As always, these genealogy files are subject to change. These Rowan files were researched and published in 1981. There have been many updates since then. In the 1981 edition, most of the info only went up to around 1900, but with the 2008 edition, info from many 1930 census readings were added. New info after the 2008 printing will be added to the Rowan web page, and to future versions of this book in PDF format on CD.

Rowan immigrants to America were each given ID numbers. This was done for two reasons: First, to identify those who have common names, such as William, John, Elizabeth, Mary, etc; and Second, so that anyone looking at a Rowan descendant’s biography can immediately identify which Rowan immigrant he descends from. These ID numbers follow the person’s name, and start with [R1..., [R2..., etc. Their children will have a letter added to the parent’s ID number, and the grandchildren will have a number added, and so on, alternating letters and numbers each generation.

The [numbers & letters] in Braces following most names are ID #s. John Rowan, born in 1605, had children, and many came to the American Colonies. They were given personal ID #s. Andrew is John's second child, so his ID is [R2]. Stewart was the fourth child, so his ID is [R4], and so on. The first born child of Andrew would have an ID of [R2a], the third born child of Andrew would have an ID of [R2c], and so on, alternationg numbers / letters with each succeeding generation.

At the end of these biographies are Source Codes contained in (parenthesis). For the sources of information, check the Source Code File.

note: Death dates were often taken from gravestrones, yet the info on these stones are no more accurate than what was told to the stone cutter. And for people who died under Social Security, once in a while their birth year is a year or two sooner than the correct date, for obvious (early) retirement reasons. In the case where the state provides a death certificate independent from what the Social Security record has, then the state’s record is generally the more accurate one. Death certificates, though, are no more accurate than the info provided by the family member who provides the information, and death certificates almost always have the birth year on it. But Birth Records are generally extremely accurate; at that age, egos and a desire to retire early don’t play into the dates recorded.

ITALIC NAMES There are a few names without ID Numbers or are in Italics, but of familiar names, such as Rowan and Adams, who had close ties with the known Andrew Rowan descendants, or who lived near known descendants. These families are included so that others doing Rowan research can also know of them, and perhaps learn if they are actual reelatives. Descendants of the Rowan slaves of the Ohio Co KY area have ID#s starting with the letter H, not an R, until we can prove that one or more of the three White Rowan brothers of the area fathered any of the slaves.

updates and Corrections can be sent to John E Young

The ROWAN Families
Before 1800

       John Rowan of Greenhear, Lanark Co, Ayrshire Scotland, was born between 1543 and 1548. He married Marriotte Gibson and they had at least one son-

●     John Rowan, born in 1565. (AR)

       John Rowan, son of John Rowan and Marriotte Gibson, was born in 1565 at Glasgow in Lanark Co Scotland. On 27 July 1603 he married Agnes Shanks. She was born about 1569 at Gartnarville in Lanark Co, daughter of John Shanks. Her husband John died in 1614 and Agnes then married Newian Crawford. John and Agnes had a son-

●     John Rowan, born in 1605. (AR)

       John Rowan, son of John Rowan and Agnes Shanks, was born in Lanark Co Scotland in 1605. He married Janet Anderson, daughter of John Anderson. She was born at Glasgow about 1609, and died in December 1648. John then married Elizabeth Jamesone. John and Janet had at least four sons, all born in Lanark Co Scotland-

●     John Rowan, born in 1630, married Margaret Boyle, and died in 1708.

●     Andrew Rowan, born about 1632.

●     Robert Rowan, born about 1634, married Jean _____ and died in 1690.

●     Stephen Rowan, born about 1636, married Margaret Murdock. (AR)

       Andrew Rowan, son of John Rowan and Janet Anderson, was born about 1632 in Govan Parish in Lanark Co Scotland. He was an Episcopal minister and went to Ireland in 1660. Andrew married _____ McPhedris of Camglass, Scotland. She was born about 1639, daughter of William McPhedris. Andrew died in 1717, probably at Dunaghy in Antrim Co (now North) Ireland. They had at least four children, all born in Antrim Co:

●     William Rowan, born about 1661, married Mildred Thompson.

●     Catherine Rowan, born about 1663.

●     John Rowan, born in 1665.

●     Jane Rowan, born about 1667. (AR)

       John Rowan, son of Andrew Rowan and _____ McPhedris, was born in 1665 in Antrim Co, Ireland, and lived in Co Down. He married Margaret Stewart, who was born about 1669, probably in Co Down. Like his father, John was a minister, and died in 1728. He and Margaret had a large family of sons, most of whom moved to the Colonies in North America. (John's children were those who came to the American Colonies, and therefore are given personal ID #s. For example, the second child Andrew is [R2], the fourth child Stewart is [R4], and so on.)-

1.    John Rowan, had a daughter-

       a.    Mildred Rowan, named in her uncle Matthew's 1760 will, married Richard Lyon and lived in Bladen Co North Carolina in 1760. By 1760 they had a daughter-

              1.    Mary Lyon

2.    Andrew Rowan, son of John Rowan and Margaret Stewart, was born in 1693 in Co Down Ireland. He came to the Pennsylvania Colony about 1732, settling at Fawn Township of York Co, next to the Maryland border and close to the west bank of the Susquehanna River. He married Agnes _____, who was probably his second wife. Co tax records show that Andrew owned land in York Co in 1762. He wrote a will on 4 January 1770 in Fawn Township and died by 8 March the same year. His will, in very beautiful hand writing, names “my son William,” “my daughter Jean,” “my daughter Susannah,” “my son Andrew,” “my well beloved wife Agnes,” “my daughter Agnes,” “to my daughter Margaret the sum of forty pounds to be paid to her when of age,” and “to my daughter Mary the sum of forty pounds to be paid to her when of age.” He named his son Andrew to be the executor. Andrew Sr and his wife made their X marks, as did the adult daughter (they could not write). William and Andrew Jr signed. Andrew Sr had seven children; three of them went to the area of western Virginia which later became north-central Kentucky, and one married and moved upriver to Bradford Co PA-

       a.    Andrew Rowan, b c1720s, was shown on the 1772 Tax Roster in Fawn Township, York Co Pennsylvania on 6 December 1771, as was his brother William. In November 1784 “A Rowan” was a witness to a court case in Jefferson Co VA (in what is now Ohio Co or McLean Co KY). William Rowan, who arrived in this area of VA earlier that year, had a son named Andrew. But that son was born in 1770, so was too young to be accepted as a court witness. Therefore, the only Rowan this could be would be William Rowan’s elder brother Andrew. Whether he remained in KY is unknown. This was the first Rowan found in any Jefferson Co court record other than William. (99,6y)

       b.    William Rowan, b 1728

       c.    Jean Rowan, b abt 1745, married John Buchanan, or married a Mr Rogers, or married David Carroll Wilson. See Jean’s details in the Biography pages. (JW,MA,LW,JY)

       d.    Rose Rowan, was named in her uncle Matthew's 1760 will.

       e.    Susannah Rowan, b a1750

       f.     Agnes Nancy Rowan, b a1750

       g.    Margaret Rowan, b 20 Oct 1756

       h.    Mary Rowan, b 3 May 1760 (L,GA,DR,AR,17pt)

3.    Alexander Rowan

4.    Stewart Rowan; his descendants may have lived in Cumberland Co Pennsylvania in 1790, and in Allegheny Co Pennsylvania in 1800.

5.    Matthew Rowan, born in Co Down, came to North Carolina with some of his brothers in the early 18th Century. He acted as interim Governor of North Carolina for about a year when the prior governor died, then Matthew was replaced on 1 November 1754 by Governor Dobbs. Matthew left a will in New Hanover Co North Carolina dated 18 April 1760 and died by 19 July 1760. In his {will} he named some of his brothers, nephews, nieces, and his daughter-

       a.    Elizabeth Rowan, married Archibald MacLaine by 1760

6.    William Rowan, had a daughter-

       a.    Ann Rowan, named in her uncle Matthew's 1760 will.

7.    Robert Rowan, born in Co Down Ireland, came to North Carolina where he and his wife Esther _____ lived. Apparently Robert died by 1760 because his brother Matthew, in his will, left eleven Negroes and land on White Marsh in Bladen Co North Carolina to Esther.

8.    Hugh Rowan; his descendants may have lived in Mecklenburg Co North Carolina in 1800, or in Philadelphia Co Pennsylvania in 1800. (41e,16e)

9.    Acheson Rowan, lived in North Carolina and had a son-

       a.    Matthew Rowan, named in his uncle Matthew's 1760 will. (AR, 43p,19a,20e)

Matthew Rowan’s will, written April 18, 1760. He died on July 15, 1760. His will named Niece: Rose Rowan (daughter of brother Andrew Rowan). Nephew: Mathhew Rowan (son of brother Atcheyson). Niece: Ann Rowan (daughter of brother William). Other legatees: Richard Lyon of Spring Hill in Bladen County, Margaret Rowan (Niece), Mildred Lyon, daughter of John (ten negroes), Mary Lyon (daughter of Richard Lyon, Frederick Gregg of Wilmington (land on the northeast side of Northeast River, opposite to Stag Park in New Hanover County; one gold watch). Eleven negroes and land on White Marsh in Bladen County, bequeathed to Frederick Gregg and Richard Lyon, in trust for Esther Rowan (wife of Robert). Elizabeth, wife of Archibald MacLaine (daughter-in-law). Lands on Northwest River adjoining Henry Simonds; land on said river adjoining Judge Lenard and Nelltown in Bladen County, and land in Craven County opposite Newbern, lying on Trent River, in all about 1,800 acres, devised to Executors to be sold. All remainder of estate is devised and bequeathed to John, the son of Jane Stubbs of Bath, 'commonly called and known by the name of John Rowan.' Executors: John Rowan, Frederick Gregg, Richard Lyon. Witnesses: Saml. Watters, Geo. Gibbs, Thos. Clark. Proven before Arthur Dobbs. Executors qualified before Cornelius Harnett." (103)

NOTE All of the Scotts and Irish information, and most of the information on the first six generations down to the immigrants to the American Colonies, was probably first done by, or hired by, Annie Laurie Rowan [R2b1b4d2] of Owensboro, Kentucky circa 1900-1930. Copies of this early work have spread to many branches of the Rowan families, and has continued with their own immediate family data. The Scots and Irish information has not been verified, and may be in error. It appears that much of it came from Colonial & Revolution Lineages In America, volume 4, page 248. (JY,DR)