Data. Ancestry Tree's Data for David Cowan=Jane Wright

Contents 1 Related 2 Source 3 Analysis 4 Data 5 David Cowan's 1811 Will (Sevier Co., TN)	Return to Old Augusta County!	Cowan Tapestry Register Data Notebooks Analysis Bibliography Graphics YDNA Cowan Links Index
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Related

Person:David Cowan (1)

Person:David Cowan (30)

Source

The following data was extracted from Ancestry Family Tree's June, 2011. It provides a listing of data associated with David Cowan and Jane Wright, as various researchers have characterize this couple. The original contained information from what appear to be duplicated family trees by the same researcher created by separate uploads to the ancestry system, perhaps while the researcher was experimenting with the system. These duplicates have been culled as far as possible. In some cases researchers may have uploaded their data using different names for their tree (e.g., "Mary Ann's Family Tree" vs "My Maternal Tree"). Such duplicates could be culled if each individual tree were examined to identify the person who actually uploaded the data. This has not been done given the large number of tree's that would have to be examined.

Analysis

There are at least two, and probably three or more distinct couples identified as David Cowan and Jane Wright, contained in these data. The largest group (129 out of 153) gives David's DOB as 1726, in Virginia. It is subdivided into four sub groups based on his place of death.

The other 24 listings give Davids DOB between 1740 and 1753. They are also subdivided into several subgroups based on place of death"

While it is conceivable that each of the various subgroupings represent different couples by the same name (seven separate couples), it seems more likely that data for different individuals have been conflated, with each of the seven subgroups containing varying combinations of data for several distinct persons. In other words, some, and perhaps all of these subgroups are, to a greater or lesser extent, in error. Which data is in error is not obvious, based on these data alone. While most of these trees provide at least one source, for the most part they reflect secondary and unverifiable sources (e.g., "Based on various Family Trees found on Ancestry"). While these family trees undoubtedly reflect what the users think is true, their quality is questionable.

Data

David Cowan's 1811 Will (Sevier Co., TN)

THE WILL OF DAVID COWAN OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, written 4 Feb 1811.

The public records of Sevier County, Tennessee were destroyed by fire in 1856. Probably the oldest written document in the entire county is the will of DAVID COWAN. It was written 4 Feb 1811. On 5 Dec 1925 it was a highly prized possession of the Ellis family of BOYD'S CREEK. The will read as follows:

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, DAVID COWAN of SEVIER COUNTY, of Tennessee, being of sound and perfect mind, and many thanks be to God for the same, but knowing the frailty of man and that it is ordained for all to die, do make, constitute, ordain this my last will and testament, thereby revoking all other wills, bequests or legacies by me in any manner made: Burial Left to Executors. First: I recommend my soul to Almighty God, hoping through merits of Jesus Christ to have forgiveness for all my sins, and I resign my body to the dust of the earth from whence it came, to be buried in a decent Christian burial, at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to help me, it is my will and desire to dispose of the same in the following manner: Inproviso: It is my will and desire that my just debts and burial expenses should be speedily and punctually paid by my executors.

(Item) To my son, ANDREW COWAN, I give and bequeath the tract of land whereon he now lives.

(Item) To my sons, WILLIAM COWAN and SAMUEL COWAN, I give and bequeath all that part of my tract of land on which I now live which lies southeast of BOYD'S CREEK, to be equally divided between the said WILLIAM COWAN and SAMUEL.

(Item) To my sons, DAVID COWAN, and ALEXANDER COWAN and JAMES COWAN, I give and bequeath a tract of land which I claim in consequence of military service done by my son, JOHN COWAN, deceased, which land it it my will and desire should be equally divided among my three sons aforesaid.

(Item) To my son HUGH COWAN, I give and bequeath the plantation whereon I now live, with all the appurtenances, except the part mentioned which I have bequeathed to my sons, WILLIAM COWAN and SAMUEL COWAN.

(Item) To my daughter, ELEANOR McLUNG, I give and bequeath one cow and calf.

(Item) To JANE McCLUNG, daughter of WILLIAM McCLUNG and my daughter, ELEANOR McCLUNG, I give and bequeath one heifer. To my son WILLIAM COWAN, I give and bequeath one colt.

(Item) To my daughter, SALLIE CHITWOOD, wife of PLEASANT CHITWOOD, I give and bequeath one looking glass. To my son, HUGH COWAN, aforesaid, I give and bequeath one horse in addition to the legacy above mentioned. To my daughter, ELANOR McCLUNG, I give and bequeath all the household furniture which she has in her possession in addition to her legacy above mentioned. And it is my will and desire that the residue of my estate both real and personal should be sold at the discretion of my executors and the money from the sale of such estate to be equally divided among my children and in case of the death of any of the Legatees mentioned in this will and testament before the same goes into effect, then the legacy of the deceased, this is my will and desire, should descend to the nearest heir of the deceased of the descendants.

Sets Hand, Affixes Seal

Lastly, I appoint, constitute and ordain my son, HUGH COWAN, and JAMES HENDERSON, of the state and county aforesaid, executors of this my last will and testament. In witness of all and every part, whereof. I have hereunto set my hand affixed my seal, this the fourth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and eleven, and of American Independence the thirty-fifth.

Signed: John Houk John S. Swan Abel Howe

I, SAMUEL WEAR, clerk of the court of Pleas in a quarterly session of SEVIER COUNTY do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original will as found in court and Pleas, in the office of SEVIER. Attest: Samuel Wear, Clerk of C.P.C.

Col. SAMUEL WEAR was one of the first white men to settle in SEVIER COUNTY. On coming to this country he had first lived in Virginia. As a soldier of the Revolutionary War he served under John Sevier. He was a high official in the independent state of Franklin (1785-1788) when Sevier was its first governor. He was a member of the first constitutional convention of the state of Tennesseee in 1796, and on several occasions he treated with the Indians.