Payton S. Owen is the son of Thomas Owen also known as John Thomas Owen, an Englishman by birth, came to this country at the beginning of the Revolutionary War as a British Soldier. He was severely wounded and taken prisoner. By family oral tradition, Thomas Owen was born 1756 in England, but considered to be Welsh. He was a blacksmith with the British Army, and allegedly was a sole surviving son when he sailed off to fight the rebels in North America. He reportedly could hear his dead brother's funeral bells as he left London. He was stationed on Long Island, New York, where he allegedly buried some money (inheritance or his blacksmith tips) that he never managed to go back for. He later was in Cornwallis' campaign in the Carolinas and Virginia, ending at Yorktown. He reportedly was seriously wounded and separated from his unit, and after being nursed by civilians, was afraid to rejoin his regiment due to being thought a deserter. After the war was over he never returned to his home. He ended up marrying his nurse Margaret Hunter. Thomas Owen married Margaret Hunter, daughter of John and Rachel Hunter in the 1780s, probably in Halifax County, Virginia. They soon settled in the Surry/Stokes/Forsyth county area's of North Carolina, with her parents in tow. Thomas died without a will (but his estate papers survive) in Stokes County, North Carolina, in 1801. His widow was still alive three years later. She is buried in the Mock Cemetery in Forsyth County, North Carolina, but the marker has no dates.

Payton S. Owen, son of Thomas and Margaret Owen was born 27 May, 1790 in Stokes County, North Carolina. He married Rachel Griffith 09 August, 1821 in Greene County, Indiana. Rachel was born 07 November, 1798 in North Carolina. They resided in Owen County, Indiana until 1827 when they moved their family to Greene County, Indiana. Payton and Rachel moved their family from Greene County, Indiana to Adams County, Illinois in 1836. They then moved to Clay County, Missouri in 1839 and from there to Caldwell County, Missouri in 1842. Payton passed away 07 May, 1849 in Caldwell County, Missouri. His burial took place in the Black Oak Cemetery in Davis Twp., Caldwell County Missouri. Payton was the second to be buried in the Black Oak Cemetery following his Infant granddaughter, the first born child of his daughter Margaret S. Owen Davis to the grave.

Vol I, Caldwell County Historical Society - 1985

"Payton and Rachel had thirteen children. They raised their family in an atmosphere of strong religious and political convictions.
They were active in the M.E. Church South, and closely followed the principles of the Democratic party. The Owen family was known to aid in the matters tending to benefit the County, and its citizens, and were highly respected."


Payton and Rachel's Children are:

1: Fredric Owen b: 1820 in Indiana

2: Margaret S. Owen b: 06 December, 1821 in Owen County, Indiana

3: Samanda Griffith Owen b: 08 July, 1824 in Owen County, Indiana

4: Payton Owen b: 05 February, 1828 in Owen County, Indiana

5: George Thomas Owen b: 06 November, 1831 in Greene County, Indiana

6: John Hunter Owen b: Abt. 1834 in Indiana

7: Caroline E. Owen b: 07 May, 1838 in Adams County, Illinois

8: William Griffith Owen b: 22 April, 1841 in Caldwell County, Missouri

9: Josiah Owen b: 15 June 1843 in Caldwell County, Missouri

10: Sanford Owen came to Missouri with his older sister Margaret S. Owen and her husband Samuel D. Davis in 1839, he was eight years old, making his birth date around 1831. In 1842 when Payton and Rachel moved to Caldwell County, Missouri he lived with them until manhood.