Jowers History

"Brief History of the Jowers Family of Webster County, Georgia"

The name "Jowers" in old Saxon and Dane was spelled "Godhar", meaning "good army". Jowers (Godhars) migrated to England and settled in the County of Suffolk. In 1066 they fought for the Earl of Harold in the "Battle of Hastings" against William the Conqueror. There were Jowers who fought in the "War of Roses" in 1471 for the Earl of Oxford against the Duke of York. From 1645 to 1660 these Jowers of Suffolk fought for and helped finance King Charles I in his battles against Oliver Cromwell. After the King was captured by Cromwell and was later executed, his son Charles II became King. He rewarded the Jowers with land, money, and the right to use a Crest, upon which was affixed a Lion Rampant, a Blazing Sun and three Golden Roundels.

From England some of the Jowers were early immigrants to the Colonies. In 1711, a Francis Jowers came over to settle in the Carolinas. There was a John, Jowers in "His Majesty's Navy" who sailed from Southampton on "H.M.S. Berwick" in 1740. He jumped ship in Annapolis and stayed in the Colonies. In the French and Indian Wars, 1753 to 1760, Francis Jowers, and his brother, Marmaduke, fought for the British under General John Bradstreet, against the Abenakis and Huron Indians- They received commendations and Land Grants from the King for their bravery.

In 1757, in the Fayette District of North Carolina, James and William Jowers were "Regulators". These "Regulators" were leading citizens governing the civil rights of the people in their District, In 1769, Benjamin Franklin was appointed agent to represent the Fayette District to "His Majesty", protesting undue taxation. This document was signed by Jonathan and Thomas Jowers (among others).

In the "Revolutionary War" a William Jowers fought for the "North Carolina Royal Regiment", but deserted to the "Rebels". Sir Henry Clinton asked General George Washington for the return of Officer William Jowers, and two others, in exchange for two American Officers. This request was refused. Some other Jowers who fought for the British in the Revolutionary War were in the Retreat from Philadelphia in 1777, the Repulse of Stones Ferry in South Carolina, and the Siege of Savannah in 1779.There was a John Jowers in North Carolina who received pay from the U. S. Treasury in 1782 for his service in the Revolutionary War. There were at least four Jowers who received U. S. Land Grants because of having served in the Revolutionary War; Thomas Jowers (1784) in Richmond County, North Carolina; George Jowers (1785) in Cheraw District, South Carolina; Marmaduke Jower3 (1787) in Barnwell District, South Carolina, and John Jowers (1798) in Cheraw District, South Carolina.

(Acknowledgement for most of the above material goes to Robert Sellwood, Hertfordshire, England)

The branch of the Jowers who were early pioneers in Webster County were the sons of James Jowers who lived and died in the Fayette District of North Carolina. In the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery James Jowers orphaned sons were awarded land in District 25 in Lee County (now Webster County). James, (my great, great, grandfather) was the eldest of these "Orphans" and played a very prominent part in settling the County.

In 1833, James went bond for Abraham Prim for Postmaster when the first Post Of f-ace was established in Lannahassee (now Webster Co.). He also witnessed legal documents, was a bondsman, loaned money, and encouraged people to settle in the area. Some of the men with whom James had dealings before he died in 1862 were: Humphrey Drury, James Daniel, John and Richmond Statham, Jonathan Winzer, Micah and Jesse Pickett, Robert Beaty, Benjamin Griffen, S. M. McGrady, W. B. Perry and James Ball.

In 1840 there were four Jowers men living in Webster County; James, Patrick, George, and Manning, all of whom were born in North Carolina. In 1846 a John Jowers married Amanda Pickett. The 1850 census shows James, George, Patrick, and their families.

James Jowers had a self-sustaining plantation, enlarged from his original 250 acre Georgia 1827 Land Grant, of approximately three thousand acres. This was east of Preston. Some of this land was near the Sumter County line and adjacent to the property now owned by President Carter, "Miss Lillian"' Carter and Billy Carter. For tax purposes in 1850, James Jowers real estate was valued at $16,000.00 and his personal property was valued at more than $28,000 In 1860 census, James (age 48) and wife Harriet, had four sons - Darling, Wilson my great grandfather), William Pinckney, Franklin Marion, and one daughter, Julia Ann. James also had approximately 20 slaves.

The James Jowers home was a large two story house with galleries and basement. The plantation had its own grist mill, cotton press, brick kilns, blacksmith shop, whiskey distillery, syrup mill slave cabins, barns, smokehouses and a small church. James also had his own horses, oxen, cattle, hogs, fowl and sheep along with fruit and nut trees. The family's clothes were made from their own cotton and wool.

James' son Darling, died prior to 1861, and James died in 1862. His other three sons and daughter, inherited, the plantation. William Pinckney bought the others' shares, and probably was the only Jowers of this line to stay in Webster Co. He died in 1910 and is buried in the Preston Cemetery along with his wife, Catherine and his two sons, Elebe and Emmett, who were both doctors. The sons never married and they died while their father was still living. William Pinckney left the plantation, land he owned in Americus, and stocks and bonds in Atlanta and New York, to his only daughter, Laura. She married King Stillman, a lawyer from Atlanta. They had one son; then Laura died. the son died, leaving no issue. King Stillman disposed of the property and moved back to Atlanta. Wilson moved to Clarke County, Alabama about 1870. 1 have no knowledge of where Franklin Marion settled after leaving Webster County.

(Acknowledgement for some of the above data goes to Judge A. F. Cosby, Preston, Ga., and Mrs. Albert Fisher, Decatur, Ga.)

Confederate Service Records of the Jowers of Webster Co. in the Civil War are as follows:

Franklin Marion - enlisted August 13, 1861, Co. F., 46Lh Reg., Captain Beatys' Co. He served in the "Webster Co. Invincibles" in Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. He was discharged through disability from a hospital at Front Royal, Va., on Feb. 10, 1862 and soon rejoined his Regt. He was discharged in Tennessee on April 30, 1862 by reason of having furnished a substitute named James Kelter. At this time, Franklin Marion was 20 years old, 6 ft. 2 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair.

Wilson Jowers - Co. F., 46th Regt. He was paid $76.50 conscript for service as Enrolling Officer in Webster Co., from July 8, 1862 to December 1, 1862. This was signed Feb. 24, 1863, in Macon, Ga. by Notary Public, John R. Hill, Lt. Col. J. B. Weems, and Capt. W. B. Davidson. In the Atlanta Archives there is an officinal letter, written by Wilson Jowers, dated Jan. 15, 1865 from Shiloh, Marengo Co. Ala. to President Jefferson Davis, Richmond, Va., asking for a discharge because of a lung condition. President Davis wrote on this letter "Refer to Adjutant General for attention", signed, "J.D., April 6, 1865".

William Pinckney Jowers - 987 Ga. Militia, Webster, Co. (No Record)

George W. Jowers - Enlisted April 30, 1862, Co. F. 46th Regt. Surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, Sept. 20, 1865. He was born 1836, in Barnwell, S.C., married (2nd) Tabitha Coward, in Marengo Co., Ala., and died there in 1916.

James T. Jowers - Enlisted March 4, 1862, Co. F., 46th Regt. Absent on sick leave from Greenville, S.C. Died in hospital in Rome, Ga. November 1863. His mother, Ann Jowers, filed claim for pension, February 16, 1864. She said he died leaving neither father, nor wife, nor child. William Pinckney Jowers and Mary Givins acted as witnesses.

John W. Jowers - Enlisted March 4, 1862, Co. F., 46th Regt. Captured in Lafayette, Ga. October 16, 1864. As prisoner of war was taken to Nashville, Tenn. and from there to Camp Douglas, 111. He was paroled at Greensboro, N.C. May 1, 1865 and discharged June 13th, 1865.

Submitted by: Lois Jowers Dealy