Tapestry
Source
Source:Eschelman, 1922:41
Related
- Person:Henry Cowan (7)
Text
1726—ROAD CONESTOGA CREEK TO CO. LINE.
In the Chester County Court, in 1726, while we were yet a part of that county, a road was laid out from the Conestoga Creek beginning 20 perches below the point where the Cocalico enters near the line between Upper Leacock pnrt West Earl Townships, and practically on the site of Old Peter's Road (See Volume 2, No. 6 of Original Papers.) It followed the general direction of the Peter's Road, but before crossing Pequea creek it struck quite south of Peter's road. This is apparent on the map. The course is south-eastwardly. After proceeding about 2 1/2, miles (7 SO p.) it reached Martin Bear's land, whose residence was about two miles east of Jacob Bear's mill at Oregon. About 3 1/4 miles southeast of Bear's on this road (1036 p.) Theodorius Eaby's land began and a mile farther on (321 p.) It crossed Mill Creek at Eaby's Mill. At a distance of 1361 perches farther on, about 4 1/4 miles, it reached Henry Cowan's land.
I here remark parenthetically that David Cowan in 1729 lived on Old Peter's Road at the point where Salisbury, Leacock and the present Earl Townships meet. I do not know what kinship he bore to Henry Cowan. He lived northeast of Henry. After proceeding southeastwardly beyond Cowan's about 2 1/4 miles the road took an abrupt northeasterly course for nearly 1 1/4 miles to the Pequea Creek at Dan. Cookson's. It then proceeded south-eastwardly about four and three-quarter miles farther (1482 perches) to the county line, near Lapp's, below Compass. The course from Cowan's to Cookson's are 1177 perches in length.
The fact the Old Peter's Road, the Bear's Mill Road, the Road to Penryn and this road of 1726 all traversed the same strip of territory shows that there was great importance attached to and development in this section across the three valleys of Pequea, Mill Creek and Conestoga. The road we are considering is the earliest of the long roads, laid out by court in our region. Upper Conestoga was awake.
Commentary
This is believed to be a reference to Person:Henry Cowan (7), an immigrant kin to person:David Cowan (15), who is possibly his brother, and better documented. This Henry seems to dissappear from the records about 1730. The "Henry Cowan's" who appears in tax records for the area after 1750 are probably sons of David and his other surviving brothers, or possibly a son of Henry Cowan mentioned in this road record.
While we know with fair accuracy where David and his brothers William and John lived in the 1730's, land records for this Henry Cowan have not been identified. This road record points to his home as on the road
- "southeastwardly beyond Cowan's about 2 1/4 miles the road took an abrupt northeasterly course for nearly 1 1/4 miles to the Pequea Creek at Dan. Cookson's", and
- It crossed Mill Creek at Eaby's Mill. At a distance of 1361 perches farther on, about 4 1/4 miles it reached Henry Cowan's
Eschelman also adds that:
David Cowan in 1729 lived on Old Peter's Road at the point where Salisbury, Leacock and the present Earl Townships meet...He lived northeast of Henry.
It may be possible to use the above guidance to get a fix on where Henry lived.
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