William (Owen) Owens Sr. (abt. 1672 - aft. 1752)

Born about 1672 in Southwark Parish, Surry, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Unknown (Brookes) Owen — married before 1695 in Henrico, Virginia

Husband of Lydia (Lansford) Owen — married after 1 Oct 1703 in Henrico, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died after 23 Oct 1752 after about age 80 in Halifax County, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

William (Owen) Owens Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

Native Virginian

The following biography is a shortened version of the full-copyrighted version hat can be found at https://theowensodyssey.com/william.php.

William , the son of Bartholomew and Joanna Owen ^[1] is presumed to have been born in Surry County, Virginia at his father's plantation on Gray's Creek. ^{[2] [3]} No original source records can be found to help us pinpoint his actual year of birth. It was most likely around 1672 give or take a few years. His parents were married about 1666, ^[4] his father died in 1677 ^[5] , and William was their 3rd or 4th child--do your own math. William had an older sister, Katherine, and an older brother, Robert. It is unclear if his brother Thomas was older or younger. ^[6] William was still a child when his father died. Apparently, William's mother managed her late husband's plantation for about 12 years after William's father died--possibly with the help of William Rogers in the early years (he resided in the same household) ^[7][8] and in the later years with the help of her teenage sons and her adult son-in-law, Joshua Proctor (he resided in the same household after William Rogers was gone). ^{[9] [10]}

Sometime before 20 Oct 1689, 131 people including William, his mother, and his brother, Robert, were transported to New Kent or Henrico County, Virginia as headrights for Edmond Jennings, Esquire. ^[11] William's brother Thomas was not on the list . Was it an inadvertent omission (unproven), or did he stay behind to look after the plantation (unproven)? Not much later, Robert had returned to the plantation in Surry County and Thomas had joined his mother in Henrico County. ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

Sometime between 20 Oct 1689 (last appearance in records with Owen surname) and 17 Apr 1693 (first appearance in records with Brookes surname), ^[13] William's widowed mother married Thomas Brookes, himself a widower with two teenaged daughters. The merged family settled in Henrico County. There is hearsay evidence that within a year or two, William's brother Thomas married his new step-sister, Elizabeth Brookes. Sometime before 1695, William married a Miss (first name unknown) Brookes, the sister of Elizabeth Brookes (only circumstantial and hearsay evidence). William and Thomas are both mentioned as son-in-law in the will of Thomas Brookes written 23 Feb 1694/95 ^{[14] [15]} but no record can be found giving us the actual date(s) the brothers married their step-sisters. In the 1600's. the term son-in-law was sometimes mistakenly applied to step-sons so it's possible that the brothers did not marry their step-sisters until sometime after Thomas Brookes wrote his will (or perhaps not at all in the case of William).

Reportedly, William's 1st wife was childless when she died around 1700 (no valid evidence). That may add slight credence to the theory that they weren't married as early as 1695 because it would have been unusual for a married woman to remain childless for about 5 years.

It should be mentioned that the only document from the 1600's that even hints at this wife for William is Thomas Brookes' will and we may possibly have misinterpreted the intended meaning of son-in-law. The earliest positive mention on record for this wife is a 1911 family history book written well over 200 years after she supposedly died--it only gives her name as Miss Brookes. That book has to be taken with a grain of salt because it contains some obvious errors relative to the early Owen family that don't mesh with 17th century documents. Many family trees show the wife's name as Alsoe but not one of them offers any evidence other than a reference to someone else's family tree. Alsoe seems to be a recent invention because the earliest tree (or document) that can be found using the name is dated 2003. Another problem is that "Alsoe" is not a real name in English or any other language.

In light of the above, there is ample reason to question when (or if) William actually married a Daughter of Thomas Brookes. With the available evidence, it can neither be proved nor disproved. Almost certainly, her name was not Alsoe.

On the subject of names, people of Welsh descent often added an 's' to the end of their surname to indicate it was no longer patronymic. This appears to have been the case with William. His surname was usually spelled Owen in old records but, by the time he wrote his will, he used the Owens spelling.

In 1702, William purchased 100 acres from Seth Rench on the south side of the Chickahominy River in Henrico County. ^[16] Exactly one year later, he deeded the property over to John Woodson. ^[16] We can assume William was not married in 1703 because no wife was mentioned in the deed transfer, as would have been required by law. In 1704, William's brother, Thomas, witnessed the will of Seth Rench--a fair indication that William Owen, his brother, Thomas, and Seth Rench had all been neighbors. ^[16]

William's 2nd (?) wife was Lydia Lunsford and this has been confirmed by DNA ^[1] The marriage almost certainly took place in Henrico County but no evidence can be found for the date. Nor, can any evidence be found as to when/where Lydia was born. We, who are William & Lydia's descendants, have a significant number of DNA matches to descendants of Sir Thomas Lunsford (about 1610-1653). ^[17] Sir Thomas is almost certainly Lydia's great (or 2nd-great) grandfather and based upon the DNA, it is probably safe to say that William Lunsford (1655-1693) was Lydia's father or grandfather--it's not clear which because documentary evidence is lacking and we don't know when Lydia was born.

Since we've seen above that William was not married in 1703, he and Lydia must have been married sometime after that date. Don't believe all those trees showing some of their children born before 1703--none of the trees offer a shred of credible evidence and many of them show imaginary children and children born in places where William & Lydia never lived.

William and Lydia had the following children:

1) John Owens- eldest son Probably born in Henrico County, Virginia.

2) William Owens - probably born between 1728 and 1732 in Henrico or Goochland County, Virginia, moved to Cecil County, MD in 1749 and married Araminta Veazey. He appeared on a Cecil County, MD tax list in 1766 but no record can be found after that date. He should not be confused with the William Owen who was married to Elizabeth Meacham and who died about 1788 in North Carolina. DNA evidence proves they are two entirely different men.

3) Lansford Owens

4) A daughter whose name is unknown

5) Mary Owens - wife of a Mr. Jennings

6)Ann Owens - wife of Nicholas Medlin

7) Joanna Owens - wife of John Kerby. Find-a grave reports she was born 3 Jan 1713 and died 1795 but there is no tombstone and the information is unproven,

8) Lydia Owens - wife of William Adkins. Find-a grave reports she was born 1724 and died 1782 but there is no tombstone and the information is unproven.

I have listed the children in the same order William listed them in his will but this does not appear to be their birth order.

Some folks claim there was a son, Myron Owens but this is wrong. That myth came about because of a faulty transcription of William's will. Someone transcribed the words "my son" as "myron" and a whole bunch of people jumped on it as proof for Myron. If you look at a photocopy of the will (online at Ancestry.com), you can see that it's "my son" and not "Myron." Note that the "m" is not capitalized, while proper names in the will always begin with a capital letter. Also, whoever wrote the will always ran the words "my son" together as if they were one word. Not surprisingly, no one can find any records for a Myron Owens in Virginia in the 1700's. But lack of evidence didn't stop some people from giving this imaginary person dates of birth, death and other personal information--never trust what you see in family trees.

Another imaginary son for William & Lydia is Jonah. Seems someone confused him with the daughter Joanna, an actual person.

The jury is still out for a daughter named Agnes who reportedly died as an infant. No evidence can be found for her but, perhaps she did not die as an infant. Could she possibly be the daughter whose name is unreadable in her father's will?

It should be mentioned that Virginia was growing rapidly in the first half of the 18th century. Consequently, old county lines were shifted as new counties were being formed. Thus, records can be found for William & Lydia in Henrico, Goochland, and Hanover Counties. Quite probably, they never moved but it was the county lines changing around them.

Many family trees claim some of William & Lydia's children were born in Prince George County but they are wrong. The evidence is clear that William & Lydia never lived in Prince George County. There always were several Owen/Owens families living nearby and all of them had family members with names very similar to one another. Inevitably, records wind up being attributed to the wrong person or family.

William had clearly moved from Goochland County on the north side of the James River to Lunenburg County on the south side of the James by 20 Mar 1746/47. On that date, he transferred 200 acres at the mouth of Ruddy's Creek to his son-in-law, William Adkins. ^[18] Since his wife, Lydia, was not mentioned, it's possible she died sometime between 6 Aug 1745 and 20 Mar 1746/47. It's not clear if William moved before or after Lydia died.

Tithe lists and property records show that William's final years were spent in Lunenburg County in close proximity to several of his children.^[19]Lunenburg tithe lists from 1748-1750 show William living near his sons ,John & William and daughter, Lydia. In 1752, Halifax County was formed from that part of Lunenburg County where William lived. William wrote his will in the newly formed Halifax County .^[20]

In the following transcription, I have kept the original spelling and punctuation but anything in (italics) was added by me (Virgil Owens).

"I William Owens of Halifax County be in my perfect sences but low & weak in constension (consteusion?) and don't now how sune it may please God to call me out of this state of life and I think it fel to gif what Leattel good health geaven me to my sattesfaxon as follows my sole to the Lord my maker and my boddy to the earth In the name of God amen Also to myson (blank) Owens I give to him and his heares for Ever one shellen starlen. Also to myson William Owens I give one shellen starlen to him and his heares for Ever. Also to myson Lansford (Lunsford? there is a tear through the first part of the name) Owens one shellen starle... (page torn) ...is Eares for... (page torn) ...ver . also to (unreadable) one shellen starlen to her and her Eares for Ev... (page torn) ...Dafter Marey Genens one shellen starlen to her a... (page torn) ...Eares for Ever. Also to my Dafter An Medlin I give one shellen starlen to her and her Eares for Ever. Also to my Dafter Joaner Kearbey I give one negro gal named Diner and her In Cres to her and her Eares for Ever. Also to my Daftor Leyda Adkins I give one shellen starlen to her and her Eares for Ever. Also to Frances KERBY one Bed and furniture and one Pot and for Dishes and for Basons a set of Wedes and a fro to him and his Ares for Ever. Also to my grandson John Kerby I give my horse bridle and Saddel to him and his Ares for Ever. Also John Kerbey Senr and Frances Kerbey hole Execetors of my last Will and Testement after my D... (page torn) ...This my Last Will made the 23 day of october in the Year of our Lord God 1752 as witness our hands Sined Sealed In The Presence of ous" William (his mark) Mullins William (his mark) Owens SS Jacob (his mark) Adkins Joseph Keatton

The will was submitted for probate on 20 Mar 1753. ^[21] The attorney for William’s eldest son, John Owens, immediately filed a caveat against proving the will. It seems John's name had inadvertently been omitted from the court copy of the will through clerical error.

Synopsis

Birth

Born About 1672 (give or take a few years) in Surry County, Virginia. No original source documents can be found to give us an exact date.

Marriage

Married (possibly) Miss Brookes between 1690 and 1694 in Henrico County, Virginia. ^{[13] [15]} No original source records can be found to confirm this marriage.

Married Lydia Lunsford after 1703 in Henrico County, Virginia. ^[22] No original source records can be found to confirm this marriage but there is more than adequate DNA evidence. ^{[1] [17]}

Residence

Before 20 Oct 1689 - Surry County, Virginia ^[5][11]
between 1689 and 1728 - Henrico County, Virginia ^{[14] [16] [15]}
Between 1728-1746/47 - Goochland County, Virginia, ^{[23] [24]} This was probably not a move--the county line changed in 1728.
6 Aug 1745 – Goochland County, Virginia – William Owen, and wife Lydia transferred a land deed to Michael Holland, Sr. William Attkins (son-in-law) was a witness ^[25]
20 Mar 1746/47 – Lunenburg County, Virginia – William Owen transferred 200 acres at mouth of Ruddy’s Creek to (son-in-law) William Atkinson [sic]. ^[26] He had moved from the north side of the James River to the south side
(unspecified date) Lunenburg, Virginia ^{[23] [24]}
23 Oct 1752 - Halifax, Virginia - William Owens wrote his will. There probably was no physical move from Lunenburg County--the county line changed in 1752 ^{[20] [23] [24]}

Death

Died between 23 OCT 1752 (wrote his will) ^[20] and 20 Mar 1753 (will 1st submitted for probate) ^[21] at Halifax County,virginia ^{[27] [28] [23]}

Will

Dated: 23 Oct 1752 - Halifax County, Virginia Please see transcribed text of the will at the end of the biography above. ^{[20] [23] [24]}

Probated: About 18 Sep 1753 - Halifax, Virginia Note: Lawson has the date as exactly 18 Sep 1753, however Dennstedt makes it clear the date is unreadable and 18 Sep 1753 is the date of another will on the same page. ^{[23] [24]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Statistical analysis of autosomal DNA match results (>200 matches) for Barbara Harrington, Billy Ray Owens, Carol Paladin, Carol Staffieri, Cora May Thomas, Delores Domingo Roberts, Dennis Pierce, Ronald Owens, and Virgil Owens, all proven descendants of Bartholomew & Joanna’s son, William. Greater than 99.9% confidence that Bartholomew & Joanna and William & Lydia are our ancestors. Email askVirgil[at]aol.com for methodology and result details.
2. ↑ Virginia Patent Book 6, page 152. 14 May 1673 – Surry County, Virginia – Bartho. Owen obtained patent to 648 acres on S.W. side of John Chewakins, Sr., & upon Mr. Corker.
3. ↑ Virginia Patent Book 8, page 3 and Early Virginia Families Along the James River: Their Deep Roots and Tangled Branches, Vol. III, Page 109,Image 125, Online at Ancestry.com. 20 Oct 1689 – Surry County, Virginia – Robert Owen was granted patent to 743 acres on S.E. side of Chechocan Swamp; 648 acs. part granted Mr. Barth. Owen, 14 May 1673, & due sd Robert, as son & heir; 95 acs. for imp. of 2 pers: Jno Sharp, & Henry Wych. Note: Chechocan (various spellings) Swamp is on Gray’s Creek.
4. ↑ Joanna was born about 1650, her 1st child was born in 1667, and British law required women to be at least 16 years of age to marry.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Surry County Records, Book II, March 1671-5 July 1684, page 143; online at Ancestry.com; Also, Sue Mathys, “An early Owen Connection”, The Virginia Genealogist, v. 25, pp243-248. 31 Jan 1677/78 – Surry County, Virginia – Jane [sic] Owen was granted administration of the estate of Bartholomew Owen, deceased. She had 4 minor children at the time.
6. ↑ Entered by Virgil Owens, 11 Nov 2019.
7. ↑ Virginia Genealogical Society, Quarterly, Vol. 22, Number 3, page 61, online at Ancestry.com. 7 Jun 1678 – Surry County, Virginia – Wm. Rogers at ye widow Owens appeared on a list of tithables.
8. ↑ Virginia Genealogical Society, Quarterly, Vol. 23, Number 1, page 43, online at Ancestry.com. Jun 1683 – Surry County, Virginia – Wm. Rogers and Rob Owen (same household) appeared on a list of tithables.
9. ↑ Virginia Genealogical Society, Quarterly, Vol. 23, Number 1, page 45, online at Ancestry.com.
10. ↑ Surry County, Virginia, Wills, Deeds, etc. 1684-1687, p. 6B. 10 Jun 1684 – Joshua Proctor and Rob Owen (same household) appeared on a list of tithables
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Early Virginia Families Along the James River: Their Deep Roots and Tangled Branches, Vol. III, Page 109,Image 125, Online at Ancestry.com. 20 Oct 1689 – Virginia – Edmond Jennings, Esquire, was granted 6,513 acres on the north side of the James River, about 12 or 14 miles above the foot of the falls, for the importation of 131 persons (including Robert Owen, Jone [sic] Owen, and William Owen)
12. ↑ Virginia Genealogy Quarterly, Volume 23, Number 4, page 70. 1694 – Surry County, Virginia – Robert Owen appeared on a list of tithables above Upper Sunken Marsh.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Henrico County Deeds and Wills, 1688-97 - page 486 - 17 Apr 1693 – Henrico County, Virginia – Joanna Brookes deposed that she was “about 40 years of age”
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} Henrico County Deeds and Wills, 1688-97 - 23 Feb 1694/95 - The will of Thomas Brookes names his wife, Joanna, and two sons-in-law, Thomas and William Owen
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3} Historical Sketches of the Campbell, Pilcher, and Kindred Families including the Bowen, Russell, Owen, Grant, Goodwin, Amis, Carothers, Hope, Taliaferro, and Powell Families; book by Margaret Campbell Pilcher; Published by: Marshall & Bruce Co., Nashville, Tennessee; Copyright 1911.-- 23 Feb 1694/95 – Henrico County, Virginia – The will of Thomas Brookes names his wife, Joanna, and two sons-in-law, Thomas and William Owen
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3} Henrico County Deeds and Wills, 1697-1704, page 298 - 1 Oct 1702 -William Owen purchased 100 acres from Seth Rench on the south side of the Chickahominy River. page 546.-- 1 Oct 1703 – William Owen deeded his 100 acres (see 1 Oct 1702 event) to John Woodson. page 425-- 1704 – Thomas Owen witnessed the will of Seth Rench
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Statistical analysis of matches to people who have a Lunsford surname in their family tree against the autosomal DNA for Barbara Harrington, Billy Ray Owens, Carol Paladin, Carol Staffieri, Cora May Thomas, Delores Domingo Roberts, Dennis Pierce, Ronald Owens, and Virgil Owens, all proven descendants of Lydia Lunsford. High confidence that Sir Thomas Lunsford is our ancestor. Email askVirgil[at]aol.com for methodology and result details.
18. ↑ Record Book 1737-1770, Virginia Counties of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry, Franklin, and Patrick.
19. ↑ A History of Halifax County (Virginia); by Wirt Johnson Carrington; copyright 1924; page 36; book online at Ancestry.com-- 1747 – Lunenburg County, Virginia – William Owens, Jr., John Kirby, and others appeared on the land books. Note: John Kirby was William’s son-in-law. In the 1700’s, the suffix Jr. or Sr. did not always imply a father-son relationship. It could be two unrelated men of the same name living near one another—one older and one younger.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3} Virginia, Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 for William Owens, photocopy online at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9085/007645117_00010?pid=127939.
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} Halifax County, Virginia, Pleas No. 1, 1752-1755, page 64, published Nov. 1985 in the Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 23, Number 4, page 51, online at Ancestry.com
22. ↑ Source: #S4631
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5} : Source S54

    Abbreviation: Stephen M. Lawson

    Title: Stephen M. Lawson

    Author: Lawson, Stephen M. Lawson

    Publication: http://steve.lawson.net/smlawson/kerby.htm This source no longer exists

    Italicized: Y

    Parenthetical: Y Page: accessed 18 Dec 2009), William Owen; Quality or Certainty of Data: 1

24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4} : Source S238

    Abbreviation: Owen-Kearby-Turley Connection

    Title: Owen-Kearby-Turley Connection

    Author: Alberta Dennstedt

    Publication: The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 23, p. 163, 165

    Note: published in three parts. Referenced at http://kinnexions.com/smlawson/owens.htm#BOwens This URL no longer exists

    Italicized: Y

    Parenthetical: Y Quality or Certainty of Data: 3

25. ↑ Goochland County Virginia Deed Book 5, page 46
26. ↑ Record Book 1737-1770, Virginia Counties of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry, Franklin, and Patrick
27. ↑ Source: #S4631
28. ↑ Source: #S6720

See also:

• The Kirby Kin by Tommye Quarles Meyer, copyright 1993, $45: 9952La Tuna Canyon Road, Sun Valley,CA91352-2237.
• Virginia Genealogies, Vol. II.
• Surry Co VA Court Records: Inventory of Bartholomew's estate 1677.
• Halifax County, VA Court Records.