The following is a transcription of handwritten notes left by George Washington Wilkins (1861-1933), the great-grandson of Stephen William Owens and Nancy Ann (Cox) Owens. The part about Stephen and Nancy starts with the first paragraph on the next page.

The first Wilkins family we have record of was Robert of Breckonshire, Wales. He built or took by conquest Brecknock Castle in the year 1091. As family names were not used in Wales until the 16th century, it was thought he came from Scotland. As late as 1921 the family still owned and lived in the castle. One of his descendants came to America and located about where Philadelphia now is in 1637. His name was John.

There is a long period we have no record. One of John's grandsons Andrew Wilkins moved to Virginia. As this is the only Andrew Wilkins recorded in Virginia, no doubt this is our ancestor. He had one sister Marty, called Matty. They lived in Logansport, Ind. He also had a brother named Will. Nothing is known about Andy.

Again, another long period with no record.

Kezziah married Mr. Davis. They lived near Logansport, Ind.

Rebecca married William Gardner. They had four children: Mary, Rebecca, and 2 died when small. Grandfather raised Mary. They lived in Ohio about 60 miles from grandfathers. Grandfather walked 60 miles for her in one day and back the next. She rode a pony with a man who happened to be going back that way.

Nathan lived in Ohio, married and raised a family. Nothing is known

Sena- must be Permilia, married Ben Epard. Lived in Ohio. Nothing more is known.

Isiah married, moved to Carthage, Mo. Was in the Civil War. Was born after his mother was 50 years old.

Grandfather Ezekiel Wilkins, born March 1, 1806; died Dec. 11, 1888 at Ottumwa Ia. at Aunt Ella Robison. Was blind nearly 18 years caused by a stick of wood knocking his eye out while he was chopping wood. He was buried near Ottumwa, Ia. in the Fiedler graveyard, (He was the son of Andy Wilkins, father of Steve Wilkins). Everyone that knew him said he was the kindest man they ever knew.

Nothing is known about Andy Wilkins. Ezekiel married Rebecca Owens July 12, 1833 near Zanesvi11e, Ohio. To them were born: Nancy, Kezziah, Stephen, Andrew or Andy, Sarah, George Washington Wilkins, Rebecca Ellen, Susannah (Sue).

Rebecca, wife of Ezekiel, was born July 12, 1810. Married on July 12, 1833 and died Jan. 9, 1894 at her daughter's (Kezziah) home in Birmingham Iowa. She was buried in Fiedler graveyard near Ottumwa.

Her father was 16 years old when he joined Washington's army in the Revolution, as a cook, and did active service before the war was over. He died about 1837 near Zanesville, Ohio and was buried there. He was married 3 times. Children all died but Harriet, born to his second wife, she died later. Another girl named Bets was born to his housekeeper. She married grandfather's brother Frank. The baby Bets was left in the furrow in front of his horses while he was plowing. His third wife was Nancy Cacks, thought to have been married in Md. They came to Zanesville Ohio in 1812. Nancy Cacks had been married to Mr. Gotz when she was 13 years old. He was killed by a tree when she was 16. Said to be wealthy. No children.

Comment: Like many cases of family stories passed down verbally through several generations, the above paragraph is substantially correct but some of the facts have been exaggerated or distorted.

• Stephen was 25 years old (not 16) when he joined the Revolution. At that time, the army really did not have cooks. Men were issued rations individually and each 6 or 8 men had a campfire and a kettle. The men worked out among themselves who tended the kettle.  Usually, they took turns or made the newest recruit do it. Stephen served briefly in the Maryland Militia in the fall of 1777. On May 16, 1778, he enlisted in Captain Dobson’s company, 6th regiment of the 2nd Maryland brigade for “the duration of the war”. He served continuously until November 15, 1783.
• I believe the writer meant to say that the children of Stephen’s first two marriages all died but Harriet.  Stephen mentions an Elizabeth, in his will. I suspect Elizabeth is the girl named “Bets”, who was actually Stephen’s step daughter—not biological daughter. Harriet is not mentioned in the will and is therefore presumed to have died before Elizabeth. Seven of Stephen’s children of his third wife lived to be adults and had families of their own.
• A distant Iowa cousin tells me that, in the old days, it was a common practice to bring a baby out into the field and to leave the baby’s basket in a furrow to help protect the baby from the wind.
• The correct spelling of “Cacks” is “Cox” and “Gotz” is “Gonce”.
• We know from other accounts and land records that Stephen and Nancy pioneered a farm about 10 miles south of Zanesville sometime between 1806 and March of 1810.
• Nancy Cox was about 16 years old (not 13) when she married Rudolph Gonce.

Comments by: Virgil Owens

Children of Ezekiel and Rebecca

1. Nancy married Aron Leach in Ohio - 2 children. Both died. Leach killed a man and skipped out, sending the family to Iowa.

2. Kiziah married Fredrick Trick in Ohio, moved to Iowa with grandfather in Oct. 1856. To them were born 3 girls, Dorothy, Netta, Hattie. Trick was killed at Schiloh. Then Kiziah married Manuel Myers - he died she married Jacob Davidson. To them were born Melia (called Pinky) and Corda.

3. Steve married Margaret Buchanan (Steve was James Wilkins grandfather). To them were born George, Minnie, Sarah Ann, and a baby boy died.

4. Andrew "Andy" married Emma Newel. To them were born: Elizabeth "Dib", a boy that died (William "Bill"), Lidy Ann died young, Edward "Ed", and Alva.

5. Sarah Ann married Franklin Gilliland. To them were born Asbury died as a baby, Ezekiel died, Matildy, Francis, Morrain scalded when about a year old, Illa, Albert, George, Emma, William (Billy), Clara, Jess. They moved to Blair, Nebr. Gilliland died and Sarah married Barns or an Arnold. Don't know which. They separated and she married Daniels. He died.

6. George married Sarah Jane Loy Oct. 18, 1886 in the courthouse in Ottumwa. To them were born

Steven William in Ottumwa Sept 30, 1867 (Aug. 30, 1867) married Dec. 25, 1907

George Washington Wilkins, Jr. born in Ottumwa Sept 30, 1869. Called little George married Feb. 7 1894.

7. Benny - born in Ottumwa Dec. 2, 1874, died Dec. 24, 1874. Buried at Fiedler graveyard.

8. Ezekiel John - born at Ottumwa June 10, 1876. Married April 18, 1900. Killed by a gasoline explosion Oct. 18, 1913.

9. Henry Fred - born at Leon, Iowa Jan 15, 1879. Married Nov 14, 1900.

10. Bessie - born at Murray, Iowa Aug 27, 1881. Died Aug 27, 1881.

11. Tessie - born at Murray, Iowa Oct 8, 1882. Died Oct. 8, 1882.

12. Charles Andrew - born at Murray, Iowa June 2, 1884. Died July 12, 1884.

13. Frank E. - born at Murray, Iowa June 2, 1886.

14. Milt E. was born at Murray, Iowa Dec. 7, 1890.