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This blog is about the life and family of William Gowin who was born about 1732 in place unknown and who was first recorded in that portion of Lunenburg County, Virginia that later became Bedford County, Virginia.  He was first recorded in Lunenburg/Bedford Co., VA in June 1752 when listed as a tithable with William Callaway.  The recording of his name was "William Gowin" and he must have been over 18 years of age at this time.  More than likely he was living on William Callaway's land and working for him.  This land  was located only a few miles from present day Lynchburg, Virginia.  The land he later owned in Bedford County sat nearly on the Campbell County line. 

In August 1754, William Going (Gowin) sold a head of a wolf in Lunenburg/Bedford Co., VA that he had killed.  In those days, you were not allowed to receive payment for killing a wolf if you were indentured, an apprentice, or under the age of 21.  This helps us understand that he was probably 19 years of age or older when recorded in 1752. 

Sometime before 1755/6 he married Annester, based on the birth of her first sons as described in their Revolutionary War files.  We do not know her last name, but we do know that she is not Anna Stacia Sullivan from Goochland County, VA as some researchers have attempted to claim.  We know that Anna Stacia Sullivan and her husband, William Gowan, who were recorded by the Rev. William Douglass in Goochland County, VA, were much older than the Lunenburg/Bedford County couple and that the court dates, land deeds, child births, etc. do not match up to be the same couple.

It is my hope that you find this blog informative and accurate.  I have worked for over 25 years on this information with wonderful distant relatives who have all performed the proper due diligence to document our family tree.  You will also note that this information is not consistent with the Gowen Research Foundation in Lubbock, TX.  We have asked that they modify their records and we await confirmation.

I have been told by my 86 year old Gowin aunt that our Gowin family is "Black Irish", as that is what she was told by her grandmother.  This term is a little confusing to some, but it was used to explain the olive skin color coupled with blue eyes.  Our Y-DNA proves we have been on the British Isles for more than 5,000 years, and contrary to the prevailing perception of Irish and Scottish, red hair is not dominant.  In fact, today you'll likely find more dark hair and hazel or blue eyes than you will red.  Our family does carry the gene for red hair and it has been found throughout the history of the family.

The photo on this site is of the port of Glasgow Scotland.  That is because it was passed down from generations, and also mentioned in a early 20th century letter between great-grandaughters of the progenitor, that our Gowin family came to the colonies by way of Glasgow.  We haven't been able to confirm this, although Y-DNA is helping us and may allow us to get there faster than paper trails.  The tobacco trade in the Tidewater Region of Virginia (where our ancestor was found) was selling tobacco to Glasgow and this may explain why we find William Gowin there.  Hopefully clues will appear or our Y-DNA takes us to our homeland.