PHILLIPS AND CALLAHAN FAMILY LINES IN ARKANSAS, TEXAS & OKLAHOMA

Gooch and Allied Families

EARLY ROOTS

The same courage and fortitude in those emigrants to America from England prevailed in their descendants in the late 1700's and early l800's, when the Gooch name made its entry into Williamson County, Tennessee. The Gooch family is centuries old in England, being of the landed gentry, and produced many illustrious figures on both sides of the ocean. The most famous in the colonies was the royal governor of Virginia from 1727 to l749 (22 years), Sir William Gooch, for whom Goochland County, Virginia, was named. Although Sir William Gooch was very prominent in Virginia history, it is to his uncle, Lt. Col. Henry Gooch, we turn to to begin this particular Gooch history. Lt. Col. Henry Gooch and his brother, Major William Gooch, came to the colonies prior to 1650 settling in York County, Virginia. Major William Gooch, born in England, was a member of the Virginia Council from 1652 to 1655 when he died at the age of 29 at his home in Yorktown. His brother, Henry, also born in England, served as High Sheriff of York County, Virginia, for many years, was a member of the Governor's Council in 1657, an officer in the Colonial Wars, and fought in Bacon's rebellion. Lt. Col. Henry married twice, but it is from his first marriage to Millicent Kinsey that it is believed the middle Tennessee family of Gooches descended. Although the link between Lt. Col. Henry Gooch and William Gooch, Sr. my earliest proven ancestor in the colonies, has not been established, I believe this link does exist - I just have to find it.

When the colonies took up arms against England to fight for their independence, William Gooch of Hanover County, Virginia, and later of Caswell County, North Carolina, enlisted 11 November 1777 for 3 years, as a Private in Taylor's Company, 1st North Carolina Battalion, Corp. Hogg's Company. He was living in the Hillsboro district during the Revolutionary War. It is believed that William Gooch married twice, although his first wife is unknown she is thought to have been a Hart. His second marriage was to Frances Rice. William had a total of twelve children, the seven youngest of whom appear to be the children of Frances Rice. The children were:

1 - William Gooch, Jr., m. Mary Fanning 5 Dec. 1798 Caswell Co., N.C., had 10 children, d. Jan. 1832 in Caswell Co., N.C.

2 - James Gooch, m. Elisabeth Kelly 3 Aug. 1785 in Caswell County N.C.; died after 1826 in Allen Co., Kentucky.

3 - David Gooch, b. 11 April 1763 prob. in Va., d. 21 September, 1831 in Williamson Co. Tenn.; m. Jane Williams 19 Dec. 1788 in Caswell Co., N.C., had 13 children.

4 - Nathaniel Gooch, b. 10 Oct. 1768 in Va. or Granville Co., N.C., d. 30 Oct. 1841 in Rutherford Co., Tenn.; m. Martha (Patsey) Tait 7 Dec., 1797 in Caswell Co., N.C., had 4 children.

5 - John Claiborn Gooch, d. 9 April 1804 in Caswell Co., N.C., never married.

6 - Thomas Gooch, b. 12 Dec. 1777 prob. in N.C.; d. 5 Oct., 1817 in Williamson Co., Tenn.; m. Mary Anthony 13 Aug. 1799 in Caswell Co., N.C., had 3 children.

7 - Mary Gooch, d. 1842; m. John Sneed 25 March 1765, had 14 children; moved to South Carolina, then to Mississippi.

8 - Elizabeth Gooch, b. 175?. d. 1826 in Rutherford Co., Tenn., m. William Kimbrough, had 4 known boys.

9 - Sarah Gooch, m. William H. Rice 7 Sept. 1795 in Caswell Co., N.C.

10 - Ann (Nancy) Gooch, b. about 1758, d. Jan. 1838; m. Jesse Benton in N.C., had 8 children.

11 - Polly (Mary) Gooch, m. Henry Williams 31 Dec. 1799 in Caswell Co., N.C.

12 - Cisley Gooch, d. 1803 Caswell Co., N. C.; m. James Burk (Birk) 31 July,1802 in Caswell Co., N.C.