Hugh McDowell

Hugh McDOWELL was born c.1785 in Raloo, County Antrim, Ireland, based on his age given on the ship's manifest and on his statement of birthplace when he made application for citizenship in 1828.  He arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, USA in November 1820 on ship Prince Leopold from Belfast with sons John (age 14) & Thomas (age 7) and daughters Mary (age 5) & Ann (age 3). Wife Jane is believed to have stayed behind in Ireland, possibly because she was either very pregnant or had just delivered a baby & could not travel. 

Report of Hugh McDowal, an alien from Ireland who arrived at Charleston November 1821, made for himself and family. 21 April 1828 born Raloo, County Antrim, Ireland; Hugh McDowell aged 43, Elizabeth McDowell aged 44, my son Thomas aged 16, Mary aged 14, and Ann aged 11. [His oldest son John was not listed because he was of age & would have had to request citizenship for himself.]

Hugh and his son John both died about September 1829 in Chester Co., SC USA. Neither had a will & both estates were probated together. John's estate inventory included a rifle, 2 pairs of shoes, and a fiddle. Hugh's estate included his shoemaker's tools & a ledger detailing his charges for making or repairing shoes.

In 1836, the administrator of Hugh's estate in Chester County, South Carolina, USA paid -- on the authority of daughters Ann and Mary (who had come of age to receive their inheritance) -- expenses to bring "their mother and brother" from Ireland. The brother is not named but their mother's name is given as Mrs. Jane McDowell. Other records indicate that the William McDowell who died 1901 in Carroll County, Tennessee USA was this youngest son of Hugh & Jane McDowell.