Andrew
Gowans and William Gowans, natives of Scotland, and believed to be brothers,
were residents of Montgomery County in the late 1840s.
Andrew
Gowans was born in Scotland in 1805. He
was married to Mrs. Ann McLane March 27, 1850, according to Montgomery County
marriage records.
They
appeared in the 1850 census of Montgomery County, Household 78-503 as:
"Gowans, Andrew 45, born in
Scotland, $1,200 real
estate
Ann 38, born in Scotland
McLeon,
Margaret 12, born in New Jersey, step-daughter
Mary J. 5
Helen W. 3"
William
Gowans was born in 1810 in Scotland.
William Gowans was married November 21, 1839 to Margarette Johnson. He was remarried to Elizabeth S. Van Hook
May 16, 1848, according to "Montgomery County, Tennessee Marriages,
1802-1850.".
"William McLean," probably related to Ann McLane, was the
bondsman.
William Gowans appeared in the 1850 census of
Montgomery County as the head of Household 77-503, adjoining the residence of
Andrew Gowans:
"Gowans, William 40, farmer,
born in Scotland
Elizabeth 30, born in TN
Sarah J. 2,
born in TN
Van Hook, Frances 19, born in TN"
The
household of William Gowans reappeared in the 1860 census of Montgomery County
in the "district north and east of Cumberland River", Household No.
885-885. The family was recorded as:
"Gowans, William 50, born in
Scotland, shoemaker,
$1,250 real
estate, $250
personal property
E. S. 40, born in TN
S. J. 11, born in TN, female
J. W. 9, born in TN, son
P. C. 7, born in TN, son
Lizzie 4, born in TN,
daughter"
When
William Gowans and Elizabeth S. Van Hooser Gowans died they were buried in
Gowans Cemetery located near Ringgold, Tennessee.
Children
born to William Gowans and Elizabeth S. Van Hooser Gowans include:
Sarah Jane Gowans born in 1848
John W. Gowans born August 31, 1850
P. C. Gowans born
in 1853
Lizzie Gowans born in 1856
Sarah
Jane Gowans, daughter of William Gowans and Elizabeth S. Van Hooser Gowans,
was born in 1848. She appeared in the
household of her father in the 1850 census of Montgomery County as a
two-year-old and reappeared there in the 1860 census as an 11-year-old. She was married December 13, 1871 to
William H. Matthews. When Sarah Jane
Gowans Matthews died she was buried in Matthews Cemetery, Civil District 7,
Montgomery County, Tennessee.
John
Gowans, son of William Gowans and Elizabeth S. Van Hooser Gowans, was born
August 31, 1850 in Montgomery, County.
He appeared in the 1860 census of Montgomery County as a nine-year-old
living in the household of his father.
He was married about 1870 to Tennessee Trice.
John
W. Gowans died June 8, 1877 and was buried in Gowans Cemetery near Ringgold. Tennessee Trice Gowans died June 20, 1883,
about age 50, and was buried in Gowans Cemetery. Two small children of John W. Gowans and Tennessee Trice Gowans
were also buried in Gowans Cemetery.
==O==
David
Gowen appeared as the head of a household in the 1850 census of Montgomery
County. The family was recorded as:
"Gowen, David 49, born in Virginia, farmer
Sophie 41, born in North Carolina
Robert 20, born in TN
Nancy 17, born in TN
Harvey 14, born in TN"
Harvey
Gowen, age 25, appeared in the 1860 census of Lincoln County, Tennessee.
==O==
MOORE COUNTY, TENNESSEE
S.
H. Gawan was recorded as the head of a household in the 1900 census of Moore
County, Enumeration District 99, page 1, Civil District 8:
"Gawan, S.
H. 36, born in March 1864 in TN
Mae 33, born in February 1867 in TN
M. P. E. 57, born in October 1842 in TN,
mother
==O==
Joseph
Gowin was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1900 census of Moore
County, Enumeration District 100, page 7, Civil District 10:
"Gowin, Joseph 45, born in October 1854 in TN
Fannie 44, born in May 1856 in TN
Clara 19, born in March 1881 in TN
Lee 17, born in October 1882 in TN
Walter 15, born in August 1884 in TN
Docia 13, born in February 1887 in TN"
OBION COUNTY,
TENNESSEE
Eliza
Goins was married to Joseph Parrish October 24, 1872, according to Obion County
marriage records. E. L. Williams was
surety.
==O==
S.
C. Goins, was the bride of R. S. Warford November 17, 1870, according to Obion
County marriage records. E. Kimberlin
was surety.
POLK COUNTY,
TENNESSEE
Solomon
Goans was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1850 census of Polk
County, Household 432-444:
"Goans Solomon 50, born in Tennessee
Elizabeth 30, born in Tennessee
Mary J. 10
Lilla 9
Sarah 7
Alexander 6
John H. 4"
Martha
Goin was married March 3, 1842 to James H. Dun, according to "Rhea County,
Tennessee Marriages, 1808-1850."
==O==
Miller
Goin, negro was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1900 census of
Rhea County, Enumeration District 87, page 12, Civil District 13:
"Goin, Miller 58, born in 1842 in TN,
negro
Tilda 50, born in 1850 in TN
Cora W. 19, born in April 1881 in
TN,
daughter
Houston 6, born in January 1894 in
TN,
son"
Creasman, Martha 28, born in August 1882 in
TN,
sister-in-law
Edith May
1, born in June 1889 in
TN,
niece
==O==
Rufus
Goin, negro was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1900 census of
Rhea County, Enumeration District 87, page 6, Civil District 6:
"Goin,
Rufus 35, born in 1865 in TN, negro
Nancy 27, born in January 1873 in TN
William C. 12, born in January 1888 in TN
Hunter 10, born in July 1889 in TN
Mamie 4, born in December
1895 in TN
Dolly 2, born in May
1898 in TN"
==O==
Acie
Goins was born in James County, Tennessee about 1880. He came to Graysville at an early age and married Sara
Bolden. It was a second marriage for
perhaps both of them. They had nine
children plus some step-children.
Among
children born to Acie Goins and Sarah Bolden Goins was:
Alvin Goins born
September 14, 1903
Alvin
Goins was the subject of an article written by Bennie McKenzie Fleming for "History of Rhea County,
Tennessee" She wrote:
"Alvin Goins, a lifelong resident of Rhea County, was born September
14, 1903, of Melungeon parentage in the Brown Rock section of Graysville, a
sparsely populated area on the road leading to Montague. This was the rural part of the county where
most of the Melungeons lived. Alvin was the youngest of about nine children
and several half siblings.
His father was Acie Goins, who was born in James County and came to the
Graysville community at an early age. He married Sara Bolden, whose family
lived in the same area.
Alvin never learned to read or write because he was injured when he
was kicked in the head at the age of five by a mule. This was confirmed by Mrs.
Hazel Keith, a former teacher in the Graysville School. With no formal
education, but apparently possessed with an innate ability coupled with a
passion for ciphering, he is considered a mathematical genius.
He can perform a remarkable feat of computation in his head that would
baffle a math professor. Given the day, month, and year of someone's birth, in a few seconds Alvin can estimate the exact
number of days that elapsed since then. Tested out by author Jean Patterson
Bible from a tape recording she made when she interviewed him for her book
about Melungeons, his figures were found to be correct down to the last digit.
Alvin worked in numerous lumber mills, one being in South Dayton and
from time to time on TVA projects. including Fontana Dam. When Oak Ridge was
being developed, Alvin got a job there for a while with a sawmill company. It
was said that he could accurately figure, in about five minutes, the amount of
board feet of lumber on a truck loaded with logs: e.g., given the number of
logs, length and width, he would tell you how many slabs to cut off. He was
fired when they learned that he was illiterate.
Another story that Alvin remembers was when a brick building was being
erected and for days the contractors were puzzled over the amount of brick to
be ordered. Alvin, in a matter of minutes after being given the dimensions of
the building and number of windows and doors, told them the number of bricks
required. Skeptically, the amount of bricks were ordered and when the building
was completed, only three bricks were left over.
As a boy, Alvin explored the mountains about Graysville, as was typical
of Melungeon youths at that time. He knew as he does today where all the coal outcroppings
were and the entrance to all the mines, even those abandoned. He was once
married to a "mail‑order bride" but the marriage lasted only a
short time.
For the past several years, Alvin has frequented the Court House,
especially the Trustee and Registrar of Deeds offices, counting Registrar
Gladys Best one of his best friends since she reads and interprets his letters
to him and he trusts her explicitly. He wears a heavy coat splattered with
amber, which is his "office" as he keeps big packages of mail, some
months old, secured by rubber bands in the numerous pockets. He never leaves
home without wearing this coat, summer or winter.
The last of his original family, he lives alone in his project
apartment in Dayton, his mind alert for his 86 years. He has several nieces who
care for him when he allows them. He is very independent and completely honest.
Alvin has not been well lately, hospitalized a few times in the past year. The
last time he was transferred to the Rhea County Nursing Home, but after two
weeks, he went back to his apartment. He says that neighbors and people in
Dayton are kind and help him,. and he was not happy being confined."
==O==
Arch
Goins was recorded as the head of a household in the 1900 census of Rhea
County, Enumeration District 86, page 3, Civil District 15:
"Goins, Arch 25, born in
September 1874 in TN
Florence 16, born in 1884 in GA"
==O==
Asbury
Goins, negro was enumerated as the head of a house-hold in the 1900 census,
Enumeration District 87, page 13, Civil District 13:
"Goins, Asbury 23, born in January 1877 in TN
Vesta A. 20, born in November 1879 in TN
Clarence E. 9/12, born in August 1899, in TN"
==O==
Eliza
Jane Goins was born in Dayton, Tennessee in 1909. She was married to William Henry Harrison who was born in Tulsa,
Oklahoma in 1870, and they lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee until 1956. They lived in Hamilton County, Ohio from
1956 until 1963.
==O==
Ike Goins was born in Rhea County, March 30,
1872, according to affidavit he made "to the public" May 4, 1938,
which was recorded in Hopkins County, Texas Deed Book 147, page 133.
In
the affidavit he stated that he had lived in Rhea County all his life and that
he was married to Mary Rudd Price, the third child of Mrs. Jane Hard Rudd, as
her second husband. She was previously
divorced from Lee Price. Ike Goins and Mary
Rudd Price Goins were married for 33 years before her death at age 58. No children were born to this union.
Ike
Goins gave a quit claim deed to Haynes Construction Company to land in Hopkins
County February 10, 1941, according to Hopkins County Deed Book 147, page 137.
==O==
Jane
Gowings was married to Finney Rawlins December 24, 1812, according to "Rhea County,
Tennessee Marriages, 1808-1850."
William
Goens was married to Ann Baker May 13, 1834, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855." Children born to William Goens and Ann Baker Goens are
unknown.
==O==
[Check
this against .002]
Sherrod
Going and his mother, Sophia Going, appeared in Roane County Chancery Court
records in 1825.
==O==
Zeory
Goings appeared as the head of a household in the 1840 census of Roane County,
page 47. The family was composed of:
"Goings, Zeory white male 30-40
white female 30-40
white female 5-10
white male 5-10
white male 0-5
white female 0-5
white male
0-5"
==O==
Adeline
G. Goins was married to Tobias Gallimore October 8, 1868.
==O==
Anderson
Goins was married to Miss M. C. Carson February 9, 1872, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855." Of Anderson Goins
and M. E. Carson Goins nothing more is known.
==O==
Claiborn
Goins was married to Ludda Underwood April 22, 1865 in Roane County.
==O==
Daniel
Goins was married September 30, 1871 to Susan Harman, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855." Children born to
Daniel Goins and Susan Harman Goins are unknown.
==O==
Dotson
Goins appeared as the head of a household enumerated in the 1850 census of
Roane County, Household 386, page 695.
The family appeared as:
"Goins, Dotson 46, born in TN
Nancy 65, born in TN
Dotson 10"
==O==
Edward
Goins was married to Margaret Riddle September 18, 1897.
==O==
E.
J. Goins was married June 20, 1885 to Anna Goodner, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855." Children born to
E. J. Goins and Anna Goodner Goins are unknown.
==O==
Elijah
Goins was married to Margaret D. Alexander October 24, 1865 in Roane County.
==O==
Granvil
Goins was married to Louisa Owens November 4, 1873, according to "Roane
County, Tennessee Marriages, 1801-1855." Children born to Granvil
Goins and Louisa Owens Goins are unknown.
==O==
Jinrey
Goins was married to Michael Fleming March 24, 1865 in Roane County.
==O==
John
Goins was married November 5, 1853 to Charlotte Burgis, according to "Roane
County, Tennessee Marriages, 1801-1855." Children born to John
Goins and Charlotte Burgis Goins are unknown.
==O==
John
W. Goins was married to Dinah Chilcutt December 14, 1864, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855." Of John W. Goins
and Dinah Chilcutt Goins nothing more is known.
==O==
Lizzie
Goins was married to Jack Thompson September 10, 1886, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855."
==O==
Margaret
Ann Goins was married to Timothy Johnson September 14, 1870, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855."
==O==
Martha
Goins was married to James Havens February 23, 1871, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855."
==O==
Martha
C. Goins was married to Hugh Johnson June 24, 1871, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855."
==O==
Mary
E. Goins was married to J. M. Gold October 4, 1886, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855."
==O==
Mary
E. Goins was married to R. T. Humphries July 29, 1886, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855."
==O==
Susan
C. Goins was married to W. H. P. Evans May 23, 1877, according to "Roane County, Tennessee Marriages,
1801-1855."
==O==
William
Goins appeared as the head of a household enumerated in the 1850 census of
Roane County, Household 755, page 746.
The family was recorded as:
Goins,
William 45, born in Virginia
Anne 45, born in North Carolina
Claborn 15,
Nancy 14,
Thomas 11,
Eliza J. 8,"
==O==
William
Goins was married to Mary Staples in Roane County.
==O==
William
D. Goins was married to Sarah Fields November 20, 1894.
==O==
Nathan
Gowen appeared on the 1805 tax list of Roane County.
==O==
Obadiah
Gowen wrote his will in Roane County in 1858, according to the research of
Sarah Foster Kelley, historian of Nashville, Tennessee.
ROBERTSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
Basha
Goin was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1850 census of Robertson
County, Household 1874-207:
"Goin, Basha 47, born in Tennessee
Sally 45, born in Tennesseee
Rhody 22,
Nancy 20
James 16
Mary 14
Thomas 12,
Andrew 10,
Martha J.
8,
John W. 4"
==O==
Roy
Goin, a negro, was recorded as the head of a household in the 1900 census of
Robertson County, Enumeration District 415, page 11, Civil District 1:
Goin, Roy 46, born in December 1853 in TN
Nancy 45, born in March 1855 in TN
Virgil 22, born in September 1877 in TN
Irvin 21,
born in January 1879 in TN
Lula 18,
born in March 1882 in TN
Oscar 16,
born in December 1883 in TN
Fanny M. 10, born in March 1890 in TN
Puss 7, born in December 1892 in TN
Jenny B. 6, born in February 1894
in TN
Nancy L.
5, born in March 1895 in TN
Frank A. B. 10/12, born in July 1899 in TN
Goin, Mollie 19, born in February 1881 in TN,
daughter-in-law"
==O==
Benjamin
Gowen was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1840 census of
Robertson County, page 181.
==O==
John
W. Gowen was enumerated as the head of Household 534-16 in the 1850 census of
Robertson County:
"Gowen,
John W. 23, born in Tennessee
Matilda 30, born in Tennessee
Lucinda 21"
==O==
Samuel M. Gowen was
dismissed August 18, 1798 from Red River Primitive Baptist Church, according to
"The Warren Family of Trigg County,
Kentucky" by Martha Jane Stone of Lexington, Kentucky. Red River Primitive Baptist Church was
organized July 25, 1791, and the church was located at the mouth of the Sulphur
Fork of Red River. Five other churches
in Tennessee and Kentucky were spawned as Red River members through the years
elected to organize new congregations.
==O==
Mr.
B. Goyne was a member of Red River Primitive Baptist Church in 1810, according
to "Churches of Robertson County,
Tennessee."
A
petition dated August 10, 1803 requesting the formation of a new county was
circulated through the southeastern portion of Davidson and Williamson
Counties, receiving 256+ signatures.
The petition pointed out to the General Assembly that "is is
inconvenient for your petitioners to attemd Courts, General Musters, Elections,
etc. at the towns of Nashville and Franklin."
The
petition recommended by metes and bounds the size and shape of the proposed
county:
"Beginning on the top
of a ridge dividing the waters of Stone's River & Mill Creek, in the
Williamson County line, & running southwardly with said ridge as to leave
all the waters of Mill Creek & Harpeth River in Williamson County, until
the ridge intersects the now Eastern boundary of said Williamson County;,
thence continue South with said line of Williamson County to the south boundary
of this state; thence with the line of Wilson County North and Northwestwardly
with said county line eo an elm and white ash, the corner of said county, which
is Northeast from the mouth of Hurricane Creek which is four miles and
thirty-six poles; thence from the mouth of Hurricane Creek southwest to the top
of the first mentioned ridge; thence with said ridge Southwardly to the
beginning."
At
the same time, there was another petition being circulated that requested that
a new county not be created. Most of
the estimated 3,000 population of the area were clustered in the Stewart's
Creek-Stone's River area, centered around Jefferson, Tennessee, the earliest
settlement in the new county.
Rutherford
County was established from Davidson County and Williamson County by an act of
the Tennessee General Assembly October 25, 1803. Rutherford County was organized January 3, 1804, according to
"An 1803 Census of Rutherford County, Tennessee" by Robert M.
McBride.
==O==
Sam
Goin was recorded as the head of a household in the 1900 census of Rutherford
County, Enumeration District 117, page 10, Civil District 17:
"Goin, Sam 33, born in April 1867 in TN
Sarah A. 32, born in April 1868 in TN
Ernest 14, born in January 1886 in TN
Callie 11, born in February 1889 in TN
Lizzie 9, born in March 1891
in TN
Anna 5, born in May 1895 in TN
Bettie 2, born in November
1897 in TN
John 1/12, born in May 1900 in TN"
==O==
Cynthia
M. Gowan was married May 9, 1832 to Alexander B. Carns, according to "Rutherford County, Tennessee
Marriages, 1804-1850."
==O==
Mary
J. Gowan was married to Benjamin P. Norman February 2, 1846, according to "Rutherford County, Tennessee
Marriages, 1804-1850."
==O==
Catherine
Gowen was enumerated in the 1850 census of Rutherford County living in the
household of Stokeley White, No. 1044:
"White, Stokeley 46, born in Kentucky, farmer,
$4,000 real
estate
Jane 46, born in South Carolina
William B. 12, born in Tennessee
Ann 11, born in Tennessee
Jane S. 9, born in Tennessee
Gowen, Catherine 55, born in Tennessee
Catherine E. 19, born in Tennessee
Catherine E. Gowen was
married November 23, 1854 to Granville L. Norman, according to Rutherford
County marriage records.
==O==
Eliza
Gowen was married to John R. Quimby October 12, 1837, according to "Rutherford
County, Tennessee Marriages, 1804-1850."
==O==
"James Gowen" appeared in the 1880 census of Rutherford
County, Enumeration District 199, page 19:
"Gowen, James 51, farmer born in TN, father born in
TN, mother born in TN
Elisa 45, wife, born in born in TN, father
born in TN, mother
born in TN
John 29, farmer, born in TN, father born
in TN, mother born in TN, single
Josie [?] 20, born in TN, father born in TN,
mother born in TN
James 17, farmer, born in TN, father born
in TN, mother born
in TN
Charley 12, born in TN, father born in TN,
mother born in TN
Maggie 6, born in TN, father born
in TN,
mother born in
TN"
==O==