Person:Peter Bowman (9)

Will of Peter Bowman

Peter Bowman Will Written 1790 & Proven in 1796

In the name of God, Amen. The thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and ninety I Peter Bowman of the county of Montgomery and State of Virginia, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory blessed be God for it. therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die do constitute appoint and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say, principally and first of all I recommend my soul to the hands of God who gave it to me, and I recommend my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian and decent like manner, not doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the almighty power of God, and as touching such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner, that is to say, all my just debts and funeral charges being first paid Impremise I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Bowman all my personal estate within and without the House for her profit and behoof during her natural life Except such part as shall herein be otherwise disposed of and it is my will that at her decease the whole estate be equally divided between my two sons Elisha and Jesse Bowman and should she at some time give unto either of them anything during her life that a Just account be kept thereof so that the Division may be as Equal as possible at Last Item I will and bequeath unto my oldest son William Bowman one Shilling Sterling

Item I will and bequath unto my second child Emmy Bowman one Shilling Sterling Item I will and beqeuath unto my third child Phebe Bowman one Shilling Sterling

Item I will and bequeath unto my Second son Elisha Bowman one Shilling Sterling besides the one half share of my personal estate after the Death of my beloved wife

Item I will and bequeath unto my youngest son Jesse Bowman one Brown mare, three years old besides the one half share of all my personal Estate after the Death of my beloved wife and it is my will that my well beloved wife Sarah Bowman and my friend James Charlton be, and they are hereby constituted, appointed and ordained Executors of this my last will and testament. Revoking and Disannulling all former Wills and Testaments In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and year first written

(signed) Peter (his X mark) Bowman

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us

Henry (his X mark) Carly

John (his X mark) Harrison

Francis Gardner

At Montgomery May Court 1796 This Last Will and Testament of Peter Bowman deceased was Exhibited in Court and proved by oath of John Harrison and the affirmation of Francis Gardner two of the witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded.

A Copy Teste Charles Taylor Clk

[Source: :Montgomery County, VA Deed Book B pg. 222]

Notes

From Genforum Message Board:

In Preston Summers' book Annals of Southwest Virginia, we find half-dozen references to the following Montgomery Co. VA Bowman family:

PETER BOWMAN (d. 1796 Montgomery Co VA) m. SARAH ____. Children:

1. ELISHA BOWMAN m. REBECCA ____

2. JOSHUA BOWMAN

Peter left a will probated Mary 1796, Montgomery Co., VA, in which he left his estate to his wife Sarah and to his sons Elisha and Joshua. No other children are mentioned. Witnesses: Henry Carty, John Harrison, Francis Gardner.

On 6 Jan. 1795, son Elisha Bowman was appointed constable of Montgomery County.

Was Peter Bowman and family related to John Bowman, Gent., Justice of the Peace of Botetourt County? It seems possible because John and his wife Elizabeth were also living in Montgomery County by 1786.

[Source: http://genforum.genealogy.com/bowman/messages/522.html].