464. John Coward & 465. Elizabeth Wimberley Griffin [England, NC]
~1704, John born VA, s/o 928. William Coward.
~1705, Elizabeth born in Chowan, Albemarle Dist., NC, d/o 930. Martin Griffin & 931. Elizabeth Smithwick.
6/3/1718, Elizabeth named in the will of her father in Chowan Co., NC. “I give and bequeath two Elizabeth Grifon two cows and calves two be delivered to her in May in the year of our Lord 1721. All so I give and bequeath two my daughter Elizabeth Grifon two puter dishes and six puter plates two be delivered to her at the age of sixteen years or the day of marrage.”
~1720, John married Elizabeth in Chowan Co., NC.
1722, Bertie Prct. formed from Chowan Prct.
2/9/1729, John Coward sold 100 Acres adjoining Martin Griffin [the son], land that had been sold to William Coward, deceased. (S) DB-C, P175.
2/9/1730, John sold 100 acres for L50 to Joseph White of Bertie Prct. … sold by John Harloe to William Coward, deceased, … (S) Bertie Co., DB-C, P175. [William was his brother.]
5/28/1737, John wrote his will and died in Bertie Co., NC. Will probated 8/1737. (S) See Family notes.
Elizabeth married 2nd Thomas Allday, father of 2 of her sons wives. [A widow with small children would marry quickly.]
Bef. 3/1754, Elizabeth died in Bertie Co., NC.
3/16/1754, Thomas wrote his will in Bertie Co., NC.
Family notes:
• John’s will: “In the name of God Amen. The twenty eight day of march, 1737. I John Coward of Betie Precint in South Carolina being very weak and sick in body but perfect of mind and memory thanks be giving unto God There fore ? unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is apointed for all men to once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say ? and first of all I give and recommend my soul in to the hands of God that give it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be furied in a descient Christian ? at the ? of my death. Nothing doubting but at the general resorection I shall Rise the same ? by the might power of God and as touching ? world I state where with it hath pleased God to ?, this life I give to ? and dispose of the same in the following maner and form ~ Item I give and bequesth unto my two sons William Coward and John Coward my plantation Where I now live and ? ? there unto equelly to be divided betwint them leving my loving wife Elizabeth Coward the youse of the ? plantation where shee now lives during her lifetime ~ Item I give to my son William Coward one ? and one ? and one ? calf and one small … [lines illegible]. ~ Item I give and bequesth all my other astate betwisxt my Loving wife Elizabeth Coward and my son Edward Coward and the other which is a coming into the world which is not yet borne equilly to be divided betwixt them three ~ appointing Joseph Wimberley to be my hole and sole Exeter this my last will and testament and I do here by uterly disalow revoak and disavow any other testament and wills legisies and bequesth and ? by me in any ways named wills and bequeaths ratifying and confirming this one to be my last will and testament in witness where of I have here unto sett my hand and seal the ? year above riten. My desire is this my will to record in open part and to have none to do with it.” /x/ John Coward. (S) NC State Archives, Raleigh, 010, 1737, Orig. Only, SS/AR.
Children of John and Elizabeth:
i. Edward Cowart I ( 232), born ~1721.
ii. Jonathan Cowart, born 1723 in Bertie County, NC.
1743 in NC, Johnathan married Maybee Cake.
(S) 1769 NC Census, Dobbs Co. Edward w/son Needham, Elisha, Ezekiel, James and sons Edward and James Jr., John with Elizabeth & John Clemmons cou., Nathaniel, William.
1785 , John died in St. Paul’s Parrish, SC.
iii. William Coward, born 1724 in Chowan County, NC.
William married Ann Allday, d/o Thomas. (S) Thomas’ will, 3/16/1754, Bertie Co.
4/1750–4/1754, William Coward to William Coward grant in (S) Dobbs Co., B2, P434.
4/1757–4/1758, William Coward to William Coward grant in (S) Dobbs Co., B5, P273.
(S) 1762 NC Census, Pitt Co.
(S) 1769 NC Census, Dobbs Co. Edward w/son Needham, Elisha, Ezekiel, James and sons Edward and James Jr., John with Elizabeth & John Clemmons cou., Nathaniel, William.
Bef. William 1780 died.
(S) 1780 NC Census, Dobbs Co. “Ann Wid. of Wm Cowart”. All three children are listed in the census: “Elisha S of Wm Cowart”, “Frederick S of Wm Cowart”, “James S of Wm Cowart”.
Children: [There are likely other children.]
Elisha Cowart, born ?.
(S) 1780 NC Census, Dobbs Co.
(S) 1820 Census, MS, GreeCo. Age > 45, he apparently moved with many of the other family members to MS.
Frederick Cowart, born ?.
1780 NC Census, Dobbs Co.
James Cowart, born ?.
1780 NC Census, Dobbs Co.
iv. Benjamin Coward, born 1737 in Chowan Co., NC, after the death of his father.
(S) 1755 NC Census, Granville Co.
Benjamin married Elizabeth Allday, d/o Thomas. (S) Thomas’ will, 3/16/1754, Bertie Co.
1785 Benjamin died in NC.
Children:
David Coward, born 11/10/1754 in NC.
7/17/1849, he died in Early Co., GA.
