Gowen Part I

 

The path from John Graweere to John Geaween to John Gowen who allegedly stepped off the White Lion in 1619, part of the '20 and odd'  is a long, twisting, turning, and in my opinion, misleading way to find ancestors of the Goins/Gowen etc. 

There is no original record pertaining to this John, it is a transcription of Conroe Robinson from the original book around the Civil War Time, and we all know what happened to court houses, they were burned, including this original record.  Robinson transcribed it as Graweere, then some time later McIlwaine transcribed Robinsons transcription as Graweere.  A gentleman in England then transcribed McIlwaine's transcription for the Virginia Genealogist as Geaween. 

As far as I was able to trace this back Paul Heinegg then used the Virginia Genealogist transcription rather than the 'Graweere' and changed the Geaween to Gowen. 

And the 'ancestor of the Gowen family was born' from Paul Heinegg whose research 

"A transcription is an exact word-for-word copy of the full document with all the spelling and grammar meticulously replicated." Julie Miller CG, CGL

We don't have the original document but we do have the original transcription. Graweere 

Are either of the transcriptions worth the paper they are written on? Furthermore there is no proof, at all, whoever he was, he did not step off the White Lion.  Is John Gowen a  real person, yes, but he is not John Gowen formerly known as John Geaween, who never exitsted. Perhaps John Gowen will fit in this story later on.  

Another twist was added in the 2012 paper on the Melungeon DNA Study by Roberta Estes, Jack Goins, Janet Crain and Penny Ferguson.  They wrote; 

" Goins Goins or similar names are found in early colonial records. John Gowen, "Gowen the Indian" was born about 1615 and by 1640, described as a "negro", had been freed by William Evans in York County, Virginia. He had a son by an African woman named Margaret Cornish about 1635 and in 1641 he purchased the son, Michael's (Mihill) freedom. Mihill had a son William born of a negro Prossa who patented land in James City County in 1668." [2}

How is John Gowen "Gowen the Indian" if Gawin the Indian is  found in the court record of Thomas Bushrod in 1670 to have his freedom in 1676, this court record below clearly shows in 1670 Gawin the Indian was with Mr. Thomas Bushrod in York County.

GAWIN THE INDIAN

Gawin, Indina & Mr. Thomas Bushrod (3)

Thomas Bushrod first went to Massachusetts, then settled in York County, VA, and from York County he was a Burgess in the Assemblies of 1658-1659 and 1659-1660. [Journals of the House of Burgesses 1619-1659, and Colonial Virginia Register by Stanard]. He was a Puritan [a Quaker] and was at various times embroiled in difficulties with authorities in Virginia. He was twice married, one of his wives being the widow of Captain Thomas Hill, Mary [Piersey] Hill, mother of five Hill children, but he died without male issue. Mary was a Quaker. Thomas Bushrod lived at Essex Lodge, York County, VA. His will was probated in York County, VA in 1677 [Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 23].

1682, April 20 – Gawen Gawin 1000a s side of Totopottomoys Cr in New Kent Co, Va.   – New Kent Co VA Land Grant 1682 

1682, April 20 – Gawen Gawin 1000a s side of Totopottomoys Cr in New Kent Co, Va.   Gawen Gawin – New Kent Co VA Land Grant 1682 
Transcribed by: Regena Cogar
Surnames: GAWIN, DABNEY, DAVIS, BRYOR, PONGER, PENGER, TAYLOR, BARROW, HILL, DEGAR, HUBBERD, POPE, THOMAS, LEMON, RAVENEL, WALTON, CHENEY, SHALTON, WALLINGTON, JACKSON, LINDSEY, DENHAM
VA Patents 7, p. 160
Library of Virginia Digital Collection: Land Office Patents and Grants.  Gawin 1000
To all &c. Whereas &c. Now Know yee that I S[i]r Henry [Ch—eley?] K[nigh]t deputy [governor?] [do] give and grannt unto Gawen Gawin One tho[w?]sand acres of land lying in the County of New Kent upon the South side of [Totopottomoys?] Creeke & bounded as followeth begining upon the upper line of Cornelius Dabneys land runing South South East along the said line three hundred twenty five pole to a markt red oake from thence West five hundred & twoe pole to a marked hiccory from thence North North West three hundred twenty five pole to a marked red oake [—?] the said Creeke from thence downe the said Creeke to the first Station the said land being formerly grannted to John [Davis?] by Pattent bearing date the [27?]th February [1660?] and by him [deserted?] and now grannted to the said Gawin [by order?] of the Gener[al] Court and [further?] due by and for the transportacon of twenty p[er]sons into this Colony whose names [—?] under this pattent menconed To have & to hold &c. To be held &c. Yeilding & paying &c. Provided &c. Dated the twentieth of Aprill [1682?] ~
John Bryor, Tho: [Ponger?/Penger?], Geo: Taylor, [Tho:?] Barrow, And: Hill, Corne: Degar, Cathe: Hubberd, John [Pope?], [Bess?], Sam[?] Thomas, Mary Lemon, John [Ravenel?], Sam:ll Walton, Margaret [Cheney?], Dan:ld [Shalton?], Jon: Wallington,
Jon: Jackson, [Ja-?] Lindsey, Mary Denham, Mariah.
NOTE: Transcriber’s comments are in brackets [ ].

Deed  (4) 

.....in the summer of 1678 Cockacoeske directed her interpreter Cornelius Dabney to compile a list of grievances, which she sent to the governor. She also had him dispatch to England a letter in which she professed her loyalty to the Crown and complained about the tribes that disobeyed her orders. The letter, signed “Cockacoeske Queen of Pamunkey,” 

Hanover County, Virginia  was created in November 20, 1720 from New Kent County. 

New Kent County, Virginia  was created in 1654 from York County

Christopher Gowen Sr appears to have been born about 1649.  He was married to Anne (unknown maiden name).

In  1673 Christopher Gowin is an indentured servant.  His indenture is in York Co, Virginia.  The source indicates his date of birth is about 1649. Source Citations: Benjamin B. Weisiger, York County, Virginia Records 1672-1676 (n.p.: n.p., 1991), 60, quoting York County, Virginia Record Book 5:49

1673 June 24 – Deposition of Christopher Gowin, age 24, saith that several times after John Williams, who drove away his mater’s mares out of the hundred, came to his mater’s house and came to deponent in the field, where he was at work, and told him he had brought home the old mare; whereupon deponent went to his mistress, his master not being at home, and she bid deponent go along with John Williams and see her, which he did; and went to Goodman Gill’s fence, where said Williams told him he had left her, but deponent saw none of her. Since, said Williams told deponent several times he would find her. Sworn at Ct. 24 June 1673. Christopher Gowin (CC)-mark.  (6)

 Christopher Gowen was married about 1678, wife’s name, Anne.  Christopher Gowen and Anne Gowen were living in Abingdon Parish in January 1679 when their son, Michael Gowen was born, according to “Abingdon Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia Register.” 1679 January – Michael Gowen, son of Christopher Gowen and Anne Gowen, was born – 1679 January – Michael Gowen is born in January 1679, according to “Abingdon Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia Register, 1678-1761,” page 275. Glaucester Co, Va  

1702 July 4 – “Michael Gowin” and “Phillip Gowin” were serving in the militia in nearby New Kent* County. They were serving under Col. John Lightfoot. Created in 1654, New Kent County then encompassed territory included in the present counties of King William, King and Queen, Hanover, and New Kent. Va Miltia – New Kent County. Virginia’s Colonial Soldiers, By Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck pg. 218.  *New Kent was created from York. (1)

1734 June 7 –John Gowin leased 170 acres of land from Shurley Whatley in St. Martins Parish in adjoining Hanover County, Virginia … between Shurley Whatley of the Parish of Saint Martin in the County of Hanover of the one part and John Gowin of the afsd Parish & County of the other part. in consideration of the sum of 3000 pounds of sweet scented tobacco and caske … paid by the said John Gowin.   … confirm unto the said John Gowin … land containing 170acres … on branches of Beverdam Swamp … at William Hix’s corner … in John Wright’s line … in Capt. Winslows line …Signed: Shurley Whatley, Rebecca Whatley
Wit: Samuel Saxon, Abra Cook, Richard Write
… Rebecca the wife of the said Whatley … relinquished all her right of dower … (7) 

So to Recap

We have Gawin the Indian, Indentured Servant to Thomas Bushrod in York County, to get his freedom in 1676.  

We have Christopher Gowin in 1673 and Indentured Servant in York County. Married by 1678 and Michael Gowen, son of Christopher Gowen and Anne Gowen, was born – 1679 January. 

Gawen Gawin?  is granted a thousand acres on Totopotomoy Creek in New Kent, later Hanover County, in 1682 on the land of the Queen of the Pamunkey, adjacent to her interpreter.  

York County is parent county of New Kent and Hanover County

HANOVER COUNTY VIRGINIA

Gawin Gawin 1682
Michael Gowen 1702
Phillip Gowen 1702
John Gowen 1734
Michael Gowen Sr 1743-44
Michael Gowen Jr 1743-44
David Gowen  1743-44

Edward Gowen  1743-44

    Modern map of Totopotomoy Creek in Hanover County 

Totopotomoy Creek is a physical feature (stream) in Hanover County.

A Merchant's Account Book: Hanover County, 1743-1744

May 1998

If John Gowen is father to Milhil/Michael and Philip, then is John Gowen related to Gawin Gawen the Indian, is Gawin Gawen aka Christopher Gowen or a brother since it appears both were found in York/Hanover County Virginia? Are all three Gowen related and therefore all of Native American descent/belong to the Pamunkey Tribe?  If Christopher and Anne are noted as the father of Michael Gowen and Christophen Gowen is an indentured servant in York County, parent county of Hanover, Philip and Michael never moved, the county lines did.   
Occam's Razor - KISS

Questions need Answers

Goins Part II  Tommy Goins
Granville County - Pee Dee River to Tennesse

(1) GOYEN FAMILY TREE 
https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/john-graweere-or-geaween/

 (2) Melungeons, A Multi-Ethnic Population page 56

(3) A Study of Virginia Indians and Jamestown: The First Centuryt
https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/jame1/moretti-langholtz/chap10a.htm

(4)  Library of Virginia  
https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990007576080205756

(5) Deed
http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/drawer?retrieve_image=LONN&dir=/LONN/LO-1/007/007&image_number=0163&offset=%2B3&name=Patents+No.7+1679-1689+(VOL.1+%26+VOL.2)&dbl_pgs=no&round=

(6) York County, Virginia. Deeds, orders, wills, No. 5 1657-1694. pg 49.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TZ-C3TR?i=455&cat=367215

(7)  Deeds, wills, inventories, and settlement of estates 1733-1735. p. 71-72. Hanover Co, Va.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-3S6B?i=47&cat=365146

(8)  PORTUGUESE INDIANS  

https://the-melungeons.blogspot.com/2022/12/de-soto-portuguese-ship-captain-andre.html

When reading this keep in mind the 20 0dd that stepped off the White Lion in 1619 were not the first African/Slaves in this country.  In 1527, eighty years before Jamestown  a hundred slaves were part of the Lucas DeAyllon settlement on the Pee Dee River.  Not all likely survived the Indian attacks or disease  but surely not all one hundred died, some are said to have joined the Natives in Carolina.  Of the 600 men and women with DeAyllon only 150 returned, leaving 450 unaccounted for.  

Thirteen years later DeSoto came up the Pee Dee River with his Spanish and Portuguese and slaves, it is documented they borrowed Native women from the towns - South Carolina to Louisianna - where DeSoto died two years later.  Again in 1570 Juan Pardo came up the Pee Dee River mixing with the Carolina Natives.   These Natives were carrying Portuguese/Spanish and African DNA long before the White Lion.  Those absorbed by the Native tribes were Indians in 1619. (8)