John
Gowen, [William
Alexander1] son of
William Alexander Gowen and Elizabeth Frost Gowen, was born November 19, 1668
at Kittery, Maine. He became a large
landowner in that area, a substantial farmer, a selectman, a mariner and a land
surveyor. In 1691 he was married to his
first cousin, Mercy Hammond, daughter of Maj. Joseph Hammond and Katherine
Frost Hammond, sister to Elizabeth Frost Gowen.
Mercy
Hammond Gowen, was born in 1674 at Wells, Maine. Her father was born in 1646 at Wells, the son of William Hammond
and Benedictus Hammond.
On
October 3, 1693 a strange grand jury report was filed involving John Gowen and
Mercy Hammond Gowen, according to "Province and Court Records of
Maine." The statement was
recorded in "York Deeds,"
Vol. 2, page 23. The grand jury
indictment read, "Wee present John Gowen alias Smith and Mercy Hamon that
was for fornication presentable per the law."
"York
Court Records" Volume 6, page 102 shows on January 2, 1693-94: "Mercy Gowen
alias Smith, being presented for fornication uppon her humble petition to
excuse her absence is fined thirty shillings and to pay five shillings (court)
fees, which was paid". This entry
was also recorded in "York Court Records" Vol. 2, page 23.
It
is interesting to note that James Warren, Jr. was fined for fornication at the
same time, according to "Province and Court Records of Maine"
Vol. 4 by Neal W. Warren.
John
Gowen failed to appear in court October 2, 1694, and the court clerk entered
"warrant to be issued out for his contempt of authority and for his
appearance at ye next sessions," according to "York Court
Records," Vol. 2, page 35.
On
March 14, 1700 John Gowen "alias Smith" paid three pounds, six
shillings, eight pence to James Gowen "as his part of the estate of
William Alexander Gowen as approved by the probate January 19, 1696-97,"
according to "York Deeds."
John
Gowen "alias Smith" and Nicholas Gowen "alias Smith",
"both of Berwick in Kittery." requested their neighbors to partition
between them the land they had inherited from their father and from Tristram
Harris, according to "Province and Court Records of Maine." Their request, dated July 10, 1700 was to
"provide allowance to our mother her thirds and to our brethren and
sisters their portions." John
Gowen and Nicholas Gowen agreed January 19, 1702-03 to divide the inheritance
from Tristram Harris in equal halves.
Mercy
Hammond Gowen witnessed a deed June 20, 1701, according to "York Court
Records" Volume 6, page 3.
John
Gowen was one of the 17 men who founded the First Church of Berwick, Maine
December 21, 1701. He was carried on
the church roll as one of the charter members of the congregation.
John
Gowen appeared on a York County jury list April 7, 1702, July 7, 1702, October
6, 1702 and January 5, 1702-03. He witnessed
a deed at Kittery January 21, 1704, according to "York Deeds,"
Volume 7, page 28.
On
March 5, 1711-12 John Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen received a settlement of
her inheritance from the estate of her father, Joseph Hammond.
The
settlement contract read:
"These Presents Testify an agreement between Joseph Hamond,
Administrator to ye Estate of Joseph Hammond, Esquire, late of Kittery in ye
County of York deceased, on ye one part & John Gowen & Mercy, his
wife, of ye Same Kittery aforesaid on ye other part Witnesseth that for &
in Consideration of ye full Sum of Ninety Eight pounds thirteen Shillings &
Seven pence to ye said John Gowen & Mercy, his said wife, in hand well
& truely paid ye said Joseph Hamond they, ye said Gowen & his said
wife. do Accept of ye Same in full Satisfaction for their whole right &
Interest in ye Estate of ye said Joseph Hamond Esquire deceased, and they,
ye said John Gowen & Mercy his said wife, for themselves, their heirs,
Executors, Administrators & Assigns do by these presentments fully remise
release & for Ever Quitt Claime Exonerate & discharge their brother
Joseph Hammond abovesaid his heirs Executors and Administrators all & all
manner of Suits, Actions, Cause or Causes of Actions, Accompts, reckonings,
strifes, variences, Quarrells, Controversyes Debts Dues & Claims whatsoever
of them, ye said John Gowen & Mercy his said wife, from ye begining of ye
world to ye date of these presents referring to ye Estate Real & Personal
of their said father deceased, Excepting only out of this General release ye
widows Dower or thirds in ye houseing & lands of ye decedent at ye
Expiration of her Term for which ye said Joseph Hamond his heirs etc. ye Sum of
Twenty four pounds fifteen Shillings & 3d within one year after ye Decease
of their Mother.
It is also further Agreed by ye partys abovesaid that what Ever Debts
or Claims Shall appear against ye abovesaid Estate real or personal ye said
John Gowen & Mercy his said wife Shall refund & pay back their proportionable
part thereof unto ye Administrator & for his Just Charge thereabout &
ye said Joseph Hamond doth hereby Oblige himself to pay unto ye abovesaid
Gowen ye full Sixth part of what Shall hereafter Come to his knowledge not yet
in ye Inventory, In witness where of ye partys have Set their hands &
Seals this fifth day of March Anno
Domini 1711-12.
Signed Sealed & Delivered Jos.
Hamond
in presence of us: John
Gowen
Mercy
Gowen
John Hill
Bennoni Hodsden
Nicholas Gowen"
On
the same day John Gowen sold to his brother Nicholas Gowen his half of the
Tristram Harris inherited land for 15 pounds, according to "York
Deeds." The conveyance covered
"Twenty five Acres Scituate in York Township of Kittery being ye one halfe
of Fifty Acres of land known by ye name of Trustram Harris out Lot it being the
westermost part of said Fifty Acres according as ye Same is Set forth and
bounded in A Certain Agreement or Instrument in Writting under ye hands and
Seals of us ye said John & Nicholas Gowen baring date ye Nineteenth day of
January one thousand Seven hundred and two-three." Mercy Hammond Gowen gave up her "right
of dower and power of thirds" in the land in a separate acknowledgement.
On
August 25, 1720 the York County militia ordered that "a garrison or a
place of refuge be erected at the home of John Gowen." The militia later ordered "that the
home of John Gowen be made defencible and that Nicholas Gowen, Thomas Weed and
their families lodge therein," according to "Maine Historical
& Genealogical Recorder."
Mercy
Hammond Gowen died about 1725. When
John Gowen sold his farm, he reserved the "family burying
ground." John Gowen died in
Berwick January 9, 1732-33, according to "Colonial Families in the
United States." Graves found
at this location were marked only with fieldstones. More recent graves there had a monument inscribed "Asa Gowen
and wife."
Children
born to John Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, according to "Colonial
Families of the United States," include:
Dorcas Gowen born
August 13, 1692
George Gowen born
August 10, 1696
William Gowen born April 27, 1697
John Gowen born
May 24, 1698
Mercy Gowen born
January 27, 1700-01
Joseph G. Gowen born November 28, 1703
Jane Gowen born
May 17, 1706
Lemuel Gowen born
September 22, 1709
William Gowen born July 14, 1715
Dorcas
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] daughter of
John Gowen and Mercy Gowen, was born at Berwick, Maine August 13, 1692. About 1724 she accused John Treworgy of an unlawful
trespass, but "he could not be found," according to court
records. Dorcas Gowen died unmarried in
1732.
George
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born at Berwick, Maine August 10, 1696. He died June 30, 1712.
William
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born April 27, 1697 in Berwick. He died July 7, 1713.
John
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born at Berwick May 24, 1698. He became a mariner. He was married January 31, 1719-1720 to his
first cousin, Elizabeth Ferguson, daughter of Alexander Ferguson and Elizabeth
Gowen Ferguson, aunt of John Gowen, according to "Colonial Families of
the United States." Both were
of Kittery," according to "Maine Historical Genealogical
Recorder."
John
Gowen was sued in 1728 by his father-in-law for boarding his daughter Jane
Gowen for four and a half years. Elizabeth
Ferguson Gowen died before 1731, and John Gowen died in 1732.
Children
born to John Gowen and Elizabeth Ferguson Gowen include:
Jane Gowen born
September 23, 1721
Jane
Gowen, [John3, John2, William Alexander1] daughter
of John Gowen and Elizabeth Ferguson Gowen, was born September 23, 1721
probably at Kittery. Following the
death of her mother about 1723 she lived with her grandparents, Alexander Ferguson
and Elizabeth Gowen Ferguson. Her
grandfather sued her father in 1727 for her board for four and a half
years. When Alexander Ferguson wrote
his will in York County April 28, 1731 he inserted " I give to my granddaughter,
Jane Gowen, child of my daughter Elizabeth Gowen, deceased, one feather bed at
age 18 or at marriage and five pounds of current money when she is 18. Of Jane Gowen nothing more is known.
Mercy
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] daughter of
John Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born January 27, 1700-01. She was married March 19, 1726-27 in
Gloucester, Massachusetts to Moses Riggs.
Joseph
G. Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born November 28, 1703 at Kittery. In 1726 he was married to Elizabeth Ford,
daughter of Stephen Ford and Elizabeth Hammond Ford, believed to be a sister
to Mercy Hammond Gowen. Stephen Ford
and Elizabeth Hammond Ford were married in 1701. Stephen Ford was the son of William Ford and his wife, Mary who
were married in 1663. William Ford, who
was the son of Timothy Ford, died in 1682.
Mary Ford was born in 1644 and died in 1708.
Joseph
G. Gowen was a mariner all his life.
After their marriage his wife was admitted to the church December 24,
1727.
Joseph
G. Gowen paid taxes on his property in the years of 1727, 1734 and 1744. He gave to I. Foster, a mortgage and discharged
it in 1736. His taxes were abated for
1735 and 1740. These were possibly
years in which he was in the king's service in the Royal Navy. In 1735 he purchased a house and lot from
James Day and he deeded to three children Hammond Gowen, William Gowen and
Elizabeth Gowen a house in 1747. In
1748 he was taken into court by Day in a suit concerning a levy "on part
of."
He
was lost at sea in a storm off Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1747, according to "Genealogies
and Estates in the Town of Charlestown, County of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts,
1629-1818," published by
Thomas Wyman in Boston in 1879.
Charlestown was later incorporated as part of Boston, Massachusetts. Another source states that he was lost at
sea in 1752.
Administration
of the estate, valved at 72 pounds, was given to Hammond Gowen on June 19,
1752. [One source states 1753]. A notation in settlement mentions that Hammond
Gowen had loaned 46 pounds to his father in North Carolina. The administration account also shows
payment to Robert Kelley for a coffin.
Children
born to Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen include:
Hammond Gowen born January 9, 1727
Joseph G. Gowen, Jr. born May 10, 1730
William Gowen born September 10, 1732
Elizabeth Gowen born June 8, 1734
Joseph Gowen Jr. [2] born May 22, 1736
Abigail Gowen born January 18, 1738
Abigail Gowen [2] born October 9, 1743
Hammond
Gowen [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
Gowen, son of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen and a namesake of his
grandmother, Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born January 9, 1727 at Charlestown. He went to sea early in his life and became
a sea captain.
On
May 19, 1748, at age 21, he was married to Mary Croswell who was "admitted
to the church January 5, 1756."
Mary Croswell was born in 1730, the daughter of Thomas Croswell. Thomas Croswell, was born in 1706 and in
1728 was married to Mary Pierce Pitts [1706-1730]. Thomas Croswell, was the son of Caleb Croswell [1679-1713] who in
1700 married Abigail Stimson [1679-1738].
The parents of Caleb Croswell were Thomas Croswell [1638-1708] and
Priscilla Upham Croswell [1642-1717].
Hammond
Gowen died of apoplexy on July 14, 1762.
Mary Croswell Gowen was remarried in 1763 to Nathan Sargent.
Several
legal records concerning Hammond Gowen were listed in "Genealogies and
Estates." Only a few of them
have been checked. Tax records are
listed for years of 1748, 1756, 1758 and 1761.
Hammond Gowen was an extensive land owner in Middlesex County. The inventory of his estate totaled £2,754,
and was administered to the widow Mary Croswell Gowen on July 5, 1762--ten days
before his death! Very likely this is a
clerical error. Mystic River and
Bunker Hill were mentioned as reference points in the legal description of the
property.
The
widow, Mary Croswell Gowen mortgaged "one-half of house, northerly
part" to Nehemiah Rand on August 27, 1762. On October 27, 1767 Mary Croswell Gowen Sargent paid off the
mortgage.
Children
born to Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen include:
William Gowen born September 13, 1749
Joseph Gowen born
January 14, 1751
Hammond Gowen born January 26, 1754
Mary Gowen born
May 21, 1755
Elizabeth Gowen born December 27, 1756
Abigail Gowen born April 9, 1759
John Gowen born
July 31, 1760
William
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born September 13, 1749
Charlestown, Massachusetts. In 1764,
at age 15, he chose Nathan Sargent as his guardian. He became a goldsmith and a jeweler and became very
successful. In 1771, he sold his home
and land in Charlestown to Ebenezer Harnden and Michael Negels of Medford.
William
Gowen was married April 29, 1772 to Eleanor Cutter, according to "Vital
Records of Medford, Massachusetts."
She was born August 7, 1753 at Medford to Ebenezer Cutter and Eleanor
Floyd Cutter. On July 19, 1774, he was
named the guardian of his younger brother, John Gowen, age 15. His bond for guardianship was cosigned by his brother, Joseph Gowen,
apothecary.
"William
Gowen," turned in $289 in Revolutionary bank notes for new currency in
1779 at "Town No. 96," unidentified, in Massachusetts.
On
April 12, 1783, William Gowen purchased a new home from Seth Blodgett for
£500. On October 26, 1784, William
Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen sold the property to their brother-in-law, John
Bishop. Elizabeth Gowen, his sister was
a witness to the transaction.
On
August 25, 1785, John Gowen and Eleaner Cutter Gowen sold a house for £500 to
William Cutter, "distiller," regarded as her brother. She conveyed the release of her dower
rights, and the transaction was witnessed by Joseh Gowen.
William
Gowen appeared as the head of a household in the 1790 census of Medfordtown,
Massachusetts, according to "Heads of Families, Massachusetts,
1790," page 149:
"Gowen, William white male over
16
white female
white female
white female
white female
white female
white female
white male over 16
white
male over 16
white male under 16
white male under 16"
William
Gowen sold to Isaac Bowers "Pew 14" in the Medford Meeting House June
10, 1790. On February 25, 1791 he
repurchased "Pew 14" from Issac Bowers. On December 6, 1794 "William Gowen of Boston,
Gentlemen" sold "Pew 14" in Medford Meeting House to Benjamin
Hall of Medford. Eleanor Cutter Gowen
signed her release of dower.
William
Gowen died September 13, 1808 at Dorchester, Massachusetts. "Mrs. Eleanor Gowen, widow" died
of apoplexy June 3, 1826 at age 72, according to "Vital Records of
Medford, Massachusetts." She
was buried at the Unitarian Church, First Parish.
Children
born to William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen include:
Eleanor Gowen born January 19, 1773
Hammond Gowen born August 26, 1774
Polly Gowen born
October 1, 1776
Elizabeth Gowen born January 22, 1778
Lucretia Gowen born January 22, 1781
William Cutter Gowen born September 21, 1783
Hammond Gowen born July 6, 1786
Mary Abigail "Maria" Gowen born in 1794
An
apparent relative to William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, Betsy Gowen, 33,
died December 26, 1789 "of consumption in Boston," according to "Vital
Records of Medford, Massachusetts."
She was buried at the Unitarian Church Cemetery in the First Ward in
Medford.
Eleanor
Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born January 19,
1773 at Medford. Eleanor Gowen was
married to William Hall October 16, 1791 in the Unitarian Church of Medford,
according to "Vital Records of Medford, Massachusetts." She died in Quebec City, Quebec in 1860.
Hammond
Gowen, son of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born August 26,
1774. He died at 13 months, July 30,
1775, according to the records of Unitarian Church, First Parish published in "Vital
Records of Medford, Massachusetts."
Polly
Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born October 1,
1776 in Medford. Of this individual
nothing more is known.
Elizabeth
Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born January 22,
1778 in Medford. She was married about
1795, husband's name McGee.
Lucretia
Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born January 22,
1781 in Medford. She was married about
1799 to John Brooks, a merchant. She
died September 1807, and he was remarried to her younger sister, Abigail
"Maria" Gowen.
William
Cutter Gowen, son of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born September
21, 1783 in Medford. As a young man, he
went to sea, making voyages down the east coast to Cuba. Upon the death of his father in 1808, he
gave his power of attorney to John Brooks, his brother-in-law. In 1810 he purchased a home on Spring Street
in Medford from William Hawes.
About
1811, he removed to Cuba and established residence in Havana, then the third
largest city in the western hemisphere.
William Cutter Gowen saw the business opportunities in Cuba, but
realized that the Spanish franchise system stifled free enterprise there and
returned to Boston. On October 10,
1815, William Cutter Gowen, "former resident of Cuba, but now of Boston,
merchant," bought a new brick building on Fort Hill from his brother-in-law, John Brooks and his
second wife, Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks who signed a release of her
dower. In that year, he also bought
"property in Hamilton" from James Hooper.
In
1817, the Cuban government suppressed the tobacco monopoly, and William Cutter
Gowen immediately returned to Havana.
In that year he, "former resident of Boston, now of Havana, Cuba in
consideration of $1 paid by his mother, Eleanor Gowen of Boston and further
consideration of love and affection; leases to her for and during her natural
life the house and land on Fort Hill, Boston, being the whole of the estate
conveyed to him by John Brooks, said premises late in occupation by said
Brooks."
John
Brooks experienced severe financial reverses shortly afterward and died in
1823, leaving his widow, Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks and their
children almost penniless. She
immediately sailed to Cuba to join her brother, William Cutter Gowen who had
established a large tobacco plantation at Matanzas, Cuba.
As
the health of his mother began to fail, the Fort Hill property was returned to
him. William Cutter Gowen, "of
Matanzas, Cuba" in 1825 sold the property to Ann Hale and took her
mortgage in the transaction.
William
Cutter Gowen died the following year, and Abigail "Maria" Gowen
Brooks inherited his large, successful tobacco plantation and sudden riches. With this wealth, she was able to enjoy
travel and the pursuit of culture. She
left the Cuban enterprise in the hands of elder son, Edgar Brooks and in 1829
was living in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Hammond
Gowen, son of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born July 6,
1786. In 1831, he was a merchant living
in Quebec City, Quebec.
Mary
Abigail "Maria" Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter
Gowen, was born in 1794 in Medford. Her
father died when she was 14, and her sister, Lucretia Gowen Brooks and her
husband, John Brooks, a merchant tailor took her in and provided her
education. Lucretia died in 1907, and
John Brooks was remarried to the 16-year-old Mary Abigail "Maria" Gowen. Her baptismal name was simply Abigail Gowen.
In 1819, the General Court of
Massachusetts permitted her to take the name Mary Abigail Brooks and she was
rechristened by that name at King's Chapel in Boston July 31, 1819.
In
1823, John Brooks died in poverty and left his widow and their sons penniless. Her brother, William Cutter Gowen,
immediately invited her and her sons to come and live on his tobacco plantation
in Cuba. Three years later, William
Cutter Gowen, died and left his immensely successful tobacco plantation to
Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks.
It
was there that she began to express her talent for poetry. Under the penname of "Maria del
Occidente" she wrote the first canto of "Zophiel" which was soon
published.
In
1829, she was living in Hanover, New Hampshire where she was actively seeking
an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy for her youngest son, Horace
Brooks. He wrote:
"My mother's special characteristic was her individuality. She generally succeeded in her
endeavors. For instance, she applied to
have me sent to West Point, so sent me to Washington in 1829 with letters,
etc. The appointment was promised, but
by some influence was over-ruled. She
then took me to Hanover, New Hampshire with a view to my entering Dartmouth
College. In the meantime, she went with
her brother Hammond Gowen of Quebec to Europe in 1830 where she visited Southey
[Robert Southey, famous English poet of Bristol, Gloucestershire]. With Southey's advice, she got out a London
edition of "Zophiel." She was
introduced to the Marquis de Lafayette who was so pleased with her that he
asked if he could be of any service to her.
'Yes,' said she, 'you may get my son into West Point.' Upon this, Lafayette wrote to Chief Engineer
Bernard, and the appointment of a cadet came to me."
Horace
Brooks entered the Academy in 1831 and was graduated as a second lieutenant in
1835. Lt. Brooks was stationed at the
Academy from 1836 to 1839, and Mary Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks
lived with him. When he was transferred
to Ft. Hamilton, New York in 1840, she accompanied him. During this period, she continued to write
poetry and published "Idomen" in 1843.
Mary
Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks sailed for Cuba for the last time in
December 1843 and died at Matanzas November 11, 1845 at the age of 51. Horace Brooks wrote, "She was buried at
Limonal by the side of my two brothers."
One of the brothers is suggested as a half brother, the son of Lucretia
Gowen Brooks.
Of
his mother Horace Brooks stated:
"My mother was quite a linguist.
She read and wrote fluently in French, Spanish and Italian; she also
sang many songs in these tongues. She
was a hard student and a woman of much research, and very particular to obtain
her authority from the original; and often attempted, with the assistnce of
some friend, the translation of obscure languages. I remember how she kept by her a Persian grammar and often
referred to it. She was also quite an
artist, and several pieces painted by her in water-colours were hanging up
about her rooms. She was a constant
attendant at church and always carried with her an English edition of the
services of the church. She was very
particular about her own language, disliked all interpolations, and always
referred to 'Johnson and Walker.' It
was delightful to hear her converse.
Her knowledge of present and past events and of the prominent characters
of history was astonishing. She would
tell anecdotes of persons so varied and interesting that her quiet and
unassuming conversation was sought and listened to by many distinguished
persons."
Rufus
Wilmot Griswold, critic, anthologist and editor of "Graham's
Magazine," wrote of her work in "Encyclopedia of American
Literature." He described her
as a "student of wide and accurate information, capable of thought and
research quite unusual for a woman of her time."
An
account of the life and works of Mary Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks
written by Zadel Barnes Gustafson was published in "Harper's
Monthly" in January 1879.
???????????
It is believed that among his children was:
.............
Medford Gowen born about 1795
Medford
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph
G.3, John2, William Alexander1] believed to be the
son of William Gowen, was born about 1795, probably in Charleston. He became a goldsmith. Medford Gowen was married about 1820 to
Eleanor Cutter, daughter of Ebenezer Cutter, Jr. Ebenezer Cutter, Sr, her grandfather, was born April 29, 1772 and
died in June 1826.
Eight
children were born to Medford Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, names unknown,
however it is believed that their names are recorded in "Cutter
Genealogy."
Joseph
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, namesake of his grandfather
Joseph G. Gowen, was born January 14, 1751 at Boston. Nothing more is known of this individual or descendants.
Hammond
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born January 26, 1754 in
Boston. He became a physician. It is believed that his will was
administered April 2, 1783, probably at Charlestown. Nothing more is known of Dr. Hammond Gowen or descendants.
Mary
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born May 21, 1755,
probably at Charlestown. In 1773 she
was married to David Vinton, believed to be a descendant of John Vinton who
appeared in Lynn in 1648, according to "Vinton Memorial." She died September 19, 1775, and he died
December 3, 1778.
One
son was born to them:
David Vinton born
in January 1774
David
Vinton, son of David Vinton and Mary Gowen Vinton, was born in Medford,
Massachusetts in January 1774, according to Eleanor Vinton Clark Murray, a
descendant. He was married in
Providence, Rhode Island May 17, 1774 to Mary Atwell who was born May 10,
1773. In 1807, he died in 1830 in a
visit to Kentucky. Mary Atwell Vinton
died in Boston May 15, 1854.
Children
born to David Vinton and Mary Atwell Vinton include:
Alexander Hamilton Vinton born May 2, 1807
Alexander
Hamilton Vinton, son of David Vinton and Mary Atwell Vinton, was born at
Providence May 2, 1807. He became a
Protestant Episcopal minister. He was
married October 15, 1835 to Eleanor Stockbridge Thompson, daughter of Ebenezer
Thompson of Providence. He became
rector of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Boston.
Children
born to Rev. Alexander Hamilton Vinton and Eleanor Stockbridge Thompson Vinton
include:
Mary Vinton born
October 14, 1840
Mary
Vinton, daughter of Rev. Alexander Hamilton Vinton and Eleanor Stockbridge
Thompson Vinton, was born October 14, 1840 in Providence. She was married about 1866, husband's name
Clark.
Children
born to Mary Vinton Clark include:
Eleanor Vinton Clark born March 30, 1867
Eleanor
Vinton Clark, daughter of Mary Vinton Clark, was born in Boston March 30,
1867. She was married about 1890 to
Thomas Morris Murray. She died July 12,
1958 at the age of 91.
Elizabeth
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born December 27, 1756,
probably in Charlestown. Nothing more
is known of this individual.
Abigail
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born April 9, 1759,
probably in Charlestown. On April 22,
1779 she was married at Walden, Massachusetts to Lt. Thomas Locke, who was
reared by William Locke and whose name he used. His real identity is unknown.
Lt.
Thomas Locke was a revolutionary soldier from Lexington, Massachusetts who was
born June 11, 1754. In 1783 and 1790
they lived at Lexington. He died
February 19, 1831 at age 78, according to "History of the Town of
Lexington" Volume 2, page 381 by Charles Hudson. He was buried in Lot 27, East Village
Cemetery in Lexington. Abigail Gowen
Locke survived until March 21, 1850 and died at age 91. She was buried beside her husband.
Children
born to Lt. Thomas Locke and Abigail Gowen Locke include:
Abigail Locke born about 1780
Attie Locke born about 1781
Mary Locke born
January 18,1783
Betsy Locke born
about 1786
Sally Locke born
about 1787
Zilpha Locke born
about 1788
Martha Locke born
about 1789
Otis Locke born
February 1790
Mary
Locke, daughter of Lt. Thomas Locke and Abigail Gowen Locke, was born at
Lexington, January 18, 1783. About 1801
she was married to Elias Crafts of Lexington.
Sally
Locke, daughter of Lt. Thomas Locke and Abigail Gowen Locke, was born about
1787, probably at Lexington. She was
married about 1803, husband's name Nichols.
Otis
Locke, son of Lt. Thomas Locke and Abigail Locke, was born February 26, 1790 in
Lexington. He was married to Kezie
Harrington about 1815. He died June 25,
1851.
Children
born to Otis Locke and Kezie Harrington Locke include:
George Augustus Locke born in 1817
William Gowen Locke born in 1819
George
Augustus Locke, son of Otis Locke and Kezie Harrington Locke, was born in 1817
in Lexington. Later he moved to
Charlestown and became a merchant and ship broker. About 1840 he was married to Lucretia Orme Benson. George Augustus Locke died in 1873 probably
at Boston in the area of the town previously called Charlestown.
Children
born to George Augustus Locke and Lucretia Orme Benson Locke include:
Caroline Lucretia Locke born in 1842
Caroline
Lucretia Locke, daughter of George Augustus Locke and Lucretia Orme Benson
Locke, was born in 1842 in Boston. In
1875 at age 33 she was married to John Houston Swift, a civil engineer and an
accountant, from Charleston, South Carolina.
The groom, a graduate of South Carolina Military Academy and a
lieutenant in the Civil War, was 47.
Children
born to John Houston Swift and Caroline Lucretia Locke Swift include:
Bonnell Locke Swift born in 1877
William Street Swift born December 30, 1878
Bonnell
Locke Swift, son of John Houston Swift and Caroline Lucretia Locke Swift, was
born in 1877, probably in Charleston.
About 1900 he was married to Ethel Maud Woodbury.
William
Street Swift, son of John Houston Swift and Caroline Lucretia Locke Swift, was
born December 30, 1878, probably in Charleston. He was married July 5, 1918 to Naomi Ordell Kline who was born in
Yorkana, Pennsylvania February 17, 1892, the daughter of Uriah Lemon Kline.
In
World War I Lt. William Street Swift commanded Company B, 328th Battalion, U.
S. Tank Corps in 1918 in France. He was
a Unitarian and made his home in Yorkana after the war.
Children
born to William Street Swift and Naomi
Ordell Kline Swift include:
William Street Swift, Jr. born April 13, 1919
William
Street Swift, Jr, believed to be the only child of William Street Swift, Sr.
and Naomi Ordell Kline Swift, was born April 13, 1919 in Yorkana. He was graduated from Pennsylvania State
College, class of 1940.
William
Gowen Locke, son of Otis Locke and Kezie Harrington Locke, was born about
1819.
John
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born July 31, 1760 at
Charlestown.
Joseph
G. Gowen, Jr, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born May 10, 1730. It is believed that he died prior to 1736,
because in that year another son was born and he also was named Joseph G.
Gowen, Jr.
William
Gowen, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born September 10, 1732.
Elizabeth
Gowen, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born June 8,
1734. It is believed that Elizabeth
Emery was married to Caleb Emery about 1754.
He was the grandson of Daniel Emery who was married to Margaret Gowen.
Joseph
G. Gowen, Jr, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born May 22, 1736.
Abigail
Gowen, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born January 18,
1738 at Boston. Apparently she died
before 1743. Another daughter, was also
named Abigail.
Abigail
Gowen, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born October 9, 1743
at Boston.
Jane
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] daughter of
John Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born May 13, 1706, probably at
Kittery. On June 26, 1724 she was
married to her cousin, William Gowen.
They were the grandparents of James Gowen of Westbrook, Maine. For an account of her life and descendants
see his section.
Lemuel
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born September 22, 1709, at Kittery. He was married January 25, 1731-32 to Mrs.
Judith Lord, a widow, according to "Colonial Families of the United
States." She was the daughter
of Nathan Lord, and accordingly, was not a widow, according to "Old
Kittery and Her Families," by Everett S. Stackpole.
Lemuel
Gowen wrote his will December 27, 1737 and died at sea shortly afterwards. Judith Lord Gowen was referred to as "a
widow" again September 28, 1738 when she was admitted to full communion by
the Second Church of Kittery, Maine.
The will of Lemuel Gowen was proved October 17, 1740.
Source
Page: Probate Office, 5, 195.
Name: Lemuel Gowen
Will Text: In the Name of God Amen
the twenty seventh Day of Decembr in ye Year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and
thirty seven, I Lemuel Gowen of Kittery in the County of York
within his Majests Province of ye
Massachusets Bay in New England Yeoman being bound a Voyage
to Sea and not Knowing wheather it
will please God to preserve my Life and return me in safety to
my Native Country. I Do make and
Ordain this my last Will and Testament.Imprimis I Do Resign
and submit both Body & Soul to
God in hopes of his favour & Grace in Christ and as to such Worldly
Estate as it has been pleased God to
give me in this Life I Will & bequeath in manner & form
following. That is to say I Give
& bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Iudith all my Real & personal
Estate to her Disposall for ye
benefit of my Children & I likewise appoint my sd Wife Judith my
whole & sole Executrix of this
my last Will & Testament Disannulling all former Wills by me
heretofore made In Witness whereunto
I have Set my hand & Seal ye Date above written.Signed
Sealed Pronounced & Declared by
ye sd Lemuel Gowen as his last Will & Testament in psence ofJno
WatkinsJames fferguson.Thos
Emery.Lemuel Gowen (Seal)Probated 17 Oct. 1740.
Judith
Lord Gowen filed a marriage intent with Abel Moulton of York County December 2,
1748. They were married December 22,
1748 "for a consideration of 2 shillings," according to the records
of First Church of Berwick. Abel
Moulton of Cider Hill brought Judith Lord Gowen Moulton "and her Gowen
children to York."
Children
born to Lemuel Gowen and Judith Lord Gowen include:
John Gowen born
November 20, 1732
Lemuel Gowen, Jr. born in 1734
Joseph Gowen born
about 1735
Nathan Gowen born
about 1736
John
Gowen, [Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Lemuel Gowen and Judith Lord Gowen, was born November 20, 1732,
according to "Old Kittery and Her Families.". He was baptized September 28, 1738 in the
First Church of Berwick.
Following
the marriage of his mother to Abel Moulton of York, in 1748 he was married May
5, 1766, at age 36, to Susanna Moulton, believed to the his step-sister. The couple filed intent April 19, 1766
showing both to be residents of York.
The Rev. Isaac Lyman performed the ceremony.
"John Gowen," Abraham Lord and Joshua Emery were imprisoned in December 1769 at Berwick, Maine. They were Baptists who had separated from the "standing church" in 1768 and organized a church under the leadership of Joshua Emery. For refusing to pay the