Henry BOWERS (Sr.) ⁴

  General Notes:

I am pleased to announce that my research on my Bowers' line has been confirmed by DNA testing. My first cousin, a putative descendant of Henry Bowers (Sr.) by his son, Andrew Bowers (Sr.), is a 36/37 match with a proven descendant of Henry Bowers (Sr.) by his son, Henry Bowers Jr. This is particularly gratifying since I will be the first to admit my claim to Henry Bowers (Sr.) was previously based largely on circumstantial evidence and in some instances even required a leap of faith. While there is still a possibility that the most recent common ancestor shared by the DNA participants predates Henry (Sr.), I am confident the paper trail supports Henry (Sr.) as that ancestor. See the Bowers DNA Project at http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/b/bowers/.

  Research Notes:

What follows is a complete revision (as of 17 Mar 2015) of my previous analysis of the family of Henry and Catharine Bowers prior to their arrival in that part of Frederick County, VA, that became Berkeley County, VA (now West Virginia). This revision became necessary because certain facts previously thought to be true (by virtue of what I considered to be persuasive circumstantial evidence) are now in question.

Before Frederick/Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia):

What follows is a complete revision of my previous analysis of the family of Henry and Catharine Bowers prior to their arrival in that part of Frederick County, VA, that became Berkeley County, VA (now WV). This revision became necessary because certain facts previously thought to be true (by virtue of what I considered to be persuasive circumstantial evidence) are now in question.

I had earlier written that it seemed very likely that Henry and Catharine Bowers were married in Oct 1748 at the German Reformed Church in Philadelphia, at which time they were known as Heinrick Baur and Anna Catharine Ries. Church records also show the birth and christening of a son, Joh George Baur, which corresponds to George Bowers, the oldest son of Henry and Catharine Bowers. Joh George Baur, born 28 Aug 1749 and christened 15 Oct 1749, was their only child christened at the German Reformed Church in Philadelphia, which is consistent with the family having moved to York County, PA, where their second son, Andrew Bowers, was born in 1753.

In initially reaching this conclusion, I was also struck by the statistically unlikely possibility this could be any other family than our Henry and Catharine Bowers. While it's true Heinrick/Henry, Baur/Bauer/Bowers, Catharine and George were all common names among Germanic immigrants to Pennsylvania, the odds of them all occurring together in one family in the way they did seemed small, especially when the overall context was considered. Think about it this way: begin with all the Henry Bowers (and variants) in early Pennsylvania; then exclude all those who did not marry a Catharine; then exclude all those who did not marry a few years prior to 1753, the year younger son Andrew was born in York County; and then, finally, exclude all those who did not name their first son George. As you sift through each layer of combined facts, it seemed highly probable that at the end only one couple would be left, namely Henry and Catharine of Berkeley County, VA/WV.

A while ago, I decided to try and find the European ancestors of Heinrick/Henry Baur/Bowers and Anna Catharine Ries. I had two clues from the records of the German Reformed Church in Philadelphia: the 1748 marriage record stated Heinrick was from Baden and that Anna Catharine was from Switzerland, and the 1749 christening record named Joh. George Mokli and his wife as the godparents. I began by trying to learn more about Joh. George Mokli.

At a Moak family website, I found a mention of a Johannes Mokli, who was not believed to be in any way connected to the Moak family, but whose existence was noted anyway. He was reported to have been born in Switzerland on 4 Apr 1717, and to have arrived in South Carolina on 24 Sep 1738. Thinking he may have later moved to Philadelphia, I consulted Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies, by Albert Bernhardt Faust (a Google e-book which can be found online). There I found a Johannes Mokli, who was born 8 Oct 1714 (the 4 Apr 1717 date from the Moak family website is the date of birth for the person listed right before Johannes Mokli). He was recorded on 24 Sep 1738, as having left the parish of Marthalen for Carolina.

What was interesting was that Marthulen is not all that far from Baden, Swizerland. I had always assumed the Heinrick Baur, who married in Philadelphia in 1748, was from the German state of Baden. Thinking the reference may have instead been to Baden, Switzerland, I started looking for a Heinrick Baur in the book of Swiss emigrants. I found a Heinrick Baur listed among those who had left Rafz, Switzerland, as of 31 Mar 1744, and whose destination was Pennsylvania. He was born in 1724, was single, was a carpenter, and was identified as the son of the shoemaker Jacob Baur. This seemed very likely to be the Heinrick Baur, who married in Philadelphia in 1748, particularly when you factor in the choice of Johannes Mokli from Marthulen, which is near Rafz, as the godfather. While Mokli was a bit older than Baur, perhaps they still knew or knew of each other while in Switzerland, or became friends in Philadelphia because of their common background. I'm still not sure why the marriage record indicated Heinrick Baur was from Baden - perhaps because it was a better known nearby city or perhaps, since Rafz was just across the border from Baden, Germany, because the German state was better known in America.

Confident that I had found the ancestral homeland of Henry Bowers of Berkeley County, VA/WV, I decided to further explore the Baur family of Rafz, Zurich, Switzerland. I was fortunate to find a descendant of the Rafz Baur family who had hired a Swiss genealogist to compile a family history from original church records and who generously shared this research with me. The patriarch of this Baur family was Hans Ulrich Baur, born 1608 in Switzerland, died 2 May 1689 in Rafz, Zurich, Switzerland, who married Barbara Hofli in 1634. They had 6 children, among them Franz Baur, born 1642 in Rafz, died 5 May 1690, who married Barabara Kern in 1663. They in turn had 12 children, among them Hans Jakob Baur, born 9 Aug 1678 in Rafz, died 16 May 1755, who first married Barbara Graf on 2 Jun 1709, and then second Anna Neukon on 7 Jun 1746. Jakob was a shoemaker and had 3 sons, one of them surely being the Heinrick Baur, born 1724, who emigrated to Philadelphia in 1744.

I was so excited to receive this Baur family history that I immediately notified my Bowers family that we should have Swiss fondue at our next family gathering! I also started planning a trip to Rafz, so that I could experience firsthand our ancestral homeland. There was just one thing left to do and that was to recruit my newly discovered Baur cousin for the Bowers DNA Project, of which I am the administrator. Of course, that was just a formality since the paper trail seemed so persuasive. As the reader has probably already anticipated, his Baur yDNA did not match the yDNA of the Henry Bowers family. Unless there was a misattribution of paternity somewhere in his Baur line, there was no way we were related. I actually tried to persuade a Baur from another branch of the family, who still lives in Rafz, to take the test to confirm the haplotype results, but I was not successful. I still hope someday to test another Rafz Baur, because it is important to confirm the Baur haplotype, especially since the evidence, though circumstantial, that Heinrick Baur and Henry Bowers was one and the same person seemed so convincing.

So, where does that leave us? I honestly don't know. I lean towards it being Heinrick Baur of Rafz who married Anna Catharine Ries in Philadelphia in 1748, especially if the godfather of their first child has been correctly identified. On the other hand, a Graf family (Heinrick's mother was a Graf) from Rafz settled in York County, PA, where we know Henry Bowers lived. Coincidence? Maybe, but until the Rafz Baur yDNA has been confirmed by additional testing, I will cling to my original analysis of why I thought it was Henry and Catharine Bowers who married in Philadelphia in 1748. But, I don't want to pollute the Internet with facts that aren't proven. Accordingly, I have removed the place of birth for Henry Bowers and also the information about Anna Catharine Ries. [Note that others have already expanded upon the ancestry of Anna Catharine Ries, but seemingly without any evidence.]

That means the earliest time and place we can place our Henry and Catharine Bowers is 1753, York County, Pennsylvania, since that is where their son, Andrew, stated he was born in his application for a Revolutionary War pension. Accordingly, one would expect to find some records of them there, but I have not found any, except for possibly a 1769 deed by which a Henry Bour/Bower of Hopewell Township sold all or nearly all of his personal property. See Events for a transcription of this Deed. [While its timing and content are consistent with our Henry's move to Virginia, it should be noted that there was another Henry Bower in neighboring Shrewsbury Township. That fact, together with the lack of any other records for the Hopewell Henry, might suggest the Shrewsbury and Hopewell Henrys were one and the same person. Only Shrewsbury Henry appears in the 1762 list of taxables. Still, Hopewell Henry seems to fit our Henry and so I have tentatively attributed the 1769 deed to him. One problem with this attribution is that when our Henry obtained a warrant to survey land in Frederick County, Virginia on 1 Sep 1767, he was referred to as being of Frederick County. Nonetheless, I think it likely that while he went to Frederick County to begin the process of acquiring land, that he did not really move his family there until the process was further along.]

Set forth below is a synopsis of the early York County, Pennsylvania Bower families gleaned from data in the Bowers family report in the genealogical collection of York County Heritage Trust (cited as a source for this Research Note). Whether or not our Henry is related to any of these other families is yet to be determined. It is hoped that eventually these lines will be represented in the Bowers DNA Project and provide answers in this regard.

Michael Bower and wife Catherine of Warrington Township (and apparently also of Huntington Township in present day Adams County for a time): Michael appears to have been the earliest Bower in York County, having obtained a land warrant for acreage in Lancaster County that was surveyed in 1741 (York County was formed from Lancaster in 1749). Although he did not leave a will, he had numerous land transactions that help identify his sons. These sons were John, born about 1728, Michael Jr., born 1730, Peter, born about 1738, Andrew, born about 1742, and Abraham, born about 1743. All died in the vicinity and are buried in Red Mount Cemetery in York County. [Further information on this line can be obtained from Naomi Mehta at nrmehta@cox.net.]

Martin Bauer and wife Susan Maria of Manchester Township: Martin obtained a land warrant for acreage in Lancaster County that was surveyed in 1748. Martin died in 1783, at which time he was married to Rosina, and his will indicated he had five children, whom were not identified. However, baptism records from Christ Lutheran Church of York identify six children. Presumably one of his children did not survive him. The identified children are Ann Elizabeth, born 1733, John Frederick, born 1738, John Jacob, born 1741, Veronica Barbara, born 1742, Susana Maria, born 1746, and Eliza Margaret, born 1748.

Daniel Bower: In 1759, a guardian was appointed for Daniel, age 19, son of Daniel, late of Strasburg, Germany. No further information was found.

George (sometimes John) Adam Bauer and wife Maria Elizabeth of Manchester and Newberry Townships: George/John Adam Bauer appears to have been a younger brother of Martin Bauer, for Martin was a sponsor at the baptism of John Martin Bauer, his presumed namesake. His children, identified by baptismal records of Christ Lutheran Church of York and Shuster's Church of Springfield Township, and by being named in his 1807 will, were Christopher, born 1757, Henry, born 1759, John/Johannes, born 1765, and John Martin, born 1779. Additional children identified solely by baptismal records were Susan, born 1772, and Sarah, born 1782. Additional children named in his will, but for whom no baptismal records were found, were Jacob, Eve and Christine. It's possible Eve and Christine from the will were variant names for Susan and Sarah from baptismal records.

Henry Bower and wife Elizabeth of Shrewsbury Township: Henry appears to have obtained a land warrant for acreage in Lancaster County that was surveyed in 1747. Per the private baptismal records of Jacob Lischy and also of Christ Lutheran Church of York, their children were Heinrich, born 1749, Anna Maria, born 1754, and Conrad, born 1755.

Still to be examined (by someone other than me) are the records of early Lancaster County, the parent county of York.

Unknown Daughters:

Odds are Henry and Catharine had daughters other than Susannah, but they may never be known. The only other Bowers bride in the early records of Berkeley County was Cath Bauer, who married John Weisgerben on 1 Apr 1792 in Berkeley County, Virginia. Catherine Bauer was the daughter of Jacob Bower and Barbara Lindeman of Frederick County, Virginia. Jacob's will identifies one of his daughters as Catherine Wisegarber. There is no known connection between Jacob of Frederick County and Henry of Berkeley County.

More about National Origin:

I have assumed up to this point that our Bowers family had Germanic origins. However, there are some contrary indicators. First, unlike the other German Bower/Bauer families of York County, Pennsylvania, our Bowers family did not baptize their children -- at least no baptismal records are to be found in the Lutheran churches in York. Second, all the children for whom marriage records exist in Berkeley County, (West) Virginia were married by Rev. Hugh Vance, an early Presbyterian minister who was assigned to the Tuscorora pastorate and who was also de facto pastor of the Back Creek pastorate. In the case of Susannah Bowers, she and John Shober were married by Rev. Vance even though John was of German origin and had been baptized in the Lutheran Church. Presbyterianism, of course, is associated with Scotch-Irish immigrants (see http://www.ls.net/~newriver/va/ppnnva.htm for the history of the early Presbyterian Church in Northern Virginia). Complicating matters further is the fact that although Henry Jr. was married by Rev. Vance, he is buried in a Lutheran cemetery. Perhaps our Bowers were not that committed to any particular religion and just went with what was expedient. Most German families, though, were quite committed to and active in the Lutheran Church.

It is hoped that the Bowers DNA Project will ultimately answer the question of our Bowers family's national origin (see http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/b/bowers/).

^{6 7 8}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Survey: 1767, Frederick County, Virginia. ^{4 9}

Henry Bowers, Sr. of Frederick County, Virginia had 370 acres surveyed in said county. The survey was performed by Richard Rigg, with George Bowers as one the chain carriers. The survey was dated 20(?) Sep 1767, pursuant to warrant no. 822 granted 1 Sep 1767.

[On this warrant and the accompanying survey was noted Henry Bowers' desire that the deed be issued to his son, Henry Jr. The reason for this unusual request -- unusual since Henry Jr. was less than 2 years old at the time of the survey and only 5 years old when the deed was issued -- is unknown.]

2. Deed: 1769, York County, Pennsylvania. ¹⁰

Dated 30 Jan 1769, Acknowledged 6 Apr 1769, Recorded Book D:74

"Henry Bour of Hopewell Township, Laborer: to Elisabeth Keslary (or Keslarey), spinster: for L46: two riphel Guns, one hackel, one cross cut saw, one dung fork, one hea fork, three cogs, two pickling Tubs, one coffee mill, five Tins, two lamps, half a Dusson of knives and forks, three Sickles, three Bells, one Looking Glass, one Squear and Draw Knife, Chissels, one Lock Saw, three Hammers, one Log chair, three bags, three Bridles, Two Cows, marked two Slits in the aft ear, one white in the Face, the other a stripe of White on the back, two Mears Branded [brand looks like an H and a B melded together so they share a common vertical line] on the near shoulder one black one wonnt(?) one Stove maid at Marrey Ann furnace, four Sheets, three beds, three blankets, one striped, two flowered, one large cittle of Iron, one pot, two Washing tubs, one peal, four puter Dishes, one three Quart Beason, ten putor pleats, A dussen and half of Spoons, one Chist, two faling Axes, one Broad Ax, four matocks, three Agors, one Sow, one barrow, four pigs marked two Slits in the aft Ear, one red Calf White on the Legs, one daa Chist, two Little wheels, two plows, tow pans, one pr of duble trees, one Spead, one Shufel, two Bells, one Iron Bell, Collar, two draw knives, one harrow, one bible, four testaments, Asortments of Books, thirty-two on all, three Measures, half Busher, peck and half peck, one Mans Sadle, one Womans Sadle with lather laps, two Britch bands, one hundred of hamp, one hundred of flax, forty Bushels of Wheat, Sixteen Eackres of Wheat and rye in the Ground and loos Boards on the loft, four Glass windows, Eight Bushels of Oats, four Bushels of Barley, five Bushels of flax seed, Twenty Bushels of cown, Twenty bushels of petatoes, one small pan."

Signed Henrey (his IB Mark) Bour [Might mark have been HB like his brand?]

Acknowledged by Henery Bower on 6 Apr 1769

[This was no ordinary sale of personal property. It is so comprehensive that it reads more like an estate sale. If this sale was made by our Henry in anticipation of moving his family to Frederick/Berkeley County, Virginia, he certainly intended to travel light. Even so, it is puzzling why so many personal items were sold.]

3. Deed: 1771, Frederick County, Virginia. ¹¹

[One doesn't come across many deeds like this, so I thought it worth transcribing, at least in part. For some background on Lord Fairfax Northern Neck grants, see the research paper at http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/notes/rn23_nneckland.pdf. One interesting aspect of these deeds is the reserved mineral rights and yearly rents. Note that this property was located in the part of Frederick County that in 1772 became Berkeley County.]

"The Right Honourable Thomas Lord Fairfax Baron of Cameron in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland Propietor of The Northern Neck of Virginia. To all to whom this present Writing shall come sends Greetings. Know ye that for good Causes for & in Consideration of the Compensation to me paid & for the annual Rent herein after reserved I have given granted & confirmed & by these Presents for me my Heirs & Assigns do give grant & confirm unto Henry Bower Junr of Frederick County a certain tract of wasted ungranted Land on the Drains of Opeccon in the said County, bounded as by a Survey thereof made by Richard Rigg. [At this point a metes and bounds description is given, with the following names of abutters mentioned: William Patterson, Hugh Millar, John Mendenhall, Andrew Beard, Thomasin Ellzey and Hazil Hardwick.] Together with all Rights Members & Appurtenances thereunto belonging Royal Mines excepted and a full third Part of all Lead Copper Tin Coals Iron Mine & Iron Ore that shall be found thereon. To have and to hold the said 370 Acres of Land together with all Rights, Profits & Benefits to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining, Except before excepted, to him the said Henry Bower his Heirs & Assigns for ever. He the said Henry Bower his Heirs & Assigns therefore yielding & paying to me my Heirs or Assigns or to my Certain Attorney or Attornies Agent or Agents or to the Certain Attorney or Attornies of my Heirs or Assigns Propietors of the said Northern Neck yearly & every year on the Feast Day of St. Michael the Archangel the Fee Rent of One Shilling Sterling Money for every Fifty Acres of Land hereby granted & so proportionably for a greater or lesser quantity. Provided that if the said Henry Bower his Heirs & Assigns shall not pay the said reserved annual Rent as aforesaid so that the same or any Part thereof shall be behind & unpaid by the Space of two whole years after the same shall become due, If legally demanded that then it shall & may be lawful for me my Heirs or Assigns Propietors as aforesaid my or their Certain Attorney or Attornies Agent or Agents into the above granted Premises to reenter & hold the same so as if this Grant had never passed. Given at my Office in Frederick County, under my Hand & Seal Dated the first Day of May 1771."

[It is not known why title was taken in the name of Henry Bower, Jr., who was then only 5 years old. While he was living, Henry Sr. certainly acted as if he owned the property. Henry Jr.'s nominal title only seemed to be taken into account when there was litigation involving the property. Certainly the taxing authorities considered Henry Sr. the owner. He was taxed on the entire 370 acres from 1774 to 1781. Beginning in 1782, 100 acres was taxed to George, but that seems to be because he rented this acreage from Henry Sr. See the 1788 agreement between Henry Sr. and George, which shows Henry Sr. viewed himself as the owner of such property and thought himself empowered to leave the rented portion to George after he and Catharine had died. Henry Jr. was not taxed on any part of the property until after the death of Henry Sr., even though he had reached the age of majority a few years before Henry Sr. died. When Henry Sr. did die, it seems George took over the 100 acres he had been renting, with the balance being roughly divided between Jacob and Henry Jr. While that suggests Henry Jr. was not viewed as the true owner, at least by George and Jacob, it was also inconsistent with the intestate laws of inheritance if Henry Sr. was the true owner. It's almost as if having nominal title in the name of Henry Jr. allowed George, Jacob and Henry Jr., as the only male heirs then over age 21 who still lived in the area, to divide the property among themselves, perhaps in accordance with their understanding of what Henry Sr. wanted. It's hard to imagine, however, that this was what was going through the mind of Henry Sr. when the 1771 deed was drawn up. There must have been something else involved.]

[I have also found it difficult to account for this 370 acres over time. While Henry Sr. was taxed for 370 acres from 1774-1781, beginning in 1782 only 298 acres were taxed to Henry Sr. and George together. In 1787, only 218 acres were taxed to Henry Sr. and George. After the death of Henry Sr. in 1788, 307 acres were taxed to George, Jacob and Henry Jr. In 1798, only 207 acres were taxed to George and Henry Jr. Further complicating matters is the lawsuit brought by Philip Pendleton in 1779, which eventually resulted in a conveyance of half the disputed property in 1799. It's difficult to reconcile the results of this lawsuit with the acreages taxed, for in 1801 George and Henry were still being taxed on 207 acres. Perhaps the reduction from 307 acres to 207 acres in 1798 reflects the effect of this lawsuit. That would mean the property that had been taxed to Jacob went to the Craighills, which may explain why Jacob left the county.]

4. Court: 1771, Frederick County, Virginia. ⁴

8 Nov 1771
This was a trespass case brought against Robert Campbell. It appears to have been brought by "Henry Bowers, and infant by Henry Bowers," although it seems possible it may have been brought by Henry Bowers, an infant, by Henry Bowers (Sr.).

[I have not been able to find this case to review it regarding who were the complainants. I really don't think this case helps much with respect to the issue of true vs. nominal ownership by Henry Jr. As a trepass proceeding, the nominal title holder would have to be a complainant. This case is of primary interest to me because Andrew Bowers (Sr.) served as a substitute for a Robert Campbell in the Revolutionary War.]

5. Tax List: 1774-1787, Berkeley County, (West) Virginia. ^{2 12 13}

Real Property:

1774-1781: Henry Bower, 370a [rent roll from Historic Shepherdstown]

1782: Henry Bower, 198a, value [in pounds] 99.0.0

1783-1784: [records appear to be missing]

1785: Henry Bowers, 198a, value 70.19.00

1786: [records appear to be missing]

1787:Henry Bowers, 118a, value 70.19.00

Personal Property:

1783: 1st Battalion, James McCalisters List (No.3)
Henry Bowers: 1 white tithable, 3 horses, 6 cattle, value [in pounds] 0.17.6

1784: 1st Battalion, James McCalisters List
Henry Bowers: 1 white tithe, 3 horses, 6 cattle, value 0.12.6

1785: 1st Battalion, James McCalisters List
Henry Bowers: 3 white males 21+, 2 horses, 4 cattle, value 0.17.6

1786: 1st Battalion, James McCalisters List
Henry Bowers: 1 white male 21+, 2 horses, 4 cattle, value 0.15.0
[Jacob and Henry Jr. listed separately this year]

1787: 1st Battalion, entered 13 Apr
Henry Bowers: 3 white males 21+ (Henry, Henry Jr. and Jacob), 4 horses, 4 cattle

[Henry is replaced by wife Catherine in 1788 personal property tax list.]

6. Court: 1779, Berkeley County, (West) Virginia. ^{14 15}

Apr 1779, Page 399
Philip Pendleton vs. Henry Bowers -- In Chancery
The Complainant having filed his Bill and the Defendant failing to answer, on the motion of the complainant by his counsel it was ordered that an attachment issue against the Defendant returnable to the next Court.

18 May 1779, Page 421
Philip Pendleton vs. Henry Bowers -- In Chancery
Henry Bowers Sr. was appointed Guardian for Henry Bowers Jr. in order to answer a bill in Chancery exhibited against him by Philip Pendleton. [Once again, we see Henry Bowers Jr. being made part of the lawsuit by virtue of the way the property was originally titled.]

Deed dated 22 Apr 1799, Recorded 22 Apr 1799, Bk 9:45
As part of its decision in the above referenced case, the Chancery Court had ordered [date of order unknown, but presumably was many years after Henry Sr. had died] Henry Bowers Jr. to convey to Philip Pendleton half the tract of land that had been the subject of the earlier proceedings. The parties having agreed to how the land was to be divided, and Philip Pendleton having assigned his rights to William Craighill and John Craighill, Henry Bowers Jr., in consideration of five shillings [no doubt considered nominal consideration] paid to him by William Craighill and John Craighill, conveyed the agreed upon tract to William Craighill and John Craighill, as tenants in common. The metes and bounds description references Philip Pendleton, William Patterson, Hugh Miller and John Mendenhall. [No acreage is mentioned, so it is difficult to know whether the entire 1771 tract was at issue, or only part. From the tax lists, it appears that 100 acres may have been conveyed, which would mean about 200 acres of the original 370 acre grant may have been in dispute, although on what grounds is not known.]

[Philip Pendleton was an attorney, who presented his credentials to practice law at the first Court held in 1772 for the newly formed Berkeley County. He also received a land grant on 2 Jul 1788 for 17 3/4 acres, which adjoined the land granted to Henry Bowers, Jr. (See grant at http://lvaimage.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=521&last=522&g_p=GS&collection=NN Grant) This 17 3/4 acres was surveyed for William Patterson, said survey being dated 10 Aug 1772. William Patterson assigned his rights thereto to Philip Pendleton on 20 Mar 1778. (See survey at http://lvaimage.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=62&last=&g_p=S1&collection=NN Survey) It appears this assignment had something to do with the above legal action. How he parlayed the rights to 17 3/4 acres into a much larger claim is unknown.]

7. Militia: 1782, Berkeley County, (West) Virginia. ¹⁶

First Battalion: Henry Bower

[The Berkeley County Militia consisted of males age 16-50. It's possible Henry Sr. was over 50 at this time, but since Henry Jr. was only 16 and since none of his older brothers were listed, I suspect this record was for Henry Sr.]

8. Agreement: 1788, Berkeley County, (West) Virginia. ¹⁷

Agreement, Dated 26 Feb 1888, Recorded 17 Jun 1788, Deed Bk 8:269

[This represents my best effort to faithfully transcribe the Agreement, adding only such punctuation as I believe was necessary for clarity. I have transcribed this Agreement because I believe it is revealing about the personal dynamics of this family and about the kind of farm they had. In reading this Agreement I was struck by a couple of things: first, although it is clearly intended to serve as a will substitute, at least as far as George was concerned, it does not read like Henry expected to be dead by June; and second, the distrust each had for the other is palpable, suggesting their relationship had deteriorated over the years. It appears as if each thought the other might try to take advantage of him. They even believed punitive damages were necessary to secure compliance with the Agreement. It's probably just as well that Henry died within a few months, otherwise the stage was set for protracted feuding and litigation.]

"Articles of an Agreement made and concluded this 26th day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty eight Between Henry Bowers Senior of the County of Berkeley State of Virginia of the One Part and Geo Bowers of the same County and State aforesaid of the Other[.] [W]itnyseth that the said Henry Bowers hath Rented unto him the said George Bowers all that Tract of Land or Plantation which the said Henry Bowers at Present Occupies containing 100 Acres during life of the said Henry Bowers and his Wife Catharine Bowers and after the Death of the said Henry Bowers and Catharine Bowers said Land is to be the Property of the said George Bowers but should the said George Bowers die before the said Henry Bowers or Catherine Bowers the Widow of the said George Bowers is to keep Possession of said Land in such form and Conditions as will be hereafter Mentioned as long as she Remains unmarried but should she bind herself in the bands of wedlock his [her new husband] Claim to said Land shall be Void and of none effect and the bodily Children of the said Geo Bowers shall be instituted Propietors of said Land but it shall be at the Opinion of the said George Bowers whether they all or only one of his Children shall be Peacebable Possessors of said Land and Plantation[.] [T]he said George Bowers his heirs or Assigns are to pay unto them the said Henry Bowers and Catharine Bowers during life year by year and every year the one third Part of all produce that is of all grains Pulse or any fruit whatsoever is Raised upon said Plantation during the life of the said Henry Bowers and Catharine Bowers for the use of said Land. The said Henry Bowers and Catharine Bowers except for themselves for their Own use and behoof the Old House in which they at the Presents lives the Smoke house as also the use of one half the Corn for their Grain and Stallege for ther cattle[.] [T]hey the said Henry Bowers and Catharine Bowers also except for their own use and behoof all that field of grown[?] January[?] the barn and all the fruit Trees therein at Present Planted and the[y] furthermore except to themselves the walk for their Cattle and Poultry without Restriction and the Liberty of Raising such a number of Cattle and Poultry as they Please[.] The said Henry Bowers and Catherine Bowers also except the Old Garden for themselves with the Liberty of making Pailings for said fence as also Locust Potts and should the fence of the large field already mentioned be Rotten said Henry Bowers is to find other Rails for the said fence wherever he may and can and find Timber upon said Plantation ahead of mentioned[.] [F]urthermore should the Old house want a Roof the said Henry Bowers is to cover it upon his own Cash[?] the Timber for the Shingles is to be taken from the Plantation already Mentioned[.] The said George Bowers is to keep the cover of the barn in such condition that New Grain may be Safe from being damaged and if any New Roof is wanting they said George Bowers is to find the Shingles and Nails and to Pay the workmen and geat[?] the cost of all Changes whatsoever[.] [S]hould any Pastures be upon said Plantation in any of the Fields both Parties shall have the liberty to Put their Creatures therein[.] The said George Bowers intends to Clear one acre of Land for a garden and whatsoever as the sd George Bowers shall Raise in that Piece of Ground Mentioned the said George Bowers is to give no Part thereof unto the said Henry Bowers and Catharine Bowers it being excepted the said Henry Bowers and Catharine Bowers[.] Except also this should the[y] clear any Land upon said Plantation the[y] shall have all the Produce thereof as long ever they think fit, and all the Grain at Present in the Ground is and shall be the Property of the said Henry Bowers and Catherine Bowers and they except the time Allotted by Nature to Clear the field[.] <A>nd for the better Performance of the Above Articles they Parties mutually bind themselves their Heirs and Assigns in the Penal Sum of One Thousand Pounds Current Money. In witness whereof they have interchangebly affixed their hands and seal the day and year above written."

Signed by George Bowers and Henry Bowers
Witnessed by John Shover, Valentine Lindy and George (his mark) Panten

"N. B. Whereas Henry Bowers and George Bowers have agreed upon the[this?] day of February 1788 Concerning a Tract of Land they said Parties have agreed furthermore in the following Articles[.] That no Wood is to be sold from said Land by no Party except Dead wood and that both Parties have liberty to burn as much as the[y] please[.] The above is included in the Penalty within as witness their hands and seal.

Signed by George Bowers and Henry Bowers
Witnessed by John Shover, Valentine Lindey and George (his mark) Panten

On 17 Jun 1788, this Indenture of Writing was proved in court by the oath of Valentine Lindy, a witness thereto, and was ordered to be recorded.

9. Estate Administration: 1788, Berkeley County, (West) Virginia. ⁵

Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Henry Bowers, Deceased, Dated 27 Jun 1788, Recorded 16 Sep 1788
[value rendered in pounds]

1 cow & calf, 3.10.0
Sundry iron touls, 0.8.6
1 old sadle, 0.6.0
1 old chane, 0.5.0
1 old washing tub, 0.3.0
1 milk cow & bell, 3.7.6
1 read heffer, 2.16.0
1 black ditto, 1.16.0
7 sheep, 2.09.0
1 black brown mare, 12.00.0
1 old wagon, 10.10.0
5 small shots, 0.12.6
15 hoggs, 6.00.0
1 corner cubbert, 3.04.0
Sundry earthen ware in sd cubbert, 0.7.2
1 punch bowle, 0.03.2
1 black jack, 0.02.3
1 puterr tea pott, 0.05.6
1 tin coffey pott, 0.01.3
1 stone jugg, 0.02.6
2 green bottles, 0.02.0
1 walnut table with a single drawer, 0.12.0
1 ditto with two drawers, 0.10.0
1 bad & furniture, 3.00.0
1 pine chist, 0.06.0
1 pair stilyards, 0.12.0
1 pair sadle baggs, 0.05.0
1 loucking glass, 0.06.10
1 smale trunk, 0.03.0
2 britch bands, 0.06.8
1 large iron chane, 0.07.6
15 harrow teath, 0.10.0
1 iron s, 0.00.9
2 chizols & 2 agures, 0.04.0
1 handsaw, 0.02.9
1 branding iron, 0.02.6
1 ring male 2 wedges, 0.04.6
2 old chists, 0.02.0
1 crout tubb, 0.03.0
1 iron pot & houcks, 0.16.0
1 iron pot & houcks damaged, 0.3.0
3 old milk pan, 0.1.0
6 old earthern plates, 0.1.6
2 bason & 1 straner, 0.2.6
6 old puter spouns, 0.3.4
7 old tins, 0.2.4
1 puter dish, 0.8.0
1 ditto, 0.4.0
4 old puter plates, 0.5.4
2 ditto better, 0.4.0
1 tin lanthorn, 0.2.6
2 pails, 0.3.0
1 old dutch oven, 0.5.0
1 old churn, 0.2.0
1 fring pann, 0.2.0
1 old half bushel, 0.2.0
1 old bad & furniture, 0.18.0
16 lb woll, 1.05.4
1 old wagon cloth, 0.05.0
2 old flower barrels, 0.01.0
1 old spinning wheal, 0.07.6
Sum old iron, 0.1.6
1 tub, 0.3.0
1 old tub, 0.1.3
1 ditto, 0.1.0
5 very old bed bunlets, 0.2.6
1 basket, 0.1.0
1 tub, 0.1.6
1 1/2 doz spouls, 0.2.6
1 flax hachet, 0.8.0
6 very old chare frames, 0.3.0
1 womans sadle, 3.10.0
1 brake, 0.5.0
1 old coupers ___, 0.1.6
3 weavers reads old, 0.7.0
1 weavers loum spouling wheal, 2.0.0
1 old aquere 1 old chizol, 0.0.9

Total Value, 70.13.6

Appraisers: Missill Clot (?), Joseph Gill, John Beard

Henry married Catharine.^{2 4 6} (Catharine died after 1789 in Berkeley County, (West) Virginia ².)