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 Bowen Coat of Arms Bowens of Abbeville, SC and Gwinnett Co, GA  Lunenburg Co Order Book 5, p 156 Wm Bowing and Drury Bowing among members of jury in case Thos Satterwhite agst Richd Elmore. May Court, 1759 In order to serve on a jury, you had to be at least age 21 and a landholder. This indicates that Drury was born by 1738. It also indicates that Drury Bowen and Robert Bowen had entered the 125 acres that was finally granted to them in 1768. It's possible this entry was made as early as 1753 when Robert Bowen lost 150 acres belonging to this same tract to John Clack - land which Robert believed he held a claim to. This situation is explained in the Robert Bowen records. If the remaining 125 acres was entered for a patent in 1753 as soon as Robert realized he might lose it too, then Drury might have been born before 1732. Lunenburg Co Order Book 8, p 131 Nicholas Edmunds on attachment (in hands Wm Bowing) agst estate Drury Bowing dfdnt; plaintiff to recover agst sd garnishee Wm Bowing. October Court, 1762 This means that William Bowen (Sr? Jr?) had been ordered to hold some unidentified property belonging to Drury Bowen to cover whatever amount was owed by Drury. This record and other records concerning Robert Bowen might indicate that Robert Bowen and Drury Bowen were brothers, possibly unproven sons of William Bowen Sr and Amy. Robert Bowen of the Lunenburg and Mecklenburg Co records does not seem to be the same Robert Bowen whose wife was Avis. Census 1782 Mecklenburg County, Virginia 8 listed in household. Meck DB 6:502 dated 17 March 1785 proves the wife of Drury Bowen at that time as Elizabeth. This is a deed from Drury Bowen and wife Elizabeth and Robert Bowen to Charles Bowen for 61 acres on the mouth of Eagles Nest Creek being the same granted to Drury and Robert Bowen. The original grant to Robert Bowen and Drury Bowen was dated 20 July 1768 and contained 125 acres in Mecklenburg Co on the south side of the Meherrin River on Eagles Nest Creek. Drury was last listed for Mecklenburg taxes in 1784. Although Drury Bowen was listed on the Abbeville Co, SC census in 1790, he seems to have still held land in Mecklenburg Co adjoining the land of Robert Bowen dec'd on 22 Dec 1792 when "James Bowen, Martha Bowen, and Mary Evans, legatees of Robert Bowen's estate deceased" sold an estimated 60 acres to Charles Bowen and James Bowen. The land was described as a "parcel of land containing by estimation sixty acres adjoining the lands of John Nash Senr, Jesse Bowen, Mark Evans, Senr and the said James Bowen and John Harper and the said Drury Bowen." (Mecklenburg Deed Book 8, p 401, 402) Drury Bowen did not appear on the Mecklenburg Co land tax records of 1787. Most likely his land mentioned in the 1792 deed was the other half of the 1768 patent. Although Drury had held the northern half of this patent, he had sold his half to Charles Bowen in 1785. The 1789 deed was apparently referring to the land that had been Drury's a few years before but by 1789 when the deed was written, actually belonged to Charles Bowen. This was just one of many errors that have been found in the deeds. Drury Bowen was not named as Robert Bowen's legatee in this 1792 deed, so it's more likely that Drury was Robert's brother rather than his son. The estimated birth dates for Robert and Drury would also seem to indicate this. The 1800 Abbeville Co census listed Drury Bowen (age over 45), John Bowen (age 26-45), Sterlin Bowen (age 26-45), and Isaac Bowen (age 26-45). If Drury was born no later than 1738 and quite possibly earlier, he would have been at least 62, possibly older, by 1800. The land that adjoined the Robert Bowen and Drury Bowen patent to the east on the other side of Eagles Nest Creek was granted to John Clack in 1760. This was land that Robert Bowen believed he held a claim to when he deeded 150 acres of this land to Clement Read in 1753. Clack had evidently entered the land by then and took Bowen to court. The Clack family is of interest because of the name Sterling that was associated with the Bowens who moved from Mecklenburg Co, VA to Abbeville Co, SC. John Clack was the brother of Sterling Clack and both were sons of James Clack and Mary Sterling. Was Drury's wife a Clack? Sterling Bowen was listed for taxes in 1782 (the first available Mecklenburg tax record). It would appear that he was grown and on his own at that time as he listed two cattle and one horse under his own name. The record indicates he was at least age 21. His last appearance on the Mecklenburg Co tax lists was in 1790. Sterling Bowen last appeared on the Mecklenburg land tax records in 1787 listing the 50 acres he had purchased from Milden Chavis/Chavous in 1785. In 1788 he was reported with "No land", but no deed has been found to explain the disposal of this land. By 1800, he was living in Abbeville Co, SC. The 1800 census shows Sterling as age 26-45 which would place his date of birth between 1755 and 1774. In 1782 he was at least age 21, so born no later than 1761. That narrows his date of birth to 1755-1761 which agrees with his other censuses. Will of Sterling Bowen dated Jan. 23, 1822, probated Dec. 2, 1822 in Abbeville, SC. (Found in vol. 2 p. 103) In the name of God, Amen. I Starling Bowen being sick and in a low state of health, but of sound and disposing mind and memory thanks be to God for his mercies, but calling to mind the mortality of my body and Known that it is appointed for all once to die, do make and ordain my last Will and Testament in the manner and form following ( to wit., first, I recommend my body to the Earth, to be buried in a decent/ christian/ manner, and my soul I recommend to Almighty God who gave it, hoping to receive Just. Second, to my beloved daughter Susannah, I give and bequeath one feather bed and furniture, and also one cow and calf, the cow an calf to be paid her at or after the death of her mother, or at or immediately after her marriage. Third, to my son Drury Bowen, I give and bequeath the sum of twenty dollars, fourth to my daughter Clary, I give one dollar. Fifth, to my dearly beloved wife, Susannah, I give and bequeath all my real estate, and also all the balance of my personal estate ( after the payment of my just debts) of what nature or kind so ever for and during the term of her natural life or widowhood an after her decease or marriage. I give an bequeath the same to my children hereafter mentioned, say, Woody, Meredith, Nancy, Lacey, Polly, Sterling, Patsey, Jincy, and Susannah to be sold and equally divide between them, say nine children, share and share alike. Lastly I do hereby appoint my sons, Woody Bowen and Lacey Bowen executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23rd day of January 1822. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Starling Bowen as his last Will and Testament in our presence who is his presence and presence of each other Witnessed the same. Witnesses: John Bowen Starling Bowen Andrew Brownlee L.S. A Hunter John Bowen witnessed the 1822 will of Sterling Bowen of Abbeville, SC. He later moved to Gwinnett Co, GA. According to the Revolutionary pension application by Sterling's widow Susan (Susannah) Bowen, "Mr. John Bowen, now a resident of Georgia was present when Mr and Mrs Bowen were married 58 years ago." ( in the year John made affidavit in 1838 or 1839) This would place the date of the marriage of Sterling Bowen and Susannah at about 1780 or 1781, probably in Mecklenburg Co. Isaac Bowen first appeared on the 1800 Abbeville Co census as age 26-45. This would place Isaac's date of birth between 1755 and 1774. In 1810, he was still age 26-45, which would place his date of birth between 1765 and 1784. By 1820 his age was over 45, so he was born before 1775. The 1830 census listed his age as 60-69, so born between 1761 and 1770. The 1840 Gwinnett Co census listed his age as 70-79. All the censuses combined - if accurate - narrow his birth date down to 1765-1770. From a Genforum posting by "Bob": "There were two (2) different families of Bowens in Abbeville County, S.C. The heads of both families were styled: Sterling Bowen, both sometimes spelled Starling Bowen. My Sterling(Stalling) Bowen , according to Census Records was born 1802 in SC, married to an Elizabeth ______, born 1803 in ______. This Bowen family was strongly connnected with SHILOH METHODIST CHURCH in Abbeville County, SC. Sterling Bowen ( the head of the Family) donated the land that SHILOH is on today and also the land where the cemetary is, according to his tombstone, he was born Jan. 7, 1802 and died July 15, 1864. WILL of this Sterling Bowen is in Abbeville County Courthouse. Year 1864. The other Sterling Bowen Family is spelled out in the Book: "Ancestors and Descendants of Woody Bowen". Both of the Sterling Bowens were of about the same age. The censuses of Abbeville Co indicate that there were two Sterling Bowens, both age 20-29 in 1830, one referred to as Sr. One was probably the son of Sterling Bowen d 1822. A Genforum posting by Debbie Wilson states that Woody Bowen was the father of Sterling Bowen b 1803 d 1873. Woody was not listed on the 1810 census, but his 1820 census does indicate a male of the right age frame. Are there any records for the transfer of the Isaac Bowen homeplace to the Sterling Bowen who died in 1864? Isaac Bowen was listed on the 1840 census for Gwinnett Co, GA where John Bowen had moved prior to 1830. Isaac was age 70-80. Also in the household were 1F 60-70, 1M 30-40, 1F 30-40, 1F 20-30, and 1F 5-10. It would seem Isaac must have been the brother in Abbeville mentioned in John Bowen's 1833 pension application since Sterling had died years before and no other Bowens of the correct age frame were found there. Isaac was still listed on the Abbeville Co census in 1830. However, Jesse Bowen, Thomas Bowen, and Isaac Bowen were members of the Bethesda-Methodist Church in Gwinnett Co when it was organized in 1827. Was this the same Isaac Bowen or another? First appeared on the 1810 Abbeville Co census age 16-25 with one child under 10. He was probably recently married and perhaps the son Drury Bowen named in the 1822 will of Sterling Bowen. A Drury A. Bowen was the security for the Lunenburg Co marriage of Gabriel Buford and Susan Jackson 14 May 1807. It is not known if Drury A Bowen who left the record in Lunenburg Co was the same as Drury Andrus Bowen in Abbeville Co 3 years later. First appeared on the 1810 Abbeville Co census age 26-45. He was not named in the 1822 will of Sterling Bowen but could have died before 1822. From his age, it would appear more likely that he was one of the males age 16-26 listed under Drury Bowen in 1800. Griffin Bowen did not appear on the 1820 Abbeville Co census. Much of this information was provided by Nancy Bunker Bowen. John Bowen was born c1763 in Mecklenburg Co. VA (so stated on his Rev War pension application, filed in Gwinnett Co. GA in 1833). He does not name his parents or siblings but mentions "my brother in Abbeville [SC] has the family Bible." According to his pension application, John Bowen entered the Mecklenburg County Militia in June 1780 at the age of 17. Called into military service a second time 15 Feb 1781 (Mecklenburg Co. VA); called to military service a third time August 1781; discharged from military service October 1781. He states he moved to Randolph Co. NC in 1782; moved to Rowan Co. NC in 1783; moved to Greenville Co. SC c1784. He is listed in the 1790 Greenville Co. SC census. He then states he moved to Abbeville District SC c1793 and states he lived there "about 37 years". He is listed in the 1800, 1810, and 1820 Abbeville SC census. John Bowen removed to Georgia (Gwinnett Co.) between 1826 and 1830. He filed for his Rev War pension in Gwinnett Co. in 1833 and is listed as a Rev War pensioner in Gwinnett Co. in 1835. A "John Bowen, aged 90" is listed as a resident of Gwinnett Co. GA in 1849; the 1850 Gwinnett Co. Mortality Index notes a "John Bowen, aged 87, white, widowed, died January 1850 after 70 days ill." We do not know the name of his wife (although Abbeville SC marriage records note the marriage of John Bowen, Esq. to Rose Reid in 1786 -- ?). A Genforum posting by Dianne Wages also mentions a Rowan Co marriage record for John Bowen to Mary Moore on 23 Dec 1785. A John Bowen (possibly AKA Hughberry and possibly of GA) was mentioned in the 1787 will of Hicks Bowen in Mecklenburg Co, VA. The will was "assigned in the presence of" John Bowen and others who would have been the siblings and rightful heirs to the estate of Hicks Bowen. Since one of these heirs, William Bowen (III), can be proven as the son of William Bowen Jr and Lucrecy, the John Bowen mentioned in this will would also have been a son of William Bowen Jr. The John Bowen who witnessed Hicks Bowen's will must have been a totally different John Bowen from the one who moved to SC and much later to GA. According to the pension application and the 1790 census, one John Bowen was living in Greenville Co, SC between about 1784 and 1790 when the other John Bowen (apparently nicknamed Hughberry and at that time in GA) in 1887 assigned his rights to Hicks Bowen's estate in accordance with Hicks' wishes as stated in the will. In addition, there is no indication in Hicks Bowen's will that his rightful heirs included a Sterling or Drury or Isaac Bowen. John Bowen witnessed the 1822 will of Sterling Bowen of Abbeville, SC. According to papers included with the Revolutionary pension application by Sterling's widow Susan (Susannah) Bowen, "Mr. John Bowen, now a resident of Georgia was present when Mr and Mrs Bowen were married 58 years ago." (in the year John made affidavit in 1838 or 1839) |