[3] In the 1790 Census in Burke County, North Carolina, Joseph McDowell, Jr. is listed as head of household with two white males under the age of 16, one female, and nine slaves.
In 1748, "Hunting" John McDowell received a land grant for property known today as Pleasant Gardens, including acreage originally located from Swan's Pond (Catawba County) up the Catawba River west to present-day Marion and into the region known as Buck Creek.
After establishing residence along the Catawba River area of Pleasant Gardens, McDowell raised his family, and subsequently received two land grants.
He is noted in Max Dixon's book The Wataugans[7] as being instrumental in Jacob Brown's Purchase of one of the last remaining pieces of acreage along the Nolichucky River in Tennessee when he hosted a negotiations with the Cherokee on his farm in North Carolina.
His son, Joseph McDowell, is noted in history as a significant contributor to the Battle at Kings Mountain.