Owen Family News

OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Published by OWEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OWEN March 2002 A Name Worth Knowing htpp//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily VOLUME 17, NUMBER 1

Of course, one would hope that our connection to our royal ancestors was an honorable one and not the result of some royal peccadillo. Also, as many historians have found, the By Kim Owen, Assiciate Editor morals of many of the royalty and nobility were not very noble. Many of the alleged links in the chain of ancestors have In my genealogical pursuits, I have run across many cousins not been properly documented by citing reliable and verifi- and friends. Forrest Budd, in Kansas, is just such a fellow. able sources. Richard Owen is my tenth great grandfather and he is Forrest’s eighth great grandfather. When Arnie told me I had My curiosity led me first to one of the earliest alleged ances- to come up with an article by the next issue, I asked Forrest tors, Arnulf, who was born c.580 A.D., who served as the what he thought. The following article is based on his prem- Bishop of Metz, in Austrasia during the reign of young Da- ise. gobert I, titular ruler of Austrasia, parts of which later became parts of Austria. This discovery raised a question as to how it For those of you who are interested in which Owen lineage could be that a bishop would have children, if a bishop must I am speaking of, I will expound. My father was Hampton C. come from the ranks of the priesthood, which required oaths Owen, Jr. My grandfather was Hampton C. Owen, Sr. My of chastity and celibacy. More research disclosed the fact that grandfather’s sister, Gertrude Russell, told me that my grand- the vows of chastity and celibacy were not required of priests parents met at Weatherford Primitive Baptist Church near at that time, and thus, not required of bishops, until sometime Sycamore in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. She says my great later, during the reign of Charlemagne, the great, great, great grandfather was Bruce Wooding Owen and my great, great grandson of Arnulf. Also, research disclosed that Arnulf’s grandfather was Anderson C. Owen. The 1840 Federal Cen- wife entered a convent after the children were able to fend for sus Index accessible through Ancestry.com shows Drury themselves. Arnulf retired to a wilderness area, to live as a Owen II as the next in line. According to an individual record religious recluse several years before his death.”1. submitted to FamilySearch Pedigree Resource File by Laura Irby, compact disk #4, Drury Owen I was my great, great, “St. Arnulf of Metz was a statesman and bishop. His parents great, great grandfather. Other research on Ancestry.com lists belonged to a distinguished Frankish family, and lived in John Owen as next in line, then Robert Owen, Jr. and Robert Austrasia, the eastern section of the kingdom founded by Owen, Sr. Clovis. In the school in which he was placed during his boyhood he excelled through his talent and his good behaviour. Again, according to research in the files of Ancestry.com, According to the custom of the age, he was sent to the court my immigrant is Bartholomew Owen who was born in Ste- of Theodebert II, king of Austrasia (595-612), to be initiated venton Parish, Berkshire, England. His father is listed as in various branches of the government. Under the guidance of Robert William Owen. Robert’s father, Richard Owen, is as Gundulf, the Mayor of the Palace, he soon became so profi- far as I can trace back. Other cousins I have spoken with cient that he was placed on the regular list of royal officers, agree this is the end of our lineage as of today. My father al- and among the first of the kings’ ministers. ways said we were of Welsh descent, but I have yet to find documentation to support that belief. He distinguished himself both as a military commander and in the civil administration; at one time he had under his care Forrest wrote, “It would seem reasonable to believe that six distinct provinces. many, like myself, who have made extensive use of the Inter- net as a tool for family history research, have found several In due course, Arnulf was married to a Frankish woman of pedigrees which appear to extend our heritage far beyond the noble lineage, by whom he had two sons, Anseghisel and bounds of generally accepted sources. Clodulf.

This appears to apply to the search for the ancestors of Arnulf did not forget spiritual endeavors. His thoughts were Joane/Joanne Daniels/Daniell/Daniells, the wife of our ances- often on monasteries, and with his friend Romaricus, like- tor, Richard Owen. I have found several files on the Internet, wise, an officer of the court, he planned to make a pilgrimage which list several lines of her ancestors extending to the sixth to the Abbey of Lerins, evidently for the purpose of devoting century A.D., and others extending to a much earlier time. his life to God. Many of these lines include persons of royalty and nobility, which piques my curiousity about what it might mean to be In the meantime, the Episcopal See (‘the official seat, center descended from royalty and nobility. of authority, jurisdiction, or office of a bishop’2.) of Metz became vacant. Arnulf was universally designated as a worthy

1 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News candidate for the office, and he was consecrated bishop of that king of the Franks in 751. Pepin the Short, also called Pepin see about 611. In his new position, he set the example of a III, was the first king of the Frankish Carolingian dynasty. virtuous life to his subjects and attended to matters of ecclesi- The Franks were Germanic peoples who gradually gained astical government. In 625, he took part in a council held by control of much of the present-day France and Germany and the Frankish bishops at Reims. other parts of Western Europe during the early Middle With all this, Arnulf retained his station at the court of the Ages.”5. king and took a prominent part in the national life of his people. In 613, after the death of Theodebert, he, with Pepin of “Charles Martel, (688?-741), ruled northern Gaul from 719 Landen and other nobles, called to Austrasia Clothaire II, to 741. Gaul was a region in Europe that included what are King of Neustria. When, in 625, the realm of Austrasia was now France, Germany west of the Rhine River and Belgium. entrusted to the king’s son, Dagobert, Arnulf became not only Charles was not a king, but ruled as a mayor of the palace in the tutor, but the chief minister of the young king. At the time, the name of several weak kings from the Merovingian dy- the two kings were estranged. Arnulf with other bishops tried nasty. Later, Charles Martel, brought Burgundy, the south- to effect a reconciliation. eastern part of present-day France, under his control. He, also, conquered Frisia in what is now the Netherlands. He helped Arnulf dreaded the responsibilities of the Episcopal office convert Germany to Christianity by sponsoring the missionary and grew weary of court life. About 626, he obtained the ap- work of Saint Boniface. Charles was later called Martel, pointment of a successor to the Episcopal See of Metz; he and meaning the Hammer, because of a victory over the Mus- his friend, Romaricus, withdrew to a solitary place in the lims.”6. mountains of the Vosges. There he lived in communion with God until his death c. 640. His remains, interred by Romari- ”The Merovingian dynasty, founders of the French state, cus, were transferred about a year later to the basilica of the was a line of Frankish kings who conquered Gaul and sur- Holy Apostles in Metz. rounding lands beginning in A.D. 486 and ruled until 751. The name Merovingian comes from Merovech, a relative of Of the two sons of Arnulf, Clodulf became his third succes- the first Merovingian ruler, Clovis I, (455? -511). Clovis I sor in the See of Metz. Anseghisel remained in the service of was, also, the most powerful Merovingian king. He unified the State. From Anseghisel’s union with Begga, a daughter of the Franks under his rule and defeated the last great Roman Pepin of Landen, was born Pepin of Heristal, the founder of army in Gaul. Clovis was the first Germanic king to become the Carlovingian dynasty. In this manner, Arnulf was the an- an orthodox Christian. By his conversion to Christianity, cestor of the mighty rulers of that house. The life of Arnulf Clovis won the support of his Catholic subjects, including the exhibits, to a certain extent, the Episcopal office and career in clergy. When Clovis died, the kingdom was divided among the Merovingian State. The bishops were much considered at his four sons which weakened the dynasty. In 751, the last court; their advice was listened to; they took part in the dis- Merovingian king, Childrec III, was replaced by Pepin the pensation of justice by the courts; they had a voice in the ap- Short.”7. pointment of royal officers; they were often used as the king’s ambassadors and held high administrative positions. For the “As king, Pepin aided the pope against the Lombards, a people under their care, they were the protectors of their Germanic people who had conquered much of Italy. Pepin rights, their spokesmen before the king and the link uniting seized some of the Lombard lands in Italy and gave them to royalty with its subjects. The opportunities for good were thus Pope Stephen II in 756. This so-called Donation of Pepin is unlimited and Arnulf used them to good advantage.” 3. often seen as forming the core of the Papal States, a territory controlled by the pope until the 1800’s. Pepin added Ac- “Charlemagne, (724-814), or Charles the Great, the great, quitaine to his kingdom.”4. great, great grandson of Arnulf, was the most famous and powerful ruler of the Middle Ages and a key figure in Euro- Forrest found that “Austrasia was part of a vast area known pean history. He conquered much of Western Europe and as Gaul, which was condquered by Caesar’s Roman legions, united it under a great empire.”4. before the birth of Christ, and was a part of the ‘Frankish Kingdom’ which was, at various times, divided, amalgamated In 742, Pepin and his brother, Carloman, jointly inherited and re-divided many times, with the various parts occupied by from their father, Charles Martel, the title of Mayor of the different tribes, and ruled by several kings, counts and major Palace. Since the late 600’s, mayors had held greater power domos, and referred to as Franconia, Francia, Austrasia, than the Merovingian kings, who ruled the Franks in name Neustria, etc. and eventually became France, Austria, Ge r- only. As mayors, Pepin and Carloman extended Frankish rule many, Switzerland, Belgium, Brittany, etc.”1. to parts of Saxony and Bavaria. After Carloman became a monk in 747, Pepin ruled alone as mayor. In 751, with Pope “Gaul is the English name for the region called Gallia by Zachary’s assistance, Pepin deposed the last Merovingian the Romans. Gaul occupied the territory that now consists of king, Childrec III, and became king of the Franks.”4. France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the section of the Nether- lands that lies south of the Rhine. The Gauls spoke forms of “Charlemagne was a son of Pepin the Short, who became Celtic, a language group that includes modern Irish and

2 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News

5. Bernard S. Bachrach, “Pepin the Short,” World Book Welsh. The leaders of their religion were priests called Dru- Online American Edition, http://www.aolsvc.worldbook. ids. These priests had great influence on politics. The Romans aol.com/wbol/wbpage/na/ar/co/422340, November 25, called some of the Gauls ‘long haired’ because they did not 2001. shave their beards or cut their hair. 6. Bernard S. Bachrach, “Charles Martel,” World Book The Gauls were brave and warlike, but they were no match Online American Edition, http://www.aolsvc.worldbook. for the well trained Romans. The Romans defeated the Gauls aol.com/wbol/wbpage/na/ar/co/107040, November 25, in Italy in the 200’s B.C. and made them subjects of Rome. 2001. The Romans conquered most of Gaul by the rule of Julius Caesar, in the 50’s B.C. Gaul later suffered heavily through 7. Herbert M. Howe, “Gaul,” World Book Online Ameri- civil wars and barbaric invasions. But it passed on a rich cul- can Edition, http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wbol/ tural tradition to its new masters. Chief among the invaders wbpage/na/ar/co/218680, November 25, 2001. were the Franks, who defeated the last Roman governor of Gaul in A.D. 486. From that time, most of Gaul was called 8. Bernard S. Bachrach, “Merovingian dynasty,” World France, after the Franks, though outnumbered by their Gallo- Book Online American Edition, http://www.aolsvc. Roman neighbors twenty to one, had such a firm hold on worldbook.aol.com/wbol/wbpage/na/ar/co/356903, No- Gaul.”4. vember 25, 2001.

Forrest went on to say, “I found that the title ‘King of the 9. William C. Bark, “Clovis I,” World Book Online Franks’ was often applied to the leaders of one or more of the American Edition, http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/ several more or less independent tribes that were a part of the wbol/wbpage/na/ar/co/120020, November 25, 2001. ‘Frankish Kingdom.’ Just because a certain leader was said to be ‘King of the Franks’ did not always mean that he was the King of all the Franks. Those tribes occupying the area south and west of the Rhine River were at times referred to as the ‘Salian’ Franks, meaning those of the seacoast, while those north and west of the Rhine were the ‘Riparian’ Franks, meaning those across the river. The kingdom of Austrasia was east of the river, while that of Neustria was the new ‘nation’ west of the river.

Although some Internet researchers have posted pedigrees of ancestors who lived much earlier than the time of Arnulf, those who demand reliable sources, doubt the reliability of most of those pedigrees, as they are very few surviving records for those early times. One of the earliest sources for information about the Franks of the fourth and fifth centuries is Gregory of Tours, who wrote ‘A History of the Franks’ in ten volumes.”1.

Sources:

1. Forrest Budd

2. The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edi- tion, 1982, 1985, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA, pg. 1110.

3. Francis J. Schaefer, “St. Arnulf of Metz,” Catholic Ency- clopedia Online Edition, Volume I, http://www.newadvent. org/cathen/01752b.htm, November 26, 2001.

4. Deborah Mauskopf Deliyannis, “Charlemagne,” World Book Online American Edition, http://www.aolsvc. worldbook.aol.com/wbol/wbpage/na/ar/co/106840, November 25, 2001.

3 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News

WW II

are going to send you out in a rubber boat to fight the Japs. You have been sunk too many times.& quot; The excerpt to the right of his picture was taken from the March 1, 1945 & quot; Pills & Shots & quot; newsletter that was published by the ship's doctor, Lt. George Johnson. The excerpt helped introduce Lt. Commander Owen to the ship's crew. Mr. Owen made a career of the Navy, re- tiring as Rear Admiral Owen in 1970.

LIEUTENANTCOMMANDER, USN THOMAS BARRON OWEN Lieutenant Commander Thomas Barron Owen, USN, Executive Officer of U.S.S. BUSH, was born in Seattle, Washington on the 19th of March 1920. He spent his boyhood in Seattle where he attended grammar and high school. After graduation from high school he entered the University of Washington, majoring in chemical engineering. While attending university he was active in Naval R.O.T.C. and upon graduation in 1940 accepted a commission in the Navy. He was married on Christmas Eve, 1944. Mrs. Owen is a Yeoman Second Class in the Spars. Since entering the Navy his various tours of duty have included the Catalpa (AN), the Boggs (DMS), Lt. Commander the Northampton, the Nashville, the St. Louis and the Honolulu. He was aboard the Northampton Thomas B. Owen when she was sunk in the fourth Battle of Savo, and the Honolulu when she was torpedoed in Leyte Executive Officer & Navigator Gulf. Pictured below is Thomas B. Owen in 1944, then a

Lieutenant on the USS HONOLULU. By February Mr. Owen wears a Ribbon of Commendation, and 12, 1945 he was Lt. Commander Owen and was the Silver Star. reporting aboard the USS BUSH as Executive Of- ficer and Navigator. His stint as Executive Offi- In the short time that Mr. Owen has been aboard cer would be short, as BUSH would be sunk in less the BUSH we have come to realize that he is a than two months. Prior to reporting to the BUSH, fine officer and shipmate. he had served aboard the USS NORTHAMPTON Above article provided by William P. Owen (at the Battle of Tassafaronga - the last battle in the Savo Island area) and the USS HONOLULU Is Lt Commander Owen still living? If so, we would like (torpedoed in Leyte Gulf). When he returned to an interview with him. Anyone who knows of him, please E-mail William P. Owen. Perhaps someone in the Seattle the States after surviving the loss of BUSH, one area can help. admiral told him, & quot; Tom, the next time we

4 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News

CIVIL WAR

The First Ironclads

USS LOUISVILLE Commanded by Elias K. Owen

Owen, Elias K.: Midshipman. 7 Dec 48. Lt. 16 Sep 55. Lt. Cdr. 16 Jul 62. Cdr. 25 Jul 66. Retired 9 Jun 76. Died 8 Apr 77. USS Louisville (Dec 62-Sep 64).

January 1862, seven impressive creations were lined up along the river at Cairo, Illinois. They looked like something out of a Jules Verne fantasy. It was hard for people to describe the 90-day wonders. The seven city class ironclads resembled iron sheds floating on rafts. In naval terms they were "able to navigate heavy dew." The infantry nicknamed them "turtlebacks" or "turtles" To the inland navy they were things of beauty. Admiral Foote complained their six knot speed "almost too slow, "but Captain William Porter of the ESSEX interjected' "Plenty fast enough to fight with." Of those seven boats which brought the U.S. Navy into the twentieth century, only one remains. The statistics of the USS CAIRO represent her sister boats as well.

The seven sisters were identical except for their identifying chimney bands and their fates. As you look at the CAIRO you will see the CARONDELET, the CINCINNATI, the MOUND CITY, the BARON DE KALB (formerly ST. LOUIS), the LOUISVILLE, and the PITTSBURG. The USS CAIRO is the sole survi- vor of the Mississippi Squadron. This boat is a monument to the vessels and crews on both sides who fought for the river that controlled America's future.

"City" Class Casemate gunboats Dimensions: length 175', beam 51'2", draft 6' Displacement: 888 tons Speed: 8 knots Crew: 175 Armor: 2 ‘1/2" casemate forward and sides, 1’ 1/4” pilothouse Armament: Three 8" Dahlgren and six 32# smoothbores, four 42# rifles Authorized: 7 Aug 61

5 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News

"City" Class (also sometimes known as the Cairo or St. Louis Class): This class of partially-armored gunboats was the core of the Western Gunboat Flotilla (later the Mississippi Squadron). The Cairo was the first warship in the world to be sunk by a mine ("torpedo"), and was rediscovered in 1956 and raised in the 1960s. The St. Louis was renamed Baron de Kalb after her transfer from the War Department to the Navy, as there was already a St. Louis in the Navy. Armament changed very frequently on these gunboats; the Cairo had a 30# rifle in place of one of the 42# rifles, and the Pittsburgh had three 9" Dahlgrens instead of the 8" weapons found on the other boats.

USS Louisville: Had green-striped stacks to distinguish it from others in the class; had taller stacks (33' instead of 28'). At some point later in the war, fitted with a full-length roof over the hurricane deck. Built by Eads at Carondelet MO. Launched 18 Oct 61. Commissioned 16 Jan 62. Bombarded Fort Donelson 14 Feb 62, sustained heavy damage, lost steering control, and drifted out of action. Reconnoitered to Columbus KY 2 Mar 62. Bombarded Island #10 15 Mar-7 Apr 62. Battle of Memphis 6 Jun 62. Engaged CSS Arkansas above Vicksburg 15 Jul 62. Bombarded Vicksburg's upper batteries 15-16 Jul 62. Convoyed troops to Bledsoe's Landing and Hamblin's Landing AR 21 Oct 62. Captured Confederate riverboat above Island #36 1 Nov 62. Bombarded Drumgould's Bluff MS 27-28 Dec 62. White River expedition, bombarded and captured Fort Hindman AR (Arkansas Post) 10-11 Jan 63. Steele's Bayou expedition 14-26 Mar 63. Shelled and ran past Vicksburg 16 Apr 63 (collided with Carondelet during passage, then momentarily grounded). Bombarded Grand Gulf MS 29 Apr 63. Destroyed Rock Hill Point battery 27 May 63. Red River Expedi- tion 12 Mar-16 May 64; side armor removed to pass the Alexandria dam (speed about 2 knots faster). Passed Bailey's dam at Alexandria 13 May 64. Sustained severe damage in engagement at Columbia AR 2 Jun 64. Supported troop withdrawal near Sunnyside AR 6 Jun 64. Decommissioned 21 Jul 65. Sold for scrap 29 Nov 65 at Mound City. Commanders: Cdr. Benjamin M. Dove (Jan-Sep 62), LtCdr. Richard W. Meade, Jr. (Sep-Dec 62), Lt. Robert K. Riley (Dec 62), Lt. Elias K. Owen (Dec 62-Sep 64), LtCdr. George Bacon (Oct 64-May 65).

http://www.ameritech.net/users/maxdemon/unionriver. Continued on Page 7 6 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 43

Arnie, PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

I have found a number of civil war records including The Editor of the Owen correspondence between Lt.Cmndr Elias K. Owen and Family News is currently va- Rear Admiral David Porter. Owen was one of Porter's cant. We desperately need a senior captains and was in charge of the 5th District volunteer for that position. (a section of the Mississippi and command over sev- They need a computer (PC) with software, such as Micro- eral other vessels). I have included the image below soft Publisher or other similar where he is requesting leave to take his wife home to products. The Editor is re- the Chicago area (?) sponsible for the newsletter layout, selection of articles and transmitting the finished document to the When Porter is assumes the command of the Atlantic Publisher. Anyone who thinks they might be inter- Blocking squadron in 1964, Owen also moves to that ested, should contact me command and is given the USS Seneca. He takes part t once. The addition of writers will greatly help, by in the second attack on Ft. Fisher in SC were one of relieving the editor of some writing tasks and allow his men receives the Congressional Medal of honor. more time in assembling the newsletter. Currently we only have two volunteers, but several more are I have discovered that in 1862 Owen was the execu- needed. People from different geographic locations tive officer of a ship in the Atlantic. His captain is supplying information would, no doubt, be benefi- disabled and he assumes command but only temporar- cial. Please advise me if you are willing to become ily. He next goes to the Mississippi River to take a writer or reporter. Creative writers can greatly command of Louisville. improve the quality of our newsletter.

He is one of Porter's trusted officers and a cool head. He participates in the run of the Iron clods Arnie past Vicksburg. He takes part in just about all of the Vicksburg, Grand Gulf, White Water and other action in 1863 and 64.

I think I have figured out the reason why W.W.II

destroyers were named after the Civil War captains. Regular Navy officers were not promoted during the WANTED Civil war or only rarely. Porter appealed to the Sec-

retary Wells of the Navy to promote Owen and several others after the disastrous Red River Campaign ? EDITOR & CHIEF but it did not happen. These officers did magnificent job during the war and it is fitting that they were honored later. ? ASSOCIATE EDITORS If only there were some personal letters available from Owen written during the war there would be Please apply to : enough material for a book. Arnold C,. Owen P.O. Box 692 Bill Westtown, PA 19395-0692 William P. Owen III provided the research on the USS Ken- Phone: (610) 399-0146 tucky and its Commander, Lt.Cmndr Elias K. Owen. FAX: (610) 399-6708 E-mail: [email protected]

7 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News

OWEN DATA Johnson County, TX OWEN(S) . By Wanda Tracy OFA Rootweb lister Cahill Cemetery Owen(s) buried in Henderson County (TX) Cemeteries. LESLIE T. OWENS---3/16/1922 DOROTH OWENS---9/14/1925 married 1/18/1942 Athens Cemetery BURNET REID OWEN----5/6/1897--- Pleasant Point cemetery 5/25/1957 CHARLES D. OWEN-- ---7/7/1867--- WALTER JACKSON OWEN----12/29/1905-- 1/19/1918 5/25/1907 DORA COX OWEN------1/1/1871--- NONA OWEN-----5/10/25/1925--1/20/1940 9/25/1951 INFANT OWEN------1/23/1919--- JANE H. OWENS----1832--1909-----FATHER--- 1/23/1919 CSA JANIE OWEN------1884--1928 MARY CATHERINE OWENS----1836--1881-- WILMA OWEN------1920---1928 MOTHER ALICE OWEN SCOTT-----1/18/1871---- 4/26/195? "Marriage Records of Cherokee County Texas 1846--1880 Compiled by Ogreta W. Huttash--- Fincastle Cemetery Jacksonville, Texas

JUDY B. OWEN-----4/2/1943--9/26/1984 DARCAS (Dorcas?) OWEN-----John M. Brown--- BERNICE OWEN----8/20/1908---2/26/1949 9/12/1879--H-479 EDNA LEE OWEN----1/24/1916----no date MRS. LUCY ANN OWEN---J.L. Babb------PAULINE, dau of C.L. & R.E. OWEN---- 10/18/1853--B-203 9/6/1910---12/20/1911 MISS E.S. OWENS------J.H. Doherty------ROXIE E. OWEN------2/6/1874---2/11/1964 5/3/1877---H-264 CHARLIE L. OWEN----6/12/1874--- MRS. ? P.A. OWENS------S.S. Glass------10/6/1928 6/26/1875---H-130 ESTHER OWEN------Monroe Gray------2/8/1880---H-531 MRS ? ELIZA OWENS----W.M. Johnson------1850 Henderson County Census 10/1/1865---D2-349 KATEY OWENS------Peter McKnight------# 154------OWENS 12/29/1868--D-94 OLED-----61------FARMER----650----VA. MARY A. OWEN------Wm. H. Waldrum------MARY ---61------NC 10/13/1856--C- 260 PARRY S.---25------KY MARY ANN OWEN------Nathan B. Walker------CALVIN C.--24------KY 4/21/1857---D2-6 DAVID W.---21------KY MARTHA M. OWENS-----Reuben H. Webb------JOHN ------18------AL. 1/20/1859---D2-119 A.J.OWEN------L.O. Gilder------3/5/1874------H-10 BOB OWENS------Lean ( LeAnn?) Cook---- -5/23/1874---H-25 continued on page 9

8 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News

ELI OWENS------M.P. Huston------CAN YOU HELP 12/8/1874----H-76 If anyone can help these folks, please send them FRANK OWENS------Lucy Rather------an E-mail message or write to the editor. 1/19/1874----F-371 JONES OWENS------Emaline Fell + (?)------12/30/1866--D-27-A Subj: Re: [OWEN] Owen WILLIAM OWEN------Sarah R. Furr------Date: 9/8/01 11:50:20 AM Pacific Daylight 8/6/1853-----B-170 Time W.W. OWENS------Mary A. Lane------From: [email protected] (Sandy T) 6/15/1864----D2-289 To: [email protected] HENRY OWENS------Winnie Francis------1/10/1877--H-241,345 Hi Arnie, I'm looking for information for my Owen family research. I have tried everything and Notes---? - means I don't know. or the Author did can't seem to find any information. Perhaps not. you could give me some information or shed light sample-B-170---- Marriage Book & Page # on where I could find this information. I am the AUTHOR--states books were in poor condition, gggranddaughter of Isaac Owen. He married writing was small some were Julia Ford in New York State. Their first three all handwritten, among other things ----hence hard children: Charles, Cornelia and Sarah Ann were to read. born in NYS. They are listed in the Sullivan Marriage books are in the Office of the County Twp. Tioga Co. Pa. 1850 census. Also listed is a Clerk , Rusk, TX. son listed as H.R. (also H.M.) born in Pa. five years earlier. H.R. /H.M. is listed by the name Bennett in the 1860 census. I can't find any OWEN OBITUARIES info who Isaac's or Julia's parents were. Both Isaac and Julia are listed as having been ORLO T. OWEN born in NYS. Any help would be appreciated, all Lovington, N.M. I've hit are brickwalls. Thank you. Sincerely, Sunday Feb. 10, 2002 Sandy (Owen) Ting

Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. CST Mon- http://community.webtv.net/sandpiper02/ day Feb 11,2002, at Morrison Funeral Home GreetingsfromLake Chapel in Graham, TX. Burial will follow in Pioneer Cemetery, Graham, TX.

Mr. Owen, 95, died Friday Feb. 8, at Lea Re- gional Medical Center (Hobbs, N.M.) He Was Subj: Owen family research born May 22, 1906, in Pennsylvania. He married Date: 8/20/01 11:02:39 AM Pacific Daylight Willa Mae Owen on July 15, 1925. Time From: [email protected] (Bonnie Cole) Mr. Owen retired after 30 yrs of service as a pro- To: [email protected] duction foreman with Hello: Sun Oil Co. Someone gave me your email address as I am trying to track down the Owen family that lived in London, Eng- Survivors include seven grandchildren, 16 great land during the 1881 Census in Chelsea. grandchildren & 12 gggrandchildren. He was Any direction for me in this area would be so appreci- preceded in death by his wife, one daughter ated. Bonnie Frances White and one son Edwin Owen. Can anyone help Bonnie?

9 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News

EDITORIAL STAFF MEET OFA EDITOR KIMBERLY AYN OWEN EDITOR & CHIEF: ( Vacant) Arnold C. Owen (temporary) Since 1976 Kim has lived in Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia. Born in Farmville, P.O. Box 692 Prince Edward County, Vir- Westtown, PA 19395 ginia, she has lived most of [email protected] her 49 years in southwest and Editors: central Virginia. When seven years old, her family moved to Scottsdale, AZ. and a year, William P. Owen III later to Midland, TX, and two P.O. Box 24165 years later back to Farmville. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307 Kim’s Owen roots are deep in [email protected] Virginia. Her immigrant ancestor, Bartholomew Owen, was born in Steventon Parish, Berkshire, England. He is a descendant of Richard Owen. Kimberly Ayn Owen 8006 Cottesmore Cl. A graduate of Prince Edward Academy (1970) , Longwood Richmond, VA 23228 College (1974) and Virginia Commonwealth University [email protected] (1982), Kim has a B.A. in Social Work and an M.S. degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Since 1990, she has been employed by the Virginia State Police in the criminal justice 2002 information system division. PUBLISHING SCHEDULE Kim says she enjoys reading, movies, work out at the gym MARCH and cooking, but .being single, don't cook much. She also JUNE says “ I LOVE cookies.” I am a cookie monster”. Genealogy SEPTEMBER became a hobby about two years ago and is pursuing infor- DECEMBER mation on Richard Owen.

Obituaries are welcome. In addition to then newspaper clipping, please include the name of the Newspaper and the date published. Send them to the Owen Family Association Editor for publishing .

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Only a few minutes of your time, is needed to produce articles for the quarterly newsletter. Surely, you already have material in your collected that you could share. Family stories, pictures, various records are excellent materials for sharing with others. You will find that writing and sharing information is very rewarding. Perhaps you could be instrumental in helping someone discovering their ancestors. With a editorial staff of ten or more could make the Owen Family News the envy of all genealogical organizations. You are urged to seriously consider joining the Editorial Team. If you can help, please contact Arnold Owen.

10 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 47

OWEN NEWSLETTERS

Bound copies old Owen newsletters, with index when available. Indexes are in the process of being prepared.

Book 1 Newsletters volumes 1 thru 8

Book 2 Newsletters volumes 9 thru 12

Book 3. Newsletters Volumes 13 thru 16

The newsletter books are bound with plastic comb binding similar to the Owen Source Book

OWEN CAP

ORDER Name ______

Address______State ______Zip______

Phone Number ______

E-Mail address ______

Description Price S & H Qty Total Owen Source Book $14.00 $4.00 ______Book 1 Owen Family Newsletters $16.00 $4.00 ______Book 2 Owen Family Newsletters $16.00 $4.00 ______Book 3 Owen Family Newsletters $16.00 $4,00 ______Owen Caps $11.00 $4.00 ______

Total ______Please check your order, total the last two columns, mail a check or money order to: Owen Family Association, c/o Bill E. Owen, 6365 Glory Ave., Milton, FL 32583

(Please include a copy of this form with your order)

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“Owen a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Mrs. Karen Grubaugh, Publisher 111 Stonegate N. B oerne, TX 78006

Officers: Address Label

Mr. Arnold C. Owen P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 (610) 399-0146 (941) 629-8211—Winter Only [email protected]

Mr. M. Fred Owen Vice President 1103 Marbrook Ct. Houston, TX 77077-1951 (281) 531-4473 Organized in 1981, the objectives of the association are: [email protected] 1) To establish and document as complete a list of descendants Mrs. Judy Owen Secretary of Owen and Allied Families as possible. 6365 Glory Ave. 2) To collect a narrative history of individual family lines of Milton, FL 32583 descent . (850) 983-2749 3) To compile and maintain a listing of cemeteries, homes and other [email protected] buildings and sites associated with Owen and Allied Families. Mr. Bill E. Owen 4) To publish and distribute a periodic Newsletter. Treasurer 5) To bring members of the family association together for periodic 6365 Glory Ave. Reunions. Milton, FL 32583 (850) 983-2749 6) To aid association members in establishing their family line and [email protected] assist them in joining various hereditary and patriotic societies, if they so desire. Mrs. Karen Grubaugh 7) To ultimately produce a volume documenting the verified Publisher 111 Stonegate N family histories. Boerne, TX 78006 8) To provide publications to Genealogy Libraries to assist Owen (830)249- 3487 researchers. [email protected] Annual dues of $10.00 is payable January 1st The Owen Newsletter is pub-

lished quarterly and is subject to copyrights.

Board of Directors Robert McCrary George Shirley C. Owen Johnson OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Published by OWEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OWEN JUNE 2002 A Name Worth Knowing htpp//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily VOLUME 17, NUMBER 2 Page 13

ALL THOSE UNRELATED OWENS OF HALIFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA

By Jane Owen Hillard

When I started preparing my book on Richard Owen (I have a publisher, but only the Good Lord knows when I’ll finish the writing), I began to realize that a first task was to separate the four (later six) disparate, unrelated Owen families in Halifax County. What a rewarding experience it has been!

Researchers in that particular county in Virginia know that it is so easy to be confused as to which family is being referenced in available documents, especially since every Owen family had one or two or a dozen males named William or John.

When Arnie asked me for an article for this newsletter, my first thought was: Let’s get the confused identities sorted out.

By the mid-seventeen hundreds, those six separate, unrelated Owen groups were settled in the part of Lunenberg which would soon be separated out as Halifax County. The easiest way to disentangle the Owen families is by land acquisitions: Since transportation and communication were so difficult, and the rough terrain and heavy forestation kept the settlers pretty close to home, they generally remained in their original locations; further acquisitions generally were in the same communities. (After one gets adept at it, even marriage records produce recognition. Rich- ard Owen’s family tended to ally itself with the Nichols, Pucketts, Stovalls, Harrises, etc., while the Dan River Owens tended to marry Easleys, Howertons, Hundleys, and Raglands. And oh yes, Harrises.) So herewith are the families:

I. The Staunton River Owens. Richard Owen, with a very large group of kith and kin, settled south of the river (in what was then Lunenberg County) in the 1740s. Their holdings were on or near Hunting Creek and Reedy Creek.

II. The Cane Creek grouping, equally early, has (I believe) resulted in documenting the Owen-Echols connection. I can’t prove the Owen part of the linkage, but, based on primary sources, I’ve made certain assumptions and will leave it to that present-day family to pursue the clues and prove--or disprove--my hypothesis.

III. The next family is the Dan River Owen Family, many of whom still live in the same area of the county today. Prosperous, civic-minded, good people today, the same could be said of their ancestors two centuries ago. I probably can’t add a thing they don’t already know, but researchers will welcome the sorting-out process.

Continued on page 14 IV. In getting to the fourth group, which I unimaginatively call the Fourth March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 14

Owen Family, I actually had to start with a present-day family. Mr. Owen (I’ll withhold his given name for the present), showing us his very old (200 years +), beautifully-kept family cemetery, insisted that his family is not related to any of the other Halifax County Owens. “My great, great grandfather,” he said, “bought this place (i.e., it was not a grant) a long time ago. They came from somewhere else in Virginia, but we don’t know where.” This summer, I will be able to introduce him to his furthest ancestors.

V. Then there is the Brackett Owen craze. Brackett Owen, so deserving of all his accolades, never lived in Halifax County. It’s true that two of his brothers did move there, and many of the hero’s young Virginia relatives received the name “Brackett,” further confusing the trail for researchers. Once courthouse records (prime sources, in other words) are consulted and clear descent proven, it all sorts itself out.

VI. Let’s not forget William Owen, whose will was the first one probated in Halifax County (1752, October 23). Looking at that barely literate document, which actually leaves no real estate and only a few shillings “starlen,” it would appear to reflect a poverty-stricken old man. Far from it! To date, I have not run across any descendents of this William Owen, but I hope that someone, someday will trace back to him (more about “William of the Will” later).

My intention is to write about each family, serially, for the OFA newsletter. I will start with Richard Owen (Staunton River) because he was probably the first Owen to arrive in this area, had the largest family, produced more records, and besides, he’s my ancestor. In a second newsletter article, I will continue with the Owen-Echols family and the Dan River Owen family. I hope this research will offer additional gleanings which will further other members’ searches. In a third newsletter, I will end the series with #4, #5, and #6.

RICHARD OWEN, PATRIARCH

When the elderly patriarch, together with his kith and kin, moved into the area south of the Staunton River, along the tributaries Hunting Creek, Reedy Creek, and down to Clover Creek, that whole new community was part of Lunenberg County--very shortly to be broken off, becoming Hali- fax County.

Most researchers have postulated, based on Richard’s probable age at death, that he was born ca 1680-1686. Actually, he was born in the 1670s, likely between 1675 and 1679. We know this because we have found documents referring to his parents and siblings. The facts about the children’s childhoods are known through some nine documents written at the time. (That story is being written and rewritten to get it totally accurate and proven. Perhaps finished in 2003?)

Richard and Elizabeth Owen (her maiden name is unknown) had eleven children, three daughters and eight sons, are all named in Halifax County Will Book 0 (zero). It’s easy to believe that the clearly-written document names the children in order of birth. It is pretty clear that six of his sons and all of his daughters were already married and perhaps had children before they arrived in Lunenberg cum Halifax County. They had by that time, of course, obtained their own lands in the same way Richard had--through grants issued at Williamsburg.

Continued on page 15 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 15

It is my purpose, here, to follow Richard, his children and grandchildren--three generations--in order to extricate this family Owen from the other five.

Children of Richard Owen and his wife, Elizabeth, as named in his will, probated June 8, 1756 (HC Will Bk O, p 25):

1) John3 - born ca 1700, d. 1771. Wife (2) ? Martha.

2) Mary3 - m. John Nichols (Nichols’ Will, Bk 1, pp. 70-71, Halifax County)

3) Richard, Jr.3 - dates unknown, m. Lucretia (aka Lucy/Lewcrezy)

4) Ralph3, b. early 1700, d. ca 1775.

5) Henry - no dates - land records, Halifax County

6) Elizabeth - m. Thomas Stovall (H.C. Will Bk 6, p. 546)

7) William - no dates; land records

8) Thomas married Sarah Womack

9) Sarah m. ______Womack

10) James, probably married after the move to Halifax County

11) Ambrose married after the move to Halifax County. No marriage records exist for any of

Richard’s progeny.

Both of Richard’s younger sons were listed in the 1737 Cumberland County tythe lists under the name of their father, indicating that they were 16 years old or above, but as yet unlanded, living with (or on the property of) Richard Owen. Some researchers have assumed that Ambrose was dead by time of the 1747 listing because only James was listed as before. Not so; a careful search of the Lunenberg Courthouse records reveals only one record for this family (other than land records--which are now filed in Halifax County). In 1743, Richard had gone to Lunenberg Court (or had appointed an attorney for the task) and had them exempt Ambrose from the levy. The exemption was granted, but no word was given as to why it was granted. (They did not waste ink nor paper in those days.) Ambrose’s name did not appear on tythe lists for many years after that. Shortly after that exemption, Halifax County was formed, and it took in the area south of the Staunton, seat of this Owen clan. Richard Owen and several of his sons took advantage of the ruling that allowed them to have their lands re-surveyed and deeds redrawn. These new deeds are to be found in the Halifax County land records.

[Because of space limitations, children and grandchildren of Richard Owen will be examined in the next newsletter, but the first two, son John Owen and daughter Mary Owen Nichols, will be included here. This is to clear up the misconception of some OFA members about the parentage of John Owen, Jr., who married Elizabeth Nichols.] Continued on page 16 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 16

1) John3 Owen, Son of Richard2

Called “my eldes son” in Richard’s will, John had acquired 400 acres in the tight- knit family enclave in the Hunting Creek area before his father’s death. His family con- sisted of his spouse, Martha (almost certainly a second wife), his oldest son John4, Jr., and other sons and daughters: William4, Robert4, Marthian4, Isbell4, Susannah4, Betty4, and Dakar4 (Decker).

Dakar, the youngest son of John3, was born ca 1753. Because of the differences in age between John, Jr., and Dakar, it is assumed that John3 married twice.

John3 was a farmer and a man committed to doing his share to reshape wilderness into community. He was early appointed to lay off a road from the Staunton River to the new “capital” (county seat) and he and John Nichols, also appointed, did that time- consuming, difficult job.

This brings us to Mary, daughter of Richrd2 Owen.

2) Mary3, Richard’s oldest daughter, married John Nichols, probably in Cumberland County early in the 18th century.

John and Mary Nichols settled in close to the other Owen families and remained in Hali- fax County the rest of their lives. John was a planter, a land speculator, and proved to be a very generous father. Their daughter, Elizabeth, as previously stated, married her first cousin, John Owen, Jr., son of John Owen, and grandson of Richard Owen.

Although many researchers have asserted that John Owen, Jr., was the son of the Prince Edward County John Owen and, therefore, was a brother of Brackett Owen, the preponderance of evidence would point to the Richard Owen line. Further data relat- ing to this controversy will be evaluated in the Brackett Owen portion of this article.

Although John and Mary Nichols had a large family, each child suitably married and producing children, records show Nichols’ exceptional generosity to John Owen, Jr., and Elizabeth (Betty). He deeds a good-size farm to them.

Deed Book 3, p. 304. January 1763, John Nichols of Halifax County for and in consideration of said John Owen intermarrying with said Nichols dau, Betty Nich- ols, has granted said John Owen his son-in-law 400 acres . . . part of the order of Councel of 5,450 acres . . . (signed) John (J) Nichols. Witnesses: R. Wooding, Abraham LeGrand, Edward Parker. Rec. June 16, 1763.

Thus, we know that John (Jr.) and Elizabeth Owen were married before 1763, possibly many years before.

And when John Nichols made a similar gift to another son-in-law, Abraham Le- Grand, LeGrand already had sons. In fact, it was to protect his grandsons that Nichols acted.

Continued on page 17 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 17

Deed Book 3, p. 523. “September 10, 1776. John Nichols of Halifax County to Abraham LeGrand, for 5s. 400 acres beginning at Peter Hudson’s cor. To John

Owen’s cor.” This deal is to stand, Nichols says, if LeGrand promises to hold the land in his possession and hands it on to his two sons William and Peter LeGrand.

(No; LeGrand sold it and moved to Pittsylvania County.)

It is interesting to note that by the time of his death, Nichols had divested himself of all that original 5,450 acres except for 400 acres, the home farm, presumably. H.C. Will Book 1, pp. 70-7. In the will, he names his wife, Mary; sons William, John and Jesse; daughters, Sary Robertson, Betty Owen and Aggie LeGrand. But more than a will will be necessary to untie the knotty problem of the two John Owen, Juniors. Land records may help, and there will be land records aplenty in the upcoming “Brackett Owen Line.”

Because of space limitations, Richard Owen’s line (three generations) will be touched on briefly in the next issue of this newsletter, as will the Owen-Echols line; the other four Owen lines will be forthcoming. [I urge anyone in the Richard Owen line to get in touch if there are corrections to be made. Also, should anyone have any definitive, sourced material which would tend to prove that it was John Owen, Jr., son of John Owen of Prince Edward County, who married Elizabeth Nichols, now would be the time to mediate the question.]

Write me or call:

Jane Owen Hillard 3419 Mt. Rainier Drive Louisville, Kentucky 40241 (502) 426-4771

(Read more about Jane on page 23 ) Owen, descendant of utopian socialist Houston Chronicle Thursday, May 2. 2002 Obituaries (newspaper clipping provided by Delores Landrum) By LYNWOOD ABRAM Houston Chronicle also was a leading figure in horse breeding circles. In 1967, his horse won , the famed Kenneth Dale Owen, petroleum geologist, horse annual harness race for 3-year-old trotters. breeder, and descendant of the utopian socialist and The race, now held in New Jersey, at the time philanthropist Robert Owen, died Sunday in the was held in DuQuoin, Ill., where as a boy place of his birth, the former "Owenite" community of Owen was introduced to the world of stan- New Harmony, Ind. He was 98. dard-bred horses.

Kenneth Owen, who maintained In the 1980s, when Owen retired from the homes in Houston and New Harmony, Hambletonian Society, he was saluted as had preserved and maintained proper- having "set new standards as a breeder and ties in New Harmony that his ancestors symbolized the brightest form of sportsman- had built. Owen ship and integrity that cont. on page 18 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 18

Owen Obituary Adventure in Archives our sport has known." Owen also was named to the Trotting Horse Hall of Fame. By Kim Owen As a geologist, Owen made oil field discover- Several months ago, through a ies that enabled him to found two successful newly found cousin, Ann Owen Vernon of Vir- companies, Gulfshore Oil and Trans-Tex Pro- ginia, I was given the email address of another duction. Owen was the great-great grandson of cousin, Graham C. Owen of Florida. Graham Robert Owen, whose wealth derived from textile and I began to email and he sent me data on a mills i n New Lanark, Scotland. Using his for- renowned ancestor by the name of Henry tune to promote cooperative living and social Thweatt Owen. Graham made reference to and industrial experiments, Robert Owen some of Henry’s papers being at the Virginia founded utopian "Owenite" communities in Brit- State Library. Since I live in Richmond, the ain and the United States based on socialist State library is at my fingertips. principles.

I was intrigued by this, so one Saturday, I In 1825, Robert Owen bought 30,000 acres made a visit to the library and perused Henry’s in Indiana and called it New Harmony. There papers. Maybe some of you are used to ar- Owen established what he hoped would be a chive room research, but it was quite an ex- self-contained and peaceful community. Internal perience for me. I could not wear a coat dissension, however, dogged the enterprise, and nor have my purse with me nor have anything after a few years it failed. Owen's descendants, except several pieces of loose leafed paper however, stayed on in New Harmony. On Aug. and a couple of pencils. Ink pens are not per- 24, 1903, Kenneth Owen was born there. Upon mitted. Everything went into a small locker, so graduating in 1926 from Cornell University, one would be unencumbered. They asked me Owen was employed as a field geologist fort to sign a paper saying I would abide by certain Humble Oil & Refining Co. (now Exxon Mobil), rules, some of which I have mentioned. The and moved to Houston. place seemed like hallowed ground; as if I

should whisper and tiptoe around on the car- Over the ensuing years Owen devoted much peted floor. The novelty of the archive room of his energies to reclaiming and restoring the has not worn off even though I have returned properties owned by his forebears in New Har- many times. mony. These included the house' where he was born, the David Dale Owen Laboratory, and the It turns out Henry Thweatt Owen was a fa- Rapp-Maclure-Owen Mansion' and the Rapp mous man and the papers were more than I Granary. The granary was headquarters for had hoped to find. Henry is Graham C. Owen’s early day geologic investigations during the great grandfather. According to Graham, Owenite community days.` For these efforts, the Henry was “born in Prince Edward Historic Preservation and Archaeology County, Virginia, on July 28, 1831. He was the Division of the Indiana Department of Resources seventh and youngest child and fifth son of conferred on Owen its Outstanding Preservation William Jack Owen and his wife, Sallie Mar- Award. He also was named a Sagamore of the shall Owen. Two days before the tenth birth- Wabash, one of Indiana's highest honors. day of Henry, on July 26, 1841, Henry’s father continued on page 22 died at the young age of fifty-five. For a few years, Henry helped his older brothers manage the plantation, but disliking the life of a planter, he taught himself to telegraph and at the young age of fifteen became a depot agent. Continued on page 19

March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 19

At the age of eighteen, in 1849, he became depot recorded for 1860 and 1880 listing whites and agent for the Richmond Southside Railway at Negroes in sixty-nine counties and cities. One Nottoway Court House and it was there he met recording listed the total number of Negroes in Harriet Adelena Robertson of Crewe, Virginia. Virginia in 1860 and 1890. Henry broke this They were married on November, 13, 1850. list down to free Negroes and slaves as well as those who were unlettered and without During the late 1850’s, Henry realized that a money. In 1893 and 1898, lists were recorded war could come to the South. He formed a small of the number of acres of land owned by Ne- company of men, comprised mostly of his wife’s groes which was 1/34th of all land in Virginia brothers and cousins. They became known as and 1/27th of all land in Virginia, respectively. the ‘Nottoway Rifle Guards.’ Henry read military At that time, Virginia covered territory from books and trained his company of farmers, black- the Atlantic Ocean west to the Blue Ridge smiths and businessmen on the grounds of Not- Mountains. toway Court House. On the morning of April 23, 1861, Henry’s company was called to arms. For Next, I looked at the maps he drew. They the next four years, Henry and his Company C, were precise and intricate and neat. They 18th Virginia Infantry Regiment, participated in were drawn in pencil and some had markings many of the major battles of the War Between the with red or blue ink. Some of the maps were States. incomplete. Several were drawn on what appeared to be tracing paper. They were of Following the war, Henry lived in Richmond tracts of land in various places in Virginia. where he served for a time as the Chief Clerk for Many were tracts of land owned by John the Virginia General Assembly. Later, Henry was Owen and Brackett Owen. Nearly all of it in- appointed to the office of Second Auditor of Vir- volved land near the Sandy River and ginia where he remained until he retired. Mountain Creek. Some of the maps used various types of trees as markers for property From around 1878 until his death in 1921, lines. Some maps were of tracts in Amelia Henry and Dr. Thomas M. Owen, Ph.D., re- County and Lunenburg County. One map searched and collected information on the Owen showed Owen’s Creek that branched off the family and some of the related branches. Dr. South Anna River. Owen was of a different Owen line. He was either Chief Postal Inspector or an assistant during the The best part of the collection was Henry’s time he and Henry corresponded and collabo- personal papers that contained 443 items. A rated. In addition, Henry wrote his recollections of whole box of folders filled with personal the war and some of the battles. Excerpts from correspondence to and from Henry, deeds, some of his writings can be found in books about and the Whiteside papers. the war. A few of his quotes have been included in movies and documentary films on the One whole folder, fifty items, was devoted war.”First, I viewed two plat books that had to be to letters Henry wrote to his wife, Harriett be- one hundred years old. The bindings flaked off in tween 1856 and 1864. He had to be a loving spots as I opened them. Inside were maps and man as he always began his letters with "Dear verbal descriptions of some things. Also, there Wife," "My Dear Harriet," or "My Dear Wife." were lists of Owen settlers, sixty-eight with the He ended the letters with closures like: "Most name Owen and twelve with other spellings of the devotedly," "Most truly your husband," "I am surname. In one of the plat books was recorded devotedly yours," "Yours forever & truly," and an 1860 census of Virginia, listing seventy coun- "In haste I am most devotedly yours." Some ties and cities. It listed land owned by whites and letters were to and from his children. Those land owned by Negroes in 1893 and 1898. It ap- he closed "Your affectionate father," "Yours pears another version of the census was faithfully as ever," and "Yours truly & Cont. pg 20 March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 20 caringly." In one letter, Henry closed with "My Company Leaf Tobacco of Lynchburg, Virginia, love to Ma and my brothers." The letters were and a Maggie J. Baker. A letter appointed written on blue, yellow and white paper in cur- Henry an honorary member of Pickett-Stuart sive writing. Henry used black and blue ink as Camp of Confederate Veterans. Another letter well as pencil. from the Virginia Historical Society appointed Henry a member of the society in 1898. A Of special note was one long letter Henry couple of letters to him were written in purple wrote to his son from the barracks at 7th and pencil. Clay Streets here in Richmond, Virginia. I assume this was during the Civil War. From A certificate from the Post Office Department 2601 East Franklin Street, he wrote in Washington, DC, appointed Harriett Owen as to his grandson Kenneth Johnson. On March Postmaster of the Green Bay Post Office in 12, 1918, he wrote to his aunt, Mamie, that he Prince Edward County, Virginia. had a "bad cold and cough and his eyesight was horrible." The deeds had to do with many land sales between 1894 and 1928. There There was the will and a six page inventory were fourteen items in this folder. Many sales of belongings of Ann Crawford Owen who was were to E. O. Whiteside, Henry or Mary White- Graham's great, great, great grandmother. In side of tracts of land near or in Virso, Virginia, those times, they inventoried everything down which was in Prince Edward County. Some to utensils and livestock and sacks of feed. sales were to George and Martina One dollar was left to a couple of the children. Womack, Julius and Susie Lash, Purcell, Lee Land was left to some. Sadly, slaves and their and Ann Cox, D. J. Thompson, and the State children were left to some children. Bank.

Henry received correspondence from Gen- Maybe this is a good place to discuss the eral James Longstreet and General Robert E. Whitesides. Emerson Owen Whiteside was a Lee. Many letters written by Henry were from grandson of Henry. According to Graham, he is Camp Lewis during the War. Henry wrote one the one who donated most of the papers of letter from the Second Auditor's Office to a Henry to the library. Emerson is a first cousin to Colonel Frank S. Ruffin. There were letters Graham's father, Harry Ashton Owen, Senior. from C. Pickett with Washington Life Insur- Emerson was a successful businessman in ance Company, J. L. Kemper, a Mr. Cocke, Richmond, Graham reports. Graham says the the Office of the Danville Register, a Mr. land deeds were probably purchases made by Blantin with the Farmville Insurance & Bank- Emerson and others with the purpose of buying ing Company, a Mr. W. J. Morrisett, George C. back some of the original Owen property in Cabell in the House of Representatives, the Prince Edward County. There was an old Owen Times in Philadelphia, Stephen Stanley of the plantation in Prince Edward County at one time. Office of Stanley Brothers/Manufacturers of Gold Stock Plated Chain, the office of Irving In the folder labeled "Military Papers 1862- V. McKinney/Attorneys at Law/Farmville, a L. 1864," were 83 items. There were numerous Jeannette, a George Bosson, Mr. Roper of special orders. Many items are written on Boston, Chamberlin & Currier in Boston, a B. scraps of paper. Some are on blue paper. There Williams, the Law Offices of James Mann of is a list of prisoners of war and of Quartermas- Nottoway Courthouse, Oaks Warehouse ter's stores. There is a list of those killed at Get- Company of Petersburg, Virginia, William and tysburg in 1863 in Pickett's Division. A note from Mary College, N. R. Bowman & Henry's diary during the War of Rebellion is in the folder. Continued on page 21 MarchMarch 2002 2002 Volume Volume 17 17Issu Issue 1e 1 Owen Owen Fa milyFamily News News Page Page 21

Adventure in Archives PRESIDENTS MESSAGE Also, there is a folder entitled "Reminisces CAN YOU HELP 1878" with four items in it. These are Henry's A hearty welcome to Jane personal accounts of events in 1878, 1863, of Owen Hillard who recently Pickett's Division and of the Battle of South joined our Editorial Staff . I Mountain. wish to congratulate her for the excellent newsletter arti- The "Drafts of Articles" folder has one article cle in this months issue. typed in Latin, one written in pencil, and a lengthy one to the Editor of the Times Dispatch Hopefully, others will from 1885. All are very legible. join Jane Hillard and Kim Owen in sharing Owen genealogical information with our readers. One folder has a few pages of poetry by Henry, but it is difficult to read. There is a news- There is currently a vacancy for an Editor & paper article. There are three photographs of Chief at the Owen Family News. A volunteer is Henry. He is very handsome. need to manage the newsletter, design its layout, select articles for publication and transmitting the Finally, the Whiteside papers consist of finished document to the Publisher. Whiteside's discharge and a Virginia Fire & Ma- . rine Insurance policy for a place in Charlotte Some of you have probably noticed that our County on a two and a half story frame dwelling Web Site is not up to date. That’s because of a three miles north of Keysville, Virginia. Webmaster vacancy.. The site needs updating and kept current. Perhaps someone would volunteer Graham said that Henry lived with Aunt and offer suggest for improvements. Whiteside near the end of his life at 2601 East Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia. One Sun- Please advise me if you are willing to volunteer day afternoon, I went house hunting and found for any of the worthwhile projects the house. It was a three story, red brick structure, at the bottom of a hill just east of downtown Richmond. Two traditional Southern Arnie white columns held the roof of the front porch. It appeared original. It had been joined by a small foyer to the next building. I believe the entire structure had been turned into apartment units. I HELP WANTED took a lot of pictures for Graham. ♠ EDITOR & CHIEF

As you can assume, I almost feel like I knew Henry Thweatt Owen after spending so much ☺ ASSOCIATE EDITORS time with what he left behind in the archive room. The research has enriched me and added to my knowledge of many things dating back to ☺ WEBMASTER that era. I am indebted to Cousin Ann for introducing me to Cousin Graham. I am very in- Please apply to : debted to Cousin Graham for introducing me to Arnold C,. Owen > Henry Thweatt Owen and his family. P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 Phone: (610) 399-0146 FAX: (610) 399-6708 E-mail: [email protected] March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 22

Owen Obituary OWEN NEWSLETTERS

For 61 years, Owen was married to Jane Bound copies old Owen newsletters, with index when avail- Blaffer, who survives him. Jane Blaffer Owen, able. Indexes are in the process of being prepared. who worked with her husband in the restoration Book 1 Newsletters volumes 1 thru 8 of New Harmony, is the daughter of Robert Lee Blaffer, a founder of what today is Exxon Com- Book 2 Newsletters volumes 9 thru 12 pany USA, and his wife, Sarah Campbell Blaffer. Sa, Book 3. Newsletters Volumes 13 thru 16 rah Blaffer's father, William Thomas Campbell, The newsletter books are bound with plastic comb binding was a founder of the Texas Company, now similar to the Owen Source Book, aspictured on the left. Chevron Texaco.

Owen also leaves two daughters, Jane Dale Owen and Ann' Dale Owen, both of Houston. Funeral services were held Thursday in New Harmony. A memorial service will be held in Houston at a later date.

OWEN CAP

ORDER Name ______

Address______State ______Zip______

Phone Number ______

E-Mail address ______

Total ______Please check your order, total the last two columns, mail a check or money order to: Owen Family Association, c/o Bill E. Owen, 6365 Glory Ave., Milton, FL 32583

(Please include a copy of this form with your order) March 2002 Volume 17 Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 23

MEET OFA EDITOR EDITORIAL STAFF JANE OWEN HILLARD EDITOR & CHIEF: ( Vacant) Arnold C. Owen (temporary) Jane Owen Hillard grew up in Dyer County, Ten- P.O. Box 692 nessee, which fronts on the Mississippi River, and Westtown, PA 19395 married Jack Richard Hillard a long time ago. Jack [email protected] and Jane have two sons, Richard Owen Hillard, of Editors: Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jonathan R. Hillard, of Fair- William P. Owen III field, Pennsylvania. (When they gave Richard Owen P.O. Box 24165 his name, they had no idea . . . !) Jane received her Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307 A.B. from Western State University of Colorado and [email protected] her M.A. (in English) from the University of Louis- ville. Before retirement, she was a writer for the Kimberly Ayn Owen Kentucky Department of Public Information, an ex- 8006 Cottesmore Cl. perience suited to her penchant for research and ac- Richmond, VA 23228 curacy in use of sourced materials. [email protected] “I am absolutely committed to going to primary Jane Owen Hillard sources for genealogical research and believe that 3419 Mt. Rainier Dr. data which does not cite sources is automatically sus- Lousiville, KY 40244 pect. Take hints and clues from wherever you can (502) 426-4771 get them, but verify, verify, verify. That means going back to courthouses, libraries and archive — or going to lists and data laboriously copied from 2002 SAME by serious, committed and careful record PUBLISHING SCHEDULE searchers.”

MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER

Obituaries are welcome. In addition to then newspaper clipping, please include the name of the Newspaper and

the date published. Send them to the Owen Family Association Editor for publishing .

MEMBERSHIP-For information about the Owen Family Association or an application for mem-

bership, please E– mail or write to:

Owen Family Association

c/o Arnold Owen P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 [email protected] 1st class Postage

“Owen a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Mrs. Karen Grubaugh, Publisher 111 Stonegate N. Boerne, TX 78006

Officers: Address Label

Mr. Arnold C. Owen P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 (610) 399-0146 (941) 629-8211—Winter Only [email protected]

Mr. M. Fred Owen Vice President 1103 Marbrook Ct. Houston, TX 77077-1951 (281) 531-4473 Organized in 1981, the objectives of the association are: [email protected] 1) To establish and document as complete a list of descendants Mrs. Judy Owen Secretary of Owen and Allied Families as possible. 6365 Glory Ave. 2) To collect a narrative history of individual family lines of Milton, FL 32583 descent . (850) 983-2749 3) To compile and maintain a listing of cemeteries, homes and other [email protected] buildings and sites associated with Owen and Allied Families. Mr. Bill E. Owen 4) To publish and distribute a periodic Newsletter. Treasurer 5) To bring members of the family association together for periodic 6365 Glory Ave. Reunions. Milton, FL 32583 (850) 983-2749 6) To aid association members in establishing their family line and [email protected] assist them in joining various hereditary and patriotic societies, if they so desire. Mrs. Karen Grubaugh 7) To ultimately produce a volume documenting the verified Publisher family histories. 111 Stonegate N Boerne, TX 78006 8) To provide publications to Genealogy Libraries to assist Owen (830)249- 3487 researchers. [email protected] Annual dues of $10.00 is payable January 1st The Owen Newsletter is published quarterly and is subject to copyrights.

Board of Directors Robert McCrary George Shirley C. Owen Johnson OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Published by OWEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OWEN September 2002 A Name Worth Knowing htpp//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily VOLUME 17, NUMBER 3 Page 24

OWENS FINALLY RECEIVES PURPLE HEART

Sgt. Harold Alvie Owens, while on active duty in Italy in 1944 was wounded by a land mine

explosion. Fifty-six years later, Harold was hon- HAROLD OWEN ored for his service during WW II and was presented Purple Heart Pages 24, 25 the Purple Heart. In Janu-

Harold Owen Biography ary of this year, a large gathering of family, by Bill Owens friends and fellow veter-

ans helped celebrate this Indiana Departmental Commander, VFW, Everett Foreman,

auspicious occasion at the looks on as Harold Owens, (center}, receives the Purple Heart Pages 25 thru 27 from John Bosley, Indiana National Service Officer for the VFW Post 2714 in South Military Order of the Purple Heart. Gibson, Indiana.

______. At the presentation cere- ______mony, John Bosley read a description of what occurred on July 9, 1944 and the

weeks afterward. It is as follows:

ALL THOSE UNRELATED “Sergeant Harold Owens, Chief of Section, C Battery, 9l3th Field Artillery OWENS OF HALIFAX Battalion, 88th Division, Sth Army. COUNTY VIRGINIA On July 9, 1944, at approximately 9 o'clock in the morning, my section was By Jane Hillard moving north through the Po Valley not far from the Arno River in Italy. My section, consisting of 10 men, was riding in a 2~-ton GMC truck towing our Pages 28 thru 32 gun, a 105mm howitzer. Ours was the first truck in a convoy being led by Cap- tain Charles Pettys, who was riding in a Jeep. The Jeep safely passed over a large teller mine on the road, but our larger truck was not so fortunate. Our truck hit it. The explosion was so powerful that it cut off the dual wheels on the left side of the truck, made a hole through the steel bed of the truck, and threw all our men out of the back.

I was hit in the back with something; I'm not sure what. I believe that I was probably thrown into the air and then came down hitting my back on the side of the truck as I fell. I am not sure because I was knocked unconscious by the blast. I don't know how long I had been "out," but when I came to, all the other men were standing around me. I yelled at them to get down because I thought we were under fire. It was then that they told me that we had hit a mine. The other men were badly shaken, but I was hurt worse than the others.

September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 25

We had been carrying all of our belongings~~barracks bags, bed rolls, etc.--and 25 rounds of ammunition. Luckily, our ammunition did not ex- plod~ The baggage might have saved us, because it was cut to shreds by the shrapnel.

The other members of my crew had to get a new truck to proceed on up the line. I, on the other hand, was placed on a litter on the front of a Medic Jeep to be transported to a field hospital about a hundred miles back south. It was a long, excruciatingly pain- ful, trip back for me. It took all day over very dusty, bumpy, dirt roads with a lot of traffic. At one point, the Jeep hit a hole in a bridge; and one wheel dropped through. I was lifted off and set aside until they could get the Jeep out of the hole. Then they put me back on, and we proceeded on toward the hospital, arriving there about dark. By this time, every joint in my body was aching right down to the joints in my little fingers.

When we reached the hospital, I was placed on a cot where I spent the night without anyone even looking at me. I assume they had patients in more life-threatening condition than I was. The next morning a big, rough nurse came in, grabbed my hands, and tried to pull me up. It was impossible; BIOGRAPHY OF I simply could not get up. The nurse then let go of HAROLD ALVIE OWENS me and got me my first dose of pain pills. I was there by Bill Owens, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2002 in the hospital about 2 weeks before I could stand or walk. After another, week, when I had improved and My brother Harold was born June 21, 1921 at a was able to get around better, I went back up on the farm house located two miles northwest of Lynnville, a line with my section. When I arrived there, the Cap- small town in Warrick County, Indiana. Harold's par- tain asked, "Aren't you back too soon?" I said that I ents, Alvie Washington Owens and Mabel Vesta Gen- didn’t know, but I would give it a try. It didn’t take try Owens, were married in January 1919, and their long to find out. The first time I tried to lift and load a shell into the gun, the pain in my back was so de- only daughter, Dorothy Genevieve, was born later in bilitating I knew I had to go back to the hospital. I the same year. After Harold was born in 1921, from went back and stayed another week or two before re- August 1922 until June 1938 Mabel would give birth turning again to my unit. This time I was able to to six (6) more babies (all boys), Paul, Bill, Lawrence, stay.” Ray, Tom and Jean.

A quote from Harold on page 250 of the family history book, 'GENTRY KINFOLK' published in 1991: "1 am told that when I was very small, I had a problem with Mother's milk; so the doctor told Daddy that he should give me only fresh, warm milk directly from the cow for a while. Daddy was following the doctor's advice, milking the cow at all hours of the day or night whenever I needed a bottle. Grandma Owens didn't approve of his going to so much trouble, so she told Daddy, , Alvie, I wouldn't do that; there will be other babies.' She may not have been very sympathetic to my plight, but I certainly can't argue with the truth of her prediction. There were six other babies after Left to right: Harold Owens, William Longwill, Charles Nichols , Joseph me." Banulski ; Kneeling: Carlous Hutchison, William Lindsay September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 26

During much of the early years father Alvie Three days later Private Harold Alvie Owens was was kept busy at the coal mines on his father-in- on a train bound for Camp Gruber, Oklahoma Iaw's adjacent farm, and since Harold was the old- where he became part of the 913th Field Artillery Battalion. The unit moved to Louisiana in early est son, he was assigned farm chores at a very spring of 1943 and Harold participated in maneu- young age. He also became the leader for his vers until August, and at this location was pro- younger brothers. Harold especially enjoyed and moted to Sergeant. The unit was then sent to Fort was adept at working with the family's gentle Sam Houston, Texas for a couple of months, and horses, and as soon as he was old enough to sit in then to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia. Harold and the seat of a farm implement (without falling off), his buddies boarded a Liberty ship and were part of and with a hired hand as a constant companion, he a convoy of 54 ships bound for Casablanca, N. Af- helped in the fields preparing the soil for seed. rica. Thanksgiving 1943 was observed aboard ship somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to his summer work in the fields, Harold also helped with the daily farm chores such In early January 1944 the unit, the 88th In- as feeding and watering the livestock, milking cows fantry Division, sailed from Oran, Africa to Naples, and cleaning stalls, etc. From 1931 until 1935 dur- Italy and replaced the 45th Division in the ing late in the summer Harold also helped his father Minterno area. In the spring of 1944 the entire 5th at the coal mines. Army (of which the 88th Division was a part) and commanded by General Mark Clark, made a big In October 1935 the family sold the Warrick push north through Rome and on to the Po Valley. County 60-acre farm and moved to a rented 100- acre farm located in Pike County. Harold and his brothers continued to help out with the farm tasks, On the morning of July 9,1944 the truck but no more coal mining. Harold and five of his Harold and his buddies were riding in ran over a brothers attended Lincoln School, a one-room large teller mine, resulting in injuries to several sol- building situated 1/4 mile north of their home. Har- diers including Harold. A more detailed story of old's formal education ceased in 1937 after suffer- this event as described by Harold is attached. ing a severe beating from the teacher. A piece of oak wood, approximately 18 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 3/4 inch thick taken from a broken After a month or so at a field hospital Har- old returned to his unit as they continued to fight school desk was used on Harold -punishment for and chase the Germans north until the war in 'talking back to the teacher'. Europe was over in May 1945. From May until Au- gust Harold's unit was in charge of prison cages From 1937 until 1941, in addition to help- holding German prisoners-of-war . ing out at the family farm, Harold helped neighbors with their farm chores, usually bringing home a In August Harold, along with many others in dollar a day. In 1939 the family again moved, this his unit, received orders shipping them back to the time 2 miles south to a 50-acre farm located Y4 States, then on to the Pacific Theater to fight mile due north of Claybank, in Monroe Township, against the Japanese. While in the U. S. on a 30-day Pike County. leave the atom bomb was dropped, the Japanese surrendered, and World War II was over. On No- December 1941 arrives and planes from Ja- vember 2,1945 Sgt. Harold Alvie Owens was now pan attack Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. In early May civilian Harold Alvie Owens. 1942 Harold and brother Bill took jobs as laborers with Ryan Construction Co. helping build the ship- From December 1945 until 1953 Harold yard on the banks of the Ohio River in Evansville. was an employee of The U. S. Coast & Geodetic It was here that LST's would later be built and Survey, Dept. of Commerce, and assigned to a tri- launched sideways into the river. The pay was 70 angulation party. It was while with this very mobile cents per hour (or about 7 times more than what organization that in the spring of 1946 it came to farmers paid) and we worked 7 days each week. pass that Harold met his future wife. On May 31 in Harold worked for Ryan until August 10th at Brookhaven, Mississippi in a double wedding cere- which time he reported to the Army at Fort Benja- mony with brother Bill and his bride, Harold mar- min Harrison. ried Janice Louise Ward. After seven years of working in several states, brief stays in many September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 27 many towns, including a project at THE NE- OWENS in America have VADA TEST SITE near Las Vegas in the fall of always served this Nation 1951, Harold, Janice and daughter Sherree left proudly during its 226 years. the nomadic lifestyle of the survey crew of the Harold Owen is one of many USC&GS. examples of brave young men and women who answered the Harold and family settled down in south- call of duty. Starting with the ern Indiana. Harold spent a year or so at Interna- American Revaluation the list tional Harvester, and from 1955 until he retired of Owen surnames are vast. It in 1983 he worked for Inland Container in has been said that we are a proud lot and I think our Evansville. Janice taught school in southern Indi- membership is a testimonial to that view. In line with ana from 1956 until she retired in 1989. this, I ask everyone to please keep in mind the tragic event of 9-11 and remember those who lost their Harold and Janice are the proud parents lives. of two children, daughter Sherree and son, Stephen, also five adorable grandchildren, 4 girls September 11, 2002, is soon approaching. On and 1 boy. Harold and Janice enjoy dancing, both square and round and since 1956 have been very that day, please wear red, white and blue to show actively involved in these activities, including your support for those who lost their lives on teaching and cueing. Quoting Harold from the 9~11~01 and to honor the heroes who worked to save family history book, 'GENTRY KINFOLK', pub- them and the families left behind. At noon your time lished in 1991: "We are retired, sometimes just on September 11, 2002, no matter where you are or plain 'tired', but it is a joy to be able to spend what you are doing, stop, put your hand on your time with our family, our friends, and each heart, and say the Pledge of Allegiance out loud or to other." yourself and say a prayer for our nation. If all of us do this together in every time zone around the world, And 1 will add that Harold and Janice have certainly earned the right to enjoy their we will have a powerful chain of thoughts surround- 'golden years' any way they choose. ing us. Please remind your friends and family. By September 11, 2002, hopefully enough people will PS: And Janice serves up some of the best home- join together in unity. cooking that you will find anywhere, anytime! God Bless the USA

______Arnie HELP WANTED ♠ EDITOR & CHIEF

☺ ASSOCIATE EDITORS ☺ WEBMASTER

Please apply to : Arnold C,. Owen P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 Phone: (610) 399-0146 FAX: (610) 399-6708

WEN September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 28

ALL THOSE UNRELATED OWENS OF HALIFAX COUNTY (Cont’d) By Jane Owen Hillard

Mia culpa! After preaching about primary sources and careful documentation, my article in the June newsletter contained an egregious error. Last spring, on “vacation” in Halifax County, I was 700 milestones away from my files and trying to meet my deadline. Needing a copy of John Nichols’ will, I asked a friend to visit the courthouse and bring me an abstract. Mistake! I made my deadline, then went to the courthouse to check out the will. Sorry; I have learned from my carelessness: I won’t do it again.

2. Continuing with the family of Richard Owen (Staunton River) family, we listed MARY3 OWEN NICHOLS as the second child, first daughter. We, of course, know little about Mary herself, but husband John Nichols (see apology above) names all their children in a very long will: Sons Ambrose, Jesse, daughter Nanny Nichols, and sons Bird, David, John, and William Nichols, and married daughters, Sarah Robertson, Betty Owen, and Aggie LeGrand. He had thousands of acres to leave, and he was generous to all his children.

3. RICHARD3, JR., second son, had claimed land adjacent to his father and made his home there. Richard and his wife, Lucretia (“Lewcrezy,” “Lucy”) probably had several children, but so far only two have been identified: Mary, his daughter, who was identified in her grandfather Owen’s will, and a third Richard.

[As was proper in the 18th century, the use of “Jr.” was used to keep official records straight, as well as to separate fathers and sons for relatives and friends. As also was proper, after the father’s death, the son bearing the same first name dropped the “Jr.” So after Richard Owen, the progenitor, died (ca. 1756), we find numerous records: deeds, voting lists, etc., using the undifferentiated “Richard Owen,” placing him in that same Staunton River vicinity. Finally, in the 1780s, we start picking up Richard, Sr., again (decades after the patriarch’s death!) and, again, Richard, Jr. Today we might call the latter Richard III, but the colonists left such high-faluting practices to royalty. A caveat: Sometimes a nephew of the same name will be called Jr. to differentiate him from an uncle who lives in the same community. In her excellent book, The Stovall Family, Carmae Massey reveals that George Stovall’s son, Bartholomew was called Jr. because his Uncle Bartholomew (George’s brother) lived nearby. Stops the confusion.]

We find this Richard numerous times in the land records, in the voting records, as witness to documents, etc. We also find a sale: Bk 7, p. 48. Dec. 3, 1767. Richard Owen of Halifax County, to John Carr of same, for $20, 400 acres on B.S. of Bradley Creek, etc., etc. . . . Signed by Richard Owen and Lewcrese X Owen. Wit: John Cobbs, John LeGrand, James Owen. And on the same day, with the same witnesses: “from Richard Owen of Halifax to Jeffrey Palmer of H, £22/10 sh, land with a small plantation, about 100 acres, being part of Alexander LeGrand’s . . . patent, bonded by Col. Cole’s line on Buckskin Creek and Richard Martin. Signed Richard Owen, Lewcrese X Owen. Wit--Cobbs/LeGrand/James Owen. Recorded Jan. 31, 1768.”

September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 29 WEN It is believed Richard and Lucy left the county sometime after 1773. We do not know if he went to another state or just to another county and several researchers are now hoping to ascertain if the couple moved to (perhaps) Bedford. It is entirely possible that they lived with, or on the property of, one of their children. There is only one Richard Owen enumerated in the 1787 tything list, and he seems to be in residence at some distance from the Staunton River Owens. He may be their kinsman or, at this late date, a member of one of the other families.

4. RALPH OWEN, presumably Richard and Elizabeth’s fourth child, third son, early acquired his 400 acres and he, also, had his land resurveyed in 1748. His farm was across the road which brother John Owen and John’s brother-in-law, John Nichols, laid out. [It may be that his main farm was more or less in the location presently occupied by a wealthy girls’ summer camp, attended by many of the daughters of foreign diplomats posted to Washington, D.C.]

Records show that Ralph acquired numerous holdings; we also have his voting record. In order to vote for Burgesses to represent their districts in Williamsburg, landowners had to vote in the precincts where his lands were. But if he had land in other precincts or other counties, he could vote in those precincts, too (providing, I guess, that he could get there in time). Ralph (Ralf/Relf) Owen usually voted twice for his man. Prosperous in Hali- fax County, he nevertheless moved to Rowan County, N.C., along with his brother, James, and family and sister, Sarah, and her husband, Thomas (?) Womack. Ralph Owen’s will, dated August 9, 1775, names wife, Judy; sons, Ralph and Henry; unmarried “other children”; and grandson, Armisteace.

5. HENRY3: Few records have been found thus far, except land records. From Major Drury Stith’s Old Book: “20 Feb. 1749/50 (Surv.d J.B.) Henry Owen 400 acres upon Contrary Run . . . at John Owen’s upper corner Hickory thence up.” Henry paid 500 shillings. This date is the same date Richard Owen, Henry’s father had his 400 acres resurveyed on both sides of Reedy Creek. On June 16, 1751, Richard Owen, Jr., entered the vacant land between Henry Owen’s, James Stuard’s, Randolph’s, John Owen’s and Richard Owen’s, Sr., lines. “February 22, 1765, Henry enters all the vacant land between the Lines of Cole, Wil- liam and John Owen and those of Randolph on the Draughts of Reedy Creek.” Incidentally, the Randolph referred to in this case was John Randolph, later to be a Congressman in the new United States, and to some in this area, he is the “father of the Constitution,” the astute advisor to James Madison. Thus, we can place Henry Owen and we may surmise that he would have married and possibly, if not probably, had issue. We assume that he, too, moved on. He does not appear in 1787 tax lists.

Note: Thanks to the OFA members who responded to the first install- ment of this series. That’s what this association is about: furthering each other’s genealogical research. I certainly appreciate your kind re- marks. JOH

6. WILLIAM (Must we? So many Williams.) In fact, the first seven entries for William Owen were for the William Owens other than ours. However, on a page headed April 4, 1751, we find John Nichols entering for “Vacant land between William Owens at the head of Contrary Run and John Jones in Difficult Creek.” We also find Richard Womack entering 400 acres beginning at September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 30 WEN

William Owen’s Black Oak. Brother-in-law Thomas Stovall (page 59 of Stith’s Book) enters for the land between his own, Thomas Clark’s, Henry Owen’s, Richard Owen’s, John Nichols and William Owen’s lines. So we have been able to locate him among the clan’s holdings, we just haven’t met him yet. We find glimmers of him here and there. Further research is needed.

7. ELIZABETH 3 OWEN second daughter of Richard 2 Owen, married Thomas Stovall, the son of Bartholomew and Anne Burton Stovall, who were neighbors for decades in Cumberland County. In 1752, Stovall bought land (Deed Book 1, p. 94) on Contrary Run and Black Oak Creek, adjacent to Ralph Owen. Other land acquisitions of Thomas Stovall are to be found in Stith entries. He buys land adjacent to John Nichols’ and William Owen’s (p. 59); enters for 400 acres between Ralph Owen’s, Cobb’s, and Russell’s on Staunton River (p. 239) and, in February 1763, enters for land between Nichols, Cole’s and his own, not to exceed 400 acres. Stovall is listed in the 1787 tax list, among all the Staunton River Owen families, as well as Peter Owen, who married the Stovalls’ daughter, Betty Ann. Elizabeth apparently died before Thomas, whose will was recorded in H.C. Will Book 6 (p. 546). Their children were Sarah Stovall Burton, Bartholomew Stovall who, with wife Sussanah, moved to Warren County, Kentucky, Tabitha Stovall Keesee (?), Phoebe Stovall Owen, Betty Ann Stovall Owen, Sussanah Stovall Dickerson and George Stovall. Many in this third generation, bearing both surnames (Owen or Stovall) emigrated to various counties in South Central Kentucky. The line of the Dickersons apparently moved to North Carolina. 8.THOMAS Owen married one of Abraham Womack’s daughters, Sarah Womack. The Womacks were neighbors and friends since the early 1670s. They all migrated into Halifax County about the same time and acquired lands in close proximity to each other. To date, no further data on Thomas and Sarah.

9. SARAH3 Owen Womack was the youngest daughter of Richard the patriarch. Truth be told, no one to date seems to know which of the Womack brothers she wed, Richard or Thomas. That they lived among their kin in that tight little enclave is evidenced by land records: Feb. 1749/50 (Surv’d J.B.) Thos. Owen 400 acres joining the upper line of his Brother Ralph Owen’s survey . . . Walnut Creek. His name appears in many surveys as points of reference. This Thomas is an inveterate voter, sometimes going to the polling place with brothers-in-law Thomas Womack and Thomas Stovall. Sarah and Thomas (?) Womack moved to Rowan County along with Ralph Owen and his family, as did James Owen (below), and various researchers have traced them over several generations.

10. JAMES3 Owen, next to the youngest son, did not acquire land in the earliest days in Halifax County. After all he and his brother, Ambrose, were slated to inherit their father’s acreage, which they did in 1756. There is some confusion among his descendents as to whether this James Owen and Col. James Owen of Revolutionary service were one and the same. Some descendants think not, and this writer concurs.

What we do know is that James married and started a family, before Richard’s death. Records show that he did acquire small tracts beyond that, but he started selling his land in the mid-sixties. On “January 2, 1767, he sold to James Robards 400 acres, part of a greater tract. James Owen rec’d by patent on Black Walnut Creek, beginning at Richard September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 31 WEN Owen’s to John Owen’s line . . .” Every land record for this James Owen refers to holdings around Reedy Creek or Black Walnut, in the Owen enclave. We know that he migrated southward into Rowan County, N.C., along with the families of his brother, Ralph, and his sister, Sarah Womack. When Rowan County split, his home was in the new county; however, his will (1799) is in Rowan County Courthouse. He names children: Richard (d. 1834); Peter (b. February 1, 1758, d. August 8, 1830); Josiah (1760--after 1850); Alfred; Ruth (b. 1763, m. Richard Womack; Hezekiah; Elizabeth m. John Park; Mary, m. Allen Jones).

And Col. James Owen? There were others, unrelated, in early Halifax County carrying the name James Owen. (For instance: Deed Book 5, p. 153), “July 9, 1764. William Gore and Elizabeth, his wife of Halifax County to James Owen of same, 154½ acres on Reed Creek, beg. On Younger’s line . . .” This is not Reedy Creek; rather, Reed Creek is near the county line and at the apex of the Virginia map, almost certainly not the territory of our James. One notes, too, that in the list of Owens taking an “Oath of Loyalty” (see Owen Johnson’s article in OFA Newsletter of November, 1995), there appears the names of Wil- liam Owen, William Owen, Jr., John Owen, James Littleberry Owen, et al. And there were other Jameses in Colonial Halifax County. We may, indeed, be speaking of two separate (yes, unrelated) James Owens. I leave it to the descendents to sort it out.

11. AMBROSE, presumably the youngest son of Richard and heir to half of Richard’s property, resided for the rest of his life in the Reedy Creek area. No record of his marriage exists and since no will was brought to probate, we know neither his wife’s name nor the names of his other children. We know only that there was an Ambrose, Jr. The latter is enumerated in the 1787 tax list at some remove from his father’s residence but still in the same general area. Ambrose, Sr., was still living, and his name appears between the Nichols listing and those of James Owen, a second James Owen (is one of them a son of Ambrose, Sr., we wonder), followed by Peter Owen. A few lines down the list is Peter’s father-in-law, Thomas Stovall. Peter is the son of James and, therefore, nephew of Ambrose. We do not know if the Ambrose of the voting lists was junior or senior. The son, Ambrose, Jr., married Sarah Parker. Sarah’s mother, Judith (Hudson) Parker, was a daughter of Peter Hudson, the progenitor of the Halifax County Hudson clan. (See Peter’s will in “File 1” at the courthouse; dated October 7, 1752, probated March 20, 1753.) Ambrose and Sarah’s line is carried forward in the OFA Newsletter, November, 1992: Volume 7, Issue 2).

And now on to the next Owen genealogy of Halifax County; we shall turn now to the one I’ve dubbed “the Dan River family.”

THE DAN RIVER OWEN FAMILY

Little work had to be expended on this family, as the genealogy of this group has been provided (usually dependably) by a number of publications. It has been best laid out in that old compilation by Bertha Brockman, at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. For those not familiar with Brockman (although you have seen her name in the Newsletter), she started searching for her antecedents in the early twentieth century. In those days, researchers were not as blessed with the search materials we enjoy today, nor did they have fast communication facilities. Letter writing was their only recourse. 32 WEN September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page Mrs. Brockman found herself to be sort of a clearinghouse for people doing research in various Owen families. She was based in Pine Bluff, but another Owen researcher, Cecelia Cassingham Foster, served the same way in Missouri, later in Arizona.

Mrs. Brockman did not “publish,” but she did leave her voluminous files in the public library in Pine Bluff. One could borrow the file through Interlibrary Loan (as I did); I believe it has now been published by one of the genealogical houses. In her compilation of all those genealogies sent in by her correspondents (some of them quite bizarre), Mrs. Brockman generally stated that the material was being passed on as received and that she could not verify or substantiate their accuracy.

But in her typewritten genealogy of the group I have labeled “Dan River Owens,” Mrs. Brockman was precision itself. She received all her data from county courthouses, by mail, and she always insisted that the clerk who copied the records would attest that all copies were accurate and complete. Amazingly, they complied, with signatures and dates. That she zeroed-in, herself, on the Dan River family was because she apparently hoped to link her “oldest” forebear with that family. She was searching for the antecedents of Larkin Owen, and one surmises she died without reaching her goal. We now have an answer for her, as will be shown in the December OFA Newsletter. Alas, too late!

Most of the following material came from Mrs. Brockman’s careful assembly of facts.

DESCENDENTS OF ROBERTSON OWEN, SR. (DAN RIVER)

Robertson Owen, Sr., of Halifax County, Virginia, was probably born about 1755 and had service in the Revolutionary War. His name would indicate a relationship with the Robertson Family, which was an early and prominent one in that locality. We know nothing of the wife or Robertson Owen but from his estate records in Halifax County, we find these descendents--children: William, John, Thomas E., Polly, Nancy, and Robertson.

I. William probably was the William Owen who married Jane Barber, Sept. 3, 1801. (M.B. Halifax Co. Va.)

II. John married Nancy Easley May 5, 1803 (M.B. Halifax Co. Va.). He died before July 1817, when his will was probated in Halifax Co. From the will and his estate records, and notes from Daniel W. Owen, his grandson and Miss Mamie Raworth, another descendant, we give the descendents of John Owen as follows:

1. Nancy E.4 (Ann) married James Carlton and moved to Texas and reared a family.

2. Robert E.3 married Mary Howerton Easley. He had the following children: Col. Tho- mas H. Owen4, Dr. Wm. T. Owen4, Henry Owen4, John M. Owen4, Addison Owen4, Bettie4, who m. Dr. Easley, Nannie4, never married, Sallie4, married John S. Toot.

3. William L.3 married Harriat Easley Sept. 8, 1842. Issue:

i. Mary A.4 married Dr. J. V. Brooks ii. Robert L.4 married Mary Carrington iii. Hallie B.4 married Thomas Easley September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 33 WEN iv. Thoams4 d. in Civil War v. Daniel W.4 married 1st Nannie Hundley; married 2nd Emma Bell Norton vi. Fannie C.4 married Dr. Thorton C. Wilson, D.D. vii. Helen Shephard4 married Dr. Fred S. Whaley viii. A. A. Owen4 married Bettie Atkerson ix. John Bailey4 married Miss Kern, Oxford, N.C. x. Rufus4 married 1st Lizzie, dau. Of John Owen; married 2nd Belle Ficklen.

4. Mary B. (Polly)3 was born 1811 and married 1st George Irvin in Halifax Co., Va., Jan. 12, 1829 (M.B. Halifax Co.). She married 2nd. Crowder Holloway in 1833 and moved to Haywood Co., Tenn., near Brownsville. Issue: John C.4, Thos. Owen4, William Hen- ry4, Frances Aranda4, Helen4.

5. Thomas E. Owen5 married Mrs. Mary (Boxley) Fourquerean (sic) (widow of Reuben D. Fourquerean) (sic) John 26, 1853. (M.B. in Halifax Co.) Issue: William4, Nannie Preston4, Irvy (?)4

III. Thomas E. Owen, son of Robertson Owen, Sr., was born about 1785 and died about 1820-I. He married Frances Holland (Fanny), Aug. 28, 1806. (H. B. Halifax Co., Va.). Frances was the daughter of Richard Holland and his wife, Sarah Hudson, the daughter of Charles Hud- son. (Richard Holland died 1784--will in Prince Edward Co., Va. His wife died 1798--also will in the same county, naming their children.) Here we have one of the few overlaps between the Owen families. This Hudson family and descendants of Richard Owen (Staunton River) were much intermarried in the period between 1790 and 1830. Issue of Thomas Owen & wife, Frances Holland:

1. Richard3 married Martha Harris March 23, 1843, and reared a family. 2. Robertson4, no record. 3. Alexander Coleman3 4. William T.3 moved to Christian Co., Ky., before 1843. 5. Washington3, no record. 6. Mary B.3 married David B. Nicholson before 1841. 7. Alexander Coleman Owen3 was born Jan. 6, 1810, in Halifax Co., Va., and died Dec. 4, 1852, in Lafayette County, Ark. He married Susan Ann Scott in Halifax County, Va., Apl. 19, 1832. (M.B. in Halifax Co.) Susan Ann Scott was the daughter of Francis Scott, Jr., and his wife Fanny Price.

IV. Mary (Polly)2 daughter of Robertson Owen, Sr., married in Halifax Co., Va. Jacob Torian, June 14, 1803 (M.B. in Halifax Co.). No record otherwise.

V. Nancy2 married Scare (?) Torian, Jr., and died before February 1819. They had daughters, Obediance3 and Nancy3.

VI. Robertson Owen, Jr.2 married Margaret ______before 1819. He may have had other wives. (See 1812 Pension Record, W. C. 15805.) One Robertson Owen’s widow was granted pension in Halifax Co., Va., June 8, 1878, aged 70 years. Robertson Owen, Jr., sired the following children:

1. Isom3 2. Alfred3 September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 34 WEN 3. Rufus3 4. Eliza3 m. Abner Richardson 5. Cattie3 m. Evin Ragland 6. Mary3 m. James Palmer Jan. 31, 1838

Issue: i. Sarah Frances4 (1833-1839) ii. Minervia Scott4 (1834-1877) married Oliver H. Edwards in 1852. iii. Napoleon Bonaparte4 (1838-1843) iv. ______4 (1841-1861) married L. A. Ellis in 1855 v. James Abraham4 (1844-1873) married Fanny Jones vi. Mary William Washington4 (1846-1894) married Edwin Ruthven Cully, 1861. vii. Eudora Alexander4 (1850-1876) viii. Mary William Washington Owen4 died Jan. 1, 1894. She married Edwin Rithven Cully, who was born in Springfield, Ill., Nov. 22, 1833, and died Feb. 6. They were married in 1861 and had 9 children.

As previously stated, the “founding father” of this line appears nearly a generation later than the other families. If his descendants have not found Robertson Owen’s parentage yet (and they may have), I would look into the possibility that he may have been related to one of the other families in the southern portion of Halifax County.

Submitted by Jane Owen Hillard ● Telephone or Fax (502) 426-4771

Coming in December: Two more of the six lines.

September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 35 WEN EDITORIAL STAFF WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

EDITOR & CHIEF: ( Vacant) Joan E. Martindale #311 Arnold C. Owen (temporary) 2387 Aquetong Rd, New Hope, PA. 18938-9603 P.O. Box 692 E-mail: [email protected] Westtown, PA 19395 Ancestor: Richardson Owen b. 1797 or 1798 VA. [email protected] d. 1868 Steubenville, OH. Editors: Spouse: Susanna Tredway William P. Owen III Willie Owens Gray #310 P.O. Box 24165 2535 County Rd. 69 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307 Centre, AL 35960 [email protected] Ancestor: Mosbey Owen b. 1700’s perhaps in NC

Kimberly Ayn Owen Charles H. Owen #309 902 Bomar St. 8006 Cottesmore Cl. LaFayette, GA 30728 Richmond, VA 23228 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Ancestor: James Owen b. 1730 d. 1800 Chatham Co., NC

Jane Owen Hillard 3419 Mt. Rainier Dr. Lousiville, KY 40244 (502) 426-4771

2002 PUBLISHING SCHEDULE

MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, DECEMBER

Obituaries are welcome. In addition to then newspaper clipping, please include the name of the Newspaper and

the date published. Send them to the Owen Family Association Editor for publishing .

MEMBERSHIP-For information about the Owen Family Association or an application for mem-

bership, please E– mail or write to:

Owen Family Association

c/o Arnold Owen P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 [email protected] September 2002 Volume 17 Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 36 WEN OWEN NEWSLETTERS NOTICE Newsletter Book I Bound copies old Owen newsletters, with index when available. Indexes are in the process of being prepared.

It has come to our attention that some copies of Book 1 Newsletters volumes 1 thru 8 (Temporarily out) Newsletter Book I could have pages missing as follows: Book 2 Newsletters volumes 9 thru 12

Book 3. Newsletters Volumes 13 thru 16 Newsletter Vol. 5 No. .3 Missing entirely The newsletter books are bound with plastic comb binding Newsletter Vol. 5. No 4 Missing entirely similar to the Owen Source Book, as pictured on the left.

Newsletter Vol. 6 No 1 Page 7 missing

Newsletter Vol. 6 No 2 Pages 3 & 4 missing

Please examine your book and if you find any or all the above pages missing, please write to Arnold Owen, P.O. Box 692, Westtown, PA 19395 or E-mail [email protected]. and arrangements will be made OWEN CAP to provide the missing pages.

ORDER Name ______

Address______State ______Zip______

Phone Number ______

E-Mail address ______

Description Price S & H Qty Total Owen Source Book $14.00 $4.00 ______Book 1 Owen Family Newsletters Sold Out $16.00 $4.00 ______Book 2 Owen Family Newsletters $16.00 $4.00 ______Book 3 Owen Family Newsletters $16.00 $4,00 ______Owen Caps $11.00 $4.00 ______

Total ______Please check your order, total the last two columns, mail a check or money order to: Owen Family Association, c/o Bill E. Owen, 6365 Glory Ave., Milton, FL 32583

(Please include a copy of this form with your order)

1st class Postage

“Owen a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Mrs. Karen Grubaugh, Publisher 111 Stonegate N. Boerne, TX 78006

Address Label

Officers: Mr. Arnold C. Owen P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 (610) 399-0146 (941) 629-8211—Winter Only [email protected]

Mr. M. Fred Owen Vice President 1103 Marbrook Ct. Houston, TX 77077-1951 (281) 531-4473 [email protected] Organized in 1981, the objectives of the association are: Mrs. Judy Owen Secretary 1) To establish and document as complete a list of descendants 6365 Glory Ave. Milton, FL 32583 of Owen and Allied Families as possible. (850) 983-2749 2) To collect a narrative history of individual family lines of [email protected] descent . 3) To compile and maintain a listing of cemeteries, homes and other Mr. Bill E. Owen buildings and sites associated with Owen and Allied Families. Treasurer 6365 Glory Ave. 4) To publish and distribute a periodic Newsletter. Milton, FL 32583 5) To bring members of the family association together for periodic (850) 983-2749 Reunions. [email protected] 6) To aid association members in establishing their family line and

Mrs. Karen Grubaugh assist them in joining various hereditary and patriotic societies, Publisher if they so desire. 111 Stonegate N 7) To ultimately produce a volume documenting the verified Boerne, TX 78006 family histories. (830)249- 3487 [email protected] 8) To provide publications to Genealogy Libraries to assist Owen researchers. Board of Directors Annual dues of $10.00 is payable January 1st The Owen Newsletter is pub- Robert McCrary lished quarterly and is subject to copyrights. George Shirley C. Owen Johnson OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Volume17, Number 4 Published by Owen Family Association December, 2002 * page 40 htpp//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily Halifax County, Virginia Selected As Site for 2003 Biannual Reunion

The Board of Directors and Officers of the Association selected Halifax County, Virginia, as the site for the 2003 Owen Family Association Reunion. More information about the amenities and meeting facilities available in South Boston, VA, will be forthcoming. Watch your Owen Family Newsletter for all the details.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Steeped in American history, Halifax County, Virginia dates to Colonial times where Owen families were among the early settlers. Many American Owen fami- Feature Article: All Those Unrelated lies can or hope to trace their roots to Halifax County. Our own renowned Gene- Owens of alogist-historian Jane Owen Hillard’s captivating series of articles, All Those Un- Halifax County, Virginia related Owen Families in Halifax County, [part III appears in this edition,] serves by Jane Hillard to wet our appetites for this wonderful opportunity. Jane is hard at work planning Page 41 ≈ a superb experience for all who attend. New Editor Introduction Page 46 One example of discovering Halifax’ history, is to visit the County Courthouse. ≈ ”The Halifax County Courthouse is listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register and Index Vol. 17, Issues 1-4 occupies a site that has been used for court purposes since the Revolution. The Page 47 ≈ Courthouse, built in 1838, houses records that go back to 1752, and is one of the Using The Camcorder in Classical Revival court buildings Document Research erected by master designer and by Tammy Owen Page 50 builder, Dabney Cosby and son, Dabney Minor Cosby. Dabney Cosby worked with Thomas Jefferson on the construction of the University IN FUTURE ISSUES of Virginia and participated in the de- All Those Unrelated Owens of sign and construction of houses, Halifax County, Virginia—Part IV by Jane Hillard churches, and public buildings. Cosby Page 41 abandoned the strict temple form for ≈ the Halifax County courthouse in favor of a T-plan and Greek Ionic order. Signifi- Descendants of William and Drucilla Echols Owen cantly, attorneys offices are still located on the Courthouse Square which is an old By tradition not often seen today.“ (http://www.halifax.com/county/ C. Owen Johnson HalifaxWalkingTour1.htm) ≈ John Owen of Chester District, South Carolina You can take a virtual tour of Halifax County on the World Wide Web, by going by Mary Lee Barnes to http://www.halifax.com/county/HalifaxWalkingTour.htm. The first stop is the ≈ Halifax County Courthouse. To order a hard copy of the Walking Tour, write to A David Franklin Owen Narrative Halifax County Chamber of Commerce, P O Box 399, South Boston, by Hugh Goodman VA 24592. To discover more about Virginia’s Historic Resources, go to http:// ≈ state.vipnet.org/dhr/home.htm. As Reunion attendees, we have research opportu- The Owens of Texas nities, southern hospitality and Virginia charm awaiting us in 2003. by Karen Grubaugh

December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4041

ALL THOSE UNRELATED OWEN FAMILIES OF HALIFAX COUNTY – Part III By Jane Owen Hillard

When this researcher decided, years ago, that it was time to divvy-up the records of those six families in Halifax County, I elected not to give separate status to EDWARD OWEN’S FAMILY. Yes, they were there, and they were early; but, surely, I thought, they belonged with one of the other groupings. Map-oriented, I early saw that the Richard Owen clan was clustered to the east, along the Staunton River; the Prince Edward County émigrés (Brackett group) were scattered up and down Terrible Creek, down to where it emptied into the Bannister River; and the wealthier, progressive Owens were settling in the south, below the Dan River. And smack-dab in the middle of the triangle thus formed, were Edward Owen and his sons, Solomon, et al. I was sure they would fall into one of the other families; namely, my own. I quickly checked the names of Richard’s eight sons (in his will); no Edward. Could this be Richard’s long-lost brother? No, and besides, I have found a likelier candidate for that office. Actually, there were some tenuous clues that the Edward family, small as it seemed to be, may well be tied in with the Terrible Creek group. Or could Edward be related to that burgeoning group that was buying so much land to the south? A dilemma, yes, but surely a melding would be made at some point.

From the beginning, I had assumed two, even three separate families. Oh, gee! Four! Finally, six; surely, there could not be more than six separate Owen families in that one sparsely settled county. Immediately after the OFA Newsletter carrying my article was published in June, I received a letter from a fellow member, saying, “I hope you are going to tie my family in with the Halifax County Owens.” There ensued a long telephone call, an exchange of letters and data, all of which prompted my calling several other OFA members. Voila! Another Owen family well documented: The Edward Owen family. And would you believe? After that, still another letter about an eighth family, not so well documented, but with the most interesting story of all!

After that flurry of activity, I received a telephone call from a former OFA member, Mary Lee Barnes, of Knoxville, Tennessee. Of the Edward Owen/Solomon Owen lineage, she is the most firmly grounded in the Halifax County context. She sent me a very exhaustively researched, sourced, and succinctly set-out genealogy, which I consider a model for clarity. With Mrs. Barnes’ permission, I include here, nearly verbatim, that part which pertains to Halifax County:

EDWARD OWEN HALIFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Was Edward Owen of Halifax County, Virginia the father of John Owen of Chester County, S.C.? As of now it appears that he was. John Owen received a deed from Edward Owen 17 March 1763 for £5 for 60 acres on Little Polecat Creek which was part of tract which Solomon Owen had bought of Ed- ward Tuck. Said track began at a gum on Solomon Owen’s line on the N. fork of Little Polecat Creek thence south Bentley’s line. The deed was signed Edward+Owen. no wit. Rec. March 17 1763. John kept this property for 30 years selling it in 1799 to his son, Robert, in Chester County S.C. for £5.

The first record of an Edward Owen is found in the Bristol Parish Register of Henrico Co., Prince George and Dinwiddie County 1720-1798 when Elizabeth Owen, Daughter of Edward and Joyce Owen, Feb. 26 1740 was born. Lansford Owen was on this same register.

C h i l - December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4042

and Joyce Owen, Feb. 26 1740 was born. Lansford Owen was on this same register.

Children of Edward Owen and wife, Joyce ______

i. Solomon Owen b. ca. 1734; (see 1750 tithable in Edward’s HH)

ii. Joseph Owen b. ca. 1732 (see 1749 tithables in Mechlenberg County)

iii. Elizabeth Owen born 1740 in Prince George Co.

iv. John Owen b. ca. 1741; deeded land by Edward in Halifax 1763; in Chester County, S.C. by 1773. John’s wife was Rachel. (See above)

v. Wilmouth Owen who married Samuel Griffin who was also in Chester County, S.C. Their children were Ralph, Solomon, Edward, James M. and Bartholomew and Willy, a daughter who married a Jones (Jonathan, Jr.?).

vi. William Owen also deeded land in 1763 and 1765 and who sold land from Rowan Co., N. C. 1769.

vii. Edward Owen? Three Edward Owens signed the deed when Edward I sold to Wm. Kerby in 1755. [This is rare but does happen; one individual signing multiple times. - Ed.]

Deed records show that Edward Owen was in Halifax County or Lunenburg by May 7, 1741 when he entered for 400 acres beginning near the head of Difficult Creek thence down the Nth side of the same for £2. Another entry labeled (void) is on the same date for 400 acres beginning in Fork of Wynn’s Creek. On March 31, 1746 Edward Owen entered (also marked void) for 200 acres on the main branch of Terrible Creek beginning above James Wood thence up the creek which was transferred to Martin Brown. [Entry records were marked “Void” when the person failed to “prove” the land, and it thus passed on to the next person applying for it. – Ed.] On the 23 March 1748, 400 acres were surveyed for Edward Owen beginning at the mouth of a branch above the little rock House on S S of Bannister River to include Little Polecat Ridge. [The reason for giving up the Terrible Creek acreage is unknown, but once the family located along Polecat Creek, they continued to acquire land in that area until they left Halifax County. – Ed.]

In 1748, 1749, and 1750 Edward Owen was named on the tithable list of Cornelius Cargill’s. In 1749 Joseph Owen was named in his household and Solomon in 1750. Believe these to be his sons, but there must have been an older Solomon who had land before Edward did and must be the Solomon who bought land from Edward Tuck. On 13 Dec 1749 a survey was made for Solomon Owen on Little Pole- cat; on 12 March 1754 James Owen had a survey of 270 acres, and on 5 Apr. 1754, Edward Owen had survey 313 ac brs of Little Polecat. (Have copy of plat) In 1753 Edward entered 400 acres on the upper end & side line of William Gents land on the Bannister river. In 1755 he had land patent of 240 acres in Halifax (Book 31. p. 604 as did a John Owen (Book 32 p. 643) of 362 acres. On 7 November 1755 Ed- ward sold William Kerby, both of Halifax County 100 acres for 20 lbs. S.S. Bannister River beginning at the mouth of branch against Snugs Shoals, thence down the river to Wm. Cargile’s line, it being part of 240 acres granted to said Owen by patent 10 Sept 1755. This deed was signed By Edward(x) Owen, Ed- ward Owen, Edward Owen., and William Wynne (copy of deed on file) . So there was more than one Edward Owen? December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4043

August 1757 Owen entered 400 acres being the vacant land between Barretts & James Vaughan’s line on both sides of Little Polecat Creek, beginning at Vaughan’s corner. On 18 March 1756 Edward Owen of Halifax County sold Richard Brown of same for £20 on the S.S. Bannister beginning near Snugs Shoals on sd river several lines in patent dated 4 Sept 1750, Robert Wade and James Roy wit. Rec. 19 Aug. 1756. Another 400 acres was entered by Owen in August of 1757 beginning at the vacant land between Barretts and James Vaughans line on both sides of Little Polecat. Edward Tuck sold Solomon Owen for 30 lbs 330 acres on the SS of Bannister Ri. Thence south …crossing both forks of Little Polecat Cr. … part of a tract granted to Robert Barrett 1 Mar. 1754. Richd.(R) Griffin Ralph (I) Griffin Richard Griffin wit. Recorded August 20 1761.

On the 20 May 1761 Richard Jones of Halifax Co. sold to Samuel Griffin of same for 15 lbs., 140 acres on Hico Ri. Wit: Ralph (x) Griffin, Solomon Owen, Richard Griffin. (See Samuel Griffin Be- low) Ralph Griffin had sold to Richard Griffin, Jr. 140 acres on Hico part of tract whereon sd Ralph Griffin lives. (Griffins are in Laurens Co., S.C. associated also with Owen and Goldens. Also see below will of Henry Green and Henry Green, Jr.) On the day before Edward deeded John Owen land in 1763 he had also deeded land to William Owen, part of the same tract for 5 lbs. 57 acres, and he again deeded William Owen of Halifax land on 23 July 1765, 58 acres on SS side of the Banister River beginning at mouth of Polecat Creek thence along sd creek on Solomon Owen’s line to a corner pine on my own line, & beg., it being part of 860 acres granted to Robert Barrott by patent 1 March 1754 all houses, orchards, gardens Wits: Edward Tuck, William Powell, Thos. Lacy, Jr. Rec. 1765.

On the 1 Sept 1766 Solomon Owen of Halifax County sold Moses Terry of same 175 acres for 80 lbs. SS of Bannister River on both sides Little Polecat Creek, the remainder of a tract purchased by said Owen of Edward Tuck--Wit: Thomas Tunstall, John Orril Tunstall, John Cox., G. Walton Rec. 18 Sept 1766.

On 16 October 1769, William Owen of Rowan County, N.C., sold John Epps of H, for 50 lbs about 114 acres, SS Bannister River bounded by Polecat Cr., it being part of land granted to Robert Barrott by patent dated Mar. 1 1754. signed by: William (X his mark) Owen Wits. Edward Tuck, David Powell, Mark (x his mark) Powell Rec. Nov. 16 1769 Deed Bk 7, p. 444 Halifax County Virginia Deeds. Also in this reference is a deed by Samuel Griffin who was in N.C., county not given, but sold 2 tracts of land to Robert Wall of H. for 65 lbs, both on Hico Cr. On the n. side about 140 acres and another 140 on the ss side. Wit. None Rec. 18 Oct 1770 Wilmoth Griffin, wife of Samuel relin- quished her dower. When Samuel bought this land, Solomon Owen witnessed it. Samuel Griffin is on tax list of Rowan Co., N.C. ca. 1769. Samuel was in Chester County, S.C. and named the children of John Owen as his executor and witnesses to his will in 1799. I believe Wilmoth was the sister of John. The last reference on Edward is in 1768 when he processioned his land. The 313 Acres surveyed for him in 1754 was transferred to Stephen Neal 2 October 1769 by William Echols. The land adjoined Echols and William Gent. JAMES OWEN who also had land on Little Polecat transferred it to Moses Hendrick. No other record has been found of Edward since 1769.

There are also records in Chester County, S.C. and Fairfield County of a John Owen, Jr., and Solomon Owen who were probably related to John Owen, Sr. of Chester as his sons witnessed deeds of these two. There are also deeds witnessed by Charles Raley and Conelius Malone of this John Owen and others in Fairfield County. [End]

Mrs. Barnes carries her line down through John Owen. Other OFA members descend through Larkin Owen, who may be descended from Edward Owen through Solomon. If the Larkin Owen listed in the December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4044

Owen, who may be descended from Edward Owen through Solomon. If the Larkin Owen listed in the 1800 Fairfield County SC Census, age 18-25, was born in Halifax County, he is not mentioned in any records found there to date. It is, of course, a tantalizing possibility that he may have been.

WILLIAM OF THE WILL

There has always been a question among researchers as to whether this William Owen of the county line group was a brother of Richard Owen (Staunton River). There is persuasive evidence that, while they were contemporaries, they were not related. The first reference found, so far, is found in the land records of early Henrico County, when William Owen sold his land holdings there. The location of the land being sold was north of the James River, in what is now Goochland County. Instantly recognizable to us, witnesses for the transaction were Francis Kirby and John Kirby, the latter being William Owen’s son-in-law, as we shall later learn. The record does not show a wife signing away her dower rights, so it must be taken that Wil- liam is already a widower. It is probable that he is old and infirm and making plans to move westward with kith and kin. Missing in the land sale are the names of his sons, Lansford, ______, and William, Jr.

As we note in Mrs. Barnes’ lineage (above), Lansford Owen (surely there are not many Lansford Owens in that time and place, so it is safe to assume that William’s son has already located in Prince George County. Also, as noted, Edward Owen is listed at the same time in the same county. Are they brothers? That relationship is certainly a possibility.

We next pick up the thread through the probate of William’s will in Halifax County. Note that Francis Kirby is a witness and that he and John Kirby are named executors. On first glance, it looks to be the instrument of a poor man passing on his little to poor relations. A second look is warranted because a lot can be gleaned from this document.

WILL BOOK O., HALIFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, PAGE 15 WILLIAM OWENS (part of this will is missing) “. . in my perfect sences [sic] but low & weak in con- stension [sic] and don’t know how sune [sic] it may please God to call me..” To my son ______Owen one shilling starlen [sic]. To my son William Owen one shilling starlen [sic]. To my son Lansford Owen one shilling starlen [sic]. ( ) one shilling starlen [sic] to her. To my dafter [sic] Mary Givens one shillen [sic] starlen [sic]. To my dafter [sic] Joaner Kearbey one negro gal Diner & her increase. To my daftor [sic] Leyda Adkens one shillen [sic] starlen [sic]. Also to Francis Kerbey one bed & furniture & personality to him & to his hears [sic]. Also to Grandson John Kerbey my horse bridle & saddle. Exr: John Kearbey, Sr., & Francis Kearby; WD 23 October 1752 S/ William (O) Owens; Wit: William (X) Mullins, Jacob (X) Adkens, Joseph Keatton ; WD 23 October 1752 S/ William (O) Owens Wit: William (X) Mullins, Jacob (X) Adkens, Joseph Keatton

In the first place, the actual writer of the will is probably a product of what was then called a “common school education,” and we do not know who that person was. It may have been someone who has been sent for at the last minute to perform that task, as was often the case. Secondly, in the early colony, it was required that all property owners draw up wills for the desired distribution of that property. The question here is why was such an instrument was needed for such a paltry estate? No land was being passed on, but it is a very straightforward document. In it, as so often these early wills are drawn, his sons are named first, with each receiving one shilling sterling. The daughters each receive one shilling sterling, and, if they are mentioned in the order of their birth, Joanna Kirby (Joaner Kearby) is the middle daughter. Then Frances Kirby, who had been a witness to the land deal in Henrico County, is left a bed and furniture (bedding) and December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4045

personality. Francis Kirby and his son, John Kirby, William’s son-in-law, are named executors.

The will is logically laid out, and it is to be noted that, when he mentions each daughter, William says, “my dafter, Leyda, my dafter, Joanner,” etc. However, he had previously named ______[there is a hole in the will where a name would have been], and he says “to her I give one shilling.” It is very likely that he named his slave caretaker, Dinah-- which was not uncommon in those days. Such legacies were often used by the slave to buy articles of clothing. Or, of course, ______could have been another relative.

Extant records perusal shows that both Francis and John Kirby are landowners. In an early deed, John Kirby sells some acreage to John, Jr. (he who received the horse, saddle and bridle in his grandfather’s will). In the deed, both men are called “planters” and, in class-conscious Virginia, they would not have been termed planters if they were marginal farmers. Land records show that this family steadily added more property throughout the late 18th century.

It would appear, from the record in Halifax County, that the Kirby’s were doing well, and it looks as if John and Joan- ner have helped William Owen, aged and ailing, to divest his property in Henrico County and he has moved westward with them. They settled in Lunenburg County, which would have been almost instantly split off as Halifax County, 1752, then as Lunenburg County shortly thereafter. Perhaps too frail to acquire and work new lands, he may have actually lived with the younger couple or with Francis Kirby. And since he left bed and furnishings to Francis (also his saddle horses), it is likely that he lived in the latter’s home. No trouble, since he had his own caretaker in his female slave (whom he left, with “any increase,” to his daughter, Joanner).

A witness to William’s will was Jacob Adkins, probably Leyda Owen Adkins’ husband, who apparently accepted the provisions of the will as written. No land is passed on in the will, only personality. Since all the shillings listed added up to less than £1 (1 pound sterling), one could surmise that any further money from the sale of the Henrico property could have been used by the Kirbys to defray the expense of William’s last days. If this analysis is correct, then Wil- liam Owen did not die in penury.

Of greatest importance to this study are the identities of his sons, ______Owen, Lansford Owen, and William, Jr. To each of them, he also left 1 shilling sterling. Why then go to Halifax County Courthouse to record the will, instead of merely privately distributing the small legacies? This researcher believes that when William Owen sold his Henrico property and moved to Lunenburg/Halifax/Pittsylvania County, he was too old and ailing to acquire land and “prove” it in the manner required. He may have used his proceeds from the sale to pay his expenses all along, but certainly he was in the care and on the premises of his family and friends. And when he died, it is our idea that they took their shillings (and riding horse, etc.) and recorded the will in the sense of patrimony passed. (We see this as a salute to William’s gallantry, expressed by his loving survivors.) And for later generations, it says, “William Owen was here.”

And of those sons, ______Owen [this name cannot be read in the original document], Lansford Owen and William Owen, Jr.? One looks into the back issues of the Owen Family Association Newsletter (Volume 7, No. 3, page 6) to find a book review of a genealogy entitled David Owen Revolutionary War Soldier and His Descendants, by Charles Sterling Owens (1991). In that dissertation, we find that William Owen, Jr. moved to Wilkes County, NC., with his family and kin. His will is to be found in Wilkes County, North Carolina (not Wilkes County, Georgia). Of Lansford Owen, we find only two references: the early one, in Virginia [see Mrs. Barnes’ article (above)], and William Owen’s will in Halifax County. Are they the same man? And Edward Owen? Edward Owen and his sons, Solomon et al. did themselves proud in Halifax land records. Was he (one asks) the other son enumerated in William’s will? We note in his sale of lands, he did sell property to the brothers-in-law of the three legatees Owen, and it is certainly sug- gestive that Edward could have been the son of William of the Will.

Jane O. Hillard can be contacted at 3419 Mt. Rainier Drive, Louisville, KY 40241; (502) 426-4771.

December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4046

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I wish to thank Karen Grubaugh for stepping forward and volunteering to take over the duties of Editor & Chief. She said that her husband, Bill, will continue to assist her in the publishing duties. As Publisher, Karen is familiar with the process of newsletter assembly; she has the skills necessary to do the job.

Ninth Owen Biannual Reunion – They say, “Virginia is for Lovers.” However, because of its rich history, I think it should also be known as a historian’s paradise. I am most pleased that the Owen Family Associa- tion selected Halifax as the site for the Ninth Biannual Reunion. Jane Hillard graciously volunteered to host the 2003 Reunion. I can’t think of anyone better qualified to organize this event. I understand that Jane and her husband Jack own a historic house in Halifax County which they have restored with tender loving care. In addition, she has a fantastic knowledge of the history of this County. When I first telephoned Jane about hosting the reunion, her enthusiasm was overwhelming. I am convinced hat she will do a bang-up job. If anyone can help Jane with the Halifax County Reunion, please contact her at (503) 426-4771.

I predict that the Owen Family Association’s 2003 Biannual Reunion will be a memorable event. Don’t miss it! It might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to revisit history. The reunion is usually the last weekend in September but the exact date has yet to be confirmed. We should have a date for the March Newsletter.

To my Owen cousins, I wish a happy and prosperous New Year.

From the Editor: As I edit the Owen Family News here in my Texas Hill Country home, my first memory of the Owen family again comes to mind. The Editorial Staff When I was six, my grandmother, Bertie Lee Owen Martin, first began turning the pages of the Owen photo album and carefully writing Editor & Chief—Publisher on the back of each picture . . . “Karen’s great Uncle or Karen’s Aunt Karen Grubaugh Minnie’s son” and saying, “Someday this book will be yours.” She 111 Stonegate North was true to her word and all those wonderful Owen pictures are mine Boerne TX 78006 but, sadly, none of the names are entered, only the relationship. A (830) 249-3487 search for those names began a life long interest in my Owen family. [email protected]

That childhood interest in one Owen history grew into an interest in Editors: all Owen history and spawned my enthusiasm for editing the Owen Family News. A de- Jane Owen Hilliard gree in American Studies, emphasis in early American History, and a Master of Arts in 3419 Mt. Rainier Dr. Theological Studies, emphasis in Puritan writings, reveal my passion for early American life and history. A few years working on the staff of the Brangus Journal, a few years Louisville, KY 40244 teaching and 44 years of genealogical research combine to give me the confidence to (502) 426-4771 serve as your editor. I hope you find this first effort acceptable. God bless each of you, our military serving overseas and our wonderful country in this New Year. Kimberly Ayn Owen 8006 Cottesmore Ct. Richmond, VA 23228 Please send pictures WELCOME NEW MEMBERS [email protected]

• Of four or more Owen generations. Jan Owen Perry #313 C. Owen Johnson • Of Owen folks who were soldiers. 5803 Sawyer Road Signal Mountain, TN 37377 Crystal Plaza #809 So. • Of immigrating Owens. 211 Jeff Davis Hwy. • Of Owens at work. (423) 886-1033 [email protected] Arlington, VA 22202 • Of your Owens. Ancestors: Jacob Owens b. VA abt. (703) 415-1473 • Of Owen homes. 1784, m. Mary “Polly” Sharp, b. Burks Please send short naratives Co., PA, abt. 1786. William P. Owen, III • About Owen folks at work. P O Box 24165 • About Owen folks who came west. MEMBERSHIP Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307 • About your Owen folks. For information about the Owen Family As- [email protected] sociation or an application for membership,

• About famous Owens. please Send something to the editor! e-mail or write to: Publication Dates • Send typed narratives Owen Family Association [Deadlines are the 10th day of the • Send pictures by e-mail or USPS C/o Arnold Owen month preceding publication.] • Send ideas, too! P O BOX 692 March — June Westown, PA 19395-0692 September — December [email protected] December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4047

Index: Volume 17, No. 1-4 Boker, Maggie J. 20, Fourquerean, Reuben D. 31, Surname Given Name(s)Page Number Bosley, John 24, Francis, Winnie 9, ,(Lewerezy) 28, Bosson, George 20, Furr, Sarah 9, ,(Lucy) 28, Bowman, N. R. 20, Gent, William 43, ,Alvie 26, Brockman, Bertha 30, Gents, William 42, ,Ambrose 38, Brown, John M 8, Gibson, Thomas 6, ,Amelia J. 50, Brown, Martin 42, Gilder, L. O. 8, ,Bill 26, 40, Brown, Richard 43, Givens, Mary 44, ,Dinah 45, Burton, Alice 36, Glass, S. S. 8, ,Evie 50, Cabell, George C. 20, Golden, 43, ,Frances 45, Caesar, Julius 3, Goodman, Hugh 40, ,Harold 26, 27 Campbell, William 22, Gore, Elizabeth 37, ,James 28, Cargill, Cornelius 42, Gore, William 37, ,Janice 27, Cargill, William 42, Gray, Monroe 8, ,Joanner 45, Carloman 2, Green, Henry, Jr. 43, ,John 45, Carlton, James 31, Green, Henry 43, ,John, Jr. 45, Carr, John 28, Green, John 50, ,Lewcrese "X" 28, Charlemagne 2, Griffin, Bartholomew 42, ,Leyda 45, Charles, the Great 2, Griffin, Edward 42, ,Lucretia 15, Childrec III 2, Griffin, James M. 42, ,Lucretia 28, Clark, Thomas 30, Griffin, Mattie 50, ,Margaret 32, Clodulf 1, 2 Griffin, Ralph 42, 43, ,Martha 15, Clothaire II 2, Griffin, Richd. 43, ,Mary 28, Clovis 1, Griffin, Richard 43, ,Rachel 42, Clovis I 2, Griffin, Richard, Jr. 43, ,Richard (a third) 28, 29, Cobbs, John 28, Griffin, Samuel 42, 43, ,Richard, Jr. 28, 29, Cobbs, 36, Griffin, Willy 42, ,Sarah 38, Cocke, 20, Griffin, Wilmoth 43, ,Sherree 27, Cole, William 29, Grubaugh, Karen 12, 24, 35, 40, 46, 49 ,Stephen 27, Coles, Col. 28, Gundulf 1, ,William 45, Cook, Lean [LeAnn?] 8, Harris, Martha 31, Abram, Lynwood 17, Cosby, Dabney 40, Harris, 13, Adkens, Jacob 44, Cosby, Dabney Minor 40, Hendrick, Moses 43, Adkens, Leyda 44, Cox, Ann 20, Hillard, Owen 22, Adkins, Jacob 45, Cox, John 43, Hillard, Jack 46, Adkins, Lydia Owen 45, Cox, Lee 20, Hillard, Jack Richard 23, Anseghisel 1, 2 Cully, Edward Rith 32, Hillard, Jane 46, Arnulf, St. 1, 2, 3 Dagobert I, 1, 2 Hillard, Jane O. 13, 17, 21, 23, 24, 32, Atkerson, Bettie 31, Daniels, Joane 1, 33, 40, 41, 45 Babb, J. L. 8, Deliyannis, Deborah 3, Hillard, Jane Owen 28, 49, Bacon, George 6, Dickerson, Sussanah 36, Hillard, Jonathan R. 23, Bahrach, Bernard S. 3, Doherty, J. H. 8, Hillard, Richard Owen 23, Banulski, Joseph 5, Dove, Benjamin 6, Holland, Frances (Fanny) 31, Barber, Jane 30, Duggin, William E. 50, Holland, Richard 31, Bark, William C. 3, Easley, Dr. 31, Holloway, Crowder 31, Barnes, 44, 45, Easley, Mary Howerton 31, Howe, Herbert H. 3, Barnes, Mary Lee 40, 41, Easley, Nancy 31, Howerton, 13, Barrett, 43, Easley, 13, Hudson, Charles 31, Barrett, Robert 43, Echols, 43, Hudson, Peter 17, Barrott, Robert 43, Echols, William 43, Hudson, Sarah 31, Bauton, Sarah Stoval 36, Edwards, Oliver H. 32, Hundley, Nannie 31, Begga 2, Ellis, L. A. 32, Hundley, 13, Bennett, H. M. 9, Epps, John 43, Huston, M. P. 9, Bennett, H. R. 9, Fell, Emaline 9, Hutchison, Carlous 25, Bickerstaff, Samuel 6, Ficklen, Belle 31, Huttash, Ogreta W. 8, 40, 49, 51 Blaffer, Robert Lee 22, Ford, Julia 9, Irby, Laura 1, Blaffer, Sarah Camp, 22, Foreman, Everett 24, Irvin, George 31, Blantin, 20, Foster, Cecilia Cassingham 30, Jeannette, L. 20, Fourqierean, Mary (Boxley) 31 Jefferson, Thomas 40, December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4048

Johnson, C. Owen12,24,35,39,40,49,51 Nichols, Jesse 28, Owen, Forrest 1, 3 Johnson, George 4, Nichols, John 15, Owen, Frances Aranda 31, Johnson, Kenneth 20, Nichols, John 16, 28 Owen, George Washington 50, Johnson, W. M. 8, Nichols, John 28, 29, 36 Owen, Graham C. 20, 21, Jones, Allen 37, Nichols, Mary 16, Owen, H. M. 9, Jones, Fanny 32, Nichols, Mary Ann 15, Owen, H. R. 9, Jones, John 29, Nichols, Mary Owen 28, Owen, Hallie B. 31, Jones, Jonathan, Jr. 42, Nichols, Nanny 28, Owen, Hampton C. 1, Jones, Richard 43, Nichols, William 28, Owen, Harold 24, 25, Keesee (?), Tabitha Stovall 36, Nichols, 13, Owen, Harold Alvie 24, 25, Kemper, J. L. 20, Nichols, 37, Owen, Harriett 19, 20, Kearbey, Joaner 44, Nicholson, David B. 32, Owen, Helen 31, Kearbey, John, Sr. 44, Norton, Emma Bell 31, Owen, Henry9,15,18,19,20,21,29,30,31 Kearby, Francis 44, Owen, 44, 45, Owen, Henry Ashton, Sr. 20, Kearby, Joaner 44, Owen, A A. 31, Owen, Henry Thweatt 18, 21 Keatton, Joseph 44, Owen, Addison 31, Owen, Hezekiah 37, Kerbey, Francis 44, Owen, Alfred 32, Owen, Infant 8, Kerbey, John 44, Owen, Alexander Coleman 31, 32, Owen, Isaac, 9, Kerby, William [Wm.] 42, Owen, Ambrose 15, 36, 37, Owen, Isbell 16, Kern, (Miss) 31, Owen, Ambrose, Jr. 37, Owen, Isom 32, Kirby, 45, Owen, Anderson C. 1, Owen, Ivy 31, Kirby, Francis 44, 45, Owen, Ann 21, Owen, James 15, 29, 36, 37, 42, 43 Kirby, Joanna 44, Owen, Ann Crawford 20, Owen, James Abraham 32, Kirby, John 44, 45, Owen, Ann Dale 22, Owen, James Littleberry 37, Lacy, Thos., Jr. 43, Owen, Armesteace 29, Owen, James, Col. 37, Landrum, Delores 17, Owen, Arnie 1, 9, Owen, James H. 50, Lane, Mary A. 9, Owen, Arnold, 10, 33, 35, 46, 51 Owen,, Jane Blaffer 22, Lash, Julius 20, Owen, Arnold C. 7,10,12,23,24,27,33, Owen, Jane Dale 22, Lash, Susie 20, Owen, Bartholomew 1, 10, Owen, Janie 8, Le Grand, Peter 17, Owen, Bernice 8, Owen, Jesse 17, Le Grand, William 17, Owen, Bettie 31, Owen, John 1,13,15,16,17,18,29, 30 Le Grand, Abraha16, 17, Owen, Betty 16, 17, 28, 41, 42, 43, Le Grand, Aggie 17, 28, Owen, Bill E. 11,12,22,24,34,35,50,51 Owen, John Bailey 31, Le Grand, Alexander 28, Owen, Brackett 14, 16, 17, 18, Owen, John C. 31, Le Grand, John 28, Owen, Bruce Wooding 1, Owen, John M. 31, Lee, Robert E. 20, Owen, Burnet Reid 8, Owen, John, Jr. 15, 16, 43, Lindsay, William 25, Owen, Cattie 32, Owen, John, Sr. 43, Longstreet, James 20, Owen, Charlie L. 9, Owen, Joseph 42, Longwell, William 25, Owen, Charles 8, Owen, Josiah 37, Madison, James 29, Owen, Charles D. 8, Owen, Joyce 41, 42 Malone, Cornelius 43, Owen, Charles Sterling 45, Owen, Judy 12, 24, 29, 35, 50, Mann, James 20, Owen, Cornelia 9, Owen, Judy B. 8, Martel, Charles 2, Owen, Dakar [Decker] 16, Owen, Kenneth 17, 18, Martin, Bertie Lee O 46, Owen,Daniel W. 31, Owen, Kenneth Dale Martin, Richard 28, Owen, David 45, Owen, Kim 1, 10, 21 Massey, Carmae 28, Owen, David Dale 18, Owen, Kimberly Ann 10, 23, 33, 40, 49 McCrary, Robert J. 12, 24, 35, 39, 51 Owen, David Franklin 40, Owen, Lansford 41, 43, 45, McKinney, Irving V. 20, Owen, Dora Cox 8, Owen, Larkin 30, 43, McKnight, Peter 8, Owen, Dorcas 8, Owen, Lizzie 31, Meade, Richard, W Jr. 6, Owen, Drury, II 1, Owen, Lucy 29, Morrisett, W. J. 20, Owen, E. K. 6, Owen, Lucy Ann, Mrs. 8, Mullinax, Lydia 50, Owen, Edna Lee 8, Owen, M. Fred 12, 24, 35, 51, Mullins, William 44, Owen, Edward 41, 42, 43, 44,45 Owen, Marthian 16, Neal, Stephen 43, Owen, Edwin 9, Owen, Mary 15, 16, 17, 32, 37 Nichols, Ambrose 28, Owen, Elias K. 5, 6, 7, Owen, Mary A. 31, Nichols, Bird 28, Owen, Eliza 32, Owen, Mary B. 31, 32, Nichols, Charles 25, Owen, Elizabeth 14,15,29,36,37,41,42, Owen, Mary Emma 50, Nichols, David 28, Owen, Fannie C. 31, Owen, Mary William Washington 32, Nichols, Elizabeth 15, 16, Owen, Fanny 50, Owen, Minerva Scott 32, December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4049

Owen, Nancy 30, 32 Owens, Calvin C. 8, Roy, James 43, Owen, Nancy E. 31, Owens, David W. 8, Ruffin, Frank S. 20, Owen, Nannie 31, Owens, Dorothy 8, Russell, Gertrude 1, Owen, Napoleon Bonaparte 32, Owens, Eli 9, Russells, 36, Owen, Obediance 32, Owens, Eliza, Mrs. 8, Schaefer, Francis J. 3, Owen, Orlo T. 9, Owens, Esther 8, Scott, Alice Owen 8, Scott, Francis, Jr. 32, Owen, Peter 36, 37, Owens, Frank 9, Scott, Susan Ann 32, Owen, Phoebe Stovall 36, Owens, Harold 24, 25, Selfridge, 6, Owen, Polly 30, Owens, Harold Alvie 26, Sharp, Mary "Polly" 46, Owen, Preston 31, Owens, Jacob 46, Shirley, George 12, 24, 35, 39 Owen, Ralph 15, 29, 36, 36, Owens, Jane H. 8, Shirley, George 51, Owen, Richard 1,10,13,14,15,16,17,28 Owens, John 8, Stanley, Stephen 20, 29, 30, 31, 36, 37, 41, 43 Owens, Jones 9, Starr, P.R. 6, Owen, Richard, Jr. 15, Owens, Katey, 8, Stith, Drury Major 29, Owen, Richard, Sr. 28, 29, Owens, Leslie T. 8, Stoval, 13, Owen, Robert 16, 17, 18, 41, 50 Owens, Martha M. 8, Stovall, Bartholomew 28, 36 Owen, Robert E. 31, Owens, Mary 8, Stovall, Betty Ann 36, Stovall, George 28, 36 Owen, Robert L. 31, Owens, Mary A. 8, Stovall, Thomas 30, 36,37, Owen, Robert Willia 1, Owens, Mary Ann 8, Stovall, Thomas 36, Owen, Robert, Jr. 1, Owens, Mary Catherine 8, Stuard, James 29, Owen, Robert, Sr. 1, Owens, Nona 8, Stuard, Randolph John 29, Owen, Robertson 30, 31, 32, Owens, Obed 8, Terry, Moses 43, Owen, Robertson, Jr.32, Owens, P. A., Mrs. 8, Theodebert II 1, 2 Owen, Robertson, Sr.30, 32, Owens, Parry 8, Thompson D. J. 20, Owen, Roxie E. 8, Owens, Walter Jackson 8, Ting, Bonnie 9, Owen, Roy 50, Owens, William 44, Ting, Sandy Owen 9, Owen, Rufus 31, 32, Palmer, James 32, Toot, John S. 31, Owen, Ruth 37, Palmer, Jeffrey 28, Torian, Jacob 32, Owen, Sallie 31, Park, John 37, Torian, Scare, Jr 32, Tracy, Wanda 8, Owen, Sarah 15, 29, Parker, Edward 16, Tuck, Edward 41, 42, 43, Owen, Sarah Ann 9, Parker, Judith (Hudson) 38, Tunstall, John Orril 43, Owen, Sarah Frances 32, Parker, Sarah 38, Tunstall, Thomas 43, Owen, Solomon 41, 42, 43, 45 Pepin 2, Vaughn, James 43, Owen, Susannah 16, Pepin, the Short 2, Verne, Jules 5, Owen, Tammy 50, Perry, Jan Owen 46, Vernon, Ann Owen 18, Owen, Thomas 15, 31, 36, Pettys, Charles 24, Wade, Robert 43, Owen, Thomas B. 4, Pickett, C. Owen 20, Waldrum,William H. 8, Owen, Thomas Barron 4, Porter, D.D. 6, Walker, Nathan B.8, Owen, Thomas E. 30, 31, Porter, David 7, Wall, Robert 43, Owen, Thomas H., Col. 31, Porter, William 5, Walton, G. 43, Owen, Thomas M., Dr. 19, Powell, David 43, Ward, Janice Louise 26, Webb, Reuben H.8, Owen, Thos. 36, Powell, Mark 43, White, Frances 9, Owen, Viola 50, Powell, William 43, Whiteside, E. O. 20, Owen, W. W. 9, Price, Fanny 32, Whiteside, Emerson Owen 20, Owen, Washington 31, Puckett, 13, Williams, B. 20, Owen, Willa Mae 9, Purcell, 20, Wilson, Thorton C., D.D. 31, Owen, William 9,13,14,15,16,17,20, Ragland, Evin 32, Womack, Abraham 36, 30,31,36,37,40,42,43,44,45 Ragland, 13, Womack, George 20, Owen, William Henry 31, Rather, Lucy 9, Womack, Martina 20, Owen, William Jack 18, Raworth, Mamie 31, Womack, Richard 36, 37 Owen, William L. 31, Raley, Charles 43, Womack, Sarah 15, 36, 37 Owen, William P. 4, 7, 10, 23, 33, 49 Richardson, Abner 32, Womack, Sarah Owen 36, Owen, William T., Dr. 31, Riley, Robert J. 6, Womack, Thomas 29, 36 Womack, 15, Owen, William, Jr. 37, 43, 45, Robards, James 36, Wood, James 42, Owen, Wilma 8, Robertson, Harriett Adalena 18, Wooding, R. 16, Owen, Wilmouth 42, Robertson, Sarah 28, Wray, Ovie 50, Owens, A. J. 8, Robertson, Sary 17 Wynne, William 42, Owens, Bob 8, Romaricus 1,2 Zachary, Pope 2, Owens, C. S. Miss 8 Roper 20 December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4050

Using The Camcorder In Document Research. by Tammy Owen

I started gathering information using a pad of paper and pencil. Next I read information into a tape recorder carefully noting alternative spellings. Then I thought of the camcorder. I could copy the microfilm of the original record and review it anytime. It was like having the original on my TV. The state library has a microfilm room with readers. I take a suitcase on wheels with my equip- Seeking information about ment; camcorder, extra tapes, extension cord, notebook, laptop computer, digital George Washington Owen - camera, extra batteries, pens, etc. Since most microfilm consists of single page From census records: He was b. documents, I just stand there and record the page, zooming in on hard to read May 1850, AL [death certificate names or numbers. I can pause it when I turn the wheel to the next page. I can reports dob as 1848, POB TN] m. also make verbal notes to myself as the camera records sound. I then transcribe (1) Amelia J. b. 1855 TN m. abt. the records by playing the tape on my TV. It’s so clear. I recorded the first vol- 1875; res. 1880 Wilson Co., TN; ume of marriages at the Bastrop Courthouse with my camcorder, going down m. (2) Lydia Mullinax b. Sep each of the four columns to make sure the words would be large enough to read, 1854, TN m. 3/13/885 Dekalb zooming in when I thought the last name would be hard to read and am transcrib- Co, TN; res. 1900 & 1920 Wil- ing them at night, when I have time. The good thing is that I have the original on son Co, TN, 1910 Davidson Co., my TV and go back time and time again if I think there is an error. I can pause TN. Ch: James H. b. 1876 (wed the VCR at any time to read the information, piece by piece. No need to go Evie), Mary Emma b. 1878 (wed slow, the VCR can slow it down when you play it and it is clear as long as your William E Duggin), Robert b. camcorder remains in focus during recording. I’ve tried taking my own scanner, 1885 (wed Mattie Griffin), Roy b. 1888 (wed Ovie Wray), Viola but that is time consuming. Through trial and error, the camcorder has been the b. 1892 (wed Amos Canaday), biggest benefit. Fanny b. 1895 (wed John Green). Tammy Owen, 155 New Tammy Owen, of Bastrop Co., TX is an accomplished researcher and the Bas- Lane, Smithville, TX 78957; trop County Coordinator for http://www.rootsweb.com/~txbastro/bastrop.htm of [email protected] the USGenNet web hosting service. Her web site is well organized, attractive and worth a visit.

ORDER FORM Name ______

Address______

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Phone Number (______) _____ - ______E-Mail address ______

Description Price S & H Qty Total__ Owen Source Book $14.00 + $4.00 = $18.00 x ______= ______Book 1 Owen Family Newsletters [Vol 1-8] $16.00 + $4.00 = $20.00 x ______= ______Book 2 Owen Family Newsletters [Vol 9-12] $16.00 + $4.00 = $20.00 x ______= ______Book 3 Owen Family Newsletters [Vol 13-16] $16.00 + $4.00 = $20.00 x ______= ______$11.00 + $4.00 = $20.00 x ______= ______OWEN CAPS Total $ ______

Please check your order, total the last column and mail with a check or money order to: Owen Family Association, c/o Bill E. Owen, 6365 Glory Ave., Milton, FL 32583 (Please include a copy of this form with your order) December 2002 Volume 17, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 40

Owen Family News 1st class postage “Owen, a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Karen Grubaugh, Publisher 111 Stonegate North Boerne, TX 78006

Association Officers: Mr. Arnold C. Owen President P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 (610) 399-0146 (941) 629-8211 (Winter) Owen Family Association [email protected] The Owen Family Association was organized in 1981.

Mr. M. Fred Owen Vice President The objectives of the association are: 1103 Marbrook Ct. ▪ To establish and document as complete a list of descendants of Owen Houston, TX 77077-1951 and allied families as possible. (281) 531-4473 [email protected] ▪ To collect a narrative history of individual family lines of descent . ▪ To compile and maintain a listing of cemeteries, homes and other buildings Mrs. Judy Owen and sites associated with Secretary Owen and allied families. 6365 Glory Ave. Milton, FL 32583 ▪ To publish and distribute a periodic newsletter. (850) 983-2749 ▪ To bring members of the family association together for periodic reunions. [email protected] ▪ To aid association members to establish their family line and assist them in joining hereditary and patriotic societies, if they so desire. Mr. Bill E. Owen Treasurer ▪ To ultimately produce a volume documenting the verified family histories. 6365 Glory Ave. ▪ To provide publications to Genealogy Libraries in order to assist Owen Milton, FL 32583 researchers. (850) 983-2749 Annual dues of $10.00 is payable January 1st . The Owen Newsletter is pub- [email protected] lished quarterly and is subject to copyright. Board of Directors Robert McCrary George Shirley C. Owen Johnson