Keturah "Kitty" White (1/16/1800-1/14/1895, daughter of John White and Elizabeth Davenport of Mathews County, VA, married first Capt.John Kirwan (d. 1820). Capt. Kirwan sailed to the West Indies with Keturah's brother Edward – they were both lost at sea or killed by pirates - and never heard from again. John and Kitty had one daughter:
A. Hester A. Kirwan, (1821-1908) who married Thomas Pendleton Woodhouse (six children) of Portsmouth. She, her husband and several of her children are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth. There is much more information on this branch.
Kitty married 2nd John Owens (1801-1839) in 1827. He was the son of a shipbuilder in Norfolk. John died in 1839 and is buried at Whitehaven, near Mobjack in Mathews Co., VA. Kitty herself died in Mathews County, VA at the home of her son Edward M. Owens. Her funeral was held at the home of another son, Albert B. Owens' widow in Portsmouth. Her death is entered in the membership register of Monumental United Methodist Church there --"Died in the faith 1895 January 14th – passed away in a great old age – being within 2 days of 95 years old". She is buried in the Owens plot along with son, John Crowder Owens and wife, and other sons Joseph, Albert and William at Oak Grove Cemetery in Portmouth. Kitty and John had six sons.[1]
B. Sylvanus Owens – died in infancy.
C. John Crowder Owens (3/19/1830 – 7/4/1863 at Gettysburg) Married Mary Ann Foster (1831-1861) on 2/16/1854. She was the daughter of James B. Foster and wife Judith, of Portsmouth. John Crowder enlisted in Company G of the Portsmouth on April 20, 1861 as a Captain. He later was promoted to Major. Just days after passing the exam to become Colonel, he received a mortal wound "in groin – through the body" by a "musket ball or shrapnel" "when little more than 1/2 way across field" during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. He died at 2 am in Pickett's Div. Hospital and was buried near Bream's Mill across the creek from the hospital. His body was probably removed for reburial in Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth between late 1863 and May 1866. Prior to the war, he was a Captain in the "Portsmouth Rifle Company" from 1856-1861.[2] John Crowder was also involved in several other battles during the war: Seven Pines, Warrenton Springs, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg and Frederickburg. He was promoted to colonel in June 1863, just days before his death.
John and Mary Ann's children.
1. Edwin W. Owens (1855-1916), druggist and member of the Virginia Legislature (Norfolk County) from 1901-1910. Edwin fought in the Spanish American War as part of Company L, 3rd Virginia Infantry. Edwin married Mattie Tabb of Portsmouth, daughter of Henry A. Tabb and wife, Missouri -- and had three children: John Watts Owens (1882-1961) (m. Cynthia Robinson), Mattie Owens and Edna Owens (1879-1946) (m. Lemuel E. Mayo, a pharmasist).[3]
2. Kate Wheelwright Owens (1856 - d. "young"), Married a Mr. Powers, no children.
3. John Owens (1859 - d. "young").
4. Fannie Owens ( 1861 - d. "young").
I wonder if Mary died in child birth when Fannie was born. It is not known who raised the children but would guess that their grandmother, Keturah, had a hand in it.
D. Edward McKendree Owens, (1832-1917), m. Emma Gayle (1850- 1927), sister to Elva Gayle, wife of William Henry Harrison White who served in the Civil War, discussed later. Edward also served in the Civil War. He enlisted on April 20, 1862 as a first Corporal, Company G of the Portsmouth Rifles.
In July 1862, he was delegated as a nurse at General Hospital of Gordonville. In 1860-61, Edward is listed in the Portsmouth City Directory as living in Portsmouth with his mother and brother, Joseph, -- working as a ship's carpenter. Edward and Emma had no children, lived in Norfolk for a while, then moved to Mathews where "many people seek health and comfort throughout the heated season of the year and they cannot begin to take all who apply for board".[4] Edward and Emma Gayle are both buried at Providence Cemetery in Mathews County.
E. Joseph Thomas Owens (1835-1905), m. Mary Louise Smith of "Beechland", Mathews, his first wife. Joseph served in the Confederate Army as a lieutenant of Company D, 26th Virginia Infantry Regiment and was promoted to Captain May 13, 1862. He was wounded in his arm June 17, 1864 and was paroled at Appamattox when General Lee's Army surrendered in April 1865. After the war, the family (four children) moved to Texas, Mary Louise dying there shortly after. Five years later Joseph returned to Virginia, married Mary Elizabeth Denson and had another son. Joseph was in the grocery business with his brother Albert at some point during his adult life. When Albert died unexpectedly, Joseph endowed and dedicated a church in Albert's name.
Joseph and Mary Louise's children:
1. Julia Owens, married Capt. W. S. Foster of Berkley, Virginia– several sons.
2. Clifford Smith Owens, unmarried and lived in St. Louis, Missouri.
3. Joseph Thomas Owens, Jr. b. 3/4/1871, married Alberta Owens, his first cousin, and had eight children – 6 sons and 2 daughters. Joseph, Jr. died 12/20/1957.
4. Mary L. Owens, died in infancy.
Child of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth
5. Claude Denson Owens, b. 6/13/1899. Died 10/13/1942.
In 1903, Joseph T. wrote his memoirs for his grandson, just two years before his death in 1905. Much of the information about the Owens/White family was taken from these papers.
F. Albert Burton Owens (1837-1894), m. Emily Susan Brownley (1847-1920) on November 4. 1869. Albert served during the Civil War -- he enlisted March 26, 1862 in Portsmouth as a soldier in Company G, the Portsmouth Rifles. He was delegated as a courier October 9, 1863 to General Barton's staff. Albert was among those who surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. After the war, he was in the grocery business with his brother Joseph – Owens Brothers Wholesale Grocery Store at 119 and 121 High Street in Portsmouth, Virginia. He and his wife suffered much heartbreak with the deaths of so many of their children.
1. Virginia C, Owens, b. 11/30/1870. Died 3/14/1879 at age eight of Scarlet Fever.
2. Susie B. Owens b. 1871. Died 3/10/1879 of Scarlet Fever.
3. Alberta Owens, b. 1/29/1876. married Joseph Thomas Owens, Jr., her first cousin – eight children – 6 sons and 2 daughters. Alberta died 1/3/1978.
4. Esther Owens, b. 1877. Died 3/10/1879, age one of Scarlet Fever.
5. Georgie Edwards Owens, b. 6/3/1879. Died 4/26/1897 of typhoid fever.
6. Rosa Mayer Owens, b. 1/1/1881.
7. John E. Owens b. 12/14/1882. Died 11/14/1888 of Membranous croup.
5. Mary Keturah Owens, married Carroll D. Deans – two daughters.
9. Albert Burton Owens, Jr. b. 8/18/1885.
10. Emma Daughtery Owens, b. 10/28/1888. Died 7/1/1918.
[1] Information about Keturah White and John Owens and sons given by E. Reginald Van Driest, II, professor of Military History at the Air Force Academy in 1982, supplemented by the recently acquired account of Joseph T. Owens mentioned earlier.
[2] From notes sent me by Reginald Van Driest, mentioned in a previous footnote.
[3] Jim Mayo, a descendant, has been in touch with me and provided further descendants.
[4] From the Joseph Thomas Owens papers.
A. Hester A. Kirwan, (1821-1908) who married Thomas Pendleton Woodhouse (six children) of Portsmouth. She, her husband and several of her children are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth. There is much more information on this branch.
Kitty married 2nd John Owens (1801-1839) in 1827. He was the son of a shipbuilder in Norfolk. John died in 1839 and is buried at Whitehaven, near Mobjack in Mathews Co., VA. Kitty herself died in Mathews County, VA at the home of her son Edward M. Owens. Her funeral was held at the home of another son, Albert B. Owens' widow in Portsmouth. Her death is entered in the membership register of Monumental United Methodist Church there --"Died in the faith 1895 January 14th – passed away in a great old age – being within 2 days of 95 years old". She is buried in the Owens plot along with son, John Crowder Owens and wife, and other sons Joseph, Albert and William at Oak Grove Cemetery in Portmouth. Kitty and John had six sons.[1]
B. Sylvanus Owens – died in infancy.
C. John Crowder Owens (3/19/1830 – 7/4/1863 at Gettysburg) Married Mary Ann Foster (1831-1861) on 2/16/1854. She was the daughter of James B. Foster and wife Judith, of Portsmouth. John Crowder enlisted in Company G of the Portsmouth on April 20, 1861 as a Captain. He later was promoted to Major. Just days after passing the exam to become Colonel, he received a mortal wound "in groin – through the body" by a "musket ball or shrapnel" "when little more than 1/2 way across field" during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. He died at 2 am in Pickett's Div. Hospital and was buried near Bream's Mill across the creek from the hospital. His body was probably removed for reburial in Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth between late 1863 and May 1866. Prior to the war, he was a Captain in the "Portsmouth Rifle Company" from 1856-1861.[2] John Crowder was also involved in several other battles during the war: Seven Pines, Warrenton Springs, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg and Frederickburg. He was promoted to colonel in June 1863, just days before his death.
John and Mary Ann's children.
1. Edwin W. Owens (1855-1916), druggist and member of the Virginia Legislature (Norfolk County) from 1901-1910. Edwin fought in the Spanish American War as part of Company L, 3rd Virginia Infantry. Edwin married Mattie Tabb of Portsmouth, daughter of Henry A. Tabb and wife, Missouri -- and had three children: John Watts Owens (1882-1961) (m. Cynthia Robinson), Mattie Owens and Edna Owens (1879-1946) (m. Lemuel E. Mayo, a pharmasist).[3]
2. Kate Wheelwright Owens (1856 - d. "young"), Married a Mr. Powers, no children.
3. John Owens (1859 - d. "young").
4. Fannie Owens ( 1861 - d. "young").
I wonder if Mary died in child birth when Fannie was born. It is not known who raised the children but would guess that their grandmother, Keturah, had a hand in it.
D. Edward McKendree Owens, (1832-1917), m. Emma Gayle (1850- 1927), sister to Elva Gayle, wife of William Henry Harrison White who served in the Civil War, discussed later. Edward also served in the Civil War. He enlisted on April 20, 1862 as a first Corporal, Company G of the Portsmouth Rifles.
In July 1862, he was delegated as a nurse at General Hospital of Gordonville. In 1860-61, Edward is listed in the Portsmouth City Directory as living in Portsmouth with his mother and brother, Joseph, -- working as a ship's carpenter. Edward and Emma had no children, lived in Norfolk for a while, then moved to Mathews where "many people seek health and comfort throughout the heated season of the year and they cannot begin to take all who apply for board".[4] Edward and Emma Gayle are both buried at Providence Cemetery in Mathews County.
E. Joseph Thomas Owens (1835-1905), m. Mary Louise Smith of "Beechland", Mathews, his first wife. Joseph served in the Confederate Army as a lieutenant of Company D, 26th Virginia Infantry Regiment and was promoted to Captain May 13, 1862. He was wounded in his arm June 17, 1864 and was paroled at Appamattox when General Lee's Army surrendered in April 1865. After the war, the family (four children) moved to Texas, Mary Louise dying there shortly after. Five years later Joseph returned to Virginia, married Mary Elizabeth Denson and had another son. Joseph was in the grocery business with his brother Albert at some point during his adult life. When Albert died unexpectedly, Joseph endowed and dedicated a church in Albert's name.
Joseph and Mary Louise's children:
1. Julia Owens, married Capt. W. S. Foster of Berkley, Virginia– several sons.
2. Clifford Smith Owens, unmarried and lived in St. Louis, Missouri.
3. Joseph Thomas Owens, Jr. b. 3/4/1871, married Alberta Owens, his first cousin, and had eight children – 6 sons and 2 daughters. Joseph, Jr. died 12/20/1957.
4. Mary L. Owens, died in infancy.
Child of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth
5. Claude Denson Owens, b. 6/13/1899. Died 10/13/1942.
In 1903, Joseph T. wrote his memoirs for his grandson, just two years before his death in 1905. Much of the information about the Owens/White family was taken from these papers.
F. Albert Burton Owens (1837-1894), m. Emily Susan Brownley (1847-1920) on November 4. 1869. Albert served during the Civil War -- he enlisted March 26, 1862 in Portsmouth as a soldier in Company G, the Portsmouth Rifles. He was delegated as a courier October 9, 1863 to General Barton's staff. Albert was among those who surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. After the war, he was in the grocery business with his brother Joseph – Owens Brothers Wholesale Grocery Store at 119 and 121 High Street in Portsmouth, Virginia. He and his wife suffered much heartbreak with the deaths of so many of their children.
1. Virginia C, Owens, b. 11/30/1870. Died 3/14/1879 at age eight of Scarlet Fever.
2. Susie B. Owens b. 1871. Died 3/10/1879 of Scarlet Fever.
3. Alberta Owens, b. 1/29/1876. married Joseph Thomas Owens, Jr., her first cousin – eight children – 6 sons and 2 daughters. Alberta died 1/3/1978.
4. Esther Owens, b. 1877. Died 3/10/1879, age one of Scarlet Fever.
5. Georgie Edwards Owens, b. 6/3/1879. Died 4/26/1897 of typhoid fever.
6. Rosa Mayer Owens, b. 1/1/1881.
7. John E. Owens b. 12/14/1882. Died 11/14/1888 of Membranous croup.
5. Mary Keturah Owens, married Carroll D. Deans – two daughters.
9. Albert Burton Owens, Jr. b. 8/18/1885.
10. Emma Daughtery Owens, b. 10/28/1888. Died 7/1/1918.
[1] Information about Keturah White and John Owens and sons given by E. Reginald Van Driest, II, professor of Military History at the Air Force Academy in 1982, supplemented by the recently acquired account of Joseph T. Owens mentioned earlier.
[2] From notes sent me by Reginald Van Driest, mentioned in a previous footnote.
[3] Jim Mayo, a descendant, has been in touch with me and provided further descendants.
[4] From the Joseph Thomas Owens papers.
Keturah "Kitty" White (1/16/1800-1/14/1895, daughter of John White and Elizabeth Davenport of Mathews County, VA, married first Capt.John Kirwan (d. 1820). Capt. Kirwan sailed to the West Indies with Keturah's brother Edward – they were both lost at sea or killed by pirates - and never heard from again. John and Kitty had one daughter:
A. Hester A. Kirwan, (1821-1908) who married Thomas Pendleton Woodhouse (six children) of Portsmouth. She, her husband and several of her children are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth. There is much more information on this branch.
Kitty married 2nd John Owens (1801-1839) in 1827. He was the son of a shipbuilder in Norfolk. John died in 1839 and is buried at Whitehaven, near Mobjack in Mathews Co., VA. Kitty herself died in Mathews County, VA at the home of her son Edward M. Owens. Her funeral was held at the home of another son, Albert B. Owens' widow in Portsmouth. Her death is entered in the membership register of Monumental United Methodist Church there --"Died in the faith 1895 January 14th – passed away in a great old age – being within 2 days of 95 years old". She is buried in the Owens plot along with son, John Crowder Owens and wife, and other sons Joseph, Albert and William at Oak Grove Cemetery in Portmouth. Kitty and John had six sons.[1]
B. Sylvanus Owens – died in infancy.
C. John Crowder Owens (3/19/1830 – 7/4/1863 at Gettysburg) Married Mary Ann Foster (1831-1861) on 2/16/1854. She was the daughter of James B. Foster and wife Judith, of Portsmouth. John Crowder enlisted in Company G of the Portsmouth on April 20, 1861 as a Captain. He later was promoted to Major. Just days after passing the exam to become Colonel, he received a mortal wound "in groin – through the body" by a "musket ball or shrapnel" "when little more than 1/2 way across field" during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. He died at 2 am in Pickett's Div. Hospital and was buried near Bream's Mill across the creek from the hospital. His body was probably removed for reburial in Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth between late 1863 and May 1866. Prior to the war, he was a Captain in the "Portsmouth Rifle Company" from 1856-1861.[2] John Crowder was also involved in several other battles during the war: Seven Pines, Warrenton Springs, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg and Frederickburg. He was promoted to colonel in June 1863, just days before his death.
John and Mary Ann's children.
1. Edwin W. Owens (1855-1916), druggist and member of the Virginia Legislature (Norfolk County) from 1901-1910. Edwin fought in the Spanish American War as part of Company L, 3rd Virginia Infantry. Edwin married Mattie Tabb of Portsmouth, daughter of Henry A. Tabb and wife, Missouri -- and had three children: John Watts Owens (1882-1961) (m. Cynthia Robinson), Mattie Owens and Edna Owens (1879-1946) (m. Lemuel E. Mayo, a pharmasist).[3]
2. Kate Wheelwright Owens (1856 - d. "young"), Married a Mr. Powers, no children.
3. John Owens (1859 - d. "young").
4. Fannie Owens ( 1861 - d. "young").
I wonder if Mary died in child birth when Fannie was born. It is not known who raised the children but would guess that their grandmother, Keturah, had a hand in it.
D. Edward McKendree Owens, (1832-1917), m. Emma Gayle (1850- 1927), sister to Elva Gayle, wife of William Henry Harrison White who served in the Civil War, discussed later. Edward also served in the Civil War. He enlisted on April 20, 1862 as a first Corporal, Company G of the Portsmouth Rifles.
In July 1862, he was delegated as a nurse at General Hospital of Gordonville. In 1860-61, Edward is listed in the Portsmouth City Directory as living in Portsmouth with his mother and brother, Joseph, -- working as a ship's carpenter. Edward and Emma had no children, lived in Norfolk for a while, then moved to Mathews where "many people seek health and comfort throughout the heated season of the year and they cannot begin to take all who apply for board".[4] Edward and Emma Gayle are both buried at Providence Cemetery in Mathews County.
E. Joseph Thomas Owens (1835-1905), m. Mary Louise Smith of "Beechland", Mathews, his first wife. Joseph served in the Confederate Army as a lieutenant of Company D, 26th Virginia Infantry Regiment and was promoted to Captain May 13, 1862. He was wounded in his arm June 17, 1864 and was paroled at Appamattox when General Lee's Army surrendered in April 1865. After the war, the family (four children) moved to Texas, Mary Louise dying there shortly after. Five years later Joseph returned to Virginia, married Mary Elizabeth Denson and had another son. Joseph was in the grocery business with his brother Albert at some point during his adult life. When Albert died unexpectedly, Joseph endowed and dedicated a church in Albert's name.
Joseph and Mary Louise's children:
1. Julia Owens, married Capt. W. S. Foster of Berkley, Virginia– several sons.
2. Clifford Smith Owens, unmarried and lived in St. Louis, Missouri.
3. Joseph Thomas Owens, Jr. b. 3/4/1871, married Alberta Owens, his first cousin, and had eight children – 6 sons and 2 daughters. Joseph, Jr. died 12/20/1957.
4. Mary L. Owens, died in infancy.
Child of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth
5. Claude Denson Owens, b. 6/13/1899. Died 10/13/1942.
In 1903, Joseph T. wrote his memoirs for his grandson, just two years before his death in 1905. Much of the information about the Owens/White family was taken from these papers.
F. Albert Burton Owens (1837-1894), m. Emily Susan Brownley (1847-1920) on November 4. 1869. Albert served during the Civil War -- he enlisted March 26, 1862 in Portsmouth as a soldier in Company G, the Portsmouth Rifles. He was delegated as a courier October 9, 1863 to General Barton's staff. Albert was among those who surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. After the war, he was in the grocery business with his brother Joseph – Owens Brothers Wholesale Grocery Store at 119 and 121 High Street in Portsmouth, Virginia. He and his wife suffered much heartbreak with the deaths of so many of their children.
1. Virginia C, Owens, b. 11/30/1870. Died 3/14/1879 at age eight of Scarlet Fever.
2. Susie B. Owens b. 1871. Died 3/10/1879 of Scarlet Fever.
3. Alberta Owens, b. 1/29/1876. married Joseph Thomas Owens, Jr., her first cousin – eight children – 6 sons and 2 daughters. Alberta died 1/3/1978.
4. Esther Owens, b. 1877. Died 3/10/1879, age one of Scarlet Fever.
5. Georgie Edwards Owens, b. 6/3/1879. Died 4/26/1897 of typhoid fever.
6. Rosa Mayer Owens, b. 1/1/1881.
7. John E. Owens b. 12/14/1882. Died 11/14/1888 of Membranous croup.
5. Mary Keturah Owens, married Carroll D. Deans – two daughters.
9. Albert Burton Owens, Jr. b. 8/18/1885.
10. Emma Daughtery Owens, b. 10/28/1888. Died 7/1/1918.
[1] Information about Keturah White and John Owens and sons given by E. Reginald Van Driest, II, professor of Military History at the Air Force Academy in 1982, supplemented by the recently acquired account of Joseph T. Owens mentioned earlier.
[2] From notes sent me by Reginald Van Driest, mentioned in a previous footnote.
[3] Jim Mayo, a descendant, has been in touch with me and provided further descendants.
[4] From the Joseph Thomas Owens papers.
A. Hester A. Kirwan, (1821-1908) who married Thomas Pendleton Woodhouse (six children) of Portsmouth. She, her husband and several of her children are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth. There is much more information on this branch.
Kitty married 2nd John Owens (1801-1839) in 1827. He was the son of a shipbuilder in Norfolk. John died in 1839 and is buried at Whitehaven, near Mobjack in Mathews Co., VA. Kitty herself died in Mathews County, VA at the home of her son Edward M. Owens. Her funeral was held at the home of another son, Albert B. Owens' widow in Portsmouth. Her death is entered in the membership register of Monumental United Methodist Church there --"Died in the faith 1895 January 14th – passed away in a great old age – being within 2 days of 95 years old". She is buried in the Owens plot along with son, John Crowder Owens and wife, and other sons Joseph, Albert and William at Oak Grove Cemetery in Portmouth. Kitty and John had six sons.[1]
B. Sylvanus Owens – died in infancy.
C. John Crowder Owens (3/19/1830 – 7/4/1863 at Gettysburg) Married Mary Ann Foster (1831-1861) on 2/16/1854. She was the daughter of James B. Foster and wife Judith, of Portsmouth. John Crowder enlisted in Company G of the Portsmouth on April 20, 1861 as a Captain. He later was promoted to Major. Just days after passing the exam to become Colonel, he received a mortal wound "in groin – through the body" by a "musket ball or shrapnel" "when little more than 1/2 way across field" during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. He died at 2 am in Pickett's Div. Hospital and was buried near Bream's Mill across the creek from the hospital. His body was probably removed for reburial in Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth between late 1863 and May 1866. Prior to the war, he was a Captain in the "Portsmouth Rifle Company" from 1856-1861.[2] John Crowder was also involved in several other battles during the war: Seven Pines, Warrenton Springs, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg and Frederickburg. He was promoted to colonel in June 1863, just days before his death.
John and Mary Ann's children.
1. Edwin W. Owens (1855-1916), druggist and member of the Virginia Legislature (Norfolk County) from 1901-1910. Edwin fought in the Spanish American War as part of Company L, 3rd Virginia Infantry. Edwin married Mattie Tabb of Portsmouth, daughter of Henry A. Tabb and wife, Missouri -- and had three children: John Watts Owens (1882-1961) (m. Cynthia Robinson), Mattie Owens and Edna Owens (1879-1946) (m. Lemuel E. Mayo, a pharmasist).[3]
2. Kate Wheelwright Owens (1856 - d. "young"), Married a Mr. Powers, no children.
3. John Owens (1859 - d. "young").
4. Fannie Owens ( 1861 - d. "young").
I wonder if Mary died in child birth when Fannie was born. It is not known who raised the children but would guess that their grandmother, Keturah, had a hand in it.
D. Edward McKendree Owens, (1832-1917), m. Emma Gayle (1850- 1927), sister to Elva Gayle, wife of William Henry Harrison White who served in the Civil War, discussed later. Edward also served in the Civil War. He enlisted on April 20, 1862 as a first Corporal, Company G of the Portsmouth Rifles.
In July 1862, he was delegated as a nurse at General Hospital of Gordonville. In 1860-61, Edward is listed in the Portsmouth City Directory as living in Portsmouth with his mother and brother, Joseph, -- working as a ship's carpenter. Edward and Emma had no children, lived in Norfolk for a while, then moved to Mathews where "many people seek health and comfort throughout the heated season of the year and they cannot begin to take all who apply for board".[4] Edward and Emma Gayle are both buried at Providence Cemetery in Mathews County.
E. Joseph Thomas Owens (1835-1905), m. Mary Louise Smith of "Beechland", Mathews, his first wife. Joseph served in the Confederate Army as a lieutenant of Company D, 26th Virginia Infantry Regiment and was promoted to Captain May 13, 1862. He was wounded in his arm June 17, 1864 and was paroled at Appamattox when General Lee's Army surrendered in April 1865. After the war, the family (four children) moved to Texas, Mary Louise dying there shortly after. Five years later Joseph returned to Virginia, married Mary Elizabeth Denson and had another son. Joseph was in the grocery business with his brother Albert at some point during his adult life. When Albert died unexpectedly, Joseph endowed and dedicated a church in Albert's name.
Joseph and Mary Louise's children:
1. Julia Owens, married Capt. W. S. Foster of Berkley, Virginia– several sons.
2. Clifford Smith Owens, unmarried and lived in St. Louis, Missouri.
3. Joseph Thomas Owens, Jr. b. 3/4/1871, married Alberta Owens, his first cousin, and had eight children – 6 sons and 2 daughters. Joseph, Jr. died 12/20/1957.
4. Mary L. Owens, died in infancy.
Child of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth
5. Claude Denson Owens, b. 6/13/1899. Died 10/13/1942.
In 1903, Joseph T. wrote his memoirs for his grandson, just two years before his death in 1905. Much of the information about the Owens/White family was taken from these papers.
F. Albert Burton Owens (1837-1894), m. Emily Susan Brownley (1847-1920) on November 4. 1869. Albert served during the Civil War -- he enlisted March 26, 1862 in Portsmouth as a soldier in Company G, the Portsmouth Rifles. He was delegated as a courier October 9, 1863 to General Barton's staff. Albert was among those who surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. After the war, he was in the grocery business with his brother Joseph – Owens Brothers Wholesale Grocery Store at 119 and 121 High Street in Portsmouth, Virginia. He and his wife suffered much heartbreak with the deaths of so many of their children.
1. Virginia C, Owens, b. 11/30/1870. Died 3/14/1879 at age eight of Scarlet Fever.
2. Susie B. Owens b. 1871. Died 3/10/1879 of Scarlet Fever.
3. Alberta Owens, b. 1/29/1876. married Joseph Thomas Owens, Jr., her first cousin – eight children – 6 sons and 2 daughters. Alberta died 1/3/1978.
4. Esther Owens, b. 1877. Died 3/10/1879, age one of Scarlet Fever.
5. Georgie Edwards Owens, b. 6/3/1879. Died 4/26/1897 of typhoid fever.
6. Rosa Mayer Owens, b. 1/1/1881.
7. John E. Owens b. 12/14/1882. Died 11/14/1888 of Membranous croup.
5. Mary Keturah Owens, married Carroll D. Deans – two daughters.
9. Albert Burton Owens, Jr. b. 8/18/1885.
10. Emma Daughtery Owens, b. 10/28/1888. Died 7/1/1918.
[1] Information about Keturah White and John Owens and sons given by E. Reginald Van Driest, II, professor of Military History at the Air Force Academy in 1982, supplemented by the recently acquired account of Joseph T. Owens mentioned earlier.
[2] From notes sent me by Reginald Van Driest, mentioned in a previous footnote.
[3] Jim Mayo, a descendant, has been in touch with me and provided further descendants.
[4] From the Joseph Thomas Owens papers.
Bio by: Gayle Weiss
