Avis (Goodspeed) Bowen (1708 - 1735)

Born 1708 in Virginia

Wife of Robert Bowen — married [date unknown] in Virginia

Descendants

Died 1735 at about age 27 in Virginia

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Biography

There may have been more than one Robert Bowen who left records in Bristol Parish, Brunswick, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg. With the records we have now, it's impossible to be sure. We know that a Robert Bowen with wife Avis were the parents of Ephraim Bowen and Lucie Bowen, both born in Bristol Parish during the same period when William Bowen Sr's children were born.

Lucie D of Robert and Avis Bowen born 23th August 1730 Ephraim son of Robt & Avis Bowen born 12th Feby 1731 bapt 30th July 1732

At first, it would appear that Ephraim's birth was less than nine months after Lucie's birth, but the year didn't change until March 25 by the old calendar. By our modern calendar, we would say that Ephraim was born on 12 Feb 1732 which would separate the children by 18 months. We have no way of knowing if there were other children born before or after these since the records for the births and baptisms of the children born to William Bowen and Robert Bowen in Bristol Parish spanned only five years from 1729 to 1734.

A Robert Bowen began appearing in the Brunswick Co records shortly after William Bowen Sr did. This Robert's first record in Brunswick Co was dated 2 Apr 1741. That record and another following it revealed that an order of attachment had been levied against Robert Bowen, garnishee of William Moore's estate. William Moore was a very common name and I have not been able to find any other records for a William Moore that I feel sure was this one.

The records for Robert Bowen picked up in Lunenburg Co when that county was formed from Brunswick Co in 1746. However, there was a 5 year gap between his last Brunswick Co record in 1747 and his first Lunenburg record in 1752. This gap could be significant. (research of Martha Hills and Frances Harper)

Sources

• The Bowens of Mecklenburg Co, VA - http://www.oocities.org/fcullom/