Apparently William Gowen became attracted to the new settlement in Tennessee along the Cumberland River. Glowing reports were coming back about the fertility of the land and the opportunities the new area offered. It is believed that he was influenced there primarily by his son-in-law, Capt. John Rains who had been there at the invitation of Capt. James Robertson, founder of Nashville. Cleve Weathers, a descend-ant of Nashville, wrote that Capt. John Rains was pointed toward Harrodsburg, Kentucky until his meeting with James Robertson.
Since the area at that time was part of the state of North Carolina and since William Gowen may have served in the militia of that state, he felt assured of receiving a land grant there. Frank Maxwell Gowen, family researcher of Phoenix, wrote that he was accompanied in the move to Tennessee by his sons, William Gowen, John Gowen and James H. Gowen
Settlers living along the Watauga River in December 1787, after the star-crossed Free State of Franklin adventure in 1784, signed a petition addressed to the General Assembly of North Carolina requesting a separate state for Tennessee. Signors included "William Goings," Samuel Cox and Robert McCall.
It is believed that William Gowen arrived in Davidson County in the winter of 1779 under the guidance of Capt. John Rains. Since the Buchanan-Mulherrin party also arrived in Nashville in the winter of 1779, it is possible that the two parties trav-eled together. The estate of John Buchanan was inventoried October 4, 1787 by James Mulherrin and John Buchanan, administrators.
In 1788 counterfeit money began to appear in Nashville, and the county court appointed inspectors to begin to search for the source of the bogus money.
The Gowen men entered Davidson County at a time when it was constantly beset with Indian attacks from the Chickasaw, the Creek and the Chickamauga tribes.
On May 13, 1780 William Gowen was one of the signors of the Cumberland Compact Articles of Government. The doc-ument was signed by 255 men who lived in the five stations along the Cumberland River at that time. "John Cowan" also signed the document.
Fierce Indian fighting raged around the new settlements on the Cumberland, and David Gowen, regarded as an associate of William Gowen, was killed in 1780 in an attack on Mansker's Station. There are two possible locations for Mansker's Sta-tion. Mansker's Station is now a historical spot near Goodlets-ville, Tennessee. Patrick Quigley was killed along with David Gowen.
Casper Mansker, a German long hunter from Pennsylvania, had built the fort called Mansker's Station in 1779. He was the son of Ludwig Maintzger, an emigrant from Baden-Wurt-temburg, and was born on a ship crossing the Atlantic in 1749, according to the Mansker Website on the Internet. Ludwig Maintzger, a Revolutionary soldier was killed November 24, 1776 near Coryell's Ferry, Pennsylvania.
Kasper Mansker first arrived in Middle Tennessee in 1769 with a hunting party, according to Walter T. Durham in "Kas-per Mansker: Cumberland Frontiersman." He was men-tioned in Work Progress Administration's "Writer's Guide to Tennessee" published in 1931:
"Mansker became known for his Indian-fighting ability and later was made a major in the State Militia. That Mansker was an effective fighter is shown in a letter Andrew Jackson wrote to the Chickasaw [Indians] in 1812 when he was seeking their aid. 'Do you remem-ber, Jackson asked, 'when the whole Creek Nation came to destroy your towns that a few hundred Chick-asaws aided by a few whites chased them back to their nation, killing the best of their warriors and covering the rest with shame.' The 'few whites' Jackson referred to were led by Mansker.
It was to Masker's small, stoutly built house here that Col. John Donelson brought his family after his epic water trip on the adventure from the Watauga Settle-ment to Nashville. Mansker took the whole family in."
When Sumner County was created in 1786 by partitioning Davidson County, Mansker's Creek was chosen as the bound-ary line. Mansker's Fort on the east bank was then located in Sumner County. At age 60, Kasper Mansker took part in the Nickajack Campaign. In 1795, he led the white troops which joined the Chickasaws to route the Creek attackers. Mansker borrowed a small swivel cannon which had been used by the defenders of Buchanan's Station in 1792 to repulse the Indi-ans. When it was fired, the Creek went home to stay, accord-ing to Durham. He wrote:
"Kasper Mansker and his great nephew Lewis Mansker en-listed in Capt. William Martin's company of Col. Thomas Williamson's Second Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunmen. They joined Gen. John Coffee's Brigade near New Orleans and participated in the Battle of New Or-leans."
Kasper Mansker died in 1820 and was regarded as a great soldier and a great patriot by his Middle Tennessee comrades. He was one of the first to sign the Cumberland Compact.
The Compact read:
"ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
or Compact of Government entered into by settlers on the Cumberland river, 1st May, 1780.
[The first page is lost, and the second and third are torn and defaced.]
.....priority of right shall be determined as soon [as]......... veni-ently may be, in the following manner......................... Say; The free men of this Country over the age....................one Years shall immediately or as soon as may...................proceed to elect and choose twelve Conscientious and de..........persons, from or out of the different Stations. That is.........say, from Nashborough three, from Gaspers two, ................... Bledsoes one, Ashers one, stones River one, ...................... Freelands one, Eatons two, Fort Union one........................ Which said persons or a majority of them, after being bound by the so-lemnity of an Oath to do equal and impartial Justice between all contending parties, according to the ........... of their skill and Judgment, having due................ to the Regulations of the Lan..................................... shall be competent Judge ........................................ hearing the Allegations ......................................... Wittnesses as to the facts ........................................ as to the truth of the fa.......................................... decide the controversie, an....................................... entitled to an entry for such..................................... said determination or decision ................................... and conclusive, against the futu.................................. partie, against whom such Judg................................... and the Entry Taker shall make a................................ his Book accordingly and the Entry ......... ing partie so cast shall be, ............if it had never been made, and the Land in dispute.......... to the person in whose favour such Judgment shall in case of the death removal, or absence of any of the Judges so to be chosen, or their refusing to act, the Station to which such person or persons belong or was chosen from, shall proceed to Elect another or others in his or their stead, which person or persons so chosen after be-ing sworn as aforesaid to do equal and impartial Justice, shall have full power and, authority to proceed to business and act in all disputes respecting the premises as if they had been originally Ch............ at the first Election.
That the entry Book shall be kept fair and open by ............. be appointed by the said Richard Hender................try for Land numbered and dated ......................ving any blank leaves or spaces ......................on of the said twelve Judges ......................
Times ................... y persons have come to this Cou ......................Husbandry, and from other ...............return without making a Crop, ................this fall or early next spring ........................... that all such should have the .....................of such places as they may have ................. for the purpose of residence, therefore it is ................be taken for all such, for as much as they are entitled to, from their Head rights, which said Lands shall be reserved for the particular person in whose in whose name they shall be entered, or their Heirs, provided such persons shall remove to this Country and take possession of the respective place or piece of Land so chosen or entered, or shall send a labourer or labourers and a white person in his or her stead to perform the same on or before the first day of May in the Year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one and also provided such Land so chosen and entered for, is not entered and claimed by some person who is an Inhabitant and shall raise a Crop of Corn the present Year at some Station or place convenient to the General settlement in this Country.
But it is fully to be understood, that those who are actually at this Time Inhabitants of this Country shall not be debar'd of their choice or claim on account of the right of any such ab-sent or returning person or persons.
It is further proposed and agreed, that no claim or title to any Lands whatsoever shall be set up by any person in conse-quence of any Mark, or former improvement, unless the same be entered with the Entry Taker within Twenty Days from the date of this association and agreement; and that when any per-son hereafter shall mark or improve Land or Lands for himself such mark or improvement not shall avail him, or be deemed an evidence of prior right unless the same be entered with the Entry Taker in thirty days from the time of such mark or im-provement, but no other person shall be entitled to such Land so as aforesaid to be reserved in consequence of any purchase, Gift or otherwise.
That if the Entry Taker to be appointed shall neglect or refuse to perform his duty or be found by the said Judges or a major-ity of them to have acted fraudulently to the prejudice of any person whatsoever, such Entry Taker shall be immediately re-moved from his office, and the Book taken out of his posses-sion by the said Judges, untill another shall be appointed to act in his room.
That as often as the people in General are dissatisfied with the doings of the Judges or Triers, so to be chosen, they may call a new election at any of the said Stations and Elect others to act in their stead, having due respect to the number now agreed to be elected at each Station, which persons so to be chosen shall have the same power with those in whose room or place they are or may be chosen to act.
That as no consideration money for the Lands on Cumberland River within the claim of the said Richard Henderson and Company and which is the subject of this association, is de-manded or expected by the said Company untill a satisfactory and indisputable Title can be made, so we think it reasonable and Just that the twenty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence current money per hundred Acres, the price proposed by the said Richard Henderson shall be paid according to the val-ue of money on the first Day of January last, being the time when the price was made public, and Settlement encouraged thereon by said Henderson, and the said Richard Henderson on his part does hereby agree that in case of the rise or appre-ciation of money from that an abatement shall be made in the sum according to its raised or appreciated value.
That when any person shall remove to this Country with intent to become an Inhabitant and depart this life, either by violence or in the natural way before he shall have performed the requisites necessary to obtain Lands, the Child or Children of such deceased person shall be entitled in his or her room to such quantity of Land as such person would have been entitled to in case he or she had have lived to obtain a grant in their own name. And if such death be occasioned by the Indians, the said Henderson doth promise and agree that the Child or Chil-dren shall have as much as amounts to their head rights gratis, Surveyors and other incidental Fees excepted.
And whereas from our remote situation and want of proper officers for the administration of Justice no regular procedure at Law can be had for the punishment of offences and attain-ment of right. It is therefore agreed that untill we can be re-lieved by Government from the many Evils and inconvenien-ces arising therefrom, the Judges or triers to be appointed as before directed when qualified shall be and are hereby de-clared a proper Court or Jurisdiction for the recovery of any debt or damages or where the cause of action or complaint has arisen or hereafter shall commence, for any thing done or to be done among ourselves within this our settlement on Cumber-land aforesaid or in our passage hither, where the Law of our Country could not be exercised or damages repaired any other way, That is to say, in all cases where the Damages or demand does or shall not exceed one hundred Dollars, any three of the said Judges or Triers shall be competent to make a Court and finally decide the matter in comtroversie, but if for a larger sum and either partie shall be dissatisfied with the Judgment or decision of such Court, they may have an appeal to the whole twelve Judges or triers in which case nine members shall be deemed a full Court, whose decision if seven agree in one opinion upon the matter in dispute shall be final and their Judgment carried into execution in such manner and by such person or persons as they may appoint, and the said Courts respectively shall have full power to Tax such Costs as they may think Just and reasonable to be levied or collected with the debt or damages so to be awarded.
And it is further agreed that a majority of the said Judges, Triers or General Arbitrators shall have power to punish in their discretion, having respect to the Laws of our Country, all offences against the peace misdemeanours and those Criminal or of a Capital nature, provided such Court does not proceed with execution so far as to effect Life or Member; and in case any should be brought before them, whose crime is or shall be dangerous to the State or for which the benefit of Clergy is taken away by Law and sufficient evidence or proof of the fact or facts can probably be made such Court or a majority of the Members shall and may Order and direct him, her or them to be safely bound and sent under a strong guard to the place where the offence was or shall be committed or where Legal trial of such offence can be had which shall accordingly be done, and the reasonable expense attending the discharge of this duty ascertained by the Court and paid by the Inhabitants in such proportion as shall be hereafter agreed on for that purpose.
That as this settlement is in its infancy, unknown to Govern-ment and not included within any County in North Carolina, the State to which it belongs so as to derive the advantages of those wholesome and salutary Laws for the protection and benefit of its Citizens, we find ourselves constrained from ne-cessity to adopt this temporary method of restraining the li-centious and supplying by unanimous consent the Blessings flowing from a Just and equitable Government, declaring and promising that no Action or Complaint shall be hereafter insti-tuted or lodged in any Court of Record within this State or elsewhere for any thing done, or to be done in consequence of the proceedings of the said Judges or general arbitrators so to be chosen and established by this our Association.
That as the well being of this Country entirely depends under Divine providence on unanimity of sentiment and concurrence in measures, and as clashing and various Interests, passions, and opinions without being under some restraint will most certainly produce confusion, discord and allmost certain ruin, so we think it our duty to associate and hereby form ourselves into one society for the benefit of present and future settlers, and untill the full and proper exercise of the Laws of our Country can be in use and the powers of Government exerted among us, ùWe do most solemnly and sacredly declare and promise each other that we will faithfully and punctually ad-here to, perform, and abide by this our Association and will at all times if need be, compel by our united force a due obedi-ence to these our Rules and Regulations.
In Testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names in token of our entire approbation of the measures adopted.
The following or additional resolutions and farther association was also entered into at Nashborough this thirteenth Day of May 1780 To wit:
That all Young Men over the age of sixteen Years and able to perform militia duty shall be considered as having a full right to enter for and obtain Lands in their own name as if they were of full age, and in that case not be reckoned in the Family of his Father Mother or Master so as to avail them of any Land on their account.
That where any person shall mark or improve Land or Lands with intent to set up a claim thereto, such person shall write or mark in Legible characters the Initial Letters of his name at least, together with the Day of the Month and Year on which he marked or improved the same at the spring or most notori-ous part of the Land on some convenient Tree, or other dura-ble substance, in order to notifie his intentions to all such as may enquire or examine, and in case of dispute with respect to priority of right, proof of such transaction shall be made by the oath of some indifferent Witness or no advantage or benefit shall be derived from such mark or improvement, and in all cases where priority of mark or occupancy cannot be ascer-tained according to the regulations and prescriptions herein proposed and agreed to, the oldest or first Entry in the office to be opened in consequence of this Association shall have the preference and the lands granted accordingly.
lt is further proposed and agreed that the Entry office shall be opened at Nashborough on Friday the 19th of May [instant] and kept from thenceforward at the same place unless other-wise directed by any future Convention of the people in gen-eral or their representatives.
That the Entry Taker shall and may demand and receive twelve Dollars for each entry to be made in his Book in man-ner before directed, and shall give a certificate thereof if re-quired, and also may take the same Fees for every Caveat or counter claim to any Lands before entered, and in all cases where a caveat is to be tried in manner before directed, the Entry Book shall be laid before the said Committee of Judges, Triers or General arbitrators for their inspection and informa-tion and their Judgment upon the matter in dispute fairly en-tered as before directed, which said Court or Committee is also to keep a fair and distinct Journal or minutes of all their proceedings as well as with respect to Lands as other matters which may come before them in consequence of these our resolutions.
[A caveat is a legal notice suspending a legal proceed-ing until a hearing is held.]
It is also firmly agreed and resolved that no Person shall be admitted to make an Entry for any Lands with the said Entry Taker or permitted to hold the same unless such person shall subscribe his name and conform to this our Association, con-federacy and general agreement unless it be for persons who have returned home and are permitted to have lands reserved for their use untill the first day of May next, in which case en-tries may be made for such absent Persons according to the True meaning of this writing without their personal presence, but shall become utterly void, if the particular person or per-sons for whom such entry shall be made should refuse or neg-lect to perform the same as soon as conveniently may be after their return, and before the said first day of May in the Year 1781.
Whereas the frequent and dangerous incursions of the Indians and allmost daily massacre of some of our Inhabitants renders it absolutely necessary for our safety and defence that due obedience be paid to our respective officers elected and to be elected at the several Stations or settlements to take command of the Men or Militia at such Fort or Station. It is further agreed and resolved that when it shall be adjudged necessary and expedient by such Commanding Officer, to draw out the Militia of any fort or Station to pursue or repulse the Enemy the said Officer shall have power to call out such and so many of his Men as he may Judge necessary, and in case of diso-bedience may inflict such fine as he in his discretion shall think Just and reasonable, and also may impress the Horse or Horses of any person or persons whomsoever, which if lost or damaged in such service shall be paid for by the Inhabitants of such Fort or Station in such manner and such proportion as the Committee hereby appointed or a majority of them shall direct and order; but if any person shall be agrieved or think himself unjustly used and injured by the fine or fines so imposed by his official Officers, such Person may appeal to the said Jud-ges or Committee of General Arbitrators who, or a major-ity of them shall have power to examine the matter fully and make such order thereon as they may think Just and reason-able, which decisions shall be conclusive on the partie com-plaining as well as the Officer or Officers inflicting such fine, and the money arising from such fines shall be carefully ap-plied for the benefit of such Fort or Station in such manner as the said Arbitrators shall hereafter direct.
It is lastly agreed and firmly resolved, that a dutiful and hum-ble address or Petition be presented by some Person or Per-sons to be chosen by the Inhabitants to the General Assembly, giving the fullest assurance of the fidelity and attachment to the Interest of our Country and obedience to the Laws and constitution thereof: setting forth that we are confident that our settlement is not within the bounds of any Nation or Tribe of Indians, as some of us know and all believe, that they have fairly sold and received satisfaction for the lands or Territories whereon we reside and therefore hope we may not be consid-ered as acting against the laws of our Country or the mandates of Government. That we do not desire to be exempt from the ratable share of the public expense of the present war or other contingent charges of Government.
That we are from our remote situation utterly destitute of the benefit of the Laws of our Country, and exposed to the depre-dations of the Indians without any Justifiable or effectual means of embodying our Militia or defending ourselves against the hostile attempts of our enemy, praying and implor-ing the immediate aid and protection of Government by erect-ing a County to include our settlements, appointing proper Of-ficers for the discharge of public duty, Taking into considera-tion our distressed situation with respect to the Indians, and granting such relief and assistance as in wisdom, Justice and humanity may be thought reasonable.
Nashborough 13th May 1780
The signatures were entered in the sequence in which the sig-natories appeared.
Richd. Henderson
Nathl. Hart
Wm. H. Moore
Samuel Phariss
Jno Donelson. C.
Kasper Mansker
John Caffery
Jno Blackemore Senr.
Jno. Blakemore Junr.
James Shaw
Sanyel Deson
Samuel Marten
James Buchanan
Solomon Turpin
Isaac Rentfro
Robert Cartwright
Hugh Rogan
Joseph Morton
William Woods
David Mitchell
David Shelton
Spill Coleman
Saml. McMurray
P. Henderson
Edward Bradley
Edwd Bradley
Jas. Bradley
Michael Stoner
Joseph Mosely
Henry Guthrie
Francis Armstrong
Robert Lucas
James Robertson
George Freland
James Freland
John Tucker
Peter Catron
Phillip Catron
Francis Catron
John Dunham
Isaac Johnson
Adon Kelar
Thos. Burgess
Wm. Burgess
William Green
Moses Webb
Abselom Thomson
John McVay
James Thomson
Charles Thomson
Robert Thomson
Martain Hardin
Elijah Thomson
Andrew Thomson
Wm. Leaton
Edward Thomelu
Isaac Drake
Jonathan Jening
Zachariah Green
Andrew Lucas
James [X] Patrick
Richd. Gross
John Drake
Daniel Turner
Timothy Terel
Isaac Lefever
Thomas Fletcher
Samuel Barton
James Ray
Thomas Denton
Thomas Hendricks
John Holloday
Frederick Stump
William Hood
John Boyd
Jacob Stump
Henry Hardin
Richard Stanton
Sampson Sawyers
John Hobson
Ralph Wilson
James Givens
Robert Givens
Jas. Harrod
James Buchanan Sr.
William Geioch
Saml. Shelton
John Gibson
Robert Espey
George Espey
William Gowen
John Wilson
James Espey
Michael Kimberlin
John Cowan [John Gowen?]
Francis Hodge
William Fleming
James Leeper
George Leeper
Daniel Mungle
Patrick McCutchan
Saml. McCutchan
Wm. Price
Henry Kerbey
Joseph jackson
Daniel Ragsdil
Michael Shaver
Samuel Willson
John Reid
Joseph Daugherty
George Daugherty
Chas. Cameron
W. Russell Junr.
Hugh Simpson
Samuel Moore
Joseph Denton
Arthur McAdoo
James McAdoo
Nathl. Henderson
John Evans
Wm. Bailey Smith
Peter Luney
Jon Luney
James Cain
Danl. Johnston
Danl. Jarrot
Jesse Maxey
Noah Hawthorn
Charles McCartney
John Anderson
Matthew Anderson
Wm. McWhorter
Bartnet Hainey
Richd. Sims
Titus Murray
James Hamilton
Henry Daugerty
Zach White
Burgess White
William Calley
James Ray
William Ray
Perley Grimes
Samuel White
Daniel Hogan
Thos. Hines
Robert Goodloe
Thos. W. Alston
Wm. Barret
Thomas Shannon
James Moore
Edward Moore
Richd Moore
Saml. Moore
Elijah Moore
John Moore
Demsey Moore
Andrew Ewin
Ebenezer Titus
Mark Roberson
John Montgomery
Charles Campbill
William Overall
John Turner
Nathaniel Overall
Patrick Quigley
Josias Gamble
Saml. Newell
Joseph Reid
David Maxwell
Thos. Jefriss
Joseph Dunnagin
John Phelps
Andrew Bushongs
Daniel Ragsdell
Jno. McMyrty
D. D. Williams
John McAdams
Samson Williams
Thomas Thompson
Martin King
Wm. Logan
John Allstead
Nicholas Counrod
Evin Evins
Jonathan Evins
Thomas Thomas
Joshua Thomas
David Rounsavall
Isaac Rounsavall
James Crocket
Andrew Crocket
Russell Gower
John Shannon
David Shannon
Jonathan Drake
Benjamin Drake
John Drake
Mereday Rains
Richd. Dodg
James Green
James Cooke
Daniel Johnston
Geo. Mines
George Green
WilIiam More
Jacob Cimberlin
Robert Dockerty
John Crow
William Summers
[Name undecipherable]
Ambs. Mauldin
Morton Mauldin
John Dukham
Archelaus Allaway
Samuel Hayes
Nathl. Hayes
Isaac Johnson
Thomas Edmeston
Ezekl. Norris
William Purnell
Wm. McMurrey
John Condry
Nicolas Tramal
Haydon Wells
Daniel Ratletf
John Callaway
John Pleak
Willis Pope
Silas Harlan
Hugh Leeper
Harmon Consellea
Humphrey Hogan
James Foster
Wm. Morris
Nathaniel Bidkew
A. Tatom
William Hinson
Edmund Newton
Jonathan Green
John Phillips
George Flynn
Daniel Jarrott
John Owens
James Freland
Thos. Molloy
Isaac Lindsey
Isaac Bledsoe
Jacob Castleman
George Power
James Lynn
Thomas Cox
Edward Lucas
Philip Alston
James Russell"
Brenda Gains Gulick wrote that the Indian warfare began in adjoining Sumner County in 1780. She wrote:
“In the month of June, two settlers by the names of Goin and Kennedy were clearing land between Mansker’s Station and Eaton’s Station. A party of Indians stole up behind some brush heaps the men were making, and when the later came near, they were fired upon and killed. The savages then rushed out, tore off the scalps of their victims and escaped unharmed into the surrounding forest.”
Sometimes they attacked alone, sometimes in concert. Dav-idson County was created May 17, 1783 out of the Cumber-land District of North Carolina. Sumner County was created out of the eastern part of Davidson County January 6, 1787.
William Gowen was appointed to the Davidson County grand jury January 4, 1784.
The pre-emption of William Gowen was "located and entered" January 15, 1784 and surveyed by John Buchanan on March 16, 1785 in consequence of Warrant No. 116, according to Cleve Weathers. William paid the State of North Carolina £10 per 100 acres for the land which was recorded March 11, 1788 in Davidson County Deed Book A, page 161.
On January 2, 1786 "William Gowan" appeared on a Davidson County jury which tried Robert Espey "for profane swearing and Sabbath breaking," according to Davidson County court minutes. Espey was acquitted.
"Ambrose Goins," regarded as a kinsman of William Gowen appeared briefly in Davidson County in 1786. He must have been a resident there because he was summoned to serve on a jury panel in April 1786. The fierce Indian attacks on the Cumberland settlement may have prompted him to return east.
Col. James Robertson, leader of the Cumberland settlements, sought to put an end to the Indian attacks and planned an ex-pedition against them in 1787. Learning from two friendly Chickasaws, one of whom was known as Toka, Col. Robert-son determined to take the offensive in the war, according to Pollyanna Creekmore, eminent Tennessee history researcher.
"Taking two friendly Chickasaws as guides, he made a rapid march with 130 men and attacked the Indian stronghold at Coldwater [now Tuscumbia, Alabama].
The Indians were routed almost without resistance. The town was destroyed, and a large store of goods were captured. Oth-er campaigns against the Indians were undertaken. One, led by Capt. David Hays, was successful, although some of his soldiers were killed. On another occasion Capt. John Rains raised a force of 60 men and successfully attacked the Chickasaws."
Irene M. Griffey writing in "The Pre-emptors: Middle Tennessee's First Settlers," Volume 1 included a list of 272 men who fought the Indians during this period. The list included James Maxwell, Beal Bosley, Elijah Robertson, Fuller Cox, John Cox, Enos Cox, Capt. John Rains, Jacob Donelson, Capt. David Hay, Moses Shelby and Frederick Stump.
The payroll records of the men in these expeditions were mixed with indexes of Revolutionary Army Accounts in Raleigh, North Carolina, causing many researchers to con-clude that these men had Revolutionary service. Irene M. Griffey pointed out that the Tennessee militiamen were issued certificates documenting their service against the Indians.
"Certificates Nos. 1 through 469 were "for Mil. serv. p'formed in Davidson;" 470-559 were "for Service Perform'd in Sum-ner Co." Beginning with No. 570 [Joseph Martin] through 1422 [John McLellin] are payments for "Service p'formed agst. Chicamoga Indians."
It is possible that the wives remained in Kentucky with the minor children during the homesteading period of the Gowens in Middle Tennessee. The Indian menace was very real, and many settlers there elected to pull back. Conditions were very primitive in Davidson County, North Carolina when William Gowen arrived. There were no courts and no law enforcement officers. James Shaw was selected as the first justice of the peace in 1781, according to the minutes of Davidson County Court records:
"On October 13, 1792, personally came Julius Sanders & Samuel Frelen and declared on oath that about 1781, people then resident in Nashborough made choice of James Shaw to supply the place of Justice of Peace in marrying people, there being neither Gospel Minister nor Justice of the Peace legally commissioned amongst us, courts of justice not being then established here."
The name of Ft. Nashborough was changed to Nashville July 7, 1784 by Davidson County Court. The county court estab-lished some price controls they felt were equitable in the new frontier settlement. Ferry keepers fees were regulated as:
“Man & horse 6 pence
Man or horse 3 pence
Black cattle 2d per head
Sheep & hogs 1d per head”
Tavern keepers were also regulated by the court:
“Breakfast 1 shilling
Dinner 2 shillings
Supper 1 shilling
Whiskey ½ pint 6 shillings
Good bed, 1 night` 2 d”
John Boyd was £10.2 by the court January 9, 1789 “for plast-ering the inside of the courthouse, with extra services.”
William Gowen is believed to be first among the Gowen family members to settle in the area of Ft. Nashborough [originally called French Lick]. He received Pre-emption Claim No. 27 to "two acres on a small branch of Mill Creek," according to "North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee," by Lilliam Johnson Gardiner and Betty Goff Cook Cartwright. A preemption claim indicated actual residence.
"William Gowan" received North Carolina Land Grant No. 20 on Warrant No. 116 to "640 acres on a small branch of Mill Creek" in Davidson County April 17, 1786, according to Tennessee State Land Book C7, page 8 in Tennessee State Ar-chives. His deed was recorded March 11, 1788 in Davidson County Deed Book A, page 161. The property was described in the deed as:
"640 acres on the east side of Mill Creek . . . beginning at a hickory on Ebenezer Titus' east boundary line and running east 320 poles to an oak, south 320 poles to a white oak, west crossing a branch of Mill Creek at 160 poles and another at 266 poles, cornered at 320 poles, north to the beginning . . . "
The land, "320 poles [1 mile] square" lay on both sides of a tributary of Mill Creek and was located about six miles southeast of present-day downtown Nashville. The Murphreesboro Pike later crossed the northern portion of his property. The Central Tennessee State Hospital for the Insane was built on his property before the Civil War and the Metropolitan Nash-ville Airport was later installed on the pre-emption.
"David Goin, Patrick Quigley, Betsy Kennedy, John Shockley, James Lumsley and William Neely" were killed at Mansker's Station, according to "Early Times in Middle Tennessee" published in 1857 by John Carr.
On March 4, 1783, "William Goings entered into bond in Da-vidson County with James Shaw, security, in the amount of £200 specie" and was granted the administration of "the estate of David Goings, deceased" by the Nashville Committee. William Gowen signed the return of the estate of David Gow-en presented to the court. Shortly afterwards "William Gow-ens" as administrator of the estate of "David Gowens, de-ceased" sued John Gibson in a "plea of detinue*."
Worth S. Ray, writing in "Tennessee Cousins" stated, "The court of the Cumberland District met again of June 3, 1783, and the Estate of David Gowen came up against John Gibson." The estate was awarded £2 "for a heifer he disposed of," ac-cording to early Nashville court records.
William Gowen was listed as a grand juror October 7, 1783 on the first grand jury panel in Davidson County and again in January 1784, according to "First Records of Davidson County, Tennessee." Davidson County, at the time, embra-ced all of the present counties of Davidson, Cheatham, Wil-liam-son, Rutherford, Maury, Marshall and Bedford Coun-ties.
William Overall was granted letters of administration on the estate of Patrick Quigley July 6, 1784, according to "David-son County, Tennessee County Court Minutes, 1783-1792." by Carol Wells. Overall filed suit against "the heirs of Patrick Quigley" in County Court April 5, 1785. On July 5, 1785 when the "heirs made default," Overall was awarded by the court "£14:10:8" and the sheriff was ordered to sell the Quigley land "to satisfy debt."
William Gowen sold to Frederick Stump "one negro fellow named Guy" according to a bill of sale dated December 19, 1785 recorded in Davidson County Will Book 1, page 161.
Frederick Stump was a persona non grata in Pennsylvania where Gov. John Penn had issued a proclamation September 23, 1766 in Philadelphia that "Frederick Stump, a German was not authorized to settle upon land near Ft. Augusta. In January 1768 Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter were jailed in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania "for killing 10 Indians." In contrast, Frederick Stump was welcomed on the Tennessee fron-tier where his Indian-slaying abilities were greatly apprecia-ted. He and his son, Frederick Stump, Jr. were prominent in the community and frequently served as jurors and public office holders.
William Gowen was selected as a juror January 2, 1786 and again October 3, 1787, according to early Nashville Court records. On the latter date, the Court minutes reflected the seriousness of the Indian threat by bringing in regular troops, "For the better furnishing of the troops now coming to this county under command of Maj. Evans, Resolved that one-fourth of the County tax be paid in corn, two-fourths in beef, pork, bear and venison, one-eighth in salt and one-eighth in money to defray expenses of removing provisions from place of collection to troops." Ten collection points, "including Maj. Buchanan's" were established.
The Davidson County Court Minute Book records that "Wil-liam Gowens" sued the heirs of "David Gowens" in the Janua-ry, 1788 session of court. The defendants, unnamed, did not appear in court, and the court awarded to the plaintiff "£7:14:3 in damages." A writ of attachment [legal means of seizure] was granted by the court to William Gowen October 9, 1788, and the sheriff was ordered to sell the land. It is likely that there were no "defendants" to appear, and the suit was merely a formality to satisfy the requirements of the law.
On March 11, 1788, William Gowen received his title from the State of North Carolina to his 640-acre land grant, accord-ing to Davidson County Deed Book A, page 161. "William Gowens" appeared as a juror for the last time October 7, 1788. Shortly afterward, a new lawyer, Andrew Jackson, Esquire "produced his license to practice law in the several county courts of the state and took oath" January 5, 1789.
On the following day, "Gowen, appellant" vs. "Boyd, appeallee" was heard, and "the jury finds for the appeallee, £7:4:4 with cost, judgment accordingly." On the same date, the "jury finds for the plaintiff in Murdock [plaintiff] vs. Gowens."
Sometime before 1790 William Gowen witnessed a bill of sale of a negro girl, age 12, price £150 pounds, according to Da-vidson County Will Book 1, page 90. As late as 1789, the county was still referred to as Davidson County, North Caro-lina. It is believed that a slave named Guy accompanied Wil-liam Gowen in his move to Tennessee. Steve Rogers of the Tennessee Historical Commission found evidence that Guy lived in a small slave cabin adjacent to the home of William Gowen.
It is possible that the household of William Gowen may have been included in the enumeration of the 1790 census of North Carolina, but to date, it has not been documented. The first census did not have the value to genealogists that later enum-erations had.
Patricia Law Hatcher, CG, FASG, had an accurate appraisal of the 1790 census:
“The 1790 census [which was not completed until 1791 in some areas] provides less information than any other. We have only the name of the head of household and counts for free white males 16 and over; free white males under 16; free white females; other free persons; and slaves. The canvassing, which covered residents in 17 present-day states, found 3,929,214 persons--almost 18 percent of them enslaved--in approximately 540,000 households [about seven persons per household].
Because the enumerator was paid $1 for every 150 per-sons enumerated [half that rate in cities], and because the enumeration established each state's representation in Congress, there was incentive on both sides for a complete enumeration.
The schedules for Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia were casualties of the British burning of the Capitol during the War of 1812. These schedules contained about 30 percent of the total enumerations.. Substitutes have been constructed, pri-marily from tax lists, but they lack the household fig-ures.”
William Gowen died in Davidson County sometime before July 1790 at about age 70. Harriette Simpson Arnow, writing in "Flowering of the Cumberland," states that William Gowen was "killed," suggesting that he, too, was a victim of the Indians.
Cleve Weathers wrote, “The uncertainties of life in the Mero District are partially reflected in an account by Harriette Simp-son Arnow, in a section of her book dealing with Indian war-fare and the role of women. From "Flowering of the Cum-berland," published by The Macmillan Company, 1963, page 31:
‘Around two-thirds of the wives of the original settlers were widowed before the ending of the Indian Wars in Middle Tennessee in 1795. Numerous others, settling later--Mesdames Anthony and Isaac Bledsoe, Edwin Hickman, Jacob Castleman, John Donelson, Sr., Henry Rutherford, William Ramsey, to name only a few, were also widowed.’"
On July 13, 1790, apparently after the death of William Gow-en, Andrew Ewing acknowledged before the County Court that William Gowen had indeed executed a bill of sale [prob-ably] for "one Negro fellow named Guy" to Frederick Stump, according to the Court minutes.
On January 10, 1791 David Hay, justice of the Davidson County Court headed his court minutes with "Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio."
It is believed that the property of William Gowen adjoined that of James Buchanan. Buchanan's Station was built by James Buchanan to protect against the Indians and especially to defend the grist mill that had been constructed on Mill Creek. The Buchanan Cemetery is now located near the inter-section of Elm Hill Pike and Briley Parkway within the city of Nashville. The Buchanan home, built about 1800, was still standing in 1978. Frank Maxwell Gowen visited the site in that year and wrote, "The cemetery is rather small, probably not over 75 graves, and it is located directly behind the old brick mansion which is quite large."
On July 12, 1790 the County Court granted a court order to "Sarah Gowens" authorizing her to sell the estate of her husband. In Davidson County Will Book 1, page 168 Sarah Gow-en, administrator of the estate of her husband, returned an in-ventory of the estate of "William Gowen deceased of Davidson County, North Carolina" listing "one mare & colt, saddles, farm and carpenter's tools, shoemaker tools, razor, guns, household goods, cotton cards, six pounds of powder, eight pounds of lead, eight dry cows, eight steers, ducks, hens, some money and bonds."
In Davidson County Will Book 1, page 175, dated October 1790, Sarah Simpson Gowen returned into a court a total of the proceeds of the estate sale of William Gowen, "£597:11 for articles sold"--livestock, household goods and farm equipment. Until 1792, American currency was still based on the English system of pounds, shillings and pence.
Frank Maxwell Gowen made a copy of the estate sale of William Gowen in June 1976 while researching the family history in the Davidson County courthouse. The accounting was recorded as:
"An Inventory of the Sale of the Estate of William Gowens, Decd. as delivered into court October Term, 1790 by Sarah Gowens, Admx. of the estate of sd. Gowens Decd. Amount-ing on the sale to £597:11 shillings [two words illegible]:
Purchaser Item Price--Pounds:Shillings
======== ======== =====
John Hague One cow & calf 6:00
John Hague Two cows, one calf 16:15
Sarah Gowens One black & white steer 5:01
Sarah Gowens One small red steer 3:11
Sarah Gowens One red yearling heifer & calf 6:
Sarah Gowens One barren white faced cow 8:11
Sarah Gowens One small red bull 3:11
Sarah Gowens One two-year-old heifer 5:01
Samuel Deason One 3-year-old heifer & 2 bulls 8:15
Timothy Demumbre One-year bay colt 39:
Sarah Gowens One roan mare 16:
Sarah Gowens One gray horse 26:
Sarah Gowens One great plow 2:06
Sarah Gowens One shear & cotton 2:12
Sarah Gowens One pair of iron wedges 1:16
Sarah Gowens One axe 1:
Sarah Gowens One pair of doubletrees 1:
Sarah Gowens One auger 1:
Sarah Gowens One 3/4" auger 1:14
Sarah Gowens One drawing knife 1:03
Robert Weakly One foot adze 1:14
Dan Hill One handsaw 18:
Nimrod Williams One cow & calf 6:15
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 6:
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf [Illegible]
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 6:
Sarah Gowens One steer 7:
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:15
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:08
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:05
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 8:11
Sarah Gowens One cow & calf 9:05
Sarah Gowens One steer 5:07
Sarah Gowens One steer 5:05
Sarah Gowens One steer 5:16
Sarah Gowens One barren cow 6:01
Francis Armstrong One cow & calf 6:10
George A. Sugg One red heifer 5:
Lardner Clark One cow & calf 6:08
Benjamin Barnes One cow & calf 7:10
George A. Sugg One yearling steer 3:10
George A. Sugg One cow & calf 6:06
George A. Sugg One steer 4:10
George A. Sugg One steer 5:12
George A. Sugg One cow & calf 6:
John Hague One cow & calf 10:06
James Bosley One cow & calf 6:10
James Bosley One barren cow 9:
Francis Armstrong One dark bull 4:06
William Anderson One cow & calf 8:
Sarah Gowens One woman's saddle &n