Israel Cowen
Israel Cowen was born at Scituate, in Plymouth Colony, on 10 December 1664. The town clerk entered him as "Iserell, s. John." His father, John Cowen, had come to Scituate from Scotland and bought land at Conihasset, north of Sweet swamp and east of Michael Pierce's farm. His mother was Rebecca, the widow of Richard Man. The name is written Cowen, Cowing and Cowin in the town books.
He grew up in a crowded house. His father lived in Richard Man's old house until 1670, and Israel's mother had four Man sons from her first marriage: Nathaniel, Thomas, Richard and Josiah. By John Cowen she had five more children: Joseph in 1657, Mary in 1659, John in 1662, Israel in 1664 and Rebekah in 1666.
In 1670, when Israel was five, his father was brought before the Plymouth court for saying that England had only ever had one English king, and that one was "crooked back'd Richard." The court cleared him. In March 1676, when Israel was eleven, his eldest brother Joseph went out with Capt. Michael Pierce's company in King Philip's War and was killed near Pawtucket.
Israel stayed on the family land at Conihasset. His first child, Mary, was born on 28 December 1691. Children came for more than twenty years after that: Israel in 1693, who died at four; Hannah in 1694; Elizabeth in 1697; a second Israel in 1699; Josiah in 1704; Gathelus in 1708/9; Job in 1713/14; Joseph in 1715; Rachel; and Sarah.
From 1708 the clerk enters the children as "s. Israel and Hannah", so his wife in those years was Hannah. Her maiden name is not known. Nor do the town books show whether she was also the mother of Mary, born seventeen years before the first entry that names her.
Mary married Benjamin Pierce Jr. on 5 February 1711/12. Her husband was a grandson of the same Capt. Michael Pierce who had died beside her uncle Joseph.
Israel died on 15 January 1717/18, aged fifty three. The clerk wrote the year as 1717, because the old calendar began the year on 25 March. A daughter, Sarah, is entered at her death on 5 January 1718 as "d. Israel dec'd", the daughter of Israel deceased. In July 1719 his widow brought the four youngest children to be baptised together, Rachel, Joseph, Job and Gathelus, and the clerk wrote them down as "ch. Hannah, wid."
He was buried in the Men of Kent Cemetery at Scituate. His slate stone is still there, broken across the top. What remains of the inscription reads "...1717 AGED 53 YEARS", the same age the town clerk gave.
Children
Sources
If Israel Cowen is in your family, start your own tree.
Cite: Heirology, "Israel Cowen (1664-1717)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/israel-cowen-1664-1717-128b85.