His child: |
Individual in this page: |
His parents: |
||
{ |
Richard Bowen |
{ |
No parents conclusively identified |
Richard Bowen and his son appeared in a list of the valuations of the estates of 58 townspeople of Rehoboth dated about 1643; Richard Bowen’s estate was valued at £270 and his son, Richard Bowen, Jr.’s estate was valued at just over £134 BL7. The purpose of this list of estate values was to guide the proprietors of Rehoboth to proportionally divide the land BL7. Leonard Bliss, Jr. transcribed this town record which was located on the first page of the Rehoboth Proprietor’s Records, Volume I, which has been copied below BL7:
About the year 1643, a joynt agreement was made by the inhabitants of Sea-conk alias Rehoboth, ffor the bringing in of their estates; that soe men’s lotments might be taken up according to person and estate, as alsoe for the carrieing on of all publick chardges both for present and future; furthermore the means and interest of what is heare expressed is by which lands, now granted by the Court of Plymouth to the towne, is to be divided according to person and estate, as is expressed in this following list.
A description of his land property was found in the Proprietors’ Allotments for the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts which was dated from 1642 to 1644 WE31:
The land of Richard Bowin
Tenn acres Eyght of them upland two of swampe lyinge in the plaine first given to Thomas White bounded on the East with the land of Martin Philipe of Ralph on the west of his owne on the south a high waie on the north
Two acres of upland and saltmarsh first given to Tho [this name had an abbreviation mark, which indicated the name was probably “Thomas’] White bounded on the East with the com[m]on on the west with the land of Ralph Allin on the north with his owne land on the south with John Uphames marsh
Two acres first given to John King bounded on the East west & north with his own land and of mr Newmanes on the south
Richard received a share of the town’s division of woodland which was located between Rehoboth and the plain on June 31, 1944 BL7. He was among several men who signed an agreement regarding a method of governing their community on July 3, 1644 BL7:
We whose names are underwritten, being, by the providence of God, inhabitants of Seacunk, intending there to settle, do covenant and bind ourselves one to another to subject our persons… (according to law and equity) to nine persons, any five of the nine which shall be chosen by the major part of the inhabitants of this plantation, and we… to be subject to all wholesome… by them, and to assist them, according to our ability and estate, and to give timely notice unto them of any such thing as in our conscience may prove dangerous unto the plantation, and this combination to continue untill we shall subject ourselves jointly to some other government.
A general meeting of Seacunk (later Rehoboth) occurred on December 9, 1644 in which nine men were selected to help mediate controversies, make decisions about levies, and arranging the affairs of the town BL7. These included Richard Bowen, as well as Alexander Winchester, Richard Wright, Henry Smith, Edward Smith, Walter Palmer, William Smith, Stephen Payne, and Robert Martin BL7. These nine men were referred to as townsmen, and their first meeting took place on January 3, 1644/5 BL7. He was among men who were chosen to “view the fences and to judge of the sufficiency of them” on March 16, 1645, and on April 29, 1645, Richard Bowen, Walter Palmer, Stephen Payne, Robert Martin, William Carpenter, and Peter Hunt were chosen BL7:
to hear the grievances of all those that their meadow is defective, and give allowance to every man according as they in their discretion shall think meet, both in fresh meadow and salt, when they have viewed the meadows that are yet unlotted, and shall give to every man as they shall fall by lot. It is agreed that they shall lay out lots to those that have not according to their estate. That they shall begin at the upper end of the meadow next to the fresh water. That if there shall not prove fresh meadow enough to satisfy all that want fresh meadow, that then for them to give salt for fresh. It is agreed that these six, or any four of them, shall determine of any of those particulars above mentioned.
The townsmen (including Richard) decided on May 28, 1645 to order and then collect a levy of twelve pence on each estate worth £100 which should be paid either in wampum or in butter, which was worth six pence per pound BL7. He was among the townspeople who drew lots for land on “the great plain” on June 9, 1645 BL7. Richard Bowen, Robert Martin, and Stephen Payne were appointed by the townsmen to view and partition a parcel of land called the “Wannamoyset neck” on December 29, 1645 BL7. He drew a lot for the “new meadow” on February 18, 1646 BL7. He was selected to be one of the townsmen on May 26, 1647 and again on April 12, 1648, and he and Robert Sharpe were chosen as surveyors of the highways on May 11, 1649 BL7. Richard Bowen, Mr. Peck, Mr. Browne, Stephen Payne, Thomas Cooper, William Smith, and Robert Martin were chosen to serve as townsmen on June 24, 1650; the following year on October 18, 1651, those same men (aside for Peter Hunt as a substitute for William Smith) were selected as townsmen for 1651 BL7. He and Stephen Payne were selected on May 19, 1651 to act as deputies for the Plymouth Court BL7. Richard Bowen and Thomas Redway were appointed as “overseers of the ways” on May 13, 1653 BL7 and he and James Redaway were “Survayors for the Hiewaies” for Rehoboth on June 7, 1653 SH11. He and four other men were selected as “raters for the “sums of the county pay” on October 25, 1653 and was again selected as a townsmen on December 12, 1653 BL7. He appointed as the town clerk on September 15, 1654 and was also selected again as a rater, a position which involved setting the rate for the county and a rate for the town BL7.
A meeting held on June 28, 1654 indicated that Richard, Stephen Payne, John Allin, Thomas Cooper, and Mr. Pecke “were chosen for the considering of such lands as shall be recorded in the town books, for the clearing the rights of any person BL7. He was among seven men who on the committee to levy a “rate according to person and estate” to raise money for the salary of Mr. Newman, the town’s teacher BL7. Richard Bowen, Sr. was selected as a townsmen again on February 9, 1655, and he may have been the “Father Bowen” who was appointed as the moderator for the town meetings on that date BL7. On July 3, 1656, Richard Bowen, Stephen Paine, and Mr. Josepth Pecke were authorized by the Plymouth Court “to heare and determine all controuersies there betwixt any, soe as it amount not to aboue the vallue of three pounds; libertie being left to any [to] make theire appeall to the Court of Plymouth, if theire shalbee reason” SH11. Richard Bowin was sworn as a member of a “Grand Enquest” on June 1, 1658 at Plymouth SH11. Richard Bowen, Sr. drew a lot for the meadow which was located on the north end of Rehoboth on June 22, 1658 AR4. On March 1, 1658/9 he and 14 other men testified at a court held at Plymouth SH11:
Wee, whose names are vnderwritten, doe testify, that Nathaneell West, a stranger to vs, belonging to Road Iland, being by Gods prouidence amongst vs, and being vnder cure of an infirmitie of his body, it appeers that hee had occation to goe to Prouidence, and goeing vpon the iyce, it brake, and hee fell in and was drowned; when his body was taken vp, it appeered to vs that his death was noe way violent or wilfull, but accedentall, as farr as wee apprehend.
Mr Josepth Pecke, Mr Stephen Paine, and Thomas Cooper were not att the takeing of him vp; but when hee was brought to the towne, the found him to bee as is aboue expressed, to theire best apprehensions. John Perrum and Gorg Kenericke did alsoe see him, and found as is abouew mencioned.
He and others were chosen “and empowered to view the town book, and to see that it be transcribed into a new book, all such things as they shall judge material for the good of the town, as also for the clearing of evidenced of men’s lands, according to Court orders” on February 19, 1660 BL7. Richard Bowin and Gorge Kenericke were surveyors for the highways of Rehoboth on June 5, 1666 SH12. He was included in a list of freemen of Rehoboth in the jurisdiction of New Plymouth on May 29, 1670, and he and John Fitch were constables of Rehoboth on June 7, 1670 SH13.
Richard was the father of Allice, William, Sarah, Ruth, Obadiah, Richard, and Thomas Bowen. Allice Bowen was called Elce Bowen, the daughter of Richard Bowen, when she married Robert Wheaton about 1636 AR6. Alice Wheaton was called the sister of William Bowen in March 1687 BR22. Robert Wheaton’s will was dated October 2, 1687 and named his wife, Alice, and children, Bethiah, Hannah, Mary, Joseph, Jeremiah, John, Obadiah, Ephraim, Benjamin, and the children of his son, Samuel RO30. Alice, Robert Wheaton’s widow, presented the inventory of his estate on January 11, 1695/6 RO30. She was not mentioned in the division of his estate on May 31, 1699, but this document named his daughters: Hannah, the wife of Ensign John Butterworth, Bethiah Plantin, and Mary Man, who were widows RO30.
William Bowen was buried in Rehoboth on March 10, 1686/7 AR4. He died intestate and his estate was divided amongst his brothers and nephews on March 7, 1687 BR22. The document of the deceased William Bowen’s estate named his eldest brother, Obediah Bowen of Swanzey, another brother, Richard Bowen of Rehoboth, and two nephews, who were John and Richard, the sons of Richard Bowen BR22. Elizabeth Whelleck was called the daughter of Robert Fuller formerly of Rehoboth and the “nephew” of William Bowen BR22.
Sarah Fuller was called Richard Bowen’s daughter in his will MA24, and while a marriage record for her has not been located, a death record for Sarah, the wife of Robert Fuller, indicated that she died on February 14, 1676 in Rehoboth AR4.
Ruth Bowen married George Kendrick on April 26, 1647 AR4. Ruth Kinrick was called the sister of William Bowen in March 1687 BR22, and she was buried on October 31, 1688 AR4.
Obadiah Bowen was the father of ten children whose births were recorded in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts AR4. These were Obadiah, born on September 18, 1651, Mary, born on January 18, 1652, Sara, born on November 6, 1654, Samuel, born on July 16, 1659, Joseph, born on June 26, 1662, Thomas, born on August 3, 1664, Hannah, born on May 3, 1665, Lydia, born on April 23, 1666, Marcy, born on March 18, 1672, and Isaac, born on September 30, 1674 AR4. Obediah Bowen of Swanzey was called the eldest brother of William Bowen in the administration of his estate in March 1687 BR22. It may have been his daughter, Sarah Bowen, who married John Savage on May 16, 1672 AR4. She may have been the mother of four children born in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts who were called the children of John Savage AR4. These were Elizabeth, born on January 16, 1672 (possibly 1672/3), Sary, born on March 10 or 13, 1674 (possibly 1674/5), Elizabeth, born on January 11, 1675 (possibly 1675/6), and Mary, born on June 5, 1678 AR4. On December 11, 1708, Obadiah Bowen of Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts wrote his will, which named his children, Samuel Bowen of Cohansey”, Hannah Brooks, Joseph Bowen, Thomas Bowen, grandsons Aron, Daniel, and Nathan, who were the sons of his deceased son, Obadiah Bowen, and his granddaughters, Katherine, Sarah, Allice, and Elizabeth Bowen MA58. It also mentioned Lidia Mason and James and Hezekiah Bowen, whose relationship to Obadiah was not stated MA58. He died sometime before October 4, 1710, when the inventory of his estate was appraised by Caleb Eddy and John Cary MA58.
Richard Bowen married Ester Sutton on March 4, 1646 AR4.
Thomas Bowen married Elizabeth MA24. Thomas Bowen of New London, Connecticut but then residing in Rehoboth, wrote his will on April 11, 1663 which named his wife, Elizabeth, son, Richard, brother, Obadiah Bowen, and brother-in-law, Robert Fuller MA24. The will was proved “the Last of ffebruary 1664 before mee Thomas Prence Govr:” MA24. He was referred to in the administration of his brother’s estate in March 1687, which referred to property which belonged to “Rich.d Bowen of s.d Rehoboth son of ye Decd.d Thomas Bowen & Nephew of ye s.d Decd.d W.m Bowen” BR22.
Richard Bowen, Sr. was buried on February 4, 1674/5 in Rehoboth, and his unnamed widow was buried sometime in 1675 AR4. Richard “Bowin” wrote his will sometime before June 4, 1675 when it was presented before the court in Plymouth Colony MA24:
The last Will and Testament of Richard Bowin Sen’r of Rehoboth in the Collonie of Plymouth in New England exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth aforesaid the fourth of June Anno: Dom 1675 on the oath of Mr. John Pecke as followeth
Be it Knowne unto all men by these p[re]sents that I Richard Bowin Sen’r of Rehoboth in the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England doe the day and date above written ordaine and make this my last will and Testament being in my Good and p[er]fect Memory and understanding as followeth: Item I Give to my beloved wife Elizabeth two Cowes and one heiffer a yeer old and a Mare 5 yeer old and a Mare Colt two yeer old and one Colt that followeth the Mare; Item I Give unto my wife my best bed; with all that belonges to it; and all my linnine two pewter platters; with som other smale peeces of pewter; both the brass bottles 1 Iron pott 1 skillett one frying pan all my poultry and halfe my swine younge and old alsoe I Give to my wife one Coffer; and halfe my provisions after my buriall; halfe my Corne; halfe my hay that is Gathered in or may be Growing att my decease; half my butter cheese Bacon and porke; one hake with the eke belonging to it; one Cherne one brewing tubb one powdering tubb one beer barrell and my milk vessells; cushens one candle stick; all these forementioned p[ar]ticulars; I Give to my beloved wife to dispose of att her death unto whom shee will; moreover I Give unto my wife my bible my warming pan; halfe my house that p[ar]te of the Leento nearest unto the Chimney; as alsoe half my orchyard; and half my home lott; excepting that p[ar]te I sould unto Steven Paine Senior being an acre more or lesse; all these I [the next word is illegible] Give unto my beloved wife, the full tearme of her life; moreover my wife shall have libertie to mow two load of hay on my meddow att Palmers River and three load more on my meddow on the New meddow neck, every year for longe as shee liveth; Item I Give to my son Willam one hundred pounds Comonage, my lott on the East Syde of the plaine my lott in the second devision; my p[ar]te of Fresh meddow Lying and being neare the mile Run; my Fresh meddow att Palmers River all my meddow that I have mowed att my meddow on the New meddow neck The other p[ar]te of this meddow, I have Given unto my son Obadiah and my son Richard, as will appear by a deed of Gift under my hand; Moreover I Give unto my son William halfe my house halfe my barne, halfe my orchyard halfe my home lott except that I sould to Steven Paine Sen’r: and it is my Will that that [sic] after my wifes decease that my son Willam shall have all my Housing and barnes orchyard homlott with all those lands and meddowes before mentioned unto him and his heires fore ever; Item I Give unto my son William halfe my swine halfe my Corne halfe my hay; Ingathered or may be Growing and halfe my provisions; butter Cheese bacon Porke; Item I give to my son William halfe my Cart and wheeles my Cart Rope with my plow and plowirons belonging to it 2 Chaires two hogsheads [these were large casks], and all other Corne vessels my wife can spare; my hake with the ringe; on it; my Great brass pott an Iron pott and my Great brass pan and alsoe it is my will that hee shall have the land which is to be devided according to the devision of 20 acrees to the hundred pound estate; and alsoe my lott lately layed out on the necke Called Wachamaquat neck; and all such lands as shalbe devided after the Date hererof [hereof]; according to the proportion of an hundred pound estate; I alsoe Give unto my son Willam; my Chest in the hall my Coffer in the seller loft my Chain my hay knife dung forke Pikes Rakes hand saw augers 2 beetle Ringes: and all my Iron wedges; as alsoe that oxe Called duke; and my bible after my Wifes decease; Item I alsoe Give unto my son Willam the bed hee now lyeth on and the furniture belonging to it; and one bed sheet and my winnow sheet; and all my boards about my house, and all my wearing apparrell; Item I Give unto my son Obadiah half a hundred pounds of Comonage, my [a word here appears to have been crossed out; it began with a “P” and ended with a “w”, and may have been the word “Plow”, but that word was written after the struck-out word] Plow Irons of my breakeing plow and my thawrtcutt saw [the will fairly clearly states “thawrtcutt”, but it is unclear which word the scribe meant] and halfe my logg Chaine; and the other half I Give to my son Willam; Item I Give to my daughter Allice Wheaton my daughter Sarah Fuller and my daughter Ruth Kendrick my old mare and a Colt that suckes on her; Item I Give to my daughter Allice Wheaton my Flagon and two pewter platters; Item I Give to my daughter Sarah Fuller my warming pan after my wifes decease; and a pewter platter when the will is proved; Item I Give to my daughter Ruth Kendrick one pewter platter; It is alsoe my will that if any of these fornamed beasts viz: neat beats or horses given doe die or come to any lose, the lose shalbe to the p[ar]ticular p[er]son or p[er]sons unto whom they were Given; my executor shalbe free hee shall not make it Good to him or them; Item all the Rest of my Goods lands Chattels or whatsoever I have not Given in this my Will and Testament; I Give to my son Richard whom I mak and ordaine my sole executor to pay my debts and to discharge my legacyes and to see my body buried; witness my hand the day and yeer above written
Witnes
Stephen Paine Jun’:
John Pecke;
The mark R of Richard Bowen senr’:
A true Inventory of the estate: viz: Lands Goods and Chattles of Richard Bowin Senr’ of Rehoboth late Deceased exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth the 4th of June 1675 on the oath of Richard Bowin Junr’: as followeth:
Imp[rimi]s his wearing apparrell… Item a bed beding bedsteed & furniture belonging to it… Item 6 great pewter platters att 5s apiece… Item 3 smale pewter platters… Item 2 old pewter platters… Item 2 smale pewter basons… Item severall smale peece of pewter… Item an old Flagon… Item an old Chamber pott… Item an old warming pan… Item 2 brasse pans… Item 2 brasse kettles one brasse skillet 1 Candle sticke and some other old brasse… Item an Iron pott… Item 2 old shirts 4 Capps 1 bolster Case 1 pillow Case… Item 1 sheet and a Remnant of Canvas… Item more in sheets and a smale Table Cloth 2 towells… Item a smale Remnant of Cloth… Item a Flock bed & bolster and uper Covering 1 blankett and a Canvas sheet and bedsteed… Item 20 bushells of Indian Corne… Item a Cart Rope… Item a paire of tonggs… Item 2 pothangers… Item a hand saw… Item 3 wedges 2 beetle Ringes… Item a bilhook [billhook; a sickle-like blade meant for cutting smallish woody shrubs] and pease hook [a blade for cutting peas which has been described to have a handle five feet in length and a blade a bit over an inch wide and one foot in length]… Item an axe and an old hatchett… Item a frying pan… Item an old hoe… Item a hammer pincers and borier 3 Chissells & a paire of prongs… Item some peeces of old Iron… Item a Great bible… Item 4 Chistes… Item 2 tubbs 1 butter tubb and a Cover… Item 3 old barrells… Item tryed sewett… Item 2 old Chaires 3 Cushens… Item 2 old smale trayes a straining Dish a pudding pan… Item an old bagg… Item a Cherne a Cover a tray and old hatchett… Item an hay knife and an old hatchett… Item a spitt and pronges… Item scales and waights and a pestell… Item a smale barell… Item 5 nibbs & a ringe… Item Rye and pease… Item a Great brasse pott… Item a logg Chaine… Item in horse kind… Item 2 oxen… Item 2 Cowes… Item in hay… Item: a plow: Chaine yoakes & Cart… Item in debts [18 shillings and 9 pence]… Item more in lumber… Item in pork… Item in houses lands and Comonage [£100]
sume totall [£175, fifteen shillings, eight pence]
John Read senr’
Willam Carpentor
John Peck