Name: John McDowell
   Born: March 1787
  Place: Ireland
   Died: 14 June 1859
  Place: Bradshaws Run, Monroe Co VA
 Buried: 
Married: 4 Apr 1805

"Jno" McDowell's death record states that he died at Bradshaws Run, Monroe County, Virginia (now Summers County, WV) on 14 June 1859. He was 72 years, 3 months and 14 days old (page 18 line 32). It further states that he was born in Ireland and that his parents were "John and Easter McDowell". His wife is listed as "E McDowell."

The death record for John McDowell (1806-1879) of Upshur County, West Virginia states that his parents were J and E McDowell and that the father was born in Ireland and the mother in Virginia. This John McDowell fits to a tee. However, he does not mention a son John in his will. The most obvious reason for that is that he may not have had a son named John. However, this is almost certainly the same John McDowell Jr who appears on the 1820 census having three young sons. Of the three named here, only Hugh might have been of sufficient age to have appeared on the census. The others were not born yet. The implication, then, is that John may have had at least two sons and four daughters not mentioned in the will. (Naturally, we cannot know if the children enumerated on the census were actually his.) It's certainly a mystery and I'm not sure how at this point to resolve it.

This is the same John McDowell who married Mrs Elizabeth (Copeland) Erskine in Monroe county on 9 Nov 1841. Obviously, the children mentioned in his will were of an earlier marriage. Some researchers believe he was the John McDowell who married Anna Curry but I'm convinced that marriage belongs to the younger John. This John (#112) is likely the John who married Jane Erwin, with whom he had sons John and Robert.

In an August 2008 post in genforum's McDowell forum, Laten Bechtel says

John McDowell married Jane Erwin, daughter of William and Mary Erwin, April 4, 1805. From Erwin wills I know that there was at least one son born, Robert McDowell who married Susan Pullin/Pulliam. Apparently they had no children although a niece, Susan Rebecca Hallowell lived with them until they died. Robert died July 5, 1878. One of the Erwin wills refers to another nephew, John McDowell.

And in a subsequent post,

Jane/Jean's brother died 1843. His will in Greenbrier County mentions his nephews John and Robert McDowell. Robert McDowell's death names his parents as John and Jane McDowell. His death was reported by niece Susan Hallowell. She is also mentioned in Francis Erwin's will.

William Erwin (-c1804) | ----------------- | | Francis Erwin Jane Erwin m John McDowell (-c1843) in 1805 names nephews | John and Robert | McDowell | ----------------- | | John McDowell Robert L McDowell (c1810-1878) m Susan Pullin

Laten has provided the proof that Robert McDowell was the grandson of William Erwin. I need to prove (or disprove) the connection between my John McDowell and this Robert.

More information for John can be found on the page for John McDowell (1806-1879), who I presume, but have not proven, to have been his son. In other words, this is what I think:

William Erwin John McDowell m Esther Harrison (-c1804) (1759-1841) | (1760-1844) | | ----------------- ---------------------------- | | | | Francis Erwin Jane Erwin m John McDowell Robert McDowell (-c1843) ? (1787-1959) (1789-1855) names nephews | John m2, 1841 m Elizabeth Cornwell John and Robert | Elizabeth Erskine McDowell | ?------------------------------ | | Not in John's will In John's will -John McDowell (1806-1879) -Hugh McDowell (1831-1880+) -Robert McDowell (c1810-1878) -Alexander McDowell m Susan Pullin -Louisa D.P. McDowell -Overton McDowell

The following is beginning to emerge as an alternative lineage. It certainly dispels with the problem of John's will. But to further complicate things, Laten has in her possession a letter written in 1846 from a John McDowell to his uncle Robert McDowell. I cannot place a Robert McDowell in this family.

William Erwin Archibald McDowell (-c1804) m Catherine Davis | | ----------------- -------------------- | | ? | | Francis Erwin Jane Erwin m John McDowell James McDowell (-c1843) in 1805 (1781-1851) names nephews | m 1805 Margaret John and Robert | Dickson McDowell | ---------?-------- | | John McDowell Robert McDowell (1806-1879) (c1810-1878) m Anna Curry m Susan Pullin | no children ---------------- | | William Erwin John Alexander McDowell McDowell (1830-1901) (c1833-)

However, it's believed by Dickson researchers that Archilbald's son John McDowell married Mary Dickson in 1800. It seems that nothing more is known about this family.

Laten has transcribed the 1846 letter from John McDowell to his uncle, Robert, who was residing in Irish Corner. Despite the poor punctuation and spelling, the grammar is reasonably good and is obviously from a man of intelligence and a degree of education. He could well have been John, the teacher. However, I am unable to find a Robert of John's father's generation. But this could just as likely been written by a teacher's son.

[high-resolution image]

Irish Corner Greenbrier Cty, VA , March 13th, 1846
Attn Robert McDowell

Dear Sir it would be my wish to settle the difficulty between us peacefully I therefore make this one, and I think fare proposial as Thereis one month yet to come of the session, if you will send me 1 Schollar I will lose the other, or, pay me one without sending which you please to I will lose the other as I want nothing but which is Just and fair if I know it I therefore hope you will send 2 or three and make up one Schollar by so doing you will lose nothing but I lose one Schollar but if I have to contend I shall contend for both So you will see that I am willing to suffer loss rather than to go to law with my friends, and I think when you deliberate cooly on the matter you will conclude that you have not done me Justice by not sending after signing the artickle, and, also binding me to take up with twenty Schollars signed, which I have done. I now give you choise of three ways send me one and pay for it, or, pay for one without sending, or run the risk of paying both I hope you will choose the first. So no more at present but I remain as ever your affectionate neffew

John McDowell

Will of John McDowell, 1859

I received a photocopy of the following from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History in January, 2007. I've transcribed here as best as I could.

In the name of God Amen

      I John McDowell of the County of Monroe do make this my last Will and Testament as follows that is to say. My desire is to be buried in decency. As to debts thank God I owe none.
1st I bequeth unto my beloved wife Elizabeth McDowell all my Estate to wit Horses and Cows, Sheep, Hogs, house hold and kitchen furniture and farmiong tools and all debts owed me, and the growing crop of wheat and rye, corn and oats, and all of the increase of the female part of the property for her use during her natural life for her support
2nd I will that my Executor shall sell at a suitable time or times all of the surplus property that my wife does not wish to keep and apply the money to the support to my wife as she kneeds [sic mc] and to pay my funeral expences
3d I direct that after the decease of my beloved wife Elizabeth McDowell that she be buried in decency and if there is anything left that it shall be sold and the proceeds to be equally divided between my three sons Hugh McDowell, Alexander McDowell and my Daughter Louisa D.P. McDowell ¶ Overton McDowell
4th I do hereby nominate and appoint Robert C Skaggs to be Executor of my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke all other will or wills made by me at any time or times, and I do declare these presents to be my last Will and Testament
    In Witness whereof I the said Testator John McDowell have to this my last Will and Testament this 26th day of May 1859.
            John McDowell (Seal)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by
the testator John McDowell as and for his
last Will and Testament, in the presents of
us who in his presents at his request and
in presents of each other have hereunto sub-
scribed our names as witnesses
      Robert W Saunders Jr
        his
      Reuben X Ball
        mark