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About William Gouge
The name Gouge -- or Gooch, or Gouch -- is prominent throughout colonial America, and piecing together the life of any one member of the clan is challenging. It's made especially so by the ravages of time, in which court houses are burned down, records lost, and time eats away at our memories of names, faces, and events. So it's dififcult to pin down one William Gouge, who was born (some say) in Virginia, married in North Carolina, raised a family in Tennessee, pioneered Missouri, and passed away ... somewhere.
William Gouge was born circa 1768, most likely in Virginia, the residence for several Gooch or Gouge families in the 18th century. Details of the later life of his father, James Gouge are seen in various records in Wilkes county, North Carolina, throughout the years in and around the American Revolution. James claimed land in neighboring Burke county in 1784 but is not to be found again in county records. But William is there: He married Milley Poe in Wilkes County, NC, and moved with his father to Rhea County, Tennessee around the turn of the century.
Tennessee, Missouri
In about 1809, James Gouge died and William was listed in his father's estate, along with his widow, Clerisha (a nickname for Crotia Ann?): "William Gouge, Josiah Gouge, James Gouge, Dorothy Gouge, Clerisha Gouge Jr, Elizabeth Gouge and Martin Gouge, heirs of the said James Gouge decd. Have hereby mutually and interchangably made and indorsed the following agreement for the distribution of the estate of the said James Gouge." From Rhea, the Gouges moved to Cambell County, where district court records record his presence -- day to day events, such as jury duty.
"The earliest settlement made within County as now constituted was that by the Tennessee Colony in 1815-16, at the mouth of the Moniteau," explains the Goodspeed History of Cole County. (It was more likely 1817.) "The war waged with England to maintain the rights of the young Republic was won by the soldiers of Tennessee and Kentucky. Lewis and Clarke had made known through the country the beauty of the Missouri region, and the United States had completed treaties with the original red owners, built forts for their protection from other warriors, and opened the highway for immigration."
William Gooch and four sons were part of that party: Martin Gouge, Allan Gouge, James Gouge, John Gouge.
While his name is seen in court minutes from the early days of Cole County, his fate is uncertain. In 1830, William was living with his son, John, according to the 1830 census. John's entry listed one make between the ages of 60 and 70; born in 1763, William would have been 67. He is believed to have died in 1830.
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William Gouge's Timeline
| 1768 |
1768
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VA, United States
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| 1798 |
January 11, 1798
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Burke County, North Carolina, United States
1801, and Tennessee per the 1850 census |
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| 1800 |
July 1800
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Tennessee, United States
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| 1802 |
1802
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NC, United States
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| 1804 |
1804
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Tennessee, United States
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| 1806 |
1806
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Tennessee, United States
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| 1808 |
1808
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Tennessee, United States
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