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Continued: John Bowden is listed on the 1782 Isle of Wight census records as head of household with eight in the family. Listed also are Lemeul, Richard and Thomas Bowden as head of families. In the Public Service Claims, Commissioner's Book II, p. 313 dated September 6, 1783, the claim of John Bowden of having furnished beef for public use was allowed. All five of John and Margaret's sons served in the Revolutionary War. Their service records can be found in the following records: John - Auditor's Accounts xxxi, xxxii Elias - Secretary of War's report 1835 pension rolls 3 TN 70 Thomas - 4th Virginia Regular Continental Line W.S. Payrolls 93-1. One April 5, 1781 was appointed an ensign in James Johnson's Company. Jesse - "Virginia Soliders of 1776", Vol. 3, p. 1353. William - Auditor's Accounts xxxi, xxxii Will of John Bowden [Abstracted from "John Bowden: Will," Isle of Wight County, Virginia: Will Book, Vol. 10, pp. 120-21.] In the name of God amen. I John Bowden of Isle of Wight County being weak in body but thanks be to God of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body, knowing that all men must submit to a desolution, so make and ordain this my last will and testament. Viz Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands that gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned and as for such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with I give, devise and dispose of the same in manner and form following. Viz Item I give and bequeath to my son John Bowden five shillings to him and his heirs fore r. Item I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Bowden all my tract of land lying on Blackwater that I purchased of my brother Richard Bowden to him and his heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my son Elias Bowden my land and plantation whereon I now dwell with all the land possession adjoining it also the crop of all kind whatsoever it be to him and his heirs forever. Item It is my will and desire that said executors should sell my tract of land adjoining Bridger's Mill swamp and James Gay's purchase of William Bell and money arising from the said land should be equally divided between my son William Bowden and my five daughters named as followeth: to wit, Mary, Francis, Hannah, Rhody & Chley. It is my will and desire that my five g randchildren, Samuel Powell, Lemuel, Catherine, Amy, & Rhody Powell, that they should have a child's part with the rest of my children to them and their heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Francis Bowden one feather bed and furn iture to her and her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Peggy Bowden during her natural life and widowhood all the remainder part of my estate what ever kind it may be and after her decease to be equally divided between my five daughters & son William Bowden and it is my will and desire that my five grandchildren, Lemuel Powell, Samuel, Catherine, Amy, and Rhody, should have a child's part with the rest of my children, but in case where of them should die before they co me to the age of twenty-one years or without issue then it is my will and desire that their part to be equally be divided amongst the rest of them and their heirs forever. Item I constitute appoint and ordain my son Thomas Bowden & Elias Bowden my whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament, utterly disowning, revoking and abrogating all former wills and legacies of bequests by me heretofore made, willed, or bequeathed. Ratified and confirmed: this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 11th day of September 1786. Signed sealed and delivered by the testator to be my last will & testament in the presence of William Bridger James A. Bridger Robert Ely At a court held for Isle of Wight County the 4th day of December 1788. This will was presented in court by Elias Bowden one of the executors therein named who made oath thereto according to law and the same was proved by the oaths of William Bridger and Robert Ely, two of the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded and upon the motion of the said executor who together with William Bridger, his security, entered into and acknowledge their bond in the penalty of five hundred pounds current m oney conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form. And liberty reserved Thomas Bowden, the other executor therein named, to join in the probate when he shall think fit. Tester Frank Young & Com.
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