First "Gowan" Recorded Immigrants

A focus to our search is needed!

In search of “the immigrant” for our family, I have found many that are candidates. Is it possible that our William is the immigrant? It is possible, but probably unlikely since his approximate birth year is 1730, and that it has been difficult to find a William on any ship after 1653. Although our surname has multiple variations of spelling due to the scribers phonetic capabilities of the day, I focused more on the forename and eliminated anyone with a name that wasn’t in any of the family or associated family forenames. Therefore, names like Archibald, etc. were quickly discarded. I have not found any record where our name was modified from Gowin/Gowan to Smith, but that is not to say that it wasn’t interchanged on occasion in the 17th century and before. It was common for many Gaelic names to be modified during that time in an attempt to anglicize their name so that the English would allow them to buy land.

The following is what I have been able to document as immigrants and it includes their recorded surname and port location:

· Thomas Gowen, age 18, 1635, VA
· John Gowin, 1650, VA
· William Gowan, 1650, Boston
· William Gowin, 1653, VA (more on him below)
· Thomas Going, 1671, MD
· Daniel Gowin, 1698, VA
· Daniel Gowin, 1705, VA
· John Goin, 1725, port unknown
· Donald Gowen, 1746/47, NC – Scottish Rebel

The forenames of THOMAS, WILLIAM, and JOHN are very common names in our family and carried through about 4 to 5 generation after the 1730 William in each of his son’s generations. This certainly makes me wonder if any one of those 3 forenames were also our William’s father and grandfathers names.

Of note above, the William Gowin of 1653 was recorded as being brought here by Mr. William Hoccoday (Hockaday), an Englishman of Yorke County, VA on 14 Apr 1653 along with nineteen others. Of interesting note, one of the twenty passengers that Hoccoday brought here happened to be a MacGregor. You may know that the MacGregor clan was on the run during this time period, so he changed his name to gain safe passage! Mr. Hoccoday was awarded 1,000 acres for the transportation of these 20 passengers (50 acres for each). About 70% of these 20 passengers have Scottish Gaelic surnames. More than likely, each of the 20 passengers served an indentured period of time (3-5 years) to repay him for their travel. This would mean that by 1658, most were awarded 50 acres. Some would have sold them and moved out of that area, others would have remained. It is well known that the recorded date may not always be the date of port arrival. On many occassions they would record it during the next legal session or when the person that paid for travel wanted to be paid their 50 acres for each. Sometimes the names were not recorded until a year.

We know that our William and family traveled from Lunenburg/Bedford VA to Madison KY to Johnson MO. That is almost a due west route. With York County, VA nearly due east from Lunenburg/Bedford County, VA, it certainly makes for a good place to start!

Recorded Features of the Gowin Family from Civil War Records

Through research and muster roll documentation from the Civil War, I’ve been able to confirm the features of many of the GOWIN brothers and sons of Pollard Gowin & Mary “Polly” Conner. All three brothers fought with the Union Army.

JOHN CONNER GOWIN (b. 1831):
Unit: Company H, 123rd Infantry Volunteers, Illinois
Mustered: 6 Sep 1862
Age: 31
Rank: Sergeant
Description: 6ft. ½ inch; Light Hair; Blue Eyes; Fair Complexion; Married
Occupation: Farmer
Birth: Madison County, KY
City of Muster: Mattoon, IL for 3 years
Residence at time of enlistment: Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois
Mustered out: 28 Jun 1865 in Nashville, TN by Capt Hosea
Mustered out rank: First Sergeant
NOTE: Another document shows he was injured in one of his legs.


WILLIAM MENEFEE GOWIN (b. 1832):
Unit: Company E, 27TH Mounted Infantry, Home Guard Volunteers, Missouri
Unit: Company A, 54th Infantry Volunteers, Illinois (See Note 2)
1st Muster: 4 Aug 1861
2nd Muster: Joined 14 Nov 1861 in Coles County, IL and mustered in on 17 Feb 1862; show in records as ‘reenlisted as veteran’
1st Muster Age: 29
2nd Enlistment Age: 29
Rank: Private
Description (See Note 2): 5ft. 9 inch; Dark Hair, Grey Eyes, Light Complexion, Married
Occupation: Farmer
Birth (See Note 2): Madison County, KY
City of 1st Muster: Johnson County, MO for 3 years
City of 2nd Muster: Jonesboro, IL
Residence at time of enlistment at 1st Muster: Johnson County, MO
Mustered out with 27th Mounted Inf: The unit mustered out on 27 Jan 1862
Mustered out with 54th Inf: Unknown
Mustered out rank: Private
NOTE: Captured at the Battle of Lexington on 12 Sep 1861 with the 27th MO Inf.
NOTE 2: I was told by a family member that after being captured, he then went to Illinois and joined Company A, 54th Infantry. The county and information fits, but the name appears as “William W Gowin”.


THOMAS JEFFERSON GOWIN (b. 1841):
Company E, 45th Infantry Regiment Volunteers, Missouri
Enlisted: 10 Aug 1864
Muster: 10 Aug 1864
Age: 23
Rank: Private
Description: 5ft. 9 inch; Dark Hair; Hazel Eyes; Fair Complexion; Married
Occupation: Farmer
Birth: Madison County, KY
City of Muster: Warrensburg, MO for 3 years
Residence at time of enlistment: Not mentioned
Mustered out: 6 Mar 1865 in St. Louis, MO
Mustered out rank: Private
NOTE: