Jesse Bowen
1734/5-1797
Jesse Bowen was a son of William Bowen Sr and wife Amy as proven by the Bristol Parish records which recorded his birth on 11 March 1734. By our modern calendar, this would be 11 March 1735. Jesse was also named as a son in a Lunenburg Co deed from William Bowen Sr and wife Amey to Jesse Bowen in 1762. On the same date, William Bowen Sr and wife Amey deeded land to son David Bowen and to Samuel Kirks "for love". No relationship to Samuel Kirks was stated, but it's believed he married a daughter of William Bowen Sr and Amey.
Lunenburg Deed Book 7, p 270
24 May 1762 William Bowen Senr of Saint James Parish
of Lunenburg Co to Jessey Bowen son of the said William Bowen ... 70 acres
of 240 acres granted 14 Feb 1761 to the said William Bowen ... between
the Eagles Nest Creek and a branch called Pretty Maid Branch joining the
land of John Clack ...
Signed William (+) Bowen, Amey (a) Bowen
Witnesses Robert (+) Bowen, Drury (D) Bowen, Elizabeth
(E) Nawblin
Rec 1 June 1762
Since this deed states that Jesse's part of William Bowen Sr's land adjoined John Clack, Jesse's part must have come from the eastern part of the patent beginning at Eagles Nest Creek. But, since the part of William Bowen's land that lay on the east side of the creek was about half of his land, certainly well over a third, probably Pretty Maid Branch divided the eastern part, and Jesse received the part north of Pretty Maid Branch adjoining Clack, while David Bowen received the eastern part south of Pretty Maid Branch in addition to more land on the west side of Eagles Nest Creek. David's part adjoined the land that James Cammel and James Thomason had purchased from the George Vaughan patent on the south side of the Bowen patent.
Mecklenburg Co Deed Book 1 p 241
28 June 1766 William Bowen Jr of Mecklenburg Co to William
Dizmang Sr of Lunenburg Co. 70 pounds. 50 acres part of a tract patented
in George Vaughan's name 1 Oct 1747 on the Little fork of Taylors
Creek.
Signed William (+) Bowen, Lucrecy (+) Bowen
Witnesses Drury (+) Bowen, Jesse (+) Bowen, John Howell,
William Robinson
Mecklenburg DB 3 p 148
7 June 1771 David Bowen and Samuel Kirks of Mecklenburg
Co to James Cammel of same. 25L 100a east side of Eaglenest Creek beginning
at the said creek at Jesse Bowen's line thence east along Jesse Bowens
to Samuel Kirks line thence south along a new marked line to the head of
a branch thence west down the creek north to the beginning.
Signed David X Bowen, Saml X Kirks
Wit Drury Bowen, John Ezell, George Thompson
Memorandum of peaceable and quiet possession signed &
witnessed by same
10 June 1771 acknowledged (no names) and recorded
Mecklenburg DB 5 p 219
10 April 1778 Charles Bowing & Amy Bowing to
James Bowing. 10L 50a. Beginning at the Long Branch at a corner of John
Harper's line and thence along a line to Robert Bowen's line thence along
Robert Bowen's line to Mark Evans line at a black jack and thence along
a new made line to the branch at a black jack thence along the branch to
the place begun.
Signed Charles Bowing, Amey Bowing.
Wit Richard Whitehead, John Tomerson, Jessey Bowing.
Ack 13 April 1778, Amy privily examined.
Mecklenburg DB 5 p 220
10 April 1778 Thomas Nobling and Frances Nobling to James
Bowen. 15L 50a Beginning at a corner maple at a branch called the Long
Branch & thence along Charles Bowings line to Berry Bowings line thence
along Berry Bowings line to a new line at a corner thence along the line
to the branch thence down the branch to the place begun.
Signed Thos Nobling, Frances Nobling.
Wit Charles Bowing, Jessey Bowing, Balm [Balaam] Jones.
Ack 13 April 1778.
Mecklenburg Co DB 6 p 196 [very faded]
10 August 1782 John Short and Edy his wife of Mecklenburg
to James Bowen of same. 100L tract lying on both sides of Taylor's Creek.
[acres unreadable] Beginning at [Mallets?] corner white oak thence along
his line to Richard ?? ?? corner pine [remaining description unreadable]
Signed John X Short, Edy X Short
Wit Charles C Bowen
Matthew Ornsbey [may also have appeared as Hornsby in
other deeds]
Jessey X Bowen
Rec 9 September 1782 acknowledged by John Short and Edy
Short his wife first privily examined.
Mecklenburg Co DB 5 p 219
10 April 1778 Charles Bowing & Amy Bowing of
Mecklenburg to James Bowing of same. 10L about 50a. Beginning on the Long
Branch at a corner of John Harper's line and thence along a line to Robert
Bowen's line thence along Robert Bowen's line to Mark Evans line at a black
jack and thence along a new made line to the branch at a black jack thence
along the branch to the place begun.
Signed Charles Bowing, Amey Bowing
Wit Richard Whitehead, John Tomerson, Jessey Bowing
Memorandum of peaceful and quiet possession signed &
witnessed by same
Recorded 13 April 1778
Mecklenburg DB 5 p 220
10 April 1778 Thomas Nobling & Frances Nobling
[Noblin] of Mecklenburg to James Bowen of same. 15L about 50a. Beginning
at a corner maple at a branch called the Long Branch & thence along
Charles Bowings line to Berry Bowings line thence along Berry Bowings line
to a new line at a corner thence along the line to the branch thence down
the branch to the place begun.
Signed Thos Nobling, Frances Nobling
Wit Charles Bowing, Jessey Bowing, Balm. [Balaam] Jones
Memorandum of peaceful and quiet possession signed &
witnessed by same
Recorded 13 April 1778
Jesse Bowen listed 75 acres of land for taxes from 1787 to 1791.
Mecklenburg DB 8 p 95
7 October 1791 Samuel Kirks to Jesse Bowen. 20L
about 80a. Beginning at Jesse Bowens corner thence along the said
Bowens line to Elizabeth Finns line thence along the said Finns line to
William Thomasssons line thence along the said Thomassons line to Frances
Thomassons line thence along the said Thomassons line to Henry [Wats? Wals?]
corner line tree thence from the said [Wats? Wals?] corner tree to Sack
Penningtons corner tree thence along the said Penningtons line to Birchetts
corner tree thence along the said Birchetts line to Jesse Bowens corner
tree at the beginning.
Signed Samuel X Kirks
Wit David Bowen, Mary [Pegram?]
Rec 10 October 1791 acknowledged by Samuel Kirks. Edith
Kirks wife of said Samuel personally appeared in court, privily examined,
reliquished her right of dower.
In 1792, Jesse listed 155 acres for taxes, which agrees with the 75 acres plus the additional 80 acres above.
Mecklenburg DB 8 p 401
22 December 1792. James Bowen, Martha Bowen and Mary
Evans legatees of Robt Bowen estate deceased of Mecklenburg to Charles
Bowen and James Bowen of same. 3L about 60a 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.
Signed Mary + Evans, Martha + Bowen, James + Bowen
Wit James Williams, Wm Drumwright, Richard Whitehead
8 April 1793 proved as to Mary Evans and Martha Bowen
by oaths of Willam Drumwright and Richard Whitehead witnesses thereto and
at a court held 14 April 179[4?] the said indenture was further proved
as to the said Mary Evans and Mary Bowen by the oath of James Williams
another witness thereto and acknowdged by James Bowen a party thereto and
ordered to be recorded.
Mecklenburg DB 8 p 289
8 April 1793 William Starling Sheriff of Co of Meck to
Jesse Bowen of same. By force and virtue of an act of the General Assembly
passed 20 Dec 1791 … to sell certain lands… agreeable to the lists transmitted
to him on the 25th June last … did on the twelfth day of last September
set up and expose to sale … thirty eight acres formerly the property of
Henry Wall and sold to the Commissioners of the Tax… for the nonpayment
of taxes for the year 1788. Beginning at corner pointers in Sack Pennington's
line then N14W 112 poles to a black jack in Bowens line then S87W 27 poles
to a white oak then S13E 77 poles to Jees road then along that as it meanders
to a corner white oak, then S10W 36 poles to a corner pine then new line
due E 140 poles to the beginning. 12 shillings
Signed Wm Starling Shf
No witnesses given
8 April 1793 acknowledged by William Starling.
From 1793 to 1796, Jesse Bowen listed 193 acres which reflects this additional 38 acres.
Mecklenburg DB 9 p 251
10 December 1796 William Finn to Jesse Bowen. 45L Beginning
at the Eagles Nest Creek at the mouth of a branch thence up the said branch
on Jesse Bowens line to the corner tree a small hicory thence along the
said Bowen line to the corner tree a small red oak thence along the said
Bowen line to the corner tree a small gum thence along the said Bowens
line to the Eagles Nest Creek to William Thomasons line thence down the
said creek as the said Thomasons line to Little Berry Bowens line thence
down the creek on the said Bowens line to Mark Evanses line thence down
the creek on the said Evanses line to the beginning. 100a.
Signed William Finn
Wit Isham + Bowen, Charles C Bowen, Little Berry + Bowen
Court 10 April 1797 proved by oaths of Isham Bowen, Charles
Bowen, Little Berry Bowen.
This 100 acres was reflected in the tax records in 1797. Jesse Bowen was not listed for taxes. Instead, his land appeared under the name of his widow Winifred Bowen who listed 293 acres for taxes. The following year, 1798, half of the 293 acres was listed under Winifred Bowen while the other half was listed under Littleberry Bowen, indicating their marriage during the year.
Jesse Bowen's widow Winifred was the mother of Littleberry Kirks AKA Littleberry Bowen Kirks AKA Littleberry Kirks Bowen AKA Littleberry Bowen Jr. His surname was given most often as Kirks and he appears to have been a child born to Winifred before her marriage to Jesse Bowen. It is not known if Kirks was Winifred's maiden name or married name. It's not known if Bowen was originally part of Winifred's son's name or if Bowen was added to his name after her marriage to Jesse Bowen. Any relationship to Samuel Kirks or Winne Curcks named as an heir in the 1735 James Voughn will is also unknown. A few years after Jesse's death, his widow Winifred married Littleberry Bowen (Sr), son of William Bowen Jr and nephew of Jesse Bowen. The land tax records reflect Jesse's land in Winifred Bowen's records, Littleberry Bowen Kirk's records, and Littleberry Bowen's records. Winifred was not named in Littleberry Bowen's 1819 will and had probably died, but Littleberry Bowen Kirks was named as a "son" in this will before any of Littleberry Bowen's children by his previous marriage.
Note that this will was written in 1785 but not recorded until 1797. Other records verify that 1797 was actually the year of Jesse's death.
Jesse Bowen Will Book 3 p 414
In the name of God Amen, I Jesse Bowen of the County
of Mecklenburg being weak in body but Sound and perfect memory Thanks be
to almighty God and calling to remembrance the frailty & unsertainty
of human life leave [have?] this my last will and testatment in manner
following first I Commit my Sole to allmighty God Through Jesus Christ
my body I leave to be buried at the discression of ...?... as I Shall hereafter
mention after my just debts is paid I give and dispose of my goods as followeth,
Item I Lend to my dear and Loving wife Winneford Bowen all my real and
personal Estate during her life or widowhood to use at her discretion on
Those Things that I shall hereafter mention Item I give to Littlebery Bowen
Cearks [Kirks] at his arive to the age of twenty one my smiths Tools and
half my land whereon I now live that is uncultivated ..?.. all my estate
after the death or marriage of my wife I give unto Little Berry Cearks
to have and to hold forever lastly I nominate and appoint my dear and loving
wife Winneford [blank] and my Friend Charles Bowen my whole and Sole Executors
of this my last will and testament revoking and disannulling all former
wills by me made in witness my hand this fourth day of April one thousand
seven hundred and eighty five.
his
Jesse + Bowen
mark
Signed and delivered in [phrase not completed]
Isaac Johnson
John Arnold
his
Francis + Johnson
mark
At a Court held in Mecklenburg County on the 12th day
of June 1797 the will was proved by the oaths of Isaac Johnson & Francis
Johnson ..?.. thereto and ordered to be recorded and Charles Bowen and
Winnyfred Bowen there Executors therein named who made oaths thereto and
together ......?..... Isaac Johnson & James Bowen Their Securities
entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of eight thousand
dollars ...?... as the law directs Certificate was granted them for obtaining
probate thereof in due form Teste William Baskerville[?]
...?...
There is a twelve year span between the writing and recording of this will. Apparently Jesse recovered from his illness in 1785 and lived several more years. Because of this, we know that Jesse had married Winifred by 1785 whose son Littleberry Bowen Kirks was under age 21 at the time of the will. Jesse and Winifred appear to have had no children of their own when the will was written. Later records do not indicate later children born to them.
It is interesting that Charles
Bowen was referred to only as a "friend", not as a brother. This would
tend to eliminate Charles as a son of William Bowen Sr and Amy although
it's not totally impossible that Jesse might have referred to his brother
as a friend.
Please send
additions/corrections/comments/questions to
Martha Hills
and/or Frances "Cookie" Harper