Unlike the Griggs origin quagmire which was recently covered, John Gover is a man with a documented past and descendants can join hereditary societies like NSDAR, NSSAR, GSAR and N.S.C.A.R. under his patriotic service.

John Gover was baptized on 2 May 1732 in Tiverton, Devon, England, the son of Edward Gover. A List of Emigrants form England to America, 1718-1759 by Marion Kaminkow includes this entry:

John married Elizabeth Duvall, c1757, in Maryland. She was born 15 May 1738, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Mullikin) Duvall, also of Prince George’s County, Maryland.

John and Elizabeth were the parents of nine children, who were probably all born in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Children:

1. Mary, born 6 August 1758; died after 1797, which was the birth year of her youngest known child; married Edward Legg, c1775, Maryland.
2. Margaret, born c1763; died between 1812-1826; married Leonard Garrett, 23 September 1784, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Leonard and Margaret sold land in Greenville County, South Carolina on 31 January 1812. Leonard Garrett died before 1 February 1826 in St. Francois County, Missouri and Margaret predeceased him.
3. Elizabeth, born c1765; died after 1830, when it appears she was living with son Samuel “Prestige” in Lawrence County, Mississippi; married Joshua Prestage, 21 September 1786, Pittsylvania County, Virginia
4. Nancy, born c1766; died 1840-1850, Greenville County, South Carolina; married Jacob Cooley, 5 April 1787, Pittsylvania County, Virginia
5. John, born c1768; died after 5 November 1816 when he, Polly (of Pittsylvania County, VA)and Samuel (of Pulaski County, KY) sold land in Pittsylvania County, Virginia; married Mary Dyer, 27 December 1791, Halifax County, Virginia.
6. Samuel, born c1770; died 17 May 1860, Talladega County, Alabama married Tabitha Best, 6 June 1795, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Tabitha died 17 July 1846 in her 80th year, as found on her gravestone, still intact and legible, but lying on the ground. However, the 1840 census places births of both Samuel and Tabitha between 1770-1780. Further, the 1850 census of Talladega County enumerates Samuel as being born in 1770. It seems that many have conflated Samuel Gover of Loudon County, Virginia and NSDAR has closed this line, stating he was too young to have served in the Revolutionary War.
7. William, born c1772; died after 1823, when he last appears on the Pittsylvania County personal property tax lists; married Sarah Gover, 27 October 1794, Henry County, Virginia
8. Ruth, born c1774; died 1819-1822, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; married James Griggs, 21 February 1795, Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

John Gover likely died near the end of 1790 as letters of administration were granted by the Pittsylvania County court in January 1791. Elizabeth (Duvall) Gover was living at the time of the 1796 personal property tax collection when she was listed as “Gover, Eliz. + Griggs.

John Gover signed the Oath of Allegiance in Prince George’s County, Maryland in 1778 and has descendants who have joined NSDAR under his service.