**3rd-Great paternal Granduncle/aunt of Eula Claudine Reed
Adam Sowder:
Parents: Jacob Sowder & Elizabeth ?
Born: About 1755-1765 (Maryland?)
Died: About 1840 (Claiborne County, Tennessee)
Buried: Unknown (unknown)
Elizabeth McFarland (spouse):
Parents: James McFarland & Elizabeth Ety James
Born: May 6, 1767 (Virginia ?)
Married: About 1785 (Virginia ?)
Died: About 1835 ? (Claiborne County, Tennessee)
Buried: Unknown (unknown)
Children:
- Jacob Sowder (Born: 4/25/1786?);
- Adam Sowder (Born: 4/25/1786?);
- Daniel Sowder (Born: 9/7/1788);
- Katherine Sowder (Born: 6/13/1791);
- Elizabeth Sowder (Born: 9/29/1793);
- Emmanuel Sowder (Born: 12/3/1795);
- Nancy Sowder (Born: 5/6/1798);
- Chinea Cina Sowder (Born: 1/23/1801);
- Burton Sowder (Born: 7/17/1803);
- Claiborne Sowder (Born: 12/25/1805).
Genealogical Sketch:
About 1755 (or possibly as late as 1765), Adam Sowder is believed to have been born in Fredrick County, Maryland. His father was Jacob Sowder and his mother is believed to have been Elizabeth (possibly Elizabeth Story) as reported by his younger brother Michael Sowder (born about 1768).[1] Adam Sowder’s parents and family were members of the German-Swiss community of ardent Christians known as “the Brethren” that were often referred to as “Tunkers” or “Dunkers” for their insistence of full subversion under water baptism (aka: Baptist) that had form some of the first Baptist churches in Virginia.
Sometime around 1785, Adam Sowder is believed to have married Elizabeth McFarland somewhere in Virginia (likely near Montgomery County). Born on May 6, 1767, Elizabeth McFarland was reported to be the daughter of James McFarland (1763-1796) and Elizabeth Ety James (1746-1776).
On July 19, 1790, a grant was recorded for Adam Sowder (assignee of Henry Dewees) of 350 acres on Little River adjoining the land of Samuel Musgrove in Botetourt County, Virginia.[2] Similarly, there were two land grants recorded for his father Jacob Sowder for a total of 588 acres on the head of Little River in Botetourt County (Virginia) recorded the previous year (on July 26, 1789) suggesting Adam Sowder likely had been living in the area prior to the first Federal census in 1790.[3]
Following the Revolution, the counties of Virginia continued to be divided into sections that formed companies of men that would be eligible for duty in the militia that were over seen by appointed captains. On July 4, 1797, Adam Souder was appointed Constable of Captain James Rentfro’s Company of Montgomery County, Virginia.[4] A land grant was recorded for Adam Souder of 112 acres on the waters of Little River adjoining his own land in Botetourt County (Virginia) on July 31, 1797.[5]
Although it is unclear when or why Adam Sowder moved his family close to 250 miles west to Claiborne County (Tennessee), they were likely following the Wilderness road that passed through the Cumberland Gap located on the border of Claiborne County (Tennessee) and Knox County (Kentucky). Laid out by Daniel Boone, the Wilderness road had enabled thousands of white pioneers move west through the Appalachian mountains into Indian lands that had been claimed by both Virginia and North Carolina. On October 2, 1798, the First Treaty of Tellico with the Cherokee cleared the way for settlement in the disputed lands leading to the creation of Claiborne County (Tennessee) along the border of (Knox County) Kentucky and (Lee County) Virginia from the north western sections of Grainger and Hawkins Counties in eastern Tennessee on October 29, 1801.
On September 11, 1802, John Owens was appointed as the overseer with Adam Sowder and Duncan McFarland (Elizabeth’s brother?) listed among the men order to assist with building a road from “the ford of old Town Creek to Powels river, where James Gibson now lives” in Claiborne County, Tennessee.[6] This indicates Adam Sowder owned property and was living along the path the road was ordered to be built in the Powell Valley, likely somewhere around five miles east of the unincorporated community of Arthur. On December 8, 1803, Adam Sowder was one of the 41 men summoned “to attend at March Court 1804 then and there to Serve as Jurors until discharged” by the Claiborne County Court. Others summoned included George Snuffer, Obediah Martin, and John Owens (Barren Ck).[7]
- On June 10, 1805, Adam Sowder’s son Jacob Souder married Polly Robinson in Rockingham County, Virginia.[8] Born on October 18, 1875, Mary “Polly” Snuffer appears to have been a widow as she was reported to have been the daughter of George Schnaufer (1731-1830) and Elizabeth Garrett (1745-1791).
- According to another researcher, Adam Sowder’s son Jacob Sowder was found guilty in the Tennessee Court of Pleas of “bastardy” for fathering a child out of wedlock with Rachel McFarland in May 1808. However, this Jacob Sowder was reportedly ordered to pay $8 per month in November 1807 (need to confirm dated along with citation – likely from the Claiborne County Court minutes [1801-1824]).
- About 1813, Adam Sowder’s son Daniel F. Sowder is reported to have married Mary Polly Brummet in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Mary Polly Brummet was reported to have been born in Franklin County (Virginia) on July 7, 1793.
- About 1813, Adam Sowder’s daughter Katherine “Katie” Sowder is reported to have married Matthew Owens in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Born about 1790, Matthew Owens is reported to be the son of John and Mary Owens.
- On December 10, 1827, Adam Sowder’s son Emmanuel Sowder reportedly married Milly Ferrell in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Born on October 15, 1809, Milly Farrell was reported to be the daughter of John Ferrell and Mary Richardson.
According to the 1830 Federal Census, the 60-69 year-old Adam Sowder was living in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Adam Sowder was living with a 40-49 year-old free white female, his two 15-19 year-old sons, along with a free colored male under the age of ten, and free colored female under the age of ten.
- Living in the next household was Adam Sowder’s 40-49 year-old son Daniel Sowder with his 40-49 year-old wife, his 10-14 year-old daughter, and his two 5-9 year-old sons;
- Living close by in a preceding household (separated by the household of Henry Guthery) was Adam Sowder’s 30-39 year-old son Emanuel Sowder with his 20-29 year-old wife, his daughter under the age of five, and his son under the age of five.
On March 21, 1840, an inventory of the estate of the deceased Adam Sowder was reported in the Claiborne County probate records by the “administrator of the heirs” Daniel Sowder.[9] Indicating she had died prior to the death of Adam Sowder, his wife Elizabeth Sowder did not appear to have been listed in the probate records.
Gravestones:
It is not known where Adam Sowder or his wife Elizabeth Sowder are buried.
[1] The Descendants of Christian Sr. & Polly Souders of Washington County, Indiana by Jim R. Souder, Page 4.
“The fact that Jacob (Sowder) resided in Fredrick County (Maryland) was established by his son Michael Sowder’s death certificate, which is filed in Montgomery County Courthouse at Christianburg, Virginia. According to the death certificate, Michael Sowder died on Elliott’s Creek on the 19 June 1868 at the age of one hundred years. Place of birth is given as Fredrick County, Maryland, and the name of his parents as Jacob & Elizabeth Sowder. The informants were Michael’s grandson, Joseph Sowder, and his wife Elizabeth.“
[2] Virginia Land Office Grants No. 22 (1789-1791), Pages 410-411 (Reel 88).
[3] Virginia Land Office Grants No. 21 (1789-1790), Pages 141-144 (Reel 87).
[4] Annals of Southwest Virginia (1769-1800) by Lewis Preston Summers, Page 869.
[5] Virginia Land Office grant for Adam Souder dated July 31, 1797, Page 339 (Reel 103).
[6] Unconfirmed citation provided – (Claiborne County Court Transcriptions, Claiborne County Library, Campbell County Tennessee, Item 56 [Sept. Session 1802]).
“Ordered that John Owens be appointed overseer of the Road from the ford of old Town Creek to Powels river, where James Gibson now lives & that the following hands be His gang – Viz. James Renfro & hands – William Norvell & hands – John Word, Jack Owens, William Owens, Walter Evans, Shadrack Caps, Duncan McFarland – Adam Sowder, George Hector, Charles Bratcher, Claiton Hodgon(?) & Jo. Austin, Benjm Owens, Isaac Owens.“
[7] Unconfirmed citation provided – (Claiborne County Court Clerks’ Office, State of Tennessee, Claiborne County Court Records, From the First Organization of said Court in December 1801, by Walter Evans, Book 1, Minute Book-Volume 1, WPA, page 70 doc page 177-178).
[8] Virginia Compiled Marriages (1740-1850); Virginia Select Marriages (1785-1940).
[9] Claiborne County (Tennessee) Wills Volume A (1837-1848), Pages 91-93.
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