Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

John Owens

Male Abt 1755 - Bef 1806  (~ 51 years)


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  • Name John Owens 
    Born Abt 1755  of, , South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Bef 9 Dec 1806  , Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I1321  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family Mary Long,   b. Abt 1762, of, County Antrim, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. From 9 Jan 1788 to 1823, of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 26 years) 
    Married Bef 1788  of, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F892  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Censuses:
      1790 US: Laurens Co., South Carolina, [There are two listed - one of which is probably this John: (1) p. 441 near Thomas "Murdock," probable uncle to John's wife Mary Long, is listed 5 doors away as 1-0-1-0-0 and (2) p. 442, 14 names away from the first name and 3 before Robert Long, brother-in-law].
      John Owings, 1-4-2-0-0. [By Thomas Murdock.]
      John Owings, 1-1-1-0-0. [By Robert Long.]
      Note there is a Henry Owings 9 names away from the latter John Owings whose relationship if any is not known.

      2. The following John Owin(g)s are of the right age to be the John Owens of this database. Laurens County Estate Book A-1:
      Pp. 55-60: "Appraisement of the Estate of Robert Bell decd. Total ₤148 12 2-1/2 (no appraisers, no date). Purchasers at sale: Richd Bell, Isabella Bell, Patrick Scott, Nathl Cannon, Ann MCLURE, Evan Robarts, James Ramage, Daniel Davis, Samuel Ewing, John Harris, Adam Bell, Gilbert Memory, James Pollock, John Roberson, Nathan Davis, John Harvis, Joseph Adair son of James, John Owings, John Owings, David Beayty, John Awsten, Wm Blackburn, Josiah East, Joseph Huddleston, John Adair son of Joseph, And. McCrary, David Bailey, Wm Price, John Calahan, Ann Dradock, John Archer Elmore, Charles Russel, JohnHUSTON, John Robinson, John Hunter, Wm Gray, Samuel McConehey, John Willson, John Walker, Thomas Entrecan,Thomas East Junr., thomas East Senr., Samuel Eakins, John McCartey, John Derumple [Dalrymple] Junr. Sold 15 Aug 1792, by Richd. Bell, admr."
      Pp. 62-63: "An account of the appraisement of the Estate of Thos. McCall, decd. includes one silver watch, 20 yeards of linnen, 13 yeards of linen, saddlers tools, cash due by Gazaway Rodgers, John Walker, Charles Pucket, John Adair. Appraised 12 Nov 1791 by Thos. Ewings, John Owings, Wm Craig."
      P. 76: "An account of the appraisement of the Estate of Wm. Davis decd., 17 Jan 1792 by Joseph Adair, John Owins, Thos Ewing. (No total.)"
      Pp. 95-96 [1794?]: "An account of the apppraisement of the Estate of Joseph Grier. Total ₤ 450 6 6, by Robert McCarey, John Owins, Benjr. Adair, appraisers."
      Pp. 98-100: An account of the sale of the Estate of Joseph Greer decd., 15 of August 1794; purchasers: Andrew McCrary, Joseph Greer, Joseph Adair, John Hansel, Saml McComuthey, Thos McCrary, Joseph Greer, Wm Hunter, John Login, John Elmore, Minasa Willson, Benj. Adair, Newton Higgins, John Grary, Robert Scott, John Owens, James Rammage, Hugh Skelton, Saml Bishop, James Dillard, John Rammage, James Dillard, Robert Grier, Bazzel Brater (cooper tooles), James Adair Senr., John Watson, Simon Tedford, Jonas Greer, J.A. Elmore, George Ross, Ben Adair, Joseph Parkes, Wm Price, Wm Gray, Robert Greer. Total ₤ 56 13 9."
      Pp. 207-208: Inventory of Manassah Wilson decd, 27 April 1799, brought ot us by John and Ruth Dillard, admr. &c. [total not given] by Benjamin Willson, John Owens, Robt Long, James Bell."
      Pp. 209: "Amt of money paid in behalf of the estate of William Price decd by Margaret Price, admx. & James Cunningham, admr. Names mentioned: Joseph Adair, Robt Greer, Edward Giddins, Francis Ross, Joseph Downs, Joseph Huddleston, James McDavid, John Owens, Charles Murrell, Wm Dunlap; James Cunningham, admr. July 18th 1799."
      Pp. 210-213: ""Memorandum of articles sold the estate of John Jones decd, 16 Jul 1784 by Patrick Bryant admr. Purchasers: John Adair, James Dillard, James Adair, Philip Harvey, Littleberry Harvey, Patrick Bryant, Samuel Ewing, Wm Price, John Gorley, Philip Harvey, Thomas Donaldson, John Huston, John Owens, John Robeson, John Rammage, David Simpson, Thomas Hughs, John Robinson, Reuben Pyles, Haunner Miller, Thos Ewin, Jas Saxon, Wm Brown; copy from my office Julius Nichols Junr. [This estate was probated originally in Ninety Six District, the papers of which are in Abbeville County Court House]."
      P. 251: "October 11 1800, Appraise the goods & Chatttels of Morgin Layson decd. [total not given] by John Owens, Alexander Adair, John Dillard."

      3. Typescript "Early Adairs of Laurens County, South Carolina. Compiled by Mildred Brownlee; Source Records: Wills; Intestate Estates; Deeds; Court Records; Cemetery Inscriptions. Some dates of birth and death obtained from Lineage Charts. Dates of birth and death subject to correction. Spelling of names subject to correction." [Note that bracketed comments are later additions by other reviewers including myself - Kerry Petersen.]:
      A. "Laurens County, South Carolina - Will Book A-1, p. 19:
      'I, Joseph Adair of the State of So. Carolina & County of Laurens cooper; yet of sound & perfect understanding & memory; do constitute this my last will & testament & desire it may be received as such. First I most humbly bequeath my soul to God my maker, beseeching his most gracious exceptance of it, through all sufficient merits & meditations of my most compassionate Redeemer Jesus Christ who gave himself to be an atonement for my sins & is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intersession for them & who I trust will not reject me a returning penitent sinner when I come to Him for mercy; In this hope & confidence I render up my soul with comfort, humbly beseeching the most glorious & blessed Trinity, one God most Holy most merciful & gratious to prepare me for my disolution then take me to himself into that place of rest & incomparable felicity which He hath prepared for all that love his holy name, Amen; Blessed be God I give my body to the earth from whence it was taken, in full assurance of its resurrection from therein at the last day; As for my burial, I desire it may be decent without pomp or state at the discretion of my dear wife who I doubt not will manage it with all prudence; As to my worldly estate I will & positively order that all my debts be paid & next I give & bequeath to Susanna my dearly beloved wife all my stock of black cattle & hogs with all the pewter of my dresser; one hundred & sixty Continental dollars which is in the hands of my son Joseph Adair & all the store of my grain that may be mine at the time of my death for her support; Also all the farming utentials that belong to me at my death; Also my beds & bed furniture to possess the same during her life, & at her decease to go to my son James Adair, Also to my son Joseph Adair I give & bequeath the remainder of the Continental money that remains in his hands; Also one long posted bedstead & my armed chair; Also I give & bequeath to my son James Adair the one-half of my coopers tools; & other utentials belonging to my trade with the whole of my wearing apparel, & also my chest at the decease of my wife; Also to my son Benjamin Adair, I give & bequeath the other half of my coopers tools & utentials belonging to my trade & also the half of that twenty pounds old currency which he had of me for which he was to have palled a graveyard which he never performed; Also to my daughter Jean Ramage, I give & bequeath my brass seals; Also to my daughter Sarah Adair, I give & bequeath that other half of that twenty pounds old currency which is in the hands of my son Benjamin Adair; Also I give her at the death of my wife, that iron pot that was her mothers with my iron crook; Also I give & bequeath my daughter Mary Owens my biggest iron pot & my course flax hackle at the decease of her mother & to her husband John Owens the one-half of the sawed plank of my loft and floor; & if it shall please God to call me home by this present disease, it is my will that the money he owes me should go to defray my funeral charges; Also to Robert Long my son-in-law, I give & bequeath the other half of plank of my loft & floor; And I do by these presents nominate constitute & appoint & ordain as the executors of this my last will & testament my truly & well beloved sons Joseph & James Adair; & I do hereby revoke & disavow & make null & void every former will by me made ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 9th day of January in the year of our Lord 1788.
      s) Joseph Adair
      wit: James Montgomery, William Borland, James (J) Greer'
      Recording date of the will is not stated. Judging by dates of other estate records recorded on pages preceding and following page 19, the will appears to have been recorded sometime in 1789 or early 1790.
      There are no loose probate papers for the estate of Joseph Adair; Sr.
      Joseph Adair, Sr., cooper, married in Ireland? Or in Pa. ? a first wife, said to have been Sarah Laferty. Laurens Co. SC records give no proof data for this wife. She was the mother of Joseph's children. Joseph Adair's will was written 9 Jan. 1788 and proved 1789/90, recorded in Will Book A-1, p. 19. The following children are mentioned in the will:
      1. Joseph Adair, b. 12 Apr. 1735 (from lineage chart), died 17 Oct. 1812. He was called Joseph Adair, Sr. after the death of his father.
      2. James Adair. b. Dec. 1747, d. 23 Mar. 1831 in Indiana. Proved to have been son of Joseph Adair, Sr. cooper, by the Power-of-Attorney issued to his brother, Benjamin Adair. (Deed Bk. G, p. 666.)
      3. Benjamin Adair, b. 1752, d, 3 Sept. 1823.
      4. Jean/Jane Adair, b. before 1755, married (John ?) Ramage. [Listed in will as Jean Ramage; some misread writing on will as Leah but it is definitely Jean.]
      5. Sarah Adair - Single in 1788? Or married to an Adair?"

      4. James Williams Petition listing the Adair family Patriots. Note that Thomas Adair's parents are the ones listed as number 4 (Joseph and Sarah) and his grandparents are number 3 (James and Eleanor). Most of the other Adairs were brothers or cousins. The petition has come to me from Mildred Brownlee's manuscript "Early Adairs of Laurens County, South Carolina" and also from the "South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research," vol. 15, p. 32. James Williams was one of the most renowned Patriots of the Laurens area and this listing of signers of the petition of the area gives us a good source of patriots also associated with him. Col. James Williams and Capt. Josiah Greer were also military leaders of many of these same individuals during the 1778 American invasion of British East Florida per the source of Doctor George Ross' medical reimbursement papers quoted in this database under Rebecca Montgomery's notes. This petition typescript is item #5767, Manuscript Dept., Wm. M. Perkins Library at Duke University, Durham NC. Submitted by Mrs. Mary Ann McCrary and published with permission of the Manuscript Dept. This petition pre-dates the Battle of Kings Mountain (7 Oct 1780), as Col. James Williams was killed at that time. [NB: a second version of the petition was located in the South Carolina Library in 1999 and the gaps in the Duke University petition were filled in as indicated by brackets.] {Any notes or comments added by me are in these brackets.}
      "To his Excellen[cy John Rutledge, E]sq. Governor & Commander in Chief in & [over th]e state of South Carolina, the Honourable the privy Counsel, the Honourable the Senate & House of Representatives in General Assembly.
      Whereas we (the zealous friends to our country, and to all who love and distinguish themselves in her cause) do understand & are exceeding sorry to hear that there are false & [evilly designing] Accusations either lying on or about to shortly be laid against James Williams, our present Colonel in & over Little River Regiment, and designed (as we believe) by the private Enemies of our country to deprive us of so worthy a friend of his Country in general a good officer to us in particular & thereby do a very singular Piece of Service to the common enemies of America. We do briefly & anxiously remonstrate this: that we experimentally know Colo. James Williams to have been a zealous Patriot from the commencement of the America contest with Briten; and to have always stood foremost in every occasion when called upon to the defence of his country. We do further declare that we have never known said Colo. [Jas.].Williams to distress any individuals in the Regiment who voluntarily & judiciously, when legally called upon and commanded to the field, have turned out in the Defence if their Native Rights & Privileges together with that of their Country; & we do avow it from our knowledge, that whensoever Colo. Jas. Williams either directly or indirectly executed any distressing things, it was upon the stubborn & refractory, whose practices of obstinacy declare them inimical to their country: & and that this he did, as being last promissing Effort to reduce them to the dutiful obedience of loyal & fellow citizens. Without delaying you; we your humble Petitioners do earnestly beg that you will hear this our faithful Remonstrance & proceed with our respected Colo. James Williams & all such unjust & disaffected Clamours as may come before you against him, as your superior Judgements may direct: only begging leave to conclude with this one Remark, that doubtless you know that such clamours are frequently the necessary Effect of Disaffection to the Country.
      [Signed:] Robt. McCrery Lt. Colo.; George Davis, Capt.; Matthew McCrar[e]y, Lt.; George Young; Matthew Cunningham; Andrew McCrary; James Greer; [James Dillard]; [John Owens]; [Samuel Ewing]; [William Davis]; [Absolom Filby]; [John McCrary Sener]; [John McCrary Juner]; [Robert Long]; [Matthew McCrary]; [William Bean]; [John Williams J.P {note J.P. is crossed out}]; [Wm. Arthur Capt.]; Josiah Greer; Joseph Ramage; John Robinson; John Bourland; John Greer Juner; Isaac Adair; Jms. Adair; [Thos McCrery J.P.]; [James Ones]; [Andrew Ones]; [John Watson]; [Hughes Manford (?)]; [David Watson]; [Isaac Greer]; [James Ralley]; [John Ramage]; [John Glenn]; [John Jones (M L. (?)]; Henry Atwood; James Adair, Sr.; Joseph Adair Jr.; Joseph Adair; Benjamin Adair; Joseph Adair Sr.; James Adair Jr., son of James; [William Adair]; [John Finney]; [John Adair]; [John Adair Sener]; [James Craige]; [William Craig]; [James Howerton]; [Phillip Whitten]; [John Gray]; [John Greer]; [James Montgomery]; Thomas Ewing; William Blake; James Gamble; [Edward Stapleton]; [John Gamble]; [William Huddleston]; [James Huddleston]; [Alexander Adair]; [Benjamin Willson]; [Benja. Goodman]; [Daniel Williams]
      Suggested identification of the Adairs who signed this petition:
      1. Isaac Adair - Killed in Apr. 1781, left widow, Ruth.
      2. Jms. Adair - b. 1747, son of' Joseph Adair, Sr.; mar. Rebecca Montgomery.
      3. James Adair, Sr. - died before 1796; wife, Eleanor.
      4. Joseph Adair, Jr. - Son of above James & Eleanor; wife Sarah.
      5. Joseph Adair - died 1812; son of Joseph Adair, Sr.
      6. Benjamin Adair - died 1823; son of Joseph Adair, Sr.; wife Nancy.
      7. Joseph Adair, Sr. - died 1789-90; wife: Susannah.
      8. James Adair, Jr., son of James - son of James Adair & wife Eleanor; died 1818, wife Hannah.
      9. William Adair - died 1780-84. Estate administered 1784, Abbe. Wills, p. 10.
      10. John Adair - died 1813 in Ga., wife Jane; son of Joseph Adair; grandson of Joseph Adair, Sr.
      11. John Adair, Sr. - Killed in 1782, wife Sarah. Abbe. Wills, p. 10. Probable son of Joseph Adair, Sr. {Kerry's note: or maybe James Adair, Sr.}
      12. Alexander Adair - Scotch-Irish immigrant in 1767? See Protestant Immigrants to SC - Janie Revill, p. 74.
      {Note the above suggestions are as provided by Mildred Brownlee. I make the following additions of individuals related to the Adairs:
      13. James Gamble - father of William Gamble who marries Martha Adair, daughter of James Adair who was son of James Adair, Sr., the original settler and cooper.
      14. Robert Long - Son of Susannah Murdough from her first marriage before she married Joseph Adair the cooper.
      15. John Owens - Husband of Mary Long. Mary was the sister of Robert Long and a daughter of Susannah Murdough from her first marriage before Joseph Adair.
      16. John Ramage - Husband to Jean or Jane Adair, the daughter of Joseph Adair the cooper and his first wife Sarah Laferty.
      17. George Davis - Died 1781- 1783. First husband to Elizabeth Adair, daughter of Joseph Adair, Jr. and Elizabeth ___.
      18. James Montgomery - Father to Rebecca who married James Adair, the saddler and son of Joseph Adair the cooper. James' other daughter Isabella married Dr. George Ross who was a physician with many of the above in their East Florida expedition in the early days of the Rev. War.
      19. John Jones - There were two John Jones in the area at the time. One was the husband of Hannah Adair, daughter of James and Eleanor Adair. Unsure which John Jones this may be. Our John Jones died before Sep 1788."

      DEATH:
      1. Will of "John Owings," recorded in Will Book C-1, page 241. Proven November 17, 1806. Recorded date not available, David Anderson Ordy. Bundle 55, Package 9:
      "In the name of God, Amen. I John Owens of the state of South Carolina and District of Laurens, being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be unto God. And calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say. Principaly and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of the almighty God, who gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors. Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such wordly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give dimise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. First, I give unto MARY OWENS my dearly beloved wife, one hundred acres of land which is to include the house where in I now live as long as she lives or remains a widow. And at her death it, to wit, the sd . tract of land I give and bequeath to my son Daniel Owens. Also, I give and bequeath unto my daughter MARY GREER the sum of ten dollars to be paid to her out of my estate or to any person duly empowered to receive it for her. Also I give, bequeath, and allow to my son JOHN OWENS Junr. the sum of forty dollars which I paid to JOHN DORROUGH for him in order to redeem his more for him. Also, I give and bequeth unto my son THOMAS OWENS one hundred acres of land on the west side of Elifon's Creek, joining land of MILES FURGUSON and ABRAHAM HOLLAND, which land be is not to sell for ten year to come. Also I give and bequeth unto my son ROBERT OWENS one hundred acres of land lying on both sides of the Charleston road joining land of ALEXANDER MCQUAY to be measured from MCGUAYS land on MILES FERGUSONS line till it will amount to one hundred acres by running a square course from MILES FERGUSON'S to THOMAS BEAFSEY's line which land he is not to sell for ten years to come. Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter MARTHA OWENS her bed and furniture, and the sum of twenty pounds sterling to be paid to her out of my estate. Also, I give and bequeth unto my daughter ANN OWENS a midling good feather bed and furniture and new saddle and twenty pounds sterling to be paid to her free from expence of schooling or maintainance till she is Sixteen year old. Also I give and bequeth unto ELIZABE my daughter ELIZABETH OWENS a middling good feather bed and furniture and a new saddle and twenty pounds sterling to be paid to her free from the charge of schooling and maintainance till she is Sixteen years of age. Also I give unto my son DANIEL OWENS all that tract or parcel of land that was granted to me joining land of FRANCIS BRADDOCK containing two hundred and fourteen acres. And in case any of my sons should die under age and without lawful descent than his part of the land is to be divided between the surviving two. The same rule is to be offered with regard to my four daughters last named. Also I give and bequeath unto my sons DANIEL, THOMAS, and ROBERT all and singular the rest remainder and remainder and residue of my estate, monies, debts, and moveable effects at my wifes death. The aforesaid legacies being first well and truly paid together with my just debts and funeral expences. And I do hereby make ordain and appoint my son DANIEL OWENS and JOHN FINNEY Executors of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly disalow revoke and disallow disanul all and every other former or other wills, legacies, and bequeaths of Executors by me in any wise made named ordained and appointed. Ratifying, allowing and conforming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the fourth day of September, in the year One Thousand Eight hundred and Six. Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said JOHN OWENS as his last will and testament in the presence of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names.
      John Owens L. S.
      Mary (her "X" mark) Owens
      Robt. LONG
      Manafseh FINNEY
      John FINNEY"