Cowan's in Chalkley's Chronicles, Extracts

 (316) Patrick Martin and Alexr. Richey to be overseers of road from Young's Mill to Alexr. Richey's smith shop, thence to Buchanan's mills, with these hands: Adam Thompson, Geo. Peary, Ro. Young, James Peary, John Campbell, John Buchanan, James Moody, Andrew Cowan, James Callison, John Jameson, Walter Smiley, James McCorkle, Ro. McCorkle, Nathan Gilliland, Wm. McNabb.

 (414) John Buchanan, James Clark, Jacob Lockhart, Thomas Kirkpatrick, John Berry, John Bartley, Wm. Martin, Josias Richards, William McFeeters, John Jameson, James Young, Hugh Young, Robert Young, William McClintock, Wm. Ledgerwood, John Trimble, Maurice O'Frield, Samuel Wallace, Robert Davis, Robert McClenon, James Moody, James Philips, Wm. Akry, Cornelius Donaho, George Peary, Adam Thompson, Thomas Peary, John Campbell, James Peary, Wm. McNab, Robert Scot, Thomas Reed, Abraham Masha, Thomas Dunn, Francis Dunn, Major Scot, John Bigham, John Black, Samuel Downing, Alexr. McFeeters, Andrew Cowan, James McCorkle, John Vance, James Gilmore and Patrick Martin--to keep road formerly laid off from James Young's Mill to said Buchanan's Mill.

 (337) James Bell, provisions. Wm. Bell, provisions. Wm. McCutcheon, provisions and horse impressed. John Rosemond, provisions. Andrew Cowan, enlisting men to garrison Fort Lewis. Walter Trimble, provisions. Thos. Alexander, provisions. John Francis, provisions. James Kirk, provisions. Rob. Armstrong, provisions. Wm. Christian, self et als., ranging. Loftus Pullen, provisions. Rob. Christian, provisions. Danl. O'Freild, provisions. Thos. Poage, provisions. Charles Kilpatrick, provisions. George Moffett, for Wm. Mann et als. Benj. Estill, horse impressed. Andrew Hamilton, provisions. Wm. McClenachan, provisions. Wm. McKarney, self et als., ranging.

 Cowan vs. Cowan.--Letter of Andrew Cowan to David Cowan, living in

Albemarle, dated January 13, 1766. Loving Brother: This comes to let you know that we are all in good health at present, blessed be God for his mercies. Hoping that these few lines will find you in the same, I desire that you will go to James Cowan's and ask him for a note of mine that lies in my little trunk--a note of 2 pounds and five shillings, which William Teas(?) is due me against March 25, and get the money, for I am going to Carolina. I have nothing material to write you, but desire to be remembered to you all.

May, 1796. In 1770 William Herbert made a settlement upon waste and unappropriated land on Cubb Creek in Washington County, and occupied it until 1776, when his overseer was killed by the Indians, when Rawley Duncan took possession. Herbert died testate in 1776, which was proved on 3d September, 1776, in Fincastle County, leaving William Herbert as his heir at law, from whom orator purchased. Rawley Duncan obtained a certificate of settlement in 1773. Rawley Duncan died intestate, leaving John Duncan his only son and heir. Townshend Duncan is now in possession. Benjamin Nicholson deposes in Clarke County, Ky., 16th May, 1798, that in 1775 he knew Rawley Duncan to purchase the tract from James Nalle. Peter Hutchinson deposes in Russel (?) County, 30th June, 1798, that about June, 1775, he was frequently in company with Robert Elson, who told him that the land he lived on was Harbard's and that he and some of his relations that lived at the same place were employed to keep stock. In the same year he heard a dispute between Rawley Duncan and John Duncan's widow about the plantation at the ford of Clinch, where they both lived at that time, and understood that Rawley and his brother John were to go halves in the plantation. William Crunk deposes he lived with the Duncans in the same settlement. John Fugate (Fugitt) deposed 30th June, 1798, that James McCarthy told him he sold the land to Richard Stanton, and Stauntom had sold to Harbard. It was the first piece of land McCarthy took up in the county. The land McCarthy's corn right was laid on McCarthy bought of David Cowen. Thomas Fauster deposes in Wythe County that in 1775 he started for Kentucky and stopped at Robert Elsom's house, who lived on Herbert's land. Cap. Alexander Ritchie deposes in Clarke County, Ky., 16th May, 1798, that in 1772 William Herbert brought a stock of cattle to Hays Creek and Robert Elsom came with him to take care of them. Patrick Porter deposes 28th April, 1798, that about 1770-1771 he moved to Clinch and a certain Robert Elsom came about the same time and settled at the head of Hay's Creek. Rachel Haunspale, late a wife to Robert Elsom, deceased, deposes at Herbert's Ferry in Wythe County, 14th July, 1798, that Robert was employed in 1770 to go to Clinch. Robert together with Rachel's father, William Hayes, went to Clinch and settled at a spring. Copy of William Herbert's will dated 28th May, 1776, proved in Fincastle County Court, 3d September, 1776. Certified as of the records of Montgomery County, 24th February, 1796, to wife, Sarah, plantation called Poplar Camp, and slaves; to eldest son, William, plantation on Reed Island, where Joseph Barren, Jr., is now living; to youngest son, Thomas, plantation where Josiah Hamilton lives; to eldest daughter, Martha, to youngest daughter, Joanna. William's father and mother are alive and living with him. Certain moneys due him by a Mr. Ozborn, iron mongers in West Street, without Lawful Gale Bristol in Old England.

1805. In 1785 James Wright of Berkeley County made John Wright (no relation, plaintiff) drunk and persuaded him to make a conveyance to James of all his property. Bill to set aside the deed. Answer says John is full cousin of James' father. John Wright's answer in another suit by John Groves in Berkeley County states, viz: In 1781 Jno. Groves courted Mary Glenn, a grandchild of Jno. Wright's, then wife Hannah. Hannah's mother was second cousin to John Wright's father. John Wright married Hannah, then widow of James Glenn in 1754-55, by whom he had no children. Hannah had children by Glenn, viz: William, who had issue, James, John and Mary, and then died. William's widow married again. [Did Groves marry Mary?] Hugh Cunningham, aged 67, deposes 25th June, 1808, in Martinsburg. Jane Paris deposes in Martinsburg 1806: Previous to death of her husband, James Parks, James Wright married James Park's sister. David Cowan, aged 55 years, deposes in Jefferson County, 8th November, 1808. David married James Wright's sister. Stephen Mayers, aged 62, deposes in Martinsburg, 19th May, 1808. Joseph Hanna, aged 40, deposes in Martinsburg, 19th May, 1808. Jacob Smith of Clark County, Ky., moved from Berkeley. John Grove (in former suit in Berkeley County) says he courted Polly Glenn on 10th September, 1781, they were married 16th October, 1781.