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 Bowen Coat of Arms Thomas Andrews of Henrico Co, VA Film # 0031770 In the name of God, Amen this 21 day April 1731. I, Thomas Andrews Senior of Bristol Parish in Henrico County being weak in body but of sound mind and perfect memory thanks be unto God, do make and ordain this my Last will and Testament in manner and form following. Imprimis: I bequeath my Soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Andrews one hundred acres of Land more or less where he now liveth, beginning at a corner pine from there to (a black oak corner?) (and to the Road?) to him the said Thomas his Heirs and assigns forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Richard Andrews one hundred acres of Land more or less where he now liveth beginning at a corner that was formerly Wm. Garrat's line, then to a corner black oak by the Road to him the said Richard his Heirs and assigns forever. Item: I give to my son Benjamin Andrews one cow and calf to be paid by my Executor. Item: I give to my daughter, Donivant one shilling. Item: I give to my daughter Anne Granger one shilling. Item: I give to daughter Ame one shilling. Item: I give to my son William Andrews one shilling. Item: I give and bequeath to my son John the plantation where I now live with the goods and chattels belonging to the same to him the said John Andrews his Heirs and assigns forever. And I do hereby will make ordain constitute and appoint my said son John Andrews my full whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. Witnesses: Thos. Andrews Thomas Bott Allick Moore Edward Moore Recorded March 1731 (I did not see a "recorded" date, but this was in Weisiger's book, so perhaps he was able to see it when looking at the original, instead of microfilm).  Note: By the old calendar, the year changed on March 25, not January 1. The will certainly could not have been recorded before it was even written. Therefore, the will must have been recorded earlier in March before March 25 when the year changed to 1732. By our modern calendar with the year changing on January 1, the recording date would have been written as March, 1732. Son William Andrews (Sr) patented land in Lunenburg Co both on the north and south sides of the Meherrin River. Although William died in Dinwiddie Co, several of his children lived on and inherited his land in Lunenburg and Mecklenburg. Daughter Ann Granger, wife of Benjamin Granger, left her will in Chesterfield Co recorded 1786. The births of several of her children were recorded in the Bristol Parish Register including a son named John Granger born 24 Dec 1726 who was named again in her will. John Granger moved from Chesterfield Co to Lunenburg Co where he was listed for tithes in Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg in 1764. He left his will in Lunenburg dated 1793. He was in Lunenburg as early as 1759 when it was ordered that William Bowen pay John Granger for 14 days attendance at court as a witness for him in his case against Field Jefferson. Son Thomas Andrews (Jr) left his will in Chesterfield Co dated 1754. His wife Jane Andrews left her will in the same county dated 1756. Jane's will named a daughter Frances Dishman. No records have yet been found in Chesterfield Co that reflect Frances as the wife of a Dishman there although there were records for several Dishmans in that county. The 1764 Lunenburg tithes list included a William Dishman. He was listed again for tithes in Lunenburg in 1764, but as William Dizmang. Listed just after him were William Dizmang Jr and Daniel Dizmang, possible sons who had come of age between 1748 and 1764. In 1766, William Bowen Jr sold land on the south side of the Meherrin originally patented by George Vaughan to William Dizmang Sr. It has not yet been determined if William Dishman/Dizmang was the husband of Frances Andrews Dishman, but this is a possibility worth exploring. Thomas Andrews Sr's son John Andrews was the father of Peter Andrews who moved to Lunenburg. Peter's daughter Winifred Andrews married Mark Evans Jr. Mary Evans was named as Robert Bowen's legatee in 1792. This Robert Bowen's land adjoined Mark Evans' land. Mary Evans' husband has not yet been identified, but he does not seem to have been Mark Evans Sr and we know he couldn't have been Mark Evans Jr. Perhaps another son of Mark Evans Sr? At least two Bowen descendants were given the middle name Andrews or Andrus. The "Andrus" spelling comes from a census and may or may not be accurate. Drury Andrus Bowen's exact descent has not been proven although he would seem to descend from the early Drury Bowen who left Mecklenburg Co and moved to Abbeville Co, SC where Drury Andrus Bowen's records were found. Rolly Andrews Bowen was a son of Charles Bowen, but Charles Bowen's father hasn't been proven, so his exact descent hasn't been established. Was Rolly Andrews Bowen named for Rowland Andrews? The Bowen records frequently reflected nicknames rather than the actual given names. Carol Shrader believes Rowland Andrews was another son of William Andrews Sr and Avis. The records to support Rowland Andrews and another possible son Eleazor Andrews can be found on Carol's webpage. Could the daughter Ame named in the 1731 will of Thomas Andrews of Henrico be the same as Amy, wife of William Bowen Sr? At this time, no records have been found to positively prove Ame Andrew's husband or the maiden name of William Bowen's wife Amy. |