Gwin/Guinn - Coat of Arms
Vim vi repellere licet
"It is permissible to oppose force with force"
[May NOT be the Gwin/Guinn coat of arms]
Origin of the name Guinn - The name Guinn goes back to Wales to the Gwydir Castle. The names of Gwin, Gwinn, Gwyn, Gwynn, Gwynne, Guin, Guinn, Wynn, Wynne are all derivitates of the original name of Gwynedd.
The earliest known "Gwin" who came to America was Capt. Owin Gwynn, Esq., son of Sir John Wynn of the Wynn family of the Gwydir Castle, Wales in 1611.
His son Col. Hugh Gwynne was the first to permanently settle in the US. (Owin returned to Gwydir Castle when his father died to succeed to the baronetcy.) Source:
History of the Gwin Family, by Jesse Blaine Gwin, Fairfax, Va. 1961. The name Gwin is also found in records as Guinne, Guin, Guinn, Gwinn, Gwinne, Gwyn, Gwynn, and even Gowan. This name has often been confused with the name of Given, sometimes spelled Givin.
The Early Western Augusta Pioneers, by Geo. W. Cleek
The Gwin Family is of ancient Welsh origin, and the name in Welsh means
white or candid. The Gwin coat-of-arms bears the legend,
vim vi pelter licet ("It is permissible to oppose force with force.") Different emigrants bearing this name appeared at various times in early Virginia. We are searching the descendants of the emigrant bearing the name of
Robert Gwin.
1939 GWIN Deed Story
The following information is from a Highland County newspaper printed approximately in the fall of 1939 around September. It concerns a 159 year old deed signed by Thomas Jefferson (Governor of Virginia) to Robert Carlisle September 1, 1780. It is a deed to 65 acres of beautiful Highland County, Virginia, between the Allegheny and Shenandoah mountains.
Robson Inherits Deed
Signed 159 years Ago by Jefferson
David Robson often fishes and hunts on land in Virginia deeded by "Great Democrat," by Joseph Guess, Press-Scimitar Staff Writer. A faded square of paper that has been worn in two by the finger of time is one of the most prized possessions of David Robson, Memphis cotton man.
The paper is 159 years old and to it is attached the signature of one of the world's greatest men, Thomas Jefferson, who penned the original draft of the Declaration of Independence and whose signature was affixed to the treaty which gave this country its greatest acquisition of land, the vast Louisiana Purchase.
Mr. Robson's paper is a deed to 65 acres in beautiful Highland County, Va., between the Allegheny and Shenandoah mountains. It was granted to one of his forbears, Robert Carlisle, on September 1, 1780, and signed by Jefferson, then governor of Virginia.
The deed passed from Carlisle to the Memphian's paternal great-grandfather, became a family treasure and was inherited by Mr. Robson at his father's death.
Jefferson's signature, still plainly legible on the deed, is written in large but gracefully and regularly shaped letters, indicating the strong, fine and unflinchable character of the Great Democrat.
The slice of mountain wilderness to which Robert Carlisle went to make a home in 1780 has now been enlarged, thru purchase of adjoining land by his ancestors, to an 1120-acre stock farm, known as one of the "most beautiful mountain farms in the state."
Still standing, however, is a cabin erected by Carlisle soon after his purchase, which would make it well over 150 years old.
From it, Mr. Robson's grandfather, one of the first country physicians in that part of the state, went by horseback over mountains to attend the sick.
Mr. Robson's father, just before his marriage, built another home upon the farm. But the cabin is still an important site on the large estate, and to it Mr. Robson returns several times a year. He uses it as a fishing and hunting headquarters. Thru the farm runs the Bull Pasture River, which empties into a tributary of the James and thus provides, most of the year a 250-mile access by motorboat to the sea, all though the farm is imbedded deep in the mountain country.
The Bull Pasture is the clearest of rivers, Mr. Robson says, and you can see fish swimming 10 or 15 feet beneath its surface. Mountain streams abound and fishing is great. There are many "Fish ladders," or flat, inclined beards in these streams, according to state law, so that fish can move out of deep holes.
There's deer hunting, too, during season, for the mountains around the valley farm still contain many rough and inaccessible spots.
"As one goes down into the valley toward my farm," Mr. Robson said, "you can see a great panorama of beautiful green valley, cut in two by a clear stream of blue, and neatly cultivated lands rising up on the plateau and almost to the tops of the mountains in the distance."
The Civil War Battle of McDowell was fought near the farm and Southern cavalrymen once chased Yankee infantry over its meadows.
The Guinn Family Postcard
Postcard was sent to Constance Warwick - Message on the back reads,"Paul Guin and Harry are at home now. They were at our house last night. They are in to get their part of the estate. Uncle Peter Guin has been dead for about four months. Eliz, C. is very bad off not expected to live."
Signora Belle Gwin Warwick
Signora Belle Gwin Obituary
Obituary - Mrs. John R. Warwick, Signora Belle Gwin (info from Alva Review, November 23, 1934). Signora Bell Gwin, daughter of Sam and Ellen (Dever) Gwin, was born near Monterey, Va., August 31, 1861, and departed this life at her home in Alva, November 16, 1934, at the age of 73 years, 2 months, and 15 days.
Warwick-Guinn marriage certificateIn Harpers Ferry, W. Va., Jan. 16, 1882, she was united in marriage to John R. Warwick.
They made their home in Virginia until the spring of 1894, when they, with their family, settled on a homestead seven miles south of Alva.
In the spring of 1929 they moved to Alva where they since resided.
To this union were born three children, Mrs. Constance McGill (born Oct. 20, 1882), Robert Lee Warwick (born 5 Nov. 1887) and Wilber (born after 1887), who died at the age of one year.
Mrs. Warwick's life was a living example of the golden rule -- a sweet smile and kind word for all who crossed her path through life.
Besides her husband and children, she leaves two grand children, Merle and Bob McGill of Alva; on brother, Walter Gwin, of West Virginia, and a host of relatives and friends to mourn her departure.
Here is the sorrow, the sighing;
Here are the cloud and the night;
Here is the sickness, the dying;
There are the life and the light!
Here is the fading, the wasting,
The foe that so watchfully waits;
There are the hills everlasting,
The city with beautiful gates.
Here are the locks growing hoary,
The glass with the vanishing sands;
There are the crown and the glory,
The house not made with hands.
Here is the longing, the vision,
The hopes that so swiftly remove;
There is the blessed fruition,
The feast, and the fullness of love.
Here are the heart-strings a-trimble
And here is the chastening rod;
There is the song and the cymbal,
And there is our Father and God.
Card of Thanks --
We wish to express our gratitude for the many acts of kindness and sympathy extended us during the illness and death of our dear wife and mother. -- J. R. Warwick, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. McGill and family.
Robert Gwin
Robert Gwin -- progenitor of this branch of the GWIN Family, came to Virginia before 1744. he was born in Orange County, Wales. In 1746 he was appointed Constable at the head of the Great Calfpasture River in Augusta County, Virginia. (source: Abstracts from the Records of Augusta County, Virginia, Lyman Chalkley, Vol. I, pg 18.)
Robert Gwin was allowed a certificate for land as a result of military services, which show he participated in the early Colonial Wars in Captain Wm. Preston's Company of Rangers, 1758. (Ibid., Vol. I, pg 212.)
In 1744, he bought 544 acres of land lying on both sides of the Calfpasture River from James patton and John Lewis. In 1762, for five shillings, he deeded to his son, Robert Gwin, Jr., 241 acres of land. Robert Gwin married Jean (Jane) Kincaid, daughter of David Kincaid and Winnifred (Unknown) of Albemarle County, Virginia.
Robert Gwin had three brothers: John Gwin (wife Alice Unknown); William Gwin; Patrick Gwin (wife Janet Unknown). (source: abstracts from records of Augusta County, Virginia, Lyman Chalkley, Vol. III, pg 526 and 533.)
Children of Robt. Gwin:
Joseph Gwin
Robert Gwin, Jr. - married Sally Lockridge (dau. of Samuel Lockridge and Elizabeth Unknown). (source: Ibid., Vol. I, pg 536.) They migrated to Kentucky.
David Gwin - b. 1742
Thomas Gwin - married 8 April 1800, Elizabeth Lockridge (dau. of Samuel Lockridge and Elizabeth). They migrated to Kentucky. (source: Ibid., Vol. I, pg 536 and Vol. II, pg 339).
Simon Gwin - married Elizabeth (Lockridge) Gay (dau. of Andrew Lockridge and Jean Graham), widow of Robert Gay.
James Gwin
Samuel Gwin
Agnes Gwin - married William Lockridge
Nell Gwin
Joseph Gwin - son of Robt. Gwin and Jean Kincaid; died 1817 in Bath County, Virginia; married May Jane Kincaid. They lived in Highland and Bath Counties, Virginia. He served as First Lieutenant in Captain Hicklin's Company in the Revolution. (source: Ibid., Vol. II, pg 496 and 497).
His will was dated August 17, 1817 and recorded October 1817 in Will Book 2, pg 156, BAth County, Virginia. It mentions wife, Mary Gwin; sons, John, Moses, Robert, Wm. Kincaid, and Joseph Gwin; granddaughters, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret, and Jean Stuart; daughter, Elizabeth and Andrew Kinkead. Executors - Joseph, John, and Moses Gwin. Witnesses were Charles Erwin, James Stewart, and James Stewart, Jr.
Children of Joseph Gwin:
John Gwin - married Mary (Pickens) Callahan, widow of William Callahan.
Joseph Gwin
Moses Gwin
Mary Elizabeth Gwin
William Kinkead Gwin
Robert Gwin
Elizabeth Gwin - married 1/7/1812, Bath County, Virginia, Andrew Kincaid, son of Thomas Kincaid and Isabell (nee) Kincaid.
Jane Gwin - married 12/15/1795, John Law. (source: Ibid., Vol. II, pg 318)
Virginia Gwin - married William Stuart
David Gwin - son of Robert Gwin and Jean Kincaid, was born in 1742 in Orange County, Wales; died in 1822 at Clover Creek, Highland county, Virginia; married (1) in 1768 Jane Carlile, born 11/26/1746; died 1787 and was buried on Jackson River, BAth County (now Highland County, Virginia), dau. of James Carlile, Jr. and Rachel Campbell; married (2) 11/11/1790, Viola (Violet) Crawford, buried at Clover Creek, Highland County, Virginia, dau. of William Crawford and Margaret Henderson of Dry Branch of Jackson River near Mustoe, Highland County, Virginia. (Ibid., Vol. II, pg 288 gives marriage bond for his second marriage).
Augusta County records show that David Gwin purchased the farm of John Peoples, Sr. from his two sons, John and Thomas Peoples in 1805. John and Thomas Peoples moved to Kentucky and Missouri respectfully. This land was originally patented by Captain Wallace Estill in 1746 and John Peoples, Sr. purchased it in 1772 from Captain Wallace Estill.
David Gwin served as Lieutenant and Captain in the Revolutionary War. He commanded a company at the battle of Guilford Court House. (Ibid., Vol. I, pg 199 and 204; Vol. II, pg 494 and 495; A History of Highland County, Oren F. Morton, pg 193 and 222; Annals of Bath County, Virginia, Oren F. Morton, pg 95 and 96; Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War, J. T. McAllister, Sections 33, 58, 76, 92 and 253; Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, Jos. A. Waddell, pg 281; and Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution, John H. Gwathmey, pg 334).
The south branch valley chapter of the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution placed a memorial marker over his grave, together with a government marker on August 14, 1936. The government marker was secured through the efforts of Geo. W. Cleek, Staunton, Virginia, a descendant of Captain David Gwin.
David Gwin amassed a sizeable fortune which he disposed of in his will dated April 18, 1820 and recorded in Will Book 2, pg 416 on January 1822 in Bath County, Virginia. The Will reads as follows:
Robert Gwin's Will
I, David Gwin, of the county of Bath, State of Virginia, being advanced in years but of sound mind and disposing memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and the numerous inconveniences which might arise from my dying intestate have thought proper to make this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all former wills by me made:
In Primus: I direct my executors hereinafter named as soon as may be after my decease, to pay my funeral expenses and all my just debts. Item: I give and bequeath to my son David Gwin all the lands I purchased of John and Thos. Peoples whereon I now live including the mountain tract to him and his heirs forever, but as my death may happen before my said son David Gwin arrives at lawful age, in case of such an event, it is my will and desire that the property before devised be managed by my executors or rented out at their discretion until my said son arrives at full age and the proceeds thereof be applied at their discretion to the support and maintenance of such of my daughters as may then be unmarried and the maintenance and education of my said son David Gwin and his heirs forever one thousand pounds in money which I hereby direct my executors to pay over to him when he shall arrive at the age of twenty one years. I also give and bequeath to my son David Gwin and his heirs forever my rifle gun, my desk and bookcase, my four tables, all my chairs, my bed and furniture and three chests, all which property I direct my Executors to have good care taken of and delivered over to my said son on his arriving at age aforesaid.
Item: I give and bequeath to my grandson David Gwin Kincaid, son of Thos. Kincaid the lands allotted to him by Adam Lightner, James Campbell lying on the waters of Jackson's River in the County of Bath, being the same land whereon the said Thomas Kincaid now lives to him and his heirs forever, but it is my will and desire that the said Thomas Kincaid and his wife Sally and the longest liver of them shall have the right and privilege to live on and enjoy the whole of land during their natural lives upon condition they continue to reside on the same, but if they should, at any time, remove from said land then the benefits intended them by this devise shall cease and terminate and from the date of such removal the rents and profits and the right to use and occupy the land aforesaid shall rest in my grandson David Gwin Kincaid.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son Robert Gwin and his present wife, Polly Gwin, and the longest liver of them the right during their natural lives to live on and enjoy the lands on Jackson's River allotted them for their son David by Adam Lightner and James Campbell and after the death of the longest liver of the said Robert and wife, I give and bequeath the said land to David, my grandson (and son of Robt. and Polly Gwin) to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son John Gwin and his present wife and the longest liver of them, the right to live on and enjoy the lands allotted them for their son David by Adam Lightner and James Campbell on Jackson's River and after the death of the longest liver of the said John and wife, I give and bequeath the said land to my grandson David Gwin (son of the said John) to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my said Grandsons David Gwin Kincaid, David Gwin (son of Robert) and David Gwin (son of John) all my lands in the Big and Little Valleys on the waters of Wilson's Mill Run in the County of Bath to be equally divided between them, to them their heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Isabell and her heirs forever, one negro girl named Agnes and her future increase.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret and her heirs forever one negro girl named Betsy and her future increase.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Rachel and her heirs forever one negro girl named Jane and her future increase.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Susan and her heirs forever one negro girl named Violet and her future increase.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Robert Lockridge and Polly his wife and their heirs forever two dollars to be paid them by my executors in full for their portion of my estate.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son James Gwin, one hundred pounds in money to him and his heirs forever to be paid him by my Executors soon after my decease.
Item: To my sons Robert Gwin and John Gwin, I give and bequeath the sum of two Dollars cash to them and their heirs forever. To Thos. Kincaid and Sally his wife the sum of two dollars. To Jas. Wiley and Nancy his wife two dollars. To John Cleek and Jane his wife the sum of two dollars and to Samuel Givens and Elizabeth his wife the sum of two dollars which said legacies I hereby direct my Executors to pay as soon as may be after my decease, it is my will and desire that my Executors herein after named soon after my decease take into possession of the slaves Isaac and Fown which I loaned to Robt. Gwin, a negro named Ned I loaned to Thos. Kincaid and a negro woman named Daffney I loaned to John Cleek which said several salves were loaned to be returned whenever demanded.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Rachel one feather bed and furniture also sum of sixty pounds in money to her and her heirs forever.
item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Susan one feather bed and furniture also the sum of sixty pounds in money to her and her heirs forever.
Item: It is my will and desire that my Executors as soon as they shall have paid my funeral expenses and just debts and satisfy all the legacies hereinbefore named do proceed to ascertain the amount of all the residue of my estate of every kind whatsoever including my slaves not hereinbefore devised, my debts, money, stock, etc., which residue when so ascertained I desire shall be divided into seven equal parts. One-seventh thereof I give and bequeath to my daughter Isabella her heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath one-seventh part thereof to my daughter Margaret her heirs and assigns forever. Same to my daughter Susan her heirs and assigns forever. One-seventh part to be equally divided among the children of my daughter Elizabeth Givens and to be paid over to them by my executors as they come of age resp. but it is my wish and meaning that out of this seventh part shall be deducted the amount of bonds due and owing to me from Samuel Givens the husband of my said daughter Elizabeth. I give an bequeath one-seventh part thereof to be equally divided among the children of my daughter Jane Cleek and to be paid over to them by my Executors as they come of age resp. and the remaining one-seventh of said residue I give and bequeath to the children of my daughter Nancy Wiley by her husband Jas. Wiley to be equally divided between them, to them and their heirs forever and to be paid over to them by my executors as they respectively become of age.
Item: It is my will and desire that if any of my sons or daughters, sons-in-law or daughters-in-law, or any of my grand children shall be dissatisfied with the disposition I have made herein of my property and shall attempt to set aside this writing as my true last will and testament, they shall be excluded from all benefit of any portion of my estate whatever and every devise herein made to such person in such case shall be null and void.
Lastly, I appoint Wm. Hogshead, my son-in-law, my son Jas. Gwin and my friend, Otho Wade Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby repeating the same to be such and renouncing and revoking all former wills by me made.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 18th day of April 1820 and have caused the same to be witnessed in my presence.
His
David T. Gwin (SEAL)
mark
The above writing was signed, sealed, and declared to be the last will and testament of David Gwin in our presence by him and at his request and in his presence we subscribed the same as witnesses.
John Steuart
James Hicklin
John Carlile
Martin Coyner
Gwin/Gwyn/Guinn Connection
The following information is submittedby Sharon Guynn Wiley, 1 Nov. 1998
The Gwin's are from Bath County (was Highland County) Virginia and prior to that Augusta County. Sharon's father-in-law's father (Marcellus Franklin Wiley) owned the "Old David Gwin" home place until the late 1940's. It was later sold for taxes by Marcellus's wife.
tomahawk.jpg (7429 bytes)Tomahawk Ranch -- The "Old David Gwin Home place" is located north of Hotsprings, Virginia along highway 220. (This NW Okie would like to know if this Old David Gwin Homeplace is FOR SALE Today!)
The Home place was named the "Tomahawk Ranch" by Marcellus Franklin Wiley. David Gwin's grave and a wife and another person are on top of the hill next to the house. There are three marble tombstones which have been knocked over. The home is no longer in the family.
There is a Historical Society in the County, headed by Hugh Gwin, a descendent of David's.
David Gwin's daughter, Nancy, married James Wiley (Robert Vaiden Wiley's G-Grandfather). James and Nancy inherited the Tomahawk and evidently passed it on to their son, John. John evidently passed it on to Marcellus Franklin Wiley (Robert Vaiden Wiley's father). Robert Vaiden Wiley passed away in April of 1998. It is thought by family members that Robert was the last surviving "True Son" of a confederate soldier.
Marcellus fought in the Civil War when he was 19. He did not marry and have children until 1914, when he was in his 70's. He had two sons, John Franklin (born in 1914) and Robert Vaiden (born 1919). The information came from a book entitled "Early Western Augusta Pioneers" by Cleek. The Cleek's were also Wiley family members.
Sharon Guynn Wiley's family is not originally from the Virginia area that she knows of. Her side of the Guynn (Guinn) is from Tennessee and she believes are married into mainly Indian families. Some researchers think her GG-Grandfather Guinn was from Virginia, but records maintained he was born in North Carolina (NC) in 1796. Sharon believes he was born in Warren County, TN, which would have been NC at the time of his birth. Sharon had never been to Virginia before 1984, when she met her husband. When she found out his father had cousins named Gwin, they had a good laugh about being kissin' cousins.
Ancestry.com - paristimes
Geneanet - Paris Family
Almost 100 years ago (actually, 99 years ago), the Alva (Oklahoma) Rangers' Northwestern Newspaper staff were the following (photo taken from the 1917 Ranger Yearbook):
Bank
Two Hotels - Warwick Hotel was owned by Dave & Norah High who bought it from Mr. Bruce. It was destroyed by a tornado and the lumber was bought by Homer Pool.
Chessman Grocery Store... Cheatham family operated the grocery store near the depot for years. It included a Post Office. They moved from Warwick to south side of town where the new grocery store was built. During the automobile era, they operated a garage.
1940's... The Frisco Railway Co. & Fort Smith & Western Railway were abandoned for financial problems and taken over by Burlington Northern. passenger service was discontinued, but freight service continued until 1986.
In 1908... twenty children attended school in the Methodist church building with one teacher, Carrie Brewer.
May, 1968 - The Warwick School consolidated with Wellston School. The Warwick School was used one term for the "Headstart" program with 24 students enrolled. Ruth Davenport Greenfield and Tawyna Humphrey Franklin were the teachers. Citizens of McKinley now use the building as a voting district.
Lincoln County received mail overland by stagecoach from Guthrie. It took a day to travel a distance of 50 miles from Guthrie.
