Matthew Rowan

Matthew Rowan (died April, 1760) was the acting colonial governor of North Carolina in 1753 and 1754, following the death of governor Nathaniel Rice.

Biography

Matthew Rowan was born in County Antrim, Ireland, but the date of his born remains unknown. He was son of Reverend John Rowan and the former Margaret Stewart and had, at least, a brother, Jerome. Although it is not known when Rowan emigrated to North Carolina, it is recorded that Rowan lived in Bath in 1726, serving as a church warden. In addition, he was a merchant and shipbuilding in the colony. In 1727, Rowan joined the assembly in 1727 to the executive council in 1731, where he worked between 1734 and 1760 (date of his death). In 1735 Rowan worked in the survey of the boundary line between North and South Carolina with others men, being appointed surveyor-general of North Carolina.

He was appointed President of the Council and acting governor of North Carolina in 1753, following the death of governor Nathaniel Rice. He remained in the charge until 1754. Matthew Rowan died April, 1760.^[1] He is buried on the Brunswick County plantation.^[2]

Matthew Rowan married Elizabeth, the widow of his brother Jerome, in 1742, although they had no children (while she had four daughters). Rowan did father one child, John Rowan, with Jane Stubbs; he acknowledged his paternity and remembered John in his will. Matthew Rowan mainly lived in the Lower Cape Fear, near the Brunswick County community (modern Northwest), where he lived in North Carolina.

In 1753, the area that had previously been the northern part of Anson County was formed into Rowan County, named in his honor.^[1]

References