Black Revolutionary War Soldier

Jacob Gowen, an African American, was born in Henry County Virginia in the year 1762, but his birth records were lost according to him by time and accident.

In July 1780 Jacob Gowen entered the Virginia Milita troops of the American Revolution Army in Henry County Virginia. He served under the following officers Col James Lyon, Capt. Elifert Shelton, and Lt John Wells. He marched up the country to what was called Big Dan River and from there he marched with said company and regiment to Kill Kennon’s Iron Works, and from there to New River and continued in said service ranging from one point to another to guard the country and protect it from the invasion of the Tories. During said service the regiment and company of which Jacob Gowen was one of them, drove the Tories from the country and captured some of the Tories while the remainder of them fled from that section of country. 

Some time late in the fall or first of the winter Gowen and company were discharged. He was in  the service about four months; he was discharged near the head of Dan River in the state of Virginia.

In the year 1781 in the summer of that year, Gowen again entered the army as a substitute for John Berry under the following named officers: Capt. Owen Ruble, commanded the company in the regiment that was commanded by Co John Waller.  This service was in the drafted militia, and he entered the army in Henry County Virginia.  He marched with the company and troops to the butter wood spring, then to Petersburg and continued the march and crossed the James River at Lawry (?)Town.  From thence he marched to Williamsburg and from thence to Yorktown.  He and the company and regiment joined the army at Yorktown when the army was commanded by General Washington in person.

Gowen continued in service and assisted as before at the Battle and Siege at Yorktown until Lord Cornwallis surrendered. He labored with the other soldiers in making entrenchments several nights and assisted in conveying timber and material for the breast works. He was at the surrender of the British Army.

Gowen served his country for a total of eight months from the time he left home in Henry County until he returned including the four months he served voluntarily in 1780 and the four months he served as a substitute for John Berry in 1891. He received a discharge from the service, but the paper was lost by time and accident.

He was living in Henry County Virginia when he was called into the service both times, but after the Revolutionary War, he moved to Kentucky and lived there about thirty years.  From there he moved to Vincennes, Indiana and lived there for seven years before residing in Vermilion County Illinois.

In March 1834, Asahel L Risley, a clergyman, and Dan W Beckwith, both residing in Vermilion County Illinois, certified that they were well acquainted with Jacob Gowen, believed him to be 72 years of age, and that he been a soldier of the revolution.  These affidavits were in support of Jacob Gowen’s application for a Revolutionary war pension.

On September 20, 1834, in Shelby County Indiana Richard Barns, age 72, swore also in support of the Jacob’s application that he had known Jacob during his early youth, first in Henry County Virgina, and afterward in Kentucky, until he moved to Illinois about 14 or 15 years ago. In July 1781 the two of them entered the Virginia Militia as privates and followed the company at Henry County courthouse, overtook them at Pittsylvania, and joined the company under the command of Capt. Owen Rubel and Col John Waller. Jacob Gowen and Barnes then went from Pittsylvania through a corner of Halifax County and crossed the river at Booker’s ferry and marched to Charlottesville and then through Petersburg on to Glassford, then through Calin Point to Jamestown and then crossed the river, a short time after the battle fought there by Gen’l Majors. 

Barns and Gowen continued into Williamsburg where they received their arms and equipment and thence into Yorktown.  Twelve miles below, they joined the army which was under the command of Gen’l Davison. Gowen and Barnes were employed in making thrash ends (?), carrying them, digging and making entrenchments. They continued there until within about 9 days of the time that Cornwallis surrendered and then Barnes enlisted in the Virginia State Legion and Gowen remained in the service at York until the surrender of Cornwallis, which was on the October 17, 1781, and then Gowen returned home. 

On March 4, 1834, Jacob Gowen was awarded a pension of $20 per year payable semiannually on the 4th of March and September every year. His pension was issued February 11, 1835, and he was due $80 for payments in arrears. Jacob recorded his pension papers in the Lawrence County Circuit Court.

Jacob Gowen was paid to September 4, 1836 and according to the agent in Carmi, Illinois,   “the old sinner came here this spring and could not be paid without authority from Washington so he prevailed upon my son to lend him a part of his pension until he could draw and now I suppose he will delay in paying us.” This was in reference to Jacob moving to Lawrence County and requesting that his pension payment be transferred to Vincennes, Indiana. The agent also made reference to Jacob’s son- in- law Edward Purdue who was also a pensioner.

On May 28, 1838, Jacob formally requested his pension payment be transferred and appeared before a justice of the peace in Knox County Indiana.  He swore that he was living in Vermilion County Illinois when his pension was issued but now was living in Lawrence County and had been living there for about two years.  He wished his pension would be made payable in the future, at Vincennes Indiana.  His reasons included that he was old and infirm and Carmi Illinois, where the pension agent resided, was about ninety miles from his new residence.  Whereas if he were transferred to the Vincennes agency it was only about three miles from his place of residence, and he could receive his pension money without trouble or expenses.

When Jacob died,  his widow was paid the pension due March 6 to Sept 4, 1838.

Thanks to John King and Larry Curry for the above research.

(If you are related to Jacob Gowen, you are eligible to join the DAR. The Lawrence County Tousaint Dubois Chapter can help you. donnaburton48@gmail.com )