Washington County, Virginia Notes

Washington County was organized in 1776-77 with land taken from Montgomery County and Fincastle County.

On December 9, 1785, 307 men of Washington County signed a petition addressed to the Virginia House of Burgesses reqesting the formation of a new county from the western area of Washington County. The petition suggested a line be "fixed along Clinch Mountain and Montgomery line to the Carolina line" to separate them from Washington County. These inhabitants include those in settlements of Clinch River, Mocason Creek, Powells Valley, north branch of Holstein River, and "others." Russell County, Virginia was created in that year. No Gowens [or spelling variations] appeared on the petition.

The list of petitioners, transcribed by Rhonda S. Robertson was published in "The Southwest Virginian," Vol. 1, No. 3 in Wise, Virginia:

“H. SMITH, David WARD, Alexr. Barnett, Andw. COWAN, Sam'l ROBINSON, Charles BICKLEY, James LEITH, James BUSH, James WHARTON, David COX, Ben GRAVES, John McFERRAN, Moses DAMRON, Lazarus DAMRON, John DAMRON, Edw. STAPLETON, Isaiah STILLS, James OSBURN, James McKENNEY, Wm. BOWLAND, Abrm. HAYTER, Jos. CARTER, James GIBSON, John MCCULOCK, Thomas PRICE, Jr., James HARRIS, John BAKER, Joel GALLAHER, Thos. PRATER, Wm. GILMORE, Charles HAYS, Wm. VAUGHN, Wm. SMITH, Shadrick MONTZ, Edward SMOTE, James ALLEY, Sr., James ALLEY, Jr, Samuel ALLEY, Peter ALLEY, John ALLEY, Hosea ALLEY, David ALLEY, Patrick PORTER

Saml. PORTER, John PORTER, Richd. PORTER, John MONTGOMERY, Stephen OSBURN, Jeremiah HERRIL, Christopher COOPER, Sammuel STALLARD, Alexr. RITCHIE, Thos. CARTER, John CARTER, Norris CARTER, John CARTER, Jr, Daniel YOUNG, Ambrose FLETCHER, Richard FLETCHER, Jos. BLACKMORE, Wm. Cen. DUNCAN, Alexr. RITCHIE, Jr, Wm. McDUEL, Hamelton CROCKETT, Jos. BLACKMORE, Townsend DUNCAN, Namrod HADDON, James DUNCAN, Peter NICHOLSON, Benj. NICHOLSON, Alexr. CROCKETT, Edwd. YOUNG, John WRIGHT, John JACKSON, James ELKINS, Drury ELKINS, James JONES, David MUSICK, Electius MUSICK, Henry SKAGGS, David SKAGGS, Simon COCKRELL, Henry DICKSSON, Jr, John KINKEAD, Arthur BOWEN, Wm. HAMOND, Robert BENHER, Archalus BREMLY, Jonathan CUNNINGHAM.

Wm. GILMORE, Charles HAYS, Wm. SMITH, Jonathan LANGDON, Henry DICKINSON, Edmund PENDLETON, Amos ALLARD, John FRAYOR?, James DAVISSON, Saml. WHITE, Peter MACKINTAVISH, Patrick RIGHLEY, Champ FARIS, Jams. DAVISSON, Wm. DAVISSON, Daniel DAVISSON, John WHITE, Jacob CASSTLES, Jonathan WOODS, James OSBORNE, Joseph CASTLES, Wm. HUSTON, James OVELTON, Zachariah FUGATES, Wm. FUGATE, Coleby FUGATE, Charles DEVER, Samuel HADDON, Siles ENYART, George ROBERTS, John ENYART, Alexr. KIRK, George GIBSON, Adam HOP___, Allen BRAKING?, Edom JONES, Thomas GREEN, John CAMPBELL, David CAIN, Saml. FLEMING, Joseph HENSLEY, John LATHIM, Robt. CARR.

James MONTGOMERY, Robt. LARGE, John CAMPBELL, Jos. BLACK, Henry DICKENSON, James CRAIG, George CLARK, Hugh? BRUCOM?, _____ HENSLEY, Wm. LONG, Thos. BELSHER, Henry MAUK, Wm. PRATER, Jonathan PRATER, Daniel NELSON, Johnson NELSON, Lylis DOLSBERRY, Ramey BATY, Thos. CALDWELL, James WRIGHT, Robert MONTGOMERY, Matthew KINCANNON, Saml VANCE, Aber. DONELSON, John FOWLER, James BRADLEY, John KENNDAY, Wm. NALL, Alexr. MONTGOMERY, John SMITH, Edwd. SMITH, John BOWEN, Henry DAVIS, Saml YOUNG, Josiah FUGATE, James DANIEL, Wm. ONEY, George BELSHER, Nat. KENDRICK, Jesse GRAY, George LARK, Henry HAMLIN.

Will. ROGERS, John SKAGGS, Jesse ELKINS, Archd. PRATER, Solomon SKAGGS, Jeffery HILDRITH, Robt. HIGGANBOTHAM, Adam LARK, John ASBERRY, James BROWN, Wyatt DANIEL, James YOUNG, Samuel VANHOOK, Wm. GARRISON, Shade WHITE, Dudley YOUNG, John GREEN, Isaac BRISTOW, Wm. ASBERRY, James PRATT, Francis BROWNING, Thomas PRICE, Thomas FRANCE, Jecilia PRICE?, James QUILLIN, Thomas LANDRIX, Benjamin JONES, Anyer PRICE, John LEWIS, George HATFIELD, Masheck STACY, Tom STACY, Thos. CONWAY, Moses HIGGONBOTHAM, Jared BOWLAND, George ASBERRY, Henry ASBERRY, John WELLS, Thos. GREEN, Joseph HATFIELD, Enius SMITH, Eli SMITH.

Jno. HATFIELD, George HATFIELD, Evens SMITH, Jr, Thomas CONWAY, John LEWIS, Charles NIEL, Harris WILLSON, Richd WILLSON, Jno. WILLSON, Joseph MEREDITH, Benj. ONEY, Richd ONEY, Jno. DESKINS, James FUGATE, John FULTON, John VANDYETHE, John HEANY, Abrm. MILLARD, Charles RAINY, Mathew RAINY, James ROGERS, Wm. FRANCE, Jesse JACKSON, Jesse VERMILION, John WELLS, James SHEWMAKER, John GIBSON, John SHOEMAKER, George ROBINSON, Wm. HEARELSON, John RANEY, John THOMSON, Abraham CHILDERS, John WELLS, Ritchard FIELDS, Joseph PERRIN, Wm. BRUSTER, Micahel BRUSTER, Thomas TATE, David YOUNG, John THOMPSON, Wm. ELAM.

James LANDRIX, John GIBSON, Wm. PRICE, George PUCKETT, Zachariah KINDERIK, David PREES, Daniel PRICE, Thos. JOHNSTON, Richard PRICE, Alexander SEAL, Henry HAMBLEN, John BRISTER, Michal LORD, Abrm. BEAVERS, Wm. ROBERTSON, Robt. McFARLAND, Absolom ROBERTSON, Jacob ROBERSON, George McCOY, Robt. McCOY, John WAGG, David CALHOOLN, Joseph McFARLAND, Robert MCFARLAND, Jr, John ENGLISH, Robt. CRAIG, Thos. BIRD, Wm. BIRD, Wm. McPIKE, Voluntine CHOAT, Thos. WALLIN, Stephen WALLIN, Robert TATE, Jr, Rober TATE, Sr., Frederick FRILEY, Martin FRILEY, John FRILEY, Wm. OSBORN, Lewis WALTER, Yeah STILS?, Josh WHITELY, Wm. BLANTON, Thos. M. MAHEN, Thos. HOBBS, Ephraim HATFIELD, Zachariah PRICE, Isaac ELAM, John COWEN, F. J. COLVILL.

Allden WILLIAMSON, Wm. EVANS, John SHORT, Benj. ALDERSSON, Thos. SHORT, Wm. RUMMEN, John HATFIELD, Christopher HAINS, Wm. THOMPSON, Richd. THOMPSON, Wm. JOHNSON, Edward KELLEY, Joseph KISER, James CRAIG, Elijah SMITH, Wm. EDMISTON, James GILMORE, Jeremiah COLES, Abraham HAYTER, Jr, James MC FARLAND, Soloin LITTEN, James FULLEN, Alexander MCFARLAND, Wm. PREECE, Josel BARKER, Drury PUCKETT, Doles BARGE, Mechel ELLIS, James PRICE, Simeon RICHON?, John BORUM, Saml. RITCHIE, Wm. CRABTREE, John GARRISON, James FRILEY, Calip FRILEY, Wm. FRILEY, Thomas OSBORN, Edward STAPLETON, Wm. DORTEN, John TATE, Edward GIVENS, Richd. HENDERSON, Jeremiah PUCKETT, Jas. JACKSON, Meshack STACY, Alexr. MARTIN, Wm. GILMORE, And. COLVILL.

Butler Goins, “colored” died May 15, 1889 from flux at age 1 year, according to Washington County Death Records. His parents were Alec Goins & Esther Goins.

Clementine Goins, “colored” died April 1889 from “old age” according to Washington County Death Records. She was 75 years old.

Eliza Goins,”colored” died March 30, 1896 from consumption, according to Washington County Death Records. Her parents were Frank Goins and R. Goins. She was 17 years old.

George W. Goins and Mary C. Goins of Washington County were applicants for Confederate pensions, according to Sheila Steele Hunt, genealogist of Kingsport, Tennessee who compiled “Confederate Pension Applicants of Washington County, Virginia.”

Russill Gowan was appointed, along with John King, William McBroom and Abraham Rice, to appraise the estate of William Cole, deceased August 17, 1779 in Washington County.