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[edit] Note 1From:Gen forum May 2011 JAMES EDGAR married to PHEBE WRIGHT, 16 Apr 1778 in Bedford Co. Her lineage is still unknown. Of Bedford Co. Wrights. She b. 1756. James died ~1812, date not known, but survey for Phebe Edgar, widow's dower in lands, 16 Dec 1812, Bedford. Phebe appears to have died by August 1833, when son, William Edgar files for letters of administration in the Bedford Court. James Edgar received money for deits in 1781, and is eligible for the DAR for Public Service for Rev. War - Bedford Co. VA Order Book 6, p. 345, 1781. James Edgar first appears in Bedford records after the will of his father, George, when he signs an indenture to purchase 275 acres of land on both sides of the South Fork of the Little Otter River in Bedford. Purchased from James and Martha Boyd, 24 Sep 1771. He next purchases land from the attorneys representing Thomas Pleasants (Charles Lynch and Robert Cowan). 247 acres in Bedford Co, 20 Jly 1786. [edit] Note 2From Genforum May 2011 "Cowan, Robert, Bedford Co., Va. Tobacco planter: settled there with wife and family for 20 years, was a J.P., and had much influence. Refused to take rebel oath, was imprisoned; house surrounded and ransacked; escaped to N.Y. Came from there to England bringing with him bills of exchange which have been protested; With wife and children has deserted a fortune. Memorial: 24 Feb. 1778 London. Granted £100 p.a." Below is a full transcription of the claim. To The Right Honorable The Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury The Petition of Robert Cowan Humbly Showeth That your petition having been settled for near twenty years in Bedford County in The Colony of Virginia, had by his industry and application to the benefits of a Tabacco Planter acquired A compliment and easy fortune, in which he was blessed with his wife and family at the commencement Of the present rebellion. That your petitioner having the Honor to hold a Commission of the peace Under his Excellency, The Earl of Dunmore, hath uniformly acted agreeable thereto, and even Distinguished himself by his loyalty to his Sovereign and attachment to the constitution, and having from A long residence in his County possessed a Considerable Influence over the minds of the people, he exerted It on all occasions, to warn them early in this Unhappy dispute, of the Total Consequence attendant On the destructive measures, which their Leaders have so artfully led them into, A conduct so Invariably pursued, and solely dictated by your petitioners high Regard, for the National Rights of both Countries alarmed their leaders and has been the cause of a most crewel and Inveterate persecution Under which your petitioner groaned, Who thus separated in a manner from the Community For their vengeance, on the pretence of his having Joined the Loyalist in North Carolina under Gen. McDonald had his house surrounded and ransacked by a body of armed men, He hath been several Times dragged before their committee, and at last cited to take the oath of allegiance as a Magistrate Under their usurped power, he refused it with indignation, was deprived of his arms and imprisoned. Your petitioner thus horrified in continual and eminent danger of his life, Understandingly they Intended to Confine him to be tried, as a Traitor to their New Constitution, made his escape From Virginia, and at last got to New York, from whence he Hath Safely arrived here. Your petitioner having brought some Bills of Exchange for his support in Britain has Unfortunately had them protested, inconsequence of which he is Reduced to much distress, and therefore humbly hopes, that having deserted an affluent fortune with his wife and children, Rather than forego his Allegiance to his Country, Your Lordship will be pleased to take his case into Consideration, and Bestow such relief as you may Judge his Particular Case merits and your petitioner as In duty bound will ever pray yea
[edit] Note 3Jun. 9, 1769; Robert Cowan & Elizabeth Irvine; Isham Talbot, Surety. Feb. 20, 1787; James Penn & Peggy Cowan, dt Robt.; James Steptoe, Surety; Married by C. Clay. Feb. 8, 1794; Andrew Cowan & Rebeckah Patterson, dt Joseph; Andrew Black, Surety; Married by James Turner, Feb. 11, 1794. [edit] Note 4Jun 1773 Bedford County, Virginia Order Book, 1772-1774 – Order Book 5A, page 127, June Court 1773, William Cowan and Benjamin Lawson, Gentlemen, produced each a license to practice the Law in the County Court and thereupon took the usual Oaths to his Majestic Person and Government repeated and subscribed the tests, took the Oaths appointed by Law for County Court Lawyers and are admitted to practice in the Court. [edit] Note 5From: Marriages of bedford County Robert Cowan= Elizabeth Levine, widow, June 8 1769, Isham Talbot surety, Consent Elizabeth [edit] Note 6From:Wills in Bedford County, Google Books
[edit] Note 7from:Stevens and Allied Families, extracted 4 may 2011 "The Burton Chronicles state this William was born in Irvine, Scotland. In the 1749 Tithe Lists, William was living with his father, Christopher. In the 1750 List, he was living separately, but adjacent to him. No written document even intimates that William married at this time, but as William, Christopher and Margaret are near certain his children, he must have been. "William died in November 1766 and his unsigned will was probated and approved in February 1767. It does not name any children. He had earlier married Elizabeth Anthony, daughter of John, and they had four daughters based on later court actions with each one and his estate.... It is possible his first wife died shortly after the birth of their youngest child, Christopher or Margaret. It should be noted that David (his brother born in 1721) named his first son Christopher and his second William, whereas William reversed the order. This would make it likely that one son was named after his paternal grandfather and the other either his maternal grandfather or his paternal greatgrandfather. Since we know the paternal grandfather was named Christopher, this means it is the name William for which we have two choices." His will is recorded in 1767 in Bedford Co., Va. See notes above. From Davis Reese's research: "William Irvine who died in Bedford Co. 1766 ... was the son of the Christopher (wife Mary?) who died 1769 (will dated 1766) and his brother was David whose oldest son, Christopher, was born 1755. It is logical that William would name his oldest son Christopher for his father. I have found no documented listing of William's children. The names of four daughters are known from slaves transferred to them (last one in 1782). Marion Asher Fawcett stated that Christopher was unsuccessful in getting anything from his father's estate (father not named). Limited evidence (marriage records) indicates that William also had a son named William. He did not get any slaves. One possibility is that Christopher lived with his grandfather (Christopher) until he died in 1769, the same year Christopher petitioned the court to name John Irvine as his guardian and his step mother remarried. (Editor: I think this is exactly what happened.) No male deaths other than those above have been found for the time period in which Christopher's father died. Until further evidence is found, William appears to be the most logical as Christopher's father. (It was noted above, that Christopher's sons by Prudence Echols included Christopher, William and David.) Comment: the 1769 Christopher named his sons William and David, these are the names for the father and brother of the Christopher s/o William Irvine/Anne Craig. It is possible the 1769 Christopher was, therefore, their son which would make them the great grandparents of the Christopher who married Louisa Tucker." Later from Davis Reese: "Elizabeth Irvine married Robert Cowan 8 Jun 1769 in Bedford Co. (the Mrs. Elizabeth Anthony who married the William Irvine whose will was probated Feb. 1767.) As previously stated, this was a short time before Christopher petitioned the court. Reese: William Irvine will 12 Nov 1766, proved 25 Feb 1767. Elizabeth Irvine executrix. Children mentioned, not named. Will Book 1 (this is from an abstract.) After William married Elizabeth Anthony before March of 1760, his children first were cared for by their grandfather Christopher until he died in 1769, leaving them bereft again. They drifted from him to John of Hat Creek (for two of them), and for William off on his own. Their father Christopher settled in with Elizabeth and they had four daughters. Then in 1766, he died, and Elizabeth married Robert Cowan. With her she brought the Irvin estate, such as it was. There are several papers in the Va. records recording the 1773 suit brought against her by her Irvin step-children, trying to claim their father's estate. Apparently this failed. Robert Cowan, apparently a Tory sympathizer, left for England at the War's start, although he returned afterwards. The court papers are an assumed proof that the three children of William and his first wife are [as shown]. |
