Arlee’s Word
Section .001
The Scottish name "Gowen" is probably derived from the Gaelic word of the same spelling which is interpreted "met-alsmith." Very likely the early bearers of the Gowen name in Scotland and Ireland were followers of that trade. The word was also used to describe other metal workers-- goldsmiths, silversmiths, coppersmiths, tinsmiths and even blacksmiths. It is synonymous with "Smith" in English, "Schmidt" in German and "Kovaks" in Polish.
The name was interchangeably spelled Gowen, Gowan, Gow-in, Gowing, Gowine, Goan, Goen, Goin, Goyn, Goyne, Goy-en, Gouwen and other even more remote renderings—some-times among members of the same family. Clerks frequently added an "s" to the end of the name to give it even more vari-ations.
The names"Gowin" and "Gouwen" are said to be of German and Dutch origin. The word "gow," from the Gaelic "gobha" signified a smith. The smith was a craftsman of importance in all of the clans, so the name has no particular connection with any one of the Scottish clans. The Gows are usually included in Clan Chattan though there are many of the name in Perth-shire, and 11 of the name appeared in the "Commissariot Record of Dunblane" in the seventeenth and eighteenth cen-turies, according to George F. Black who wrote "Surnames of Scotland."
Since a "V" was used interchangeable with a "W" in old Eng-lish spelling, the name "Gowen" was often rendered "Goven." The name "Govan" was of territorial origin from the old lands of Govan in Lanarkshire, logical location for the beginning of the Gowen family, according to Black. Some credence can be given to this theory because "Gowen" was a very common name at Wigtown, a hamlet in the southern-most extremity of the country, some 30 miles south of Govan. Even closer was Ayr, birthplace of the poet Robert Burns who is claimed as a kinsman by many in the Gowen family.
The word "Gowan" has a separate meaning in the language of the Scots--being also used to refer to a meadow daisy, accord- ing to Rev. Peter I. Gowan, Jr, a Presbyterian minister who was born March 13, 1843 and died December 2, 1912 in Wes-son, Mississippi.
==O==
When the Mayflower sailed in 1620 with the Pilgrim fathers aboard there was a little three-year-old boy somewhere in Scotland destined to follow their course 15 years later. This toddler was Thomas Gowen, born in1617 and destined, as far as present research reveals, to be the first bearer of the Gowen name on American soil. On the 7th, 8th month, 1635 18-year- old Thomas Gowen was listed as a "passenger for Virginia out of London" by "New England Historical & Genealogical Register."
The entry read:
"These underwritten names are to be transported to Virginia in the 'Globe' of London, Jeremy Blackman, Master, have been examined by the Minister of Grave-send, of their conformitie and have taken the oaths of allegeance and supremacie."
The term "transported" was usually reserved for convicts who were to be banished to the colonies by the crown because of criminality or heresy. Thomas Gowen is mentioned as "bound for Virginia" in "Our Early Emigrant Ancestors" by John Camden Hotten. The term "bound" was usually reserved for indentured servants.
Capt. Jeremy Blackman apparently had a career of sailing the trans-Atlantic route. On 26th, 3rd month, 1639 Jeremy Black-man, "mariner" and Thomas Stegg, "merchant" made a trade with the Virginia Council to import horses and export "neate cattle," according to "Acts of the Privy Council."
During this period of English history, a neat scheme was de- vised to give a reprieve from the gallows to any person whose crimes were less than murder, treason, rape, witchcraft, high-way robbery, arson or burglary, in order that they might be shipped to the colonies to "toyle in heavy and painefull workes." Parliament in 1718 passed an act to create a sen-tence of seven years of work in the American colonies, which became the standard punishment for crimes other than the most trivial or most heinous. Even the sentence for murder, provided there were extenuating circumstances, could be com-muted to a term of 14 years or life in the colonies. The infa-mous Newgate prison in London and others contributed more than 500 felons each year for slave labor for the American plantations.
Enormous profits were made by the tobacco merchants, who had a monopoly on the trade in human cargoes. The recruit-ment of labor to the American tobacco plantations and to do-mestic service of all kinds, from school- mastering to scullery work, was achieved in very large measure through the empty-ing of English jails, workhouses, brothels and houses of cor-rection.
Through Bristol, more than 10,000 indentured servants came between 1654 and 1686. Bristol merchants would take con-victs or indentured servants indiscriminately and with little scruple as to how they were obtained. The trade was pro-fitable and the merchants could well afford to ship their charges free because of the high prices obtainable for human labor at the port of delivery.
So a trading pattern was set for over a century–an outward cargo of laborers to be exchanged for a return consignment of tobacco. The crown viewed the practice as ideal. It emptied the jails, eliminated political prisoners, depleted the brothels, solved unemployment, removed dangerous prisoners of war, silenced heretics, paid debts, produced taxes, and threw "the fear of God" into the rest of the populace--all at no expense.
Thomas Gowen may have been the first member of the family to be "transported," but he would not be the last. Fifteen years later William Alexander Gowen, a Scottish prisoner of war taken in the Battle of Dunbar, arrived on the ship "Unity" at Strawberry Bank Colony, later Portland, Maine. History tells us little about these individual immigrants and our genealogies even less. Not all of our ancestors came to America seeking religious freedom.
Gowen researchers looking for noble ancestors should also prepare themselves to discover in their lineage the undesir-ables of 17th century English society. Very likely Thomas Gowen first set foot on American soil at Jamestown, Virginia, a settlement destined to be burned and destroyed by maraud-ing Indians a few years later. Since no record has been found of his descendants, he may have lost his life there.
The original settlement of Jamestown was made in May 1607 on the northeast bank of the James River. A few years later another settlement was made across the peninsula from James-town, and it was called "the settlement on Charles River." Later the river became the York River. The settlement was re-named Yorktown, and York County came into being in 1634.
The area was the scene of the final battle of the Revolutionary War with the troops of Generals Washington, Wayne and La-fayette forcing the surrender of the soldiers of Charles Lord Cornwallis.
==O==
Mihil Gowen, a slave of Christopher Stafford of York County, Virginia, was given his freedom September 16, 1657 in two declarations made by Anne Barnhouse, sister of Stafford. The declarations, recorded in "York County, Virginia Wills, Deeds and Orders, 1657-1659," made after the death of Staf-ford and after Mihil Gowen had served an additional four years with Robert Stafford, read:
"I, Anne Barnhouse of Martin Hundred, widow, have given Mihil Gowen, Negro, at this time servant to Robert Stafford, a male child born 25 August 1655 of the body of my Negro, Prossa, being baptized by Mr. Edward Johnson 25 September 1655 and named William, and I bind myself never to trouble Mihil Gowen or his son, William or demand any service of them. 16 September 1657."
"Mihil Gowen, Negro, of late serving my brother Xtopher Stafford, dcsd, by his last will & testament, had his freedom given him after the expiration of 4 years service to my uncle, Robert Stafford. I, Anne Barnhouse do absolve, quit and discharge the said Mihil Gowen from my service 25 October 1657.
Anne [AB] Barnhouse]
Witnesses:
Arthur Dickenson
Joseph Albrighton"
It is estimated that Mihil Gowen was born about 1630, place and parents unknown. Some researchers regard Mihil Gowen as a Portuguese Angolan, others a Melungeon; and others re-gard him as a mulatto. Apparently he came into the posses-sion or employ of Capt. Christopher Stafford about 1645, per-haps on a voyage. Capt. Richard Barnhouse was married to Anne Stafford, sister to Christopher Stafford.
Mihil Gowen may have served as a cabinboy on their ships. Capt. Stafford died about 1652, and Mihil Gowen was re-quired to serve his uncle Robert Stafford an additional four years.
If the sailing records of Captains Stafford and Barnhouse could be located, some additional information about Mihil Gowen might be learned. Probate records of Captains Staf-ford and Barnhouse, if found in York County, might also re-veal something.
The research of Tim Hashaw, Foundation Editorial Board-member of Houston, Texas reveals that Capt. Richard Barn-house was born in England about 1595. He appears to be the “Richard Barnehouse of Bristol, sailor, aged 22, who deposed July 28, 1617 that he has lived at Bristol for two years, and before that was a captive in Algiers,” according to “Genea-logical Notes from the High Court of Admiralty Examina-tions” by J. R. Hutchinson, page 179. It is suggested that he was the Richard Barnhouse who gave bond to William Pester of Salem in 1638. Pester perhaps provided the ransom for his freedom in Algiers.
“Richard Barnhouse, Jr. appears as a resident of Gloucester County, Virginia in 1653, according to “Early Virginia Im-migrants” by George Cabel Greer. “Capt. Richard Barn-house” and “Richard Barnhouse, Gentleman” were residents of James City County, Virginia in 1656. Anne Stafford Barnhouse identifies herself as a widow August 25, 1655, suggesting that she was married to Richard Barnhouse, Sr.
It is unknown how the slave acquired the Scottish surname "Gowen." If Mihil Gowen were a Portuguese Angolan, as the family tradition of Melungeon ancestry implies, then, in spec-ulation, his original name might have been the Portuguese sur-name Goyon. When anglicized, it emerged as Gowen.
Paul Heinegg, writing in "Free African Americans of North Carolina and Virginia" suggests that "John Geaween" was the father of Mihil Gowen. Geaween earned his freedom March 31, 1641, according to "Virginia Council and Gene-ral Court Records, 1640-1641."
It is suggested that “Gowen” was derived from the surname “Geaween.”
John Geaween [Gowen?] was one of the first Africans to earn his freedom in Virginia according to "Virginia Magazine of History & Biography," Volume XI, page 281. On March 31, 1641 the Virginia Court ordered:
"That John Geaween being a negro servant unto William Evans was permitted by his said master to keep hogs and made the best benefit thereof to him-self provided that the said Evans might have half the increase . . . and whereas the said negro having a young child of a negro woman belonging to Lieut Robert Sheppard . . . the said negro did for his said child purchase its freedom of Lieut. Robert Sheppard . . . the court hath therefore ordered that the child shall be free from the said Evans . ."
Carla Rabinowitz wrote:
“Has anyone ever bothered to ask why the original Mr. Geaween spelled his name in such a thoroughly Dutch way? That's not the misspelling of a semi-literate speaker of English; it looks unmistakably Dutch. So do the later variants Goyens and Guyens. We know that Dutch privateers were trading Angolans to the southern colonies early on.
If, as records show, Geaween was freed by 1640, then according to custom he would have arrived about 1628-30 at least, and perhaps earlier but not much. I concluded that Geaween came on the 1628 privateer of Arthur Guy, but perhaps not. Perhaps there is still a Dutch privateer out there we have not found.
One other remote possibility is that Geaween came on the "Dutch" man-o-war in 1619, but evidence indicates John Colyn Jope was Cornish and not Dutch, though he sailed out of Vlissengen. Then Geaween would have been one of the "forced" baptisms converted at Luanda, and not one of the voluntary Angolan converts with Portuguese surnames like John Francisco documented by Thornton in the Angolan naming customs. That means, Geaween may have been one of the unnamed Africans listed in the early Virginia census as Thornton concluded with others.”
Tim Hashaw wrote:
“Here's the story on John Geaween's mate. She was first known simply as Margarett, then later as Margarett Cornish. She was tried October 17, 1640 for having a child by Robert Sweat, a white man, whose descendant is Sande. Robert was required to confess in James City church, while Margarett, the negress was whipped.
Four months later, John Geaween purchased the free-dom of his son by the negress slave woman of Robert Sheppard, regarded as Margarett Cornish. So she first had the son of John Geaween. They must have had some kind of marital arrangement because John Gea-ween was not punished for fathering the child. It ap-pears then that after the discovery that she was bearing a white man's child, John Geaween filed to get his son and have him raised in a Christian home. So there may have been some other circumstances involved in what is already historic: the first African purchasing his son's freedom, aided by the fact that his "wife" had been in-volved in an adulterous affair. Such things were public scandals in 1640.
Still to be addressed is the possibility that Margarett came in on the “White Lion” in 1619, possibly as Paul Heinegg notes as a child then. We know women were among the 22 Africans because of the presence of Issa-bella with Antony from the White Lion.”
Paul Heinegg holds that another son, Philip Gowen, was born to John Gaeween [Gowen] about 1650. He states that Phillip Cowen [Gowen] petitioned the governor and the Council of State for his freedom. He was a servant of Amye Beazleye who wrote in her will that he was to be set free and “receive three barrels of corn and a suit of clothes” after serving her cousin, Humphrey Stafford, for eight years. Stafford sold the remaining years of his indenture to Charles Lucas who forced Philip Gowen to acknowledge an indenture for twenty years, according to the “Calendar of State Papers.”
On June 16, 1675 he was called "Philip Gowen, negro ser-ving Mr. Jno. Lucas" when the court ordered that his 20-year indenture was invalid, that Philip was free, and that he should be paid three barrels of corn in accordance with Mrs. Amye Beazleye's will,” according to the “Minutes of the Council.”
Tshibumba Kanda Matulu in “The History of Zaire” wrote:
"Swahili is the language of the Arabs. It arrived here thru the Arabs who invaded the country, and we began to talk in it. Like Tshiluba, which is a language of the Missionaries. The white ones. They brought this language there. Kikongo came from the Portuguese, right? They brought this language, and this is how we began to understand each other. Like we have French which became the language shared by all the people".
"Alright. Now, we had many kingdoms. Among them I know the king-dom of Kongo, for instance, the Tetela kingdom, that of the Kete, the kingdom of the Luba, and many other kingdoms. On the River Zaire, it used to be Nzadi, that was its name, Nzadi there was a chief, his name was Banza Kongo. He received the Portuguese explorer Diogo Cao and his party, and the black people with whom they had set off from Angola. These people were from Malange. Now, these people, I be-lieve, are found in Kananga, in Luluabourg, as it used to be called. And these people don't come from the Kasai, they are not Kasaians
like those from Kananga.
They are Angolans, they came from there with Diogo Cao. People began to call them Malange. nd then when they settled there in a village and had children, people gave them a name and now we call them Malandi. This village was given the name Malandi wa Nshinga.
Alright, so this name Malandi wa Nshinga came from Malange, the people who came from Angola. They came to settle in this country, and they had children among each other and forgot their home country. They are the people who were with Diogo Cao."
Diogo Cao was a Portuguese explorer who discovered the Zaire River in 1483. Therefore the term "Malange" was used to describe inhabi-tants from that area of Angola as early as the 15th century.”
Tim Hashaw wrote
“Thomas Crompe, also spelled Crump, was living in a place called Neck-of-Land which is something like a mile from James Island. Neck of Land was a corporation of Charles City. I know nothing about these locations. Crompe married into the Buck family. I think his father-in-law, Richard Buck performed the wedding of John Rolfe and Pocahontas.
Apparently there is an ongoing archaeological dig at the Neck-of-Land homestead of Rev. Buck. Crumpe was born, so it says, in 1600 in England and died in Virginia in 1655.
Thomas Crump arrived in Virginia in 1624 and lived on Jamestown Island in 1625.
He became a Burgess from Neck of Land in 1632-33, the period when the name John
Gowing first appears. I would assume, with limited knowledge, that a ship
arrived sometime in September 1633, and Crump bid on several arrivals. I have
found no record of such a ship at that time in the Virginia records.
The English or Barbadoes maritime
records may reveal some-thing. This may or may not indicate a freelance
privateer de-livered those servants. Perhaps the ship never made contact with
Jamestown.
In 1635 Crump purchased 500 acres a half mile from the Back River and apparently
had his 10 indentured servants work the land. They are named as John Gowing,
Roger Arnwood, Rob-ert Ackerman, Frederick Peale, John Abott, Lewis Depoma,
Peter Brill, William Mallett, and Thomas Trunchfield. Most of these names, like
Gowing, indicate English origins.
The name Depoma is interesting.
The only record of a negro I can find at Neck of Land in this early period is in
the related Kingsmill family. The 1625 Neck of Land muster shows they had 10
servants along with a "negro" named Edward. I can find no evidence that Crump
had any business with William Evans. Since Crompe would have survived the
release of Gowing, if Gowing lived past the usual seven years, I cannot
determine how, if Gowing is Geaween, he came to meet Evans and became his
servant.
There is nothing in the Gowing
record to indicate that he was negro. However we know Geaween and Mihil Gowen
were Negro.
I have asked Historians John Thornton and Linda Heywood if they have ever found
a September 1633 ship arrival in Virgin-ia. Perhaps they can turn up John
Gowing's origin.”
Normally, under Virginia law, when a slave was set free, the minor children of his household were also freed. Mihil Gow-en and "the negress Prossa" were the parents of William Gow-en, "free colored" who was born August 25, 1655. William Gowen was given his freedom at the same time and with the same document that Mihil Gowen was freed.
Historian John Thornton reported that 32 Africans were listed in the Jamestown colony in its census of 1619.
The first shipment of slaves into Virginia now are identified as Portuguese Angolans by Engel Sluiter, a California historian who has delved into early Portuguese maritime records. The English colonists hardly knew what to do with the some two dozen blacks who landed from a Dutch ship at Jamestown in the summer of 1619.
There were no large plantations at that time to utilize slave labor. And the English colonists were accustomed to endentured servants who worked for their masters a specified number of years to pay for their passage to the New World and for their freedom--and they were unaccustomed to lifetime slavery.
Probably the condition of the slaves was not much worse than that of the endentured servants brought over from England. At times it might have been even better because the master had reason to take care of his slave who represented capital, whereas he had no similar incentive in regard to the condition of the endentured servant.
The development of slavery came extremely slow in Virginia. In 1681 only 2,000 black slaves were recorded there as opposed to 6,000 endentured servants. With the development of southern plantations, the importation of slaves rapidly increased. In 1754, 263,000 slaves were reported as taxable property. By 1860, 4,441,863 slaves were enumerated in the U.S. census.
Melungeon researchers point to several facts developed by Sluiter in his research suggesting that these early Angolan slaves were possibly a genetic component of the mysterious Melungeons. Many researchers have despaired of ever finding the origin of this enigmatic race. Their beginning has long been obscured in the mists of antiquity, but now progress is being reported in perhaps one genetic component of their forbears.
Most of the Angolans simply stepped off the gangplank into obscurity; only one possible member of the group, John Geaween, has been found in Colonial Virginia records examined thus far. By making a deal to raise hogs "on the halves" with his master, Geaween earned his freedom, according to "Virginia Council and General Court Records, 1640-1641."
On March 31, 1641 the Virginia Court ordered:
"That John Geaween being a negro servant unto William Evans was permitted by his said master to keep hogs and made the best benefit thereof to himself provided that the said Evans might have half the increase . . . and whereas the said negro having a young child of a negro woman belonging to Lieut. Robert Sheppard . . . the said negro did for his said child purchase its freedom of Lieut. Robert Sheppard . . . the court hath therefore ordered that the child shall be free from the said Evans . ."
Sluiter determined that the Angolans were placed aboard the Portuguese merchant-slave ship "Sao Joao Bautisto" at the Angolan port of Sao Paulo da Luanda on the African west coast. The ship, heading for the New World, was attacked in the West Indes by a Dutch ship, and its human cargo fell into the hands of the privateers. The Dutch captain promptly set sail for Virginia to sell his human prize.
The Portuguese had fallen into the slave trade by accident. Toward the close of the war with the Moors, the Portuguese captured a group of Moorish prisoners-of-war. The Moroccans offered an even larger group of Blacks to secure the release of the Moors, and the Portuguese accepted the ransom. Immediately they were in business.
In 1420 Prince Henry the Navigator came to power in Portugal and immediately set about to build up a navy and a merchant fleet. He organized skilled map makers, ship builders, navigators and seamen into an immense maritime task force in an effort to dominate the world's sealanes.
His aims were five-fold: He wanted to develop a Portuguese empire. He wanted to explore for a sea route to reach India and its lucrative spice trade. He wanted to fight the Muslims on their own soil. He wanted to accommodate the Catholics in their desire to Christianize the world. And he wanted to finance all of this expansion with the African slave trade.
His efforts were imminently successful. Portuguese captains in 1430 claimed Madiera, the Canary Islands and the Azores, uninhabited until then. Quickly the Cape Verde Islands, "Sao Tome & Principe, Guinea and Mozambique were added to the Empire. In 1488 Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope and discovered the coveted Spice Route. Vasco da Gama in 1497 claimed Brazil. In 1506 Adm. Tristao da Cunha discovered the South Atlantic island that still bears his name today. The Portuguese Navy wiped out the Muslim Navy in a sea battle off Diu in 1509. Pedro Alvarez Cabral reached China in 1542 and established Macao in 1557.
Probing the West African coast, they reached the mouth of the Congo River in 1482 and claimed 1,000 miles of the coast as Angola. Paulo Dias de Novais founded Luanda as its capital in 1576 and brought in the Catholic Church who began to convert the inhabitants, scattered over 481,000 square miles, an area almost 150 times larger that Portugal itself. A native monarchy, the Manicongo, sought conversion and alliance with the Portuguese. As a result, today 3,000,000 Angolans are Catholic.
In contrast to the colonization efforts of the British, the French and the Dutch, the Portuguese did not plant colonies. They organized each territory as a state in the Portuguese nation, and the inhabitants of each became Portuguese citizens.
Thus when the Portuguese Angolans stepped of the gangplank in Jamestown in 1719, they were Portuguese citizens, spoke the Portuguese language and were Christians. Perhaps they eventually linked up with the descendants of the Portuguese survivors of the Spanish colony of Santa Elena which was established by Capt. Joao Pardo in 1566 in present-day Parris Island, South Carolina.
It is suggested that it was their descendants that Capt. John Sevier encountered in the Appalachians when he was dispatched by John Murray Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia. His mission was to pacify the Indians before the outbreak of Lord Dunmore's War in 1774.
In a report to Lord Dunmore, Capt. Sevier mentioned his encounter with a mysterious people he found west of the mountains. He described them as dark skinned, of reddish-brown complexion, neither Negro nor Indian, but with European features and who claimed to be Portuguese.
Another description of the possible Melungeons was given by early explorers Abraham Wood and James Needlum. According to Wood's journal, "Eight days jorney down this river lives a white people which have long beards and whiskers and weares clothing."
Samuel Cole Williams, LLD, wrote in "Early Travels in the Tennessee Country," "There is a tradition among the early Cherokees that they respected a settlement of white men among them." "Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee" by Haywood also deals with the early white men who lived among the Cherokees. Mention is made that they displayed a cross, iron implements and were called to assembly by a bell, suggesting a Catholic influence.
Tim Hashaw, an investigative reporter of Houston, Texas wrote September 7, 2000:
“Engel Sluiter quotes the Spanish captain as saying there was at least two English corsairs involved in the raid on the slave ship Baustista. Furthermore, the Dutch ship is said to be a vessel from Flushing by an official of the Virginia colony who was present when it landed. Others saw the Dutch and the English ships together, while others recount the Dutch story of how they had been separated briefly in the Indies. “The Treasurer” arrived in Jamestown just four days after the Dutch dropped off its Africans. I know that at least one African female was taken off “The Treasurer.” This colony official is therefore the third eyewitness who places the Dutch man o war at Jamestown in 1619.
There is no doubt that the Flushing ship and the English "Treasurer" were both present at the pillaging of the Bau-tista's slave cargo. He says the Dutch and English ships had a consortship as early as in the Netherlands to go pirating together. Both ships were illegally involved in privateering against the Spaniards.
Thorton pretty much nails down the specific area of Angola hit by the Portuguese and their cannibalistic mercernaries. It was in the Melanje highlands and a royal capital was the target. He also describes the con-dition of the slave prison at Luanda. We can pretty much point directly to the community from whence the Bautista's Africans came. The best books about this are all in German!
I have also come across several more Spanish/Porto surnames among blacks in the Virginia colony which will support the Angola/Kongo Portuguese position. In addition, a third ship I have found which arrived in the late 1620s may actually be the ship upon which John Geaween arrived if not aboard the Dutch in 1619.
There is one other angle I would like to probe. When did the Melanje district of Angola receive its name? I know that "Melanje" is a Zulu word for white men, in their case the only white men were Portuguese. This does not necessarily mean that the Angolan place name came from the Zulu. But if Thorton is correct, and the Africans aboard the Dutch at Jamestown were all from one Angolan community, well then it is very possible that "Melanje" was remembered by them and used to describe themselves. Later it was anglicized to "Me-lungeon. This will be difficult to prove. I must learn if Melanje is an ancient name for the area. If so, the "Mystery of the Melungeons" may after about 150 years of published use, be finally solved.”
Tim Hashaw quotes from “The History of Zaire” by Tshi-bumba Kanda Matulu:
"Swahili is the language of the Arabs. It arrived here thru the Arabs who invaded the country, and we began to talk in it. Like Tshiluba, which is a language of the Missionaries, the white ones. They brought this language there. Kikongo came from the Portuguese, right? They brought this language, and this is how we began to understand each other. Like we have French which became the language shared by all the people.
All right. Now, we had many kingdoms. Among them I know the kingdom of Kongo, for instance, the Tetela kingdom, that of the Kete, the kingdom of the Luba and many other kingdoms. On the River Zaire, it used to be Nzadi, that was its name, Nzadi there was a chief, his name was Banza Kongo. He received the Portu-guese explorer Diogo Cao and his party, and the black people with whom they had set off from Angola.
These people were from Malange. Now, these people, I believe, are now found in Kananga, in Luluabourg, as it used to be called. And these people don't come from the Kasai, they are not Kasaians like those from Kan-anga. They are Angolans, they came from there with Diogo Cao. People began to call them ‘Malange.’ And then when they settled there in a village and had children, people gave them a name and now we call them Malandi. This village was given the name Ma-landi wa Nshinga. Alright, so this name Malandi wa Nshinga come from Malange, the people who came from Angola. They came to settle in this country, and they had children among each other and forgot their home country. They are the people who were with Diogo Cao."
Tim Hashaw wrote, “Diogo Cao was a Portuguese explorer who discovered the Zaire River in 1483. Therefore the term "Malange" was used to describe inhabitants from that area of Angola as early as the 15th century.”
In February 1668, Mihil Gowen received a deed for "30 or 40 acres," according to "York County, Virginia Wills, Deeds and Orders." It is unknown why land transactions involving James City County land would be recorded in adjoining York County records. The deed read:
"Mihill Gowree. 30 or 40 acres situated in Merchants Hundred Parish in James City County, formerly belonging to John James, decd, and by him purchased of Capt. Richard Barnhouse and lately bound to escheat [forfeiture and reversion to the crown] and by a jury for said county under hand and seal of Col. Miles Carey, 20 December 1666 and now granted to said Gowree 8 February 1668."
By the time Mihil Gowen died, apparently November 24, 1708, the property was again in escheat, according to "York County, Virginia Wills, Deeds and Orders:"
"Inquisition, James City County, Virginia, 11 September 1717. It appears that Mihill Goen, late of said county of James City, dyed seized of 30 or 40 acres escheat 24 November 1708 by Christopher Jackson, surveyor of James City County is found to contain 37 acres."
"Mihil Goen" [either the estate of Mihil Goen or Mihil Gow-en, Jr.] "transferred 37 acres of escheat land to Robert Hub-bard February 2, 1718," according to James City County Deed Book 9. The metes and bounds read:
"Yorkhampton Parish; beginning at the corner of Mihil Goen, Hubbard & Francis Moreland, adjoining Graves Pack; down the Beach Spring Branch to the place called Horse Bridge," according to James City County Patent Book 10, page 415.
Other notes reveal: "Escheated from Mihil Goen, dec'd, by inquisition under Edmund Jennings, Esqr, Escheater 11 September, 1717.”
Tim Hashaw, Foundation Editorial Boardmember, wrote February 1, 2002:
“Available information indicates that Thomas Gowen was the son of Mihil Gowen. Those who disagree that Thomas was the son of Mihil, and at least part African, use the sole argument that Mihil's land was escheated at his death. "The last court records of Mihil Gowen in-dicate that at the time of his death he had no heirs be-cause his land was escheated". Note the use of the word "indicate" as I use it in the first sentence. As many researchers show, the Virginia land of the 17th century "Negro" Anthony Johnson was also escheated at his death though his many heirs are well recorded. As is documented frequently in colonial records "es-cheat" does not necessarily equate to "no heirs." See "Anthony Johnson" in J. Douglas Deal, "Race and Class in Colonial Virginia."
Escheat was not an absolute indication of absence of heirs, especially when race was concerned, crimes were alleged, debts were owed or when heirs moved on to other parts of the territory.”
There is no evidence that Anne Barnhouse gave Prossa Gowen her freedom. Paul Heinegg suggests that Mihil Gowen, as a free man, may have taken another wife, a white woman, since there may not have been any more black women in the colony at that time.
Children born to Mihil Gowen and Prossa Gowen include:
William Gowen born August 25, 1655
Possible children of Mihil Gowen and his second wife include:
Mihil Gowen, Jr. born about 1656
Daniel Gowen born about 1657
Christopher Gowen born about 1658
Jason Gowen born about 1659
Thomas Gowen born about 1660
James Gowen born about 1663
William Gowen, [Mihil1] son of Mihil Gowen and Prossa Gowen, was born August 25, 1655, according to a statement by Anne Barnhouse which appeared in "York County, Vir-
ginia Wills, Deeds and Orders, 1657-1659." He was bap-tized one month later by Rev. Edward Johnson on September 15, 1655. Being a child of two black parents, he received a "double dip" of black genes, in contrast to his siblings who may have been from a mixed marriage.
Children born to William Gowen include:
Edward Gowen born about 1681
Edward Gowen [William2, Mihil1] suggested as a son of Wil-liam Gowen by Paul Heinegg, was born about 1681. In 1704 he appeared on the tax rolls of Gloucester County, paying tax on 100 acres in Kingston Parish, according to "The Quit Rents of Virginia, 1704." Edward Gowen is suggested as the father of:
Edward Gowen, Jr. born about 1702
Edward Gowen, Jr, [Edward3, William2, Mihil1] regarded as the son of Edward Gowen by Paul Heinegg, was born about 1702, probably in Gloucester County. He appeared as a "tax-able" on the 1720 tax list of Northampton County, Virginia located across the Chesapeake Bay from Gloucester County.
"Edward Going" was settled in Charles City County in 1739, according to Charles City County Order Book, page 109. "Edward Goeing" received a deed in Charles City County from John Goodall "and Mary, his wife" which was recorded in the July court session of 1743, according to "Charles City County, Virginia Records, 1734-74."
"Edward Going" gave a deed to John Shell in Charles City County which was recorded in the May 1746 court session, according to "Charles City County, Virginia Records, 1734-74." Edward Gowen, Jr. may have removed to Brunswick County on the North Carolina border about this time, "Edward Going of Brunswick County" was mentioned in "Brunswick County, Virginia Deeds, 1745-1749" Page 444:
"June 2, 1748, From John Roper of Charles City Coun-ty to Edward Going of Brunswick County for £5 one certain tract of land of about 100 acres in Brunswick County on the south side of Mill Creek, bounded by Simmons' corner and old line, the south fork, being part of a larger tract of 1601 acres which was patented to the said John Roper on August 2, 1745.
Witnessed by:
John Roper
Thomas Twitty
William Linsey
John [X] Roberts
Recorded June 2, 1748"
Dr. Virginia Easley DeMarce, the researcher who located this deed wrote, "Part of this tract was also sold to George Hagood of Brunswick County, and then he sold it again to John John-son. Land was located "in Brunswick County on both sides of Bryery Creek, adjoining lines of Richard Russell, Benjamin Lanier, Richard Hagood and Thomas Twitty."
Children born to Edward Gowen, Jr. are believed to include:
Phillis Gowen born about 1719
Michael Gowen born about 1720
Agnes Gowen born about 1721
James Gowen born about 1725
Edward Gowen born about 1727
Thomas Gowen born about 1729
Joseph Gowen born about 1730
Ann Gowen born about 1735
Phillis Gowen, [Edward, Jr.4, Edward3, William2, Mihil1] regarded as the daughter of Edward Gowen, Jr, was born about 1719, probably in Northampton County. She was in-dicted by the grand jury in Charles City County in November 1739 "for having a bastard child." In July 1745 “Phillis Goe-ing” petitioned George Gibson concerning her children, but he failed to answer the petition so the Charles City County court “ordered the churchwardens to bind them out.”
Michael Gowen, [Edward, Jr.4, Edward3, William2, Mihil1] regarded as a son of Edward Gowen, Jr, was born about 1720, probably in Northampton County. He was married about 1737, wife's name unknown. He appeared in the 1750 tax list of Granville County, paying a tax on two tithables. "Mical Go-ing" received a deed from John McKisick April 18, 1752 to 225 acres "on both sides of Taillors Creek, being the upper part of the tract of 600 acres granted to McKisick May 2, 1752 [?]" for "six pounds, Virginia money," according to Granville County Deed Book B, page 73. Witnesses were Broadhead Trulove, Thomas Hunter and Francis Maley. He was taxed as a "black" tithable in the 1753 tax list of Osborn Jeffreys. Jef-freys recorded him in 1754 as a "white" taxable.
Michael Gowen, Thomas Gowen, and Edward Gowen "mu-lattos" were listed in the roster of a company of militia- men commanded by Capt. Osborn Jeffreys, under the overall com-mand of Col. William Eaton October 8, 1754, according to "Colonial and State Records of North Carolina," Vol. 22, pages 370-380.
The roster of Capt. Osborn Jeffrey's company, one of eight in Col. William Eaton's Fifth regiment included:
“Osborn JEFFREY, Captain
Richard WHITE, Lieut.
John McKISSICK, Ensign
1. Francis BRADLEY, Sgt.
2. Howard WORLEY, Sgt.
3. John FARRELL, Sgt.
4. Wm McBEE, Corpl.
5. Thomas COOK, Corpl.
6. William PERRY, Corpl.
7. John MARTIN, Corpl.
8. John SANDLAND, Sr.
9. Peter VINSON
10. Philemon BRADFORD, Jr.
11. John SUTTON
12. Arthur FULLER
13. Timothy FULLER
14. Joseph FULLER
15. James SUTTON
16. James WADE
17. John SANDLAND, Jr.
18. Robert ALLEN
19. Joseph FARRELL
20. Wm. MOXLEY
21. Robert MORGAN
22. Isaac WINSTON
23. Wm WHITE
24. John GREEN
25. Thomas HULAND
26. Thomas MULLINS
27. John YOUNG
28. Wm PORCH
29. Thomas BRIDGES
30. Jeremiah PERRY
31. Ambrose CRANE
32. Francis PERRY
33. John PERRY
34. William RIDINGS
35. William SMITH
36. Ezekiah MASSEY
37. James BROGDEN
38. John GOLDING
39. Thomas BROGDEN
40. John DAVIS
41. Julius ALFORD
42. Jacob POWEL
43. Wm MAYNARD
44. Gibson MARTIN
45. John BRADLY
46. Nathaniel PERRY
47. Wm. CADE
48. Andrew HARFIELD
49. John MOONEY
50. Michael PERRY
51. William BREWER
52. Francis JOHNSTON
53. John BOOKER
54. Benjamin ARUNDEL
55. Thomas ARUNDEL
56. James ARUNDEL
55. Thomas ARUNDEL
56. James ARUNDEL
57. Austin HONEYCOT
58. Joseph BRIDGES
59. Roger REESE
60. Thomas JONES
61. William TAUNT
62. George MAYNARD
63. Nathaniel JONES
64. Andrew MARTIN
65. Joseph NORRIS
66. Richard RAYBORN
67. John DUNCAN
68. Wm ADKINSON
69. Joseph MEDLIN
70. James BOLTEN
71. Wm WINSTON
72. John WRIGHT
73. Samuel CARLISLE
74. John WILDER
75. John GARRET
76. Anthony LEWIS
77. Nathan GRIMES
78. Thomas GOWEN, Mulatto
79. Michael GOWEN, Mulatto
80. Edward GOWEN, Mulatto
81. Robert DAVIS, Mulatto
82. Wm BURNEL, Mulatto
83. Wm. MOONEY”
Michael Gowen was again a "black" taxable in the 1755 tax list. "Michael Gowen and John Wilson, mullatoes," appar-ently in the same household, were taxables in the 1759 tax list of John Pope. He reappeared in Pope's 1761 tax list with the notation that he "refuses to list his wife." This indicated that he considered her to be "white" and therefore not taxable.
"Mickael Gowin, mulatto" of St. John's Parish was a taxpayer, according to the 1762 tax list. Bute County was organized in 1764 with land from Granville County, and Michael Gowen found himself in the new county. He was taxed there in the 1771 tax list of Philemon Hawkins.
His household appeared in the Bute County court records as "Michle Gowine & wife & Sons, Michle & David & Daugh-ter, Elizabeath, William Wilson, 0 white/6 black/6 total."
Michael Gowin, "of Prince George Parish, Craven County, North Carolina" gave a deed June 3, 1778 to Jenkins Gowin of Granville County, North Carolina to 80 acres in Granville County, "being part of 600 acres, part in Bute County, North Carolina and part in Granville County on the south side of Taylor Creek," according to Granville County Deed Book 1, page 193. The deed also stipulated that "Edward Gowin and wife were to live on said plantation until their decease" then it was to devolve to Jenkins Gowin. The deed was witnessed by John McKissick and William McBee. John McKissick was an ensign and William McBee was a corporal in the militia company commanded by Capt. Osborn Jeffreys. “Michael Gowen, Edward Gowen and Thomas Gowen, Mulattoes” served in the same militia company.
Bute County was organized in 1764 and discontinued in 1779.
On the same date "Michael Gowin, planter of Prince George Parish," wrote his will June 3, 1778, according to Craven County Will Book I, pages 193 and 194. The will, which was probated in November 1778, left 80 acres, "being part of 600 acres in Bute and Granville County," to "Jenkins Gowin" of Granville County.
Jenkins Gowen is regarded as the nephew of Michael Gowen and the son of Edward Gowen. The deed conveyed the land to Jenkins Gowen upon the death of Edward Gowen and his wife who had been given permission to live there by Michael Gow-en. The will repeated the stipulation that "Edward Gowin and wife" were to live on the plantation until they were deceased and then the property was to pass to "Jenkins Gowin, mulat-to", according to "Abstracts of Granville County Wills" by Joseph W. Watson.
Michael Gowen died about October 1778, probably in Craven County. Jenkins Gowen apparently lost the property in the fol-lowing year. "Michael Gowing" was mentioned in a sheriff's deed dated August 3, 1779, according to Granville County Deed Book M, page 179.
The deed conveyed property that "Edward Gowing formerly lived on, and his brother, Michael Gowing, formerly owned" to Charles Yarbrough by the Granville County sheriff, appar-ently in a tax default. Abstract of the deed was reproduced in "Kinfolks of Granville County, North Carolina 1765-1826" by Zoe Hargett Gwynn. The volume contained ab-stracts of Granville County Deed Books H through Z. Jenkins Gowen was in the Granville County militia on May 25, 1778 and later served in the North Carolina Continental Line during the Revolutionary War.
Children born to Michael Gowen include:
Michael Gowen, Jr. born about 1738
Elizabeth Gowen born about 1742
David Gowen born about 1750
Michael Gowen, Jr, [Michael5, Edward, Jr.4, Edward3, Wil-liam2, Mihil1] son of Michael Gowen, was born about 1738. "Michael Gowing, Jr." was sued "for trespass" by Thomas Parker September 2, 1755, according to Granville County Court minutes. He was recorded as "Michile Gowine, black" in his father's household in 1771.
Elizabeth Gowen, [Michael5, Edward, Jr.4, Edward3, Wil-liam2, Mihil1] daughter of Michael Gowen, was born about 1742. She was recorded in her father's household as "Eliza-beth Gowine, black" in the tax list of 1771 of Granville County.
David Gowen, [Michael5, Edward, Jr.4, Edward3, William2, Mihil1] son of Michael Gowen, was born about 1750, proba-bly in Granville County. He was listed as "David Gowine, black" in the 1771 tax list of his father's household. "David Gowen" received 39 lashes in Granville County for petty lar-ceny, according to Granville County court minutes.
Agnes Gowen, [Edward, Jr.4, Edward3, William2, Mihil1] regarded as a daughter of Edward Gowen, Jr, was born about 1721, probably in Northampton County. She appeared Janu-ary 9, 1743 in Louisa County, Virginia when the court ordered that "she receive 25 lashes on her bare back because she had a bastard child," according to "Louisa County, Virginia 1743-1814: Where Have All the Children Gone?"
On 10 October 1743 “Agnes Goin” sued Gilbert Gibson in Louisa County Court “for| £3 due for services performed.”
"Agnes Going" was recorded November 12, 1757 as "under the care of" Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting, according to "En-cyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy," Vol. 6 [Vir-ginia] by Hinshaw. This entry suggests that she was receiving provisions and perhaps other assistance from the Quaker church. Paul Heinegg suggests that Agnes Gowen was the commonlaw wife of a slave.
On April 10, 1770 the church wardens of Trinity Parish were ordered to "bind out all her children under 21 years, except the youngest." Her son, Sherwood Going was bound out to Wil-liam Phillips. On February 12, 1776 Agnes Going appeared in court to file a complaint about the ill-treatment "Sherrod Go-ing was receiving from his master, William Phillips."
On May 29, 1772 William Phillips was an administrator of the estate of Gilbert Gibson in Fredericksville Parrish along with Robert Anderson, according to the research of Dee Randall.
"Agnes Going, free colored" was enumerated in 1787 as the head of a household which contained a "white male, 16-21," according to "The 1787 Census of Virginia" by Netti Schreinder-Yantis." She owned two head of cattle, but was not tithable herself. The "white male" might have been her son, Daniel Going who would have fit the age bracket.
Children born to Agnes Gowen are believed to include:
Moses Going born about 1743
Joseph Going born about 1747
Sarah "Sally" Gowen born about 1751
David Going born about 1752
Benjamin Going born about 1755
Sherwood Going born about 1756
Joshua Going born about 1758
Samuel Going born about 1760
Daniel Going born about 1766
Moses Going, [Agnes5, Edward, Jr.4, Edward3, William2, Mihil1], born about 1743, is identified as a son of Agnes Gowen in "Free African Americans in North Carolina and Virginia" by Paul Heinegg. He suggests that he was born in January 1743 in Louisa County. In 1760 Moses Going, "sol-dier under Capt. William Christian in the regiment of Col. Byrd," received a Land Bounty Certificate. Moses Going, a Revolutionary soldier, made an oath that he had also served "as a soldier under Capt. James Gunn in Col. Byrd's regiment in 1760," according to "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography."
Moses Going was married about 1762, wife's name Agnes, the same as his mother. Moses Going appeared on the tax rolls of Trinity Parish in Louisa County in 1770 living on the farm-stead of John Fox. Two years later he was the head of his own household, according to "Louisa County, Virginia Tithables and Census, 1743-1785."
Moses Going bought 353 acres of land January 13, 1777 from Michael Ailstock and his wife, Rebecca Ailstock, "free col- ored", according to Louisa County Deed Book E-F, page 14. On June 9, 1777 "Moses Going of Louisa County and “Ag-ness, his wife” deeded the 353 acres to Robert Harris for £100," according to Louisa County Deed Book E-F, page 156. The survey ran "from Charles Smith's corner to Francis Smith's corner and to Opher Smith's line." Both Moses Going and Agness Going acknowledged the transfer.
It is believed the land was sold in preparation for Moses Going to enter Revolutionary service. On April 27, 1780, Moses Go- ing was in Henry County, Virginia, on the North Carolina bor- der, according to "Virginia Colonial Militia, 1651-1776," His brother, Sherwood Going enlisted in the Fourteenth Vir- ginia Regiment for three years service about that time, and it is believed that Moses Going accompanied him. Sherwood Go-ing stated in his Revolutionary pension application that he re-enlisted in 1780 for an additional 18 months.
In 1780, Moses Going filed suit against Duncan Carmichael in nearby Halifax County, Virginia "on an attachment." "Com-plaintant did not further process, case dismissed," according to Halifax County Plea Book 10, page 143, as researched by Jack Harold Goins, Editorial Boardmember of Rogersville, Tennes-see. In 1783, Moses Going was permitted to build a grist mill on North Mayo River, according to Henry County Court Ord-er Book 3, page 85.
Jack Harold Goins wrote, "Looking at North Mayo River [present day map], it flows into the South Mayo River, thus becoming the Mayo River as it flows into North Carolina." About the same time, David Going, regarded as a kinsman, was given permission to build a grist mill on nearby Spoon Creek. The land of David Going lay in Halifax County in 1763. When Pittsylvania County was organized in 1766, his land was in the new county. When Henry County was organ-ized in 1776, the land of David Going then lay in that county.
In 1783 and 1784, David Goins paid tax in Henry County for himself and "William Goins, Charles Goins and Jacob Goins," regarded as his sons. John Goins, a contemporary neighbor, was given permission to build a grist mill on Blackberry Creek.
On March 30, 1789, “David Gowin” was granted 185 acres “on the south side of Spoon Creek, adjoining Collier’s line,” according to “Virginia Land Office Grants,” Book 19, page 307.
When the Revolutionary war ended, the state of Georgia was opened for intensive settlement, and generous land grants were offered to Revolutionary soldiers to induce them to pioneer there. Moses Going, accompanied by Jesse Going, regarded as his son, accepted the offer, traveling there about 1786.
After inspecting the farmland of the area, Moses Going re-turned to Virginia for his family. Agnes Going and the young-er children remained in Virginia until preparation was made for them in Georgia. She removed to nearby Henrico County about 1786. She appeared on the tax rolls there the following year. She paid tax on "one tithe, two horses and six cattle, ac-cording to "The 1787 Census of Virginia."
"Aggy Gowin, parent" was a witness at the marriage of "Eliza-beth Gowin" to John Douglas January 29, 1787, according to "Henrico County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1780-1851."
About 1789 Moses Going and Agnes Going moved their family to Georgia. Moses Going appeared as a taxpayer on 575 acres of second class land in Wilkes County in Capt. William Lucas' District. He also paid tax on 684 acres of second class land in Franklin County, Georgia in 1790.
Nearby residents were John Going, Reuben Going, Aaron Going and William Going. All except William Going were shown as "free mulatto." Taxpayers on Capt. Lucas's District returned lands on the waters of Ogeechee River, Long Creek and Rocky Comfort Creek. The entire area was put into War-ren County in 1793, and the same taxpayers were found in Capt. Hubert's District of Warren County in the 1794 tax list.
"Moses Going, William Going and Jesse Going" who seemed to be closely associated were listed as taxpayers on the coun-ty's first tax rolls in 1793 and 1794. Moses Going deeded 100 acres in Warren County to Warren Andrews July 21, 1793 which was "part of 780 acres originally granted to Ignatius Few in 1791," according to Warren County Deed Book A, page 606.
Moses Going owned a gristmill and a sawmill on the Ogee-chee River which was mentioned in a 1795 deed from Eleazer Mobley to Francis Beck. The deed refers to the "road leading from Going's Mill to Georgetown." "Moses Going and his wife Agnes Going" gave a deed to James Cozart of Franklin County, Georgia to 648 acres of land May 29, 1795, according to Franklin County Deed Book M, page 132. Consideration was £100 sterling. They gave a deed to William Stith, Jr. Oc-tober 7, 1795 to 465 acres, "being the western portion of 750 acres granted in 1791 to Ignatius Few," according to Warren County Deed Book A, page 365.
He received a Revolutionary land grant in Warren County in 1799. Moses Going appeared as a taxpayer on 350 acres of second class land in Wilkes County on the Ogeechee River in the 1800 tax list. On October 16, 1800 he sold land "lying partly in Wilkes County and partly in Warren County on the Ogeechee River," according to Warren County Deed Book B, page 14.
"Moses Going and his wife Agnes Going" gave a deed to James Cozart of Franklin County, Georgia to 648 acres of land May 29, 1795, according to Franklin County Deed Book M, page 132. Consideration was £100 sterling. They gave a deed to William Stith, Jr. October 7, 1795 to 465 acres, "being the western portion of 750 acres granted in 1791 to Ignatius Few," according to Warren County Deed Book A, page 365:
"Warren County }
Georgia }
This Indenture, made this Seventh day of October in the Year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hun-dred & ninety-five between Moses Going and Aggy, his wife of the County of Warren and State aforesaid of the one part & William Stith, Junr. of the sd. county of the other part, Witnesseth That the sd. Moses & his wife, for and in consideration of the sum of Two Thou-sand Dollars to them in hand and well and truly paid by the said William at or before the Sealing and delivery of these presents, the Receipt wherof is hereby ack-nowledged granted, bargained & sold, & by these pre-sents do grant, bargain and sell until the said Wm. his heirs & assigns all that tract or parcel of land situate, lying and being on the North Side of Ogeechee River in the County of Warren containing, by estimation, Four hundred and sixty-five [465] acres [be the same more or less, bounded as follows, viz: Beginning at a live oak on Rials Branch running thence N34 degrees W fifteen ch. & 50 links to a pine, thence N33 degrees West 15 chains to a post oak, thence N7 degrees W 7 chains to a post oak, thence N76 degrees E 9 chains to a post oak, thence N5 degrees W 3 chains to a stake, thence S80 Deg. W 20 chains to a pine, thence S50 Deg. W 34 chains to a Sugar Tree on Ogeechee, then down the meanders of sd. River to the mouth of Ryals Branch, then up the said branch to the Beginning, being the Western part of a tract of Land containing Seven Hundred and Eighty Acres granted to Ignatius Few on the Second day of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred & Ninety One with all and Singular the rights, members and appurtances whatso-ever to the Said tract or parcel of land being, belonging or otherwise appertaining & the remainder, reversions, rents, issues and profits thereof & of every part thereof. To have and to hold the sd. tract of land & premises, and all and singular the appurtenances belonging to the said William his heirs & assigns to their only use, ben-efit and behoof of the said Wm, his heirs & assigns for-ever, and the said Moses & his wife for themselves and their heirs the tract of land & premises aforesaid & ev-ery part thereof unto the sd. Wm, his heirs & assigns, against them, the sd. Moses & Aggy & their heirs, as-signs & every other person or persons, shall and will warrant forever, and by these presents,
In Witness whereof the sd. Moses & wife doth here-with set their hands and seals the day & year first above written, sealed & delivered in presence of:
Robt. Abercrombie
Wm. Friend Moses Going [seal]
Wm. Stith Agnes [X] Going [seal]
Georgia }
Warren County }
Before me, Thomas Friend, one of the Justices of the Peace for this County, personally came & appeared Robt. Abercrombie & Wm. Stith, Senr, both of this county, Esqrs, who being duly sworn, make oath & say that they are Subscribing Witnesses to the within writ-ten Indenture of bargain and Sale & that they saw the within named Moses & Agnes Going, duly sign, seal & execute the same & acknowledge it as their act & deed.
Sworn to before me this 20th day of November 1797.
Thomas Friend, J.P.
Recorded Feb. 21st 1798 Transcribed from Book D, Folio 110-111 the 23rd of June 1853. F. W. Shivers, Recorder"
Regarding the Stith family, Linda L. Threadgill wrote March 22, 2001:
“If I am not mistaken one of the slaves that was left property in Williamsburg, Virginia in James City County by Mary Stith was surnamed Gregory. The Gregory family was a prominent [mixed race] Virginia family along with the Jeffersons, Randolphs, Stiths, Lees etc.”
Moses Going and Agnes Going gave a deed March 28, 1797 to Samuel Howell to 100 acres on Long Creek which had been granted in 1784 to Edmond Nugent, according to Warren County Deed Book A, page 538. Moses Going and Agnes Go-ing gave a deed to Prior Gardner June 23, 1797 to 92 acres on Long Creek, according to Warren County Deed Book 6, page 13.
Moses Going "of Wilkes County" received a sheriff's deed to land sold as property of William Sanders March 7, 1799, ac-cording to Warren County Deed Book A, page 632. Moses Going received a land grant in Warren County of 60 acres in 1799. Moses Going filed suit July 5, 1801 against Joseph Bor-en for the non-payment of a note. The note in the amount of $62.50 executed August 8, 1799 was written by Joseph Boren to John Henley. John Henley assigned the note to Moses Go-ing October 10, 1800:
"Washington, August 8, 1799
On or before the twenty-fifth day of December One Thousand Eight Hundred, I promise to pay or cause to be paid unto John Henley, Jr. or bearer Sixty-two dol-lars and fifty cents for value received of him, the day and date above written.
Joseph [X] Boren