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BIOGRAPHY: Information sent to T.Mason on 30 May 2004 by Norma Coon.
"William/Joseph Mc Dowell was born about 1668 probably in Londonderry, Ireland. He possibly lived in County Antrim, then moved to County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He emigrated to Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania with his sons and brother and died in Pennsylvania. He is thought to have been buried in Christ Church Cemetery in Philadelphia, along with his wife Ruth Ann Roberts Mc Dowell. The Raloo Churchyard in County Tyrone is the resting place for many of the Northern Ireland McDowells of this family. Some evidence exists that his name was William Joseph or Joseph William and that he may have lived for a time in Cecil Co., Maryland along with at least his son, Charles' family. Ruth Anne (Roberts) McDowell is buried at Christ Church burial ground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."
BIOGRAPHY: Information sent to T.Mason on 30 May 2004 by Norma Coon.
"Capt. Joseph McDowell, Sr. was born in 1715 in Donegal, Northern Ireland and died 27 Feb 1771 at Quaker Meadows near Morganton, Burke Co., North Carolina. He immigrated from Ireland to Pennsylvania in 1737. Joseph was raised as a weaver in Northern Ireland; he was a planter in America. A Scots Presbyterian, he married an Irish Catholic "Princess" of The O'Neills of Antrim and Tyrone. It was reported that they fled Ireland due to the displeasure her family felt over her marriage to a Protestant, a weaver, and a Scot. Captain Joseph attained his rank in the French and Indian Wars. He first settled in Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania, then Wincester, Frederick Co., VA where his children were born. Joseph, Margaret and family finally removed to North Carolina to be near his brothers' families - Charles (deceased) and "Hunting" John McDowell of Pleasant Gardens around 1762. Earlier upon arriving in Virginia, he had purchased land from his older brother Charles (1700) in Winchester, Frederick Co., VA. Note: The Church records say he moved his family about 1774, locating on Richland Creek.
A letter from Maj. George Washington during the French and Indian Wars to Lt. Joseph McDowell, an officer in Capt. Rutherford's Rangers, of June 17, 1758:
Sir: Capt. Stephen assuring me, that so soon as the Prince William Militia are taken from his House, the Families there, and in the Neighborhood also will immediately remove; I am obliged, having it no other ways in my power to Order a few of your Men to be station'd there in their place: you are not to put so many there as to distress the other Posts you secure; and if (Capt. Van) Swearingen's Division can afford you any for this place, I shall take care to Order some accordingly. I am,
G.W.(George Washington)
A few months later, in September, 1758, Joseph was still listed as a Lieutenant in Frederick (Orange) County Militia. From Oct., 1761, he served as a Captain in the Virginia Militia, and fought as a Ranger with Major George Washington at Braddock's defeat during the French and Indian war. In Oct., 1761, he was still listed as Captain in Captain in Virginia's Frederick (Orange) County militia. On 30 Sep 1750, Joseph and his wife, Margaret O'Neill McDowell received a grant of 400 acres of "land on Rocky Creek that runs into the Catawba, below Davison Creek about a mile below where the Indian path crosses the said creek...." in North Carolina. This land was sold to John McDowell of Anson Co., NC on 17 Sep 1759. On the same date, Joseph and Margaret sold an additional 370 acres on the north side of the Catawba granted to Joseph McDowell 31 Mar 1750 to the same John McDowell (his brother Charles' son).
By 1762, Joseph and Margaret were among the earliest settlers in the Catawba Valley of Burke County, NC. They settled on land referred to as McDowell's Station and later Quaker Meadows - west of present day Morganton. The Collet Map of 1770 shows Quaker Meadows, the home of Joseph McDowell.
Joseph and Margaret had three sons who fought in the Revolutionary War. The most famous of these was General Charles McDowell (1743-1815). Nearly as well known was Col. Joseph O'Neill McDowell (1756-1801), known also as "Quaker Meadows Joe" to distinguish him from his cousin, "Pleasant Gardens Joe", the son of "Hunting" John McDowell, Joseph McDowell's brother. A third son, Maj. John McDowell (1751-1822) also served. General Charles McDowell and this Quaker Meadows Joseph McDowell were also delegates to the constitutional conventions of 1788 and 1789 along with Pleasant Gardens Joseph McDowell. Of the three, "Quaker Meadows Joe" was the only one to vote against the constitution, until the proposed Bill of Rights was approved. This same Joseph later served as a U.S. congressman in the Third and the Fifth congresses.
Joseph McDowell's will was dated 16 Mar 1770 and proved Nov., 1771. This is in conflict with the headstone for Capt. Joseph McDowell at the McDowell Cemetery, Quaker Meadows, NC, which gives his death as 27 Feb 1773, aged 65 years. An abstract of his will states: wife: Margaret, sons: Hugh, Charles, John (underage), Joseph (underage) land on Silver Creek, to daughters: Elizabeth McKinnie (McKisick) and Hannah Chrisman, 5 pounds each. Executors: wife (Margaret), sons, Hugh and Charles. Witnessed by: Philip Price, Abram Scott, Joseph Dobson LaGroon.
Inferior Court Minutes in Salisbury, November 5, 1771, "The Last Will and Testament of Joseph Mc Dowell was proved in Open Court by Abram Scott and Orderd that Letters Testamentry be Granted to Hugh McDowell one of the executor therin Names and Order of Sale."
Wednesday 6 Nov. 1771, "This day came in Open Court Hugh McDowell and William Moore, Esqr. and Took the Oath by Law Appd for there Quallification of Justice of the Peace and Subscribed the Test.""
1. Fitzpatrick, John C., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799, Vol. II.
2. College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, Earl Greg Swem, Library Call no. F262. R9;48.
3. Rankin, Rev. S. M., History of Buffalo Presbyterian Church and Her People, page 45.
4. Will Abstracts, Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. I, 1753-1805, A:99.
5. J. P. McLean, "Scotch Highlanders in America"."
BIOGRAPHY: Information sent to T.Mason on 30 May 2004 by Norma Coon.
"Virginia Margaret O'Neil (O'Neal) McDowell was born 1723 in Castle O'Shane in County Antrim, Ireland and died in 1790. Margaret was a striking woman, intelligent, articulate and with a tendency for speaking her mind with a deep rooted hatred of the English. She is buried at Quaker Meadows, Burke County, North Carolina. "Prior to the Battle of King's Mountain, where Charles and Joseph McDowell were leading figures, men from Colonel Ferguson's army visited Quaker Meadows and ransacked the house, appropriating the clothing of Charles and Joseph. They told the boys' mother, Margaret, who presided over the house, that when they caught Charles they would kill him outright. Joe, they would kill on bended knees after humiliating him by making him beg for his life. Margaret, far from being intimidated or overawed bade them be careful lest all the begging should be done by themselves. Margaret, by her defiance of the Tories, is one of the few women recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution as being a patriot of the Revolution."
1. Fitzpatrick, John C., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799, Vol. II.
2. College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, Earl Greg Swem, Library Call no. F262. R9;48.
3. Rankin, Rev. S. M., History of Buffalo Presbyterian Church and Her People, page 45.
4. Will Abstracts, Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. I, 1753-1805, A:99.
5. J. P. McLean, "Scotch Highlanders in America"."