According to family history and legend, those were the last words of Rees Bowen (A012723), as momentarily, he was shot in the chest by Ferguson’s men atop Kings Mountain. So ended the life of my four times great-grandfather. Not though before he fathered my three times great-grand-mother Louisa Bowen Thompson.

The Bowens were ardent patriots hailing from what is now the Tazwell area of Southwest Virginia. Interestingly, the company of militia led by Campbell helped surround Ferguson’s defensive forces at Kings Mountain, in addition to Rees, including four of his brothers and an uncle.

Rees Bowen was of Welsh decent; his grandfather Moses emigrated to Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1698. Rees’s life was touched by several of my Revolutionary Ancestors. This would include his mother, Lilly McIlhaney (A012714), his father-in-law, Captain John Smith (A106017), and his son-in-law Colonel John Thompson (A114296).

Of these, Captain John Smith must have been an influential figure in Rees’ short life. Captain Smith served under (then) Colonel George Washington during Dunmore’s war. As recorded in “the Journal of the House of Burgesses,” 1756-58, the exploits of Captain Smith were chronicled. Including Smith’s detailed description to Mr. Pitts, of England, of a plan for an Ohio River battle plan that was followed during the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. During this campaign, Colonel Smith commanded a company of volunteers under General Lewis. Smith applied for a commission in the Revolutionary Army in 1776, which was denied as he was 78 years old.

The ancestors of Moses Bowen and John Smith went on to become lawyers, doctors, generals, governors, and U.S. and state lawmakers. And then there is me.