Individual Details

The children are listed in Wilson's History of Hickory County, MO, 1909, p.117 in what appears to be a Family Bible record.

1810 Census. Warren Co KY
Peter Cowen, 1m age 26-45; 1f 16-26, 1 female under 10, 1 female over age 45.

1820 Census. Simpson Co KY
Peter Cowing. 1m age 10-16, 1 m 16-26, 1m over 45. 5 females uner 10, 1f 10-16, 1 female 26-45 and 1 female over 45.

1830 Census. Simpson Co KY
Peter Cowan: 1m under 5, 1m 5-10, 1m 15-20, 1m age 50-60. 2f -5, 1f 5=10, 2f 10-15, 1f 15=20, 1f 40-50 (Polly).

In 1837, Polly Cowen was on the tax schedules, owning Peter's land on Drake's Creek. He had obviously died.

31 August 1838 Simpson Co Court. Petition of heirs of Peter Cowen, dec'd. James Smith & Michael Holland, securities for Mary Cowen. Mary Cowen & Michael Holland to be guardians for the four infant children [not named - but Mary, John Q., Caroline & Peter M. were all still minors]. Petition asks for appaisal and sale of land either as one or two tracts.

The 1840 tax rolls show Mary Cowen and son Henry, holding 150 acres and 240 acres of land on Drake's Creek. [Michael Holland who married Jane Cowen lived just over the line in Warren co, nearby.]

1840 Census. Simpson Co KY
Mary Cowan. 1m 5-10, 2m 10-15. 1f 5=10, 1f 10-15, 1f 15-20, 2f 20-30, 1f age 50-60 [Polly}.

11 May 1841 Simpson Co Court Orders, p.431. Report of Michael Holland re heirs of Peter Cowan dec'd. He did sell the lands of Peter Cowan and Sarah Cown and Henry P. Cowan became the purchasers, and the deed hasn't been made. Henry B. Mantagen appointed to make said conveyance.
12 May 1841 Deed to Sarah Cowan and Henry P. Cowan was ordered recorded.

About 1841-1842, Mary and some of the children moved to Hickory Co, MO, mostly likely along with Michael and Jenny Holland, the Pitts and Mashburns.

1850 Census. Hickory Co, MO, Hh 310
Mary Cowan, age 65, b. NC.
Margaret, 25, b. KY. Mary 23, b. KY. John Q., 22, b. KY. Louisa C., 18, b. KY

Polly is buried Dooly Bend Cemetery, Galmey, Hickory Co, MO. Sons John Q. and Henry P. and Henry's wife Elizabeth are buried there, as is a daughter Margaret.


Email from Sharon Cowen, descendant of this line, Sep 2012:
....I recently sent for Peter Cowen’s records from the War of 1812. ... I just received applications Mary filed for bounty land based on his service.
They state that Peter and Mary were married September 10, 1808 in Sumner County, TN. One place it says they were married by Andrew Rollins J.P. another says David Rollins J. P. And of course they also cement the Merrill connection. Peter died February 4, 1837 at his home near Franklin, Simpson County, KY.
Coming home from the War of 1812 he lost his discharge papers when “swimming a water course on his way home.”

Birth	7 Mar 1785	North Carolina
Marriage	10 Sep 1808	Sumner County, Tennessee - Peter Cowan
Death	6 Feb 1856	Hickory County, Missouri

Spouse	Peter Cowan (1775 - 1837)
Child	Elizabeth Cowan (1809 - )
Child	Jenney Cowan (1811 - )
Child	Nancy Cowan (1812 - )
Child	Sarah Cowan (1815 - )
Child	Ann Cowan (1817 - )
Child	Margaret A. F. H. Cowan (1819 - )
Child	Henry P. Cowan (1821 - 1901)
Child	Peggy Cowan (1823 - )
Child	Polly Cowan (1825 - )
Child	John Quincy Adams Cowan (1827 - )
Child	Caroline Cowan (1832 - )
Child	Peter M. Cowan (1834 - )

Father	William Merrill (1754 - )
Mother	Sarah "Sally" Haden (1758 - )
Sibling	Timothy Merrill (1778 - 1850)
Sibling	Margaret Haden "Peggie" Merrill (1780 - )
Sibling	Betsy Smith Merrill (1782 - )
Sibling	Jenny Merrill ( - )
Sibling	Douglas Merrill (1787 - )
Sibling	Samuel Merrill ( - )
Sibling	Seana "Sensy" Merrill (1800 - )