Married Nancy Cook Mock Cheshire 06 July 1837 in Davie Co NC

Children:

Mary Ann Gowan-Cheshire b. 14 May 1838
Emory Tennison Gowan b. 07 Jan 1840
Barbara Catherine Gowan-Austin b. 08 Feb 1842
Richard Wilson Gowan b. 31 Aug 1844
Simeon Clay Gowan b. 01 Apr 1847
Martha E. Gowan-Boles b. 03 May 1849
Major Melmoth Rowan Gowan b. 19 May 1852

All born in Davie Co. NC


Major Redul Wilson Gowan, son of Richard "Dickey" Gowan and Mary "Polly" Bennett Gowan, was born January 8, 1816 in Pittsylvania County. He was married July 6, 1837 to Nancy Cook Cheshire, daughter of Tennison Cheshire and Mary Cheshire. Major Wilson Gowan received a deed to 98 acres on Bryan's Creek "adjoining Nathan Chaffin, Green Bailey and Salley Helton" from his father, Richard "Dickey" Gowan, Sr. in 1837 for $400, according to Davie County, North Carolina Deed Book, page 87.

Major Redul Wilson Gowan was listed as the head of the household in the 1840 census of Davie County, page 203, in a location adjacent to his father. He was a farmer

Major Redul Wilson Gowan was listed in the will of his father dated November 14, 1844. His family reappeared in the 1850 census of Davie County, page 410. He was a farmer who owned 200 acres of land and lived in a two-room log house "one mile from the schoolhouse," according to Richard W. Gowan, a son. He died in 1852, according to his son, Simeon C. Gowan.

Tennison Cheshire wrote his will October 8, 1853 and made bequests to "daughter Nancy Gowen and her seven children which she had by Major Gowen," according to Davie County Will Book 1, page 13. He died in November 1854 and was buried in Cheshire Cemetery on his plantation.

Tennison Cheshire was married first to Barbara Mock and second to Polly Shaw. A granddaughter of Tennison Cheshire and Barbara Mock Cheshire, Mrs. Mary Tennison Blackwell Lowry was born July 12, 1853. She, at age 83 in 1936, was identified as the mother of "Dr. Lowry of Salisbury." Tennison Cheshire and Barbara Mock Cheshire were the parents of two sons: John Cheshire who "died at school and was buried in the family graveyard" and Wesley Cheshire who was killed in the Civil War.

Major Redul Wilson Gowan died June 7, 1858 and was buried in the Cheshire Cemetery near Mocksville, North Carolina. The cemetery was located on the Holman-Cana Road on land owned in 1950 by Wiley McCamrock. Nancy Cook Cheshire Gowan was remarried, husband's name Shoemaker. She died December 16, 1904 and was buried beside her first husband.