Portal:Indian Captivity Stories/Mrs. Dunavant

Fleming 1971 quotes the following passage from Mrs. H.J. Dunavant, Genealogical Rcords Committee (DAR) of North carolina, vol. 1, p. 80.

''Major John Cowan married Mary Walker, his cousin,. He was killed by the Indians on the Clinch River, 1778-1780. Mary Cowan was captured at the same time, with her small daughter, and her son James, 15 years of age. He ws captured by the Cherokees and escaped after one year. His mother, May Cowan was taken north by the Shawees, and escaped after seven years.''

No basis is provided for the above statement. Some of Mrs. Dunavants papers appear to be at the McClung in Knoxville

From: Kathey Cowan Subject: Samuel Cowan Date: February 3, 2007 9:49:14 PM EST To: Bill Willis

''The information came from "FAMILIES OF WALKER, RUTHERFORD, HOUSTON, COWAN" contributed by Mr.s H. J. Dunavant, Charlotte, N.C., Mecklenburg Chapter From "The McClung Collection", Lawson, McGhee Library. Knoxville, Tennessee pages 78 to 89'' Also on page 81 of Mrs. Dunavant's contribution there is the following: "Samuel Cowan, to whom we trace back the Cowan line probably came to Virginia, as a lad, with the Walkers, the Campbells, the Christians, and Houstons, Paxtons, Gillespies and others of Scotch descent. The dates of their move southward from Pennsylvania, is given between 1732 and 1740. They settled in Augusta and Rockbridge Counties."