John Gowen, [William³, Thomas², Mihil¹] son of William  Gowen and Catherine Gowen, was born in Stafford County about 1709.  His identity as a son of William Gowen is docu­mented in Fairfax County deed records when he transferred land located on Pope's Head Run which was granted to his fa­ther by the proprietors.  The land was described as "part of a tract granted to William Gowen, deceased, father to said Gowen, from the Proprietors dated November 12, 1725."  This farm was later famous as part of a Civil War battlefield in the Battle of Bull Run.

 

It was on the farm of John Gowen that Gen. Thomas Jonathan Jackson received the name "Stonewall."  Long after John Gowen had removed to the southside of Virginia, the District of Columbia and the city of Washington was created just across the Potomac River in 1801.  The Confederate troops were just 30 miles short of the Union capital when they repulsed the Union army in the Battle of Manassas there July 21, 1862.  The Federals retreated in panic back to the Potomac.

 

In the second engagement, the Battle of Bull Run, fought Au­gust 29-30 the armies again swept across land that once be­longed to John Gowen and his father-in-law.

 

About 1728 John Gowen was married to Mary Keife, daughter of Cornelius Keife, probably in Stafford County.  Cornelius Keife, an Irish emigrant who arrived in Virginia in 1709, was contemporary with William Gowen in Stafford County.  He probably lived in the same area since he is shown as holding a patent to land "on the north side of the Occoquan River near Ridgewell."

 

According to "Southern Lineages" by Adeline Evans Wynn, Cornelius Keife acquired other property. She wrote, "January 11, 1714-15, he was also granted land in Stafford County on the south side of Neapsco Run.  Cornelius Keife, in partnership with Richard Kirkland received a grant "of 268 acres 23rd, 11th month, 1714." 

 

Cornelius Keife/Keith appeared in Brunswick County, Virginia March 26, 1736 when he was a witness to the will of John Nipper, Sr. of St. Andrews Parish of Brunswick County, according to Brunswick County Will Book 2, page 31.  He, along with Catherine Gowen Patterson and Mary King, was again a witness to the will of Thomas Stroud October 23, 1738, according to Brunswick County Will Book 2, page 1.

 

At least two children were born to John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen about 1730, probably in Stafford County.  John Gowen was mentioned in a grant to William Ellzey dated November 27, 1743 as living adjacent to the Ellzey prop­erty "on Wolf Run and Ox Road, along with Col. Carter, Bond Veale, Thomas Ford and Tillet."

 

Fairfax County was created in 1742, and John Gowen and his brother, Thomas Gowen found themselves in the new county.  John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen on March 5, 1744 deeded to Thomas Ford the 56 acres of land he had in­herited from William Gowen, accord­ing to Fairfax County Deed Book A-1, page 551.  This land was located on the east side of Pope's Head Run and was part of the 102 acres of land which had been granted to William Gowen November 12, 1725. 

 

Another 50 acres of land was conveyed with another tract of adjoining land which John Gowen had received from the pro­prietors. 

 

"John Goen, son of William and Mary his wife," sold 44 acres to Thomas Ford March 6, 1744, according to Fairfax County Deed Book A, page 351.  John Gowen continued to live on a tract of land he had re­ceived from his fa­ther-in-law, Cornelius Keife at that time.

 

On July 6, 1744 John Gowen received Grant No. 368 for 155 acres "on a branch of the Popeshead and Pohick Rivers, adja­cent to Thomas Ford and Capt. Connyers," according to "Grants by the Proprietors of the Northern Neck of Vir­ginia."  The land lay in Fairfax County, according to Deed Book F, page 187.

 

On July 10, 1744 John Gowen received Grant No. 371 for 144 acres "in a glade near a branch of North Run Pohick which cor­ners Robert Carter," according to "Grants by the Propri­etors of the Northern Neck of Virginia."  It was also located in Fairfax County, according to Deed Book F, page 191.  The deeds were recorded in "Patents and Northern Neck Grants of Fairfax County, Virginia."

 

He deeded land which had been granted to him by the propri­etors on the east side of Pope's Head Run in July 1744, ac­cording to Fairfax County Deed Book A-1, page 551.  On July 14, 1746 John Gowen sold 144 acres in Truro Parish he had re­ceived from the proprietors to Bond Veale, according to Fairfax County Deed Book B, page 24.  Witnesses to the transaction were William Grove, George Dunson and John Duren.  Mary Keife Gowen relinquished her dower rights.

 

"John Goen and Mary, his wife, daughter of Cornelius Keife" sold one half of 268 acres to Edward Kirkland for "1,100 pounds of tobacco," June 10, 1746, according to Deed Book B, page 35, as recorded in "Patents and Northern Neck Grants of Fairfax County, Virginia."

 

"John Gowen of Truro Parish" sold the grant July 15, 1746 to Bond Veale, also of Truro Parish "for £7:12:6 current money of Virginia plus 500 pounds of Tob." [tobacco], according to Fair­fax County Deed Book B, page 26.  "Grants by the Propri­etors of the Northern Neck of Virginia" records:

 

"George Veale, one of the legal representatives of Elijah Veale, late of Hyde County, North Carolina, sold one equal undivided sixth part of this tract to George Slacum of Alexandria for "the further sum of $1.00."  The deed recites that John Gowen sold the property to Bond Veale July 15, 1746.  Bond Veale by his will devised it to his son John who devised it to his son Elijah.

 

Bond Veale, removing to Carolina, the land was taken up by Ellzey as a piece of vacant land for which he ob­tained a patent.  When Elijah Veale came from Carolina he found Ellzey in possession of it.  When Ellzey would not give it up, Elijah Veale brought ejectment to recover and engaged George Slacum to "attend the conduct of it in his absence and by his writing obligatory bearing date the twenty third day of March 1797 bound himself to convey the same to George Slacum upon his recovery.

 

The ejectment was determined in his favor and posses­sion of it obtained by George Slacum, but before a con­veyance was made of it by said Elijah Veale to George Slacum, he departed this life, intestate, leaving six chil­dren, George, Sarah, Elizabeth, John, Thomas and Eliphat.  George Slacum had paid £55 to Elijah Veale for the property June 16, 1809, according to Fairfax County Deed Book J2, page 229."

 

Before selling out, John Gowen was a neighbor to Ellzey Thomazin [Thomason?].  On November 6, 1766 Ellzey Thomazin re­ceived a grant of 244 acres located "on the south side of the Po­hick, adjacent to Walter Griffin," according to "Grants by the Proprietors of the Northern Neck of Vir­ginia."  The grant, No. 408, referred to "Walter Griffin's Old Rolling Road, Old Ox Road and Samuel Littlejohn's cleared land," according to Northern Neck Deed Book O, page 156  John Gowen had been associated with 144 acres of this land.

 

"William Ellzey, of [nearby] Loudoun County, Attorney at Law, and Alice his wife, on January 19, 1777 sold for £130 to Thomas Sangster, Blacksmith, two tracts: 300 acres granted to said William Ellzey and 56 acres, part of patent of John Gowen which William Ellzey purchased from James Ingoe Dozer," ac­cording to "Grants by the Proprietors of the Northern Neck of Virginia." and Fairfax County Deed Book M, page 252.

 

On July 10, 1744 John Gowen received a land grant in Fair­fax County on the North Run of Pohick River.  Later he leased this property.  On June 9, 1746 he sold his homestead in Truro Parish to Edward Kirkland, possibly a son of Richard Kirkland who, along with Cornelius Keife, was the original grantee.  The deed is re­corded in Fairfax County Deed Book B, page 32.  Witnesses to the transaction were Bond Veale, John Bayliss and William King.

 

This transfer involved 268 acres on the north side of Oc­coquan Run which had been ori­ginally granted jointly to Cornelius Keife and "Richard Kirkland, deceased."  Since the Kirkland, Keife and Gowen families owned the same land in repeating succes­sion, a relationship among them is suggested.

 

John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen removed to Lunenburg County, Virginia on the North Carolina border about 1747.  In 1765 Mecklenburg County was formed with land taken from the south side of Lunenburg County. 

 

John Gowen paid a tax on two tithables in 1748 in the Lunen­burg County tax list of Lewis Deloney, according to "Sunlight on the South Side." page 67. 

 

It is possible that John Gowen moved on to adjoining Granville County, North Carolina, located on the Virginia state line, to join his son, William Gowen who owned land there.  "John Going" paid tax on one tithable in Granville County, North Carolina on the list of Jonathan White about 1749.

 

It is believed that John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen returned to the Northern Neck section of Virginia about 1750. 

 

"John Gown" served in a detachment of militia from Fairfax County under the command of Capt. Bryan Fairfax about 1757 in the French & Indian War, according to "Virginia's Colonial Soldiers."

 

"John Gowen of Lunenburg County, Virginia" received a deed to "100 acres on Dodson's Branch at Hargrove's old line" from William Stroud February 23, 1760 for £30, according to Granville County Deed Book C.  If this were John Gowen, his stay in North Carolina was short.  They were soon back in Vir­ginia.

 

John Gowen was granted 200 acres of land on Reedy Branch of Ruffin's Creek February 14, 1761, accord­ing to Lunenburg County deed records.  Jack Harold Goins, Foundation member of Rogersville, Tennessee made a trip in September 1995 to Lunenburg County to locate the farm of John Gowen.  He wrote, "My best estimation is that the farm of John Gowen was located about 10-15 miles west of present-day Lunenburg, Virginia which is located in the center of the county."

 

John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen transferred part of the 200 acres on June 10, 1761 to his two sons. 

 

The first deed, recorded July 7, 1761 in Lunenburg County Deed Book 6, page 379, read:

 

"To all people to whom this prasement writing shall come, I John Going, Sr. and Mary his wife for and in consideration of the natural affection and love which we have and bear unto our well beloved son, John Going, Jr. of the county aforesaid convey unto said John Going, Jr. land containing 100 acres more or less, this being part of 400 acres granted by patent bearing date February 14, 1761 which was granted by our Honorable Lt. Gov. Francis Farquhier.  The aforesaid 100 acres lying on both sides of the Great Branch and being the land that the aforesaid John Going, Jr. lives on . . .

 

This 10th day of June the year of our Lord God One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-one.

 

                                  John  [X] Going, Sr.

                                  Mary [X] Going

 

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of

    Rich Brown    Isaiah Going    Elizabeth [X] Going"

 

The Court held for Lunenburg County the 7th day of July 1761, the written deed of gift now acknowledged by the said John Going, Sr. and the same ordered to be recorded."

 

The other deed read:

 

"John Gowing, Sr. of Lunenburg County, Virginia and Mary, his wife, for the natural love and af­fection which we bear our beloved son, William Gowing of this county aforesaid--also for divers other causes and con­siderations, part of 200 acre tract granted by patent aforesaid to John Gowing, Sr., bearing date February 14, 1761 by Gov. Francis Farquier, land on branch called the Great Branch, and the land that the aforesaid William now lives on."

 

John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen signed the deed in the pres­ence of Pinckney Brown, Susie Hubbard and Sarah Gowen, believed to be their daughter-in-law.  Susie Hubbard is regarded as their daughter, Susannah Gowen Hubbard by Jack Harold Goins, Editorial Boardmember of Rogersville, Tennessee.  On the same day they conveyed a similar portion of land to their son, John Gowen, Jr, according to Lunenburg County Deed Book 6, page 378-379.  Wit­nesses to the transaction were "Richard Brown, Sarah Going and Elizabeth Going" [believed to be the wife of John Gowen, Jr.].

 

Jack Harold Goins made a study of the documents signed by John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen in the Northern Neck counties and in Lunenburg County.  Both were illiterate, but each had a distinctive mark used on documents.  Mary Keife Gowen used "M" as her signature, and John Gowen used his initials "JG" overprinting the ascenders to form a ligature.  These unique marks proved that John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen of Fairfax County were the same ones who later lived in Lunenburg County, according to Jack Harold Goins. 

 

At the end of the French & Indian War, the Crown issued the Proclamation of 1763 which set up a western boundary line for the colony of Virginia.  The line ran north-south along/near the New River in the southwest part of the present state.  The government in agreement with the Indians formed the boundary to protect the hunting territory of the Indians.  No colonist was allowed to settle or improve land west of the boundary, however the colonists disregarded the boundary and began a serious encroachment of Indian territory within 10 years.  This helped to drive the Indians into the British camp at the approach of the Revolutionary War. 

 

Just before the Revolution erupted, on April 1, 1772, the Virginia House of Burgesses petitioned King George III for "your Majesty's paternal assistance in averting a Calamity of the most alarming Nature."  They sought to have the King outlaw the importation slaves to the colony "which hath long been considered as a Trade of great Inhumanity and might endanger the very Existance of your Majesty's American Dominions." 

 

Slaves from West Africa had allowed Virginia to grow and flourish over the past 150 years during which the trade had troubled few buyers.  Now the same slave buyers wanted to cut off further imports.  "The reason behind this apparent switch revealed Virginia's ambivalent attitude toward the institution," according to "American Heritage," April 1997.  "In general,  Virginians thought a little slavery was good, but not too much."

 

King George, preferring to keep his "gross product and revenues" from Virginia as high as possible, denied their petition.  In 1778, a newly freed Virginia, finally outlawed the slave trade, but continued to vacillate over the issue.  Two years later, the Virginia Legislature voted to reward Revolutionary War soldiers with 300 acres of land--and a slave!

 

"John Gowing took the oath of allegiance before James Lyon" in 1777," according to "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography."

 

Here the curtain of antiquity drops on John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen.  No further records have been located that re­fer to them.  It may be assumed that they died in Lunenburg County and are buried in the vicinity.

 

Children born to them include:

 

    John Gowen, Jr.                          born about 1730

    William Gowen                       born about 1731

    Thomas Gowen                       born about 1732

    Joseph Gowen                       born about 1735

    James Gowen                           born about 1738

 

John Gowen, Jr, [John⁴, William³, Thomas2, Mihil¹] son of John Gowen and Mary Keife Gowen, was born about 1730, probably in Stafford County.  Joe Payne, Tennessee researcher, states that John Gowen, Jr. was born in Halifax County [part of Brunswick County in 1730].

 

It is believed that he was married about 1752, wife's name Elizabeth, in Fairfax County, and then moved to southern Virginia in the company of his father and brother. 

 

John Going paid a tax on "two tithes" in 1848, according to "Sunlight on the Southside" by Landon C. Bell.  "John Gowen" paid a tax on "two tithes, 12 head and scalps" in 1749.  "John Goin" paid a tax one "one tithe" in 1751, and "John Gowen" paid a tax on "one tithe" in 1853.

 

Other taxpayers of that period in Lunenburg County were: Joseph Goin who paid a tax on "one tithe" in 1752, Thomas Going who paid a tax on "three tithes" in 1751 and William Go­ing, who was living with William Callaway, and who paid a tax on one tithe in 1752.

 

He was issued Patent No. 34 February 14, 1761, according to "Virginia Patents," page 809.  The patent read, "John Gowin, Lunenburg County, 400 acres beginning at William Hill's cor­ner on Reedy Branch, adjacent Ruffin's line."  This patent was issued in Lunenburg County before Halifax County was com­pletely organized.  When Pittsylvania County was organized in 1766 with land from Halifax County, John Going found him­self in the new county.  Henry County was formed from Halifax County in 1776, and the property of John Going again lay in the new county.  His residence lay about 12 miles from the land of Shadrack Going on Polecat Creek.  Shadrack Going is re­garded as a kinsman. 

 

Subse­quently he appeared in northern North Carolina.  "John Gowing" was "sworn chain carrier" February 14, 1755 when two patents were surveyed in St. John's Parish on Jonathan Creek for James Yancey, according to Granville County, North Carolina Surveyor's Book 14, page 107.

 

"John Going was sued in Granville County June 7, 1757 along with other members of his family. 

 

John Gowen "of Lunenburg County, Virginia" received a deed to "100 acres on Dodson's Branch at Hargrove's old line" from William Stroud February 23, 1760 for £30, according to Granville County Deed Book C.  He received a deed to land in Lunenburg County in 1761 from his parents. 

 

From "Virginia Patents," page 809, "John Gowin" was issued Patent No. 34:  "Lunenburg County, February 14, 1761, 400 acres beginning at William Hill's corner on Reedy Branch, adjacent Ruffin's line."  This patent was issued in Lunenburg County before Halifax County was formed. 

 

Paul Heinegg suggests that John Gowen, Jr. was the "John Go­ing" who was sued in Orange County, North Carolina in May 1764, according to Orange County Court Minutes.  Addi­tionally he suggests that John Gowen, Jr. was "John Going" who was verbally excoriated by Col. John Hogan of Orange County.  The colonel declared in 1765 that he "knew John Go­ing well and that he was a trifling, contemptible fellow, a gam­bler, and a mulatto . . . he was then insolvent and probably is so still, if alive," according to "Claims of British Merchants af­ter the Revolutionary War."

 

John Gowen, Joseph Gowen and William Gowen, regarded as his brothers, were included in a jury panel in May 1765, according to Granville County Court minutes.

 

"John Gowin" appeared as "one white poll" in the 1771 tax list of Granville County. 

 

"John Gowing and David Gowing" signed the oath of alle­giance about 1777, according to "History of Henry County, Virginia" by Judith Parks America Hill.  "John Going" took the oath of allegiance August 30, 1777 before Edmund Lynne, Esq, according to "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," Volume 9.  It is believed that he and his sons served as Revolutionary soldiers during the American Revolution.

 

He appeared on the 1782 tax list with two members in the family and reappeared in the 1785 tax list with four in the family, probably two children born be­tween 1782 and 1785.  "John Gowing" was a purchaser at the estate sale of Thomas Bradford, deceased in August 1786, ac­cording to Granville County Will Book I, page 515.

 

The household of "John Gowing" was enumerated in the 1786 state census, page 2:

 

    "Gowing, John white male 21-60

                       white female

                       white female

                       white female"

 

"John Goin" was listed as an "insolvent" along with "Edward Goins" in a Granville County list compiled in 1786. 

 

"John Gowing" was mentioned as a purchaser at the estate sale of Thomas Bradford held in August 1786, according to Granville County Deed Book 1, page 515. 

 

"John Going" paid a tax on "one poll" in Henry County, accord­ing to "Virginia Taxpayers, 1782-1787."  In 1788, "John Going" was recorded as living on the Mayo River on the part of the River that remained in Henry County after Patrick County was formed in 1790.  Adjacent to him was Nathan Going who was also taxed.  In 1788 and in 1790, "John Going" lived on Blackberry Creek.

 

When Patrick County was organized in 1790 from Henry County, John Going owned a plantation that lay astride the Henry County-Patrick County line, according to Jack Harold Goins who has made two trips to Henry County to ascertain the location of the property.  The land lay on both sides of Black­berry Creek in Henry County and on Polecat Creek in Patrick County. 

 

In 1792, John Going was granted permission in Henry County Chancery Court to construct a gristmill on Black­berry Creek. 

 

"John Going" posted bond in 1792 "for the maintenance of his illegitimate son born to Eleanor Boyse," according to Henry County Order Book 6, page 65.  Eleanor Boyse was the daughter of Shadrack Boyse/Boaz, according to the research of Donna V. Gowin Johnston of Casper, Wyoming.  She suggests that her ancestor Shadrack Gowin who was born April 17, 1791 was possibly the illegitimate son of John Going.

 

John Going wrote his will March 17, 1801.  The will was transcribed by Lloyd D. Minor from a copy of the original document obtained at the Henry County, Virginia Courthouse.  He wrote, "Readers are reminded that, while in the first line of the document, John Going is referred to as Sen. [senior], he is and should continue to be regarded as John Going, Jr. in the pedigree scheme.  He may have taken on the Senior status in his own immediate family, as opposed to being Junior in his father's.  This is very likely so because of the naming of one of his sons "John."

 

"The Last Will and Testament of John Going, Dec'd.

 

In the Name of God amen I John Going, Sen., of the County and State of Virginia being sick & weak in body but of sound mind & memory and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following Viz.

 

First I recommend my Soul unto the hands [of] Almighty God who [gave it] not in the least doubting I shall receive the same at the great day of the Resurrection & as to see the worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give as follows:

 

Item:  I give & bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Nancy Goin one Sorrel Horse Coult, one Cow & Calf also one feather bed & furniture to her and her heirs for ever. 

 

Item:  I give & bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Sussanna Goin one Roan Mare one Cow & Calf also one feather bed & furniture to her & her heirs forever. 

 

Item:  I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Simeon Goin one cow & calf & one feather bed & furniture to him and his heirs for ever. 

 

Item:  I give & bequeath unto my well beloved son Zedikiah Goin one cow & calf also one feather bed & furniture to him & his heirs for ever. 

 

Item:  I give & bequeath to my well beloved son John Goin one cow & calf & one feather bed & furniture to him & his heirs for ever. 

 

Item:  I give & bequeath unto my well beloved son Iasiah [sic] Goin one feather bed & furniture to him & his heirs for ever. 

 

Item:  I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Zachariah Goin one feather bed & furniture to him & his heirs for ever. 

 

Item:  I give & bequeath unto my well beloved son Littleberry Goin one feather bed and furniture to him & his heirs for ever.  

 

Item:  I give & bequeath unto my well beloved son Clabourn Goin one feather bed & furniture to him and his heirs for ever. 

 

Item: I lend unto my well beloved wife Elizabeth Goin during her natural life all my stock of all kind my household & kitchen furniture together with all my land & plantations whereon I now live & after her death my will and desire is that all my land lying in the Countys of Henry and Patrick be sold & the money arising from the said sale to be equally divided amongst all my children that be then living that is to say Zephaniah Goin Nancy Goin Susanna Goin Clabourn Goin Littleberry Goan Elizabeth Minor wife of Hezekiah Minor to them and their heirs for ever & I do hereby appoint my Friend John Stone & John Cox, Jr. my executors of this my last will & testament revoking and disannulling all wills heretofore by me made. 

 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 17th Day of March One thousand eight hundred and one. 

                                  John [X] Goin

 

Signed Sealed Published and Declared for the

Said John Goin's last Will & Testament

In the Presence of

John Cox

Thibias Stone

Mary [X] Stone

 

Probate of the Will of John Going, Jr.

 

At the Court held for Henry County on the 25th Day of May 1801

 

The within Last Will & Testament of John Going dec'd was exhibited in Court and proved by the Oaths of the witnesses thereto to be published & declared as for the sd John Going Last Will & Testament & the same was Ordered to be Recorded and afterward to wit. at a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for the said County on the 27th Day of July 1801, the Executors in the within Will mentioned refusing to take upon themselves the Executorship of the same.  On the Motion of Elizabeth Going widow & relict of the said John Going dec'd Administration with the will annexed is granted her who made Oath & with John Cox & Henry Clark her Securitys entered unto Bond & acknowledged the same therefore Certificate was granted her for obtaining Administration thereof in due form.

 

Teste

John Cox, Atty"

 

Abstracted from copy of Original by Lloyd D. Minor, September 9, 1997.  [The use of the old conventions sd for said, & for the word and, Exor. for executor(s), and Exorship for Executorship, were for clarity spelled out in the above abstraction.  Capitalized words were not always shown as such, as the use of upper case letters did not always denote Capitalization rather they were sometimes simply a technique of pensmanship.]

 

The will was probated two months later  May 25, 1801, suggesting that John Going died between the two dates.  Elizabeth Going appeared as a taxpayer in the 1810 tax list of Henry County.  She paid a poll­tax and a tax on five horses, according to "A Supplement to the 1810 Census of Virginia" by Nettie Schreiner-Yantis.  The polltax suggests that a grown son was living in his mother's household.  Her location was adjacent to that of Simeon Going and Littleberry Going, her sons.  Elizabeth Going died in 1816. 

 

The estate of "Elizabeth Going" was inventoried in Henry County March 9, 1816.  Insert Inventory Here.  [Being forwarded from Lloyd D. Minor when completed]

 

Children born to John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Gowen include:

 

    Claiborne Going                  born about 1754

    John Going                     born about 1756

    Nancy Going                     born about 1757

    Zephaniah Going                  born about 1758

    Isaiah [Isaak] Going              born about 1761

    Littleberry Going                  born about 1764

    Susanna Going                  born about 1767

    Simeon Going                  born about 1768

    Zedekiah Going                  born about 1770

    Zackariah Going                  born about 1773

    Elizabeth Going                  born about 1776

   

Claibourne Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1754, probably in Granville County.  He was mentioned in the will of his father, written March 17, 1801 as the recipient of "one feather bed & furniture."  Jack Harold Goins stated that Shadrack Goins also had a son named Claiborne Goins, "and I have not been able to separate them in the records."

 

 

John Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1756, probably in Granville County.   He was mentioned in the will of his father written March 17, 1801 as the recipient of "one cow & calf and one feather bed & furniture."

 

Nancy Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], daughter of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1757, probably in Granville County.  She was mentioned in the will of her father, written March 17, 1801, as the recipient of "one Sorrell horse coult, one cow & calf and one feather bed & furniture."

 

Zephaniah Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mi­hil¹], son of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1758, in Halifax County, according to the research of Donna Gowin Johnston.  In 1777 he enlisted as a Revolutionary soldier in Henry County. 

 

Jack Harold Goins, Foundation Editorial Boardmember of Rogersville, Tennessee, and a descendant of Zephaniah Going wrote:

 

"Zephaniah Goins, son of John Going and Elizabeth Going, and my seventh-generation grandfather, was born about 1758 in Halifax County, Virginia.  He en­listed in the Virginia troops during the American Rev­olution and was present at the Battle of Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered in October 1781.

 

Zephaniah Goins, a Melungeon, was married to Eliza­beth Thompson June 20, 1790 by Rev. Joseph An­thony of Henry County, Virginia.  She was born there about 1765 to William Thompson and Mary Estes Thompson.  Mary Estes Thomp­son was the daughter of Elisha Estes of Lunenburg County. 

 

About that time "Zaph[aniah?] Going" and David Going signed a petition opposing higher taxes in Henry County.

 

"Zephaniah Going" was a resident of Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1795, according to the research of Pamela R. Lawson Jenkins, family researcher of Franklin, Tennessee.  He appeared as the head of a house­hold in the 1810 census of the county.  Soon af­terward he removed to Tennessee, according to the re­search of Wanda Aldridge of Dyer, Arkansas.

 

Learning that Zephaniah Goins and Elizabeth Thompson Goins had joined Blackwater Primitive Baptist Church by dis­mission letter from another church which was un­named, I began trying to locate this church.  In the Blackwater minutes, 1816 to 1834, I found four seventh-generation grandfathers who served in the Revolution­ary War: Thomas Bledsoe, Henry Fisher, John Eng­land and Zephaniah Goins. 

 

While searching in the public library in Kingsport, Ten­nessee, I found the minutes of neighboring Stoney Creek Primitive Bap­tist Church at Ft. Blackmore, Virginia, just across the state line.  They contained some very in­teresting Melungeon references in the minutes recorded in 1813.  The term "Melungeon" was prob­ably in com­mon usage long before then, but this is the first time I have found it recorded.

 

After learning my seventh-generation grandfather Zephaniah Goins, a Melun­geon, had joined Blackwater Primitive Baptist Church by dis­mission letter from another church which was unnamed, I began trying to locate this church.  While searching through records in the public library in Kingsport, Tennessee, I found the minutes of Stoney Creek Primitive Baptist Church at Ft. Blackmore, Virginia, just across the state line from Ten­nessee.

 

These minute books had been in the possession of Scott Boa­tright of Coeburn, Virginia whose Grandfather was once a min­ister there.  They were copied from the original by Emory L. Hamilton in 1966, and transcribed again in 1970 by Bobbie Baldin.  Other copies were sent to Clinch Valley College and Virginia State Library in Richmond.

 

Ft. Blackmore was built at Stoney Creek, in Washington County, Virginia before the Revolutionary War by Capt. John Blackmore to protect the settlers from Indian at­tacks.  Ft. Blackmore was located about eight miles southwest of present day Dungannon, Virginia in Scott County.  In 1780 Capt. Blackmore's militia­men partici­pated in the victory over the Cherokees in the Battle of Boyd's Creek.  Zephaniah Goins was a militiaman in Capt. Blackmore's com­pany and responded regularly to Indian alarms.

 

While driving through this small town trying to form a picture of what this place looked like 200 years ago, I stopped at a church called Pine Grove Primitive Baptist Church.  Residents told me that this site was where old Stoney Creek Primitive Baptist Church had been lo­cated.  I learned that the old building had been washed away in a flood.  I was told the old fort was about where Stoney Creek flows into the Clinch River and tried to visualize this place where my fore­bears were stationed during the Revolutionary War.

 

Grandfather Thomas Bledsoe was in Capt. Blackmore's com­mand.  He  filed his Revolutionary War pension ap­plication in Hawkins County April 24, 1834.  He was born in March 1760 in North Carolina and moved with his parents to the new territory, about seven miles from Long Islands of the Holston River, on Reedy Creek.  It is now the site of present day Kingsport, Ten­nessee.  After the Battle of Kings Mountain, peace returned to the Clinch River valley briefly. 

 

Capt. Blackmore's company was preparing to march to the up­coming Battle of King's Mountain when orders came for them to remain at Ft. Blackmore to protect the community against Indian incursions.  In 1780 Capt. Blackmore's militiamen par­ticipated in the victory over the Cherokees in the Battle of Boyd's Creek.

 

Another of my seventh-generation grandfathers was Thomas Bledsoe, also in Capt. Blackmore's command.  He  filed his Revolutionary War pension application in Hawkins County, Tennessee April 24, 1834.  He was born in March 1760 in North Carolina and moved with his parents to the new territory, about seven miles from Long Islands of the Holston River, on Reedy Creek.  It is now the site of present day Kingsport, Ten­nessee.  And from 1778 until 1783 he was in almost continual service guarding the set­tlers from Indian attacks.  He tells about fighting Indians up and down the Clinch River and once pur­suing them to the Ohio River because they had broken into the white settlements and taken prisoners. 

 

One of their prisoners was the brother of Thomas Bledsoe.  They were unable to rescue his brother, and he was not heard from again until he was exchanged at the Falls of the Ohio months later.

 

When Thomas Bledsoe first enlisted, Col. Isaac Shelby was commander of the county militia.  Most of his other terms of duty was under Capt. John Sawyers.  He also recalled serving under Col. Sevier and Col. William Campbell. 

 

Reference has been made in the Foundation Newsletter earlier to a letter written by Capt. John  Sevier in which he describes the physical appearance of the Melungeons upon first encountering them.  He patrolled in the Trans-Appalachian area of Virginia and Ten­nessee during Lord Dunmore's War in 1774. 

 

John Murray Lord Dunmore, the Earl of Dunmore, was ap­pointed governor of Virginia in 1771, and an In­dian war erupted during the third year of his tenure which was thereafter called Lord Dunmore's War.

 

A band of white marauders led by a des­perado named Greathouse attacked an Indian village and killed sev­eral of the tribesmen.  An Indian chieftain, John Logan, known to the tribe as Tah­gahjute, took to the warpath to avenge the death of his sister and other kinsmen in the raid.  John Logan, son of Shikellamy, was born in 1725.  Shikellamy was a white man who had been cap­tured by the Cuyugas while a child.  He grew up in the tribe, mar­ried an Indian woman and became a chief.

 

Believing that the troops of Capt. Michael Cresap were respon­sible for the raid and the murders, John Lo­gan sent him a decla­ration of hostilities.  This was the beginning of Lord Dunmore's War which saw the frontier become a blazing battleground.  Gov. Dunmore did his utmost to restore peace and was able to bring the Shawnee Chief Cornstalk to a parley after the Battle of Point Pleasant, but Logan shunned the peace talks and continued the fighting which was a prelude to the Rev­olutionary War. 

 

When the Revolution began, Logan served the British cause and wreaked havoc on the frontier settlements.  In addition to Cuyu­gas, the Mingoes, Cherokees, Shawnees, Chickasaws, Creeks and Chickamaugas went on the warpath from time to time, all supplied and en­couraged by the British.  During the Revolution, Lo­gan led a charmed life and did not receive a scratch, but was killed in 1780 near Lake Erie by a nephew that he had attacked.  

 

Lord Dunmore fared little better.  In April 1775 Patrick Henry at the head of the Hanover Minute Men forced Dunmore to flee his office and take refuge on a British war vessel lying off York­town.  In retaliation, Dunmore ordered Norfolk, the largest town in Virginia at that time, to be burned.  This outrage united the Virginians in their resolve, and the British quickly order Dun­more out of the colony in 1776.

 

Lord Dunmore's War was not the last time that John Se­vier was associated with the Melungeons.  He was born in New Market, Virginia in Rockingham County in 1745.  In 1776, he was one of the first to settle on the Watauga River west of the Appalachi­ans when Ten­nessee was opened for settlement.  Melungeons on the Watauga were then his neighbors.  

 

Col. Sevier was one of the commanders in the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780, and Melungeon militia­men were included in his command.  This victory was the opening wedge of the end of the war and contributed largely to the success of Gen. Nathanael Greene's campaign against Charles Lord Cornwallis.

 

Later in that year, Col. Sevier led an expedition against the Cherokee Indians.  Included in his command was the militia company of Capt. Blackmore and its Melungeons.

 

He helped to organize the Free State of Franklin [which em­braced the Melungeons] and became its gover­nor in 1784.  Feeling that he was leading an insurrection, the officials of North Carolina arrested Sevier and convicted him of high trea­son.  Later he was pardoned.  Ten years later he was elected the first governor of Tennessee. 

 

The Stoney Creek minutes are complete from 1801 to 1811.  Then from 1811 to 1814 there are intermittent skips.  The first minutes dated February 21, 1801 re­veal that it was an existing church and adding new members rapidly.  Meetings were held on the second Saturday of each month. 

 

The minutes reveal that the congregation was composed of whites, Melungeons, free Negroes and slaves.  During the next four years, 88 new members were added; 33 of these were per­sons bearing familiar Melun­geon names: Gibson, Collins, More [Moore], Bolin, Bolling, Sexton, Osborne and Maner.

 

James Kitchen was a member before the minutes began; he first appears in them September 22, 1802.  Also Susanna Stallard and others bearing Melungeon names were early members.  On a torn partial list of members is James Kitchen and his wife, Sarah Kitchen. 

 

The congregation made an effort to overcome the preju­dice against dark-skinned people prevalent in that pe­riod, but reading between the lines, it was apparent that the whites were greatly relieved when the Melun­geons began an exodus to Tennessee.  According to the min­utes, by 1807 most Melungeon families were gone; eight had received letters of dismission, and five others had been excommunicated for various unre­pented sins.

 

The word "Melungins" was recorded in the minutes of the church dated September 26, 1813 and is the old­est written refer­ence to them that I have found:

 

The original book is in the possession of Scott Boatright of Coeburn, Virginia.  It was bound in homespun cloth.  In August 1966, Emory L. Hamilton, Wise, Virginia copied the material and submitted it to the Archives of Southwest Virginia Historical Society at Clinch Valley College and to the Virginia State Library.

 

An index to the members of Stoney Creek Primitive Baptist Church was created by Teresa Martin Klaiber April 29, 1997 and made available on the Internet by Phillip Roberts.  Individuals named include:

 

--,-- , George's two blacks      

--,-- Negro man                   

--, --, Stellard's negro         

--, Bec, David's [slave]         

--, Becky, Sis.                

--, Betsey                       

--, Black [man]                  

--, Eve [possible slave]         

--, Eve, black                    

--, Jenny, Sis.                

--, John [possible slave]        

--, John, black                  

--. Luke, Mima Cox's  slave      

--, Luke, Stallard's black       

--, Rhoda, black                 

--, Rhoda, slave                 

--, Sam, black                   

--, Sinnah                       

--. Stanley                      

Abbel, T.R.                      

Alley, Thomas                    

Auston, Prescilla                

Auston, Pressleigh               

Baler?, Mode [Moderator]         

Bama, James                      

Biggs, Bro.                   

Bolin,                           

Bolin, Jessee                   

Bolling, Bro.                 

Bolling, Jeremiah                

Bradic, Bro.                  

Bradic, Elizabeth                

Bradis, Bro.                  

Bradix, Bro.                  

Bradrick, --                     

Briant, David                    

Briant, Rachael                  

Brickey, Bro.                 

Brickey, Con                      

Brickey, James                   

Brickey, John                    

Brickey, Nancy                   

Brickey, Sis.                  

Brickey, William                 

Broadrice, William               

Broobachs, William               

Browdick, Bro.                

Burton, Betsey                   

Bustar, David                    

Bustar, John                     

Bustar, Rebecca                  

Bustar, Sally                    

Bustard, John                    

Buster, Bro.                   

Buster, John                     

Carnelius, Mary                  

Carter, Agness                   

Carter, Elizabeth                

Carter, Isabel                   

Carter, Joseph                   

Carter, Margaret                 

Carter. Presley                  

Carter, Pressley                 

Carter, Pressly                  

Carter, Sis.                   

Catchen, Sarah                   

Cock, Bro.                    

Cock, David                      

Cock, Henry                       

Cocks, Bro.                   

Cocks, David                     

Cocks, Matilda                   

Cocks, Rebecky                   

Cockerill, William               

Cockrel, William Marshall        

Cok, David                        

Collins, Bro.                 

Collins, Riley                   

Collins, Tiny                    

Collins, Valentine               

Cornelius, Mary                  

Cox, Bro.                     

Cox, David                       

Cox, David Jr.                   

Cox, Henry                       

Cox, James                       

Cox, Jemina                      

Cox, Mima                        

Cox, Rebecca                     

Cox, Rhoda [black]               

Culberson, Bro.                

Culberson, Joseph                

Culberston, James                

Culberston, Mary                 

Culbertson, Bro.              

Culbertson, James                

Culbertson, Joseph               

Dany, Bro.                    

Davis, Israel                    

Dolahide, Jemina                 

Dollarhide, Jeremiah             

Dotson, Feby                     

Dotson, Mary                     

Dotson, Phebe                    

Dotson, Simon                    

Eddington, Margaret              

Eddington, Sinthey               

Ervin, Jean                      

Estep, Elizabeth                 

Estep, Joel                      

Estep, Shadrack                  

Esland, Thomas                   

Easterling, Thomas                

Farmer, Lucy                     

Farmer, Lusey                    

Farmer, Nancy                    

Flannary, Bro.                

Flannay, Bro.                 

Flannery, John                   

Flannery, Sarah                  

Flannery, Violate                

France, Chloe                    

France, Cloe                     

Frances, Clarey                  

Frances, Cloe                    

Frances, William                 

Francis, Clarey                  

George, Bro.                   

George, William                  

Gibson, Annie                    

Gibson, Anny                     

Gibson, Bro.                  

Gibson, Charles                  

Gibson, David                    

Gibson, Delilah                  

Gibson, Deliley                  

Gibson, Fanny                    

Gibson, Francis                  

Gibson, George                   

Gibson, Henry                    

Gibson, James                    

Gibson, John                     

Gibson, Mary                      

Gibson, Nancy                    

Gibson, Rheuben                  

Gibson, Thomas                   

Gibson, Thomas Jr.               

Gibson, Vina                     

Giles, Bro.                   

Gipson, Beter                     

Gipson, Charles                  

Gipson, David                    

Gipson, Elizabeth                

Gipson, Fanny                    

Gipson, George                   

Gipson, John                     

Gipson, Mary                     

Gipson, Nancy                    

Gipson, Rachel                   

Gipson Rheubin                   

Gipson, Thomas                   

Guttery, John                    

Hall, Bro.                    

Hall, Mary                       

Hall, Rubin                       

Henry, Bro.                   

Hollan, William                  

Hollan[d], James                 

Hollan[d], William               

Hollandworth, Nance              

Horton, Margaret                 

Hutchens, Bro.                

Jones, Mary                      

Kelley,  Edward                  

Kildare, Bro.                 

Kilgore, Rabin                   

Kilgore, Robert                  

Kinsey, Bro.                  

Kitchen, Bro.                 

Kitchen, James                    

Kitchen, James Sr.               

Kitchen, Jean                    

Kitchen, Sarah                   

Kitchen, Sis.                  

Kitchin, Bro.                 

Kitching, Bro.                

Lacey, Bro.                   

Landers, Bro.                 

Landers, Elizabeth               

Landers,  Thomas                 

Large, Mary                      

Lea, Giles                       

Lea, Sarah                       

Leath, Henry                     

Leath, James                      

Leath, Margaret                  

Leathe, Bro.                  

McBride, John                    

McBride, Johanne                 

McBride, Susannah                

McBride, William                 

McGuire, Jesse                   

McGuire, Mary                    

McKinney, Elizabeth              

McKinney, James                  

McKinsey, Bro.                

McKinsey, James                  

McKinsey, John                   

McKinsey, Patty                  

Mahan, Selah                      

Maner, William                   

Manes, William                   

Mann, Bro.                    

Mashal, David                    

Marshal, Thomas                  

Marshall, Thomas                 

Marshall, Mary                    

Marshall, Susannah               

Marshel, David                   

Marshel, Thomas                  

Melungeons                       

Mirfey, Edly                     

Moore, Lucy                      

Moore, Spicey                    

More, Clary                      

More, Judith                     

More, Lerecy                     

More, Spicey                     

Mullet, Nas                      

Mullet, Nathan                   

Mullet, Sarah                    

Mullet, Sary                      

Murphy, Sis.                   

Nelson, Elinor                   

Nelson, Ellender                 

Neyland, Rebecky                 

Nolen, Bro.                   

Nolen, James                     

Nolen, Sis.                    

Nolen, William                   

Nolen, William Nolen             

Nolin, Sis.                    

Nolin, William                   

Nuston, Pressleigh               

Oakes, Bro.                   

Ogden, Lidish  [?]               

Osborn, Comfort                  

Osborn, Jemina                   

Osborn, Stephen                  

Owens, Bro.                   

Owens, Sis.                    

Owens, Thomas                    

Penalton, Sarah                  

Pendleton, Edmond                 

Pendleton, Sis.                

Petey, Sis. [widow]            

Philips, Sis.                  

Philips, Elender                 

Pressley, Bro.                

Prickey, William                 

Quillen, Nancy                   

Rany, Samuel                      

Ray, Dicy                        

Relby, Bro.                   

Rhea, Disey                      

Rice, Sherad                     

Richey, Bro.                  

Riggs, Bro.                   

Riggs, Susanna                   

Rigs, Bro.                    

Ritchman, John                   

Ritchman, Nancy                  

Richmond, John                   

Richmond, Johnathan              

Richmond, Nancy                  

Riggs, Bro.                   

Riggs, Hannah                     

Roberts, Catherine               

Roberts, Cathy                   

Roberts, Mary                    

Roberts, Nancy                   

Roberts, Sis.                  

Roberts, William                 

Russell, Rebecky                  

Sexton,                          

Sexton, Bitha                    

Sexton, Bro.                  

Sexton, Elisha                   

Sexton, Sis.                   

Sexton, Tabitha                  

Sook, Sis.                     

Stacky, Bro.                   

Stacy, Bro.                   

Stacy, George                    

Stallard                         

Stallard, Susanna                

Stanfield, James                 

Stanfield, Mary                  

Stanfiled, James                  

Stanley                          

Stanley, Jane                    

Stanley, Sis.                  

Starnes, Rhoda                   

Stellard's,                      

Stergen, Amy                     

Stergen, Bro.                 

Stergen, Mary                    

Stergen, Nimrod                  

Stergin, Bro.                 

Steward, Bro.                 

Steward. Jemina                  

Steward, William                 

Stuart, John                     

Sturgill see also Stergen

Sturgill, Bro.                

Sturgill, Nimrod                 

Taylor, Bro.                  

Taylor, Martha                   

Taylor, Mary                     

Taylor, Nimrod                   

Taylor, Sarah                    

Tod, Jemina                       

Wallings, Bro.                

Watson, Bro.                  

Watson, John                     

Watson, William                  

Wayland, Bro.                 

Wayland, Francis                 

Wayland, Frank                   

Wayland, James                   

Wayland, Kesiah                  

Wayland, Nancy                   

Wayland,Nevel                    

Wayland, Nevel Jr.               

Wayland, Nevel Sr.               

Wayland, Sis.                  

Wayland, Zodak                    

Wells, Bro.                   

Wells, Rebecca                   

Wells, Rebekey                   

Wells, William                   

Wells, Zachariah                 

Wilson, Bro.                  

Wilson, Jesse                    

 

"'September 26, 1813.  Church sat in love.  Bro. Kil­gore, Moderator.  Then came forward Sis. Kitchen and com­plained to the Church against Susanna Stallard for say­ing she harbored them Melungins.  Sis. Sook said she was hurt with her for believing her child and not be­lieving her, and she won't talk to her to get satisfaction, and both is pigedish [pig-headedish] one against the other.  Sis. Sook lays it down and the church forgives her.'"

 

Sis. Susanna Kitchen was provoked with Susanna "Sookie" Stallard for reporting that the Melungeons were visiting in her home.  Sis. Susan "Sook" Kitchens joined the church Septem­ber 26, 1812.  Her child told Susanna Stallard the Melungeons had been staying there.  The church forgave her upon her repen­tance, but the furor appeared to continue at the next meeting.  Stoney Creek was happy to see the Melun­geons re­move to Ten­nessee, and some were chagrinned to have them return on visits to Virginia.  Some did not re­quest dismissions, but simply re­turned to Stoney Creek to worship upon occasions.

 

Lloyd D. "Lou" Minor arrived at a slightly different interpretation of the passage and wrote:

 

"Sarah Kitchens joined the church September 26, 1812, according to the minutes of the meeting of that date.  In the entry for Sept. 26, 1813, Sister Sarah Kitchen, provoked with Susanna "Sister Sook" Stallard for accusing her of having Melungeons staying in her home, complained to the church accordingly.  While denying having made such an accusation, Stallard apparently expressed her own innocence, saying that she was hurt with Sister Sarah for believing she could have said such a thing.  She then implied that her child had been the culprit and not her.  Stallard apparently would have had them believe that her child had rumored to Sister Kitchen that her mother believed Melungeons were being harbored in the Kitchen home.  Sister Sook then let the matter rest, and the church forgave her for any part in contributing to the allegation.  It is unclear whether there was really any reprimand for the alleged harboring of them Melungins, or whether the church felt that Sister Kitchen was in fact guilty of such activity."

 

The account of Jack Harold Goins continues:

 

The closest ones lived near Kyle's Ford, Tennessee 40 miles downstream on the Clinch.  With their primi­tive roads it would be impossible for them to attend services at Stoney Creek and return in one day.  Some­one had to be "harboring" them for per­haps for more than one night at a time.  Some members of Stoney Creek may have sought a res­olution to encourage the Melungeons to attend church in Tennessee:

 

"'October 23, 1813.  Church sat and found in love.  Bro. Cox puts a question to the Church: 'Whether it is in or­der to live in the bounds of one church and to belong to an­other church.'  The assembly deter­mined 'it not good to bind any member in such cases.'"

 

Several blacks were members at Stoney Creek, Rhoda [Cox's black], William George and his two blacks; Luke Stallard's black."  "Feb. 26, 1809, 'Can blacks testify against whites?'  The church voted 'yes.'

 

Concerning the use of the word Melungeon in these minutes, it is obvious it was a common word well known to this commu­nity.  From the minutes, the fol­lowing were the first people to join Stoney Creek Prim­itive Baptist Church bearing Melungeon related names:

 

"'December 1801 "Nancy Gibson, received by letter. Valentine Collins received by experience and baptised.  May the 22nd day 1802: Church meeting held at Stoney Creek.  Received by ex­perance Nancy Brikey, Riley Collins, Mary Large. Rachel Gib­son, Thomas Gibson, Beter Gibson, George Gibson, John Stuart and bap­tised.'"

 

Three members of Stoney Creek are on the 1755 tax list of Or­ange County, North Carolina.  Listed were "mulattoes" Thomas Gibson, George Gibson and Charles Gibson. 

 

Four members of Stoney Creek reappeared on the 1810 tax list of Hawkins County, Tennessee: Thomas Gibson, George Gib­son, Charles Gibson and Valentine Collins.

 

Using the min­utes of Stoney Creek, you can note when Valentine Collins and Charles Gibson left for Hawkins County.

 

Shortly afterward the minutes reveal,  "May the 22nd day 1802: Church meeting held at Stoney Creek.  Received by experance Nancy Brikey, Riley Collins, Mary Large. Rachel Gibson, Thomas Gibson, Peter Gibson, George Gibson, John Stuart and baptised."

 

"Nov 25, 1802 Br. Tiny Collins on Censure till next meeting." Then , "Dec. 23, 1802 Brother Tiny Collins re­stored."

 

Letters of dismission were obtained by someone almost every meeting day. If they left for another church, they had to have a letter of dismission and the same is true today.  Using the min­utes of Stoney Creek, you can note when Valentine Collins and Charles Gibson left for Hawkins County.

 

"'April the 21 day 1803, Bro. Valentine Collins and wife to receive a letter of dismission, also Bro. Charles Gib­son and wife.'"

 

Blackwater Primitive Baptist Church was located at Kyles Ford, Tennessee in Hawkins County [present day Hancock County] on the bank of the Clinch River.  Or­ganized in 1801, it was the first church established in this section.  The earliest minutes found begin in 1816.  We know by the minutes of Stoney Creek who some of its members were.

 

"'February the 26th day 1802. Thomas Gibson Excom­municated.  Sis. Vina Gibson obtained a letter of dismis­sion by letter of recommendation from Blackwater Church.  Sis. Mary Gibson obtained a letter of dismis­sion. Clary More received by experiance and baptised. Dismissed in order.'"

 

Thomas Gibson, listed as one of the Kings Mountain militiamen, and George Gibson are distant grandpar­ents in the family re­search of Ruth Johnson, a member of Gowen Research Founda­tion who lives in Kingsport.  She is completing a book about her life on Newman's Ridge. 

 

Charles Gibson, born in Virginia, moved to North Car­olina and later joined Stoney Creek Primitive Baptist Church June 26, 1802, then removed to Blackwater Primitive Baptist Church.

 

"September 22nd day 1804 Rubin Gibson is excluded from membership of this church [joined July 23, 1802].  He lives at Blackwater congregation and has received a letter from this church [letter of dismission March 26, 1803] and keeps it and has joined another church."

 

"Charles Gibson and wife, Rubin Gibson and wife, and Valen­tine Collins and wife" received dismission to go down to Blackwater Church.  The earliest minutes found there begin in 1816, but none of these people are found in them, probably be­cause Greasy Rock Primitive Bap­tist Church had been subse­quently estab­lished at Sneedville, Tennessee.

 

Some of these families who were asking for letters of dismis­sion to leave and go into another church did not appear in the minutes previously.  Since no children were mentioned as members, and assuming that all these people were adults with children, the congregation probably exceeded 100 people.

 

That number would be the ones belonging to the church.  How many lived there that had nothing to do with the church?

 

Other churches mentioned in the minutes of Stoney Creek in­clude Glade Hollow Primitive Baptist Church, Deep Springs Primitive Baptist Church at 3 forks of the Powell River men­tioned Aug. 1806 probably near Jonesville, Virginia and Moc­casin Primitive Baptist Church. 

 

When the minutes of these sis­ter congregations are found, they may contain additional infor­mation about the Melungeons."

 

In the minutes of Blackwater Primitive Baptist Church, 1816 to 1834 I found four seventh-generation grandfathers who served in the Revo­lutionary War: Thomas Bledsoe, Henry Fisher, John England and Zephaniah Goins.

 

Without any embellishment, my Melungeon grandfather simply declared, "I was at the siege and present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown."

 

Zephaniah Going did not receive any property in the terms of the will of his father written March 17, 1801, but he was stipulated to participate in the property division at the death of his mother.

 

Lloyd D. "Lou" Minor wrote November 11, 1997:

 

"Zephaniah and family removed from Rockingham County, North Carolina to Lee County, Virginia about 1814, together with his brother-in-law, Hezekiah Minor and Elizabeth Going Minor.  There probably were others who made the move, some of whom may have stopped for brief periods in places like Grayson, Wythe, and Scott County, Virginia before finally arriving and settling in the Blackwater Valley of Lee County.  Lee County Surveyors Book indicates a purchase of two hundred acres on Wallens Creek by Hezekiah Minor and Elizabeth Going Minor in 1818.  Their presence is also proven by an 1815 Lee County Court Case which alleges an attempt by "Hezekiah Miner, a freeman of colour," and six of his apparent close neighbors, against a county road crew assigned to perform some type of duties on or near the property of Hezekiah Minor and the others.  The case was continued or postponed several times, until finally being dismissed in August 1818, according to Minute Book A.

 

Zephaniah Going and Hezekiah Minor were enumerated as heads of household in 1820 census of Lee County. 

 

"Zephaniah Goans, free person of color" was recorded as the head of a "free colored" household in the 1830 census of Roane County, Tennessee, page 47.

 

In 1834, "Zephaniah Going" was a justice in Hawkins County, Tennessee,  He filed his Revolutionary pen­sion application there December 18, 1834.  He was included in "Pension List of 1818" published in Washington in 1820.  "Elizabeth Goings" who was born in 1768, applied for a widow's pension July 7, 1838 at age 70.

 

Fourteen children, 10 daughters and four sons, were born to Zephaniah Goins and Elizabeth Thompson Goins, including

 

    John Goins                             born in 1792

    Isaiah Goins                             born in 1795

    Susannah Goins                         born in 1800

    William Goins                         born in 1805

 

John Goins, [Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], was born in 1792.

 

Isaiah Goins, [Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹] son of Zephaniah Goins and Elizabeth Thompson Goins, was born in 1795 in Rockingham County, North Carolina, ac­cording to Pamela R. Lawson Jenkins.  .  He was married in Tennessee to Arminta "Minta" Lindsay who was born there in 1810.  About 1833 they were living in Roane County and re­moved to Hancock County, Tennessee about 1845.

 

On November 27, 1850 the household of "Isiah Going" was enumerated in Hancock County, Tennessee,  Household 268-268, 33rd subdivision, east part, as:

 

    "Going,     Isiah        55, born in NC, farmer, illiterate

               Mintee         40, born in TN

               Mariann       17, born in TN

               Daniel          16, born in TN, attending school

               William        15, born in TN, attending school

               Zachariah     13, born in TN, attending school

               Lydia Jane 11, born in TN

               John          9, born in TN

               Hezekiah        4, born in TN

               Olaver           1, born in TN"

 

According to the research of Jack Cecil Goins, children born to Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lindsay Goins include:

 

    Mary Anne "Polly " Goins        born about 1833

    Daniel Goins                     born about 1834

    William Goins                  born in May 1836

    Zachariah Goins                  born June 13, 1840

    Lyda Jane Goins                  born about 1841

    John Goins                     born about 1842

    Fielder Goins                     born in February 1843

    Hezekiah Goins                  born about 1845

    Oliver Floyd Goins               born about 1848

    Margaret Goins                  born about 1850

 

Mary Anne "Polly Anne" Goins, [Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], daughter of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lindsay, was born about 1833.  She appeared there as a 17-year-old in the 1850 census of her father's household.  She was married January 8, 1854 on a license issued January 3, 1854 to Guilford Minor in Hawkins County, Tennessee.  He was a son of Zachariah Minor and Agness "Aggie" Sizemore Minor.  It is believed that four children were born to her before her death about 1860. 

 

He was remarried to Ursula Roberts September 19, 1861, according to the research of Sam Adams, a great-great-grandson.  Ursula Roberts had appeared in the 1850 census of Scott County, Virginia "living in a McMillion household," according to Adams research.  Guilford Minor died December 26, 1903 and was buried in the Minor family cemetery.

 

Daniel Goins, [Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lindsay, was born about 1834.  It is believed that he died in infancy.

 

William Goins, [Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lindsay Goins, was born in May 1836 near Lenoir City, Tennessee in Roane County, according to Jack Cecil Goins.  He appeared in the 1850 census of Hancock County as a 15-year-old.  He was married about 1856 to Susan Minor, believed to be a daughter of Zachariah Minor.  In 1857 they lived at Kyle's Ford, Tennessee.  William Goins is reported to have died about 1864 at Dungannon, Virginia.  Susan Minor Goins was remarried to George Washington Goins, unidentified.  He was born in North Carolina January 25, 1835.  Susan Minor Goins Goins died in 1916 in Hancock County and was buried in Goins Cemetery in an unmarked grave.  William Goins, son of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lind­say Goins, was born in May 1836 in Tennessee, accord­ing to the research of Jon Lee Goins, a descendant of Austin, Texas.  Children born to George Washington Goins and Su­san Minor Goins Goins are unknown.

 

 

 

Children of William Goins and Susan Minor Goins include:

 

    Hezekiah "Kiah, [Karr]" Goins  born in July 1857

    Ephriam Goins                  born about 1858

    Milam Goins                     born about 1860

    Sarah Goins                     born about 1862

    Martha Jane Goins              born about 1867

 

Hezekiah "Kiah, [Karr]" Goins, [William⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], and Susan Minor Goins, was born in July 1857.  He was married about 1877 to Sarah Hurd, daughter of Elijah Hurd and Sally Hurd.  Sarah Hurd Goins died June 21, 1932 at Kyle's Ford, and Hezekiah Goins died there December 13, 1943 at age 86.

 

Children born to Hezekiah Goins and Sarah Hurd Goins include:

 

    Paralee Goins                     born in 1878

    Henry Harrison Goins          born August 21, 1880

    Martha M. "Mattie" Goins      born February 18, 1883

    Kizzie Belle "Kiz" Goins [twin]    born February 1, 1886

    Vina Elizabeth "Liz" Goins [twin]

                                      born February 1, 1886

    Zachariah R. "Zack" Goins      born in April 1890

    Susan Goins                     born May 5, 1892

    Huston Goins                     born October 1, 1894

 

Paralee Goins, son of Hezekiah Goins and Sarah Hurd Goins, was born in 1878.  He did about 1889.

 

Henry Harrison Goins, son of Hezekiah Goins and Sarah Hurd Goins, was born August 21, 1880 at Kyle's Ford.  He was mar­ried about 1903 to Martha Bledsoe who was born in 1880.  It is believed that she died about 1918.  He was remar­ried about 1919 to Lillie Victoria Bledsoe who was born February 11, 1884 in Scott County, Virginia to James M. Bledsoe and Serena M. Bledsoe.  In 1922 Henry Harrison Goins lived at Kyle's Ford.  Henry Harrison Goins died July 16, 1954 at Rogersville, Tennessee, and Lillie Victoria Bled­soe Goins died June 27, 1962 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

 

Children born to Henry Harrison Goins and Martha Bledsoe Goins include:

 

    Bessie Goins                     born April 13, 1905

    Cornie Goins                     born May 4, 1907

    Ray Goins                         born April 21, 1909

    William McKinley Goins      born July 18, 1911

    Hezekiah Goins                  born November 20, 1913

   

Children born to Henry Harrison Goins and Lillie Victoria Bledsoe Goins include:

 

    Hustler Lee Goins                   born April 8, 1921

    Esley Lee Goins                     born May 26, 1922

    William Wesley W. Goins          born August 22, 1924

 

Bessie Goins, daughter of Henry Harrison Goins and Martha Bledsoe Goins, was born in 1905.  She was married about 1930 to Lawrence Ellis Arrington who was born in 1893.

 

Children born to them include:

 

    Hugh Arrington                        born in 1936

    Cornie J. Arrington                born in 1938

    Douglas Arrington                    born in 1940

    Luther Arrington                    born in 1944

   

Hugh Arrington, son of Lawrence Ellis Arrington and Bessie Goins Arrington, was born in 1936.  He was married about 1962 to Mabel Kearn who was born in 1941. 

 

Children born to them include:

   

    Michael Arrington                born in 1965

    Lisa Arrington                    born in 1967

 

Cornie J. Arrington, daughter of Lawrence Ellis Arrington and Bessie Goins Arrington, was born in 1938.  She was married about 1958 to Ennis Carmack.  Children born to them include:

 

    Ennis Carmack, Jr.                    born about 1965

    Sherry Carmack                     born about 1968

    Larry Carmack                     born about 1971

 

Douglas Arrington, son of Lawrence Ellis Arrington and Bessie Goins Arrington, was born in 1940.  He was married about 1963 to Brenda Cradic.  Children born to them include:

 

    Naomi Arrington                        born in 1966

    Donna Arrington                        born in 1969

 

Luther Arrington, son of Lawrence Ellis Arrington and Bessie Goins Arrington, was born in 1944.  He was married about 1972 to Brenda Catron. 

 

Children born to them include:

 

    Alivia Arrington                        born in 1974

    Juanita Arrington                    born in 1976

 

Cornie Goins, daughter of Henry Harrison Goins and Martha Bledsoe Goins, was born in 1907. 

 

Ray Goins, son of Henry Harrison Goins and Martha Bled­soe Goins, was born in 1909.  He died January 8, 1918.

 

William McKinley Goins, son of Henry Harrison Goins and Martha Bledsoe Goins, was born in 1911.  He was married about 1933 to Ona Mae Arrington who was born in 1913.  In 1988 they continued in Rogersville.

 

Children born to William McKinley Goins and Ona Mae Ar­rington Goins include:

 

    William Harrison Goins              born October 11, 1935

    Jack Harold Goins                  born April 21, 1937

    Joyce Ann Goins                      born February 17, 1945

   

William Harrison Goins, son of William McKinley Goins and Ona Mae Arrington Goins, was born in 1935.  He was mar­ried about 1960 to Nancy McGinnis.  In 1988 they lived in Rogersville.

 

Children born to William Harrison Goins and Nancy McGinnis Goins include:

 

    Steve Goins                         born March 15, 1962

    Terri Goins                         born May 9, 1964

 

Jack Harold Goins, son of William McKinley Goins and Ona Mae Arrington Goins, was born in 1937.  He was married about 1960 to Betty A. Mayo.  In 1993 they lived in Rogersville.

 

Children born to them include:

 

    Scott Ray Goins                  born January 4, 1961

    Lori Suzanne Goins              born February 11, 1963

    John Kevin Goins            born November 18, 1970

 

Scott Ray Goins, son of Jack Harold Goins and Betty A. Mayo Goins, was born in 1961.  In 1991 he lived in Georgia.

 

Lori Suzanne Goins, daughter of Jack Harold Goins and Betty A. Mayo Goins, was born in 1963.  She was married about 1983 to Rodney Farmer.  Children born to them in­clude:

 

    Meghan Farmer                   born in October 1985

 

John Kevin Goins, son of Jack Harold Goins and Betty A. Mayo Goins, was born in 1970. 

 

Joyce Ann Goins, daughter of William McKinley Goins and Ona Mae Arrington Goins, was born in 1945.  She was mar­ried about 1963 to Ray Newberry who was born in 1944.  She was remarried about 1980 to Gene Manis.

 

Children born to Ray Newberry and Joyce Ann Goins New­berry include:

 

    Danny Alan Newberry            born in 1965

    David McKinley Newberry        born in 1968

 

Hezekiah Goins, son of Henry Harrison Goins and Martha Bledsoe Goins, was born in 1913 in Tennessee.  He was mar­ried about 1936 to Elsie McMillan.  He died in Emmett, Idaho.

 

Children born to Hezekiah Goins and Elsie McMillan Goins in­clude:

   

    Dennis Goins                         born about 1938

    Eugene Goins                         born about 1940

    LaDonna Goins                     born about 1943

    Larry Goins                         born about 1946

 

Hustler Lee Goins, son of Henry Harrison Goins and Lillie Victoria Bledsoe Goins, was born in 1921.  He was married about 1948 to Helen Marie Gentry who was born in Indiana.  In 1991 he and his second wife Ruth Goins lived in Bell, Florida.

 

Children born in Hustler Lee Goins and Helen Marie Gentry Goins include:

 

    Paul Lee Goins                     born March 5,  1951

    Diane Marie Goins                born about 1954

 

Paul Lee Goins, son of Hustler Lee Goins and Helen Marie Gentry Goins, was born in 1951.  He was married about 1974, wife's name Lora.  In 1988 Paul Lee Goins and Lora Goins lived in Tampa, Florida.

 

Diane Marie Goins, daughter of Hustler Lee Goins and He­len Marie Gentry Goins, was born about 1954.  She was mar­ried about 1976 to Don Martin.  In 1988 they lived in Florida.

 

Esley Lee Goins, son of Henry Harrison Goins and Lillie Victo­ria Bledsoe Goins, was born May 26, 1922 at Kyle's Ford.  He was married September 20, 1947 to Paulina Jeanette Cooper who was born August 3, 1928 in Spencer County, Indiana to Monte Cornelius Cooper and Pearl Marie Cooper.

 

Children born to Esley Lee Goins and Paulina Jeanette Cooper Goins include:

 

    Jon Lee Goins                     born January 20, 1949

    Jimmy Alan Goins             born March 5, 1951

    Judy Lynn Goins                born September 13, 1952

    Jerry Dale Goins                  born February 17, 1956

    Jackie Ann Goins [twin]           born December 8, 1962

    Joanie Kay Goins [twin]           born December 8, 1962

   

Jon Lee Goins, son of Esley Lee Goins and Paulina Jeanette Cooper Goins, was born January 20, 1949 in Indianapolis.  He was married April 10, 1971 to Sandra Lee Hawkins.  In 1992 Jon Lee Goins and Sandra Lee Hawkins Goins lived in Austin, Texas.

 

Children born to them include:

 

    Amy Lee Goins                      born August 15, 1971

    Eric Lee Goins                     born May 17, 1976

 

Jimmy Alan Goins, son of Esley Lee Goins and Paulina Jeanette Cooper Goins, was born in 1951.  He was married Au­gust 3, 1983 to Deloris Jean D. Harris who was born in 1960.  In 1988 they lived in Indianapolis, Indiana..

 

Judy Lynn Goins, daughter of Esley Lee Goins and Paulina Jeanette Cooper Goins, was born in 1952.  She was married November 1, 1970 to Anthony Lovell T. Jones who was born in 1941.  She was remarried about 1978 to Clinton Earl Jar­rett.  In 1988 they continued in Indianapolis..

 

Children born to them include:

 

    Susan Michelle Jones                   born February 9, 1972

    Steven Anthony Jones               born March 24, 1977

 

Jerry Dale Goins, son of Esley Lee Goins and Paulina Jeanette Cooper Goins, was born in 1956.  He was married December 18, 1976 to Regina Darlene Wiley who was born in 1959.  He was remarried July 6, 1985 to Rhonda Jean Haskin.  In 1988 Jerry Dale Goins and Rhonda Jean Haskin Goins lived in Texas.  In 1992 he began a three-year tour of duty in Germany with the U.S. Air Force.

 

Children born to Jerry Dale Goins and Regina Darlene Wi­ley Goins include:

 

    Katrina Lynette Goins          born February 21, 1976

    Kandis LeAnn Goins              born August 15, 1979

 

Jackie Ann Goins, twin daughter of Esley Lee Goins and Paulina Jeanette Cooper Goins, was born in 1962.  She was married April 19, 1986 to Kenneth James Joyce who was also born in 1962.  He died in November 1989.  In 1992 she lived in Indianapolis.

 

Joanie Kay Goins, twin daughter of Esley Lee Goins and Paulina Jeanette Cooper Goins, was born in 1962.  She was married May 10, 1986 to Lorne Duane Pickens who was born in 1965.  In 1992 they lived at Pittsboro, Indiana.

 

William Wesley Goins, son of Henry Harrison Goins and Lillie Victoria Bledsoe Goins, was born in 1924.  He was married about 1945 to Ida Lesley Cottongin.  In 1992 they lived in Plainview, Indiana.

 

Children born to William Wesley W. Goins and Ida Lesley Cottongin Goins include:

 

    William Eugene Goins          born July 23, 1946

    Linda Faye Goins                 born December 3, 1949

    Michael Ray Goins              born July 5, 1953

    Elaine Kay Goins                  born November 6, 1961

   

Elaine Kay Goins, daughter of William Wesley Goins and Ida Lesley Cottongin Goins, was born in 1961.  She was mar­ried about 1985 to William Nelson.  In 1992 they lived in Muncie, Indiana.

 

Martha M. "Mattie" Goins, daughter of Hezekiah Goins and Sarah Hurd Goins, was born in 1886.  She was married to Tay­lor Willis about 1904. 

 

Children born to them include:

 

    Ezra Willis                          born in 1906

    Maxie Willis                          born about 1908

    Elizabeth L. Willis                 born about 1913

    Virginia L. V. Willis                 born in 1915

    Walter Willis                          born about 1917

    Rufus Willis                          born in 1920

    Clarence Willis                      born about 1923

    Luther Willis                          born about 1926

    Doris Willis                          born about 1930

 

Kizzie Bell Goins, twin daughter of Hezekiah Goins and Sarah Hurd Goins, was born in 1888.  She was married about 1907 to Robert McMillan who was born in 1872.  Children born to them include:

 

    Lloyd McMillan                    born in 1909

    Leonard H. McMillan            born in 1911

    Alvin McMillan                        born in 1914

    Edna McMillan                    born in 1916

    Earl McMillan                    born in 1919

    Eugene McMillan                born in 1923

    Coy McMillan                    born in 1925

    John Byrd McMillan                born in 1928

 

Vina Elizabeth L. Goins, twin daughter of Hezekiah Goins and Sarah Hurd Goins, was born in 1888.  She was married about 1909 to Sam Parsons.  Children born to them include:

 

    Ella Mae Parsons                      born about 1910

    Mattalee Parsons                      born about 1912

    Alonzo Parsons                      born about 1914

    William Parsons                      born about 1916

    John Parsons                          born in 1917

    Roscoe Parsons                      born about 1920

    Walter Parsons                      born about 1923

 

Zachariah "Zack" Goins, son of Hezekiah Goins and Sarah Hurd Goins, was born in 1890.  He was married about 1913 to Octavia Manis.

 

Children born to Zachariah "Zack" Goins and Octavia Manis Goins include:

 

    Rex H. Goins                         born about 1915

    William C. Goins                    born about 1918

 

Susan Goins, daughter of Hezekiah Goins and Sarah Hurd Goins, was born in 1892.  She was married about 1911 to Har­rison Rogers.  Children born to them include:

 

    Doris Rogers                       born about 1913

    Helen Rogers                       born about 1915

    Ruth Rogers                       born about 1917

    Janell Rogers                       born about 1920

    Houston Rogers                   born about 1923

 

Houston Goins, son of Hezekiah Goins and Sarah Hurd Goins, was born in 1894 in Tennessee.  He was married about 1918 to Mag Roach.  He died in Idaho about 1964.

 

Children born to Houston Goins and Mag Roach Goins in­clude:

 

    James Albert Goins                   born about 1920

    Ben Hubert Goins                  born about 1923

    Jack Cecil Goins                     born about 1926

 

James Albert Goins, son of Houston Goins and Mag Roach Goins, was born about 1920.  He was married about 1946 to Irene Blessinger.  In 1988 they lived in Idaho.

 

Children born to James Albert Goins and Irene Blessinger Goins include:

 

    Janice Kay Goins                      born about 1948

    Peggy Lee Goins                       born about 1950

    James Albert Goins, Jr.            born about 1953

 

Ben Hubert Goins, son of Houston Goins and Mag Roach Goins, was born about 1923.  He was married about 1947 to Velma Burgstrom.  In 1988 they lived in Washington.

 

Children born to Ben Hubert Goins and Velma Burgstrom Goins include:

 

    Mark Houston Goins                  born about 1950

    Ronald Goins                         born about 1954

 

Jack Cecil Goins, son of Houston Goins and Mag Roach Goins, was born about 1926.  He was married about 1949, wife's name Cora. 

 

Children born to Jack Cecil Goins and Cora Goins include:

 

    Tom Goins                         born about 1952

    Chris Goins                         born about 1956

 

Huston Goins, [Hezekiah⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹],  son of Hezekiah Goins, was born October 1, 1894.  He was married about 1918 to Margaret Jane Roach.

 

Three sons were born to Huston Goins and Margaret Jane Roach Goins:

 

    James Albert Goins                   born March 17, 1920

    Benjamin Hubert Goins              born July 12, 1923

    Jack Cecil Goins                     born July 7, 1931

 

James Albert Goins, [Huston⁹, Hezekiah⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of Huston Goins and Margaret Jane Roach Goins, was born March 17, 1920.  He was married July 25, 1945 to Irene Blessinger of Weiser, Idaho. 

 

Three children were born to James Albert Goins and Irene Blessinger Goins:

 

    Janice Kay Goins                  born October 7, 1946

    Peggy Lee Goins                   born September 30, 1847

    James Albert Goins, Jr.        born July 15, 1951

 

James Albert Goins, Jr, [James Albert¹⁰, Huston⁹, Hezekiah⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of James Albert Goins and Irene Blessinger Goins, was born July 15, 1951.  He was married about 1971 to Wanda Kay Baker of Weiser, Idaho.

 

Two children were born to James Albert Goins, Jr. and Wanda Kay Baker Goins:

 

    Clinton James Goins               born May 21, 1972

    Tina Marie Goins                born January 21, 1976

 

Benjamin Hubert Goins, [Huston⁹, Hezekiah⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of Huston Goins and Margaret Jane Roach Goins, was born July 12, 1923.  He was married to Velma Ruith Bergstrom September 17, 1953.

 

Benjamin Hubert Goins and Velma Ruth Bergstrom Goins adopted two children:

 

    Mark Huston Goins              born November 4, 1962

    Ronald Henry Goins               born March 11, 1966

 

Jack Cecil Goins, [Huston⁹, Hezekiah⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of Huston Goins and Margaret Jane Roach Goins, was born July 7, 1931.  He was married about 1962 to Cora Lou List.  He was remarried about 1962 to Joyce Elaine Huhs.  In 1997 they lived in ????, Washington where he, a Foundation member, was active in the research of his branch of the family

 

Two children were born to Jack Cecil Goins and Cora Lou List Goins:

 

    Robert Huston Goins              born July 8, 1950

    Elizabeth Jane Goins              born March 1, 1954

 

Two children were born to Jack Cecil Goins and Joyce Elaine Huhs Goins:

 

    Christine Lee Goins               born June 18, 1964

    Thomas Adam Goins               born November 28, 1965

 

Robert Huston Goins,  [Jack Cecil¹⁰, Hezekiah⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of Jack Cecil Goins and Cora Lou List Goins, was born July 18, 1950, place unknown. 

 

Elizabeth Jane Goins, [Jack Cecil¹⁰, Hezekiah⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], daughter of Jack Cecil Goins and Cora Lou List Goins, was born March 1, 1954, place unknown.

 

Christine Lee Goins, [Jack Cecil¹⁰, Hezekiah⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], daughter  of Jack Cecil Goins and Joyce Elaine Huhs Goins, was born June 28, 1964, place unknown.

 

Thomas Adam Goins [Jack Cecil¹⁰, Hezekiah⁸, Isaiah⁷, Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of Jack Cecil Goins and Joyce Elaine Huhs Goins, was born November 28, 1965, place unknown.  He was married about 1988 to Dawn Bankemper of Pasco, Washington.

 

Children born to Thomas Adam Goins and Dawn Bankemper Goins include:

 

    Alexander Huston Goins          born January 21, 1994

 

Ephriam Goins, son of William Goins and Susan Minor Goins, was born about 1858.  He was married 1888 to Mary Hurd.

 

Children born to Ephriam Goins and Mary Hurd Goins include:

 

    Piney Goins                             November 22, 1889

    Dewey William Goins                  born about 1896

    James Nelson Goins                     born in 1898

    George Goins                             born about 1901

    Emmett Goins                         born about 1903

    Clyde Goins                             born about 1905

    Margaret Goins                         born about 1912

 

Piney Goins, daughter of Ephriam Goins and Mary Hurd Goins, was born November 22, 1889 in Hancock County, according to Debra Gilley, a descendant.  Piney Goins was married about 1906 to Sherman A. Carroll who was born May 19, 1889.  Piney Goins Carroll died November 2, 1963 and was buried in the Carroll family cemetery located on Highway 3 in

Western Wise County, Virginia.  Sherman A. Carroll died December 23, 1976 and was buried beside his wife.  Buried with them was Eugene G. Carroll who was born August 23, 1927.

 

James Nelson Goins, son of Ephriam Goins and Mary Hurd Goins, was born in 1898.  He was married about 1921, wife's name Viola.

 

Children born to James Nelson Goins and Viola Goins in­clude:

 

    Carmel Goins                             born about 1923

    John Goins                             born about 1929

    Will Goins                             born about 1931

    James Goins                             born about 1934

    Homer Goins                             born about 1936

    Billy Goins                             born about 1939

    Charles Goins                         born about 1943

 

Milam Goins, son of William Goins and Susan Minor Goins, was born about 1859.

 

Sarah Goins, daughter of William Goins and Susan Minor Goins, was born about 1861.

 

Martha Jane Goins, daughter of William Goins and Susan Mi­nor Goins, was born about 1863.

 

Zachariah Goins, son of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lindsay Goins, was born June 13, 1837 in Roane County near Lenoir City, Tennessee.  He appeared as a 13-year-old in the 1850 census of Hancock County.  He was married about 1861 to Selah Minor.  Following her death, he was remarried to Mrs. Elizabeth Minor Lawson.  She was a daughter of Zachariah Mi­nor and Agnes "Aggie" Sizemore Minor and a widow of Stokely Lawson. 

 

"Zachariah Goins" enlisted in Company E, First Tennessee Cavalary Regiment December 1, 1862, showing Kyle's Ford, Tennessee as his residence. He was married for the third time September 16, 1889 to Nancy Catherine England.  He died De­cember 20, 1913 in Hancock County and was buried in Goins-Hurd Cemetery, according to Pamela R. Lawson Jenkins.  Chil­dren born to Zachariah Goins, Elizabeth Minor Lawson Goins and Nancy Catherine England Goins are unknown.

 

Children born to Zachariah Goins and Selah Minor Goins in­clude:

 

    John Goins                  born about 1862

 

Lydia Jane Goins, daughter of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lindsay Goins, was born about 1839 in Roane County.  She appeared as an 11-year-old in the 1850 census of Hancock County.  She did not marry, but, according to Pamela R. Law­son Jenkins, two sons were born to her:

 

    Tennessee Goins               born about 1864

    Noah Goins                  born about 1867

 

John Goins, son of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lind­say Goins, was born in 1841 in Roane County.  He appeared as a nine-year-old in the 1850 census of Hancock County. 

 

Fielder Goins, son of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lind­say Goins, was born in February 1843.  He was married about 1874, wife's name unknown.

 

Children born to Fielder Goins include:

 

    George Goins                             born about 1876

    William Goins                         born about 1877

    Jake Goins [twin]                        born in 1879

    J. Hugh Goins [twin]                    born in 1879

    Emmett Goins                         born about 1883

 

George Goins, son of John Goins, was born about 1876.  He was married about 1899, wife's name Ennie. 

 

Children born to George Goins and Ennie Goins include:

 

    Christina Goins                         born about 1901

    Rosa Goins                             born about 1903

    Rena Goins                             born about 1905

    Ina Goins                               born about 1907

    Isabell Goins                             born about 1908

    Betty Goins                             born about 1910

    John George Goins                     born about 1911

    Letha Kathern Goins                     born in 1913

    Zack Goins                             born about 1916

    Fielder Goins                             born about 1919

    Emmett Goins                         born about 1923

 

Letha Kathern Goins, daughter of George Goins and Ennie Goins, was born in 1913.  She was married about 1932 to Willard Bledsoe.

 

Children born to them include:

   

    Jo Ann Bledsoe                              born about 1934

    J. C. Lawson Bledsoe                          born about 1936

    Brooks Bledsoe                              born about 1938

    Howard Bledsoe                              born about 1941

    David Bledsoe                              born about 1946

    Lawrence Bledsoe                          born about 1950

 

Fielder Goins, son of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lind­say Goins, was born in February 1843 in Roane County.  He was married about 1868 to Isabella Fisher in Hancock County.  He died November 2, 1892 at Blackwater, Virginia in Lee County.  Six children were born to Fielder Goins and Isabella Fisher Goins, according to Pamela R. Lawson Jenkins.

 

Hezekiah "Carr" [Kiah] Goins, son of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lindsay Goins, was born in 1845 in Han­cock County.  He was married there about 1869 to Rebecca J. Belcher.  He died in 1926 in Sullivan County.  Five children were born to Hezekiah "Carr" Goins and Rebecca J. Belcher Goins.

 

Oliver Floyd Goins, son of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lindsay Goins, was born about 1848.  He appeared as a one-year-old in the 1850 census of his father's household.

 

Margaret Goins, daughter of Isaiah Goins and Arminta "Minta" Lindsay Goins, was born in 1850.  She was married about 1872, husband's name unknown.  Seven children are reported to have been born to her.

 

Susannah Goins, [Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], daughter of Zephaniah Goins and Elizabeth Thompson Goins, was born in 1800.  She was married to her cousin John Minor, son of Hezekiah Minor and Elizabeth Going Minor.

 

William Goins, [Zephaniah⁶, John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of Zephaniah Goins and Elizabeth Thompson Goins, was born about 1805.

 

Isaiah Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1761, probably in Granville County.  He was mentioned in the will of his father, written March 17, 1801, as the recipient of "one feather bed & furniture."

 

John Going, Jr, son of John Going and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1763.  Of this individual nothing more is known.

 

Littleberry Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mi­hil¹], son of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1764, probably in Granville County.  He was mentioned in the will of his father, written March 17, 1801, as the recipient of "one feather bed & furniture."

 

"Berry Going" ap­peared in the 1810 census in a location adjoining his brother, Simeon Going.  He paid a polltax and a tax on two horses.  He had a deed accepted by Henry County Chancery Court in 1818, ac­cording to Jack Harold Goins.

 

Isaiah Going, son of John Going and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1774 in Henry County.  Of this individual nothing more is known.

 

Susanna Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], daughter of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1767, probably in Henry County.  She was named in the will of her father, written March 17, 1801 as the recipient of "one roan mare, one cow & calf and one feather bed and furniture."

 

Simeon Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1768, probably in Granville County.  He was named in the will of his father, written March 17, 1801 as the recipient of "one cow & calf and one feather bed & furniture."

 

He was mar­ried September 2, 1801 to Keziah Tabb, according to "Henry County Marriage Bonds, 1778-1849" by Virginia Adder­ton Dodd.  His brother-in-law, Hezekiah Minor, was surety for the marriage.   He was listed as a taxpayer in the 1810 tax list of Henry County.  He paid a tax on "one poll and two horses," ac­cording to "A Supplement to the 1810 Census of Virginia" by Nettie Schreiner-Yantis.  Recorded in the 1810 tax list in an adjoining locations with Simeon Going were his mother and his brother, "Berry Going."  He contin­ued in Henry County into the 1820s, according to Jack Harold Goins.  Children born to Simeon Going and Keziah Tabb Going are unknown. 

 

Zedekiah Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], son of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1770, probably in Granville County.  He was mentioned in the will of his father, written March 17, 1801 as the recipient of "one cow & calf and one feather bed & furniture."

 

Zackariah Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mi­hil¹], son of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1773, probably in Granville County.  He was named in the will of his father, written March 17, 1801 as the recipient of one cow & calf and one feather bed & furniture."

 

Elizabeth Going [John Jr.⁵, John⁴, William³, Thomas², Mihil¹], daughter of John Gowen, Jr. and Elizabeth Going, was born about 1776, probably in Granville County.  She was married in Henry County September 19, 1795 to Hezekiah Miner, according to "Henry County Marriage Bonds, 1778-1849."  The marriage was also mentioned in "Some Virginia Mar­riages" by Cecil D. McDonald.

 

 

Elizabeth Going Minor did not receive a property distribution in her father's will written March 17, 1801.  She may have received something at the time of her marriage.  She was mentioned to receive an equal inheritance upon the death of her mother.

 

Minor was a family name associated with the Gowen family in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.  Prof. Henry Price of the University of Tennessee noted that Minor was a Melungeon name.  Hezekiah Minor removed to Rockingham County, North Carolina in late 1800, according to Lloyd D. "Lou" Minor.  He wrote:

 

"In about 1813-14 they moved to Lee County, Virginia where the bought 200 acres on Wallens Creek in Blackwater Valley.  Hezekiah Minor and Zephaniah Going, his brother-in-law,  were enumerated as heads of household in 1820 census of Lee County.  Between 1820 and 1824, probably closer to 1824, Hezekiah Minor removed to Hawkins [later Hancock] County, Tennessee, "settling along the Kyle Ford on the Clinch River," according to the family bible.  'Ezekiar Miner' joined the Blackwater Baptist Church 'on May the second Saterday 1824.'  It has been stated that Elizabeth Going Minor also joined Blackwater Church at the same time her husband did, but her name does not appear on any of the membership rolls or meeting minutes, and certainly not on the same day Hezekiah was received and baptized.  She may have been deceased before Hezekiah removed from Lee County."

 

Children born to Hezekiah Minor and Elizabeth Going Mi­nor include:

 

    John Minor                     born about 1798

      [daughter]                       born about 1799

    Zachariah Minor                  born in  1801

    Lewis Minor                     born December 24, 1807

      [daughter]                       born about 1809

   

John Minor, son of Hezekiah Minor and Elizabeth Going Minor, was born about 1798 in Henry County.  He was married about 1823 to his cousin, Susannah Going, daughter of Zephaniah Going and Elizabeth Thompson Going.  A daughter, name unknown, was born to John Minor ands Susannah Going Minor.

 

A daughter, name unknown, was born to Hezekiah Minor and Elizabeth Going Minor in Henry County in 1799.

 

Zachariah Minor, son of Hezekiah Minor and Elizabeth Going Minor, was born in 1801 in Rockingham County, North Carolina, according to Lloyd D. "Lou" Minor, a descendant.  He was married October 18, 1824 in Hawkins County to Agnes "Aggie" Sizemore, according to Jack Harold Goins, a descen­dant.

 

On November 27, 1850, the household of "Zachariah Miner," No. 269-269, adjoining that of Isaiah Going, was enumerated in the 1850 census of Hancock County, Tennessee, 33rd sub­division, east part:

 

    "Miner,    Zachariah     52, born in VA, $2,500 real

                                      estate

               Agness     42, born in TN

               Alfred          22, born in TN

               Sally        21, born in TN

               Lydia           16, born in TN, attending school

               Gilford     18, born in TN

               Elizabeth      15, born in TN, attending school

               Susan          13, born in TN, attending school

               Claiborn      11, born in TN, attending school

               Sarah             9, born in TN, attending school

               James            6, born in TN

               Aley          8, born in TN

               Zachariah   6/12, born in TN"

 

Zachariah Minor died in 1872 in Hancock County, Tennessee and is believed to have been buried in Goins-Hurd Cemetery.

 

Lewis Minor, son of Hezekiah Minor and Elizabeth Going Minor, was born December 24, 1807 at Roane, North Carolina, in Rockingham County, according to a descendant, Marilyn Minor Ledford in correspondence dated September 23, 1997.  He was married about 1823 to Sarah "Sally" Fields, daughter of Anderson Fields and Elizabeth Manis Fields.  Later Lewis Minor was remarried to Lucy Winstead.

 

Children born to Lewis Minor and Sarah "Sally" Fields Minor include:

 

    Hiram Lee Minor              born October 11, 1847

 

Hiram Lee Minor, son of Lewis Minor and Sarah "Sally" Fields, was born October 11, 1847 in Hawkins County, Tennessee.  He was married about 1870 to Jennie Ann Robinson, daughter of William H. Robinson and Nancy Stamps Robinson of White County, Tennessee.  She was born October 30, 1854 in Putman County, Tennessee.

 

They removed to Fayetteville, Arkansas about 1869.  He died there January 18, 1889. Jennie Ann Robinson Minor died January 15, 1936 in Wilmington, California.

 

Children born to Hiram Lee Minor and Jennie Ann Robinson Minor include:

 

    William Andrew Minor          born February 19, 1884

 

William Andrew Minor, son of Hiram Lee Minor and Jennie Ann Robinson Minor, was born February 19, 1884.  He was married about 1907 to Bertha Pearl Guthrie. 

 

Children born to William Andrew Minor and Bertha Pearl Guthrie Minor include:

 

    Granville Zack Minor          born August 10, 1913

 

Granville Zack Minor, son of William Andrew Minor and Bertha Pearl Guthrie Minor, was born August 10, 1913 in Washington County, Arkansas.  He died June 12, 1992.

 

A daughter, name unknown, was born about 1809 to Hezekiah Minor and Elizabeth Going Minor was born about 1809 in Rockingham County and appeared on the 1810 census there.

 

Family Researchers:

 

    Mary Jo Gowan Bray, 5719 E. Aster, Scottsdale, AZ, 85254, 602/948-6554

    Jack Harold Goins, Rt. 2, Box 275, Rogersville, TN, 37857

    Dr. Virginia Easley DeMarce, 5635 North 25th Road, Arlington, VA, 22207

    Chan Edmondson, Box 141235, Dallas, TX, 75214, 214/320-3161

    Patrick William Gowan, 1422 Puterbough St, San Diego, CA, 92103

    Arlee Gowen, 5708 Gary Ave, Lubbock, TX, 79413, 806/795-8758

    M. Ruth Johnson, 3705 Bloomingdale Rd, Kingsport, TN, 37660

    Donna Gowin Johnston, 1513 Westridge Terrace, Casper, WY, 82604

    Shari Lynn Southard, 5240 W. Las Palmaritas, Glendale, AZ, 85302

    Lloyd D. Minor, 3260 Hector Road, Newcastle CA 95658; 916-663-3921,

        Fax: 916-663-4253, E-mail: [email protected]