William Coward III

Our first proven ancester, William Coward was living in Chowan
Precinct, North Carolina in 1717 (changed to Bertie County in 1722).
He was a witness on a deed dated April 1, 1717 between William Tanner
to Thomas Mathews. Deed Book 1, page 534, Chowan County, North
Carolina.

On April 15, 1718, William Coward purchased from Joseph Jossop 200
acres of land next to James Blount, Chowan Deed Book 1, page 564.

In 1720 William Coward served on jury and in 1721, 1722 he served on
the Grand Juror. Journal of NC Genealogy, Vol. XII, No. 1 (Spring 1966)
Page 1628.

On March 30, 1721, William Coward served as grand juror in three cases in the
court of the Province of Chowan County, Albermarle County, N.C. For the term
July 21, 1722 to Aug 4, 1722, William Coward served as grand juror, and on
Aug 8, 1722, William Coward again served in that capacity.
William L. Saunders, Sec. of State (col. & ed.), The Colonial Records of North
Carolina, Vol II, 1713-1728.
(Raleigh: p. M. Hale, Printer to the State, 1866) pp 438, 439, 473, 477.

On September 21, 1721, William Coward bought 150 acres of land in
Chowan County from Richard Willson. The deed states this 150 acres is
adjoined William Coward's plantation. Deed Book C, page 175.

Patent #1561 to John Harlowe, April 5, 1720, 600 acres in Chowan
Precinct on ye North side of Morattuck River between Conoras and a
branch of Rockquis, joining Martin Griffin, Cogwell, and ye said
branch of Rockquis. Patent Book 3, page 5. Register of Deeds, Chowan
County, North Carolina.

Deed dated October 9, 1725, John Harloe conveyed to William Coward 600
acres of land on Moratock Creek, joined land of Cogswell, Downing and
Martin Griffin, on brach of Roquish Creek, in Bertie County, North
Carolina. John Harloe acquired this land by patent dated April 5,
1720.

On October 25, 1726 William Coward was a witness on a deed from Samuel
Woodward to John Jordan for 200 acres of land on the Northeast side on
Chowan River in Bertie County, North Carolina, William was alive on
above date.

Deed dated February 9, 1729, John Coward conveyed to Joseph White 100
acres of land adjoing Martin Griffin in Bertie County. The deed
recites the land was sold to William Coward, DECEASED, by John Harloe
and was part of patent granted to John Harloe. Deed Book C, page 175,
Bertie County, North Carolina.

Deed dated Feburary 12, 1755, Richard Johnson and wife Alice conveyed
100 acres of land to John Kitrill, Junior. Deed states: "100 acres
being part of a patent to John Harlowe and sold by Harlowe to William
Coward and by Coward's son and heir to Joseph White and by said White
to William Carlton and by Carlton to Richard Johnson." This deed
confirms that John was son and heir of William Coward.

William Coward lived in Chowan Precinct which later became Bertie
County. He was a land owner, bought and sold land, served on juriers,
and witnessed numerous documents. The evidence indicates he was
prominent in the community. The inventory of his estate included
"Coopers Tools" (A cooper was one who made or repaired wooden casks or
tubs). William had a trade and in addition was probably a farmer.
William died in 1728. ¹¹⁷

2592. William Coward III ¹¹⁷ (William Coward⁵, William Coward⁴, Thomas³, John², Robert¹) was born about 1662 in Wells, England ^¹¹⁷ and died in Mar 1727/28 in Bertie Precinct, N.C. ^¹¹⁷ about age 66.

William married Mary SPEIGHT ¹¹⁷ about 1690.¹¹⁷ Mary died after 1728.^¹¹⁷

Children from this marriage were:

2593 M i. John COWARD ¹¹⁷ ¹¹⁸ was born in 1708 in Richmond, Virginia/Richmond Co., VA ^¹¹⁸ and died on 28 Mar 1744 in Bertie County, North Carolina ^¹¹⁸ at age 36. (Relationship to Father,¹¹⁷ Relationship to Mother. ¹¹⁷)

John married Elizabeth Wimberly GRIFFIN ¹¹⁷ ¹¹⁸ (b. Abt 1708, d. 1751) in 1723 in NC.¹¹⁷ ¹¹⁸

2594 M ii. James COWARD ¹¹⁷ was born about 1700 in Bertie Precinct, N.C. ^¹¹⁷ and died about 1743 in Bertie Precinct, N.C. ^¹¹⁷ about age 43. (Relationship to Father,¹¹⁷ Relationship to Mother. ¹¹⁷)

2595 M iii. Unknown COWARD ¹¹⁷ was born about 1700 in Bertie Precinct, N.C..^¹¹⁷ (Relationship to Father,¹¹⁷ Relationship to Mother. ¹¹⁷)

Unknown married Living

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