| Name | Relationships | WeRelate* | Datum | Source
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| Alexander Cowan (c.1772-c.1823) | son of John Cowan “Sr.” and Margaret Thompson (?); married Mary Irvin
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| | | 1789—chose cousin John Cowan, “Jr.” (III) as guardian
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| | | 1797—married Mary Irvin, step-daughter of Mary Byers Cowan Lyals Irvin
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| Benjamin Cowan (1749-1828) | son of William Cowan, Sr., immigrant, and Susannah Fleming; married Ann Henly Sims
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| | | 1773, Dec. 21—purchased 640 acres from James and Margaret Skiles with Hugh Jenkins and William Cowan as witnesses (8/142)
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| | | 1778—on tax roll with assets valued at £634
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| | | 1782—on tax roll with 320 acres, 5 horses, 7 cattle
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| | | 1787—on tax roll with 4 slaves,
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| | | 1792, May 18—purchased 200 acres on Second Creek from cousin Samuel Jenkins adjoining land of Hugh Jenkins with cousin Henry Cowan witnessing deed (13/165)
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| | | 1793, April 29—sold 54.5 acres to William Locke (13/563)
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| Benjamin Cowan (1773-1828) “Jr.” | son of William Cowan and Ann Jenkins; married Jane Locke, daughter of Jane Cowan Locke
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| David Cowan (c.1757-1811) “Merchant” | probable son of John Cowan “Sr.” and Margaret Thompson (?)/ married Anna Dobbins
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| | | 1784—purchased land on Second Creek (10/307)
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| | | 1785—on tax roll owning 400 acres
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| | | 1787, Aug.2—sold 200 acres to cousin Robert Cowan (14/?)
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| | | 1790, Jan. 13—purchased town lot in Salisbury (11/831)
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| | | 1795, Nov. 9—“merchant of Salisbury” purchased 13,050 acres, save and except 5,200 acre from
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| | | Adlai Osborn, Trustee for the University of NC for $4,200.
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| | | 1796, May 13—David Cowan “merchant of Salisbury” gave power of attorney to Andrew Coldelough, merchant of Philadelphia to sell 16,000 acres (9/656)
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| | | 1798—by this date David Cowan had moved to the Sugar Creek neighborhood of Mecklenburg County, NC
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| David Cowan (1767-1836) | son of John Cowan “Gunsmith” and Elizabeth Deacon (?); married Rebecca Dobbins
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| | | 1790—married Rebecca Dobbins
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| David Cowan (c.1768-1802) | Son of Henry Cowan and Jane Varner; married Nancy Bowman
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| | | c1793—married Nancy Bowman
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| David Jenkins Cowan (c.1780-1837) | son of William Cowan and Ann Jenkins; married Margaret Foster
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| David Jenkins (1746-1777) | son of Hugh Jenkins and Mary Cowan; married Ann Henley Sims
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| | | 1767—witnessed Cowan deed in Rowan County, NC
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| | | c.1772—married Ann Henley Sims
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| | | c.1775—moved to Lincoln County, NC
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| | | 1778—widow remarried to Benjamin Cowan
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| Elizabeth Jenkins Stewart (1754) | daughter of Hugh Jenkins and Mary Cowan; married Matthew Stewart
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| | | 1778—on tax roll in George Cowan’s District with assets valued at £321, 5 sh.
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| | | 1784—purchased farm of William Cowan and Sarah Stewart Cowan
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| George Cowan (c.1717) | probable son of Henry Cowan, immigrant
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| | | 1738, April 26—applied for 100 acre land warrant in Pennsboro Township, Lancaster Co., PA
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| | | 1738, May—appeared in court in Lancaster County, PA in trial of Thomas McShean
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| | | 1739, Nov.—juror in trial of James Murray in Lancaster County, PA
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| | | 1750, April—applied for 400 acre grant in then Anson County, NC along with a John Cowan
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| | | 1752, April 1—400 acre grant confirmed
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| | | 1753, April 10—land dispute with Evan Lewis resolved in Cowan’s favor
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| | | 1762, April 23—reference to a George Cowan “of Pennsylvania” by Alexander Dobbin of Rowan County, NC—could also easily be reference to George Cowan, son of William Cowan, Sr.
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| George Cowan (1738-c.1816) | son of William Cowan, Sr., immigrant, and Susannah Fleming; married 2nd to Mary Porter
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| | | 1766, July 9—appointed constable in Rowan County to replace Robert Luckie
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| | | 1767, March 9—purchased 320 acres from cousin John Cowan “gunsmith” with David Jenkins (son of Mary Cowan Jenkins), William Cowan (brother), and James Cowan (cousin) as witnesses (6/543)
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| | | 1768—on tax list in Matthew Locke’s District of Rowan County, NC
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| | | 1778—in charge of the George Cowan District on tax roll with assets valued at £1,266
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| | | 1782—on tax rolls with 320 acres, 2 slaves, 9 horses, 10 cattle valued at £310, listed as George Cowan “Sr.”
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| | | 1781, Sept. 6—Capt. George Cowan participated in campaign before and battle of Eutaw Springs
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| | | 1784, Oct. 17—moved to GA with second wife and two daughters
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| | | 1791, June 17—presented bill back in Rowan County for £4, 9sh.
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| | | 1794—on tax roll of Hancock County, GA from this date on
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| Henry Cowan (c. 1731-1800) | son of John Cowan, immigrant, and Elizabeth; married Jane Varner
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| | | 1785, June 13—sold 122 acres and 26.75 acres in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, PA to John Blanck
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| | | 1785, Oct. 5—purchased 419 acres on the north side of Fourth Creek from Isaac Hughey (17/325)
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| | | 1794—purchased adjoining 122 acres (18/616)
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| | | 1800—wrote will
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| Henry F. Cowan (1776-c.1826) | son of William Cowan, Jr. and Ann Jenkins; married Susanna Fleming Cowan
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| | | 1798—married 1st cousin Susannah Jenkins Cowan, daughter of Benjamin Cowan and Ann Henley Sims
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| Isaac Cowan (c.1753-1809) | Son of William Cowan, Sr., immigrant, and Susannah Fleming; married Sarah Stewart
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| | | 1785—on tax roll with 324 acres, though not actually conveyed
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| | | 1788—received title to 324 acres from his father (part of 584 acre tract) witnessed by Samson McConnaughey (who would soon marry Susannah Cowan, daughter of Henry Cowan, Jr. and Mary Byers), and Mary (Cowan) Burke (daughter of Henry Cowan, Jr. and Mary Byers)
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| | | 1794, May 31—received 200 acres from father-in-law David Stewart on the waters of Withrow Creek (18/183)
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| | | 1795—purchased 80 acres on south side of Fourth Creek from William Loving (14/734)
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| | | 1802—NC State Legislature granted divorce to Isaac Cowan from his wife, Sarah Stewart Cowan, who gave birth to 2 mulatto children following the birth of their first 6 children
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| Isaac Cowan (c. 1764-1847) | son of Henry Cowan and Jane Varner; married Jane Hall
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| | | c1791—married Jane Hall
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| | | 1794—had moved to Bath County, KY by this date
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| Isaac Cowan (1775-1853) | son of John Cowan “Sr.” and Margaret Thompson (?); never married
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| | | 1789—chose David Foster as his guardian
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| James Cowan (c.1745) | son of John Cowan “Sr.” and Margaret Thompson (?)
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| | | 1768—listed as son of John Cowan on tax roll
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| James Stephenson Cowan (c.1750-c.1781) | possible son of Stephen Cowan or unknown Cowan
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| | | 1767—a James Cowan witnessed deed from John Cowan “Gunsmith” to William Cowan, Jr.
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| | | 1770—a James Cowan witnessed deed from William Cowan, Jr. to William Cowan, Sr.
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| | | 1782, Feb. 2—Letters of Administration on estate of James Cowan issued to William Cowan “who qualified by law”
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| | | 1783, Oct.10—purchase of land by William Cowan on south side of Yadkin River was identified as adjoining that of James Stephenson Cowan (9/552)
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| James Cowan (1769-1819) | son of Henry Cowan and Jane Varner; married Mary Hall
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| | | c1792—married Mary Hall
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| Jane Cowan Locke (c.1752-c.1816) | possible daughter of George Cowan; probable wife of John Locke
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| | | 1778—John Locke on tax roll in Capt. George Cowan’s District with assets valued at £1,763
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| | | 1786—John Locke died intestate and Jane Locke petitioned to sell land (Loose Estate Papers)
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| Jincy Cowan (1777-1869) | daughter of William Cowan, Jr. and Ann Jenkins; married George Cowan
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| John Cowan (c.1723-1789) “Sr.” | probable son of Henry Cowan, immigrant; married Margaret Thompson (?)
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| | | 1750, Apr.—possibly John Cowan who applied for land grant along with George Cowan
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| | | 1754, May 17—living on 270 acres on north side of Catawba River (Patent Bk. 15/8)
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| | | 1757, Oct. 15—John and Margaret Cowan sold 200 acres of this tract to James Black; local histories reference a “Cowan’s Mine” and a “Cowan’s Ford” in this area of the Catawba
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| | | 1768—on tax roll in Matthew Locke’s District along with sons James and Thomas and slaves Abrin and Luce
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| | | 1779—on tax roll in Crawford’s District with 724 acres valued at £6,490 and land in Burke County valued at £847.
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| | | 1787, May—on tax roll listed as John Cowan, “Sr.”, age 64
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| | | 1789, Feb. 2—guardianship of 4 minor children of John Cowan—Alexander, Isaac, Joseph and Esther—given to 3 oldest sons of John Cowan “Gunsmith” and David Foster
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| John Cowan (c.1725-1789) “Gunsmith” | son of John Cowan, immigrant, and Elizabeth; married (1) Catherine Skiles (?)
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| | | 1750, Apr.—probable John Cowan who applied for land grant in then Anson County, NC
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| | | 1753, Feb. 5—purchased 640 acres from James Deacon (4/53)
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| | | 1758—purchased dower and thirds of Mrs. Elizabeth Deacon
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| | | 1759, Feb. 22—purchased 296 acres from Kerr et al on west side of Yadkin River (4/137)
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| | | 1762—542 acres on Mills Fork of Liles Creek (5/117)
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| | | 1762—558 acres on Mecklin’s Fork (4/118)
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| | | 1762—440 acres on Rocky Creek of Yadkin (6/70)
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| | | 1767—sold 640 acre tract to cousins William Cowan, Jr. and George Cowan, sons of William Cowan, Sr.
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| | | 1768—enumerated in Mathew Locke’s District
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| | | 1769, Dec. 1—signed petition as potential vestryman requesting formation of St. Luke’s Parish
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| | | 1772—John and Elizabeth Cowan sold 271 acres of 542 acres to son Thomas (17/471)
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| | | 1778—on tax roll with assets valued at £3,583, 3 sh.
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| | | 1779—on tax roll as owning 484 acres, plus “property of orphans in Trion County” (probably Dickey step-children as he had married 3rd wife Mrs. Mary Dickey by then), total acreage valued at £2,072.
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| | | 1785, Oct 5—witnessed purchase of 419 acres by brother Henry Cowan
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| | | 1787—on tax roll, age incorrectly listed on typed transcript (actual record currently “lost” in NC Archives) as “42”, 4 slaves
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| | | 1789, Mar. 24—wrote will
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| John Cowan (1757-1827) “III” | son of John Cowan “Gunsmith” and probably Catherine Skiles (?); married Jane Young
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| | | 1778—on tax roll as a single man, age 21 with assets valued at £1,347, 8 sh.
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| | | 1789—purchased 126 acres on Withrow Creek (11/794)
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| | | 1791—purchased 595 acres on Withrow Creek (13/230)
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| | | 1797—purchased 337 acres on Third Creek (15/152)
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| John Cowan (c.1768-1827) | son of Henry Cowan and Jane Varner
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| Joseph Cowan (Feb. 17, 1747-ca. 1787)> | son of William Cowan, immigrant, and Susannah Fleming; unmarried
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| | | 1778—tax roll at £1,200, 9 sh., 2 p.
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| | | 1782—tax roll at £170.
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| | | 1787, Aug.—inventory prepared for his estate
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| Joseph Skiles Cowan (1777-1846) | son of John Cowan “Sr.” and Margaret Thompson (?); married Jane Cowan Graham
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| | | 1789—chose William Cowan as his guardian
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| | | 1804—married Jane Cowan Graham (no apparent relation)
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| | | 1808—had moved to Williamson County, TN by this date
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| Margaret Cowan Thompson (c.1746-1802) | claimed to be daughter of Stephen Cowan
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| 1764—married James Thompson
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| Margaret Cowan Armstong (c.1750-c.1790) | probable daughter of George Cowan; married Abel Armstrong
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| | | 1768, Sept.16—married Abel Armstrong in Rowan County, NC
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| Mary Cowan Jenkins | daughter of William Cowan, immigrant, and Susannah Fleming; married to Hugh Jenkins
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| | | 1765, Sept. 19—Hugh Jenkins purchased 597 acres on Second Creek (6/313)
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| | | 1765, Sept. 28—Hugh Jenkins “of Pennsylvania” purchased Lot 1 in Salisbury, NC
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| | | 1767, Sept. 2—Hugh and Mary Cowan Jenkins conveyed interest in David Cowan, Jr. estate in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, PA to brother, David Cowan (III)
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| | | 1767, Nov. 26—purchased 27 lots in Salisbury, NC from Hugh Foster
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| | | 1778—on tax roll with assets valued at £4,130
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| | | 1782—on tax roll with 914 acres, 2 slaves, 5 horses, 15 cattle valued at £694
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| | | 1785, Sept. 3—purchased 337 acres from Robert Luckie
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| | | 1785, Nov.12—purchased 450 acres from the estate of Hugh Montgomery (10/335)
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| | | 1797, Jan.12—gifted Lot 42 in Salisbury to daughter Mary, wife of Matthew Stewart (17/506)
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| | | 1800, May 10—Hugh Jenkins wrote will
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| Mary Byers Cowan (1738-1815) | widow of Henry Cowan, Jr., son of Henry Cowan, immigrant
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| | | 1768, July 21—Mary Byers Cowan and William Blair (married to Mary Cowan, daughter of William Cowan, Sr., immigrant) appeared in office of Jasper Yeates in Lancaster County, PA
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| | | 1772—married Thomas Lyals in Rowan County, NC
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| | | 1781—will of Thomas Lyals mentions widow Mary and step-daughter, Susannah Cowan
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| | | 1782—married Christopher Irvin
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| | | 1792—Christopher Irvin died by this date, their home “Elmwood” adjoining Third Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
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| | | 1816—deed to adjoining tract refers to land of “Mary Byers Cowan,” indicating she had reverted to use of her first married name
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| Mary Cowan Foster (1756-c1778) | daughter of John Cowan “Sr.” and Margaret Thompson (?); married David Foster
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| | | 1771—David Foster purchased 107 acres and 43 acres from John Withrow (7/380)
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| | | 1773, Feb. 27—married David Foster in Rowan County, NC
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| | | 1778—on tax roll with assets valued at £1,222, 2 sh.
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| | | 1779—on tax roll with assets valued at £2,621
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| | | 1780—David Foster remarried to Elizabeth Roseborough
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| | | 1787, Feb. 6—purchased 60 acres from Thomas Cowan (12/375)
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| Mary Cowan Burke (1766-1813) | daughter of Henry Cowan, Jr. and Mary Byers; married William Burke
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| | | c.1783—married William Burke
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| | | 1788—witnessed deed from Henry Cowan to Isaac County in Rowan County, NC
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| | | c.1800—moved to Sugar Creek neighborhood of Mecklenburg County, NC
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| Robert Cowan (c.1756-1833) | son of Henry Cowan and Jane Varner; married Elizabeth Campbell
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| | | 1785—arrived in NC with father, Henry Cowan
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| | | 1792—married Elizabeth Campbell
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| Samuel Cowan (c.1761-c.1790) | probable son of Stephen Cowan; married Phebe Lewis
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| | | 1783—married Phebe Lewis in Rowan County, NC
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| | | 1793—widow remarried to Charles Smith
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| Samuel Cowan (ca. 1763-1815) | son of Henry Cowan and Jane Varner; married Rachel Lewis
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| | | c1797—married Rachel Lewis
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| Stephen Cowan (c.1721?-?) | possible son of Henry Cowan, immigrant
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| | | 1764—ancestry.com lists (with no substantiation) the marriage of James Thompson in Rowan County to Margaret Cowan, daughter of Stephen Cowan
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| | | 1768—a “Stevin Cowin” listed on tax roll in Matthew Locke’s District.
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| Stephen Cowan (c.1757) | probable son of Stephen Cowan; married Patsy Caldwell
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| | | 1782—married Patsy Caldwell in Rowan County, NC
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| | | 1799—juror in neighboring Iredell County, NC
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| | | 1800—tax roll lists 3 houses, grist mill, saw mill, stable, 500 acres valued at £705
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| | | 1804—in Stewart County, TN by this date
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| Susannah Cowan McConnaughey Beckett (c.1767) | daughter of Henry Cowan, Jr. and Mary Byers; married Samson McConnaughey; married John Beckett
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| | | 1782—mentioned in will of step-father Thomas Lyal
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| | | 1788—witnessed deed from William Cowan to George Cowan
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| | | 1789—married Samson McConnaughey
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| | | 1790, June 7—Hugh McConnaughey conveys 160 acres to Sampson McConnaughey, tradesman
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| | | 1800—Susannah Cowan McConnaughey married John Beckett
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| Thomas Cowan (c.1746) | son of John Cowan “Sr.” and Margaret Thompson (?)
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| | | 1768—listed as son of John Cowan on tax roll
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| Thomas Cowan (1748-1817) “Captain” | son of John Cowan “Gunsmith” and Catherine Skiles (?); married Mary Barkley
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| | | 1772—received 271 acres from father John Cowan and wife Elizabeth (17/471)
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| | | 1773, 30 Dec.—married Mary Barkley
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| | | 1774—constructed “Wood Grove” residence, now in same family for 8 generations
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| | | 1778—on tax roll in “Cowan’s District” with assets valued at £1,532, 5 sh., and 220 acres valued at £3,030
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| | | 1781, Sept 8—wounded at battle of Eutaw Springs.
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| | | 1784—traditional naming of community “Bear Poplar”
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| | | 1790s—ruling elder of Thyatira Presbyterian Church
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| William Cowan (1701-1789) | immigrant brother; married Susannah Fleming
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| | | 1758, May 16--undoubtedly still in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, PA when brother John Cowan named him executor of his will
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| | | 1759, Feb. 27--purchased 584 acres on Fourth Creek (4/539)
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| | | 1762--back in Salisbury Township, Lancaster Co., PA when signed administration of brother John Cowan’s estate
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| | | 1769, Sept. 18--sold 158 acre farm to George Weik (Q/69)
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| | | 1769, Dec. 1—back in Rowan County when signed petition as potential vestryman requesting formation of St. Luke’s Parish
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| | | 1770, July 23—purchased 320 acres from son William, Jr. (7/335)
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| | | 1778—taxable estate worth £1,771, 9sh., 5 p.
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| | | 1782—260 acres, 5 slaves, 4 horses, 17 cattle at £304
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| | | 1787—William aged 88, wife (Susannah?, aged 75), 7 slaves
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| | | 1789, Aug. 14—wrote will, wife deceased
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| William Cowan (c.1734-1789) | son of John Cowan, immigrant, and Elizabeth; married Sarah Stewart
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| | | 1759, Dec. 23—married Sarah Stewart, probable daughter of James Stewart
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| | | 1760, Feb. 8—purchased 453 acres on north side of Second Creek (4/366)
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| | | 1768—on tax roll with a “son” Thomas Cowan listed, as well as a William Stewart (the Thomas could not have been his son, but possibly his brother on a visit from PA—only the typed transcripts are currently available as the original records are “lost” in the NC Archives.)
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| | | 1778—on tax roll with assets valued at £886, 1 p.
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| | | 1782—on tax roll owning 45 acres, 6 horses, 12 cattle
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| | | 1784, Aug.15—sold 426.5 acres to Matthew Stewart (10/3)
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| | | 1784, Aug. 29—sold 26.5 acres to Henry Robison (11/505)
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| | | 1785—purchases land on Cloud’s Creek, Wilkes (now Oglethorpe Co., GA)
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| | | 1789—appeared on tax rolls up until this date, then widow Sarah from this year on
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| | | 1792—Sarah Cowan and James Cowan appointed to administer estate back NC; brother-in-law Matthew Stewart purchased NC crop
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| William Cowan, Jr. (1741-1806)> | son of William Cowan, Sr., immigrant, and Susannah Fleming; married Ann Jenkins, daughter of Hugh Jenkins and Mary Cowan
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| | | 1767, March—purchased 320 acres from cousin John Cowan and witnessed by David Jenkins (son of Mary Cowan Jenkins), George Cowan (brother), and James Cowan (cousin), (6/533)
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| | | 1768—on tax roll of Rowan County in Matthew Locke’s District
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| | | 1770, July 23—sold 320 acre tract to parents William Cowan, Sr. and Susannah Cowan, witnessed by Benjamin Cowan (brother) and James Cowan (cousin), (7/335)
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| | | 1774, Aug. 8—Committee of Safety formed in Rowan County, NC
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| | | 1775, Sept. 20—one of 34 members in attendance of committee
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| | | 1778—on tax roll with assets valued at £509, 16 sh.
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| | | 1781, Jan. 26—served as private under Col. Francis Locke for 3 months
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| | | 1781, Feb. 1—participated at Battle of Cowan’s Ford
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| | | 1782—on tax roll for 200 acres, 1 slave, 7 horses and 13 cattle
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| | | 1784—purchased 300 acres on waters of Second Creek (10/279)
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| | | 1788, April 24—received 260 acres from his father, William Cowan, Sr.
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| | | 1789—received 1 slave and equal share in home plantation on Fourth Creek in father’s will
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| William Cowan (c.1751) | possible son of Stephen Cowan or unknown Cowan; probable husband of Margaret Dobbins who married a William Cowan
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| | | 1772—possible William Cowan “batchelor” on tax roll
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| | | 1778—probably William Cowan with assets valued at £360
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| | | 1782—Administrator of the Estate of James Cowan as he “qualified by law”
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| | | 1783, Oct.10—purchase of land from Alexander Martin on south side of Yadkin River (9/552)
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| | | 1800—tax roll of Iredell Co. with house, barn, hayhouse, 537 acres and 320 acres on Joshua Cr.
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| William Cowan | Unknown
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| | | 1784—married Mary Hinds in Rowan County, NC
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| William Cowan (c.1765-1839) | son of John Cowan “Gunsmith” and Elizabeth Deacon (?); married Jane Steele; married Catherine Armstrong (daughter of Abel Armstrong and Margaret Cowan)
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| | | 1786—married Jane Young
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| | | 1787—on tax roll
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| | | 1791—married Catherine Armstrong
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| William Cowan (1776-1844) “Gunsmith” | son of George Cowan by 1st marriage; raised by grandfather William Cowan; married Ann Foster
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| | | 1789—received inheritance from Grandfather William Cowan
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