Robert Cowan (1732-1784)/Notes

From: "jane vining"  Subject: [COWAN-L] Susan Cowan, dau. of Robt. Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 16:01:29 -0000

There has been alot of incorrect information on Susan/Susannah Cowan, the daughter of Robert Cowan and Susannah Woods.

Some people have been saying that Susannah Woods married Samuel Handly after Robert Cowan died. That isn't true. Robert and Susannah's daughter, Susan/Susannah married Samuel Handly.

I am descended from John Handley, the son of Samuel Carroll Handley and Susan Cowan. Their son, John, was their second child, who was born Feb. 22, 1786. The last land deed that was recorded for Robert Cowan in Washington County, TN was on October 26, 1789, meaning Robert Cowan was still alive that day, 2 years and 8 months after Samuel Handley's son is born. So, if Robert Cowan was still alive, why would his wife, marry and have children by Samuel Handley if her husband was still alive. !!!! She wouldn't have. The Susan Cowan Samuel married was the daughter of Susannah Woods Cowan.

John Handly, son of Susan Cowan and grandson of Robert Cowan and Susannah Woods married his first cousin, Nancy Cowan, daughter of Major John Cowan and Agnes Martin.

Tombstones of John Handley and wife Nancy Cowan in Woods-Handly Cemetery, (private property) Belvidere, Franklin County, TN

 In Memory of In Memory of Nancy  John Handly Wife of John Handly  Born Feb 22 1786 May 22, 1794  Died Aug 9 1855 Aug 6, 1854  Age 69yrs 5 mo. 18 D

Also, someone has on their website that Robert and Susannah's dau. was married to a man named Wm. H. Montgomery and she died in Illinois ! Not True. She died in Franklin County, TN.

Her Tombstone is located in the Woods-Handley Cemetery (on private property) in Belvidere, Franklin County, TN.

In Memory of Susan Wife of Samuel Handley Born Dec. 1761 Died Dec. 1836

According to the Franklin County, TN Historical Society, Susan wife of Samuel Handly was the daughter of Robert Cowan and Susannah Woods and sister to Major John Cowan. The information that Major John Cowan is the brother-in-law of Samuel Handly is written in several accounts about Samuel Handly's capture and torture by the Cherokee Indians. He was allowed to write an asked that his brother-in-law, John Cowan bring money to buy him from the Cherokees.

I proved my lineage to both Samuel Handley & Susan Cowan and Robert Cowan and Susannah Woods for DAR a few years ago.