robertmackayclan

I placed my order last Monday with the public library, so about by the end of the month might have more documents concerning John C. Sowers' household.

Looking at the two surnames Sours and Sowers, really think they are two different families. Past researchers I think mixed them together thinking the clerks at the time used either spelling.

I did look at the researchers Web Page but he listed no documentation for his line. If he has the linkage information fine, use his material.

As far as the 1810 census for Frederick and or Augusta Co. VA I really can't tell if John C. Sowers had by that time established two estates one still in Frederick and the other in Stanton, Augusta Co. VA. And it would appear he had property in Alexandria, VA as well.

But in any case John C. Sowers did have children almost a generation older than Paul J. Sowers born 1817.

The Web Page only list two sons of John C. Sowers as being: Alfred & said Paul J. The early census do have places for them, but also has four older males/brothers, not listed on the web page.

The only other Sowers listed on the 1850 census I can't place would be Elizabeth Sowers listed as being 16 years of age, enrolled in school. She being born 1834, should be listed on the 1840 in the second column 5-10 years. So the question, I have--Who were her parents ?

Later.

I've been working on re-doing the Partial Genealogy records and I've just finished updating the line leading down to the record I have on Peter Sowers.

However, when I look at the records that Jeryl Bennett has on his website they do not seem to match the records in Dee Ann's Sowers genealogy of the family of John C. Sowers (whom Peter is said to be a child of).

If you want to see more of what I'm talking about just click on this record and follow it back:

http://www.geocities.com/mckyrbnsn/line ... peter.html

Be sure to read what I have written in green text.

The questions that come to mind for me are: Is there a missing generation here? Is it possible that Peter doesn't even belong to this branch of our Sowers family? Or, did John have many more children after leaving Virginia?

Found the will of John C. Sowers dated 4 Apr 1843 probated 25 Oct 1843. So I think a good guess he died in the latter part of 1843.

His will named his wife Mary J. Sowers, granddaughter Mary Julia Baldwin. Same person living with Mary J. Sowers for the 1850 Augusta Co. VA census.

His five children alive at the time of the writing of the will: Alfred Sowers, Susan E. Heiskell, Julia A. Barclay, Peter J. Sowers & Caroline Sidney Crawford. The two sons single at the time.

He named two daughters who were deceased:

Mary, wife of Wm. G. Jackson having died without issue. Since he gave her $3575 during her life time, her husband to have no part in the estate.

Margaret Heiskell (formerly Margaret S. Baldwin), leaving only the one daughter the said Mary Julia Baldwin.

The only persons I have found on the 1850 census that belong to the family of John C. Sowers, his wife Mary J. Sowers, his granddaughter Mary J. Baldwin and son Alfred A. Sowres. Where the others removed to I have no idea.

From John Vogt's marriage book Augusta Co. VA we have the following records in connection with the family group of John C. Sowers:

Susan E. Sowers m. Sep 1826 to Wade H. Heiskell

Margaret (Sowers) Baldwin m. 11 Nov 1833 Henry L. Heiskell. Her first marriage not listed.

Caroline Sidney Sowers m. 20 Aug 1841 Hugh John Crawford.

The other marriages for the children of John C. Sowers not found in the book of compiled marriages by John Vogt. They could have married in another location.

Now we now know the names of his seven children, some fit in the early census, but still there would appear to have been more people living in his household. It could be that his married daughters & son-in-laws lived with them, or perhaps Mary J. Baldwin his granddaughter lived with them.

Now, I guess I can be sure that Peter J. belongs with our family. I'll have to go and re-do the record I have on him and his father.

John C. Sowers' will ran three pages. I took blowbacks from the film three shots for each page, easier to read it. From the will, he possessed landed property, Bank Stock & slaves.

If you want a copy for the web page, I could just xerox the original, if you want my abtracted copy of it that should take a month or so to get it done.

Let me know what you want.

The other Sowers living in Augusta Co. VA, I still do not know what to think about them. It would appear they do not belong to the family of John C. Sowers. Perhaps further information will turn up on them.

The State film dealing with the two Sowers marriages connected with John C.Sowers were not readable or just phototyped text.

Our public library here in Fairfax just has two book dealing with Augusta Co. VA and I have both of them in my library. According to the librarian little has been abtracted and compiled dealing with Augusta Co. VA records. I wish someone had done a cemetery book on the county, but that is not the case.

Since this branch of the family intermarried with members of Heiskell family, perhaps there is a well documented book dealing with this family. I will try to remember to check State of VA library web site and or L.D.S. library.

Later.

Yes, go ahead and xerox a copy for me. When I get some time I'll see about putting it on the website.

I thought the snow could not have started until afternoon, but no.

I think Fairfax Public Schools wished they had cancelled the whole day, closing two hours early.

In any case I will not be able to post the copy of John C. Sowers' will most likely until Friday.

They are called for 8 inches of snow by Friday.

I just came home from watching "Gods and Generals" and found that the copy of John C. Sowers' will has arrived.

I am having trouble reading some parts of it due to the ink being faint.

Thanks for sending it.

That's pretty good mail delivery. I will try to type my copy into the machine by the end of the month.

But at least you can read all the names of his children? Right.

I think John C. Sowers must have possessed a fairly large estate.

I think a lot of people in our family (Sowers & McKay) prospered during that time. Prior to the Civil War most were pretty well off just farming the land and making a huge profit from that.

Civil War changed much of the life of our people who lived in the Valley region. Many lost their lands over the years since then because they couldn't afford to keep it or they moved to other locations to earn a better living.

This area was devestated during the War and the aftermath, people took a very long time to recover from all of it.

That's pretty good mail delivery. I will try to type my copy into the machine by the end of the month.

But at least you can read all the names of his children? Right.

I think John C. Sowers must have possessed a fairly large estate.

Just wanted to let everyone know that John C. Sowers' will is now on-line. Thanks to Dee Ann for making the typed copy which made it easier for me to get it up quickly.

I will still need to proofread it in case I might be able to make out some of the questionable words in the Will.