William Gowin 1752 in Lunenburg/Bedford VA

In the 18th Century, people gained passage to America by selling themselves into indentured servitude to pay back their shipping company that had advanced them the money for the voyage. This servitude sometimes lasted 1-4 years but was dependent upon those that paid for them at port. Most were then offered land, once their debt was paid (usually 50 acres).

William Going/Gowin was recorded as a soldier in the Bedford, VA  Militia (1758).

John Phelps was a justice in Lunenburg/Bedford County, VA along with William Callaway. Phelps was also a vestryman in Lunenburg's parish of Cumberland. John Phelps is the father of Betty Phelps that married Francis Pollard of Lunenburg/Bedford County. William Gowin's son Joseph Gowin married Judith, the daughter of Francis and Betty.

A "State of the County Levy" meeting was held in Bedford County on Nov 27, 1754 in Matthew Talbot's (father of Isham to whom William Gowin later bought land in 1767 in this county) house. The following entry was made:

To Wm. Irwin Ass. of Wm. Going for 1 Do. 29 Aug. 1754, Z. I. . . 100

William killed a wolf and was awarded 100 lbs. tobacco for doing so.  He assigned payment to Mr. Irwin, which likely means he received cash or store credit.  
A tithable list from Lunenburg Co, VA (Bedford, VA) recorded by John Phelps shows a William Gowin in 1752 under the care of William Callaway. When free males appeared for the first time in the household of an individual having their surname, they were at least sixteen years of age. When a free male appeared in his own name rather than in the household of another, he was probably twenty-one years of age. Tithable lists, however, should not be used to establish the exact year when someone was born.

This is our William Gowin/Gowan since those recorded by John Phelps on the full tithable list and in this area correspond to other actions we have confirmed within court records.

In 1752:Wm. Callaway
Wm. Gowin
Robt. Graves
Wm. Simmons .............................................. 7

His son's father-in-law, Francis Pollard, was also a tithable in this county in 1738 under his father, George.