by: annette.kapple
From at least the 1740's onward we find John Owens I traveling through out Pennsylvania, to present day Ohio and Kentucky, pursuing his occupation as an Indian Trader.
In 1762 and 1763 we find John Owens I Sr. and II Jr. buying land in Bedford County, Indiana.
A David Owens is listed as an early settler of Northhampton County, PA , Forks Township. Probably settling there around 1755? This is the David who murdered several Native Americans.
In 1755 before Braddock's defeat John Owens lived in what is today Somerset County, PA. He was driven off his land there after the defeat.
In 1770 David Owens settled near his father-in-law David Jones in Ohio County, West Virginia.
In 1773 the Widow of John Owens appears to be living in Bedford County, PA according the Ayr township tax list.
In 1774 John Owens II, and family, migrate to what is now West Virginia and receives a land grant for 400 acres.
Capt. George Owens son of John I was at Fort Jefferson in Clarksville from 1780 until his death in 1798. "Just getting over the recent attack by the Chickasaw Indians, the population of the fort and civilian community are hit hard by sickness, mostly malaria and the flu. This appears to be a little too much for some of the families. On September 12, 1780, twenty civilian families, of the 40 known families, leave Fort Jefferson. All of these families were members of Captain George Owens' Clarksville militia."
David Owens sells 400 acres on Ten Mile creek to John Hook in 1780.
In 1781 Judith Owens is living in Washington County, PA where several of her children own land and she owns 200 acres.
David Owens joins his half brother Capt. George Owens in April 1782 in Louisville.
In 1790 John Owens II widow Susannah is living in Washington County, PA with her children. She passes away that year.
In 1790 Davy Owens is found in a tax list for Mason County, KY. This could be a son of John Owens I or one of his grandsons?
Hannah Owens/Broshears daughter of John II may have been one of the first members of her family branch to settle in the Bracken County, KY area. Her husband may have served in the Militia there as early as 1790.
There is a Charity Owins on a 1792 list for Mason County, KY. She marries Matthew Smock in 1793.
18 July 1791 Richard Grigson & Sarah Ownings married in Mason County, Ky. Bondsman: Isaac Grey
We don't find John Owens I's grandchildren on tax lists for Bracken County, KY, until 1797 with a David Owens listed in said place.
1799 finds George and James Owens appear for the first time on Bracken County, KY tax lists. Likely they had come from Clarksville (present day Indiana).
In 1801 Charity Owens gives permission for her son Thomas to marry in Bracken County, KY.
In 1804 two more Owens males appear. An additional James and George appear. In 1803 we see an additional Thomas. It's unknown which James is the son of John Owens II and Susannah. Recently uncovered evidence seems to suggest my ancestor James D. Owens may be the best candidate.
George C., Thomas, and David eventually returned to Clarksville Indiana. James Owens Sr. and Sally Broshears migrated to Gibson, Washington County, Indiana where David Owens and Polly Miranada were living in the 1820's.
Capt. George Owens son, George C., was still living in the 1860's. He died in a freak accident in 1870. A log fell on him.
My own Owens family traces from James D. Owens born about 1780 in PA died 1824 in Bracken County, KY. His son William F. Owens born was about 1820 in Bracken County, Ky. He married Nancy Hicks from across the Ohio River in Clermont, Ohio in 1849. Soon after the marriage this family migrated to Illinois. They lived in Mattoon, Illinois for many years. In the early 1900's William F.'s daughter Mary E. Owens/Mason moved to Chicago, Illinois with her children she died their in 1910. DNA testing has established that we are related to John Owens I Indian Trader.