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 Bowen Coat of Arms Charles Bowen Charles Bowen of Mecklenburg County. Written 21 January 1815, recorded 20 October 1817 Lend unto my beloved wife Amey Bowen one equal third part of my estate both real and personally for and during her life or widowhood, and at her death or Enter marriage I give the same to my Daughters Savery Bowen, Caty Bowen, Genny Bowen and Henderson James Bowen to be equally divided between them ... My son Asa Bowen one bed and furniture, one Iron pot, one pewter dish, one pewter Bason, and two pewter plates, one mare bridle and Saddle all which he has in his possession... My daughter Caty Bowen one Iron pot, one pewter dish, one pewter bason and two pewter plates all which she has in her possession, also one bed and furniture which she has not in her possession... My daughter Jenny Bowen one Iron pot, one pewter dish one pewter Bason, and two pewter plates, all which she has in her possession, and one bed and furniture which she has not in her possession ... My three Daughters and Henderson James Bowen all the rest of my estate both real and personally that I have not all ready willed away (except all of my working tools them I give to my sons Asa and Jeffe Bowen to them and their heirs forever) to Savory, Caty, Jenny, and Henderson James Bowen to be equally divided among them... Considering the informity of my son Rolly that my three daughters Savory, Caty, Jenny and Henderson James Bowen support my son Rolly for and during the term of his natural life, provided they or either of them refuse so to do, to comply with my request there Legacy or Legacys is to remain in my Exors hands untill there are trustees appointed by the Court and my son Rolly to have a comfortable maintainance out of the Same for and during the term of his natural life, or as long as untill their Legacy or Legacys be Exhausted. My son Asa Bowen and my friend Jones Gee Executors Signed Charles (+) Bowen Witnesses James Drumright, William Drumright, Isaac Arnold, Sterling (+) Waller At a Court held for Mecklenburg County the 20th day of October 1817 by the Oaths of James Drumright, William Drumright and Isaac Arnold three of the witnesses thereto, and is ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of Jones Gee one of the executors therein named who made oath thereto, and together with Jeffery Bowen and Joseph Arnold his Securities entered into and acknowledged their bond ... The 1764 Lunenburg tithes list creates a lot of confusion. No William Bowen Sr or William Bowen Jr was listed that year. Instead, a William Brown Sr and William Brown Jr appeared - with Charles Brown listed under William Brown Sr. Whether some of the Bowens were left off the list or the name Bowen was confused with Brown is anyone's guess. The name Bowen has been confused with Brown and Bowers in other records. It's also possible that William Bowen Sr had died. The last records we can be sure were his were the 1762 deeds. The later tax records reflect a William Bowen Sr and a William Bowen Jr, but by that time a third William Bowen had come along who might have been old enough to leave records. If William Bowen Sr had died, this younger William Bowen might have assumed the suffix Jr while the previous Jr became Sr. Charles Bowen's earliest land record was dated 1770, but he appears to have been of age well before that. In 1782, his household contained 8 whites and 1 black. Charles's son Rolley Andrews Bowen was excused from paying taxes in 1788. Since the age for taxes was 21 that year, Rolley must have been born by 1767. The next year, 1789, the age for taxes was lowered to 16, so if that age was used, Rolley must have been born by 1772. Based on these dates, Charles Bowen was surely born no later than 1752 and possibly a few years earlier. He could have been a son or grandson of the earliest generation of Bowens. Jesse Bowen, a proven son of William Bowen Sr, named "friend" Charles Bowen as the executor of his estate. This does not necessarily mean that Jesse and Charles weren't brothers. The term friend was sometimes used to indicate a person who was speaking for or representing the legal interests of another. An early court record for William Bowen Jr who was called "an infant" designates William Bowen Sr as his "next friend", but we know William Bowen Sr was actually the father of William Bowen Jr and was representing the interests of his minor son. Since Jesse Bowen had no sons of his own, and his adopted son Littleberry Bowen Kirks was still a minor at the time that the will was written, Jesse might well have chosen a brother to be see to the proper distribution of his estate, referring to him as his "friend". So although we have no proof that Jesse and Charles were brothers, we also can't rule this possibility out because of the term "friend" used in Jesse's will. The records of Robert Bowen would seem to indicate that Charles was closely associated with his family. Charles Bowen and James Bowen bought land from Robert Bowen's legatees in 1792. Charles bought half of the patent that had been granted to Robert Bowen and Drury Bowen. However, the Robert Bowen who died about 1788/89 might not have been the same Robert Bowen who was the father of Ephraim Bowen since neither Ephraim nor any of his children were named as legatees. It's not impossible that this Robert Bowen might have been another older son of William Bowen Sr and Amy or Robert Bowen and Avis. On 10 Apr 1778, Charles Bowen and wife Amy sold 50 acres to James Bowen on Long Branch adjoining John Harper, Robert Bowen, and Mark Evans. (Meck DB 5:219) On 12 June 1779, Charles Bowen and Amy sold another 50 acres to Milden Chavous/Chavis, again on Long Branch and Buck Branch adjoining Littleberry Bowen, James Bowen, David Bowen, and Evans. (Meck DB 5:451) Both tracts of land appear to have come from 200 acres that Charles had purchased from George Walton on 14 Dec 1770. (Meck DB 3:73) The deeds for the Walton land give us a good idea of Charles Bowen's neighbors. One of them was William Drumright who appeared in numerous Bowen records. Mecklenburg DB 3, p 73 14 Dec 1770 George Waller of Prince Edward Co to Charles Bowen of Mecklenburg Co. 8 pounds. t..[torn] hundred acres on the branches of Meheron bounded by the lines of Thomas Noblin, James Williams, David Bowen, Dobyns, and James Tommerson. Signed Geo Walton Wit John How...[torn], Thomas (X) ...[torn], William (X) Bowen Peaceable possession seizin... signed by John Howell, Thomas (X) Noblin, Wm (X) Bowen [Note: The grantor's name in this deed was recorded as Waller, Wallen, and Walton.] Mecklenburg DB 3, p 75 14 Dec 1770 George Waller of Prince Edward Co to William Drumright of Mecklenburg Co. 21 pounds. 150 acres west side of Little Stiths Creek. Description mentioned only trees, a stump, and the creek. Signed Geo Wallon, Martha Wallon Wit Labon Stafford, James (X) Cammell, Littlebery (X) Bowen Peaceable possession and seizon... signed Laban Stafford, James (X) Cammell, Littlebery (X) Bowen [Note: The grantor's name in this deed was recorded as Waller, Wallon.] Mecklenburg DB 3, p 78 20 Dec 1770 George Wallon of Prince Edward Co to Laban Stafford of Mecklenburg Co. 13 pounds 1 shilling. 109 acres. Beginning on the Old Road on the north prong of Stiths Creek .... black jack stump on the mane road at Bowens Battory ... Signed George Wallon, Martha Wallon Wit James (X) Cammell, Wm (X) Bowen, Littlebery (X) Bowen Received ... sum of thirteen pounds one shilling ... Signed Geo Wallon, Martha Wallon Wit James (X) Cammell, William (X) Bowen Junr, Littleberry (X) Bowen Mecklenburg DB 3, p 80 20 Dec 1770 George Wallon of Prince Edward Co to William Bowen Junr of Mecklenburg Co. 7 pounds. 57 acres on the branches of Eagles Nest Creek. Beginning at Stafford's corner stump by Bowens Battery on the Road in Tomerson's line .... Signed Geo Waller Wit Laborn Stafford, James (X) Cammell, Littlebery (X) Bowen Although the clerk recorded the name various different ways, the Order Book records and earlier patents reflect his name as George Walton. The Walton tract had also adjoined the part of George Vaughan's land that was sold to James Thomason. Charles Bowen's deed and Littleberry Bowen's deed both mention the Thomason land. Lunenburg DB 7 p 77 1 Apr 1760 George Vaughn and Agness Vaughn of Cumberland Parish in Lunenburg to James Thomason of same. 10L for 150 acres in the Parish of St James and Lunenburg on the north side of Eaglesnest Cr bounded by Bowen, Walton, it being part of a survey obtained by George Vaughan dated 12 May 1759. Wit William Pinnell, John Stonge. Memorandum of livery of seizin wit by John Ezell. Rec 5 May 1761. [Note: Court records and patents seem to indicate that this man's name was actually George Walton. This land was from a 400 acre patent to George Vaughan in 1759.] On 17 March 1775, Charles Bowen purchased 60 acres from Drury Bowen and Elizabeth his wife and Robert Bowen Sr at the mouth of Eagles Nest Creek adjoining John Harper and Robert Bowen, "being the same granted to Drury and Robert Bowen". (Meck DB 6:502) The original grant contained 125 acres. On 22 Dec 1792, Charles Bowen and James Bowen together purchased 60 acres adjoining John Nash Sr, Jesse Bowen, Mark Evans, James Bowen, John Harper, and Drury Bowen from James Bowen, Martha Bowen, and Mary Evans, legatees of Robert Bowen. (Meck DB 8:401) Since the land of Drury Bowen is mentioned as adjoining, this probably was not the remaining half of the patent to Drury and Robert Bowen as Drury seems to have held on to that. This seems to be a totally separate tract of land that Robert Bowen held in his name alone at his death. 
This deed made no effort to distinguish between James Bowen the grantor and James Bowen the grantee. I have found no indications of another James Bowen in the area at that time, so most likely the grantor and grantee were the same. One of Charles Bowen's sons was named Roly/Rolly Andrews Bowen which might point to a connection with the Andrews family. The only possibility of a marriage between the Bowens and Andrews I have found has not been proven. Thomas Andrews Sr's Henrico Co will named a daughter Ame - no surname given. The births of children born to Thomas Andrews Sr's children appeared in the Bristol Parish records at the same time as the Bowen birth records. Several of Thomas Andrews Sr's grandchildren lived near the Bowens on the Meherrin River. If Ame Andrews, daughter of Thomas Andrews Sr, was Amy, the wife of William Bowen Sr, that might explain why the name Andrews was used in the descendants of Charles Bowen and Drury Bowen. At this time, there is no proof though. Charles Bowen's known children were: 1) Rolley Andrews Bowen Mecklenburg Court Orders p. 239 - Rolley Bowen, son of Charles Bowen, be excused from paying taxes (June 1788). Mecklenburg Court Orders p. 143 - Charles Bowen is excused from paying levies for son, Rolley Andrews Bowen, he being infirm (1805). 2) Asa Bowen married Charlotte Bowen, daughter of Isham Bowen. He was first listed for taxes as age 16+ in 1791, so was born ca 1775. 3) Jeffrey "Jeffa" Bowen does not seem to have married. He was first listed for taxes as age 16+ in 1793 which would indicate he was born ca 1777. His age on the 1850 census was given as 70 (b ca 1780). He was listed as a farmer with 400 acres of land and was living with his sister Jenny at that time. He had died by 18 Oct 1852 when the Mecklenburg Co feduciary records show that his extr was John W Gregory and that $5,000 bond was posted with no security. No will or inventory or other estate records have been found. 4) Savery Bowen married David Bowen Jr. No children. No records have been found that reveal her approximate date of birth. 5) Catherine "Caty" Bowen married David Taylor 25 March 1829 in Mecklenburg Co. Both were listed on the 1850 census in Mecklenburg immediately before the household of Jeff Bowen and Jenny Bowen. Catherine was age 70 (b ca 1780) and David was age 80, a farmer with 65 acres of land. Catherine would have been about age 49 at the time of her marriage, so there probably weren't any children born to them. The following information was found in the Mecklenburg Co loose court papers now at VA Archives: William T Pennington vs Admr of Howell Pennington etc. 1833-018 Caty Bowen Taylor testied about the state of mind of Harper. Martha Pennington married John Harper in 1785 and they lived with Howell Pennington until 1786. Howell Pennington and his wife never had children (wife died first). John G. Pennington, father of Martha Harper who married John Harper. Louisa Vaughan died at Benjamin Gees house in Brunswick. Martha Longbottom is sister to John Harper. Testimony of Emanuel Hudgins: "1811 he intermarried with the daughter [Anne Harper] of Martha Harper. She then lived in the house of Howell Pennington as his adopted daughter. H. Pennington gave his consent for her to marry. All negroes go to her children (Martha Harper's children)." Caty B. Taylor lived in Howell Pennington's house 1803-1805. She was a near neighbor in his later days. She saw him at least once a fortnight. 6) Jenny/Genny/Jinny Bowen. Jinny Bowen age 65 (b ca 1785) was listed on the 1850 Mecklenburg Co census in the household of Jeff Bowen. Lewis Bowen's wife's name was Jenny, but he appeared on the 1820 and 1830 censuses in Rutherford Co, NC and the 1840 census in Greenville Co, SC with a wife and quite a few children. The wills of Charles Bowen and David Bowen Jr both indicate Charles's daughter Jenny was the mother of a son named Henderson James Bowen. Because Charles Bowen and David Bowen Jr both provided for Henderson James Bowen and no Bowen husband for Jenny has been found, her son may have been illegitimate or perhaps was the orphan of an unknown Bowen husband who had died or might have been the abandoned son of Lewis Bowen. Henderson James Bowen has not been found on later records. Jenny died before 17 Oct 1859. The Mecklenburg Co feduciary records state that William Nash was her extr with John W Gregory and John H Hudgins posting bond. Her will was recorded on the same date. Will of Jenny Bowen. Mecklenburg Co WB 19 p 507 Dated 15 May 1855, Recorded 17 Oct 1859 To friend William Nash negroes. Also land which I now live. Extr. friend William Nash Wit John W Gregory, John H Hudgins, Jesse Gee The will was contested but we don't know the specifics of the case or the outcome, however it does help to prove some of the children of Jenny's siblings. Mecklenburg Co Court Minutes, 1859 Edwin H. Bowen [son of Asa Bowen] Jiddy S. Bowen [son of Asa Bowen] Henry J. Bowen [son of Asa Bowen] Eliza Bowen [dau of Asa Bowen] James W. Bowen and wife, Catharine [dau of Asa Bowen] James Taylor and wife, Susan Ann [Don't know her relationship, but I'm guessing dau of Harrison Bowen. James W Taylor m Susan A Bowen 2 Nov 1848 Lunenburg Co] Branch Bowen [son of Harrison Bowen] Joseph Thomerson and wife, Charlotte [daughter of Harrison Bowen] John Evans and wife, Jinney [daughter of Harrison Bowen] against William Nash, executor of Jinney Bowen, dec'd |