robertmackayclan

I've been asked if George Henry 'Cuba George' Sowers served in the military during the Civil War. I do not recall Hunter Branson McKay ever mentioning that his grandfather served during the war. I know he would have been in the right age group.

He paid for substitutes, one named "John Smith", check page 73 of my Sowers Book. The source was Hunter B. McKay.

I've been asked if George Henry 'Cuba George' Sowers served in the military during the Civil War. I do not recall Hunter Branson McKay ever mentioning that his grandfather served during the war. I know he would have been in the right age group.

The person who asked if George H. Sowers had a war record--could have read all the postings from micofilms posted on your site "Rosters of Men Who Served VA from the lower Shenandoah Valley". And answered their own question. My book dealing with Sowers Family is also on line. Some of the other Sowers & Kerfoot men who served I believe I recorded that information.

I did about a year ago, perhaps longer, send you the men ones who served from Fauquier Co.VA and I have not seen it posted on your site.

There are also various persons who have compiled books dealing with the various companies of the Civil War units. In my personal library I just have "2nd Virginia Infantry" by Dennis E. Frye and the one by Kenneth L. Stiles "4th Virginia Cavalry" (my gr-gr-grandfather John Washington Ball & his brother and brother-in-law named). Fairfax Public Library has a complete set of these books and I am sure most large libraries do as well. Most of these books have pictures of some of the soldiers.

There are rolls of micofilm which contain the pay slips for the various soldiers who served in the Civil War from the various companies and States. Fairfax Public Library has the ones dealing with our families living in VA and I have viewed a few of them. The library does have some of the other States--Federal & C.S.A. but I have not found the time to view them.

Prior to the Civil War, researchers will find in land deeds, persons taking oaths to serve in their local militia. I am assuming when I abtract the lands deeds for Warren & Clarke counties, VA I will find the same information.

In all these sources, I have never found my gr-gr-grandfather George H. Sowers, so I will assume Hunter Branson McKay was correct in his information about said G.H. Sowers. If someone went in place of another person I do not know if that information could have been recorded. I got the opinion from H.B.M. notes he thought the name "John Smith" was really not his real name.

Ancestry.Com (paid site) has military records on line, but I do not known if they have the actual images on line or just abtractions. Most of the large libraries have Ancestry.Com for "free"-- people just have to go to the library. To get it on your home computer will cost -- a couple hundred dollars per year. They have different plans so the cost will vary.

L.D.S. Church and Ancestry have not settled "their differences", but call your local branch for the latest information on that issue.

Thanks for mentioning the data on the Fauquier soldiers. I put it aside to add to the website and somehow forgot about it in all of my activities.

I'll look and make sure I haven't misplaced it.

The person who asked if George H. Sowers had a war record--could have read all the postings from micofilms posted on your site "Rosters of Men Who Served VA from the lower Shenandoah Valley". And answered their own question. My book dealing with Sowers Family is also on line. Some of the other Sowers & Kerfoot men who served I believe I recorded that information.

I did about a year ago, perhaps longer, send you the men ones who served from Fauquier Co.VA and I have not seen it posted on your site.

There are also various persons who have compiled books dealing with the various companies of the Civil War units. In my personal library I just have "2nd Virginia Infantry" by Dennis E. Frye and the one by Kenneth L. Stiles "4th Virginia Cavalry" (my gr-gr-grandfather John Washington Ball & his brother and brother-in-law named). Fairfax Public Library has a complete set of these books and I am sure most large libraries do as well. Most of these books have pictures of some of the soldiers.

There are rolls of micofilm which contain the pay slips for the various soldiers who served in the Civil War from the various companies and States. Fairfax Public Library has the ones dealing with our families living in VA and I have viewed a few of them. The library does have some of the other States--Federal & C.S.A. but I have not found the time to view them.

Prior to the Civil War, researchers will find in land deeds, persons taking oaths to serve in their local militia. I am assuming when I abtract the lands deeds for Warren & Clarke counties, VA I will find the same information.

In all these sources, I have never found my gr-gr-grandfather George H. Sowers, so I will assume Hunter Branson McKay was correct in his information about said G.H. Sowers. If someone went in place of another person I do not know if that information could have been recorded. I got the opinion from H.B.M. notes he thought the name "John Smith" was really not his real name.

Ancestry.Com (paid site) has military records on line, but I do not known if they have the actual images on line or just abtractions. Most of the large libraries have Ancestry.Com for "free"-- people just have to go to the library. To get it on your home computer will cost -- a couple hundred dollars per year. They have different plans so the cost will vary.

L.D.S. Church and Ancestry have not settled "their differences", but call your local branch for the latest information on that issue.

Duane L. Borden compiled in book form cemetery records dealing with Warren Co. VA in 1990's, included in his book Prospect Hill Cemetery of Front Royal, VA with Soldiers Circle--names of soldiers.

Also included Mosby Monument of Prospect Hill Cemetery, Confederate Monument of Front Royal, Battle of Front Royal Monument, Front Royal, Korean-Vietnam Memorial of Front Royal, World War I, World War II of Front Royal, VA

I have the book in personal library, if others need a name looked up, I believe the book is out of print.

I am going to the public library today and check the pay roll films for the various C.S.A. that our McKay, Kerfoot, Sowers & Johnston records exist. The library does have various other C.S.A. soldiers for the other states, but no Federal Troops records.

I am interested in trying to solve the problem of John I. Johnson (other records John J. Johnston), listed on the monument as Private in Co. E VA Cav., the compiled book has him killed at Gettysburg, PA. My first look at the above film, stated that he was a student in Alexandria, when he joined the C.S.A. So my original thought that John J. (I.) Johnston who married into Brownley family, was wrong. I believe both were deceased by 1850 census. Could have been his son, I just to do not known.

I am trying to find documentation that John J. (I) Johnston & Morgan Johnston were brothers who married into the Brownley Family. My main goal to find documentation as to their parents and was my Matilda Johnston who married Wm. Mitchell was their sister.

Found on Reel 32 17th Inf. the record of John I. Johnston age given as 18 years as of 18th Apr 1861, student in Alexandria, VA when he enlisted.

So he would be the son of John J or I & Emily (Brownley) Johnston. I will have to wait after abtracting Clarke Co. VA land deed and wills to see if I can find the names of their children.

John I. Johnston who was killed during the war, in his civil war file, gave the name of his home as "Clover Hill" in Warren Co. VA.

In my Sowers book the couple Cassius D. Laws (b. 1857,d. 1925) and his wife Alice M. Sowers (daughter of John W. & Mary E. MITCHELL Sowers) lived in "Clover Hill". His father owned a hotel in Fauquier Co. VA. So I guess he purchased the land in Warren Co. VA for himself.

What I am seeking is-- Was Clover Hill owned at one time by a member of Johnston Family?

Hope to find the answer when I read the Warren Co. VA land deeds, there should be a transfer of the property in those records.

What I am seeking is the documentation between my Matilda (Johnston) Mitchell and John I. Johnston and Morgan Johnston--that they were siblings.

I "Google" the "Clover Hill" and up pop a farm of 72 acres with various buildings. However it does not say who owned the property in the past. It is for sale located adjacent to The Shenandoah Valley County Club and joins Bowling Green County Club. This posting as a map of the area showing the property and other's lots.

Another posting of cemetery listing has the farm with only one grave given of Mary Eliza Bowen the third daughter of Edwin & Eliza F. Bowen. Signs of other grave located at the burial ground. Said daughter born 25 Aug 1852 and died 30 Dec 1852. So I think I am looking for ownership with the Bowen family and will have to see who they sold it to at a later date.

The said couple Edwin Bowen & Eliza F. JOHNSTON married in Warren Co. VA 26 Mar 1844

John I. Johnston who was killed during the war, in his civil war file, gave the name of his home as "Clover Hill" in Warren Co. VA.

In my Sowers book the couple Cassius D. Laws (b. 1857,d. 1925) and his wife Alice M. Sowers (daughter of John W. & Mary E. MITCHELL Sowers) lived in "Clover Hill". His father owned a hotel in Fauquier Co. VA. So I guess he purchased the land in Warren Co. VA for himself.

What I am seeking is-- Was Clover Hill owned at one time by a member of Johnston Family?

Hope to find the answer when I read the Warren Co. VA land deeds, there should be a transfer of the property in those records.

What I am seeking is the documentation between my Matilda (Johnston) Mitchell and John I. Johnston and Morgan Johnston--that they were siblings.

Found in the notes, really need to index all of them. The late Hunter B. McKay had visited "Clover Hill" stated the home of his aunt.

Found in the book "Pedigrees of Some of The Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants" Vol 11, p. 74

"Edwin Bowen b. Fauquier Co. VA Oct 1816, died in Sikesville? Maryland 30 Nov 1876, Nov 30 1876; m. in Clarke Co. VA, Mar 26,1844, Eliza Frances Johnston, b. in Clark Co. VA Dec 17, 1823,; d. at Front Royal, VA, Apr 15 1918, dau. of John I. Johnston and Emma Brounley"

His line back to Charlemagne through his mother Amelia Tutt, his father Col. James Bowen born 1 Sep 1787 in Fauquier Co. VA, d. in Warren Co. VA 12 Feb 1837, son of Lt. Thomas Bowen who served in the Revolution, and Sally Winterton.

I believe there are other links with the Bowen family with our Kerfoot & Sowers families.

At the moment I am just trying to figure out the Johnston family of Warren/Clarke counties, VA.

I have found some interesting information from the Federal Census 1860,1870,1880 & 1900 census for the couple Edwin Bowen & his wife Eliza Frances Johnston.

Her mother Emma (Brownley) Johnston 65 years of age listed on the Nineveh, Warren Co. VA 1860 census living with said couple. Believe she was the mother of said Eliza F. and wife of John I. Johnston. Her sister E.B. Johnston (female) 22 years also living in the Bowen household.

By 1870 the family living in Front Royal, Warren Co. VA said Emma Johnston not with them.

By 1880 Clarke Co. VA living in Greenway just Eliza Bowen age 55 and four of her children

By 1900 Clarke Co. VA living in Greenway just Eliza Bowen age Dec 1823 only one of her daughters living with her Clara J. Oct 1867. This census record stated that she had 12 children and 8 alive in 1900. I have the names of 11 of their children, the other could have died as infant.

I hope to find in the future that "Clover Hill" once possessed by John I. Johnston and his daughter Eliza F. (Johnston) Bowen came to possess it in some legal transfer. Or perhaps Edwin & Eliza F. Bowen just came to live with the widow of John I. Johnston--Emily/Emma (Brownley) Johnston.

I belive that John I. & Emma Johnston had two sons: John I. & Joseph Johnston both killed in Civil War.