McGowan - Goan
One of my maternal great grandmothers was Margaret Jane Goan.An uncle told my mother in a letter that the family name originally was McGowan and had been Americanized after immigrating.Family lore says that two brothers, Daniel and Ezekiel, escaped to America from Ireland as the sole survivors of their family during Cromwell's wars in Ireland.We have the Goan line going back from Margaret: Margaret Jane born 24 Jun 1870 & married to Jacob Leeper; Daniel Hardin born 22 Oct 1834 & married to Terressa Robertson; Ezekiel born Dec 1801 & married to Leannah McClannahan; and Daniel born about 1735 & married to Susannah Inman.The first two were born in Tennessee, and we think the other two were born in North Carolina.The earliest Daniel was born about 1735, so he can't be the Daniel who escaped from Ireland with his brother.If anyone can help us with this line, verify that the name was McGowan, etc, we would really appreciate the help.
Thanks,
Howard