Summers County Biographies

SAMUEL GWINN
Samuel Gwinn was the son of Robert Gwinn who came from Wales before 1745. Robert Gwinn first settled in North Carolina but moved to Augusta County, Virginia where he bought 544 acres on Calf Pasture River. The various records differ regarding Samuel's birth and death dates.

Pension records shows his birth as 1750.

"History of Summers County, West Virginia" records his death as 1837, 3, 25, age 94 which would make his birth 1743.

His great-grandson states that "he died about 1839, age 94 years," which would make his birth about 1745.

His own affidavit dated March 12, 1834 reads, "I am in my 83rd year and was born in Augusta County, Virginia."

Another of his affidavits reads, "I was about 23 years of age in 1771 when I went in company against the Indians at Point Pleasant."

His own dates are being used as all records seem to agree as to his being the fifth child. The first child, David, was born in 1743.

"1770 or a few years later came from Calf Pasture River, Virginia to Summers County, West Virginia.
1771 drafted from Augusta County, Va. and served under Capt. Lockridge.
1774 enlisted from Augusta County, Va. and served under Capt. Lockridge.
1774 November, discharged and returned to Augusta County, Va.
1776 moved to Greenbrier (served under Capt. Glass) which was across the Alleghany Mountains on the Greenbrier River near Lowell, Summers County, West Virginia.
1796 first patent of land to Samuel in Summers County, West Virginia.
1800 moved from Lowell, Summers County, West Virginia to Lick Creek."

Samuel went with his brother James, b. 1744, along with a member of the Graham family across the mountains from Highland County, Virginia (Augusta) to what is now Monroe County, West Virginia. This migration into what was Indian country was made in 1770-1780, or perhaps earlier. It is assumed that they and their families made the trip together but there is no record of this.

Samuel's first marriage was to Elizabeth Speece and his second to Elizabeth Lockridge, widow of ? Graham.

[source: "History of the Gwin family" Fairfax, Va. :: Jesse Blaine Gwin - transcribed by K.T.]