DANIEL GOINS

Reprinted with Permission from Dallas Bogan.

The following episode concerns Daniel Goins and his life according to Karen L. Cooper, of Ohio. (Daniel Goins, so far as this compiler can find, is the progenitor of most, it not all the Goins of Campbell County.)

Daniel Goins, regarded as the son of William Gowan and Anastasia Sullivan Gowan, was born about 1759 in Bedford County, Virginia., according to the research of Karen L. Cooper, a descendant of Fairborn, Ohio. She wrote:

     "In February 1777, Daniel Going enlisted to serve in the Revolutionary War for a period of two years. He served in the company commanded by Capt. Gross Scruggs which was part of the Fifth Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. Josiah Parker.

     Scruggs' company was raised in Bedford County, according to "Virginia Soldiers of 1776" by Louis B. Burgess. Daniel stated in his pension application that he fought in the Battle of Brandywine which took place on Brandywine Creek, in southeastern Pennsylvania September 11, 1777. This skirmish took place at the Old Kennett Meeting House of the Quakers. The building was still standing in April 2000.

     On the morning of September 11, British and Hessian troops began marching east along the 'Great Road' [now Route 1], advancing on the Colonial troops positioned where the road crossed Brandywine Creek. The first shots of the battle took place at a tavern where the British were repulsed. The British called for reinforcements and ran down the road to take
cover behind the stone walls on the Old Kennett Meeting House grounds. The battle was fought at mid-morning around the meeting house while the pacifist Quakers continued to hold their midweek service. One of the Quakers later wrote, 'While there was much noise and confusion without, all was quiet and peaceful within.'

     From the church, the battle continued for three miles to what is now Battlefield Park. Eventually the British pushed the Colonials back, but not before suffering heavy losses.

     Daniel Going also mentions the Battle of Germantown [suburb of Philadelphia] fought on October 4, 1777 in his pension application. At that time, the Fifth Virginia, serving under Gen. George Washington, went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Daniel Going was discharged there after one year of service." Daniel Going returned to Bedford County. "Daniel Going, white male over 21," first appeared as a taxpayer in Bedford County in 1783, paying a tax on "1 horse and 3 cows."

     Daniel Gowen was married about 1783, wife's name believed to be "Ann." Karen L. Cooper suggests that her maiden name was "Preston" and that she was born about 1757 "Dan: Gowing" and "Mrs. Ann Gowen" were purchasers at an estate sale October 10, 1783 in Bedford County.

     About 1785, William Gowan made a declaration to the Bedford County Court that he had lost an Auditor's Warrant which had belonged to Daniel Going. The bankrupt Continental Congress was not financially able to pay the Revolutionary soldiers at the end of the war and issued Auditor's Warrants as promissory notes for future payment.

     On August 13, 1804, "Daniel Going" was assessed on "2 tithes and 2 horses." "Isham Going" was again living with his father. In 1805, the last year that "Daniel Going" was assessed in Bedford County, he was taxed on "1 tithe and 1 horse." Isham Goins had already removed to Claiborne County, Tennessee. Later that year Daniel Going joined his son in western Claiborne County.

     About 1805, Daniel Goins joined his son, Isham Goins in removing to Claiborne County, Tennessee. In the following year, Campbell County, Tennessee was formed from Claiborne County and Anderson County, and the Goins families found themselves in the new county. In 1817 Daniel Goins lived near Jellico, Tennessee in Campbell County.

     On June 3, 1818, Daniel Going made an affidavit in Campbell County Court asking for a pension based on his Revolutionary service. The earliest general pension act for Revolutionary service was enacted by Congress May 18, 1818.
Daniel Goins applied for a Revolutionary pension June 3, 1818 in Campbell County, Tennessee at "age 60," "Pension No. S-38744:

     Congress enacted a second pension act May 1, 1820 requiring that the veterans to show that they were needy before a pension was to be granted. On December 4, 1820, to retain his pension, Daniel Going made another statement before the court regarding his military service and his financial condition. Many veterans were known to have minimized their financial position to make certain of receiving the pension to which they felt entitled by their service. It is believed that Daniel Going did not have to exaggerate.

     His affidavit read:

"State of Tennessee, Campbell County, December Session 1820

     On this 4th day of December 1820 personally appeared in open court being a court of record having the power of fine and imprisonment and also being made a court of record by the laws of said state, for the said county, Daniel Going aged sixty five years, resident in the county of Campbell aforesaid, who, being duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows:

     That he served in the land two years in the regular service during the Revolutionary war in the 5th Virginia Regt. Commd. by Josiah Parker in the company commd. by Capt. Scruggs. And I do swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and I have not since that time by gift, sale or any manner, disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent therby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war" passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me; nor have I income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed: 2 cows & calves & one mare & colt, $79.00; 1 sow & 7 shoats, $ 4.00; 2 chairs, 1 dish & dog, plates, $2.00; $85.00 in cash]

     Has no family but himself and his wife, that his wife is aged 67 years and unable to labor, that he has no trade.
That he is now a pensioner, that his pension certificate is No. 13511.

Sworn to and subscribed in Daniel [X] Going
Open Court 4th Dec. 1820
Joseph Hart Dept. Clk.