| Birth: | About 1660 in Wells, Somersetshire, England |
| Death: | 28 May 1717 in North Farmham, Richmond County, Virginia |
| Sex: | M |
| Father: | William (Coward) Cowherd II b. About 1634 in Wells, Somersetshire, England |
| Mother: | Lady Mohin b. About 1630 in Somersetshire, England |
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| Occupation: Farmer |
| Changed: 13 May 2001 |
Individual:
Note: Rappahannock County, (later Richmond), Virginia order book,1686-1692, page 77, on April 4, 1688, William Colston wasgranted a certificate for having imported 36 persons toVirginia, one of them was James Coward. This importation mostlikely happened before January 12, 1687 for on that date, JamesCoward was a witness on a deed for Mary Coolidge. Coward-CowartChronicles by Robert J. Robinson.
James Coward (the immigrant) is recorded in Old Rappahannock Co.VA Order Book (1686-1692) as having been "imported" by oneWilliam Colston, along with 35 other immigrants on April 4,1688. Although the name Cowherd is recorded in use in Somersetand Dorset Co. England, during the 17th Century, there is noproof of connection between those families and our James Coward.It is unclear just when the spelling as Cowherd originated, buttradition credits the change to James Cowherd/Coward II. OldRappahannock VA was formed in 1656. It was extinguished in 1692,to become Ricmond and Essex. In 1720 Spotsylvania Co. was formedfrom Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. In 1734Orange Co. was formed from Spotsylvania, and in 1748 Culpeperwas formed from Orange Co. In 1792, Madison Co. was formed fromCulpeper. The development of the Cowherd families centeredaround Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper and Madison Counties eventhough there began circa 1790 a westward movement of the familynotably to Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas. It has beenimpossible to construct a definite and authentic record of allthe children of James Coward and Mary Collidge. Only thosedocumented in the Virginia Counties of Spotsylvania, and itssuccessor counties of Orange and Culpeper are included. Thechildren listed here may not be entirely correct or given inchronological order.
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