John Lowrance (1716 - 1781)

Born 16 Feb 1716 in Peapack, Somerset, New Jersey

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 23 Apr 1781 at age 65 in Erect, Randolph, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

John Lowrance to North Carolina " John Lowrance was born 16 February 1716 in Peapack, Somerset County, New Jersey.

He and his brother Alexander made their way down the Great Wagon Trail, and stopped for at least a year in Augusta County, Virginia.

In 1757 John Lowrance purchased 632 acres of land from Henry and Joanna White. The land was located on both side of Blythe's or Sills's Creek in Rowan County, North Carolina. Deed Book2, page 199: "Henry White & wife Joanna of Anson County, NC, let John Lowrance of Rowan County, NC have 632 acres on both sides of Blyths Creek (a fork of Second Creek & waters of South Yadkin). next to Payne, James Erwin, Matthew Woods, & John Lowrance, for 5 shillings, the release price being 40 pounds on the next day. Witnessed by James Robinson and John Lowrance, Jr. and proved by the latter in Oct 1757."

In this early period the British Crown established Fort Dobbs a few miles north of Statesville to protect the settlers during the French and Indian War, 1754-1763. The fort was constructed during 1755 and 1756 and was located in the fork of Fourth Creek, a branch of the Yadkin River. Peace with the Indians was achieved about November 1761 and Fort Dobbs was abandoned.

John's brother, Alexander, was scalped and killed by the Indians on a raid on his home and still located on Beaverdam Creek."

John Lawrence Larrance and Nancy Ann Needham

Christening

Date: 15 FEB 1716

Place: Peapack, Somerset Co., NJ

Last name sometimes listed as Lawrence

Lain, Lowrance and Related Families: John was probably the administrator of the estate of his brother, Daniel, 16 February 1763, Augusta Co VA. John moved to Rowan co NC in 1756. Purchased 632 acres on Hill's from Henry White. See "Early Germans of N. J., Their Heritage, Churches &Genealogies," by t. E. Chambers, Dover, N. J., Dover Printing Co., 1895,Pages 439-40.

Will

Will recorded in Rowan County, North Carolina , Superior Court Record Book, number is unknown, but pages are 128-133.

THE WILL OF JOHN LOWRANCE: "IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN:

"I John Lowrance of the County of Rowan and state of North Carolina farmer, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and Memory, Thanks be to God for the same & calling to mind the mortality of My Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die. Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in the manner and form following:

That is to say IMPRIMIS. I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it me, and my Body to the Earth from whence it came to be Buried in a decent and Christian manner at the direction of my Executors, In hopes of a joyful Resurrection through the mercies of my Saviour JESUS CHRIST,and as for that worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life. I give and devise and dispose of in the manner following - That is to say first of all I do order all my just and lawful debts to be paid.

ITEM: I do give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Anne Lorance one black bald faced horse and one Brown horse with a bald face but one eye My Old Sorrel Horse during her widowhood. Likewise Two hundred pounds in money to be raised out of my Estate if the money rates at the time when she shall demand it, as it does at this present time Dollar at a henpenny, but if it should come to its former value a dollar at eightshillings at the above said time of demand then she shall have but thirty pounds likewsie the use of my house I now live in, and all my household furniture likewise my whole plantation on the west side of the Creek I now live on, during her widowhood, except Ten Acres of the lower end of my Meadow with a strate line from the Creek west to the Hill which Ireserve for the use of my son Jacob. Likewise give unto my Beloved wife four Cows and Calves of her own choosing two three year Old stears, likewise ten sheep of her own choosing,,Iikewise all my Hogs and geese for the support maintenance of these my children, which I had by her during her widowhood and if it should please God to Remove her by death or if she should marry again before my two sons Johsua & Alx'r become of age then all the above moveables to be equally divided between all my children I had of her at the discretion of my Executors. I likewise order that my Wife shall have use of my 'itch plow'and Waggon with the gears belonging to them, likewise my Iron tooth Harrow, likewise the use of Negro Boy called Ben for the time of eight years from the date here of and no longer and after the expiration of the above said eight years that then my said Negro Boy shall be my beloved son Abrahams property. I also give unto my Son John my money scales. I also give unto my son Abraham my still and eight still Vessels, also one Cow-and Calf and three sheep. I also give unto my son Andrew two sheep.I also give unto my son Joshua both my old and young black Mares. I also give unto my daughter Jane my black Mare called fley-and her yearling Colt I give to my daughter Anna. I also give unto my son Jacob my Stone[?] Horse and my three year Old passing mare Colt and one Cow and Calf. I also give unto my step-daughter Agnes two sheep. I also give unto my daughter Catherine two sheep. I also give unto my beloved wife should think it best for my son Jacob to live in the House by himself, that then he shall build a House on the East side of the Creek for himself to live in and shall have the use of the land on that side of the Creek on the above said Plantation, and further if it should please my beloved wife to Marry again, or if it should please God to remove her by death, That then after either of these, I do give unto my son Jacob the whole Plantation I now live on, with a promise that he give or cause to be given unto my two younger sons, Joshua and Alexander each of them when they come of age fifty pounds proc Currency of North Carolina, and if my son Jacob should not be willing to pay the money that then the above said Plantation shall be equally divided between my two younger sons namely Joshua and Alexander at the discretion of my Executors not withstanding if my son Jacob should pay the above s. moneys to said Joshua and Alexander, that then the said Plantation shall be my son Jacobs not withstanding if it should please God to remove my son Jacobby death and he not having a Male Heir that then the said Plantation I now live on shall be equally divided between my two sons Joshua & Alexander. Nevertheless if my son Jacob should beget a living Male heir, that then the above Plantation shall be his property & only his the paying the above said moneys____ I also order that what moneys I have a present shall be equally divided between my two sons namely Joshua &Alexander. I likewise order that forty shillings be raised out of my Estate and given unto my daughter Margaret or her first born son. Ialso order that forty shillings be raised out of my Estate & given unto my daughter Mary or her first born son. Also I order that forty shillings be raised out of my Estate and be given unto my daughter Elizabeth or her first born son and further I order that the rest of my moveable effects such as my Executors shall not think proper to keep or divide amongst the Children, to be sold at public sale and the money arising therefrom to defray these Legacies I give to my daughters or their children. I also choose and appoint my well beloved Wife Ann Lorance, and my son John Lorance, and my son Abraham Lorance, and my friend John McCorkle to be the Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and Executors by me in anywise before this time named, willed and bequeathed and Ratifying and confirming this and only this to be my Last Will and Testament in witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this 20th day of April One Thousand seven Hundred and Eighty One. Signed, Sealed,Published, pronounced and declared by the said John Lowrance as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us" s/John Lorance Junr: s/William Irvin s/John Gray s/John Gracey"^[1]

alt dates 1716-1781

Property

Find A Grave: Memorial #14430520

From Find A Grave memorial:
"From "Heritage of Rowan County, North Carolina: In 1756 each of them (John and Alexander) bought land in what was then the western frontier.Alexander bought 524 acres of land on Beaverdam Branch of Withrow's Creek and John purchased 632 acres on Sills Creek. All of their property was in Rowan County, but in that section that later became Iredell and Catawba counties. Most of the records on the early years of the Lowrances in North Carolina can be found in the courthouses and libraries of Rowan, Iredell, Lincoln, Burke and Catawba counties.

Burial

BURIAL:
Thyatira Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Mill Bridge, Rowan County, North Carolina, USA^[2]

Research Notes

On Hannah Catherine Lowrance as daughter of John and Mary (Perkins) Lawrence:
Although the Welch Family Bible names David Welch's wife as Hannah, she may not be a Lowrance/Lawrence, as I have as yet found no evidence of such a daughter among the records associated with John Lawrence/Lowrance. Although I found a DNA match with one of John's descendants, this match is much better explained by another, better documented, link I found with Debra & Craig Jackson, with their ancestor Nancy Jane Welch (1792-1850), as daughter of Ephraim Welch Sr. (1773 - 1835) and Sarah Elizabeth (Miller) Welch (1770 - 1835), our common ancestors. The relation of the Jackson family to John Lowrance is much better established. Although I added her as a daughter to this couple, I am removing her as daughter until there is better evidence that she was really their daughter.-- Kent Creamer

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave memorial [1]
2. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 20 June 2018), memorial page for John Lowrance (17 Feb 1717–23 Apr 1781), Find A Grave Memorial no. 14430520, citing Thyatira Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mill Bridge, Rowan County, North Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave (contributor 8) . [2]

THE WILL OF JOHN LOWRANCE:

I John Lowrance of the County of Rowan and state of North Carolina, farmer, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and Memory, Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in the manner and form following:

That is to say first of all I do order all my just and lawful debts to be paid.

ITEM: I do give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Anne Lorance one black bald faced horse and one Brown horse with a bald face but one eye. My Old Sorrel Horse during her widowhood. Likewise Two hundred pounds in money to be raised out of my Estate if the money rates at the time when she shall demand it, as it does at this present time Dollar at ahe [?] a penny, but if it should come to its former value a dollar at eight shillings at the above said time of demand then she shall have but thirty pounds likewsie the use of my house I now live in, and all my household furniture likewise my whole plantation on the west side of the Creek I now live on, during her widowhood, except Ten Acres of the lower end of my Meadow with a strate line from the Creek west to the Hill which I reserve for the use of my son Jacob.

Likewise give unto my Beloved wife four Cows and Calves of her own choosing two three year Old stears, likewise ten sheep of her own choosing, Iikewsie all my Hogs and geese for the support maintenance of these my children, which I had by her during her widowhood and if it should please God to Remove her by death or if she should marry again before my two sons Johsua & Alx'r become of age then all the above moveables to be equally divided between all my children I had of her at the discretion of my Executors.

I likewise order that my Wife shall have use of my 'itch plow'and Waggon with the gears belonging to them, likewise my Iron tooth Harrow, likewise the use of Negro Boy called Ben for the time of eight years from the date hereof and no longer and after the expiration of the above said eight years that then my said Negro Boy shall be my beloved son Abrahams property.

I also give unto my Son John my money scales. I also give unto my son Abraham my still and eight still Vefsels, also one Cow-and Calf and three sheep. I also give unto my son Andrew two sheep. I also give unto my son Joshua both my old and young black Mares. I also give unto my daughter Jane my black Mare called fley-and her yearling Colt I give to my daughter Anna.

I also give unto my son Jacob my Stone [?] Horse and my three year Old passing mare Colt and one Cow and Calf. I also give unto my step-daughter Agness two sheep. I also give unto my daughter Catherine two sheep. I also give unto my beloved wife shoud think it best for my son Jacob to live in the House by himself, that then he shall build a House on the East side of the Creek for himself to live in and shall have the use of the land on that side of the Creek on the above said Plantation, and further if it shoud please my beloved wife to Marry again, or if it shoud please God to remove her by death, That then after either of these, I do give unto my son Jacob the whole Plantation I now live on, with a promise that he give or cause to be given unto my two younger sons, Joshua and Alexander each of them when they come of age fifty pounds proc Currency of North Carolina, and if my son Jacob shoud not be willing to pay the money that then the above said Plantation shall be equally divided between my two younger sons namely Joshua and Alexander at the discretion of my Executors not withstanding if my son Jacob shoud pay the above s. moneys to said Joshua and Alexander, that then the said Plantation shall be my son Jacobs not withstanding if it shoud please God to remove my son Jacob by death and he not having a Male Heir that then the said Plantation I now live on shall be equally divided between my two sons Joshua & Alexander.

Nevertheless if my son Jacob should beget a living Male heir, that then the above Plantation shall be his property & only his the paying the above said moneys____ I also order that what moneys I have at present shall be equally divided between my two sons namely Joshua & Alexander.

I likewise order that forty shillings be raised out of my Estate and given unto my daughter Margaret or her first born son. I also order that forty shillings be raised out of my Estate & given unto my daughter Mary or her first born son. Also I order that forty shillings be raised out of my Estate and be given unto my daughter Elizabeth or her first born son and further I order that the rest of my moveable effects such as my Executors shall not think proper to keep or divide amongst the Children, to be sold at public sale and the money arising therefrom to defray these Legacies I give to my daughters or their children.

I also choose and appoint my well beloved Wife Ann Lorance, and my son John Lorance, and my son Abraham Lorance, and my friend John McCorkle to be the Executors of this my Last Will andTestament.

And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and Executors by me in anywise before this time named, willed and bequeathed and Ratefying and confirming this and only this to be my Last Will and Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 20th day of April One Thousand seven Hundred and Eighty One.

Signed, Sealed, Published, pronounced, and declared by the said John Lowrance as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us

s/John Lorance Junr: s/William Irvin s/John Gray s/John Gracey

Lowrance-231 was created by Joan Wagner through the import of Wikitree Clara Mae.ged on Jun 9, 2015.

• Family Finder - Matches - Craig Jackson Family Tree [3]
• FamilySearch profile [4]
• Creamer Family Tree [5]
• Sons of the American Revolution application by Joseph Franklin Orr; describes service of John Lowrance in the American war of Independence as: "Three months as private in Capt. White's Co. of horse. Private in Capt. Thomas Cowan's Co. Col. Locke and Gen. Davidson's Regiments. Was in battle of [? first 3 letters hard to make out] Pomsours Mill : in 1781 three months as an orderly sergeant in Capt. Bell's Co., Col. McDowels regiment: six weeks under Capt. Craig and Col. Locke : was in an engagement with Tories at Colestoon [?] : six weeks under Capt. Thos. Cowan and Col. Locke. -- Jacob Lowrance moved to Oglethorpe Co., Va. and in 1806 moved to Maury Co. Tenn. -- was allowed pension on application executed Sept. 18, 1832, then resident of Maury, Tenn. -- Pension record # 1682"; image on WikiTree of first two pages: [6]
• Ringleib Family Website - Ancestors of Colin John RINGLEIB - Johannes Lorentz family - TENTH GENERATION; 12 page detailed history of the Lorentz family from web page at: [7]; list of sources for family website: [8]; pdf copy of 12 page document on WikiTree: [9]
• BillionGraves Index, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QL7M-YLQM : 15 June 2017), John Lowrance, died 23 Apr 1781; citing BillionGraves (http://www.billiongraves.com : 2012), Burial at Weaver-Felker family cemetery, Atwell, Rowan, North Carolina, United States. [10]
• Johannes Lorentz Family - Lowrance's of North Carolina - Lawrence's of New Jersey; Website of Lorentz, Lowrance and Lawrence descendants in New Jersey and North Carolina; [11]
• North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 , database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XFSZ-4WP : 4 November 2017), John Lowrance in entry for Benjamin Woods and Mary Lowrance, 20 Oct 1768; citing Rowan, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 1,760,520.; FamilySearch image: [12]
• North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 , database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XFSK-Y66 : 3 November 2017), John Lowrance in entry for Benjamin Woods and Mary Lowrance, 20 Oct 1768; citing Rowan, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 500,949..; FamilySearch image: [13]
• North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 , database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8Z7-ZZL : 22 December 2016), John Lowrance in entry for Benjamin Woods and Mary Lowrance, 20 Oct 1768; citing , Rowan, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 1,760,524.
• North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 , database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8CG-193 : 22 December 2016), John Lowrance in entry for Benjamin Woods and Mary Lowrance, 20 Oct 1768; citing , Rowan, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 317,002.

Acknowledgments

This person was created through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged on 13 September 2010.