Note: The documentation from 1776 to the present has been verified and used several times to successfully gain admission into the Daughters of the American Revolution. *If you are interested in this genealogy, please advertise it on a blog or send copies to others who may be interested. I sincerely need your support in order to make more readers aware of Quest of the Spirit. My email is as follows: bsowell112652 @gmail.com.-- Bryan E. Sowell Note: You can find additional information about the author's family in the section entitle Memories from Bosque County.
Settlers named Sowell first came to America in the year 1618. According to the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, "Sowell has been in Virginia pronunication time out of mind, and for the point at the mouth of the Elizabeth river. Sowell is found on Jefferson and Fry's map of Virginia, in Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, in Hening's Statutes at Large. The name Sowell is in the Richmond Directory, and belongs to the people of Fluvanna. Sewell is the New England form of the name, and was borne by one of the witchcraft judges" (Lothrup 1903). The Genealogies of Virginia Families states that the "old English pronunciation" of the name Seawall, "as shown in the early records, was Sowell" (McGhan 1982). The Compendium of American Genealogy states the following: "Thomas (Sowell) Seawell (b. ca. 1605), prob. from Coventry, Eng., ca. 1640; settled in York Co., Va., later in Gloucester Co." (Virkus 1933). The William and Mary Quarterly states that this particular Thomas Seawell "patented 400 acres on Pocoson River, in York county in 1635" and "in 1642 he patented in Gloucester" (Genealogies 380-381). Unconfirmed online research suggests that Thomas Sowell, Sr., was born in England in 1597, and that he married Mercy Sowell in 1618. To the couple was born Thomas Sowell, Jr., in 1630, and died around 1650. which would correspond to a Tyner deed of 1707, which mentions Sarah Sowell, alias Thomas. In essence, since both the Sowells, Sewells, and the Seawells claim common ancestors, their families must also be the same, despite spelling variants. As yet, no connection has been made with the Samuel Sewall (1652-1730) who settled in Massachusetts and served as a judge in the Salem witch trials of 1692. Sewall's father came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635, and his grandfather served as the Mayor of Coventry, England, the place supposedly associated with Thomas Sowell, Sr. In contrast, the Richard Sowell branch first settled in Virginia, and from there the families migrated to North and South Carolina, where one branch migrated to Tennessee , Arkansas, and Texas; while another to Alabama, Texas, and parts of Georgia and Florida. Their descendants can still be found there today, which this brief history will trace to some degree. One branch of the Sowells settled in the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina in the same area where Daniel Boone was later born. The Tennessee branch later settled in South Texas near Seguin and subsequently fought in the early battles of Texas independence. The Alabama branch settled in San Augustine County, Texas, fought for Texas independence, some of which subsequently moved to Bosque County, Texas. In 1787, Governor Richard Caswell of North Carolina granted James Sowell tract of 130 acres for his service in the American Revolution (North Carolina Archives. No. 1030. File 914). The North Carolina Sowells fought under Andrew Jackson and named their sons after him before moving to Alabama. According to A. J. Sowell, historian and early Texas Ranger, a blacksmith named John Sowell forged the famous knife wielded by martyr and patriot Jim Bowie. This information comes from A. J. Sowell's book Texas Indian Fighters: Early Settlers and Indian Fighters of Southwest Texas, printed in 1900.
William and Henry Sewell--From England to America . . .
The following unconfirmed information was taken from www.geni.com/people/Henry-Sewell-of-Sewell-s-Point/6000000021608924173: "Henry [Sewell] settled at what came to be known as Sewell's Point, Lower Norfolk,VA, prior to 1625. Sewell's Point is located on the current site ofthe US Naval Station. In 1625, he served as Justice of Elizabeth. He served from 1629 to 1633 in the Jamestown House of Burgess and again, from Lower (Southern) Norfolk County (now Nansemond County) in May 1640. From Gillem's account--Henry came from England with his older brother Thomas, in 1619, aboard the George and settled at Sewell's Point, Virginia (1626-1632) at a landing on "Fleur-de-Hundred" (Thomas Sewell's land). There is an accounting record dated 1638 from Henry's father in London, England, of tobacco being sent from Henry in the ships America and Alexandria containing sassafras roots that were to be sold in England. The cash receipts totalled 650 pounds, 19 shillings, and 6d (about $35,000 in 1955 currency). Henry Sewell and Captain Sibley were authorized by the court of Elizabeth City to build a church at Sewell's Point." Wikipedia says, "About 1637 the ELizabeth River Parish was created. The first Anglican church of Elizabeth River. Parish was erected between 1638-1640 "at Mr. Seawell's Pointe," with the assistance of Thomas Willoughby. The first recorded minister was the Reverend John WIlson. The first church to be located in the area now known as South Hampton Roads, it stood somewhere within the present western limits of the US Naval Station Norfolk. According to old court records, the Episcopal churches in Norfolk are directly descended from it." Other records of the era reflect that the church Sewell founded was a Puritan church. Historical records reflect that Henry Sewell and his wife died before the Indian uprising of 1644 and were both buried in the church chancel." In his book The Founders of Anne Arundell and Howard Counties, Maryland. A Genealogical and Biographical Review from Wills, Deeds, and Church (1905), J. D. Warfield records that Alice Willoughby, daughter of Thomas Willoughby, was Henry's wife. Lower Norfolk Court Records, Book B, reflect that his wife's first name was Alice but does not show her maiden name. Another source cites a Henry Sewell as the Mayor of Coventry who was known as The Linen Draper, born circa 1544 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England. This Henry first was the son of William Sewell (Shuell) and Matilda Sewell, and a brother of William Sewell. This site suggests that Richard Sewell (Sowell) and Henry of Sewell's Point were Henry Sewell first's sons. Richard is also named with Margaret Sewell, Henry first's wife; Anne Power; and William Sewell . This information is managed by Gwyneth McNeil. Richard's brother Henry is listed as a tobacco trader. This site was last updated on February 2019. It cites Richard's brother Henry Sewell of Sewell's Point who was born circa 1601 in Warwickshire, England. If this evidence is correct, then Richard Sowell's father was Henry, and Henry's father was William (1510-1548). Another source says, "Col. Henry Seawall was born in 1624. He was the son of Richard Seawall and Mary Dugdale. He married Jane Lowe, daughter of Vincent Lowe and Ann Cavendish, circa 1654 in England." Another source cites a Henry Sowell, Jr., who was born in ca. 1590, the son of William Henry Sowell and wife Martha Horn Sowell, presumably the parents of Thomas Sowell, subsequently mentioned in this text. His father, possibly William Henry I, was born in Coventry, England in 1544 and died in 1628, the husband of Margaret Grazebrook Sowell. This site, also from geni.com, was managed by Tamara Kaye Duncan on April 28, 2022.
Benjamin Seawell, Sr., and Lucy Hicks . . .
The following information was taken from Ben Lee Seawell's Genealogy of the Known Descendants of Col. Benjamin Seawell, Sr., and . . . . Lucy Hicks, published in 1935 in South Pasadena, California: "Something of the spiritual relationship of the past, the present, and the future was expected by Sir Walter Raleigh: 'It is not the least debt that we owe to history that it hath made us acquainted with our dead ancestors, and out of the depth and darkness of the earth delivered us their memory and fame.' There is a maze of incomplete records, chiefly land grants, will and deeds, with occasional partial genealogy, copied by cousin Nanine Seawell Boyd of New York City, and Sallie Nelson Page in preparation of her 'History of Gloucester County, Virginia and Its Families,' from which it is not yet clear and positive who were the father and mother of Col. Benjamin Seawell, Sr. It is known that the father and mother of Lucy Hicks were George and Sarah Hicks." Initially, the multiple spellings of Sowell make it extremely difficult to establish direct linage with Col. Benjamin; however, the existence documents naming identical ancestors prove Sowell and Seawell to be the same family. Also, many early Sowells in this century could not spell, and consequently made their marks instead. Clerks similarly copied names as they heard them, without any great degree of accuracy. Thus, Sowell could have been Showell, Seawall, Seawell, Sewell, Shewell, Soule (the name of George Soule, a famous Mayflower passenger), Sole, Sjowell, Sayle (the name of one famous ship captain), plus various and sundry derivations. In a 1627 Divison of Cattle, Soule's wife Mary "is listed with her husband George and young son Zakariah" as Mary Sowle, not Soule (Eugene Aubrey Stratton. Plymoth Colony: Its History and People , 1620-1691. Salt Lake City: Ancestry Publishing, 1986, p 424). In 1625 a Thomas Seywell, age twenty, was transported on the Tiger (Peter Wilson Coldham's The Complete Book of Emigrants: 1607-1620. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987. p.66). The Newberry Library of Genealogy in Chicago cites eleven variations of Sowell as well: Sewel, Sewell,Sewill,Sewale, Sewayll, Sewold, Suwall, Suwell, Sewell,and Seawell (Ben Seawell 5). According to the Virginia Magazine, the name Sowell, or Sewell, is of Teutonic origin from the Old English word sige and old High German siga. The Gothic sigis means victory. The word derives from "wald, waeld, wold, woodland. The woods where a victory was won, in some of the many fights at the time in the making and conquest of England. The weald in the southern part of England, the great woods that covered the part of country still retains that name" (Withington "Virginia Gleanings" 320-321). According to The Genealogy of The Known Descendants of Col. Benjamin Seawell, Sr., and . . . Lucy Hicks, compiled and arranged by Ben Lee Seawell. Pasadena, California: December 1935, "It has been handed down 'from father to son' among the older families immediately descendent from Col. Benjamin Seawell, sr., that Col. Benjamin's father was named Thomas, but from the records of land patents it is known that there were three Thomases, probably father, son, and grandson. From the dates of land grants, two of them at least, 1635 and 1642, must have been granted to Thomas first. The two issued in 1665 and 1667 were more likely to Thomas second. There is a record of a marriage of this Thomas second, in 1671, to Mary, the widow of John Hansford. The Abington Parish Register records that Thomas and Mary had a son, Thomas (probably third), born November 8, 1680, and a son, John, born June 3, 1683. A later record shows that 'Thomas and Anne his wife have their daughter Anne baptized September 4, 1703.' Now Anne might have been a second wife of Thomas second, and there might have been a very natural failure to record the birth and baptism of little Anne's little brother Benjamin, born in 1700, as proven by other evidence. This conjecture is partially confirmed by a record made by my brother, Wiley Porter Seawell, 1873, from data given him by my uncle, Jeremiah Page Seawell, born in 1801, and my father, Robert Hicks Seawell, born in 1805. The record states that Benjamin Seawell, Sr., was born in 1700, and that their great-grandfather, Thomas, for whom their father was named, was born in 1650. The record of the marriage of Thomas Seawell second and Mary Hansford, in 1671, would suggest that he was born about 1650, confirming my father's and uncle's tradition." In essence, this information from Ben Lee Seawell further confirms that the names Sowell and Seawell were the same because both branches claim the same ancestors who emigrated and settled in the same places at the same times, with the same wives' and children's names. This information further corroborates the existence of three Thomas Sowell's in early America.
Henry Seawell of Virginia
According to Genealogies of Virginia Families, "Henry Seawell, who died in Norfolk County in 1644, gave his name to the point at the eastern entrance of the Elizabeth City River." Henry Seawell was "burgess for Elizabeth city in 1632, and was elected burgess for Norfolk county in 1639."Other authorities such as Jefferson, Fry, and Hening cite Sowell's Point. The following is taken from Hening's Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia from the First Session of the Legislature in the Year 1619, copyrighted 1823, Volume XII, pages 300-301: "Be it enacted . That the following, and no greater prices, shall be taken or demanded, to wit: On James river, for all vessels coming from sea, from Cape Henry or Lynhaven bay to Hampton road, forty shillings, and for going out to sea thirty shillings, and for each foot depth of water they draw, from hampton road or Sowell's point to Norfolk, three shillings per foot . . ." Sowell's Point also appears in the Calendar of Virginia State Papers, dated March 21, 1781, on page 586: "Lieut. J. H. Chandler, Navy, to the Commanding Officer at Williamsburg:This morning at 8 o'clock we left the Road. There was under Sowills Point five Ships, two Brigs, one Schooner, one Cutter. One Ship in the Morning Caim up in the Road, under English Colors; fiard a gun to Seward, was answered by a fleet, with one gun and English Jack at fore Top Gt. Mthead. At the arrival of the ship there was a Sloop Dispatched for Portsmith. I believe them all to be Enemy, but from the Signals I have Reason to believe there is a french fleet in Sight or a reinforcement from New York. I shall keep the best lookout and give the earliest Intelligence. Hampton Roads, Boat Patriot at Newport News."
On October 16, 1618 Thomas Showell, a minor, "was brought in by warrant from Sir Thomas Bennett for vagrancy" and was to be removed from Bridewell Hospital in England and "kept to be sent to Virginia" (Early Child Immigrants to Virginia 1618-1642 Hume 7). A passenger on the George, a Thomas Sawell arrived in America in 1619 and was listed among those living at Peirsey's Hundred on a "Muster of the inhabitants of Virginia" taken from January 20-February, 1625. Sowell was twenty-six years old (Complete Book of Immigrants 1607-1660 Coldham 50). A Thomas Sawell was also listed on the "names of the living and the dead in Virginia" at Flourdieu Hundred on February 18, 1623 ( Coldham 37). On August 7, 1635, a Thomas Sawell, 29, was listed to be transported from London to Virginia by the Globe of London (Coldham 160-161).
Generation I: Richard Sowell, Sr., married Margaret Williams. Children: 1) *Richard Sowell, Jr., 2) Charles. *Direct ancestor of the author
Richard Sowell (also Showell or Shewell) is the earliest verifiable paternal ancestor of my family. Richard was born probably around 1650; he married Margaret Williams, daughter of Lewis and Mary Williams. To Richard and Margaret were born two sons , Richard, Jr., and Charles, as recorded in Bertie and Chowan County, North Carolina deeds. There was also a Thomas, William, George and a John Sowell, who were in all probability related, yet this is unconfirmed. On October 30, 1669, Richard Shewell (Sowell) was granted 200 acres near the head of the Nanzemond River" in Virginia. Sowell transported four people with him, which meant that he paid their passages and that they were bonded or indentured to him for a time. Theory also suggests that a Thomas Sowell was Richard Sowell, Sr.'s, father, though unconfirmed. The name corresponds with Thomas (Sowell) who was born around 1605, probably from Coventry England, who settled who settled in York County, Virginia around 1640, and later in Gloucester County in 1642,and, according to another source, who patented 400 acres on the Pecoson River in 1635 and later in Gloucester in 1642. Richard Sowell, Jr., had sons Richard III, Obediah, and John, the latter of which is my great-great-great-great grandfather. John Sowell, Sr., and his wife Ann had John, Jr., Francis, Mary, Elizabeth, Feriby, Ann, and James, again the latter of whom is my great-great-great grandfather. James, in turn, married Sarah Baker , and to them were born James, Levi, Worley, Sarah, Susannah, and John, the latter of whom is my great-great grandfather. John married Nancy Ann, and to them were born Ransom, John, Eliza, Mary Polly, Rebecca, Sarah, and James J., the latter of whom is my great-grandfather. James J. also had a family in Alabama, where he served as state representative in 1850, an unfortunate accident during which time compelled his emigration to Texas, where he joined his two brothers already living there. To James J. and Millicent A. Butler were born Mary, Susan, William Jasper, George Ransom, Thomas, Wade Hampton, and Jackson Augusta, the latter of whom is my grandfather. Jackson Augusta and Mary Mae (Cox) Sowell had children William Lillard, Milliacent Eliza, Louisa Eleanor, Thomas Jefferson, Jackson Augusta, Jr., Beulah Mae, Mary Alice, Martin James, Christa Anne, Mattie Olivia, Elbert Daniel, and Luther Edward, the latter of whom is my father. Luther married Laura Ethel Brantley, my mother.
I will now resume the information concerning Richard Sowell, Sr. Ten years later, on November 29, 1679, "Arthur Allen of Surrey County, Edward Thelwell, and Robert Horneing of Nanzemond County were granted 337 acres" on the southern side of "Beaver Dam Branch, a branch on the southern branch of the Nanzemond River in Isle of Wight and Nanzemond Counties" of Virginia. The grant began "on the land of Thomas Mason, now in possession of John Dotery, and 200 acres that were granted Richard Showell" on October 30, 1669. One of the people transported was a Lewis Williams, coincidentally, the same name as the person who was or became Richard's father-in-law (Cavaliers and Pioneers 204).
According to Edward Channing's A History of the United States, "The first permanent English settlers in Carolina came from Virginia, and cleared lands on the Chowan River and its neighborhood" (Channing 16). This emigration began "as early as 1653 when Roger Greene, with a hundred men made a small settlement in the Chowan precinct, on the north shore of Albemarle Sound" Thus, Richard's move from Virginia to Carolina paralleled the migration of Carolina's early settlers. It was between 1690 and 1703 that Richard moved from isle of Wight Country, Virginia to Chowan County. According to Calendars of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1669-1674, as quoted in Channing, "The years immediately following 1670 saw a succession of poor harvests. The spring of 1673 had been preceded by 'an unexperimented hard winter,' in which half of the livestock perished. Wheat and corn were so scarce inVirginia in 1676 that Governor Berkeley felt obliged to prohibit the exportation of food from the province to supply the New Englanders whom King Phillip's War had placed on short commons. Poverty and a sense of unredressed grievances were now combined with Indian massacres to work the people to highest indignation." Possibly, these conditions prompted Richard's move. Furthermore, the colonists then looked to a new leader named Nathaniel Bacon, who came "to Virginia in 1670"(Channing 84). When Bacon's plantation was attacked by Indians, and his overseer killed, Bacon "led a force against the savages and dealt them a vigorous blow." Governor Berkeley did not support Bacon's cause, declared him to be "little better than a rebel," and "set forth to arrest him for fighting the Indians without a commission" (Berkeley, cited in Channing 16). This declaration greatly angered the colonists; in fact, Richard's father-in-law Lewis Williams was one of the more than one hundred colonists who in 1677 signed the "Second Grievances of Nansemond County," beginning a movement which later became Bacon's Rebellion. It is also quite possible that Richard was involved, since both he and Lewis Williams were listed in Nansemond County in the late 1670's.
North Carolinians were a very strongminded, self-reliant people who "soon showed themselves to be indisposed to any kind of government or to paying taxes or dues of any nature. Isolated planters living in a wilderness, they were self-assertive and constantly against those who were sent from England to govern them, and quite as readily fought among themselves over questions of land or other property. They were especially dissasisfied with the ever-changing plicy of the proprietors as to getting land" (Colonial Records, in Channing 16). To maintain order, King Charles, in the Charter of 1665, "granted liberty of conscience in matters of religious concernment to all colonists of Carolina who should live peaceably and commanded that all such were to enjoy their judgements and consciences without being called in question" (Channing 16).
In terms of population, some forty thousand people were living in the Virginia area in 1670; and of these, there were six thousand white servants and two thousand Negro slaves. Servants could be indentured for periods of three, five, seven, fourteen, or twenty-one years. Convicts "who were now coming to Virginia in appreciable numbers" served the longest periods of indenture. Shorter terms were held by "respectable persons whose poverty had compelled them to sell their services for a term of years to pay the expenses of emigration to the New World." Once free, these individuals often had little or no capital and could not manage "the recurring low prices of the staple products of their farms" (Channing 82). Their discontent "led to abortive insurrections in 1673 and 1674" (Channing 83). When Richard Sowell was granted "200 acres near the head of the Nanzemond River" in 1669, he was free and transported four people indentured to him. However, by 1681, Richard and William Showell were indentured under a grant to Robert Harmon in New Kent County, Virginia. It is possible that Richard also faced similar difficulties because not until 1688 is there a deed to Richard Sowell, who was presumably free by that time.
On June 6, 1675, in Gloucester County, Virginia, Thomas Sowell was granted land (Cavaliers and Pioneers 238). It has been suggested that this Thomas was the son of a Thomas Sowell who emigrated to America, though unconfirmed. By September 28, 1681, both Richard Showell and William Showell were listed among thirty-nine persons ttransported undder a grant of 4920 acres to Robert Harmon, in New Kent County, Virginia (Cavaliers and Pioneers 226). In the Mattaponi, Virginia area, John Sowell was transported under a grant of 6,000 acres to John Pate and Robert Beverly. The land was located "upon the N. side of the Mattapony mayne run,"and the patent was dated July 15, 1669. John's last name was spelled Sowell, and this is the first recorded spelling of the name in this way (Cavaliers and Pioneers. Patent Book 7. pp. 57-58).
On April 20, 1681, John Sowell bought 100 acres in Virginia from Hugh Harris. In that same selection, taken from Virginia Colonial Abstracts of York County 1645-1720, payment of indebtedness from gambling expenses is demanded: No. 2. p. 58--"John Maryman these are to desire you to get an order of Court against Francis Browne for 300 lb. of tob' and Caske and two years forbearance which cometh to 348 and Caske or else--for the payment of it the next yeare and likewise one hundred and twelve pounds of tobacco of Mr. Sewell ther as Mr. Hopkins note of the pertickelers with his hand to it if past for it remembers it and likewise fiftie pounds of Tobacco from the estate of Mr. Hanmore I paid him--hhd of Salt lost to him at play and after on the same day at Kiquotan I won fiftie pounds of tobacco of him. I pray doe these things for Southern, James."
On April 29, 1693, William Sowell was listed among eight persons transported under Thomas Vicaries, who was granted 360 acres in King and Queen County, Virginia" (Cavaliers and Pioneers. I. Patent No. 8, p. 832). On February 9, 1690, John Browne "delivered a deed of sale for 200 acres to Wm. Scott and 100 acres to Richard Showell . . . A patent of 20 Oct. 1688." Browne empowered his wife acknowledge these sales in court, 9 Feb. 1690." Richard's 100 acres was "in Isle of Wight called ---Neck. 3 June 1690. Teste., Edw. Floid, Hen. Baker"(Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia. Comp. by John Bennet Boddie. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1980. p. 605).
Three other Sowell were transported to Virginia in the seventeenth century; however, no direct link has been established. The first was Jonathan Showell who was transported with sixty others under a grant of 3050 acres to Charles Scarburgh. This was on May 10, 1652, in Northhampton County, Virginia (Cavaliers and Pioneers, I. Patent Book No. 3. p. 286). The second was Mary Showell who was transported with Anne Littleton and Isack Morgan ino the [Virginia] colony in 1652. Morgan received "a certificate for 150 acres for transporting himself and the two ladies" (Colonial Virginia Abstracts: Northumbria Collectanea, abstrated by Beverly Fleet (29 vols. ; Baltimore; Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1961. XXXI, p. 23). The third person was Ann Showell kwho was one of twenty people transported under a grant of 1000 acres to Major John Tilney. This was in Accomack County, Virginia, on September 10, 1664 (Cavaliers and Pioneers. Patent Book No. 5. p. 455). On October 20, 1704, an Ann Showell was transported to Essex County, Virginia, under a grant of 2400 acres to James Boughan, Richard Covington, Williams (Cavaliers and Pioneers. Patent Book No. 9, p. 87).
According to St. Paul's Parish Register, William Sowell "bought land from Joseph King in Stafford County, Virginia, on September 3, 1703. (Stafford County, Virginia Deed Records. Book P, p. 1276. King, George H. St Paul's Parish Register, p. 129). On April 1, 1707, Nicholas Tyner "deeded to William Williams of Virginia 300 acres on the northwest side of the Branch on which Sarah Sowell alias Thomas now lives for the sum of 5000 pounds of tobacco to be paid in Virginia." The deed begins in the following manner: "1 April in ye 6th year of ye reign of our Sovereign Lady Ann Queen of Scotland, France, and Ireland, and in ye year of Our Lord 1707." This document was taken from Chowan Precinct, North Carolina 1696-1723: Genealogical Abstracts of Deed Books, compiled by Margaret M. Hoffman, published in Weldon by Roanoak News Company in 1972 and taken from Deed Book W-1, No. 149, page 71. This particular deed shows that Thomas Sowell had died prior to 1707. It also shows that around 1700, the families of Thomas and Richard Sowell moved from Virginia to Chowan County, North Carolina. This particular Thomas could possibly be Richard's father, or even a brother, though unconfirmed.
On November 30, 1703, Richard Sowell of Chowan Pricinct and his wife Margaret deeded "100 acres which was part of 290 acres surveyed on April 10, 1702 on Sandy Run at Stopping Creek to Will Stevins for the sum of three pounds" (Chowan Deeds, Book W-1, No. 98, p. 50). On December 9, 1712, Richard Sowell "bought 400 acres on Indian Swamp, joining upon the lines ofd John Jordan, John White, Jr., and Ballards" (Chowan Deeds, Book No. 8, p. 304 in North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, J. R. B. Hathaway, editor. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company., 1979, p. 15).
Chowan County is near the Virginia border, directly south of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Bertie County was formed from Chowan in 1722, and it is in these three counties that the Sowell families settled.
On October 18, 1715, Richard Sowell was appointed by Justice of the Peace Edward Phelps of Chowan "to serve on a committee to appraise the value of a young horse which was attached to the estate of Edward Bonwick" (Chowan Deeds. B-1, No. 1655, pp. 12-14). On July 21, 1716, Thomas and Jean Rogers of Chowan sold to Richard Showell of Chowan for "10 pounds current money of this Province . . . 100 acres more or less on the west side of the Chowan River at the mouth of Chinkapin branch all houses, orcharfs, and gardains, etc, sealed and delivered by Turf and Twig" (Chowan Deeds, B-1, No. 858, p. 309).
On July 16, 1716, Richard Sowell served as a witness to two land transactions (Chowan Deeds, Book B-1,No. 872, p. 329). Sowell performed a similar procedure on August 12, 1718 (Chowan Deeds, B-1, No. 1211, p. 666). At Chowan Court Pecinct Court of July 17, 1716, Richard Sowell was ordered to be Surveyor of the Highway in the Room of Daniel Halsey (Chowan Deeds, Book B-1, No. 1659, p. 18-20). On October 19, 1719, Richard Melpass of Chowan sold Richard Sowell "200 acres more or less on the west sided of Chowan river, joining Horse Swamp and the River Pecoson." Richard paid fifty pounds; Charles Sowell served as a witness (Chowan Deeds, W-1, No. 404, p. 196).
On July 18, 1719, Richard Sowell of Chowan and Margaret his wife deeded to Charles Sowell "for the love and affection I bear my son 400 acres at the mouth of a branch butting upon the Old Town Creek swamp joining John Jordan" (Chowan, B-1, No. 1251, p. 702). On January 18, 1720, Richard Sowell and wife Margaret of Chowan sold Richard Melpass "286 acres on the west side of Chowan river at the mouth of the Chinkapin Branch." Melpass paid forty pounds for the property (Chowan, F-1, No. 424, p. 5). On August 12, 1720, Richard's son Charles Sowell and wife Elizabeth of Chowan sold to John Hix for eighteen pounds "100 acres on the west side of Chowan River at Horse Swamp"(Colonial Bertie County, North Carolina Deed Books A-H, 1720-1757, abstracted by Mary Best Bell. Easley: Southern Historical Press, 1977, Book C, Entry 296; hereafter cited as Bertie Deeds).
On April 17, 1721, Edward Howcott of Chowan and Tameo his wife sold to Charles "640 acres by the Chowan River Pocosin, joining Richard Sowell. Charles paid twenty-five pounds for the property (Chowan, F-1, No. 520, p. 110). Richard and Charles Sowell are listed as early livestock owners in Bertie County in the years 1722-1741. This information was taken from "Early Livestock Owners, 1722-1741" of the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, edited by William Perry Johnson, Volume 11, in the Winter 1965 edition, on page 1569. Richard's mark on all deeds and legal transactions was R. In 1722, Charles Sowell snared two wolves and was paid one pound as a bounty. This information came from Old Albemarle County, North Carolina Misscellaneous, 1678 to ca. 1737, compiled by Weynette Parks Hawn, on page 137.
On August 12, 1723, Charles Sowell and wife Elizabeth sold to John Hicks for eighteen pounds "100 acres on W. S. Chowan River at mouth of Horse Creek Swamp" (Bertie, Book A, Entry 136). On February 12, 1723, Thomas Jenkins bought "100 acres in Bertie" from Charles and Elizabeth Sowell for fifteen pounds" (Bertie, Book A, Entry 186). On February 8, 1724, Charles Sowell bought "100 acres on W. S. Chowan on Horse Swamp adjoining Richard Melpass." Sowell purchased the property from Daniel Mackgee for fifty pounds" (Bertie, Book C, Entry 207). On September 16, 1727, Richard Sowell, Sr., and wife Margaret deeded Richard, Jr., "200 acres for love and natural affection they do own and bear to their son . . . Land on Horse Swamp." This is the last transaction made by Richard, Sr.; it is presumed that he died sometime after 1727. Subsequent deeds refer to Richard, Jr., or Charles' son named Richard.
The following information , compiled by Dr. Ben Holtzclaw, concerns the parents of Richard's wife Margaret: "Lewis Williams of Nansemond County, Virginia and Chowan County, North Carolina was probably the immigrant to this country. He may have made several trips to and from England to Virginia (Virginia, Patent Book 7, pp. 14, 16,and 20). He had been settled in Nansemond County several years before the above dagte; however, as in 1677, he signed the so-called "Second Grievances of Nansemond County," along with more than 100 other inhabitants of the county, asking redress for the grievances out of which grew Bacon's Rebellion. He was probably born around 1645-1650, and died in Chowan, North Carolina in 1717. His wife was named Mary, and she survived him until after 1720. Lewis Williams was granted 100 acres in Nansemond County adjoining Richard Peirce April 24, 1682 (Patent Book 7, p. 170).
"Lewis Williams was granted land in North Carolina as early as 1697, and continued to libe there until his death in Chowan County in 1717. He was on the rent roll of Chowan County in 1700 with 650 acres of land, was a vestryman of the Southwest Parish of Chowan Precinct, and was attacked by the Meherrin Indians in 1707 and wounded, though he drove the Indians away." ("Lewis Williams of Nansemond, Va. and N.C." The Bush and Williams Families, compiled by Ben Holtzclaw, pp. 224-225). An abstract of Lewis Williams' will names Charles Sowell as his grandson: "Williams, Lewis, Chowan, Oct. 1, 1716; Apl 16th 1716. Son Anthony and his wife Martha, grandsons Anthony Williams, Chas. Sowell, Lewis Jones, and John Pritchett, John (son of Wm. Williams), daughter Priscilla, wife Mary and son Anthony Exrs. Test, Wm. Crawford, Grizzell Littlejon." William Williams was presumably Margaret's grandfather who was mentioned in the 1707 Tyner deed of 300 acres near "Sarah Sowell, alias Thomas." This again is speculation that this Thomas was a brother of Richard Sowell, Sr., though unconfirmed.
Note: Although online documentation may provide information confirming this and other relationships, my research relies solely on documents which I have personally verified through wills and transactions obtained from the particular county clerks and genealogical libraries containing them. I have used no online sources in this history. Each certified document I have purchased and personally held in my hands. This history was compiled before online genealogies existed.
On February 10, 1729, Charles Sowell sold property in Bertie to John Graves (Bertie, C, Entry 208). On February 24, 1732, Charles Sowell sold 100 acres "at the mouth of a swamp known by the name 'Horse Swamp,' adjoining Richard Sowell (Bertie, D, Entry 81). This, incidentally, was the year that George Washington was born. On August 9, 1736, Francis Brown sold John Sowell, Cooper, 200 acres in Bertie for fifty pounds (Bertie, E, Entry 3). A cooper is a person that makes wooden barrels or tubs. On February 10, 1735, John Averrett sold Thomas Sowell "230 acres at the river pecosin." Witnesses were Charles and Richard Sowell. Thomas Sowell, in this instance, was probably the son of Charles, and the grandson of Richard, Sr. He is named as a son in Charles Sowell's will of 1738. An earlier Thomas Sowell, deceased by 1707, was possibly a brother of Richard Sowell, Sr. (Bertie, D, Entry 260).
On April 22, 1737, William and Jane Padgett sold Obediah Sowell "200 acres on Horse Swamp adjoining Richard Sowell, Jr., and Charles Sowell." Obediah paid Padgett seventeen pounds for the property (Bertie, E, Entry 246). On September 26, 1737, William Williamson, yeoman, and wife Mary exchanged with John Howcott 106 acres for "a certain plantation . . . At Chinkapin Branch and Mill Creek adjoining Richard Sowell's slash" (Bertie, E, Entry 368).
On November 25, 1738, the elder Richard's son Charles Sowell made his will, an abstract of which follows: "November 25, 1738. February Court, 1738. Sons: Richard (land on Bear Swamp), Thomas (plantation "where Adam Harrell now dwells"), Lewis (land on horse swamp), Charles ("my manner plantation"), Daughters: Elizabeth, Hannah, Mary, and Sarah Sowell. Wife and Executrix: Martha. Executor: Benjamin Wynns. Witnesses: Ebanazar Slaton, Thomas Sowell, Richard Holmes, Eliza Harrel, Jno. Wynns. Clerk of the Court: Jno. Wynns (Abstract of North Carolina Wills 1690-1760, p. 352).
On April 14, 1740, Richard Sowell, son of Charles Sowell, sold to John Welsson, yeoman, for fifty pounds, 230 acres on "a certain Parcell of land which my Dec'd father Devised to me." The property was at the mouth of Bare Swamp, adjoining Obediah Sowell (Bertie, F, Entry 53). The Welsson deed also verifies the period in which Charles Sowell died. Obediah Sowell was probably the son of either Richard Sowell, Jr., or the Thomas who was deceased by 1707.
Some of the descendants of Charles, Jr., later moved from Bertie County, North Carolina, to Maury County, Tennessee. The following facts concerning the genealogy of the Sowell family were prepared by Earnest N. Sowell at Elgin, Bastrop County, Texas, in the first month of the year 1952, and were presented to his beloved parents , John P. Sowell, 91 years of age, and Osceola Keele Sowell, 82 years of age, who had just observed their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary. The information concerning the Sowell family was obtained from an aged family Bible which was presented to Earnest's great-grandfather, Ryon W.Sowell, by his wife Ann G. Letsinger Sowell, on July 4, 1826; from information furnished by R.S. Sowell of Greenbelt, Maryland, and from Miss Alma Sowell of Columbia, Tennessee, and from information obtained by Earnest on a visit to the old family cemetery in Maury County, Tennessee.
"On a beautiful tree- shaded hill near the town of Williamsport, In Maury County, Tennessee stands a large Colonial house built in the year 1820 by Reverend Charles Sowell, a Methodist minister, a descendant of thre Sowells who came to America from Edinburgh, Scotland and settled in what is now the State of North Carolina in the early days of the Colonies. "Charles Sowell was born in North Carolina on December 2, 1775 and moved to Tennessee in the year 1818. He and his wife, Molly, born November 15, 1773, daughter of John A. and Susanna Wynns, settled on the Duck River near Williamsport and built the home mentioned previously. "The family cemetery is located a little way back of the big house, in a burial plot by a number of tombstones, as well as unmarked graves. The cemetery is grown over with weeds and brambles, but is enclosed by a fence which is kept in repair by the present owner. "Reverend Charles Sowell and his wife Susanna are buried side by side in this cemetery and two graves are covered by a large limestone slab suitably inscribed. "Information obtainable indicates that Reverend Charles Sowell had the following children, all born in North Carolina: Ryon W. Sowell, born August 27, 1799; Charles W. Sowell, born December 26, 1800; Henry C. Sowell, born February 16, 1806; and Payton Sowell, born November 11, 1808. There were probably daughters of whom we have no authentic record. "Ryon W. Sowell, who was born in North Carolina on August 27, 1799, moved with his father to Tennessee in 1818, and was married to Ann G. Letsinger on January 20, 1820. The Bible previously mentioned was given to Ryon W. Sowell by his wife Ann on July 4, 1826, and cost $1.00, which no doubt pfresented a considerable sacrifice, since at the time several acres of good land could be purchased for $1.00. "Records inscribed in this Bible in the beautiful handwriting of Ryon W.Sowell indicate he was an educated man and that the following children were born to this union: James Sowell, born October 29, 1823; John Andrew Sowell, born February 25, 1826; Elizabeth Jerusha Sowell, date of birth obliterated; Adaline Sowell, born January 13, 1832; Mary Ann Sowell, born August 12, 1834; Rufus Clinton Sowell, born March 22, 1837; Sarah Melissa Sowell, born August 22, 1839; Lurinda Sowell, born January 28, 1842; and Charles Patrick Sowell, born December 16, 1844. "James Sowell, son of Ryon W. Sowell and Ann G. Letsinger, was married to Sarah Coleman Walker, daughter of Randolph and Elizabeth Coleman Walker in Maury County, Tennessee August 20, 1846. To this union were born Bradford J. Sowell, born January 24, 1848; Thomas C. Sowell, born February 17, 1850; Tennessee Sowell, born March 18, 1853; Texana Sowell, born August 25, 1855; John P. Sowell, born July 10, 1860; Rosa Lee Sowell, born August 2, 1866; and Mary F. Sowell, born April 5, 1869. "James Sowell moved from Maury County, Tennessee to Texas in the year 1854, coming with the family of his father-in-law, bringing with them equipment, livestock and slaves, and settled in Bastrop County on a large tract of land which he had purchased. "Randolph Walker donated the land for the erection of a church and for a cemetery now know as Ridgeway community. "James Sowell served in the Confederate Army, in Green's Brigade of Texas, from 1860-1864, returning to his home after the war, broken in spirit, to find his worldly goods dissipated and his family in poor circumstances. He set about the rebuilding of his fortune, experimenting insurmountable obstacles during the reconstruction days. I remember him in my childhood as a heart-broken, brooding man, who never recovered from the effects of the war. "John P. Sowell, son of James Sowell and Sarah Coleman Walker Sowell, was married to Osceola Keele, daughter of John Wesley Keele and Mary Goode Keele, on December 30, 1886. "To this union were born seven children, all boys, two of whom died in infancy. Those who lived to maturity are Earnest Nathaniel Sowell, born September 18, 1890; Horace Wesley Sowell, born December 5, 1892; Calvin Lester Sowell, born February 8, 1896; Curtis Howard Sowell, born February 28, 1899; and Grady Emerson Sowell, born January 19, 1908."
Early Seawells (Sowells) and Methodism
[The following is taken from an extract from a paper requested by Rev. Edward Hill Davis, for use upon the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Methodist Conference in North Carolina, April 2, 1785, in the home of Green Hill and Mary Seawell, near Louisville, North Carolina].
"Few families having their origin in the early history of Virginia and North Carolina have been more ardent adherents to the Methodist church, from the days of the Wesleys to the present, than the desccendants of Col. Benjamin Seawell, sr., and his good wife, Lucy Hicks. It is said that several of their six daughters married Methodist ministers, the best known one being the husband of Sallie Seawell (Sowell), Rev. John King, known to have been one of the four evangelists sent out by John Wesley in 1770" (Seawell 3). Seawell goes on to say that Col.Benjamin Seawell, sr., distinguised himself "as an officer in the Revolutionary War, and in affairs of state,' and that"at least one of his four sons Rev. John Seawell (Sowell) was known to have accompanied Bishop Asbury to their pioneer missions in Kentucky in 1790. It is probable that through the hardships of such service he developed tuberculosis which caused his death in 1804. It was upon the occasion of his death that I have the following traditional story:' The physician in attendance at the time of his death was said to be not a Christian, and when about to leave the bedside was called back by the minister who remarked, "Stay, doctor, and see a Christian die.' The physician was impressed." Why the families spelled their name Seawell and Seawell in the same state at the same period is unknown; however, the evidence clearly shows that the families were related. The Seawells were from Bute County (now Warren and Franklin Counties), and the Sowells from Bertie County, North Carolina.
The Will of Benjamin Seawell, Sr.(1778)
In the name of God, Amen. I, Benjamin Seawell of Bute County in the State of North Carolina, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and sound memory, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows (to wit). Imprimus, I give unto almighty God my soul who gave it to me hoping through the merrits of a Crucified Jesus to obtain forgiveness of my sins and a blessed resurrection, and my body I leave to be decently buried at the Direction of Executors, and as to my worldly goods which it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I give and bequeath as follows, Vis: Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Seawell one negro man named Pompey to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give to my son Thomas Seawell the tract of land I now live on, containing three hundred and seventy-five acres to be more or less the same to him and his heirs forever, also I given unto my son Thomas Seawell, one negro boy named Frank and one negro man named Lancaster, which said negro Lancaster my son is not to have in possession untill my wife's death or marriage, the same to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give unto my Daughter Mary Hill one negro No. p. Woman named Anakee and her children, Peggy and Fanny and their future increase to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give unto my Daughter Salley King, one negro woman named Beck and her children Abraham and Peter and their future increase, the same to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Mabry one negro woman named Venus with her increase as also one hundred pounds Curt. money in Virginia the same to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give unto my Daughter Nancy Seawell one negro girl named Phillis with her future increase and also one hundred pounds currant money of Virginia, the same to her andher heirs forever. Item: I give unto my Daughter Rebecca Seawell, one negro girl named Nanny and one negro boy named Nero, with their increase the same to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mildred Seawell, one negro girl named Amy and one negro girl named Suckey and their future increase to her and her heirs forever. Item:My will and desire is that my negro's Brandon and Cloe be sold to pay my debts and to raisde the money legacies I give above. Item: My will and desire is that my beloved wife Lucy Seawell have the use of the plantation I now live on during her life, also the use of the following negroes, Vis.: Mingo, Lancaster and Cote, also the use of all my horses except my Mark Anthony colt, also all my stock of cattle, sheep, hogs, and house hold furniture of all kinds, as also the use of my still during her life. Item: My will and desire is that if my son Thomas Seawell should die before he arrives at the age of twenty-one years or without lawful issue or unmarried, that then all the estate devised as above to my said son Thomas Seawell (after my wife's death) be it of what kind or quality so ever be sold at the best price, and the money arising from such sale be equally divided among all my children and their representatives. Item: My will and desire is that if either of my daughters should die before they arrive at the age of twenty-one years, or unmarried, that then my will is that, that part of my estate as is devised to the deceasedone's shall be sold (after my wife's death) and the money arising from such sale be equally divided among my surviving children or their representatives. Item: I will and bequeath to my son Thomas Seawell (after my wife's death) my still, and it is still my will and desire, that if my son Thomas should want to settle himself before the death of my wife that he have the privilege of settling on any part of the land I've given to him except what shall be inclosed in the plantation. Item: My will and desire is that after my wife's decease, all my estate I've lent her, except what I have given already, be sold and the money arising by such sale be equally divided among all my children or their representatives. Item: My wil and desire is that if my beloved wife shall die before my two children Thomas Seawell or Mildred Seawell come of full that it is my desirethat my Executors do appropriate so mcu of my estate as they sahll think sufficient to board, clothe, and school my two children Thomas and Mildred, but this is not to extend to any legacy given to any of my children. Item: I give to my son Thomas Seawell my desk and book case. Item: Lastly I do appoint my two sonsBenjamin Seawell, Joseph Seawell and my son in law Green Hill the Executors of this my last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eight day of August one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight. Benja. Seawell (SEAL).
Richard Sowell, Jr. Children: 1) *Richard Sowell III, 2) John, 3) Obediah. *Direct ancestor of the author.
Richard Sowell is my next grandfather. Some dispute exists as to whether he is the son of Richard I, or Charles' son Richard. Several sources place him as Richard, Jr., the son of Richard, Sr., who had sons Richard III, John , and Obediah (Personal letters of Mary S. Hays). The decision to place Richard, Jr., as the next ancestor rather than Charles' son Richard rests upon the next direct heir, whose name is John Sowell. It is John who in his will of 1750 names Richard Sowell as his father. Chalres Sowell did not have Richard I, or another brother such as Thomas, who could have had a son by that name. The age of Richard also weighs in favor of Richard, Jr. Also, in April 1737, Obediah Sowell purchased land adjoining Richard Sowell, Jr., and Charles Sowell (Bertie, E, Entry 246). This could indicate that they were cousins. The other alternative is that John was descended from Charles, Richard, Sr.'s son. In any event, Richard Sowell, Sr., is my first verifiable grandfather.
On April 7, 1742, John Sowell served as witness to a land transaction between Thomas Parker and John Freeman involving 290 acres "in St. John's Neck at Cypress Swamp near Tumbling Branch at Chinkapin Swamp on Femure Branch" (Bertie, F, Entry 353). On July 26, 1747, John Mizell paid John Sowell eight pounds for ten acres (Bertie, G, 43). On March 23, 1746, Lewis Sowell, yeoman, of Johnston County paid James Burruss "70 pounds" for 200 acres "near the River Pocoson" at Horse Swamp adjoining Obediah Sowell (Bertie, G, 81).
On February 9, 1747, John Weston sold to William Sloper "230 Acres on Bear Swamp adjoining Thomas Sowell, Dec'd., Jacob Keel, and Obediah Sowell (Bertie, G, Entry 88). A 1757 Bertie County Tax List shows an Obadiah Sowell, Isaac Sowell, and Obadiah Sowell, Jr., in the same household (" 1757 Tax List of Bertie County." The North Carolinan: A Quarterly Journal of Genealogy and History, ed. by William Perry Johnson, IV. Dec., 1958. p. 495). Evidence suggests that Obadiah was a grandson of Richard Sowell I., though unconfirmed. Richard Sowell, Jr., also had a son Richard whose will of July 5, 1751 names John and Obediah Sowell as executors. An abstract of the will reads as follows: "Richard Sowell, Bertie County. July 5, 1751. August Court, 1751. Sons: Richard, Aaron ("my manner plantation"). Wife: Martha. Executors: John and Obediah Sowell. Witnesses: Eleazar Quimby, Aaron Oliver, William Bennet. Clerk of the Court: Saml. Ormes" (Abstractsof North Carolina Wills, 1690-1760, p. 353).
In Obadiah Sowell, Sr.'s will of November 22, 1802, helists the following children: Obadiah, Jr.; Ezekiel; Mary; Sarah; Nancy; Winifred; John; and Isaac (Abstracts of Bertie County Wills. October 1901. II. p. 546). On June 19, 1805, Winifred married George Allen in Bertie County. On December 9, 1802, Nancy married Absolum Chappel. On July 21, 1800, Sarah married Jonathan Cowand. Ezekiel was present at all three ceremonies. On December 1794, Mary married Joseph Moore. Sarah is also listed as having married James Henry on January 22, 1808; and Winifred is also listed as having married Jeremiah Mizell on March 11, 1807. A William Sowell's name appears in conjunction with many of these ceremonies; however, no connection has been established (Marriages of Bertie County , North Carolina: 1762-1868, compiled by Raymon Parker Fouts. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, Incorporated, 1982 pages 1, 21, 27, 46, 68, 70, 81).
Isaac Sowell died in General Greene's camp in SOuth Carolina in Continental Service, according to a petition for a military land grant signed by his son John Sowell of Moore County. The muster roll showed Isaac deserted, but Moore County affidavits of 3 December 1806 by Neill McLeod and Thomas Graham, John McLeod of Montmery County "say Isaac died in the General Hospital and was buried on Ashley Hill in South Carolina." Hector McNeill of Moore County swore Isaac was a private in the 2nd Battalion ain the Company of Elijah Moore and saw him in the hospital and the place where he was buried. Petition was brought before House and Senate on 5 December 1806 ("Revolutionary War Claims: Abstracts from the Delamar Transcripts," compiled by Jo White Linna. North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, edited by Ransom McBride, VI. North Carolina Genealogical Society, August 1980, p. 177). In 1806, the "heirs of John Sowell received 640 acres for Isaac's services in the Revolutionary War ("North Carolina Revolutionary Military Papers." The North Carolinian: A Quarterly Journal of Genealogy and History, edited by William Perry Johnson. VII. December 1961. p. 894).
On July 6, 1751, Richard Sowell, yeoman, sold to James Jordan, "Cuper," eighty acfres of land "in White oak Swamp at Mill Branch adj. Obadiah Sowell." Witnesses included Eleazar Quimby and Aaron Oliver (Bertie Deeds, Book G, Entry 379). On September 10, 1753, William Weston and wife Sarah of Chowan County sold to John Sowell for sixty pounds "230 acres of Land on E. S. Loosing Swamp" (Bertie Deeds, Book H, Entry 62). An inventory of the personal estate of Charles Sowell of Bertie County, 1805, lists the following individuals: Martha Sowell, Hetty Sowell, Priscilla Sowell, and John Sowell. Also three Negro slaves named Nancy, Frank, and Jeffrey were given to Hetty, Patsy, and Priscilla Sowell, respectively. The slaves were valued at $337.10. This was July 13, 1805. The following document was included in the estate record:
"State of North Carolina . "Know all Men by these Presents. That we John Sowell, George Outlaw, and David Prudden are held and firmly bound unto David Stone, John Mhoones (?), and Joseph Easton, Esquires, and the rest of the Justices assigned to keep the peace for Bertie county, in full and just sum of One Thousand pounds, to the which payment well and truly to be made, we bind outselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this 13th day of May 1805.
"Whereas the above bounden John Sowell hath been this day, by the worshipful court of said county appointed guardian to Mihitiblo--orphan of Charles Sowell deceased. Now the condition of the above obligation is such, that if the said John Sowell guardian as aforesaid, shall well and truly discharge his saidguardianship, by taking care of and improving all the estate belonging to the said orphan, and shall also fettle . . . the court of said county, as is required by law; and that he will be the said Mihitiblo Sowell orphan, as . . . he shall attain lawful age, all such estate as he ought of right to be possessed of, or sooner if required, agreeable to the true intent and meaning of the act of the General Assembly in such case made and provided; then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of George Gray, John Sowell, George Outlaw, and D. Prudden."
Generation III John Sowell,Sr., married Ann. Children: John, Jr., *James, Francis, Mary, Elizabeth, Feriby, Ann. *Direct ancestor of author.
On July 16, 1757, James Ward paid John Sowell, laborer, fifty pounds for "230 acres" left to him from his deceased father John Sowell, Sr. The property was "on E. S. Loosing Swamp" (Bertie Deeds, Book H, Entry 447). John Sowell, Sr.'s will of 1750 includes the following: "I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son, John Sowell all my land and Plantation where on I now live and one cow and calf, two sows and pigs, and one buchanear gun. Likewise a legise left to him by his grandfather Richard Sowell, a legise of ten pounds 10 shillings and 4 pence Virginia Currency to be delivered to him when he comes of age" (Bertie Deeds, Will of John Sowell). In his will, John also names his wife Ann; sons John, James, Francis, and daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Feriby, and Ann. The will was probated February 1755 (Will of John Sowell).I
Will of John Sowell-1750. "In the name of God, Amen. March the Twenty-Eighth Day 1750. I John Sowell of the County of Bertie in the Province of North Carolina, Being Very Sick and weak in Body, But of Sound and Perfect Memory, Blessed be God for the Same, and Calling to rememberance to unsertain Estate of this transitory Life and that all flesh must yeald unto Death when it Shall Please God to Call, Do Make, Ordain, and Declare this my Last Will and Testament, Renouncing and making Null and Void all other will or wills, Testament or Testaments by me here to fore made or Declared Either by word or Righting, and this only to be taken for my Last will and Testament andno other, and first being Penitent and Sorry from the bottom of my heart for all my Sins Past, Humbly Beging Pardon Through our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ in Love and Sertain Hope of the Resurrection athe Last Day and my Body to be Buried in Such Christian Like Burial as Shall Please my Executors hereafter named to appoint; and my first will and Pleasure is that all Such Debts and Duties that I in Rights and Conscience owe to any manner of Person or Persons whatsoever be Duly Contented and ---in Convenient time after my Decease by my Executors hereafter named, and now as touching Such worldly Estate as it hath Pleased Almighty God far above my deserves to bestow upon me, I Do and of Give and Dispose of the Same in manner and form as following:
"Item: I will and bequeath unto my well beloved Son John Sowell all my Land and Plantation whereon I now Live, and one Cow and Calf, two Sows and Pigs, and one Buchanear Gun, Likewise a Legise Left to him By his Grandfather Richard Sowell, a Legise of lTen Pounds, Ten Shillings and Four Pence, Virginia Currency to be Delivered to him when he comes of age, all and Every of his articles above written to him and his heirs forever.
"Item: I will and bequeath unto my well beloved son James Sowell my Negro boy Robin and one Steel Trap, one Cow and Calf, and one Set of Cupper Tuals, one gun, two Sows and Pigs, to be Delivered to him when he Come of Age, all and every of the Articles above written to him and his heirs forever.
"Item: I will and Bequeath unto my well beloved Son Francis SowellTwelve Pounds of Virginia Currency money to be paid out of the Estate, and one Cow and Calf, and two Sows and Pigs, and one Case of bottles and one gun, and a Set of Showmakers Tuals and a Steel trap to be Delivered to him when he Comes of age, all and Every of the articles above written to him and his heirs forever.
"Item: I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife the best Bed and Furniture, and Likewise, a mare to be at her Disposing.
"Item: My will and Pleasure is that the Rest of my Estate after all Charges is Paid to be Equally Divided Between my Beloved wife Ann Sowell and my four Daughters , my beloved wife having her first Choice, and further, I Desire that my four Daughters may have gtheir Portion Delivered to them when they Come to the afe of fourteen years old--
"Item: Lastly, I nominate, ordain, and appoint mywell beloved wife Ann and my beloved friend James Jones to be my --and sole Elxecutors to See this my Last will and Testament Duly Performed. John Sowell." This will is most significant because it links Richard Sowell to his grandson John Sowell.
John Sowell, Jr., and Charles' son Lewis moved to Montgomery County, North Carolina, as recorded in the "Montgomery Co., N.C. Voter List for 1779" ("Montgomery Co., N.C. Voter List for 1779," compiled by Miles Philback. North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, edited by Ransom McBride, X, North Carolina Genealogical Society. February 1984. pp. 44-46). Land entries from 1779-1795 also show that Charles Sowell moved there and owned 100 acres ("Montgomery County Land Entries." Journal of North Carolina Genealogy, edited by William Perry Johnsonj, XI, Summer 1965. p. 1479).
The Tennessee Sowells Who Later Moved to South Texas. In 1900 Texas Ranger and historian A. J.Sowell wrote an interesting account of the Sowells in early America in the following passages. . According to Sowell, "The descendants of John Sowell, Jr., moved to Tennessee, and from there to Texas in 1829 (A. J. Sowell's Early Settlers and Indian Fighters of Southwest Texas. Austin: B. C. Jones and Co., 1900. p. 791). "The name of Sowell, or Sewell proper, is of Celtic origin, and originated in the highlands of Scotland many centuries ago. In the Scottish war against King Edward they followed the fortunes of Sir William Wallace, and when he was taken and executed they espoused the cause in a humble way as private soldiers) of Robert the Bruce, and helped to retain the crown to him on the bloody field of Bannockburn. When Oliver Cromwell broke up the British Parliament and raised an army to oppose King Charles, the Scottish Sewells joined his standard, and seven of them distinguished themselves in the charge of the highlanders at the great battle of Lynn.
"They came to the colonies of America at an early day, and two brothers settled on the Yadkin River in North Carolina, and their descendants moved to Virginia and Tennessee. The Virginians retained the original name of Sewell, while the Tennesseeans, by some cause, in after years spelled it Sowell. When the war of the Revolution broke out in 1776 our branch of the family were in North Carolina, and many of them joined the army of Washington. John Sowell, the great-grandfather of the writer, was severely beaten by the Tories on account of a speech he made on one occasion at a country schoolhouse, in which he denounced them in most bitter terms." It is interesting to note that this is also the area where Richard Sowell's sons lived. Daniel Boone also was born and grew up in the Yadkin Valley.
A. J. Sowell continues, "We were also related to the Champes of Virginia, one of whom, John Champe, was a noted patriot soldier and warm friend of "Light Horse" Harry Lee, under whom he served. On one occasion Champe penetrated the British lines and undertook to capture Benedict Arnold after his treason and bring him back to the American lines, but failed on account of a violent storm which set in just as he had all of his plans laid.
"John Sowell, grandfather of the writer [A. J. Sowell], was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, and when the war of 1812 broke out joind the army of Gen. Andrew jackson and fought the indians at the 'Horseshoe Bend.' There were many other Sowells in the army, one of whom, Shadrach, a powerful man physically, with long arms, killed three Indians with his clubbed rifle at the breastwork of logs. William and louis were both killed in battle with the Indians, the latter at Mackinaw island and William under General Harrison, probably at tippecanoe, for many of the Sowells fought in that battle. Joe Sowell, a captain in rangers, was killed in a fight with Indians in Fanin County, Texas, and his son John captured by the Indians and kept three years.
" When the army of General Jackson went to New Orleans, grandfather John and others of the connection went with it and fought in the battle there. Grandfather was a gunsmith and mad thirty rifles to arm a Tennessee company, and they were used at New Orleans.
" My father, Asa J. L. Sowell, was born in Davidson County, Tennessee, in 1821, near the home of General Jackson, called 'The Hermitage.' Also, four of my uncles were born there--Andrew Jackson, William, Lewis, and John. Andrew was the oldest and was named by the wife of General Jackson after her distinguished husband, who was a warm friend of our family. I was named for my uncle, and have nephews named for me. My father's middle name was Lee, named for 'Light Horse' Harry Lee, who was the father of Robert E. Lee, the great leader of the armies of the Confederacy in the Civil War.
"From Tennessee grandfather moved to Missouri, and from there to Texas as part of the colonists of Green De Witt, arriving at Gonzales , Texas in 1829. Here he put up a shop and made and mended guns, and also made a knife for James Bowie, which took his name.
"When the Texas revolution broke out in 1835 and the battle of Gonzales was fought, grandfather made slugs of bits of iron to load the cannon with. His sons, Andrew, William, Lewis, and John, were in the fight, my father being too young to go. In the war with Mexico and the Indians Andrew became a noted scout and trailer, and was a companion of 'Kit' Carson, with whom he swapped hats on one occasion. He served under Hays, Burleson, Caldwell, McCulloch, Mason, and Calahan, and was in the battles of Gonzales, Plum Creek, Blanco, Sabinal, Nueces, Mission Concepcion, Powder House, Grass Fight, Council House, and Salado. In the Civil War, he served in the Confederate army.
"The Sowell league was located in the bend of the Guadalupe River below the present town of Seguin, and they helped to build that place in 1838. My father served as a ranger under Hays, McCulloch, and Calahan, and was the orderly sergeant of Capt. Henry McCulloch's company. He was the first disgtrict clerk of Guadalupe Conty, and afterwards at various times held every office in the county,--assessor, sheriff, mayor, county judge, etc" (A. J. Sowell. pp. 789-794).
In Bill Groneman's Alamo Defenders, A Genealogy: The People and Their Words, published by Eakin Press, 1990, page 105, the following passage describes Andrew J. Sowell's participation in the Texas Revolution: "Sowell took part in the fight for the Gonzales cannon, the battle of Concepcion, and the Grass Fight. Sometime during the siege of the Alamo, he and Byrd Lockhart were ordered out to obtain supplies for the garrison. They were delayed in Gonzales, trying to buy cattle and supplies, and did no return before its fall. Sowell left the Alamo so close to the time of the final battle that, for a time, it was believed he died there. His name was entered on the first Alamo monument." Other Sowell branches settled in different parts of Central Texas, one in Madison County, and another in Bosque.
By 1784, Aaron Sowell who was Richard Sowell III's grandson owned 344 acres in Hertford County, North Carolina. Obadiah Sowell, son of either Thomas deceased or Richard Jr., owned 200 acres in Hertford, while a Demcey Sowell is also listed there ( "Hertford County, N. C. Tax List of 1784," abstracted by Ransom McBride, North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, edited by Ransom McBride, IX, August 1983, pp. 134-135).
Geographically, northeastern North Carolina was originally known as Albemarle, after the Lord to whom King Charles II granted the property in 1663. Chowan was created from Albemarle in 1670, and later Bertie was formed from Chowan in 1722. A portion of Hertford County was creagted from northern Bertie in 1759, while Montgomery County was formed from Anson County in 1779. Thus, Sowells lived in all of these counbties which were forming at the time (Everton, George B., Sr., The Handy Book for Genealogists. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, Inc., 1981, pp. d212-215).
On July 28, 1758, John Lassitor, son of Ann Lassitor, became indentured to Richard Sowell, Cooper (barrelmaker). John was "about the age of Seven years" at the time. An indenture "placed the child under a master tutelage" and obligated "the master to answer to local authorities" ("North Carolina Apprentice Indentures Through 1850, Part 3," compiled by Raymond A. Winslow, Jr., North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, edited by Raymond A. WInslow, Jr., XIII. North Carolina Genealogical Society, August 1987, p. 170). A deed of January 5, 1751 shows Aaron Lasetor selling to William Lasetor100 acres of "Land at mouth of Chinkapin Branch at Mill Creek Adjoining Richard Sowell" (Bertie Deed, Book G, Entry 437). In fact, a Bertie County Tax List for 1768 shows Richard Sowell, William Keil, and John Lasitor in the same household. As a matter of fact, young John Lassitor's mother Anne married Eleazar Quimby, who died in Bertie fdaround 1761, and whose daughter Mary Quimby married Isaac Sowell, the Revolutionary War veteran, around 1760. This information comes from 1) Conversations with Clifford WIlson, July 1990; 2) Correspondences of Mrs. Ione Sowell Blake and Clark Anderson, Jr., provided by Mary Sowell Hays, July 1990; 3) Index of North Carolina Ancestors. Raleigh: North Carolina Genealogical Society , 1981. Book I, p. 183). According to family tradition, Isaac and Mary's son John had sons who left Moore County, North Carolina, and later settled in Hall County, Georgia, hence another area where a branch of Richard Sowell's descendents settled(Correspondences of Mrs. Ione Sowell Blake, Clark Anderson,Jr.; information from the files of Eva Cole, provided by Mary Sowell Hays, July 1990).
OnJanuary 20, 1759, Charles Sowell served on a jury at an inquest which determined that Thomas Johnson "Through the Violence of Cold and having Licquor in him Came by his death." Richard Sowell later served as a juror on two inquests inwhich igt was determined that Hannah Hooker "drowned herself in the well at 2:00 p.m." and that Benjamin Evans "Came by some Casual Death unknown to the jury." This was on January 31 and February 1, 1760, respectively. This information was taken from "North Carolina Colonial Coroners' Inquests, 1738-1775," compiled by Haywood Roebuck, North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, edeited by George Stevenson, Book I, North Carolina Genealogical Society, January 1975, pp. 15-16.
On October 9, 1769, approximately 260 citizens of Anson County, North Carolina signed a petition of grievances to be submitted before the King. Among those signing were John, William, Samuel, Charles, and Lewis Sowell. Persons affixing their names to petitions during this p[re-Revolutionary period were demonstrating considerable couragebefore a monarch, since tensions throughout all of the colonies had continued to increase, and it was now only four years before the firing of the first shot at Lexington. These Sowells were all frelatives of Richard Sowell, Sr. The following grievances were presented as causes of oppression: 1) disproportionate taxes, 2) no prescribed method for payment of taxes, 3) exorbitant fees charged by unscrupulous lawyers, clerks, and petitioners, 4) unfair trial locations, at the discretion of spiteful and malevolent lawyers, 5) unlawful fees collected on indictments, 6) extortion by dishonest lawyers and clerks, and 7) willful violation of the law by the King's delegates. A series of recommended corrections were also included in the document, the last of which being the following: "That Doctr. Benjamin Franklin or some other known parriot be appointed Agent, to represent the unhappy state of this Parovince to his Majestya, and to solicit the several Boards in England" (Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, compiled by Stephen B. Weeks, VIII, Raleigh, North Carolina: E. M. Uzzel and Co., 1914. pp. 75-80).
Richard Sowell descendents moved from Bertie County, North Carolina to Kershaw County, South Carolina around 1790.
Generation IV. John Sowell married Sarah Baker.Children: James, Sarah, Susannah, Levi, *John. Worley. *Direct ancestor of author. John Sowell, Sr.'s son James is listed on the Bertie County, North Carolina Tax List fort 1768, along with Richard, Jr., Charles, Francis, and James Sowell, all as heads of separate households. James is also listed as constable, while Charles and James each had a male Negro slave sixteen years or older ("Bertie Co., N. C. Tax List 1768," compiled by Alan Watson, North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, edited by Ransom McBride, V,. North Carolina Genealogical Society,a November 1979. pp. 231-235). James maried Sarah Baker, and to them were born James, Levi, John, Worley, Sarah, and Susannah (Keshaw County, South Carolina Deeds, Book G, p. 70; hence referred to as Kershaw Deeds). North Carolina Governor Richard Caswell awarded James Sowell, Sr., a grant of 130 acres for his service inthe American Revolution (Bertie Deeds, Book N, File 914. p. 108). This particular James is the author's great-great-great grandfather. James lived in Bertie until around 1790, when he and his family moved to Kershaw County, South Carolina. On March 23, 1789, Jesse Minton sold James one thousand acres "in Camden District, State of South Carolina," and "lying on Big and Little Lynches Creek, in the fork and on the drains of Big Lynches Creek" (Kershaw Deeds). According to the Keshaw County Court minutes 1791-1799, James Sowell served on grand juries in February and August 1796. On February 11, 1796, the Kershaw Court "Ordered that James Sowell be feceived as Security and Enter into a bond for the due administration of Meldridge Evans as Adminstgrator of the Estate of William Evans inthe place of Paul Smith one of the Securities (Keershaw County, South Carolina: Minutes of the County Court, 1791-1799, compiled by Brent Howard Holcomb. Brent Howard Holcomb publisher, 1986. pp. 85-97). On October 9, 1801, James Sowell sold hjis son John 100 acres "on both sides of Little Lynches Creek near the fork thereof." John paid his father twenty-five pounds for the property" (Kershaw Deeds, Book D, p. 97).
In 1807, James Sowell died.his son and my next direct ancestor John Sowell served with John Webb as adminisgrators of James, Sr.'s estate. This document was dated October 25, 1807 (Kershaw County Adminstrative Bond for James Sowell, dated December 5, 1807). An administrative bond dated December 5, 1807 reads as follows: "Know all men by these presents. That we John Sowell and Abraham Gallaway, and John Webb are holden and firmly bound unto Isaac Alexander Esquire; for the district of Kershaw in full and just sum of tgwo thousand dollars lawful money of this state, to be paid to the said Isaac Alexander, or to his successors, ordinaries of this district, or their certain attorney or assigns (Kershaw Deeds). In a deed of January 2, 1808, James' wife Sarah sells a certain "Tract of land" earlier promised to daughter Sarah Sowell and husband Solomon Asbell for ten dollars. The document names Jame, Sr.'s children and their spouses, as follows: "Be it remembered that on the Second day of January, One Thousand Eight Hundfred and Eight, personally appeared and made oath on the Holy Evangelists that he did see Sarah Sowell, the wife of James Sowell, deceased, John Sowell and Nancy his wife, Levy Sowell and Gilly his wife, James Sowell, Worley Sowell and Penny his wife, sign the within deed for the purpose within mentioned and also did see Thomas Avery subscribe his name to the within deed" (Kershaw Deeds Book G, p. 70).
Richard Sowell Descendents move from Kershaw County, South Carolina to Madison County, Texas. The son Levi Sowell andhis wife Gilly listed in James, Sr.'s will lived in Kershaw County, South Carolina until Levi's death on December 3, 1851. Levi's son James Russell Sowell had nine children, whose names are as follows:Lewis, King, William,Gilliam, Levi, James Russell, John Nelson, Biddy Ann, and Gilly Ann ( Mary Sowell Hays and Carolyn E. Sowell. A History of the John Alexander and Laura Hilton Sowell Family. Carolyn E. Sowell, publisher, 1973, p. 4). Levi and Gilly's son James Russell (born 1818) had sons John Alexander and James Wiley who fought in the Confederacy. After their father's death sometime before 1884, both James and John moved to Madison County, Texas, where many of their descendents still reside. Each year the Sowell descendents hold a family reunion in Madisonville, Texas.
The children of Worley Sowell, son of James Sowell, Sr., included William, Jane, Elizabeth, Polly, Susy Ann, and Josiah Sowell (Hays, pp. 4-5; Kershaw Deeds and Wills, Book 1, p. 298, taken from files of Mary S. Hays, from correspondence with Mrs. Winifred I. Blake and Mrs. Harold Fundeberke). The following is a copy of Worley's will, recorded December 18, 1822: "In the name of God, Amen. I Worley Sowell of the district of Kershaw in the state aforesaid, Planter, being sick and weak inbody, but of sound mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in the form and manner following, that is to say. First I will that my dead body may be interred in a decent but plain and Christian like manner, at the discretion of my surviving friends and relations: And as for my worldly estate, I will and desire that it should be disposed of in the form and manner which follows to wit,--I will that such part or parts of my personal or perishable property may by my executors herein after named be thought not necessary for the advantage of my family if kept on hand, should be my executorsbe sold at vendue in such a way as may seem most advantageous and suitable; and out of the proceeds of the same, all such debts or charges as my family or estate may be found subject to be discharged. After this, it is my will that such part or parts of my personal estate as may be with held from sale as above pointed out, may remain on my plantation and my beloved and children to continue on my plantation as a family and enjoy the use and benefit of my estate in common, until my youngest child which may live to the age of twenty-one years or marrying younger, should arrive at that age or marriage; when, and at which time, I will and desire that such three, or five good men, as my executors,or the curt of equity lawful and equitable distribution of all my estate, real and personal, as it shall then stand; amongst my beloved wife and children, as to those three or five good men shall seem good and equitable. Lastly I appoint and constitute my beloved wife Penelope Sowell to be the executrix, and my friend and neighbor Lorick Young to be the executor of this my last will and testament, trusting and confiding in them as such and believing that they will carry into execution this my last will according to the true intent and meaning of the same. And I do hereby revoke and declare void , all or any other will or wills, by me heretofore made, declaring and publishing, this to be my true and only last will and Testament. In Witness whereof, I have here unto set my hand and seal, this twenty fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two; and in the forty-seventh year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America, within the presence and observation of gthe undernamed Witnesses. Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of each other, have here unto subscribed our names as witnesses to the same. Worley Sowell, John Webb, Demsey Blount, Abraham Lamb."
The following was recorded in the Kershaw County Books of Annual Returns, from the Estate of Worley Sowell, February 1840: "I William Sowell of Henry County, Alabama, one of the heirs of Worley Sowell, deceased, and also the authorized attorney and agent of my three sisters, Elizabeth Sowell, Polly Sowell, and Susy Ann Sowell, and my brother Josiah Sowell---the five of us, being all the heirs of the said deceased,---do hereby approve the within settlement, and do hereby acknowledge receipt of L. Young's made for the within state Balance due Estate, of Three hundred and thirty five dollars and 3/4 cts., in full satisfaction of all demands of us, the above named heirs, against the said Lovick Young, the Executor of our said father's last will and testament. Witness my hand, this 19th January, 1842. William Sowell, Attorney; John N. Sowell, Test." This document traces the descendents of of Richard Sowell from Kershaw County , South Carolina to Henry County, Alabama, where they lived for several years.
Jane Sowell, Worley's daughter, died earlier in 1836, at the home of Levi Sowell who took care of her, as testified by Levi: "On the 13th of March, 1836, Miss jane Sowell, the daughter of Worley Sowell, dec'd, died in my house after being afflicted about three years of some complaint of the chest, supposed to be consumption of the lungs, during which three years, she was unable to take care of herself, and resided in my family, where she was fed, clothed, and nursed until her death, and for about the last six weeks of her life, she was unable to walk alone.She was thirty years of age. Levi Sowell, 1837."
The following power of attorney shows that Worley's children lived in Henry County, Alabama, along with the family of John Sowell, direct ancestor of the author.
"State of Alabama, County of Henry. Know all men by these presents, That we, Elizabeth Sowell, Polly Sowell, Susy Ann Sowell and Josiah Sowell, all of Henry County and State of Alabama, do hereby ordain, constitute, and appropriate our Brother William Sowell, our true and Lawful Attorney--for us and in our names to ask, demand, sue for, recover . . . other property to us in the District of Kershaw and State of South Carolina . . . December 4, 1841." The justice of the peace was George W. Williams. There were two Worley Sowells; one being the son of James and Sarah Baker Sowell; and the other being the son of Francis and Tamer Bazemore Sowell. Francis and Tamer had the following children: John, William, Josiah, James, and Worley. Francis was the son of John Sowell, Sr.
John Sowell moved from Kershaw County, South Carolina to Henry County, Alabama around 1825. On July 19, 1811, James' son John Sowell bought property from Meredith Honeycutt of Kershaw District. The purchase included a "plantation on a tract of land containing Two Hundred and Fifty acres more or less lying and being on the West sideof Boggy Branch" (Kershaw Deeds, Book F, Entry 335). On January 15, 1819, John Sowell paid James Barnycastle nine hundfred dollars for 459 acres containing "two lots, plantations, or tracts of land contained in two plats lying, situated, and being in on Little Lynches Creek" (Kershaw Deeds, Book H, Entry 421). John Sowell lived in Kershaw County until around 1825, when he sold his property and moved to Henry County, Alabama. The deed of sale for the Kershaw property was signed by John Sowell, witnessed by his wife Nancy (Galaway?), and dated January 26, 1825. John and Nancy (Ann) Sowell lived in Henry County, Alabama, at the time of his death in 1841. In John's will of January 28, he listed his children: Ransom, John, Eliza, James J., Polly, Rebecca, and Sarah.
A copy of the will is as follows, portions of which are illegible: "The State of Alabama, In the name of God, Amen. I John Sowell of the County of Henry and state aforesaid, being of a sound and disposing mind and memory,knowing the uncertainty of life, being desirous of maing an equitableof what worldly Effects it has pleased Almighty God to bestow on me in this life, do make, ordain, and publish this as my last will and testament, hereby revoking all others. Item 1: It is my will and desire that my body be interred in a Christian Like manner, the expenses of which as well as all my Just Debts and the Expenses of my last sickness be paid out of any Effect which I may leave at my Deceased. Item 2: I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Nancy Sowell the following named Negroes, to wit, Sam, Parris, and Nelson, and their increase forever; also during her natural life the Land on which I own here, that is all my Lands lying South of Mill Creek and Nalys Branch; also my young mare; also my household and kitchen Furniture; also Corn fodder and Provisions sufficient to last her and her family through the Season; also three choice cows, 8 calves, and two sows and her pigs. Item 3: I will and bequeath unot my Daughter Sarah Bizzel and to her heirs forever the following Negroes, to wit, Italy and her Children Dock, Herman, Daisy, and Raleigh and their increases forever, which said Negroes my said Daughter Sarah has seen in Possession. Item 4: I will and bequeath unto my daughter Polly McClendon Eighty acres of land on which she now lives; also my Negro girl Hannah and her increases unto her heirs forever. Item 5: I will and bequeath unto my daughter Eliza Williams and to her heirs forever the following Negroes, to wit, Stella, Ellech, Jack, Tom, and Epsey, and their increase forever. Item 6: I will and bequeath unto my son Ransom Sowell the following Negroes, to wit, Cary Rose and her child and Ady and her increase forever. Item 7: I will and bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca Trawick the following Negroes, to wit, Tyger, Mango and Aaron and their increase to their heirs forever. Item 8: I will and bequeath unto my son James J. Sowell the following Negroes, to wit, Dock, Shadrach, and George and their increase forever, also all my lands lying north and northwest of Mill Creek, also the same cow bell. Item 9: I will and bequeath unto my son John Sowell the following Negroes, to wit, Jeff, Nelly, and Isaac and Nelly's child named Mela and their increase forever; also four cows, calves; alosa Doll's youngest filly three years old--Two sows and three pigs; also the tract of land --as given To his mother during her natural life and at her death to be the property of my said son John. Provided however it is my desire that all the property here by given to my son John shall remain with his mother until he marries or he comes of age. Item 10: I will and bequeath and dedsire that all my property not hereto four named and disposed of to be sold and the proceeds thereof and as rule as all the cost andnotes on hand to be equally divided between my wife Nancy Sowell and her children Sarah, Polly, ELiza, Ransom, Rebecca, James J., and John. Item 11: Lastly I hereby nominate and appoint my wife Nancy Sowell my Executor and my son James J. Sowell and George W. Williams my Executors to carry into Effect this my last will and testament. In testimony whereofI have hereunto setmy hand and affixed my seal this 28th day of January A. D. 1841" ( Henry County, Alabama Deeds, Book C, p. 110; hereafter cited as Henry Deeds).
At the time of John Sowell's death in 1841, eldest son Ransom was not living in Alabama but had gone to San Augustine County, Texas, in 1835, where he served in the Army of the Republic of Texas from July 4, 1836 until October 4, 1836. Ransom served as a private in Captain William Scurlock's Company and General T. J. Rusk's Command (Texas Archives , File 388, Nos. 64, 397). Ransom also served as a Mounted Ranger under Captain J. E. Hamilton from July 22, 1839 to Agust 10, 1839. In 1852, Ransom was elected Justice of the Peace for San Augustine County, and then on August 18, 1856, he was elected County Commisioner. Beginning August 30, 1860, Ransom was elected to three successive termsas Chief Justice of San Augustine. Ransom was born April 13, 1808, and died June 2, 1882. He married Martha C. Bullock on Febryuary 11, 1841, in San Augustine County, Texas. To Ransom and Martha were born the following children: Nancy, Eliza Susan, John Jackson, David Bullock, William Tarrington, Sarah, Mary rebecca, Ransom Jr. (Tobe), Martha (Doll), and James Elbert (Family Records and correspondences with Suzanne Sowell in San Augustine County, Texas, in August 1982).
Ransom's brother John was elected Justice of the Peace for San Augustine County on August 4, 1856 (San Augustine County, Texas Election Returns for August 1856, from Texas Archives). The 1860 San Augustine County Census listed the following people in the John Sowell household: John Sowell, farmer, born in South Carolina in 1825; Mary, age 18, born in Alabama; Martha C., age 13, born in Alabama; Ransom, age 12, born in Alabama; Thomas B., age 10, bornin Alabama; John E., age 7, born in Alabama; Patrick H., age 4, born in Texas; George W. W., age 2, born in Texas; and William Galatley, age 76, born in South Carolina. This was probably a misspelling of Galloway, which is presumably John's mother's maiden name ( 1860 San Augustine County Census, Entry 180). Thus, the John Sowell of Alabama who died in 1841 had daughters Sarah, Polly, Eliza, and Rebecca, and sons Ransom, John, and James J. Sowell.
Generation Six: James J. Sowell and wife Millicent Butler. Children: Mary, Susan, Wade Hampton, Jackson Augusta, William Jasper, George Ransom, and Thomas.John Sowell's next oldest son James J. Sowell is the great-grandfather of the author. James J. was born in Kershaw County, South Carolina in 1820, and at the time of his father's death in Alabama in 1841, James J., his mother Nancy Ann, and his brother-in-law George W. Williams served as executors (Will of John Sowell of Henry County, Alabama). In 1849-1850, James J. was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives (History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, compiled by Thomas McAdory Owen, I, 4 volumes; Spartanburg, South Carolina: Reprint Company Publishers, I, 687-688). The 1850 Henry County, Alabama Census also records James J. as a farmer, age thirty, with a wife Eliza Ann, age thirty, also born in Sourht Carolina.Children were Margaret E., age 9; N. A., age 7; Achaca (?), age 5; J. W. three months; and John Wa., three months ( 1850 Henry County, Alabama Census). James J.'s next appearance is in San Augustine County, near his brother Ransom. Family tradition has it that James shot a man in a saloon brawl, and thinking him dead, fled to Texas, where he farmed and taught in a local school.One of his students was Millicent (Millie) Butler, whom he later married on April 26, 1860 (San Augustine County, Texas marriage Records). Millicent was born in Tennessee ion 1839, the daughter of Sarah and Wade Hampton Butler. James and Millicent were living with Sarah Butler at the time of the July 28, 1860 Census, three months after their marriage. Since Millicent's father is not listed as the head of the household for 1860, as he was in the 1850 Census, it is presumed that he had died by this time. In light of this, James J. is the only adult male in the family; the only other male is a fifteen year old named Wade Hampton, after his father. Also living with Sarah Butler, 59, were Mary, 40, and Jane Butler, 17 ( 1860 San Augustine County Census). To James and Millicent were born the following children: Mary (1861-1879), Susan (1864-?), Jackson Augusta (1865-1932), William Jasper (1867-?), George Ransom (1868-1903), Thomas (1869-1892), and Wade Hampton (1871-1875). This information was taken from the 1870 and 1880 San Augustine Census Records. Susan married Frank Perle, and to them were born Jess, Jim, Rhodie, Rubie, Tyne, and Ida Lee. Jasper married Laura Vernice Cox, and to them were born Joseph, Dalton, Hewlett, Tolbert, Oliver, George, Jimmy, Ozene, Toy, Ettie, Ovela, and John. George Ransom had sons Oren and Charley, and Charley had son Dudley (Jackson Augusta Sowell Family Records).
During the Civil War, James J. Sowell was mustered as a private in Captain B. F. Benton's Company, Texas Volunteers at San Augustine, Texas, on July 11, 1861. James J. was 41 years old at the time; he"joined for one year" and served as a membert of Captain John H. Massey's Company of the First Regiment of Texas Volunteers, which subsequently become 2nd Company K, 1st Regiment Texas Infantry. On August 12, 1862, James J. applied for back pay and received $42. 83. His application described him as "born in Kershaw District of the State of South Carolina," at "forty-two years of age." He was "five feet elevent inches" tall, with "light complexion, blue eyes, fair hair, and by occupation . . . a farmer" (Texas Archives, Civil War Records). In 1873 or 1874, James J. died. His sister Eliza Williams of Henry County, Alabama, died about this same time. Eliza's will of December 15, 1874, names James Sowell, Sr.'s children; a portion of Eliza's estate is as follows: "To Hon. John B. Appling, Judge of Probate in and for said County, William A. McClendon, Administrator of the estate of Mrs. Eliza Williams deceased respectfully represents unto your honor that the lands belonging to the estate of said decedent are the following: The NW 1/4 of Sec. 25 T.7. R. 27 lying and Situate in said county and State, and containing 160 acres, known as that portion of the lands formerly belonging to the estate of George W. Williams deceased, which was laid off to his widow said Eliza Williams now deceased as a homestead after the death of George W. Williams. That the heirs and distributors of the said Eliza WIlliams deceased as the following, to wit, The heirs of John Sowell deceased whose names are unknown and all of whom are minors except saqid John Sowell deceased was a brother of said Eliza Williams deceased and did before the said ELiza, James J. Sowell a brother of decfeased over 21 years of age. Ransom Sowell a brother of deceased over 21 years of age; all said parties above named reside in San Augustine County, Texas. Rebecca Trawick, a sister of decedent, over 21 years of age, both of whom reside in Henry County, Alabama, and all of whom are of sound mind to the best of petitioner's information and belief." The document was dated December 15, 1874 (Estate of ELiza Sowell Williams. December 14, 1874). Another daughter of John Sowell was Mary "Polly" Sowell. The following information was taken from Henry's Heritage: A History of Henry County, Alabama, compiled by Dr. Hoyt M. Warren: "Joel Tyson McClendon was married 12 June 1828 in Abbeville, Alabama, to Mary "Polly" Sowell. She parents were born John Sowell and Nancy Ann (believed to be Galloway, yet unconfirmed). They migrated to Henry County, Alabama sometime after 1825. Mary died 5 July 1903 in Henry County, Alabama and was buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery out from Abbeville, Alabama. She received a pension after her husband died for his service in the War of 1812." Their children were Joel Tyson who was born in 1829, and married ALice Weems on August 13, 1848: Alfred S. who was born in 1831 and was " a soldier in the Confederate Army in the 1st Texas Infantry, Company K"; Lucy Ann, who was born in 1848, married first William G. Moore, a Confederate soldier in the 15th Alabama, Company G., who was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga 20 September 1863. Lucy then married Judge Edmund Roach on 20 July 1864. He was probate judge of Geneva, Alabama; Sarah Jane, who was born in 1849, andf married Joseph G. Tally on 11 July 1868; Mary Elizabeth who was born 2 June 1852, and married John W. "Coot" Holland on 30 July 1871; William Augustus who was born 7 August 1844, and married lake Erie Perry on 24 November 1865, died 21 April 1921, and is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Abbevile, Alabama. William Augustus enlisted in the Confederate Army fin the 15th Alabama regiment; he also served under Generals Longstreet and Stonewall Jackson. By the time of the surrender at Appomattox, William had been promoted to First Lieutenant in command of his own company (Henry's Heritage: A History of Henry County, Alabama, compiled by Hoyt W. Warren. Abbeville, Alabama: Henry County Historical Society, 1978. pp. 37-38). This William Augustus McClendon was Eliza Williams,' as well as Sarah, Polly, Rebecca, Ransom, John, and James J.'s nephew. It was William Augustus McClendon who served as adminisgtrator for Eliza's estate. It is also interesting to note that James J. and Alfred S. McClendon served in the same company during the Civil War. As a young man, Jackson helped clear and haul timber by train out of the San Augustine forests, near his Uncle Ransom's home. Sometime in the 1880's, Jackson moved from San Augustine County to Hill County, Texas, where he worked in a pool hall in Towash, near Whitney, Texas. There he was a bouncer. in charge of keeping order in the hall. At about this time, Jackson's brother William Jasper Sowell settled in Hamilton County, around Hico, Texas. The brothers traveled with the Elbert Weeks family by wagon train tro Coryell County, Texas, and from there farther west. On May 6, 1888, Jackson married Mary Mae Cox in Coryell County, at the home of Uncle Elbert Weeks, who also performed the ceremony. Interestingly, brother Jasper married Mary Mae's sister Laura Vernice Cox. Mary and Laura were the daughters of John William and Eliza Tennessee(Keese) Cox. Mary Mae was born May 22, 1868, in Bosque County, Texas, and was one of ten children, whose names are as follows: Louisa Eleanor, born April 12, 1859; John William, Jr., born August 3, 1860; Abraham Lincoln, born December 15, 1863; Matilda Isabell, born July 17, 1866; Mary Mae, born May 22, 1868; Thomas Jefferson, born July 10, 1871; Laura V. Cox, born January 27, 1874; Sowyel Cox, born April 30, 1876; Joseph M. Cox, born September 2, 1879; and Lillard Alice Cox, born April 13, 1883. Mary Mae's father John William Cox, born November 28, 1837, in Clark County, Missouri, came to Texas with his parents and settled in Coryell County, Texas, near the city of Gatesville. He lived there for several year, then moved to Brown County, where he married Eliza Keese in 1859. In that same year, tghe couple moved to San Saba County, during which time John William Cox served as a ranger engaged in protecting the homes of settlers from Indians and outlaws. In 1866, John and his family moved to Lances Chapel, Bosque County, Texas.
Generation VII: Jackson Augusta Sowell married Mary Mae Cox. Childfen: William Lillard, Louisa Eleanor, Jackson Augusta, Jr., Mary Alice, Christa Anne, Elbert Daniel, Millicent Eliza, Thomas Jefferson, Beulah Mae, Martin James, Mattie Olivia, and Luther Edward.
James J.'s son Jackson Augusta Sowell (presumably named for Jackson which as James J.'s middle name, and Augusta, the name of William Augustus McClendon) is the next direct ancestor of the author. Jackson was born September 24, 1865, in San Augustine County, Texas. Since James J. died when Jackson was only eight, the boy, as well as his brothers and sisters, was often cared for by Daniel Busby and Elbert Weeks. Busby married Ransom's daughter Eliza Susan Sowell. Weeks, a minister, married Ransom's daughter Nancy Sowell. Later in life, Jackson named one of his sons Elbert Daniel Sowell, after these two relatives (Personal interview with Christa Anne Sowell; letters from Ira Harvey). To Jackson and Mary Mae were born twelve children, whose names are as follows: William Lillard, born January 10, 1889; Millicent (Millie) Eliza, born January 30, 1890; Louisa Eleanor, born March 28, 1891; Thomas Jefferson, born December 21, 1892; Jackson Augusta, Jr., born March 15, 1894; Beulah Mae, born January 4, 1896; Mary Alice, born January 4, 1898; Martin James, born September 18, 1900; Christa Anne, born October 12, 1902; Mattie Olivia, born October 12, 1904; Elbert Daniel, born December 14, 1907; and Luther Edward, born February 7, 1914. Jackson Augusta (Gus) and Mary Mae first set up housekeeping in Bosque County, Texas. From time to time, Jackson would visit Ransom's family in San Augustine, and their sons would return the visit to see Cousin Gus, as Jackson was called. They would work at picking cotton or harvesting each other's crops. Two of ransom's sons , Ransom, Jr., (or Tobe, as he was called) and David Bullock continued this practice into the early 1920's.
Mary Mae (Cox) Sowell died August 17, 1915. Jackson Augusta died January 18, 1932. Their children, spouses, and grandchildren are listed as follows. 1) William Lillard Sowell married Lula McCommic, and to them were born Jackson, Lorena, Lillard, William, and Douglas. 2) Millicent Eliza maried Charles Franklin, and to them were born Myrtis, Mary, Christine, Vesta Lee, and Charles Augusta. 3) Louisa Eleanor married Bryan J. Moore, and to them were born Merril Wade, Dorothy, and James Evans. 4) Thomas Jefferson married Ivy Rice, and to them were born Juanita, Ruth, Jean, Kenith, and LaRue. 5) Jackson Augusta, Jr., married Mozelle Brooks, and to them were born A. L., Katherine, James, Barbara, and Gene. 6) Beulah died in 1908 of Appendicitis. 7) Mary ALice maried Joe McCommic, and to them were born Joe and Ida A. , 8) Martin James married Alma Jorgenson, and to them was born Marcelle. 9) Christa Anne never married. 10) Mattie olivia married Horace E. Moore. 11) Elbert Daniel married Lola M. Wellborn who died February 1952, and to them were born Bobbie Nell and Mary Jean Virginia. Elbert married Nellie Laverne George. 12) Luther Edward married Ethel Brantley , and to them was born Bryan Edward Sowell, author of this genealogy.
Deed: Richard Sowell to Will Stevines, 1703. Chowan Precinct in the Province of North Carolina. To All Christian People to whom these presence shall come; Know ye that I, Richard Sowell of the Precinct and Province aforesaid, with the free and voluntary consent of Margrit, my wife, for divers good causes and considerations us hereunto moving but more especially for the valuable consideration of Three Pounds Sterling money to us in hand paid by Will Stevines of the same place aforesaid, acknowledging ourselves to be therewith fully satisfied, have bargained, sold, set over and doth by these presents fully possess and confirm unto the aforesaid Will Stevines, his heirs, Exors., Admrs, and assigns, a parcel of land containing a hundred acres by estimation situate and lying, b eing part of a survai of tract of land containing two hundred and ninety acres surveied the 10 day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Two, the said tract of land being on the Sandy Run, runs out of Steping Crick. Now knowe Ye that the Hundred Acres of landsold by me, the said Sowell, to Stevines is the lowermost part of the tract or surevei beginning at a marked poplar adjoining to Jon. White's lineandrunning up the Branch for lengths to a marked poplar standing in the mouth of a small Branch; then to a marked white oak and so by a line of marked trees to a great pine; then turning as the survey directs to the first station. Now know ye that I, the said Richard Sowell, doth warrant and insure the foresaid parcell of land from me, my heirs, to the foresaid Will Stevines and his heirs, Exors., Admrs., and assigns, forever, with all woods, waters, timber, and timber trees standing and laying with all conveniences and privileges and profits thereunto belonging. . . IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I the said Richard Sowell, and Margaret , my wife, hath set our hands and seals this 30th day of November in the year of our Lord 1703."
*For specific stories about my family, please go to Section 72.2 entitled The Legacy.
Works Cited
1) Lothrup Withington. "Virginia Gleanings." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. July 1903. 320-321.
2) Genealogies of Virginia Families, taken from William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, indexed by Judith McGhan. IV. (5 vols.: Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co.,Inc., 380. Hereafter referred to Genealogies of Virginia Families.
3) Compendium of American Genealogy. Frederick Adams Virkus, editor. V. (7 vols.; Chicago: Institute of American Genealogy 1933. 573-574.
4) Genealogies of Virginia Families 380-381.
5) Withington 320-321.
6) Early Child Immigrants to Virginia 1618-1642. Copied from the records of Bridewell Royal Hospital, comp. by Robert Hume (Baltimore: Magna Carta Book Company, 1986), p. 7.
7) Complete Book of Immigrants 1607-1660, com. by Peter Wilson Coldham (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1987) p. 50.
8) Coldham 37.
9) Coldham 160-161.
10) Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1666-1695, abstracted by Nell Marion Nugent, indexed by Claudia B. Grandman (3 volumes) Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1977. Patent Book No. 6, p. 32.
11) Cavaliers and Pioneers. Patent Book No. 7, p. 204.
12) Charters and Constitutions, ii, 1390; Colonial Records of North Carolina, i,102; Coopers Statutes of South Carolina, i, 31; cited in A History of the United States by Edward Channing, Vol. II (New York: Alice Channing and Elizabeth Fuller, 1949), p. 16.
13) E. Kay Kirkham. A Genealogical ands Historical Atlas of the United States of America (Providence, Utah; E. Kay Kirkham, 1980), p. 30.
14) Calendars and State Papers, America and West Indies, 1669-1674, p. 474; Calendars and State Papers, America and West Indies, 1675-1676, pp. 310, 366; cited in Channing , p. 84.
15) Correspondence of Mrs. Nathaniel Bacon, Jr., to her sister, in Virginia Magazine of History, V, 219, cited in Channing, p. 84.
16) Berkeley's Proclamation in Calendars of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1675-1676, p. 391, cited in Channing, p. 16.
17) Colonial Records of North Carolina, i, 175, in Channing, 16.
18) Ibid. p. 15.
19) Calendars of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1669-1674, p. 63; Hening's Statutes, II, 509, cited in Channing, p. 82.
20) Charles Campbell. History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia, p. 275, cited in Channing, pa. 83.
21) Cavaliers and Pioneers. Patent Book No. 7, p. 238.
22) Ibid. p. 226.
23) Cavaliers and Pioneers. Patent Book No. 7. pp. 57-58.
24) Colonial Virginia Abstracts: Northumbria Collectanea, abstracted by Beverly Fleet (29 vs.; Baltimore:Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., XX, 70.
25) Subsequent documentation will be done internally.
***More information is available upon request. If you are interested in this genealogy, please contact me by googling my name and address. I have published a book on this topic with pictures and copies of all the wills I have cited.
I was born seven years before the close of World War II, and my father was born five months before World War I began. His father was born the year Lincoln freed the slaves, and his father was born in 1820, the year of the Missouri Compromise. He later fought under the Confederate flag in Texas, along with his brothers. His father fought under Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, and gave his son the name Jackson after Old Hickory himself. His grandfather fought in American Revolution, and his great -grandfather emigrated to America in 1618, the year before slaves were introduced into the colonies.