Swan Quarter, N.C.
Nov. 19, 1936

Dear Metta,

Papa received your card about giving you some information about our family history. He gave me an outline of what he knows & asked me to write to you. James McGowan, your great, great grandfather was born in the year of 1774 & his oldest son was Levi borned in 1796. Wiley a younger son that went to Tennessee & later to Illinois. Your great grandfather was named William who was the youngest of the family. There was one name Hosea & one Joe. There was at least 4 girls. One of them married a Bridgman, one a Carawan & one a Boomer & one concluded to be an old maid like some other members of the family of a later date. The Father James McGowan was born & reared here in Hyde County. He had several brothers, one of which was a Primitive Baptist preacher. I never have been able to trace up anything any further back. Papa has been right feeble this Summer & Fall but is improving some now. His memory is very treacherous now, & can't give us much accurate information. Hope you will succeed in getting up the information that you would like to have. Enclosed you will find a clipping that has McGowans on it that you might get some information if you care to investigate that far.

Your cousin, J. Herbert McGowan

Written by: John Herbert McGowan (1884-1961) for his father: Henry Lawrence McGowan (1853-1938), teacher and farmer in Hyde Co., NC. To his Cousin: Metta Jarvis McGowan (1902-1989) - Spinster, taught the 1st grade for more than 40 years in Wilmington, NC.

James McGowan, born 1774 in Hyde Co., NC

Children:

Sons:
Levi McGowan, born 1796
Wiley McGowan, went to Tennessee & Illinois
William, my great grandfather
Hosea McGowan
Joseph McGowan

{Sons not mentioned in letter}
Isaac McGowan
Henry McGowan

Daughters:
One married a Bridgman - Name Unknown
One married a Carawan - Rebecca McGowan m. Mannan Carawan
One married a Boomer - Sarah "Sallie" McGowan m. Henry Boomer
One was an old maid - Anne McGowan

Several Brothers:
One was a Primitive Baptist Preacher [Joseph McGowen, Jr. ?]

See: James McGowan Family Group Sheet

McGowan Family History