John
Gowen, [William
Alexander1] son of
William Alexander Gowen and Elizabeth Frost Gowen, was born November 19, 1668
at Kittery, Maine.� He became a large
landowner in that area, a substantial farmer, a selectman, a mariner and a land
surveyor.� In 1691 he was married to his
first cousin, Mercy Hammond, daughter of Maj. Joseph Hammond and Katherine
Frost Hammond, sister to Elizabeth Frost Gowen.�
Mercy
Hammond Gowen, was born in 1674 at Wells, Maine.� Her father was born in 1646 at Wells, the son of William Hammond
and Benedictus Hammond.�
On
October 3, 1693 a strange grand jury report was filed in�volving John Gowen and
Mercy Hammond Gowen, according to "Province and Court Records of
Maine."� The statement was
recorded in "York Deeds,"
Vol. 2, page 23.� The grand jury
indictment read, "Wee present John Gowen alias Smith and Mercy Hamon that
was for fornication presentable per the law."
"York
Court Records" Volume 6, page 102 shows on Jan�uary 2, 1693-94: "Mercy Gowen
alias Smith, being presented for fornication uppon her humble petition to
excuse her ab�sence is fined thirty shillings and to pay five shillings (court)
fees, which was paid".� This entry
was also recorded in "York Court Records" Vol. 2, page 23.
It
is interesting to note that James Warren, Jr. was fined for for�nication at the
same time, according to "Province and Court Records of Maine"
Vol. 4 by Neal W. Warren.
John
Gowen failed to appear in court October 2, 1694, and the court clerk entered
"warrant to be issued out for his con�tempt of authority and for his
appearance at ye next sessions," according to "York Court
Records," Vol. 2, page 35.
On
March 14, 1700 John Gowen "alias Smith" paid three pounds, six
shillings, eight pence to James Gowen "as his part of the estate of
William Alexander Gowen as approved by the probate January 19, 1696-97,"
according to "York Deeds."
John
Gowen "alias Smith" and Nicholas Gowen "alias Smith",
"both of Berwick in Kittery." re�quested their neighbors to par�tition
between them the land they had inherited from their fa�ther and from Tristram
Harris, according to "Province and Court Records of Maine."� Their request, dated July 10, 1700 was to
"provide allowance to our mother her thirds and to our brethren and
sisters their portions."� John
Gowen and Nicholas Gowen agreed January 19, 1702-03 to divide the in�heritance
from Tristram Harris in equal halves.�
Mercy
Hammond Gowen witnessed a deed June 20, 1701, ac�cording to "York Court
Records" Volume 6, page 3.
John
Gowen was one of the 17 men who founded the First Church of Berwick, Maine
December 21, 1701.� He was car�ried on
the church roll as one of the charter members of the congre�gation.
John
Gowen appeared on a York County jury list April 7, 1702, July 7, 1702, October
6, 1702 and January 5, 1702-03.� He wit�nessed
a deed at Kittery January 21, 1704, according to "York Deeds,"
Volume 7, page 28.
On
March 5, 1711-12 John Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen received a settlement of
her in�heritance from the estate of her father, Joseph Hammond.
The
settlement contract read:
"These Presents Testify an agreement between Joseph Hamond,
Administrator to ye Estate of Joseph Ham�mond, Esquire, late of Kittery in ye
County of York de�ceased, on ye one part & John Gowen & Mercy, his
wife, of ye Same Kittery aforesaid on ye other part Wit�nesseth that for &
in Consideration of ye full Sum of Ninety Eight pounds thirteen Shillings &
Seven pence to ye said John Gowen & Mercy, his said wife, in hand well
& truely paid ye said Joseph Ha�mond they, ye said Gowen & his said
wife. do Accept of ye Same in full Satisfaction for their whole right &
Inter�est in ye Estate of ye said Joseph Hamond Es�quire de�ceased, and they,
ye said John Gowen & Mercy his said wife, for them�selves, their heirs,
Executors, Administrators & Assigns do by these presentments fully remise
release & for Ever Quitt Claime Exoner�ate & discharge their brother
Joseph Hammond abovesaid his heirs Executors and Administrators all & all
manner of Suits, Actions, Cause or Causes of Actions, Accompts, reckonings,
strifes, variences, Quarrells, Controver�syes Debts Dues & Claims what�soever
of them, ye said John Gowen & Mercy his said wife, from ye begining of ye
world to ye date of these presents referring to ye Estate Real & Per�sonal
of their said father deceased, Excepting only out of this General release ye
widows Dower or thirds in ye hou�seing & lands of ye decedent at ye
Expiration of her Term for which ye said Joseph Hamond his heirs etc. ye Sum of
Twenty four pounds fifteen Shillings & 3d within one year after ye Decease
of their Mother.
It is also further Agreed by ye partys abovesaid that what Ever Debts
or Claims Shall appear against ye above�said Estate real or personal ye said
John Gowen & Mercy his said wife Shall refund & pay back their pro�portionable
part thereof unto ye Administrator & for his Just Charge thereabout &
ye said Joseph Ha�mond doth hereby Oblige himself to pay unto ye abovesaid
Gowen ye full Sixth part of what Shall here�after Come to his knowledge not yet
in ye Inven�tory, In witness where of ye partys have Set their hands &
Seals this� fifth day of March Anno
Domini 1711-12.
Signed Sealed & Delivered�������� Jos.
Hamond
in presence of us:������������������ John
Gowen
������������������������������������� Mercy
Gowen
John Hill�
Bennoni Hodsden
Nicholas Gowen"
On
the same day John Gowen sold to his brother Nicholas Gowen his half of the
Tristram Harris in�herited land for 15 pounds, according to "York
Deeds."� The conveyance cov�ered
"Twenty five Acres Scituate in York Township of Kittery being ye one halfe
of Fifty Acres of land known by ye name of Trustram Harris out Lot it being the
westermost part of said Fifty Acres according as ye Same is Set forth and
bounded in A Certain Agreement or Instru�ment in Writting under ye hands and
Seals of us ye said John & Nicholas Gowen baring date ye Nineteenth day of
January one thousand Seven hundred and two-three."� Mercy Ham�mond Gowen gave up her "right
of dower and power of thirds" in the land in a separate acknowl�edgement.
On
August 25, 1720 the York County militia ordered that "a garrison or a
place of refuge be erected at the home of John Gowen."� The militia later ordered "that the
home of John Gowen be made defencible and that Nicholas Gowen, Thomas Weed and
their families lodge therein," according to "Maine Historical
& Genealogical Recorder."
Mercy
Hammond Gowen died about 1725.� When
John Gowen sold his farm, he reserved the "family burying
ground."� John Gowen died in
Berwick January 9, 1732-33, according to "Colonial Families in the
United States."� Graves found
at this location were marked only with field�stones.� More recent graves there had a monument inscribed "Asa Gowen
and wife."
Children
born to John Gowen and Mercy Ham�mond Gowen, according to "Colonial
Families of the United States," in�clude:
��� Dorcas Gowen������������������ born
August 13, 1692
��� George Gowen������������������ born
August 10, 1696
��� William Gowen������������������ born April 27, 1697
��� John Gowen���������������������� born
May 24, 1698
��� Mercy Gowen������������������� born
January 27, 1700-01
��� Joseph G. Gowen������������������ born November 28, 1703
��� Jane Gowen������������������� born
May 17, 1706
��� Lemuel Gowen������������������ born
September 22, 1709
��� William Gowen������������������ born July 14, 1715
Dorcas
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] daughter of
John Gowen and Mercy Gowen, was born at Berwick, Maine August 13, 1692.� About 1724 she accused John Treworgy of an unlaw�ful
trespass, but "he could not be found," according to court
records.� Dorcas Gowen died unmarried in
1732.�
George
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born at Berwick, Maine August 10, 1696.� He died June 30, 1712.
William
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born April 27, 1697 in Berwick.� He died July 7, 1713.
John
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born at Berwick May 24, 1698.� He became a mariner.� He was married Jan�uary 31, 1719-1720 to his
first cousin, Elizabeth Ferguson, daughter of Alexander Ferguson and Elizabeth
Gowen Ferguson, aunt of John Gowen, ac�cording to "Colonial Families of
the United States."� Both were
of Kittery," according to "Maine Histori�cal Genealogi�cal
Recorder."
John
Gowen was sued in 1728 by his father-in-law for board�ing his daughter Jane
Gowen for four and a half years.� Eliza�beth
Ferguson Gowen died be�fore 1731, and John Gowen died in 1732.
Children
born to John Gowen and Elizabeth Fergu�son Gowen include:
��� Jane Gowen������������������� born
September 23, 1721
Jane
Gowen, [John3, John2, William Alexander1] daughter
of John Gowen and Elizabeth Ferguson Gowen, was born September 23, 1721
probably at Kittery.� Following the
death of her mother about 1723 she lived with her grand�parents, Alexander Fer�guson
and Elizabeth Gowen Ferguson.� Her
grandfather sued her father in 1727 for her board for four and a half
years.� When Alexander Ferguson wrote
his will in York County April 28, 1731 he inserted " I give to my grand�daughter,
Jane Gowen, child of my daughter Elizabeth Gowen, deceased, one feather bed at
age 18 or at marriage and five pounds of current money when she is 18.� Of Jane Gowen nothing more is known.
Mercy
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] daughter of
John Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born January 27, 1700-01.� She was married March 19, 1726-27 in
Gloucester, Massachusetts to Moses Riggs.
Joseph
G. Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born November 28, 1703 at Kittery.� In 1726 he was married to Elizabeth Ford,
daughter of Stephen Ford and Elizabeth Hammond Ford, be�lieved to be a sister
to Mercy Hammond Gowen.� Stephen Ford
and Elizabeth Hammond Ford were married in 1701.� Stephen Ford was the son of William Ford and his wife, Mary who
were married in 1663.� William Ford, who
was the son of Timothy Ford, died in 1682.
Mary Ford was born in 1644 and died in 1708.
Joseph
G. Gowen was a mariner all his life.
After their mar�riage his wife was admitted to the church December 24,
1727.
Joseph
G. Gowen paid taxes on his property in the years of 1727, 1734 and 1744.� He gave to I. Foster, a mortgage and dis�charged
it in 1736.� His taxes were abated for
1735 and 1740.� These were possibly
years in which he was in the king's service in the Royal Navy.� In 1735 he purchased a house and lot from
James Day and he deeded to three chil�dren Hammond Gowen, William Gowen and
Elizabeth Gowen a house in 1747.� In
1748 he was taken into court by Day in a suit concerning a levy "on part
of."
He
was lost at sea in a storm off Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1747, according to "Genealogies
and Estates in the Town of Charlestown, County of Middlesex, State of Mas�sachusetts,
1629-1818," published� by
Thomas Wyman in Boston in 1879.
Charlestown was later incorporated as part of Boston, Mas�sachusetts.� Another source states that he was lost at
sea in 1752.
Administration
of the estate, valved at 72 pounds, was given to Hammond Gowen on June 19,
1752.� [One source states 1753].� A notation in settlement mentions that Ham�mond
Gowen had loaned 46 pounds to his father in North Carolina.� The admin�istration account also shows
payment to Robert Kelley for a coffin.
Children
born to Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen include:
��� Hammond Gowen������������� born January 9, 1727
��� Joseph G. Gowen, Jr.������������ born May 10, 1730
��� William Gowen������������������ born September 10, 1732
��� Elizabeth Gowen���������������� born June 8, 1734
��� Joseph Gowen Jr. [2]������������� born May 22, 1736
��� Abigail Gowen��������������� born January 18, 1738
��� Abigail Gowen [2]������������� born October 9, 1743
Hammond
Gowen [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
Gowen, son of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen and a name�sake of his
grandmother, Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born January 9, 1727 at Charlestown.� He went to sea early in his life and became
a sea captain.
On
May 19, 1748, at age 21, he was married to Mary Croswell who was "admitted
to the church January 5, 1756."
Mary Croswell was born in 1730, the daughter of Thomas Croswell.� Thomas Croswell, was born in 1706 and in
1728 was married to Mary Pierce Pitts [1706-1730].� Thomas Croswell, was the son of Caleb Croswell [1679-1713] who in
1700 married Abigail Stimson [1679-1738].
The parents of Caleb Croswell were Thomas Croswell [1638-1708] and
Priscilla Upham Croswell [1642-1717].
Hammond
Gowen died of apoplexy on July 14, 1762.
Mary Croswell Gowen was remarried in 1763 to Nathan Sargent.
Several
legal records concerning Hammond Gowen were listed in "Genealogies and
Estates."� Only a few of them
have been checked.� Tax records are
listed for years of 1748, 1756, 1758 and 1761.
Hammond Gowen was an extensive land owner in Middlesex County.� The inventory of his estate totaled �2,754,
and was administered to the widow Mary Croswell Gowen on July 5, 1762--ten days
before his death!� Very likely this is a
cleri�cal error.� Mystic River and
Bunker Hill were mentioned as reference points in the legal description of the
property.
The
widow, Mary Croswell Gowen mortgaged "one-half of house, northerly
part" to Nehemiah Rand on August 27, 1762.� On October 27, 1767 Mary Croswell Gowen Sargent paid off the
mortgage.
Children
born to Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen include:
��� William Gowen������������������ born September 13, 1749
��� Joseph Gowen��������������� born
January 14, 1751
��� Hammond Gowen������������� born January 26, 1754
��� Mary Gowen��������������������� born
May 21, 1755
��� Elizabeth Gowen���������������� born December 27, 1756
��� Abigail Gowen��������������� born April 9, 1759
��� John Gowen���������������������� born
July 31, 1760
William
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born September 13, 1749
Charlestown, Mas�sachusetts.� In 1764,
at age 15, he chose Nathan Sargent as his guardian.� He became a goldsmith and a jeweler and became very
successful.� In 1771, he sold his home
and land in Charlestown to Ebenezer Harnden and Michael Negels of Medford.
William
Gowen was married April 29, 1772 to Eleanor Cutter, according to "Vital
Records of Medford, Mas�sachusetts."
She was born August 7, 1753 at Medford to Ebenezer Cutter and Eleanor
Floyd Cutter.� On July 19, 1774, he was
named the guardian of his younger brother, John Gowen, age 15.� His bond for guardianship� was cosigned by his brother, Joseph Gowen,
apothecary.
"William
Gowen," turned in $289 in Revolution�ary bank notes for new currency in
1779 at "Town No. 96," unidentified, in Massachusetts.�
On
April 12, 1783, William Gowen purchased a new home from Seth Blodgett for
�500.� On October 26, 1784, William
Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen sold the property to their brother-in-law, John
Bishop.� Elizabeth Gowen, his sister was
a witness to the transaction.
On
August 25, 1785, John Gowen and Eleaner Cutter Gowen sold a house for �500 to
William Cutter, "distiller," regarded as her brother.� She conveyed the release of her dower
rights, and the transaction was witnessed by Joseh Gowen.
William
Gowen appeared as the head of a household in the 1790 census of Medfordtown,
Massachusetts, according to "Heads of Families, Massachusetts,
1790," page 149:
��� "Gowen, William����������� white male������ over
16
��������������������������������� white female
��������������������������������� white female
��������������������������������� white female
��������������������������������� white female
��������������������������������� white female
��������������������������������� white female
��������������������������������� white male������ over 16
������� �������������������������� white
male������ over 16
��������������������������������� white male������ under 16
��������������������������������� white male������ under 16"
William
Gowen sold to Isaac Bowers "Pew 14" in the Medford Meeting House June
10, 1790.� On February 25, 1791 he
repurchased "Pew 14" from Issac Bowers.� On December 6, 1794 "William Gowen of Boston,
Gentlemen" sold "Pew 14" in Medford Meeting House to Benjamin
Hall of Medford.� Eleanor Cutter Gowen
signed her release of dower.
���
William
Gowen died September 13, 1808 at Dorchester, Massachusetts.� "Mrs. Eleanor Gowen, widow" died
of apoplexy June 3, 1826 at age 72, according to "Vital Records of
Medford, Mas�sachusetts."� She
was buried at the Unitarian Church, First Parish.
Children
born to William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen include:
��� Eleanor Gowen ����������������� born January 19, 1773
��� Hammond Gowen ������������ born August 26, 1774
��� Polly Gowen �������������������� born
October 1, 1776
��� Elizabeth Gowen���������������� born January 22, 1778
��� Lucretia Gowen����������������� born January 22, 1781
��� William Cutter Gowen�������� born September 21, 1783
��� Hammond Gowen������������� born July 6, 1786
��� Mary Abigail "Maria" Gowen� born in 1794
An
apparent relative to William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, Betsy Gowen, 33,
died December 26, 1789 "of con�sumption in Boston," according to "Vital
Records of Med�ford, Massachusetts."
She was buried at the Unitarian Church Cemetery in the First Ward in
Medford.
�
Eleanor
Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born January 19,
1773 at Medford.� Eleanor Gowen was
married to William Hall October 16, 1791 in the Unitar�ian Church of Medford,
according to "Vital Records of Medford, Massachusetts."� She died in Quebec City, Quebec in 1860.
Hammond
Gowen, son of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born August 26,
1774.� He died at 13 months, July 30,
1775, according to the records of Unitarian Church, First Parish published in "Vital
Records of Medford, Mas�sachusetts."
Polly
Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born October 1,
1776 in Medford.� Of this individual
nothing more is known.
Elizabeth
Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born January 22,
1778 in Medford.� She was married about
1795, husband's name McGee.
Lucretia
Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born January 22,
1781 in Medford.� She was married about
1799 to John Brooks, a merchant.� She
died September 1807, and he was remarried to her younger sister, Abigail
"Maria" Gowen.
William
Cutter Gowen, son of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born September
21, 1783 in Medford.� As a young man, he
went to sea, making voyages down the east coast to Cuba.� Upon the death of his father in 1808, he
gave his power of attorney to John Brooks, his brother-in-law.� In 1810 he purchased a home on Spring Street
in Medford from William Hawes.
About
1811, he removed to Cuba and established residence in Havana, then the third
largest city in the western hemisphere.
William Cutter Gowen saw the business opportunities in Cuba, but
realized that the Spanish franchise system stifled free enterprise there and
returned to Boston.� On October 10,
1815, William Cutter Gowen, "former resident of Cuba, but now of Boston,
merchant," bought a new brick building on Fort Hill� from his brother-in-law, John Brooks and his
second wife, Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks who signed a release of her
dower.� In that year, he also bought
"property in Hamilton" from James Hooper.
In
1817, the Cuban government suppressed the tobacco monopoly, and William Cutter
Gowen immediately returned to Havana.
In that year he, "former resident of Boston, now of Havana, Cuba in
consideration of $1 paid by his mother, Eleanor Gowen of Boston and further
consideration of love and affection; leases to her for and during her natural
life the house and land on Fort Hill, Boston, being the whole of the estate
conveyed to him by John Brooks, said premises late in occupation by said
Brooks."
John
Brooks experienced severe financial reverses shortly afterward and died in
1823, leaving his widow, Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks and their
children almost penniless.� She
immediately sailed to Cuba to join her brother, William Cutter Gowen who had
established a large tobacco plantation at Matanzas, Cuba.�
As
the health of his mother began to fail, the Fort Hill property was returned to
him.� William Cutter Gowen, "of
Matanzas, Cuba" in 1825 sold the property to Ann Hale and took her
mortgage in the transaction.
William
Cutter Gowen died the following year, and Abigail "Maria" Gowen
Brooks inherited his large, successful tobacco plantation and sudden riches.� With this wealth, she was able to enjoy
travel and the pursuit of culture.� She
left the Cuban enterprise in the hands of elder son, Edgar Brooks and in 1829
was living in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Hammond
Gowen, son of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter Gowen, was born July 6,
1786.� In 1831, he was a merchant living
in Quebec City, Quebec.
Mary
Abigail "Maria" Gowen, daughter of William Gowen and Eleanor Cutter
Gowen, was born in 1794 in Medford.� Her
father died when she was 14, and her sister, Lucretia Gowen Brooks and her
husband, John Brooks, a merchant tailor took her in and provided her
education.� Lucretia died in 1907, and
John Brooks was remarried to the 16-year-old Mary Abigail "Maria" Gowen.� Her baptismal name was simply Abigail Gowen.
�In 1819, the General Court of
Massachusetts permitted her to take the name Mary Abigail Brooks and she was
rechristened by that name at King's Chapel in Boston July 31, 1819.
In
1823, John Brooks died in poverty and left his widow and their sons penniless.� Her brother, William Cutter Gowen,
immediately invited her and her sons to come and live on his tobacco plantation
in Cuba.� Three years later, William
Cutter Gowen, died and left his immensely successful tobacco plantation to
Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks.
It
was there that she began to express her talent for poetry.� Under the penname of "Maria del
Occidente" she wrote the first canto of "Zophiel" which was soon
published.
In
1829, she was living in Hanover, New Hampshire where she was actively seeking
an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy for her youngest son, Horace
Brooks.� He wrote:
"My mother's special characteristic was her individuality.� She generally succeeded in her
endeavors.� For instance, she applied to
have me sent to West Point, so sent me to Washington in 1829 with letters,
etc.� The appointment was promised, but
by some influence was over-ruled.� She
then took me to Hanover, New Hampshire with a view to my entering Dartmouth
College.� In the meantime, she went with
her brother Hammond Gowen of Quebec to Europe in 1830 where she visited Southey
[Robert Southey, famous English poet of Bristol, Gloucestershire].� With Southey's advice, she got out a London
edition of "Zophiel."� She was
introduced to the Marquis de Lafayette who was so pleased with her that he
asked if he could be of any service to her.
'Yes,' said she, 'you may get my son into West Point.'� Upon this, Lafayette wrote to Chief Engineer
Bernard, and the appointment of a cadet came to me."
Horace
Brooks entered the Academy in 1831 and was graduated as a second lieutenant in
1835.� Lt. Brooks was stationed at the
Academy from 1836 to 1839, and Mary Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks
lived with him.� When he was transferred
to Ft. Hamilton, New York in 1840, she accompanied him.� During this period, she continued to write
poetry and published "Idomen" in 1843.
Mary
Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks sailed for Cuba for the last time in
December 1843 and died at Matanzas November 11, 1845 at the age of 51.� Horace Brooks wrote, "She was buried at
Limonal by the side of my two brothers."
One of the brothers is suggested as a half brother, the son of Lucretia
Gowen Brooks.
Of
his mother Horace Brooks stated:
"My mother was quite a linguist.
She read and wrote fluently in French, Spanish and Italian; she also
sang many songs in these tongues.� She
was a hard student and a woman of much research, and very particular to obtain
her authority from the original; and often attempted, with the assistnce of
some friend, the translation of obscure languages.� I remember how she kept by her a Persian grammar and often
referred to it.� She was also quite an
artist, and several pieces painted by her in water-colours were hanging up
about her rooms.� She was a constant
attendant at church and always carried with her an English edition of the
services of the church.� She was very
particular about her own language, disliked all interpolations, and always
referred to 'Johnson and Walker.'� It
was delightful to hear her converse.
Her knowledge of present and past events and of the prominent characters
of history was astonishing.� She would
tell anecdotes of persons so varied and interesting that her quiet and
unassuming conversation was sought and listened to by many distinguished
persons."
Rufus
Wilmot Griswold, critic, anthologist and editor of "Graham's
Magazine," wrote of her work in "Encyclopedia of American
Literature."� He described her
as a "student of wide and accurate information, capable of thought and
research quite unusual for a woman of her time."
An
account of the life and works of Mary Abigail "Maria" Gowen Brooks
written by Zadel Barnes Gustafson was published in "Harper's
Monthly" in January 1879.
???????????
�It is believed that among his chil�dren was:
.............
��� Medford Gowen�������������������� born about 1795
Medford
Gowen,� [Hammond4, Joseph
G.3, John2, William Alexander1] believed to be the
son of William Gowen, was born about 1795, probably in Charleston.� He became a gold�smith.� Medford Gowen was married about 1820 to
Eleanor Cutter, daughter of Ebenezer Cutter, Jr.� Ebenezer Cutter, Sr, her grandfather, was born April 29, 1772 and
died in June 1826.�
Eight
children were born to Medford Gowen and Eleanor Cut�ter Gowen, names unknown,
however it is believed that their names are recorded in "Cutter
Genealogy."
Joseph
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, namesake of his grand�father
Joseph G. Gowen, was born January 14, 1751 at Boston.� Nothing more is known of this individual or de�scendants.
Hammond
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born Jan�uary 26, 1754 in
Boston.� He became a physician.� It is believed that his will was
administered April 2, 1783, probably at Charlestown.� Nothing more is known of Dr. Hammond Gowen or descendants.
Mary
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born May 21, 1755,
probably at Charlestown.� In 1773 she
was married to David Vinton, be�lieved to be a de�scendant of John Vinton who
appeared in Lynn in 1648, ac�cording to "Vinton Memorial."� She died September 19, 1775, and he died
December 3, 1778.�
One
son was born to them:
��� David Vinton������������������������� born
in January 1774
David
Vinton, son of David Vinton and Mary Gowen Vinton, was born in Medford,
Massachusetts in January 1774, ac�cording to Eleanor Vinton Clark Murray, a
descendant.� He was married in
Providence, Rhode Island May 17, 1774 to Mary Atwell who was born May 10,
1773.� In 1807, he died in 1830 in a
visit to Kentucky.� Mary Atwell Vinton
died in Boston May 15, 1854.
Children
born to David Vinton and Mary Atwell Vinton in�clude:
��� Alexander Hamilton Vinton������������ born May 2, 1807�
Alexander
Hamilton Vinton, son of David Vinton and Mary Atwell Vinton, was born at
Providence May 2, 1807.� He be�came a
Protestant Episcopal minister.� He was
married Oc�tober 15, 1835 to Eleanor Stockbridge Thompson, daughter of Ebenezer
Thompson of Providence.� He became
rector of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Boston.�
Children
born to Rev. Alexander Hamilton Vinton and Eleanor Stockbridge Thompson Vinton
include:
��� Mary Vinton�������������������������� born
October 14, 1840
Mary
Vinton, daughter of Rev. Alexander Hamilton Vinton and Eleanor Stockbridge
Thompson Vinton, was born Octo�ber 14, 1840 in Providence.� She was married about 1866, hus�band's name
Clark.
Children
born to Mary Vinton Clark include:
��� Eleanor Vinton Clark����������������� born March 30, 1867
Eleanor
Vinton Clark, daughter of Mary Vinton Clark, was born in Boston March 30,
1867.� She was married about 1890 to
Thomas Morris Murray.� She died July 12,
1958 at the age of 91.
Elizabeth
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born De�cember 27, 1756,
probably in Charlestown.� Nothing more
is known of this individual.
Abigail
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born April 9, 1759,
probably in Charlestown.� On April 22,
1779 she was married at Walden, Massachusetts to Lt. Thomas Locke, who was
reared by William Locke and whose name he used.� His real identity is unknown.
Lt.
Thomas Locke was a revolutionary soldier from Lexing�ton, Massachusetts who was
born June 11, 1754.� In 1783 and 1790
they lived at Lexington.� He died
February 19, 1831 at age 78, according to "History of the Town of
Lexington" Volume 2, page 381 by Charles Hudson.� He was buried in Lot 27, East Village
Cemetery in Lexington.� Abigail Gowen
Locke sur�vived until March 21, 1850 and died at age 91.� She was buried beside her husband.
Children
born to Lt. Thomas Locke and Abigail Gowen Locke include:
��� Abigail Locke������������������������ born about 1780
��� Attie Locke�������� �������������� born about 1781
��� Mary Locke����������������������� born
January 18,1783
��� Betsy Locke�������������������������� born
about 1786
��� Sally Locke����������������������� born
about 1787
��� Zilpha Locke������������������������� born
about 1788
��� Martha Locke������������������������ born
about 1789
��� Otis Locke������������������������ born
February 1790
Mary
Locke, daughter of Lt. Thomas Locke and Abigail Gowen Locke, was born at
Lexington, January 18, 1783.� About 1801
she was married to Elias Crafts of Lexington.
Sally
Locke, daughter of Lt. Thomas Locke and Abigail Gowen Locke, was born about
1787, probably at Lexington.� She was
married about 1803, husband's name Nichols.
Otis
Locke, son of Lt. Thomas Locke and Abigail Locke, was born February 26, 1790 in
Lex�ington.� He was married to Kezie
Harrington about 1815.� He died June 25,
1851.
Children
born to Otis Locke and Kezie Harrington Locke in�clude:
��� George Augustus Locke�������������������� born in 1817
��� William Gowen Locke������������������� born in 1819
George
Augustus Locke, son of Otis Locke and Kezie Har�rington Locke, was born in 1817
in Lexington.� Later he moved to
Charlestown and be�came a merchant and ship bro�ker.� About 1840 he was mar�ried to Lucretia Orme Benson.� George Au�gustus Locke died in 1873 probably
at Boston in the area of the town previously called Charlestown.
Children
born to George Augustus Locke and Lu�cretia Orme Benson Locke include:
��� Caroline Lucretia Locke������������� born in 1842
Caroline
Lucretia Locke, daughter of George Au�gustus Locke and Lucretia Orme Benson
Locke, was born in 1842 in Boston.� In
1875 at age 33 she was married to John Houston Swift, a civil engineer and an
accountant, from Charleston, South Car�olina.
The groom, a graduate of South Carolina Military Academy and a
lieutenant in the Civil War, was 47.
Children
born to John Houston Swift and Caroline Lucretia Locke Swift include:
��� Bonnell Locke Swift�������������� born in 1877
��� William Street Swift����������� born December 30, 1878
Bonnell
Locke Swift, son of John Houston Swift and Caroline Lucretia Locke Swift, was
born in 1877, probably in Charleston.
About 1900 he was married to Ethel Maud Wood�bury.
William
Street Swift, son of John Houston Swift and Caroline Lucretia Locke Swift, was
born December 30, 1878, probably in Charleston.� He was married July 5, 1918 to Naomi Ordell Kline who was born in
Yorkana, Pennsylvania February 17, 1892, the daughter of Uriah Lemon Kline.
In
World War I Lt. William Street Swift com�manded Com�pany B, 328th Battalion, U.
S. Tank Corps in 1918 in France.� He was
a Unitarian and made his home in Yorkana after the war.
Children
born to� William Street Swift and Naomi
Ordell Kline Swift include:
��� William Street Swift, Jr.����������������� born April 13, 1919
William
Street Swift, Jr, believed to be the only child of William Street Swift, Sr.
and Naomi Ordell Kline Swift, was born April 13, 1919 in Yorkana.� He was graduated from Penn�sylvania State
College, class of 1940.
William
Gowen Locke, son of Otis Locke and Kezie Har�rington Locke, was born about
1819.
John
Gowen, [Hammond4, Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Hammond Gowen and Mary Croswell Gowen, was born July 31, 1760 at
Charlestown.
Joseph
G. Gowen, Jr, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born May 10, 1730.� It is believed that he died prior to 1736,
because in that year another son was born and he also was named Joseph G.
Gowen, Jr.
William
Gowen, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born September 10, 1732.
Elizabeth
Gowen, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born June 8,
1734.� It is believed that Eliz�abeth
Emery was mar�ried to Caleb Emery about 1754.
He was the grandson of Daniel Emery who was married to Mar�garet Gowen.
Joseph
G. Gowen, Jr, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born May 22, 1736.
Abigail
Gowen, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born Jan�uary 18,
1738 at Boston.� Appar�ently she died
before 1743.� Another daughter, was also
named Abigail.
Abigail
Gowen, [Joseph G.3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Joseph G. Gowen and Elizabeth Ford Gowen, was born October 9, 1743
at Boston.
Jane
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] daughter of
John Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born May 13, 1706, probably at
Kittery.� On June 26, 1724 she was
married to her cousin, William Gowen.
They were the grandparents of James Gowen of Westbrook, Maine.�� For an account of her life and descen�dants
see his section.
Lemuel
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born September 22, 1709, at Kittery.� He was married January 25, 1731-32 to Mrs.
Judith Lord, a widow, according to "Colonial Families of the United
States."� She was the daughter
of Nathan Lord, and accordingly, was not a widow, according to "Old
Kittery and Her Families," by Everett S. Stackpole.
Lemuel
Gowen wrote his will December 27, 1737 and died at sea shortly afterwards.� Judith Lord Gowen was referred to as "a
widow" again September 28, 1738 when she was admitted to full communion by
the Second Church of Kittery, Maine.
The will of Lemuel Gowen was proved Octo�ber 17, 1740.
Source
Page: Probate Office, 5, 195.
��������� Name: Lemuel Gowen
��������� Will Text: In the Name of God Amen
the twenty seventh Day of Decembr in ye Year of our Lord
��������� one thousand seven hundred and
thirty seven, I Lemuel Gowen of Kittery in the County of York
��������� within his Majests Province of ye
Massachusets Bay in New England Yeoman being bound a Voyage
��������� to Sea and not Knowing wheather it
will please God to preserve my Life and return me in safety to
��������� my Native Country. I Do make and
Ordain this my last Will and Testament.Imprimis I Do Resign
��������� and submit both Body & Soul to
God in hopes of his favour & Grace in Christ and as to such Worldly
��������� Estate as it has been pleased God to
give me in this Life I Will & bequeath in manner & form
��������� following. That is to say I Give
& bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Iudith all my Real & personal
��������� Estate to her Disposall for ye
benefit of my Children & I likewise appoint my sd Wife Judith my
��������� whole & sole Executrix of this
my last Will & Testament Disannulling all former Wills by me
��������� heretofore made In Witness whereunto
I have Set my hand & Seal ye Date above written.Signed
��������� Sealed Pronounced & Declared by
ye sd Lemuel Gowen as his last Will & Testament in psence ofJno
��������� WatkinsJames fferguson.Thos
Emery.Lemuel Gowen (Seal)Probated 17 Oct. 1740.
Judith
Lord Gowen filed a marriage intent with Abel Moulton of York County December 2,
1748.� They were married De�cember 22,
1748 "for a consideration of 2 shillings," accord�ing to the records
of First Church of Berwick.� Abel
Moulton of Cider Hill brought Judith Lord Gowen Moulton "and her Gowen
children to York."�
Children
born to Lemuel Gowen and Judith Lord Gowen in�clude:
��� John Gowen���������������������� born
November 20, 1732
��� Lemuel Gowen, Jr. ������������ born in 1734
��� Joseph Gowen��������������� born
about 1735
��� Nathan Gowen��������������� born
about 1736
John
Gowen, [Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Lemuel Gowen and Judith Lord Gowen, was born November 20, 1732,
according to "Old Kittery and Her Families.".� He was baptized September 28, 1738 in the
First Church of Berwick.
Following
the marriage of his mother to Abel Moulton of York, in 1748 he was married May
5, 1766, at age 36, to Su�sanna Moulton, believed to the his step-sister.� The couple filed intent April 19, 1766
showing both to be residents of York.
The Rev. Isaac Lyman per�formed the ceremony.
"John
Gowen," Abraham Lord and Joshua Emery were im�prisoned in December 1769 at
Berwick, Maine.� They were Baptists who
had separated from the "standing church" in 1768 and organized a
church under the leadership of Joshua Emery.
For refusing to pay their ecclesiastical taxes, John Gowen and Abraham
Lord were jailed, according to "New England Dis�sent" by
William G. McLoughlin.
The
household of John Gowen appeared in the 1790 census re�siding at Berwick.� According to "Heads of Families,
Maine, 1790," the household was recorded as:
��� "Gowen, John ��� white male������ over 16
�������������������������� white female
�������������������������� white female
�������������������������� white male������ over 16
�������������������������� white female
�������������������������� white male������ under 16
���������� �������������� white
female"
Children
born to John Gowen and Susanna Moul�ton Gowen are unknown.
Lemuel
Gowen, Jr, [Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1] son of Lemuel Gowen and
Judith Lord Gowen, was born in York in 1734 probably at Berwick, according to
the research of Flora Card Woodford, a descendant.�
He
was baptized September 28, 1738 in the First Church of Berwick.� "Lemuel Gowen" was impressed into
military service May 24, 1755 "to serve the King in guarding the stores up
the Ken�nebeck River to Ft. Holifax," according to "Maine His�torical
& Genealogical Recorder."
He was married about 1774 to Sarah Hearle.
"Lemuel
Gowing" was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1790 census of
Kitterytown.� The family was rendered
as:
��� "Gowing, Lemuel��� white male � over 16
�������������������������� white male�� over 16
�������������������������� white male�� over 16
�������������������������� white male � over 16
�������������������������� white female
�������������������������� white female
�������������������������� white female
�������������������������� white female"
Children
born to Lemuel Gowen, Jr. and Sarah Hearle Gowen include:
��� Nathan Gowen����������� �������������� born in 1780
Nathan
Gowen, [Lemuel, Jr.4 Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Lemuel Gowen, Jr. and Sarah Hearle Gowen, was born in 1780.� Nathan Gowen signed an intention of marriage
with Jerusha Moulton March 13, 1806, according to "Vital Records of
York, Maine."� Both were of
York.
Jerusha
Moulton was the daughter of Ebenezer Moulton5, [Samuel Moulton4,
Joseph Moulton3, Jeremiah Moulton2, Thomas Moulton1].� In 1839 they were residents of Kittery.
Children
born to Nathan Gowen and Jerusha Moulton Gowen include:
��� John Gowen��������������������������������� born
about 1808
��� Joseph Gowen�������������������������� born
about 1810
John
Gowen, [Nathan5, Lemuel Jr.4, Lemuel3, John2,
William Alexander1] son of Nathan Gowen and Jerusha Moulton
Gowen, was born about 1808 in York, according to Flora Card Woodford, a
descendant of Cape Neddick, Maine.� John
Gowen and Hannah Witham, "both of York," posted a marriage intent May
31, 1834, according to "Vital Records of York, Maine."� On June 21, 1834 the couple was
married.�
John
Gowen died April 8, 1871 at "aged 67 years, 6 months," according to
his tombstone in the family cemetery on Cider Hill.� Hannah Gowen died Jan�uary 29, 1873, "aged 69 years, 6
months."
Children
born to John Gowen and Hannah Witham Gowen are believed to� include:
��� John Wesley Gowen������������������ born January 21, 1839
��� Lydia J. Gowen��������������������� born February 10, 1841
��� Mary Elizabeth Gowen�������������� born in 1845
��� Julia M. Gowen��������������������� born March 12, 1851
��� Laura A. Gowen�������������������� born in December 1859
John
Wesley Gowen, [John5, Nathan4, Lemuel3, John2,
William Alexander1] son of John Gowen and Hannah Witham Gowen,
was born in Kittery January 21, 1839.
John Wesley Gowen is further identified as the grandson of Nathan Gowen
and Jerusha Moulton Gowen.
He
was married about 1869 to Hannah Jane Gerry [also ren�dered Gary].� Hannah Jane Gerry Gowen daughter of Joshua
and Sally Gerry, was born in Kittery October 27, 1839.�
She
died of tuberculosis January 1, 1878, and John Wesley Gowen died January 16,
1880.� They were buried in the fam�ily
burial plot on Cider Hill.
Children
born to John Wesley Gowen and Hannah Jane Gerry Gowen include:
��� Angevine Wesley Gowen������� August 30, 1869
��� Clarence Eastman Gowen���������� born about 1871
��� Annie Jane Gowen����������������� born February 10, 1874
Angevine
Wesley Gowen, [John Wesley6, John5, Nathan4, Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1] son of John Wesley Gowen
and Hannah Jane Gerry Gowen,� was born
August 30, 1869 in a house on Gorges Neck, named for Sir Ferdinando Gorges, a
member of the Plymouth Company.� The
site was surveyed for Sir Ferdinando, "the Lord Proprietor of the Province
of Mayne" November 11, 1641.�
The
house that he was born in and later died in was on the home lot of his maternal
ancestor, Thomas Moulton.� The house was
built in 1714 on the York River by Joseph Moul�ton, son of Jeremiah Moulton and
grandson of Thomas Moulton, according to Historian John Bardwell.� Jeremiah Moulton purchased the property from
Sir Ferdinando Gorges, in 1684 for �20.
The
site was surveyed for Sir Ferdinando Gorges, "the Lord Proprietor of the Province
of Mayne" November 11, 1641.� It
was described as "a division of 12,000 acres of land amongst the Patentee
of Agamentics, made by us Thomas Gorges, Esq, Edward Godfrey and Roger Garde
who are acting on behalf of Mr. Sayward's Patentees."�
Angevine
Wesley Gowen was born in a house on Gorges Neck at York.� York was known as Agamenticus in 1641 and
Georgeana in 1642.� The Gowen home and
20 acres of land was later acquired by Old York Historical Society.�
Of
Jeremiah Moulton, his great-great-great-great-great grand�father, Angevine
Wesley Gowen had to say,
"Jeremiah Moulton was a land grabber evidently and maybe some of
his deals in real estate would not stand up to the 'light of day' any better
than his attempt on October 3, 1693 to sell rum without a license.� The court records show that he was fined �10
and put under bond of �50 to keep the peace "for threat�ening to shoot
with a gun in his hands a constable and a justice of the peace."�
His son Abel Moulton was fined January 5, 1696-7 for "abusive
speech."� Abel Moulton was stolen
by the Canadian Abenaki Indians who often raided settlers in Maine.� He was never returned and was supposedly
drowned.� Old Jeremiah Moulton was
always buying the "piece of land next door" until he became a very
large landowner.
Angevine
Wesley Gowen, at age four, went to school at a little schoolhouse in Junkin's
Woods on Cider Hill.� His first teacher
was Miss Ellen Dennett.� He was taken to
Kittery, five miles away, to visit his Garey cousins and there was enrolled in
a small red school�house on Spruce Creek,.
Orphaned
when 10 years old, Angevine Wesley Gowen was brought up by his aunt, Miss Julia
M. Gowen with whom he resided until her death in 1930, as well as with his
uncle Joseph Gowen.� Julia M. Gowen was
named the guardian of the three orphans.
Angevine
Wesley Gowen was a rare man, born with an innate ability to be successful at
any project that he undertook.� Al�though
his schooling ended at age 16, he developed the skills to become a civil
engineer and bridge-builder.� As a young
man he rebuilt Scotland Bridge in York Village, Maine where he was born.
He
served a rod-and-chain apprenticeship in 1890 under Samuel W. Junkins,
surveyor, and in a short time eclipsed his mentor as a surveyor and mapmaker,
adding magnetic decli�nation to the skill.
Beginning with his surveying instruments, he became an ardent astronomer
and later built his own tele�scope.
When
the art of photography began to develop, he plunged en�thusiastically into the
field.� Many of his photographs of the
York area made on glass negatives still survive.� He also re�ceived recogni�tion as a violin maker, musician, game
warden, farmer, fisherman, astronomer, taxidermist and woodsman, ac�cording to
John B. Bardwell.�
His
fame as a musical prodigy developed early.
At age 9, al�though he never had a lesson and could not read music, he
joined the town's brass band.� The band
met for practice at "Fielding" in the loft of the shop of Capt.
Timothy Young on Cider Hill.� The band,
composed of John Mitchell Moulton, trumpet; George Everett Moulton, bass horn,
John Picott of Kittery, "tenor horn" and Charles Young who played the
"alto horn," quickly made room for the talented youngster with the
coronet.� He became a soloist for the
band when it played for "town suppers" and "political
speakings."
The
older men wore gala uniforms of blue and white with large brass buttons.
Later
Angevine bought a violin for $3.50 from Oliver Jen�ness, a neighbor.� He worked for 50c a day at odd jobs until he
had the necessary cash.� Then he marched
proudly into his home and started to play.
Initially his fiddle screeching caused his Aunt Julia to send him to the
barn to practice.� There he played to
the cows, day after day, and when he emerged, he had mas�tered, entirely by
ear, "The Irish Wash�erwoman."
Jenness was amazed when Angevine played "Pop Goes the
Weasel," for him, inserting difficult pizzicato with great skill.� When he realized the limitations of his
cheap vio�lin, Angevine went into the woods, selected some hardwood stocks and
made his own violin, one that possessed vibrant deep rich tones.
His
historical research brought him in touch with Col. Charles Edward Banks with
whom he collaborated in writing "History of York, Maine."
He
had maintained a journal through his lifetime which he called "Cider
Hill Annals."� His literary
skills attracted the interest of Mrs. Catharine McCook Knox, a literary agent
of Wash�ington, D.C. who recognized his genius.� Thus began a fast friendship that lasted a lifetime.� Flora Card Woodford of Cape Neddick,
Maine� wrote October 19, 1994 that also
wrote "Unknown History of York, Maine" which exists only in
manuscript form and was being preserved by a cousin.
Angevine
Wesley Gowen was a master boat-builder and once mentioned to Mrs. Knox the
difficulty he had in building and launching a sloop he constructed.� She persisted that he should write an
account of this endeavor, but he declined on account of his impending blindness
that was beginning to take a toll on his activities.� He replied to her inquiry October 26, 1934:
Dear Mrs. Knox,
I received your letter of inquiry this a.m. and am writing in my willow
chair by the end of the table as usual.
A poor light shines in which I fear will cut this letter short, at least
for now.� I will do my best how�ever in
the few minutes that I am allowed to write.
Now about the boat, the
"Winnie," named after my boyhood friend Winn Campbell whose
grave I vis�ited many years afterward at Georgetown, Maine while on detective
duty for the State.� All this I have
told you be�fore.� The boat was a
24-foot sloop, of 8-foot beam.� It was
built in what is now Mr. Emery's shop and oc�cupied about the whole of the
inside of it when onlited, for the shop was only 14'x24'.� However, Frank Plaisted and I got her into
the cradle and hauled her with his oxen down to the creek and launched
her.� However, my diary will tell more
about that than I can now recall.�
Aunt Julia lived in the house, while I built my boat in the shop
annexed.� And many a goody or wedge of
pie or a pinch of black snuff she gave me.
She was 80 then and always made me promise to bury her when she died, a
promise that I religiously kept.� I have
many pictures of her and the small home that Milan prepared for her.� It is now get�ting dark, and my blindness
dictates that I will wait until tomorrow after�noon to continue.
"To write on both sides of the paper makes one bald�headed,"
so says my editor, but I am not that yet, though perilously near it.� So, 'So long until tomor�row,' as Low�ell
Thomas says.
Of course, you have recognized Frank P. as the one who helped me launch
my boat and to hoist the old Cider Hill Flag the year before.� I could tell much more, but eyesight sternly
forbids.� I often shudder of when I
think of climbing those rotten flagpoles and reeving the lines through the
blocks for the flag.� I, who now with
diffi�culty climb a chair to replace an electric light bulb!�
Also I shudder to think of my first boat ride in my new
"Winnie" with a load of a dozen excited, glee�ful chil�dren and
women, including Aunt Julia.� The boat
was not half ballasted, and a sudden squall would have meant catastrophe.� But skillful sea�manship brought us all back
safe and sound, and in fact, thus I have tra�versed the Great North [Woods] with
canoe and paddle and sailed the briney deep in a 200-ton brigantine through
some hard storms.� I have yet to wet a
stock�ing, and truly, my angel of good luck must have been con�stantly with
me.� Yet, I may drown in the first mug
of beer I drink.
It is now 1:00 p.m, and the sky is fast becoming over�cast and dark
again, so that I do not see a sin�gle word I am writing, but write
mechanically, as it were, or more by instinct.
Good luck.� With kindest re�gards,
I am, as ever,
����������������������������������������� A.
W. Gowen"
On
February 7, 1935, shortly before his death, he wrote again to Mrs. Knox:
"I am so blind now at this time of the year, 15 de�grees below
zero here today.� I have lost another
relative, Willie Gowen, oldest son of Harry, died February 4 in Dover, N.H, leaving
a little family, funeral today.� I am
too sick to go, and also on that account I am revis�ing my will, and relative
to my diaries, I am fixing it so you will have full access to them until your
work is done.� I have failed much since
Xmas, and if you will write date of di�ary and subject thereof, as in case of
"Miss Taylor," I can get someone to look it up, and I can dictate it
more fully.� We have very deep snow and
much cold weather.� I use only one door
now to get out.� The rest are all banked
nearly to the eaves.� Re�gards, A. W.
Gowen"
On
his property is an ancient white oak tree which was deeded in November 1990 to
the Improvement Society of York, a par�ent organization of Old York Historical
Society under the terms of Gowen's will executed 50 years ago..� Gowen who was a surveyor, mapmaker and
photographer, indicated that the tree may have been standing as early as
1641.�
Gowen's
will also provided for family access to an early gravesite on the property.
"Notary
Public���������������������� Telephone Connection
ANGEVINE W. GOWEN
Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor
Special Attention Given to Magnetic Declinations and Retrac�ing of Old
Lines
��������������������������������� York
Village, Maine
��������������������������������� October
26, 1934
Dear Mrs. Knox,
I received your letter of inquiry this a.m. and am writ�ting in my
willow chair by the end of the table as usual.
A poor light shines in which I fear will cut this letter short, at least
for now.� I will do my best how�ever in
the few minutes that I am allowed to write.
Now about the boat, the
"Winnie," named after my boyhood friend Winn Campbell whose
grave i vis�ited many years afterward at Georgetown, Maine while on detective
duty for the State.� All this I have
told you be�fore.� The boat was a
24-foot sloop, of 8-foot beam.� It was
built in what is now Mr. Emery's shop and oc�cupied about the whole of the
inside of it when onlited, for the shop was only 14'x 24.� However, Frank Plaisted and I got her into
the cradle and hauled her with his oxen down to the creek and launched her.� However, my diary will tell more about that
than I can now recall.� It was used for
pleasure and fishing and finally sold to some�one.
Aunt Julia lived in the house, while I built my boat in the shop
annexed.� And many a goody or wedge of
pie or a pinch of black snuff she gave me.
She was 80 then and always made me promise to bury her when she died, a
promise that I religiously kept.� I have
many pictures of her and the small home that Milan prepared for her.� It is now get�ting dark, and my blindness
dictates that I will wait until tomorrow after�noon to continue.
"To write on both sides of the paper makes one bald�headed,"
so says my editor, but I am not that yet, though perilously near it.� So, "So long until tomor�row," as
Lowell Thomas says
Saturday, October 27. �Windy
after the rain of last night, and the air is full of leaves--and I am full of
company, so I will have to postpone this until later.
Sunday, October 28.� Still
windy, and the air is still full of leaves and rather dark for my eyes.
Of course, you have recognized Frank P. as the one who helped me launch
my boat and to hoist the old Cider Hill Flag the year before.� I could tell much more, but eyesight sternly
forbids.� I often shudder of when I
think of climbing those rotten flagpoles and reeving the lines through the
blocks for the flag.� I, who now with
diffi�culty climb a chair to replace an electric light bulb!� Also I shudder to think of my first boat
ride in my new "Winnie" with a load of a dozen children and women,
including Aunt Julia.� The boat was not
half ballasted, and a sudden squall would have meant catastrophe.� But skillful seamanship brought us all back
safe and sound, and in fact, thus I have tra�versed the Great North [Woods]
with canoe and paddle and sailed the briney deep in a 200-ton brigantine
through some hard storms.� I have yet to
wet a stock�ing, and truly, my angel of good luck must have been constantly
with me.� Yet, I may drown in the first
mug of beer I drink.
It is now 1:00 p.m, and the sky is fast becoming over�cast and dark
again, so that I do not see a sin�gle word I am writing, but write
mechanically, as it were, or more by instinct.
So, good luck.� With kindest re�gards,
I am, as ever,
������������������������������������� A.
W. Gowen"
On
February 7, 1935, shortly before his death, he wrote Katherine McCook Knox, his
literary agent,
�"I am so blind now at this
time of the year, 15 degrees below zero here today.� I have lost another relative, Willie Gowen, oldest son of Harry,
died February 4 in Dover, N.H, leaving a little family, funeral today.� I am too sick to go, and also on that
account I am re�vising my will, and relative to my diaries, I am fixing it so
you will have full access to them until your work is done.� I have failed much since Xmas, and if you
will write date of di�ary and subject thereof, as in case of "Miss
Taylor," I can get someone to look it up, and I can dictate it more
fully.� We have very deep snow and much
cold weather.� I use only one door now
to get out.� The rest are all banked
nearly to the eaves.� Re�gards, A. W.
Gowen"
Angevine
Wesley Gowen died in the summer of 1937 and was buried in the family burial
plot on Cider Hill.
Following
his death, Katherine McCook Knox of Washing�ton, D.C. wrote a tribute to his
life and accomplishments which was published in "Old York
Transcript" September 3, 1937.
An editor appended a note,
"The following is an es�timate of the notable qualities of the
late, great York figure, Angevine Wesley Gowen, who had he lived would have
been 69 years old on Au�gust 30.
Summation of Mr. Gowen's many humanitarian and intellectual gifts are
particularly appropri�ate at this time when the restoration of the old school
house is in progress:
"Written
August 23, 1937 at York Village, Maine
By Katharine McCook Knox
Rain, pushing straight down through the long dark pine needles, rain
quivering slantwise in grey slashes across the white birth.� Rain, rain and just the kind of day on which
I loved to sit and talk to "Angie" at Cider Hill.� Surely if it had been last summer, I would
have been off bright and early to visit him.
I would have found him at the end of Gowen lane, waiting qui�etly in his
"willow chair" by the kitchen window.� With his well-modeled head bent slightly forward, he would be
listening, lis�tening.
Although from nearby my car looked to him "blue and misty, shining
like a ghost," he never mistook the sound of its motor of the turn of its
tires as it rolled down the hill.� His
failing sight intensified the keen�ness of his hearing, and all his visitors
were likewise summed up.� As I would
enter, he would rise, his strong sensitive fin�gers would unclasp from his
gnarled walking-stick, and he would make me wel�come.
Hours of talk we would have, Angevine Wesley Gowen--farmer boy,
taxidermist, artist, woodsman, carpenter, boat-builder, bridge-builder,
surveyor, en�gineer--fantas�tic it sounds, but true nevertheless.� He was as efficient as he was versatile.
A devoted son, brother and nephew who bravely nursed his family through
piercing illnesses and never shirked a day's work. �But "Angie" died this past win�ter.� Sixty-nine he would have been on this coming
30th of August.� Last summer on his
birthday we had a party, and he told me quite happily that his "interview
with death" was not far away.� He
pulled out the ring from his piece of birth�day cake.� "Now, will wonders never cease," said he as he tested
the metal with his teeth.
Native wit and shrewdness coupled with tenderness and an almost fierce
independence of judgment gave his conversation never a dull lapse.� Cider Hill 13 and a lit�tle red school house
at Spruce Creek, Kittery were his two "Universities."� At the age of 16, he ceased school�ing.� How interested he would have been this
summer in following up the history and correct restoration of the old York
school house which prob�ably opened its roughhewn door in the year 1747.� His life as he told it to me was vivid, and
Cider Hill and all its "folks" be�came a spreading world."
Margaret
Pearson Tate wrote "when I visited Mrs. Alice Free�man in his home in 1985
she showed me his "Cider Hill An�nals," the journal he kept
during his lifetime.� I hope this has
been turned over to some historical association."
The
most comprehensive work on this branch of the family has been published by
Yvonne Gowen of Surrey, British Columbia, a member of Gowen Research
Foundation.� Over 10 years were spent in
gathering data on the family.� Mrs.
Gowen, an ac�complished genealogist, assembled data from many sources.� Among researchers who assisted were Mar�garet
Pearson Tate of Exeter, NH; Almeda Gowen Schofield of Contoocook, NH; Bar�bara
Clements of North Hampton, NH; Mary Driscoll of Spring�vale, ME and Mary Ellen
Gowen Waugh of Riverdale, MD, also Foundation members.
The
Gowen home and 20 acres of land was later acquired by Old York Historical
Society.�
A
niece of Angevine Wesley Gowen, Mrs. Leslie Freeman of York, continued the
work, building on his research.� Helen
Parker Gowen continued research on the family into the 1950s when blindness
interrupted her work at the age of 84.
She passed the torch to her younger cousin Viola Gowen Allen of San�ford,
Maine.�
Viola
Gowen Allen, a registered nurse, wrote February 11, 1957 that she had an aunt
by the name of Abbie Gowen Trafton.
Viola Gowen Allen mentioned that she had a daughter by the name of
Shirley Allen who was an invalid, having de�veloped polio in 1951.� The mother of Viola Gowen Allen was a
Hamilton of Waterboro, Maine.� Viola
Gowen Allen and her husband Robert S. Allen lived on Grammar Road, "1.5 miles
from Sandford Square in Sanford, Maine."
On
April 7, 1957 Viola Gowen Allen wrote that her brother [unnamed] died in
Minneapolis.� "His only son has an
infant son, and they are the only ones to carry on the family name.� My brother died four years ago, and my
father died this past December."
She mentioned a daughter "older than Shirley" who had a
six-month-old daughter whose name was Kim Shirley.
On
June 23, 1957 Viola Gowen Allen wrote, "Great-grandfa�ther Samuel Gowen
deserted great-grandmother and remarried, living in the Chicago area; had
children.� Chester Gowen, my cousin,
died May 2, 1957.� His daughter and her
husband are coming to live with Mrs. Gowen so the house won't be sold."
On
August 12, 1962 Viola Gowen Allen wrote that her daugh�ter was a registered
nurse and that her granddaughter was six years old.� She mentioned that "Mrs. Chester Gowen had a shock [stroke?]
and has difficulty speaking.� Chester's
daughter and husband moved back from Tennessee to be with her mother."
Evelyn
M. Gowen of Minneapolis, Minnesota wrote May 8, 1956 that her husband, A. S.
Gowen, a native of York County, died in Minneapolis May 8, 1956.
On
February 8, 1957 Mrs. Chester Gowen wrote, "Stephen had 10 or 12 children,
and not many of them here.� I have had
some correspondence from Mrs. Carroll Dow of Newburyport; she was a Gowen.� My husband is one of 10 children, 9 of whom
are living; the oldest one is 75, and the youngest is 57.� Some the Gowens are in Chicago, Indiana and
Washington state, all descendants of William Gowen who settled here."��
Julie
Tuttle, a relative of Angevine Wesley. Gowen, lived at Ida Grove, Iowa in
1991.� Another relative, Bradley B.
Moulton, lived at Cape Neddick, Maine at that time, accord�ing to Mar�garet
Pearson Tate.
The
great white oak was used as a boundary maker in deeds written in 1641.� Title to it was conveyed in his will.
Clarence
Eastman Gowen, [John Wesley6, John5, Nathan4,
Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Wesley Gowen and Hannah Jane Gerry Gowen, was born about 1871.� He was married about 1894 to Mai Ethel Pray,
daughter of John C. Pray and Jennie Hall Pray.
She was born in Dover, New Hampshire April 7, 1873.� She died in Portsmouth, New Hamp�shire
October 7, 1928, according to her tombstone.
It is believe that Clarence Eastman Gowen was remarried, to Lottie Smart
about 1930.� Children born to Clarence
Eastman Gowen and Lottie Smart Gowen are unknown.� Children born to Clarence Eastman Gowen and Mai Ethel Pray Gowen
include:
��� Elizabeth Gowen������������������� born January 15, 1910
Elizabeth
Gowen, [Clarence Eastman7, John Wesley6, John5,
Nathan4, Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of Clarence Eastman Gowen, and Mai Ethel Pray Gowen, was born January
15, 1910.� She was married about 1931,
husband's named Richardson.� She was
graduated from the University of Hampshire and received a master's degree from
Cornell Univer�sity.�
In
1957 she removed to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where she taught at Ft. Lauderdale
Winter School and at Fern Hall, a pri�vate school.� She died August 14, 1994 in Ft. Lauderdale and was buried in
Oakland Park, according to her obituary pub�lished in the "Exeter
Newsletter" of Exeter, New Hampshire in its August 19, 1994 edition.
Children
born to her include:
��� Priscilla Richardson���������������������� born about 1933
��� Nancy Richardson������������������������ born about 1935
��� Carol Richardson������������������������������ born about 1938
Annie
Jane Gowen, [John Wesley6, John5, Nathan4,
Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1] daughter of John
Wesley Gowen and Hannah Jane Gerry Gowen February 10, 1874 on Cider Hill.� She was reared by her aunt Julia M. Gowen
when her par�ents died.� She was married
about 1891 to Edward E. Freeman who was born May 8, 1866.� She died May 26, 1919, and he died August
18, 1936.� They were buried in the
family plot on Cider Hill.
Lydia
J. Gowen, [John5, Nathan4, Lemuel3, John2,
William Alexander1] daughter of John Gowen and Hannah Gowen, was
born February 10, 1841.� She died
September 9, 1891 unmar�ried.� She was
buried in the Gowen Cemetery on Cider Hill.
Mary
Elizabeth Gowen, [John5, Nathan4, Lemuel3, John2,
William Alexander1] daughter of John Gowen and Hannah Witham
Gowen, was born in York about 1845.� She
was mar�ried about 1866 to William Woodward.
Children
born to William Woodward and Mary Elizabeth Gowen Woodward include:
��� Laura Gowen Woodward���������������������� born in 1877
Laura
Gowen Woodward, daughter of William Woodward and Mary Elizabeth Gowen Woodward,
was born in 1877.� She was married about
1897 to William B. Card.
Children
born to William B. Card and Laura Gowen Woodward Card include:
��� Flora Card������������������������������������ born
about 1910
Flora
Card, daughter of William B. Card and Laura Gowen Woodward Card, was born about
1910.� She was married about 1930 to
James Edward Woodford.� In 1994, they
lived in Cape Neddick, Maine where she, a member of Gowen Research Foundation,
was active in the research of her Gowen family.
Julia
M. Gowen, [John5, Nathan4, Lemuel3, John2,
William Alexander1] daughter of John Gowen and Hannah Gowen, was
born in Kittery March 12, 1851.� She did
not marry, but reared three orphan children of her brother John Wesley
Gowen.� She died October 19, 1930 and
was buried in the Gowen Cemetery on Cider Hill.
Laura
A. Gowen, [John5, Nathan4, Lemuel3, John2,
William Alexander1] daughter of John Gowen and Hannah Gowen, was
born in Kittery in December 1859.� She
died at "aged 15 years, 1 month," according to her tombstone in Gowen
Cemetery on Cider Hill.
Joseph
Gowen, [Nathan5, Lemuel Jr.4, Lemuel3, John2,
William Alexander1] son of John Gowen, was born in 1810.� He died in 1886, according to his tombstone
in the Gowen family plot on Cider Hill.
==O==
Lucy
S. Gowen was born in 1819 to parents unknown.
She was married to Dr. Benjamin S. Goodwin about 1838.� Lucy S. Gowen Goodwin died in 1879.� Her daughter Orabella Anna Goodwin was born
in 1847 and died in 1911.� They were
buried in the Gowen family cemetery on Cider Hill.
==O==
Joseph
Gowen, [Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Lemuel Gowen and Judith Lord Gowen, was born about 1735, probably at
Berwick.� He was baptized September 28,
1738 in the First Church of Berwick.� Of
this individual nothing more is known.
Nathan
Gowen, [Lemuel3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of Lemuel Gowen and Judith Lord Gowen, was born about 1736, probably at
Berwick.� He was baptized September 28,
1738, ac�cording to records of the First Church of Berwick.
William
Gowen, [John2, William Alexander1] son of John
Gowen and Mercy Hammond Gowen, was born July 14, 1715, at Berwick.� He was married about 1738 at Charlestown to
Sarah Winkley, daughter of Sarah Winkley from Portsmouth, Maine, according to "Colonial
families of the United States."
He was identified as a sea captain at Charlestown in 1746 by "Old
Kittery and Her Families."
William Gowen "was warned" by church officials in Charlestown
in 1759.
Children
born to William Gowen and Sarah Wink�ley Gowen are believed to include:
��� William Gowen������������������������� born June 18, 1739
��� Abigail Gowen���������������������� born August 6, 1741
��� Joseph Gowen ������������������������� born July 1, 1744
��� Lemuel Gowen ������������������������� baptized in 1759
William
Gowen, [William3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of William Gowen and Sarah Winkley Gowen was born June 18, 1739, probably
at Charlestown.� Of this individual
nothing more is known.
Abigail
Gowen, [William3, John2, William Alexander1]
daughter of William Gowen and Sarah Winkley Gowen, was born Au�gust 6, 1741,
probably at Charlestown.� Of this indi�vidual
nothing more is known.
Joseph
Gowen, [William3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of William Gowen and Sarah Winkley Gowen was born July 1, 1744, probably at
Charlestown.� Of this individual nothing
more is known.
Lemuel
Gowen, [William3, John2, William Alexander1]
son of William Gowen and Sarah Winkley Gowen, was baptized in 1759 at
Charlestown.� Of this indi�vidual
nothing more is known.
William
Gowen, [William Alexander1] son of William Alexan�der Gowen
and Elizabeth Frost Gowen, was born about 1672 at Kittery.� Accord�ing to the research of Margaret Tate
Pearson,� William Gowen was killed by
the Indians October 12, 1691.�
........
move
to proper William Gowen section
Other
data reveals he witnessed a deed December 16, 1706, according to York
Deeds.� He witnessed a deed of Daniel
Emery June 20, 1707.� This deed give a
history of the Emery family.� He wit�nessed
a deed January 1, 1709.� William Gowen
"of Kittery" witnessed a deed December 15, 1709.
Elizabeth
Gowen, [William Alexander1] daughter of William Gowen and
Elizabeth Frost Gowen, was born about 1673 at Kittery.� She was married about 1695 to Alexander
Ferguson.� In 1697 the couple continued
to live at Kittery.� They were joined by
Elizabeth Frost Gowen and Daniel Emery and Margaret Gowen Emery in the sale of
property, probably an inheritance from William Gowen, there on February 6,
1696-97.� The deed, recorded in York
Deed Book 4, folio 97, read:
"To all Christian People to whome this present deed of Sale shall
come greeting Know yee that wee Allexander fforgisson and Daniel Emery with ye
Concent of our mother in Law Elizabeth Gowen and our wiues Elliza�beth
fforgison and Margaret Emory, of ye town of Kit�tery in Yorke Shire in ye
Province of ye Matta�chets bay in New England for and Consideration of the Sume
of forty and three pounds money of New: England to them in hand paid att &
before ye En�sealing and deliv�ery of these presents well and truely paid by
Jabaz Jenkins of ye town of Kittery abouesd have given granted bar�gained Sold
and by these pre�sents doe fully and abso�lutly give grant bargaine Sell
release Enfeoffe and Con�firm unto ye sd Jabaz Jenk�ins for ye aboue sd Sume of
money the which they hereby acknowledge to have Re�ceived two Sartaine parsels
of Land bounded as fol�loweth viz one parsel being about Eleuen accres bounded
on ye north with the land formerly Adrain fryers and Stirgion Creeke on ye west
with maine River on ye South with John Morrels and on the East with John
Morrell the other parsel being about forty nine accres bounded by Stir�gion
Creek on ye South near bare Coue and on ye west and East with John Morrell and
William Tom�sons Land, and on ye South as it may appeare on Rec�cord all ye
aboue mentioned Sixty accres of Land butted and bounded as aboue or howeuer
otherwise all ye Estate Right title Interest use propriety posses�sion Claime and
demand whatsoeuer of them or Ei�ther of them of in and unto the sd land and
Euery part or peace thereof, To have and To hold ye afore granted premises with
ye liberties, priviliges Com�modityes benifits and appurtenances thereunto be�longing
is in large and ample maner and Sou unto ye sd Jabaz Jenkins his heirs and
Assigns for Euer to be unto ye only proper use benifit and behoofe of ye sd
Jabez Jenkins his heirs and Assigns for Euer.
And ye sd Allexander fforgisson and Daniel Emery for them Selues their
heirs and Assigns doe Couenant and promiss to and with ye sd Jabaz Jenkins his
heirs and Assigns Shall and may at all times for Ever hereafter Lawfully
peaceably and quietly have hold use occupie possesse and Injoy all ye sd peces
of land with ye priv�ileges and apartenances thereof without ye lest let hin�derence
or Claiming any Right or Euiction by or from them or Either of them or by or
from all and Euery other person or persons having or Claiming any Right title
or Interest therein by from or under ye sd Allexander ffor�gisson and Daniel
Emory In Witness whareof they have hereunto Set their hands and Seales ye Sixth
day of febry in ye year of our Lord one thou�sand Six hundred Ninty Six Seven
and in ye Eighth year of ye Raine of our Soueren Lord William ye third, King of
England & etc."
Signed Sealed And Daniel Emory
(his seal)
Delivered In ���������� Allexander
fforgisson (his seal)
Presents of us.��� Ellizabeth
Gowen allias Smith
�������������������������� (her
seal)
John Belcher���������� Ellizabeth
ffergisson (her seal)
Charles ffrost Junr�� Margrit
Emery (her seal)
This Instrument was
acknowledged by the fiue persons Subscribing to be their voluntary act and
Deed.
Kittery ffebry ye 6 1696-97� before
me Charles ffrost
����������������������������� Justice
of Peace"
In 1707, they lived in Eliot, Maine where a
daughter, Sarah Ferguson was born.� In
1719, they lived in Kittery, Maine where a daughter, Jane Ferguson was married.
Children born to Alexander Ferguson and
Elizabeth Gowen Ferguson include:
��� Jane Ferguson��������������������������� born about 1700
��� Sarah Ferguson����������������� ������� born
May 17, 1707
Jane Ferguson, daughter of Alexander Ferguson
and Elizabeth Gowen Ferguson was born about 1700.� She was married January 31, 1719-20 to her first cousin, John
Gowen, her mother�s nephew.� John Gowen
was a mariner and rarely ever was home.
Jane Ferguson Gowen had to move in with her parents to survive.� Her father filed suit against John Gowen in
1728 �for boarding her daughter, Jane Gowen for four and one-half years.�
Elizabeth Ferguson Gowen died in 1731, and John
Gowen died in 1732.
Children born to them include:
��� Jane
Gowen��������������� born September 23,
1721
Sarah Ferguson, daughter of Alexander Ferguson
and Elizabeth Gowen Ferguson, was born May 17, 1707 in Eliot.� She was married November 21, 1733 to Thomas
Staples who was born January 9, 1711.
He died before 1745 at Kittery, �leaving three children,� according to
his father�s will.� Names of the Staples
children is unknown.
James
Gowen, [William Alexander1] son of William Alexander Gowen
and Elizabeth Frost Gowen, was born March 29, 1675 at Kittery, according to "History of York County, Maine."� He was married 1697, wife's name Mary.
On
March 14, 1700 James Gowen "alias Smith, received �3:6:8" from John
Gowen "as his part of the estate of William Gowen as approved by the
probate January 19, 1696-97," according to "York Deeds."
He
appeared on a York County jury list July 7, 1702 and Oc�tober 6, 1702,
according to "Province and Court Records of Maine."
On
December 14, 1702 "James Gowen of Wells, blacksmith," and his wife,
Mary Gowen, sold 10 acres of land, for 10 pounds, which he had inherited from
his father to his brother Lemuel Gowen "shopkeeper of Kittery,"
according to "York Court Records," Book 7, Folio 19.�
Legal
description of the land which had been granted to William Alexander Gowen by
the town of Kittery April 13, 1671 read, "beginning on ye East Side of the
Stony brook which runs out of York pond a little to ye South of York high�way
and runs from said brook two hundred rods East in Length and eighty-six rods in
breadth North and South, con�taining 100 acres of land."� Mary Gowen made her mark in signing the
deed.� Joseph Hammond, Jr, Elizabeth
Brock and Titus Joans were witnesses to the deed.
Margaret
Gowen, [William Alexander1] daughter of William Alexander
Gowen and Elizabeth Frost Gowen was born November 15, 1678 at Kittery.� On March 17, 1695 she was married to Daniel
Emery who was born September 13, 1667 at Kittery.� On February 6. 1696-97 they joined her mother and sister,
Elizabeth Gowen Ferguson and her husband in the sale of property, probably and
inheri�tance from William Alexander Gowen at Kittery.
Daniel
Emery was the son of James Emery and Elizabeth Emery.� James Emery was born about 1660 in Romsey, Hamp�shire to Anthony
Emery and Frances Emery, and emi�grated to the colonies with his parents in the
ship "James" landing in Boston June 3, 1635.� Anthony Emery second son of John Emery and
Agnes Emery, was born at Romsey, Hampshire about 1630.� He arrived in Boston in 1635, settled in
Newbury, Massachusetts, removed to Dover, New Hamp�shire in 1640.� In 1649 he removed to Kittery, where he
served as a selectman, ju�ror and constable.
In 1660 he was fined for entertaining Quak�ers and disfranchised.� At that time he removed to Rhode Island
where more religious freedom prevailed.
Daniel
Emery was a land surveyor and in 1718 was named to a commission to mark the
boundary between Berwick and Kit�tery, Maine.
He
was deacon and later an elder in the Congregational Church.� He was a selectman in 1704, 1712, and
1718.� He was the church moderator in
1707 and 1718.� He died Octo�ber 15,
1722.� Margaret Gowen Emery died
November 21, 1751.� Her estate was
appraised December 21, 1751 in York, County.
James Gowen, nephew� was one of
the appraisers.
Caleb
Emery, son of Caleb Emery and a grandson of Daniel Emery was married in 1764 to
Elizabeth Gowen, daughter of James Gowen
A
descendant of Daniel Emery and Margaret Gowen Emery is Harriett Godfrey Emery
who was born in Bay City, Michi�gan.
Children
born to Daniel Emery and Margaret Gowen Emery in�clude:
��� Daniel Emery��������������������� born
June 25, 1697
��� Noah Emery������������������ born
December 11, 1699
��� Simon Emery��������������������� born
January 6, 1702
��� Zachariah Emery���������������� born March 12, 1704-05
��� Margaret Emery����������������� born March 3, 1707
��� Caleb Emery���������������������� born
October 17, 1710
��� Ann Emery�������������������� born
March 19, 1712-13
��� Joshua Emery�������������������� born
June 30, 1715
��� Tizrah Emery��������������������� born
September 19, 1717
��� Huldah Emery���������������� born
August 4, 1720
Caleb Emery Gowen, believed to be a descendant
of Caleb Emery who was born in York County, Maine October 17, 1710, was
enrolled in Harvard University from 1874 to 1878, receiving his A. B. Degree in
1878.� In 1910 he� was a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, living on
Magnolia Drive.� He was engaged in
"manufacturing and transportation" according to the alumni directory.
In the same edition Albert Younglove Gowen, believed to be a son of
Caleb Emery Gowen, was listed as a student at Harvard University from 1903
through 1905.� In 1910 he was listed in
"manufacturing" and with address as 11120 Magnolia Drive,
Cleveland.� Albert Younglove Gowen was
recorded in the "Guiness Book of Records"
as the first to sail around the world in a motor-driven yacht in 1922.�
In 1993 a son, Albert Younglove "Jaxie" Gowen, Jr. lived in
Geneva, Switzerland.� He was executive
vice-president of Coutts & Company, the investment banking arm of National
Westminster Bank Group, a British firm.
In 1999. Albert Younglove �Jaxie� Gowen, Jr, vice chairman of Sarasin
Geneva, part of Bank Sarasin, a Swiss private bank.� He was interviewed by a reporter of the �International Herald-Tribune� of
Paris, France who was writing a news story on �money laundering� which was
published October 18, 1999.
Lemuel Gowen, [William Alexander1] son of William
Alexander Gowen and Eliza�beth Frost Gowen, was born February 9, 1680 at
Kittery.
He witnessed a deed for 20 acres of land January 13, 1702-03 at Kittery
purchased fromThomas Butler by his brother, Nicholas Gowen, [check original]
according to "York County Records."
On
November 14, 1702 Lemuel Gowen "of Berwick" wrote a receipt to his
brother, John Gowen, according to "York Deeds," Volume 6, page
38:
"Received of my brother, John Gowen, the sum of 3 pounds, 6
shilling & eight pence, being in full of that part of my father, William
Gowen's Estate which he, ye said John Gowen, was appointed to pay me before ye
decease of my mother, Elizabeth Gowen.
��������������������������������� Lemuel
Gowen"
On
July 6, 1703 Lemuel Gowen appeared in Infe�rior Court of Common Pleas on behalf
of his mother, ac�cording to York Court Records as abstracted in "Province
& Court Records of Maine."
The court verdict was recorded as:
"Lemuel Gowen, assignee & attornye to Elizabeth Gowen, relict
widow & administratrix to the estate of William Gowen, Late of Kittery,
Yeoman, deceased, is plaintiff against William Goodwin, Executor to the Last
Will and Testament of John Taylor & defendant in an action of the case for
withholding and not paying unto the plaintiff the sum of three pounds money due
from the estate of one James Berry decd. unto the Es�tate of Wm. Gowen decd as
per attachment.� The jury Finds for the
Plaintiff the debt sued for and cost of Court allowed 3 pounds, 1s 4d."
Lemuel
Gowen purchased for 10 pounds, 100 acres of land at Kittery from James Gowen,
his brother, December 14, 1702, according to "York Court Records,"
Book 7, Folio 19.� The land had been
inherited from their father.� James
Gowen was identified as "James Gowen, blacksmith of Wells."
Lemuel
Gowen received a donation of "one shilling" from tax money in 1704 while
living at Kittery.� He was also men�tioned
in "Manuscript of New England" by Vassall.
"Lemuel
Gowen" was married January 5, 1709 to Sarah Wadsworth by Rev. Benjamin
Wadsworth, ac�cording to "Boston Marriages" by Edward W.
McGlenen.� Of Sarah Wadsworth Gowen
nothing more is known.
Lemuel
Gowen must have remarried later because in his will he mentioned "my
beloved wife, Judith."
Lemuel
Gowen wrote his will December 27, 1737 and it is recorded in York County Will
Book 5, page 195, ac�cording to "Maine Wills, 1640-1760" by
William M. Sargent:
"In the Name of God Amen the twenty seventh Day of December in ye
Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty seven, I, Lemuel Gowen
of Kittery in the County of York within his Majesty's Province of ye Massachusetts
Bay in New England Yeoman being bound on a Voyage to Sea and not Knowing
wheather it will please God to preserve my life and return me in safety to my
Native Country.� I do make and Ordain
this my last Will and Testatment.
"Imprimis I do Resign and submit both Body & Soul to God in
hope his favour & Grace in Christ and as to such Worldly Estate as it has
been pleased God to give me in this Life and bequeath in manner & from form
follow�ing.
"That is to say I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Wife
Judith all my Real & Personal Estate to her Dis�posall for ye benefit of my
Children & I likewise ap�point my said Wife Judith my whole & sole
Executrix of this my last Will & Testament Disannualling all former Wills
by me heretofore made.
"In Witness whereunto I have Set my hand & Seal ye date
written above.
����������������������������� Lemuel
Gowen [seal)
"Signed, Sealed, Pronounced & Declared by ye said Lemuel Gowen
as his last Will & Testatment in the pre�sense of
John Watkins, James Fferguson, Thomas Emery."
Apparently
the fears of Lemuel Gowen were real�ized, and it is believed that he perished
at sea because his will was probated October 17, 1740.� Of Lemuel Gowen, Sarah Wadsworth Gowen and
Judith Gowen and their children nothing more is known.
Sarah
Gowen, [William Alexander1]
daughter of William Alexander Gowen and Elizabeth Frost Gowen, was born March
30, 1684 at Kittery.� She was married in
1698 to William Smith of Berwick, according to Kittery marriage records.� Sarah Gowen Smith wrote a receipt to her brother
March 16, 1700 acknowledging payment from the estate of her father:
"Sarah Gowen received of John Gowen [alias
Smith] 35 shillings in part of what he was to pay me when I shall arrive at age
18 years, it being part of my portion, as ap�pears on Record by the
distribution of my father's estate, bearing date January 19, 1696-97.
�������������������������� Sarah
[X] Smith
Witnesses:������������� wife of
William Smith
Elizabeth [X] Gowen
Mary Hammond"
On
November 19, 1702 William Smith, a resident of Berwick, wrote the following receipt
to John Gowen:
"Received of my brother, John Gowen, 4 pounds, 18 shillings, 4
pence, which makes in full of 6 pounds, 13 shillings 4 pence that ye said John
Gowen was ap�pointed to pay my wife, Sarah Gowen, for her part� of our father, William Gowen's estate before
decease of our mother Elizabeth Gowen.
Witnesses�������������������������� William
Smith
Daniel Emery
Lemuel Gowen"
� Gowen Research Foundation���������� Phone:806/795-8758, 795-9694
� 5708 Gary Avenue���������������� E-mail: [email protected]
� Lubbock, Texas, 79413-4822������� GOWENMS.080, 04/04/00
Researcher Descendants:
��� Barbara Clements, 38 Pine Road, North
Hampton, NH, 03862, 603/964-8892
��� Mary Driscoll, Route 1, Box 69A, Springvale,
ME, 04083
��� David Thomas Gowen, 804 Duck Pond Road,
Westbrook, ME, 04092, 207/854-5753
��� Miller Abbott Gowen, P.O. Box 1289, 1211
Geneva [2], Switzerland
��� Yvonne Gowen, 15015-91 "A" Avenue,
Surrey, BC, V3R 1B8
��� Victor Guy Jackson, 7728 W. 85th St, Playa
del Rey, CA, 90293
��� Miriam Louise Nyquist Gowen, Box 165,
Middleton, MA, 01949, 508/774-4170
��� Evelyn Hanson, Scituate Rd, York, ME, 03909,
207/363-2786
��� Debbie Krupke, 6 Strawberry Hill St, Bar
Harbor, ME, 04609
��� Susan B. Liedell, 148 Kates Path, Yarmouth
Port, MA, 02675, 508/362-0167
��� Almeda Gowen Schofield, Box 614, Contoocook,
NH, 03229, 603/746-3395
��� Margaret Pearson Tate, 34 Washington Street,
Exeter, NH, 03833, 603/772-3278
��� May Ellen Gowen Waugh, 6401 Auburn Avenue, Riverdale,
MD, 20840, 301/474-4554
��� Flora Card Woodford, 1324 US Rt. 1, Cape
Neddick, Me, 03902, 207/363-4479
Descendants of John Gowen
[son of William Alexander Gowen] and Mercy Ham�mond Gowen
John Gowen [and Mercy Hammond
Gowen]����� born in 1668
��� Dorcas Gowen������������������������������ born
August 13, 1692
��� George Gowen����������������������������� born
August 10, 1696
��� William Gowen����������������������������� born April 27, 1697
��� John Gowen��������������������������������� born
May 24, 1698
������� Jane Gowen�������������������������� born about 1721
��� Mercy
Gowen��������������������������� born
January 27, 1700-01
��� Joseph G. Gowen�������������� �������������� born
November 28, 1703
������� Hammond Gowen������������������������� born January 9, 1727
���������� William Gowen���������������������� born September 13, 1749
�������������� Medford Gowen���������������� born about 1795
���������� Joseph Gowen������������������� born January 14, 1751
���������� Hammond Gowen��������������������� born January 26, 1754
���������� Mary Gowen������ ������������������ born
May 21, 1755
���������� Elizabeth Gowen������������������� born December 27, 1756
���������� Abigail Gowen������������������� born April 9, 1759
���������� John Gowen�������������������������� born July 31, 1760
������� Joseph G. Gowen, Jr.�������������������� born May 10, 1730
������� William Gowen������������������������� born September 10, 1732
������� Elizabeth Gowen����������������������� born June 8, 1734
������� Joseph Gowen Jr. [2]�������������������� born May 22, 1736
������� Abigail Gowens������������������������� born January 18, 1738
������� Abigail Gowen [2]������������������������� born October 9, 1743
��� Jane Gowen������������������������������ born
May 17, 1706
��� Lemuel Gowen������������������������������ born
September 22, 1709
������� John Gowen������������������������������ born in 1732
������� Lemuel Gowen, Jr. ������������������� born in 1734
���������� Nathan Gowen������������������� born in 1780
�������������� John Gowen���������������������� born about 1808
������������������ John Wesley Gowen���������� born January 21, 1839
���������������������� Angevine Wesley Gowen born August 30, 1869
���������������������� Clarence Eastman Gowen�� born about 1871
���������������������� Annie Jane Gowen��������� born February 10
������������������ Lydia J. Gowen������������� born February 10, 1841
������������������ Mary Elizabeth Gowen����������� born in 1845
������������������ Julia M. Gowen�������������� born March 12, 1851
������������������ Laura A. Gowen������������ born in December 1859
�������������� Joseph Gowen������� ������� born
about 1810
������� Joseph Gowen���������������������� born about 1735
������� Nathan Gowen���������������������� born about 1736
��� William Gowen����������������������������� born July 14, 1715
������� William Gowen������������������������� born June 18, 1739
������� Abigail Gowen���������������������� born August 6, 1741
������� Joseph Gowen ������������������������� born July 1, 1744
������� Lemuel Gowen ������������������������� baptized in 1759
William Gowen��������������������������������� born about
1672
Elizabeth Gowen������������������������������� born about 1673c
James Gowen����������������������������������� born about
1675
Margaret Gowen������������������������������� born about 1677
Lemuel Gowen��������������������������������� born about
1680
Sarah Gowen������������������������������������ born about
1682
Membership Application
Gowen Research
Foundation� ������� 806/795-8758 or 795-9694
5708 Gary Avenue �������� E-mail: [email protected]
Lubbock, Texas, 79413���������
����������������������
Website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gowenrf
I enclose payment as
indicated below for
[� ] New Membership,
[� ] Renewal Membership
in Gowen Research Foundation.
$15��� [� ] Member
$25��� [� ] Contributing Member
$100� [� ] Sustaining Member
� [� ] Please E-mail a sample
copy of the Electronic Newsletter to the family
����� researcher(s) listed on sheet attached.
� [� ] Please send Gift
Membership(s) as indicated above to individual(s)
����� listed on sheet attached.
� Name(s)_________________________________________
� Address______________________Phone_______________
� City________________State_____Zip________[+4]______
� E-mail Address____________________________________