I enjoyed tremendously the article by Ethel Louise Goins Dunn [Newsletter, July] dealing with her ancestor Laban Goins and his kinsman, Granville Goins of Grainger County and Hamilton County, TN. I am still pursuing my mysterious ancestor, David Smith Goins, Revolutionary soldier who was a brother to Laban. David Smith Goins was influenced to move to Hamilton County by Laban about 1834 and died there in 1840 before the census was taken, “his pension then being paid to his children.” Can any Foundation researcher furnish me with the names of the children of David Smith Goins? Louise Goins Richardson, 2207 E. Lake St, Paragould, AR, 72450, 501/239-4763.
==Dear Cousins==
My ancestor, Mahala Gowens was married November 29, 1832 in Pope County, IL to George Bartlett. Later they removed downriver to nearby Fulton County, KY where they both died in May 1864. Their daughter, Elizabeth P. Bartlett was married in 1870 to William Jefferson Wiggs. Can anyone help me with my Gowens family? Kim Klos, 4305 61st St, Lubbock, TX, 79413, 806/797-3666, KimKlos@aol.com.
==Dear Cousins==
After three weeks of ransacking courthouses and libraries in Melungia and attending “First Union” at Clinch Valley College, I’m back home. It will take me into the winter to get all this new material processed. “First Union” was great, and the overflow crowd was well accommodated. The ladies and gentlemen who produced this event handled this “mission impossible” with great finess.
It was great to see so many of the Foundation members in Wise, VA for the occasion. I was very proud of the presentations of Brent Kennedy, John & Evelyn Orr, Dr. Will Moreau Goins, Ruth Johnson, Phillip Roberts, Jack Harold Goins and others who contributed so much to the enthusiasm of the event. Dianne Stark Thurman, 4201 Wildflower Circle, Wichita, KS, 67210, 503/889-2291, dst@southwind.net.
==Dear Cousins==
I received a Foundation Newsletter in the mail, and wanted to thank you. It looks like the information in it relates to my Goins family and will be very helpful to my quest. My membership is in the mail. E-mail me just as soon as it arrives. I am anxious to begin searching through the Manuscript for my ancestors. [Mr.] Dakota Holt, 9516 Timberlake Rd, #211, Lynchburg, VA, 24502. JSimm10544@aol.com
==Dear Cousins==
In reply to Don Lee Gowen’s call for speaker nominations for the Foundation Research Conference in Salt Lake City in 1998, I would like to submit Troy Keesee, 151 Skyline Lane, Powell, TN, 37849-7008, 423/945-1309. After five years of research, he has just published “The Wataugah Land Purchases.” [$25]. Since so many of our ancestors [and the Melungeons] came through the Watauga on their way west, I believe his lecture would be beneficial to our program and to our personal research.
I was in Shreveport in June and went to a meeting of the Shreveport Genealogical Society to hear our esteemed “Cousin Carroll” Goyne present a program on his trip to Turkey.
As to E-mail, I am still without this luxury. I have made many hints to husband Henri about our relocating in the Chapala area where we can get access to a Tel-Mex line and the Internet. He is beginning to take me seriously. Sandra M. Loridans, Apartado Postal 844, 45900 Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico.
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NOTE: The above information produced by the Gowen Research Foundation (GRF), and parts of the “Gowen Manuscript” they worked on producing. It has tons of information – much of it is correct, but be careful, some of it is not correct – so check their sources and logic. I’ve copied some of their information in the past researching my own family, only to find out there were some clear mistakes. So be sure to check the information to verify if it is right before citing the source and believing the person who researched it before was 100% correct. Most of the information I found there seems to be correct, but some is not.
Their website is: Internet: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gowenrf
There does not seem to be anyone “manning the ship” at the Gowen Research Foundation, or Gowen Manuscript site any longer, and there is no way to contact anyone about any errors. The pages themselves don’t have a mechanism to leave a note for others to see any “new information” that you may have that shows when you find info that shows something is wrong, or when something has been verified.
Feel free to leave messages about any new information found, or errors in these pages, or information that has been verified that those who wrote these pages may not have known about.
Goyen Family Tree 