Sections in this issue:
1) PVT. WILLIAM J. M. GOWEN OF SECOND MAINE CAVALRY SURVIVED 21 BATTLES DURING THE CIVIL WAR;
2) REV. ISAAC GOING WROTE IN 1857 ABOUT CONDITIONS IN ANTE-BELLUM SOUTH CAROLINA;
3) Dear Cousins.
All Gowen Manuscript Pages and Newsletters: https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/gowen-research-foundation-pages-and-info/
Gowen Research Foundation
Electronic Newsletter
October 2002
Volume 5 No. 10
1) PVT. WILLIAM J. M. GOWEN OF SECOND MAINE CAVALRY SURVIVED 21 BATTLES DURING THE CIVIL WAR
William J. M. Gowen was one of the lucky ones. He and his Second
Maine Cavalry Regiment fought all the way across the South. Thir-
ty percent of the men in his regiment were killed in action–along
with their horses–as they fought from New Orleans to Pensacola–
and he didn’t get a scratch!
William J. M. Gowen enlisted as a private in Company H, Second
Maine Cavalry Regiment in January 1864 at Augusta, Maine. They
were transported from Augusta to Portland for the purpose of em-
barking on transports for New Orleans, Louisana. There the Regi-
ment got acquainted with Texas Mustangs and spent more than a few
days “breaking” the horses. The wild horses had been captured in
Central Texas and driven into Louisiana for cavalry service. Thus,
in the final year of the War, the Regiment was dispatched to to
provide replacements for Maj-Gen. Edward Richard Sprigg Canby’s
Third Cavalry Brigade.
The General was a fighting man’s commander who cared more for re-
sults than appearances. Like Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, his superior,
he had little use for military protocol. When he was graduated
from West Point in 1839, he stood 30th in his class of 31 and had
accumulated enough demerits to jeopardize his military career.
As soon as they could ride, the cavalrymen were ordered to proceed
to Alexandria, Louisiana where they arrived on April 21, 1964. The
Regiment was immediately thrown into battle. The Second Regiment
participated in the engagements at Cherryville, Cross Roads, Marks-
ville, Avoyelles Prarie and Yellow Bayou. On August 9, 1864, the
regiment returned to New Orleans and embarked for Pensacola, Flor-
ida, arriving on the 11th, and encamped near Barrancas.
Gen. Canby wrote a report from New Orleans December 9, 1864;
“On the 25th Ultimo I reported that movements co-operative with
General Sherman’s operations would be made from Vicksburg and
Baton Rouge for the purpose of cutting Hood’s communications
with Mobile. The expedition sent from Vicksburg consisted of
about 2,000 cavalry and 8 pieces of artillery, met with a comp-
lete success.
After an admirably executed feint movement on Jackson on the
24th, the expedition started for the Big Black River Bridge on
the Mississippi Central Railroad, which was reached on the 27th
and after a stubborn resistance captured and destroyed. This
cut Hood’s army off from the large quantities of supplies and
stores accumulated at Jackson, Mississippi and makes that rail-
road, which was his main reliance, unavailable to him for months
to come. Besides this important bridge and trestle-work, the
following property was completely destroyed: 30 miles of track,
wagon bridge over the Big Black, Vaughn, Pickett, and Goodman
stations, 2,600 bales of Confederate States cotton, 2 locomo-
tives, 4 cars, 4 stage coaches, 20 barrels salt, and $166,000
worth of stores at Vaughn Station.
The command and its regiments distinguished themselves greatly
by the gallantry with which the force guarding the Big Black
Bridge were driven off from behind their strong stockade on the
opposite side of the river. Our men had to charge across the
bridge dismounted with nothing but railroad ties for a path,
and in the face of a sharp fire.
Gen. Davidson’s expedition, which left Baton Rouge on the 27th,
has not yet been heard from directly, but to judge from the mea-
ger accounts received through rebel sources, I have reason to
believe that he has been successful. He had caused quite a panic
in Mobile and reportedly devastated the country generally. After
accomplishing the purpose for which he was sent, he will proba-
bly come out at Pascagoula or some other point on the gulf.”
The regiment was employed in the Battle of Marianna, Georgia in
September and the Battle of Pollard, Alabama in December. During
the year, the regiment lost by deaths one officer and 278 enlisted
men.
On Februaty 23, 1865, Lt. Col. Spurling, with 300 men, attacked
the enemy in considerable force at Milton, Florida, and after a
sharp encounter, completely routed them.
On March 19, 1865, the regiment joined Gen. Steele’s command, con-
centrated at Pensacola, preparatory to the movement which resulted
in the capture of Mobile, Alabama and the opening of the State of
Alabama to the advance of Federal Troops.
After the fall of Mobile, a detachment of the regiment was assign-
ed to the 16th Army Corps, being the only Cavalry with that body
of 30,000 men. The detachment served during the long march of
nearly 200 miles to the city of Montgomery, Alabama. In August
1865, the detachment was ordered to return to Florida, and rejoined
the regiment at Barrancas.
While campaigning in the South, William J. S. Gowen saw first hand
the collapse of the Confederacy–long after the surrender of Robert
E. Lee at Appomattox on April 9 and the assassination of Pres. Lin-
coln on April 14.
On April 12, the Confederates evacuated Mobile, Alabama and the
Second Maine and Gen. Canby entered the surrendered city. On the
following day, the Union cavalry occupied Montgomery, AL.
The Battle of Tuskegee, Alabama was fought on April 14, the day
Lincoln was shot.
On April 6, the cavalry skirmished in the Battle of Columbus, Geor-
gia. The Battle of Crawford, Alabama occurred on April 17.
The Battle of Macon, Georgia was fought on April 18, and the for-
ces of Gen. Canby entered the city at its conclusion.
On April 26, Gen Joe Johnston surrendered his Confederate army of
30,000 men. On that date, an overcrowded steamship, the “Sultana,”
carrying hundreds of paroled Federal soldiers home, exploded just
north of Memphis on the Mississippi, drowning about 1,900 men. A
defective boiler was suspected, but reports circulated that a Con-
federate spy had placed a bomb in a pile of coal, and it was sho-
veled into the firebox.
On May 4, Gen. Richard Taylor surrendered his Confederate Missis-
sippi-Louisiana-Alabama force, including Nathan Bedford Forrest’s
cavalry to Gen. Canby’s cavalrymen.
The final land battle fought in the Civil War happened May 12,
1865 at Palmito Ranch on the bank of the Rio Grande River. Feder-
al troops commanded by Col. Theodore Barrett, marched toward Browns-
ville and attacked. The Confederate troops commanded by Col. John
Ford, won the battle, only to learn that they had lost the war.
To the relief of the soldiers on both sides, hostilities were fi-
nally coming to an end. On June 6, Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith and
Gen. John Magruder by his side, officially surrendered to Gen. Ed-
ward Canby aboard the Union Steamer Ft. Jackson anchored in Galves-
ton Bay.
On June 23, the last Confederate general to surrender was the Cher-
okee Gen. Stan Watie, who asked his Native American soldiers to lay
down their arms at Ft. Towson, Indian Territory.
It was the Confederate Navy that fired the last shot of the Civil
War on June 22, 1865. The CSS Shenandoah, Confederate cruiser
which had recorded a successful naval campaign, not knowing that
the war was over, fired across the bow of a Union naval vessel in
the Pacific. The Shenandoah had captured 38 Union ships, burned
30 more and had taken more than a thousand prisoners.
When James Waddell, commander of the Shenandoah, learned from a
British captain that the Confederacy had surrendered, he resolved
not to join the capitulation. He sailed his vessel across the
Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, around the tip of Africa and up
the Atlantic coast to England. There he handed over his ship to
British naval authorities. Thus the Civil War finally ended–six
months after the surrender at Appamattox Courthouse.
After the surrender, the regiment was then broken up and small
detachments were stationed at various points throughout Western
Florida to preserve harmony, and to suppress any insurrectionary
movements that might take place. Generally they made friends
among the citizens, particularly the female population. By the
first of December, the entire regiment was concentrated at Barran-
cas, and mustered out of the U. S. service on December 6.
Remembering the terrible weather of a winter in Maine, 25 commis-
sioned officers and 116 enlisted men of the Second Maine Regiment
elected not to return home. They chose to remain in the balmy
Southland. Pvt. William J. M. Gowen with the remainder of the
regiment, then composed of only 14 officers and 500 enlisted men,
embarked on December 8, 1865 for Augusta where they were paid and
finally discharged on December 21. Upon return, he went back to
his job and married Ellen G. “Nellie” Morrison, his childhood
sweetheart.
He was mentioned in “Leading Citizens of York County, Maine”
published in 1896 in Boston by Biographical Review Publishing
Company:
“William J. M. Gowen, one of Springvale’s best known residents
and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Springvale [a part
of Sanford] June 1, 1845, son of William M. Gowen and Rebecca
Merrifield Gowen.
His grandparents and great-grandparents were residents of Shap-
leigh. His grandfather, James Gowen, was occupied in shoemaking
and farming in Shapleigh for the greater part of his life. Wil-
liam J. M. Gowen, son of James Gowen who was born in Shapleigh,
made shoes there for many years before he finally moved to Spring-
vale where he conducted a custom boot and shoe business during the
last years of his life, dying in 1845. His widow, Rebecca who was
a native of Sanford, married John Carroll. She died in 1892. Mr.
Carroll is also deceased.
William J. M. Gowen, at the age of three years, was taken charge
by his uncle, James Jackson of Rochester, New Hampshire. He re-
mained there until he was eight years old, then returned to Spring-
vale where he attended school for the greater part of the ensuing
nine years. After completing his studies, he served an apprentice-
ship at the machinist trade in Biddeford.
In 1864 he enlisted as a private in Company H, Second Maine Caval-
ry Regiment. The regiment, which was assigned to the Department
of the Gulf under Gen. Canby, was stationed at New Orleans and at
Pensacola until the fall of 1865 when William was mustered out.
Returning to Biddeford, he worked for some time at the machinist
trade, then afterward removed to Biddeford where he has since
been engaged in shoemaking and is now employed by the firm of
William Usher & Sons.
He has been prominent in all movements designed to promote the
industrial development of the town. In politics he acts with
the Peoples Party and has always supported the candidates whom
he considered most capable of guarding and forwarding the best
interests of the public in both State and National issues.
In 1867, William J. M. Gowen wedded Nellie Morrison, daughter of
Abram Morrison and Isabella Morrison, late of Sanford. He is a
Free Will Baptist; a member of Springvale Lodge No. 190, A.F. &
A.M. and of Ruth Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. He is al-
so a popular comrade of Franklin Willard Post No. 70, Grand Army
of the Republic, having been one of the founders and served it as
Post Commander and in other capacities.”
William J. M. Gowen was married February 9, 1867 to Ellen G. “Nel-
lie” Morrison of Sanford. William J. M. Gowen died December 14,
1919 at Kennebunk and was buried in Riverside Cemetery. Children
born to them are unknown.
2) REV. ISAAC GOING WROTE IN 1857 ABOUT CONDITIONS IN ANTE-BELLUM SOUTH CAROLINA
Isaac Going Viewed Conditions in Union District
In Ante-Bellum South Carolina
Isaac Going, son of Drury Going and Sarah “Sallie” Baxter Going,
was born April 28, 1775 in Chester District. He was baptized at
the June meeting of the Pacolet [later Skull Shoals] Baptist
Church in 1803, according to the research of Fredrick M. Tucker,
a descendant of Duncan, South Carolina. He was married August 21,
1804 to Rebecca Palmer, seventh child of John Palmer and Martha
“Patty” Williams Palmer of Union District, South Carolina. Rebec-
ca Palmer Going was born February 1, 1789. She died August 31,
1855.
Shortly after her death, Isaac Going wrote a letter February 3,
1857 to his nephew Alfred Elijah Going of Pickens County, Alabama:
Union District, South Carolina
To Alfred E. Going February 3, 1857
Dear Nephew,
It is with the kindest feeling of respect that I undertake to answer
your kind letter which came safe to hand. I was truly glad that you
were prompted to write me so interesting a letter respecting my rela-
tives. I believe yours is the first letter that I have received from
the family; sometime I have heard of you verbally. I feel sorrow to
hear of your blindness and can sympathise with you, for I know the
lack of eyesight. I have not been totally blind as you, to be led
about. The roads that I have been accustomed to travel I can of a
light day make my way along with a staff.
My wife died last day of August 1855 after a few hours of sickness,
we lived a long life together, we had eleven children. I am eighty-
two years old the 28th day of next April–if I should live to see it.
I joined the Baptist Church and was baptised June 1803, of which I
have been a member ever since. I served the church as deacon for-
ty-five years. During the time since I became acquainted with my-
self and blessed Redeemer, I have met with many a sore conflict,
but by the grace of God enabling me I have continued to this day.
I have served as an active magistrate twenty-four years.
Negro men rate in this area from one thousand to twelve hundred
dollars, likely young girls rate at nine hundred dollars. The
price of land is from ten to twelve dollars an acre. We have had
several bad crop years; corn brings 75c per bushel readily, flour
eight dollars per barrel. Pork sells at 7c gross.
Our country is nearly all cleared and worn out, but reclaimed land
with proper cultivation produces tolerably well. The settlement
your father moved from does not look like the same country; the
generation of people that then lived are near all dead and moved
away, the country nearly cleared and covered with swarms of
negroes.
If these few lines should be so fortunate as to reach you, please
write me on receipt of the same about all of the relations, who is
dead and who is alive, who is rich and who is poor, and the current
news of the country. I have one grandson who follows overseeing,
spoke of visiting you this winter, wishes to know what he could get
per year for overseeing in your country. I think he is declined
going away till next winter.
I would be very glad if I could enjoy myself in your company, but
I will never expect it as my days will soon be numbered according
to the course of nature.
I believe I have written most of the general news. I must come to
a close shortly. I am bouyed up to think that I have not much
longer to stay here in a state of blindness, but I expect a day
soon when I shall be received up into heaven, when I shall not need
these poor blind eyes to give sight, for the Lord God in his daz-
zling glory is the light of that place. I must come to a close by
wishing you prosperity through life, and at last be received at the
right hand of God.
Give my best wishes to all of my inquiring friends, so farewell.
Isaac Going”
Isaac Going died January 27, 1861, according to a letter written by
his son, Thomas Baxter Going March 16, 1879. Eleven children were
born to Isaac Going and Rebecca Palmer Going:
Thomas Baxter Going born May 13, 1806
Sarah Palmer Going born July 13, 1808
John Madison Going born July 14, 1810
Elijah Bobo Going born January 15, 1813
Drury Dobbins Going born November 24, 1815
Isaac McKissick Going born September 2, 1818
Rhoda Going born August 24, 1821
William George Washington Going born July 17, 1824
Amasa Vernon Going born January 30, 1827
Elisha Palmer Going born December 22, 1829
Martha Kerenhappuch Going born July 4, 1835
James Goins, son of James Goyne and Heather O’Brien Goyne, was
born about 1793, probably in Georgia, according to Velma S. Bras-
sell Beuerle, a descendant. He was a resident of Calcasieu Par-
ish, Louisiana in 1810.
Children born to him include:
William Moses Goins born August 22, 1809
William Moses Goins, son of James Goins, was born August 22, 1809
in Calcasieu Parish, according to the research of Nelda Faye Gass
Liles, a descendant of Natchitoches, Louisiana. He was married
July 27, 1832 in Opelousas, Louisiana to Charlotte Elizabeth Nel-
son who was born December 10, 1808, according to “Southwest Lou-
isiana Records
He received a land grant in Neutral Territory [later Vernon Par-
ish, Louisiana.]
“William M. Goins” was enumerated as the head of Household 835-
835 in the 1860 census of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, page 525:
“Goins, William 51, wheelwright, born in LA
Charlotte 52, born in LA
James 24, born in LA
Martin 25, born in LA
Roxlene 20, born in LA
Arzella 17, born in LA
Louisa 16, born in LA
Vianna 14, born in LA
Celiann 13, born in LA
Josua 11, born in LA
Angeline 5/12, born in LA
In an adjoining household, No. 836-836 was enumerated:
“Goins, Aaron 36, born in LA
Elizabeth 35, born in LA
Moses 22, born in LA
Louisiana 27, born in LA
Rowland 7/12, born in LA”
Charlotte Elizabeth Nelson Goins died in 1868 in Merryville,
Louisiana, and William M. Goins died there in 1877.
The family was mentioned in “Brief History of Vernon Parish,
Louisiana” by John T. Cupit.
Children born to William Moses Goins and Charlotte Elizabeth Nel-
son Goins are believed to include:
Martin Goins born about 1826
Vina Goins born July 5, 1828
Esther Goins born September 18. 1830
Fannie Goins born September 21, 1831
Aaron Goins born January 5, 1833
Elizabeth Arzella Goins born May 28, 1834
Martha Louisa Goins born July 2, 1835
James Goins born November 14, 1836
Moses Goins born January 15, 1838
Rosaline Goins born April 12, 1840
Arzilla Goins born August 28, 1843
Louisa Goins born December 4, 1844
Vianna Goins born April 15, 1846
Celiann Goins born December 23, 1847
Joshua Robert William Goins born July 12, 1849
Daniel Goins born April 23, 1851
Angeline Goins born about 1859
Aaron Goins, son of William Moses Goins and Charlotte Elizabeth
Nelson Goins, was born January 5, 1833, probably in Calcasieu Par-
ish. He was married about 1854, wife’s name Elizabeth.
The household of Aaron Goins and Elizabeth Goins appeared in the
1880 census of Vernon Parish, Enumeration District 47, page 31:
“Goins, Aaron 47, born in Louisiana
Elizabeth 53, born in Louisiana
Dowden, E. 9, born in Louisiana, adopted
Martha Ann 7, born in Louisiana, adopted
Elizabeth Goins later received a Confederate Widow’s pension,
indicating that Aaron Goins served in the Civil War.
Moses Goins, son of William Moses Goins and Charlotte Eliza-
beth Nelson Goins, was born January 15, 1838, according to
Curtis Jacobs. Curtis Jacobs was an early day researcher in De-
Ridder, Louisiana and compiled a database of Beauregard Parish
history. His collection contained over 15,000 names and 8,000
family group sheets and had been deposited in Beauregard Parish
Library upon his death. According to Nelda Faye Goins Liles,
Foundation member of Natchitoches, Louisiana the Library burned a
few years later and his collection was destroyed. Fortunately an
LDS Church film crew had come to DeRidder and microfilmed the col-
lection shortly before the fire.
Subsequently, the Curtis & Gladys Jacobs Memorial Collection was
donated to Sam Houston Regional Library & Research Center in near-
by Liberty, Texas. The collection holds vital statistics, mili-
tary records, deed records and burial records of “virtually every-
one buried in Beauregard Parish after 1880,” according to Mrs.
Liles.
Moses Goins was married April 28, 1859 in Newton County, Texas to
Louisiana Hoosier, according to Newton County Marriage Book B,
page 150. She was born there February 26, 1839 to David Hoosier.
Moses Goins served the Confederacy during the Civil War.
They appeared as the head of a household in the 1880 census of Ver-
non Parish, Enumeration District 47, page 34:
“Goins, Moses 45, born in Louisiana
Louisiana 43, born in Louisiana
Rolin 20, born in Louisiana, son
Jessee 18, born in Louisiana, son
Charity 16, born in Texas, daughter
William 14, born in Louisiana, son
Jonathan 10, born in Louisiana, son
Vinetta 8, born in Texas, daughter
Acy 7, born in Texas, son
Ely 5, born in Louisiana, daughter
David 3, born in Louisiana, son”
He died September 5, 1924 in Vernon Parish, and Louisiana Hoosier
Goins later received a Confederate widow’s pension. She died
there September 21. 1935.
Children born to Moses Goins and Louisiana Hoosier Goins include:
Roland Goins born February 8, 1860
Jesse Goins born December 22, 1861
Charity Goins born March 24, 1863
William Wesley Goins born April 11, 1866
Jonathan Goins born August 3, 1868
Vinetta Goins born August 21, 1871
Asa Goins born December 18, 1872
Eli Goins born April 10, 1875
David Goins born August 6, 1877
Jesse Goins, son of Moses Goins and Louisiana Hoosier Goins, was
born December 22, 1861. He was married May 21, 1894 to Elizabeth
Martin. He died February 7, 1960 in Vernon Parish.
Children born to Jesse Goins and Elizabeth Martin Goins include:
Barney F. Goins born February 21, 1895
Barney F. Goins, son of Jesse Goins and Elizabeth Martin Goins,
was born February 21, 1895. He was married about 1919 to Daisy
Virginia Lawrence. He died July 12, 1968 in Vernon Parish. Chil-
dren born to Barney F. Goins and Daisy Virginia Lawrence Goins
are unknown.
Jonathan Goins, son of Jesse Goins and Elizabeth Martin Goins, was
born August 3, 1868 at Newton, Texas. He was married about 1898
to Callie Milan, daughter of P. C. Milan and Ann Chambers Milan,
according to the research of Weuell C. Goins, a son. Callie Mi-
lan Goins died in 1952 in Provencal, Louisiana, and Jonathan
Goins died there in 1958.
Children born to them include:
Weuell C. Goins born March 15, 1913
Wuell C. Goins, son of Jonathan Goins and Callie Milan Goins, was
born March 15, 1913 in Provencal. He was married about 1946 to
Frances Mitchell who was born September 21, 1923 in Minden, Louis-
iana. In 1996, they lived in Slidell, Louisiana. Children born
to Wuell C. Goins and Frances Mitchell Goins are unknown.
William Wesley Goins, son of Moses Goins and Louisiana Hoosier
Goins, was born about 1868 in Vernon Parish. He was married about
1900 to Mary E. Phillips, his third wife, according to Rhonda
Copado.
Children born to William Wesley Goins and Mary E. Phillips Goins
include:
Hattie Mae Goins born October 19, 1912
Hattie Mae Goins, daughter of William Wesley Goins and Mary E.
Phillips Goins, was born in Vernon Parish October 19, 1912.
She was married about 1930 to Hyman Abraham Self as his third
wife. He was born April 11, 1883 to of James Hudson Self and
Lydia Ann Howard Self. Hyman Abraham Self died July 29, 1962.
Hyman Abraham Self was first married to Pauline “Pliney” O’Banion.
Hattie Mae Goins Self died in April 1987, according to Rhonda Co-
pado, a granddaughter.
Asa Goins, son of Moses Goins and Louisiana Hoosier Goins, was
born December 18, 1872. He was married September 4, 1904 to Sarah
C. Hillman in Vernon Parish.
Children born in Vernon Parish to Asa Goins and Sarah C. Hillman
Goins include:
Moses Riley Goins born June 20, 1905
Van Dyke Goins born February 12, 1908
Homer L. Goins born December 26, 1908
Simeon Goins born December 28, 1913
Lewis Cody Goins born November 14, 1916
Louis Goins born in December 1918
Joshua William Robert “Jock” Goins, son of William Moses Goins and
Charlotte Elizabeth Nelson Goins, was born in 1852, probably in
Vernon Parish. He was married November 23, 1868 to Sarah Eliza-
beth Weeks, according to “Sabine Parish, Louisiana Marriage Rec-
ords, 1843-1900” by Elizabeth Byles McComick. She was born Novem-
ber 22, 1853.
In 1880 their household was enumerated in Leesville, Louisiana,
Enumeration District 48, page 37 as:
“Goins, Joshua 28, born in Louisiana
Sarah E. 28, born in Louisiana
Susan V. 10, born in Louisiana
James R. 8, born in Louisiana
Beckey 6, born in Louisiana
Benjamin T. 5, born in Louisiana
Charles W. 2, born in Louisiana
Felix 9/12, born in Louisiana”
Children born to Joshua Robert William “Jock” Goins and Sarah Eliz-
abeth Weeks Goins, all born at Rosepine in Vernon Parish, Louisiana,
include:
Susan Victoria Goins born December 1, 1871
James R. Goins born about 1872
Rebecca Goins born September 15, 1873
Valentine Goins born August 28, 1875
Charles W. Goins born July 5, 1877
Felix Wiley Goins born August 1, 1878
Henry Jackson Goins born September 22, 1881
Docia Elizabeth Goins born May 7, 1885
Dollie Locket Goins born April 10, 1888
Lydia Goins born May 1, 1889
Allen Goins [twin] born April 11, 1891
Owen Goins [twin} born April 11, 1891
Matthew Goins born April 16, 1894
The family Bible is currently in the possession of Ms. Daisy
Goins, Anacoco LA. It was owned by her husband Barney Goins,
son of Moses Goins and Louisiana Hoosier [original owner of the
Bible]). The oldest entries were all made by the same hand, and
were on a single sheet of old paper inserted in the Bible. The
newer entries of Births, Deaths & Marriages were actually on the
pages in the old Bible, according to a message written Jane P.
McManus in 1998.
Births:
“William M. Goins was born Aug 22 1809
Charlotty Goins was born Dec 10 1808
Vinny Goins was born July 5 1828
Easter Goins was born Sept 18 1830
Fanny Goins was born Sept 21 1831
Aaron Goins was born Jan 5 1833
Elizebet Goins was born May 28 1834
Martha Goins was born July 2 1835
James Goins was born Nov 14 1836
Moses Goins was born Jan 15 1838
Roxaline Goins was born April 12 1840
Arzilly Goins was born Aug 28 1843
Louisera Goins was born Dec 4 1844
Vianna Goins was born April 15 1846
Celyann Goins was born Dec 23 1847
Joshua W. R. Goins was born July 12 1849
Daniel Goins was born April 23 1851”
“Death of the father and mother:
William M. Goins departed this life the 15 [no month] 1877
Charlotty Goins the wife departed 28 [no month] 1868
Births:
Roling Goins was born February 8 1860
Jessie Goins was born December 22 1861
Charity Goins was born March 24 1863
William Goins was born April 11 1866
Jonathan Goins was born August 3 1868
Vinetta Goins was born August 21 1870
Asa Goins was born December 16 1872
Eli Goins was born April 10 1875
David Goins was born August 6 1877
Moses Goins was born January 15 1838
Louisiana Goins was born February 26 1839
Annie Edwards was born January 26 1899
Deaths
Charity Goins died February 24 1897
Marriages
Charity Goins married February 9 1898”
3) Dear Cousins
Here is an item on William Gowen/Going for Section .005 of the
Foundation Manuscript from Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed Book
7, page 302-04:
“6 July 1762, William Going of Orange County, North Carolina to
Francis Norvell of Lunenburg Co., Virginia, 45 pounds, 100 acres,
Lunenburg County, on Great Branch of Allen’s Creek, adjacent to
Wm. Sandefur. Signed: William [W] Going. Recorded: 6 July 1762.
June Banks Evans
Bryn Ffyliaid Pubs, NO, La, 1990
bryn.ffyl@worldnet.att.net
http://bryn.ffyl.home.att.net/bryn.ffyl.html.
==Dear Cousins==
Charles Latimer Gowen died Monday March 30, 2003 at the of 99 in
Atlanta after a short period in the hospital there. He was buried
at Christ Church Cemetery on St. Simons Island. He was on St.
Simons a few weeks ago and fulfilled his wish to traverse the grand
new bridge running south from Brunswick.
Charlie led a distinguished life in Georgia and will be missed by
all of us who loved and respected him. My Mother, his sister) is
doing well. It is difficult to live up to the Gowen genes.
Albert Fendig.
alisle@bellsouth.net
==Dear Cousins==
I found quite a few Going individuals in Greenbrier County, WV and
wondered where some of them originated. Fleming Going, born 1803
and Vincent [or Winston] Going, born 1805. Both owned property
according to the 1836 Property Tax Records. Noah Tate was married
to Mary Going, daughter of Fleming. She was born in 1839. There
was also a Susan Goen in Greenbrier County, between 36-55 years,
according to 1830 Census.
Yvonne J. Edwards
yvonland@aol.com
10510 Lake Arbor Way
Mitchellville, MD, 20721
==Dear Cousins==
I am trying to research the Gowen branch of my ancestors. My mo-
ther’s father was Brian Paul Gowen, born Dover, NH Oct. 3, 1896.
He died in Boothbay Harbor, ME in 1965. He is not in the LDS web-
site or those who contribute to it. I tried contacting a Jeff Matthews who did some work with Gowen ancestry on the LDS site I reached through ancestry.com but his email bounced. jeffmatthews@yahoo.com.
Brian’s parents were John Gowen and Isabel Moore and John Gowen.
I do not know where or when they were born or who their ancestors
were. The line stops there for my research on the Gowens. Jeff
Matthews did show that John and Isabel had a son named John, born
January 27, 1894. That is Brian’s brother, but he is not listed.
Can someone help me on this branch?
Richard Spacer
rspacer@yahoo.com
==Dear Cousins==
Let me start by saying, as far as I know I’m not related to any
Gowen. My interest lies in Maj. John “Buck” Gowen of Gowensville,
South Carolina. I am a land surveyor, and through the twenty six
years in practice I have surveyed three sites claiming to be Ft.
Gowen. Two sites have proved to be accurate.
One site, which was called the Gowensville Home Place turns out
to be Gowen’s Store in Greenville County and was the first post
office in that area. Of the other two sites, one is in Spartan-
burg County and the other in Greenville County. That means there
were two Ft. Gowen sites. I’ve have argued this for the past 15
years. Along the way I ran across several names tied to Maj.
Gowen–William Jamison, Rev. Thomas J. Earle, John Bearden, Rev.
Ananias Dill, Cassandra McMakin, Ravan, and many others.
I had gathered so much info on the Gowensville area I decided to
save it by writing a book. With the help of J. W. Lawrence,
[editor of the News-Leader in Landrum, South Carolina] we were
sucessful. The title is “Indians, Bloodshed, Tears, Churches &
Schools.” It all started at Ft. Gowen is now being published in
very limited edition in paperback. Regular price is $18.00, if
ordered by July 1, 2003 the advanced price is only $16.00 [in-
cludes shiping]. Make payment to Lawrence, 200 Camelia Circle,
Landrum, South Carolina, 29356 or email jamesjregory@bsn1.net
for details.
PS. I am looking for the Gowens who came to Gowensville several
years ago from Texas. I am a member of the Gowan Foundation. I
found it most rewarding. Great idea, Gowens!!
James V. Gregory
8621 Highway 9
Inman, SC, 29349-3122
864/472-3122
jamesgregory@bsn1.net
___________________________________________________________
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 