Cowan Surname

The Cowan surname is Irish in origin, but we have not been able to track the family before the late 1700's in Pennsylvania.

1st Generation:

Isaac Cowan was born circa 1770-1775 in Pennsylvania ¹. He died in 1847 in Nicholas County, Kentucky ¹.

So far, there is no proof which indicates who Isaac's parents were. Several researchers believe that Isaac was the son of a John Cowan who died early leaving Isaac as an orphan and put under the guardianship of David Foster in 1788. Apparently, he came to Kentucky with the Fosters and Halls. He eventually settled in the part of Bourbon Co., Kentucky that is now Nicholas County.

Isaac married Jane Hall circa 1790 in Bourbon Co., Kentucky. She was born circa 1775 in North Carolina ¹. She died between 1820-1830 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹.

They had the following children:

1 Barnabus Caleb Varner Cowan was born circa 1794 in Kentucky. He died in 1837 in Ralls Co., Missouri ¹. He married Margaret Ledford on January 18, 1826 in Bath Co., Kentucky ¹.

2 Elizabeth P. Cowan was born on May 15, 1795 in Bourbon (now Nicholas) Co., Kentucky ¹. She died on November 19, 1879 in Fleming Co., Kentucky ¹. She married Moses Ferguson Glenn on June 15, 1824 in Bourbon Co., Kentucky ¹.

3 Amos Sharp Cowan was born on May 30, 1797 in Bourbon (now Nicholas) Co., Kentucky ¹. He died on February 23, 1875 in Boone Co., Indiana ¹. He married Rebecca A. Rose on September 14, 1826 in Fleming Co., Kentucky ¹.

4 Synthia Ann Cowan was born in 1800 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. She died between 1850-1860 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. She married Samuel Dinsmore on October 21, 1822 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹.

5 Rachel Lavina Cowan

6 Nancy Melinda Cowan was born on February 25, 1806 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. She died on April 20, 1885 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. She married Andrew Dunlap Patton was born on March 22, 1831 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹.

7 John Henry Cowan was born on October 10, 1812 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. He died on May 29, 1891 in Fleming Co., Kentucky ¹. He married Elizabeth Harper on May 11, 1837 in Fleming Co., Kentucky ¹.

2nd Generation:

Rachel Lavina Cowan was born on February 25, 1801 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. She died on January 10, 1877 in Jefferson Twp., Boone Co., Indiana ^1,3.

Father: Isaac Cowan
Mother: Jane Hall
Rachel often went by her middle name, Lavina. After her marriage to William Hill in 1825, they decided to move. In 1829 or 1830, Rachel moved with her family to a farm in Jefferson Township, Boone Co., Indiana, where they remained. She is buried in the Cox Cemetery, Boone Co., Indiana.

Rachel married William Hill on August 4, 1825 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ^2,3.

For information on their children, see his page.

Sources:

1. Information from Barbara Cowan at bcowan@kih.net
2. Kentucky marriages to 1850, Ancestry.com
3. Tombstone inscriptions, Cox Cemetery, Boone Co., Indiana

1	Barnabus Caleb Varner Cowan was born circa 1794 in Kentucky. He died in 1837 in Ralls Co., Missouri ¹. He married Margaret Ledford on January 18, 1826 in Bath Co., Kentucky ¹.
2	Elizabeth P. Cowan was born on May 15, 1795 in Bourbon (now Nicholas) Co., Kentucky ¹. She died on November 19, 1879 in Fleming Co., Kentucky ¹. She married Moses Ferguson Glenn on June 15, 1824 in Bourbon Co., Kentucky ¹.
3	Amos Sharp Cowan was born on May 30, 1797 in Bourbon (now Nicholas) Co., Kentucky ¹. He died on February 23, 1875 in Boone Co., Indiana ¹. He married Rebecca A. Rose on September 14, 1826 in Fleming Co., Kentucky ¹.
4	Synthia Ann Cowan was born in 1800 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. She died between 1850-1860 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. She married Samuel Dinsmore on October 21, 1822 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹.
5	Rachel Lavina Cowan
6	Nancy Melinda Cowan was born on February 25, 1806 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. She died on April 20, 1885 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. She married Andrew Dunlap Patton was born on March 22, 1831 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹.
7	John Henry Cowan was born on October 10, 1812 in Nicholas Co., Kentucky ¹. He died on May 29, 1891 in Fleming Co., Kentucky ¹. He married Elizabeth Harper on May 11, 1837 in Fleming Co., Kentucky ¹.