Letitia (Wood) Lowman (1689 - 1733)

Born 1689 in Bohemia Manor, Cecil, Maryland

Ancestors

Wife of Samuel Lowman — married 14 May 1716 in New Castle, New Castle, Delaware

Descendants

Died 24 Oct 1733 at about age 44 in Cecil, Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lilith LaVey [send private message]

Biography

Letitia Wood was born 1689 at Bohemia Manor, Cecil Co., MD. Her parents were Joseph Wood and Francina Herman. She married Samuel Lowman, Esquire on 14 June 1716. He was born 15 July 1670, London, Middlesex, England. His parents may have been Moses Lowman and Mary Withers.

Letitia and Samuel were very active with the Immanuel Church in New Castle. In the History of Immanuel Church, it is stated that Samuel Lowman subscribed 8 pounds towards building the Immanuel Church at New Castle, which was finished and opened in 1706. Samuel was appointed Justice of Supreme Court for N.C. Sussex County in 1722 and Justice of Supreme Court for N.C. Kent County in 1725. He was appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court for hearings of Appeals for North New Castle County on 25 July 1726. Samuel died in 1729 in New Castle, Delaware and Letitia was the administrator of his estate. The Maryland inventory file 28 Apr 1729 listed 10 saves and 3,055 pounds of tobacco along with other personal property with a total value of over 305 pounds sterling.

When Letitia died 4 years later 24 oct 1733 in Cecil Maryland, her inventory was filed 24 Oct 1733 with nearest of kin Ept. Aug. Herman and Richard Thompson. Those two gentlemen were both grandsons of Col Harman, further verifying Letitia’s descent from the Old Lord of the Manor. The court was concerned with management of the plantation on behalf of son Joseph, minor. The final accounting was by Joseph Wood 5 May 1737, stating at the end “on behalf of sons Joseph and Samuel”, and showing estate fees totally 2, 053 pounds of tobacco, valued at a penny a pound, delivered to various officials.

There was also a probate in New Castle, Delaware, where records index administrations for both Samuel and Letitia. They reveal Samuel owned a house and lot in New Castle town valued at 200 pounds, which had been rented to Jacobus Williams, saddler, for 16 shillings per year. The absence of any personal items in the Delaware inventory indicated Letitia had moved her family to the Cecil County, Md plantation after Samuel’s death. Joseph Wood’s final accounting of what killed them all is found in a bill presented ot the estate of “widow Lowman” by the local apothecary for such items as emetics, volatile drops, febrifuge, powders, corroborating pills- also anodyne “for her family in ye smallpox”. Martha Wood was allowed 40 pounds for schooling, clothing, and maintaining the children, Joseph and Samuel, 4 ears at 5 pounds per annum. Proof there were no other children. A letter addressed to the court by Richard Thompson supported her claim that Joseph Wood “had put Mr. Samuel Lowmans Children to school”, and “were lernt to reed and write”.

Samuel and Letitia had three sons: Joseph (ca. 1717-1774) who died in Harford County, Maryland, Samuel (ca. 1718-1758) who died in Kent County, Maryland, and William who did not survive his parents. In accordance with the old European custom of making the first son the father’s heir, Joseph Lowman came into possession of the Cecil County plantation, while his younger brother, Samuel, apparently had to shift for himself.

Please feel free to edit and add information.

Sources

A Calendar of Delaware Wills, New Castle County, 1682-1800. Wilmington, DE: 1911.

Name: Joseph Wood, Esquire

Will Loc: N. C.

Will Made Date: 12 Dec 1721

Will Probate Date: 21 Dec 1721

Will Book: C

Page: 361

Comment: Granddau., Ann Clerk; wife; son, Joseph Wood; dau., Jean Clerk; dau., Susannah Empson; son-in-law, Ebenezer Empson; dau., Letitia; dau., Rebecca Wood. Exc. son, Joseph Wood; son-in-law, Ebenezer Empson.

New Castle County probate records, ca 1682-1925; Author: New Castle County (Delaware). Register of Wills; Probate Place: New Castle, Delaware.

Name: Letitia Lowman

Probate Date: 1733-1738

Probate Place: New Castle, Delaware, USA

Inferred Death Place: Delaware, USA

Item Description: Register of wills, Lore, Auley-Lowry, Mary

See Also:

Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004.

Edmund West, comp. Family Data Collection - Individual Records. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2000.