OWEN, Daniel J. (Hon. ) [3263] ^{2 3}

  General Notes:

Compendium of American Genealogy v1:648: Hannah Angell married Daniel Owen (1732 - 1812) Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island 1786 - 1789 and President of the Constitutional Convention of Rhode Island which adopted the United States Constitution.

A Brief History of Glocester: Daniel Owen, son of ...Thomas Owen, was admitted freeman from Glocester at Newport, in May, 1757. He was chosen Deputy to the General Assembly in 1775 and 1776. He was one of the committee to procure gold and silver enough for the State to use in the Canada war. He was chairman of the committee to draft a letter to Congress in September, 1787, to explain the reason why this State had not any delegation at the Convention at Philadelphia. He was a member and President of the Conventions that met at South Kingstown in March, 1790, and at Newport the following May, that adopted the Constitution of the United States. He gave great satisfaction for his candor and impartiality in conducting the proceedings of the Convention. He wrote from Newport, May 29, 1790, a letter to President Washington to accompany the message that informed the President that the Constitution of the United States had that day been adopted by the people of this State agreeably to the recommendation of the General Convention at Philadelphia. At the Convention at South Kingstown the anti-Federal members of the Convention offered the office of Governor of the State to Deputy-Governor Owen. This offer he refused. A coalition party was formed and Arthur Fenner was nominated the first Governor of the State under the Constitution.
In 1786 the coinage of the United States required the adoption of the decimal system. The "die" for the first United States cent was established July 6, 1787. In 1786, Hon. Daniel Owen, Samuel Winsor, Simeon Thayer, Arthur Fenner, Jr., and Caleb Harris, Esquires, petitioned the General Assembly, praying for the "exclusive privilege" of coinage for this colony for the period of twelve years. It was granted in January, 1787, subject to such conditions as should be agreed upon by the Assembly. Henry Marchant, William Channing, Benjamin Bourn and Moses Brown were appointed a committee to draft and report an act to carry said intention into execution cosnistent with the Articles of Confederation and the sovereignty of the State. No report of said committee is found on the records of the State.
He was Deputy-Governor four years from 1786. He was a large landholder in northern Vermont, where several of his children settled. He, with William Barton, received the grant of the town of Barton, in Vermont, October 20, 1781.
Iron ore was found on his farm in Glocester, and he had a trip-hammer run by water power. The iron was made into the desired shape for use by means of his heavy hammer. Various useful implements were made, and sold in other parts of the country, viz.: ploughs, harrows, rims for wheels, cranes, trammels, horse-shoes, etc., etc. For several years he transacted considerable business with England in the iron department.
His son-in-law, Mr. William Gadcomb, a merchant in the village of Chepachet, died about 1800. Judge Owen settled his estate and invested some of the property for his widow and children in lands in the vicinity of St. Albans, Vermont. Mrs. Gadcomb afterwards married Judge Asa Aldis and settled at St. Albans. Mr. Aldis was a graduate of Brown University in the year 1796. Judge Owen married Hannah Angell, daughter of John and Lydia Winsor Angell, January 19, 1736. [Note by Margaret E. Potter: This date is most certainly in error since both Daniel and Hannah were born in 1732.] He died in Glocester October 21, 1812.

From Glocester 1778 Tax List: " Owen, Daniel 1 poll; 6 houses; 1/4 share forge; 10.10 (pounds) money & trading stock; 17 0z plate; 1 horse; 2 oxen; 18 horned cattle; 23 sheep/goats; 9 swine; 30 acres pasture to keep 10 cows; 12 acres of tillage; 108 bushels grain; 4 acres orchard; 10 barrels cider; 60 acres meadow; 13 tons English hay; 15 tons fresh hay; 194 acres wood & waste land; total acres 300; 117.9 (pounds) personal estate; 1300 (pounds) real estate; rateable value 1417.9 (pounds)."

RI Genealogical Register: "Owen, Daniel, of Gl, Esq. Will dated 7 July 1812, proved 2 Nov 1812, pgs 336-338. Mentions: Wife Hannah Owen. Sons Joseph Owen & Thomas Owen Jr. Daughters Freelove Owen, Lydia Holbrook, possibly Elizabeth May (v.i.), possibly a daughter formerly wife of William Gadcomb dec (v.i), Naomi Kimball dec formerly wife of Asa Kimball, & Amy Aldis who has had her portion. In one item, only relationship that to son Thomas: To my son Thomas Owen Jr & Elizabeth May & Freelove Owen & to the heirs of William Gadcomb dec land. My granddaughters Amy Kimball & Anstis Kimball both under 18 daughters of Asa Kimball Jr & Naomi his wife. Asa Kimball the son of Asa Kimball & Naomi Kimball Dec. Witn: Ira P. Evens, Timothy Walmarth, Augusten Torry."

Will record G1 8-290

According to Margaret E. Potter (1999):
According to the Owen Genealogy prepared by S.C. Newman (1857) and Descendants of Roger Williams, Book I, Waterman and Winsor Lines, Daniel was Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island (1790), Chief Justice in 1794 and Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island (1786-1790). The notes to the Owen Genealogy state that he was born in 1736. Daniel had an iron foundry on his farm in Glocester, RI and John Paul Jones was a partner before the Revolutionary War.

According to Henry W. Owen:
Daniel (Thomas, Josiah, Ebenezer, William) was born in 1732, probably in Providence, and died in 1812. He Married in Smithfield 15 August 1756 Hannah Angell, b 19 January 1736 daughter of John and Lydia (Winsor) Angell. Daniel was a judge of the Supreme Court of the colony of Rhode Island and in 1786-1789, lieutenant governor; and was president of the constitutional convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States.
Authorities: Owen Genealogical Table, Newman; Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, VIrkus; Rhode Island Vital Records; Worcester County, Crane. ¹

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Chief Justice Of Supreme Court.

• Occupation: Lieutenant Governor. Of Rhode Island

Daniel married Hannah ANGELL [4163], daughter of John ANGELL [5865] and Lydia WINSOR [8949], on 15 Aug 1756 in Smithfield, Providence Co, RI.¹ (Hannah ANGELL [4163] was born on 19 Jan 1736 in Smithfield, Providence Co, RI ^{1 4} and died in 1820 in Barton, Orleans Co, VT ⁴.)