Family:Andrew Lowe and Anna Beckenbach (1)

NOTE: There are some researchers that do not believe that the Andrew Lowe that married Anna Maria Beckenbach in Frederick County, Maryland is the same Andrew Lowe that later showed up in Tennessee and later died in Bledsoe County, Tennessee in 1838. Some researchers also believe that Andrew MAY have had a third marriage to a Rebecca (unknown surname), due to the reference of Andrew's daughter Rebecca as "Rebecca Jr." in a record. Since the courthouse in Bledsoe County, Tennessee burnt down in 1908 and contained records since 1808, many of the records of Andrew Lowe's family were undoubtedly destroyed in this fire. There are however court records detaiing a suit brought by Andrew's children against his second wife Amy (Randolph) Lowe that have helped to reconstruct some details of his family. More research is needed to conclusively prove that Andrew Lowe in Frederick County, Maryland (and married Anna Maria Beckenbach) is the same Andrew Lowe that later married Amy Emerine Randolph and died in Bledsoe County, Tennessee in 1838.

Notes on Andrew Lowe's first marriage to Anna Maria Beckenbach:

Andrew R. Lowe married Anna Marie Beckenbach on 7/18/1778 in Fredericktown, Frederick County, Maryland. (Source: Marriage Records of the Reformed Church of Frederick, Maryland). There is conflicting information on Anna Marie's parentage. The book by Edwin Brace and other sources (World Family Tree, Cd#6, Tree #3800, and Ancestry.com tree submitted by PVRadcliff@aol.com) claim that Andrew Lowe married Anna Maria Peckenpaugh, born about 1743-1747 in Eiterbach, Heidelberg, Germany, who was the daughter of Johann Adam2 Beckenbach, II (Johannes1), b. 1682 in Germany, and Anna Maria Schmidt. Other sources claim that she was born on February 17, 1758 in Middleton Valley, Frederick County, Maryland (source: World Family Tree, Cd#3, Tree #1392), the daughter of George Leonhardt Beckenbach , b. Abt. 1730 in Eiterbach, Hesse, Germany and Anna Maria Haverly. George Leonhardt Beckenbach and Johann Adam Beckenbach are listed as sons of Johann Adam Beckenbach, b. December 28, 1682 in Eiterbach, Heidelberg, Baden, Germany, and Anna Maria Schmidt, b. 1686 in Wunschmichelbach, Hesse, Germany (source: Family Tree Maker Home Page: "The John Farley Descendants Home Page" of Cheryl Ann Harnack, P.O. Box 317, Seaside, Oregon 97138, e-mail: prodesgn@aone.com) Anna Marie (Beckenbach) Lowe died in 1822, her will dated November 4, 1822, and probated November 19, 1822, leaving her entire estate to her daughter Catherine Houck, wife of Jacob Houck of Rockingham County, Virginia. Her will stated that: "the income was to be paid to Catherine during her life, and at the time of her death the money was to be divided so that Cyrus Houck would get 2 parts, and each of the other grandchildren 1 part of the equal parts into which the money was to be divided…" Most of the information on the Beckenbach (Peckenpaugh) family is apparently from the book "Peckinpaughs, Pickenpaughs, Beckenbaughs, Peckinpahs, and Peckenpaughs", 1984 Edition. written by Edwin T. & Atha Peckenpaugh Brace. It would appear based upon the evidence to date that Anna Maria was most probably the daughter of Johann Adam Beckenbach, and not George Leonhardt Beckenbach.

Children from first marriage, born in Maryland (source: Steve Rivkin, e-mail: SRivkin742@aol.com):

i. Mary Ann Lowe, b. 1780, Frederick County, Maryland

ii. John Lowe, b. 1782, Frederick County, Maryland. There is a John Lowe listed in the 1850 census in

Bledsoe County, Tennessee, age 70, born Tennessee, with: Elizabeth, age 55, born North Carolina, and  
James 24 (b. 1826), Isaac 19 (b. 1831), Martha 17 (b. 1833).   This is most likely the same John Lowe, more research is necessary.
      
  
        Probable child of John Lowe:

• a. John Lowe, b. abt. 1805, Tennessee, married Sarah ???. John and his family are listed in the 1850

census in Bledsoe County, Tennessee - John, age 45, b. Tennessee; Sarah, age 38, b. Kentucky; and children: Andrew R. 18, John H. 17, Fanny J. 16; Margaret M. 15, Samuel C. 12, James M. 10. It is probable that this John Lowe is the son of John2 Lowe (Andrew R.1), born in Maryland. Based on his age, John2 would have been the only son of Andrew R. Lowe old enough to have been the father of this John Lowe. Also the fact that this John Lowe apparently named his eldest son Andrew R. Lowe (assumed to be named after his grandfather), also adds circumstantial evidence to his placement here. More research is necessary.

iii. Catherine Lowe, b. 1783, Frederick County, Maryland. As listed in her mother's will, Catherine married Jacob Houck of Rockingham County, Virginia.

       Child of  Jacob and Catherine:

a. Cyrus Houck, no further info. b. Other children , no info.

iv. Elizabeth Lowe, b. 1785, Frederick County, Maryland, d. 1789, Frederick County, Maryland

v. George Frederick Lowe, b. 1788, Frederick County, Maryland, d. 1789, Frederick County, Maryland

Andrew Lowe was listed in the 1790 Census in Frederick County, Maryland as follows:

Name of head of family: Lowe, Andrew Free white males of 16 years and upward, including heads of households: 5 Free white males under 16 years: 2 Free white females, including heads of families: 3

Sometime around 1789-1790, the family of Andrew R. Lowe, migrated from Frederick County, Maryland into East Tennessee. According to an article written by Capt. James3 Lowe (Samuel2, Andrew R.1 ), grandson of Andrew R. Lowe written for the Centennial Issue of the "Crossville Chronicle", Andrew R. Lowe, Greenberry Wilson and Reuben L. Brown were "among the first settlers in this whole area". It also stated that all three started their journey from Westmoreland County, Maryland. (note: there is not a Westmoreland County in Maryland; perhaps he was referring to a portion of Franklin County, which we know Andrew was located in from 1778 - 1790). Efforts to locate records on Andrew R. Lowe in Bledsoe County, Tennessee have been hampered by the fact that the county courthouse was burned down in 1908 (Source: "The Handy Book for Genealogists", edited by George B. Everton, Sr., Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah). The children of Andrew and Anna Maria, born in Tennessee, were identified in a lawsuit filed by Andrew's second wife against the children of his first marriage, and administrators of Andrew's will (which was undoubtedly lost in the Bledsoe County Courthouse fire). This lawsuit is included in the "Circuit Court Minutes Book of Bledsoe County, Tennessee, 1834-1841".

In this lawsuit, Amy states that she is the widow and relict of Andrew R. Lowe and makes her claim which includes land in Bledsoe County where Andrew R. Lowe died. She was awarded one-third of the said Andrew R. Lowe's property. At a later session, Amy complains that she has not received her award.

The last entry lists the parties in the lawsuit:

Amy Lowe vs. James Orme, Andrew Lowe, Administrators Samuel C. Lowe John Kimmer and his wife Elizabeth (Lowe) Henry Sherrill and his wife Rebecca (Lowe) John Lowe Moses Lowe and (Amy's children by Andrew R. Lowe): William Lowe James Lowe (minors by their Guardian William Thomas)

Children from First Marriage, born in Tennessee:

i. Elizabeth Lowe, b. 1791, Tennessee, d. 1855, Tennessee, married John I. Kemmer in 1820 in Tennessee. John I. Kemmer, b. 1790, Tennessee, d. 1843 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, was the child of Conrad Nicholas Kemmer, b. 1754, in Germany, and Sarah Fehler, b. 1758, in Pennsylvania. (source: World Family Tree, Cd#3, Tree #1392).

Children of John and Elizabeth: (source: World Family Tree, Cd#9, Tree #445)

• a. Rebecca Kemmer, b. 1820, married Hampden Scott
• b. Catherine E. Kemmer, b. March 31, 1821 in Grassy Cove, Rhea County, Tennessee, d. April 5, 1885 in Grassy Cove, Rhea County, Tennessee. Catherine married William Boyd Rush in 1841.
• c. Elizabeth Kemmer, b. 1822, married Thomas Gist.
• d. Christopher C. Kemmer, b. March 11 or 14, 1827 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, d. June 13, 1882 in Cumberland County, Tennessee. Christopher married Harriett Elizabeth5 Winton (James Asbury4, John3, William2, John1) on January 8, 1850 in Roane County, Tennessee.
• e. Andrew Ralph Kemmer, b. December 5, 1828, d. March 30, 1885, married Elizabeth Crook.
• f. Mary Kemmer, b. 1830, married Robert Anderson Young.
• g. Sarah I. Kemmer, b. 1835, married Calvin Crook.

ii. Andrew Lowe, b. 1793, Tennessee, d. 1868 in Rhea County Tennessee, married Jane 4 Witten abt. 1815 in Tennessee. Jane Witten, b. July 27, 1797, d. December 20, 1855, was the daughter of William Stanley3 Witton (Thomas2, William1) and Letitia2 Laird (James1). Andrew and his family were

      listed in the 1850 census in Bledsoe County, Tennessee - Andrew, age 56, b. Tennessee; Jane, age    52, b. Virginia, and Kizziah 25, William Witten 22, Jane T. 20, Mary T. 17, Malinda 14, James A. 12, 

Samuel H. Dickey 24, and Hardy Cox 15.

Children of Andrew and Jane:

• a. daughter Lowe, b. bet. 1815-1820 in Tennessee, no further info.
• b. Rebecca Lowe, b. October 28, 1817 in Tennessee, d. November 5, 1893 in New Hope, Loudon County, Tennessee. Rebecca married David Houston10 Dickey (Samuel9, Capt. John8, George7, Thomas6, William5, John4, John3, John2, Robert1) abt. 1844 in Tennessee.
• c. Kizziah Lowe, b. 1825 in Tennessee, married Jacob Harmon on December 19, 1851 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• d. Elizabeth Lowe, b. bet 1825-1830 in Tennessee, married A.H. McAlphin on July 15, 1844 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• e. James Lowe, b. bet 1825-1830 in Tennessee, no further info.
• f. William Witton Lowe, b. October 1, 1827 in Tennessee, d. June 12, 1895 in Tennessee, married M. Thompson on March 15, 1855 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• g. Jane T. Lowe, b. 1830 in Tennessee, married Nathaniel Elkins on July 26, 1856 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• h. Mary T. Lowe, b. 1833 in Tennessee, no further info.
• i. Susan Malinda Lowe, b. 1836 in Tennessee, d. 1872 in Texas. Susan married James Franklin Elkins on September 17, 1854 in Rhea County, Tennessee
• j. James A. Lowe, b. 1838 in Tennessee, no further info.

iii. Moses Lowe, prob. b. bet. 1794-1800 in Tennessee. Moses Lowe was indicted, tried and convicted of Larceny in Bledsoe County, Tennessee in 1838. He was given a term of two years confinement in the Jail and Penitentiary house of the State of Tennessee. (source: Bledsoe County, Tennessee Circuit Court Minute Book, 1834-1841) A Moses Lowe married Ruby Johnson, daughter of Aquilla Johnson and Mary Ann Scarborough, on January 20, 1824 in Tennessee. Since most of the children of Aquilla and Mary Ann also married in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, it appears that this very well could be the same Moses Lowe. (source: World Family Tree, Cd#11, Tree #3092).

iv. Rebecca Lowe, b. 1797, Tennessee, d. abt. 1875 in Cumberland County, Tennessee, married Henry

      Hunt Sherrill, b. 1799, Georgia, d. 1885, Bledsoe County, Tennessee. (Source: Gendex search)   Henry Hunt Sherrill was  the son of Adam5 Sherrill, (Samuel4, Adam3, William2, Samuel1)  b. March 10, 1758,  Rowan County,  North Carolina, d. June, 1828 in Russelville County, Georgia and Rebecca2 Kilgore (Charles1), b. bet 1765-1767 in Orange County, North Carolina, d. aft 1850.   Adam5 Sherrill and Charles1 Kilgore both served in the Revolutionary War in the "Battle of King's Mountain" (Source: "The King's Mountain Men", by Katherine Keogh White, Genealogical Publishing, Baltimore, Maryland, 1985).  (Note: World Family Tree, Cd#10, Tree #3164, indicates that Henry Hunt Sherrill was a son of George Davidson4 Sherrill (Adam3, William2, Samuel1), but this appears to be inaccurate).

      Children of Henry Hunt Sherrill and Rebecca: (Source: Gendex search)                   

• a. George Sherrill, married Flora Ann Thurman
• b. Mary Elzabeth Sherrill, b. November 1829 in Cumberland County, Tennessee. Mary married John M. Thurman.
• c. Andrew L. Sherrill, b. 1831 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.
• d. John Sherrill, b. 1833 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.
• e. Rebecca Sherrill, b. 1838 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee

v. Samuel C. Lowe, b. abt. 1800, Tennessee, d. July 31, 1879 near Crossville, Cumberland County, Tennessee, married Elizabeth McKinney, abt. 1820.(source: Mary and Don Bell, e-mail: maryanddonbell@multipro.com) (another source has their marriage date as September 18, 1838, but several sources claim that Elizabeth was Samuel's only wife. Samuel and Elizabeth divorced in 1844, a few years after he sold his livestock and other belongings to his brother Andrew for debt relief. In 1843, he went bankrupt for land in Bledsoe and Knox Counties. Samuel was apparently sent to prison for horse stealing, and was still there in 1850 (source: Steve Rivkin) Elizabeth and children were listed in the 1850 census in Bledsoe County, Tennessee - Elizabeth, age 49, b. Virginia; Samuel, age 20, b. Tennessee, and Andrew 18, Rebecca J. 16, Sarah 13, James W. 12, Patrick H. 10, Thomas H. 7.

      Children of Samuel and Elizabeth McKinney: (source: Ina Lowe and Mary & Don Bell)

• a. Thomas Lowe, b. abt. 1820 in Tennessee, no further info.
• b. Elizabeth "Queenie" Lowe, b. 1825 in Tennessee, married Abner Norris bef. 1844. Abner Norris, b. August 1823 in Tennessee, d. 1904 in Cumberland County, Tennessee, was a son of James Y.2 Norris (Abner1) and Mary ???.
• c. Samuel Lowe, b. 1830, no further info.
• d. Andrew R. Lowe, b. February 10, 1832 in Tennessee, d. February 19, 1905 in Hales Chapel, Tennessee. Andrew married Nancy Jane Wyatt.
• e. Rebecca J. Lowe, b. 1834, no further info.
• f. Sarah Ann Lowe, b. November 10, 1836 in Cumberland County, Tennessee, d. December 20, 1875 in Cumberland County, Tennessee. Sarah Ann married Thomas Hale II aft 1850.
• g. Capt. James W. Lowe, b. September 1, 1838 in Pikesville, Bledsoe County, Tennessee, d. February

6, 1927 in Cullman, Cullman County, Alabama. James Lowe married Susan Henry on July 4, 1859 in Cooksville, Putnam County, Tennessee. James was a Captain in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a publisher of the "Crossville Tribune" in February of 1878 and a writer for the Crossville Chronicle in 1905 and before 1922.

• h. Patrick H. Lowe, b. 1840, no further info.
• i. Thomas H. Lowe, b. 1843, no further info.

1. ↑ Radcliff, P.V., e-mail: PVRadcliff@@aol.com.