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Bowater Sumner

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Bowater Sumner

Birth
Fairfax County, Virginia, USA
Death
1 Mar 1829 (aged 79)
Rainsboro, Highland County, Ohio, USA
Burial
Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
The second of ten children born to Robert Sr and Phebe (Beals) Sumner of Fairfax Co VA and later Guilford Co NC,
Bowater's birth is recorded, along with his siblings, at the New Garden MM in Rowan Co NC:

"William Sumners Son of Robt Sumner and the above named Phebe Canaday his then wife was born ye 29 of ye 9 mo 1747 O:S: ye 13 of ye 11 mo N:S:
Bowater Sumner Son of ye same was born ye 8 of ye 8 mo 1749 O:S: ye 20 of ye 10 mo N:S:"

Bowater married Rebecca Burris on 10 Dec 1777 at Tom's Creek Quaker Friends MH, located then in Surry Co NC.

Quaker Meeting Records 1681-1994
Recorded at Tom's Creek MM, NC:
"Whereas Bowater Sumner of Surry County North Carolina Son of Rob't Sumner Dec'd, to Rebeckah Burras Daughter of John Burras of the same place, having declared their intentions of marriage with each other before several monthly meetings of the people called Quakers held at new-Garden in Guilford County, nothing appearing to obstruct, were left to their liberty to accomplish thier marriage according to good order, the which they did ye 10 of ye 12 mo 1777 at Tom's Creek meeting before many witnesses 12 of whose names are her Inserted to Wit -
Phebe Beales, Ann Hiatt, Curtis Jackson, Ruth Jackson, Uriah Carson, Hannah Sumner, William Neal, Eleanor Sumner, John Hiatt, Phebe Sumner, John Burras"

Children with Rebecca:
1) Esther Sumner (b: 1778)
2) Phebe Sumner (b: 1780)
3) John Sumner (b: 1783)
4) Rachel Sumner (1786-1870), m: Philip W Spargur, s/o John & Christina (Frey) Wolfensparger.
5) Olive Sumner
6) Isaac R Sumner
7) Rebecca Sumner, m: Joshua Wright.
8) Thomas Sumner
9) Allen Sumner (1798-1877), m: Mary Beeson, d/o Benjamin & Elizabeth (Ballard) Beeson.
10) Mary Sumner

Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy
Vol I, NC, Pg 170:
"Bowater Sumner
Rebekah Sumner
Ch: Esther b. 11-17-1778.
Phebe b. 2- 4-1780.
John b. 7- 4-1783."

On 14 Aug 1806, Bowater and Rebecca were received into the Miami MM from Westfield MM in NC. Later, they moved to the Fairfield MM in Highland Co OH. These children were listed as arriving with them:
John, Oliver, Isaac, Rebecca, Thomas, Allen & Mary.

Bowater and Rebecca remained in Rainsboro, Highland Co OH, where they died, Bowater first in Mar 1829 and Rebecca just three months later, in Jun 1829.

"Will of Boweter Sumner
State of Ohio, Highland County
February 11, 1829

Be it remembered that I Bowater Sumner of the County and State aforesaid being in a low state of health but of sound disposing mind calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following—

First of all it is my wish that all my just debts together with my funeral charges be paid as soon after my decease as may be by my Executors hereinafter named—

It is my will that my two sons Isaac and Allen Sumner to whom I have gave land have no part of my personal Estate during the life or widowhood of my beloved wife.

Item it is my will that all my personal estate be left with my beloved wife for the benefit of herself and my daughter Esther and son John Sumner during her lifetime or widowhood and at the death or marriage of my widow it is my will that my wagon and gears together with all my farming and carpentry tools be given to my two sons Isaac and Allen Sumner and it is my will that my two sons to whom I have left this property and land do at their mothers decease take the care of their brother John and provide for him sufficiently of clothing diet and lodging during his lifetime.

Item it is my will that if my widow should marry that my Executors hereinafter named may give her lawful dower having all my estate not heretofore directed by this will appraised and her lawful dower set off to her and the balance to be disposed in the way that is to say two thirds at the valuation to be given to my daughter Easter including my riding carriage and the other one third to be equally divided amongst my five other daughters namely Phebe, Rachel, Rebecca, Olive and Mary—

and lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my beloved wife Rebecca Sumner and brother Thomas Sumner the whole executor of this my last will and testament hereby making null and void all other wills heretofore made by me. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of the second month 1829.

Signed sealed acknowledged in the presence of
Josiah Tomlinson
Demsey B. Sinclair

Boweter Sumner"

Notes:
Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy
Vol I, Pg 170:
"The name was changed to Westfield Meeting House from Tom's Creek Meeting House, when the monthly meeting was established in 1786."

Fairfax Co VA was formed in 1742 from the northern part of Prince William Co VA. In 1757, the northwestern two-thirds of Fairfax Co became known as Loudoun Co VA.

Depending on the source, the name Burris has different spellings: Burras, Burross are but two variations. For ease of matching to more recent ancestors, it is being kept as Burris on my memorials.

Note: Although I understand the Old Style vs. New Style months for Quakers, have not yet figured the day discrepancy between his birth of 8th day vs. 20th day. However, have changed the day according to the Quaker birth record for Bowater, which clearly states an Old Style date and a New Style date.
The second of ten children born to Robert Sr and Phebe (Beals) Sumner of Fairfax Co VA and later Guilford Co NC,
Bowater's birth is recorded, along with his siblings, at the New Garden MM in Rowan Co NC:

"William Sumners Son of Robt Sumner and the above named Phebe Canaday his then wife was born ye 29 of ye 9 mo 1747 O:S: ye 13 of ye 11 mo N:S:
Bowater Sumner Son of ye same was born ye 8 of ye 8 mo 1749 O:S: ye 20 of ye 10 mo N:S:"

Bowater married Rebecca Burris on 10 Dec 1777 at Tom's Creek Quaker Friends MH, located then in Surry Co NC.

Quaker Meeting Records 1681-1994
Recorded at Tom's Creek MM, NC:
"Whereas Bowater Sumner of Surry County North Carolina Son of Rob't Sumner Dec'd, to Rebeckah Burras Daughter of John Burras of the same place, having declared their intentions of marriage with each other before several monthly meetings of the people called Quakers held at new-Garden in Guilford County, nothing appearing to obstruct, were left to their liberty to accomplish thier marriage according to good order, the which they did ye 10 of ye 12 mo 1777 at Tom's Creek meeting before many witnesses 12 of whose names are her Inserted to Wit -
Phebe Beales, Ann Hiatt, Curtis Jackson, Ruth Jackson, Uriah Carson, Hannah Sumner, William Neal, Eleanor Sumner, John Hiatt, Phebe Sumner, John Burras"

Children with Rebecca:
1) Esther Sumner (b: 1778)
2) Phebe Sumner (b: 1780)
3) John Sumner (b: 1783)
4) Rachel Sumner (1786-1870), m: Philip W Spargur, s/o John & Christina (Frey) Wolfensparger.
5) Olive Sumner
6) Isaac R Sumner
7) Rebecca Sumner, m: Joshua Wright.
8) Thomas Sumner
9) Allen Sumner (1798-1877), m: Mary Beeson, d/o Benjamin & Elizabeth (Ballard) Beeson.
10) Mary Sumner

Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy
Vol I, NC, Pg 170:
"Bowater Sumner
Rebekah Sumner
Ch: Esther b. 11-17-1778.
Phebe b. 2- 4-1780.
John b. 7- 4-1783."

On 14 Aug 1806, Bowater and Rebecca were received into the Miami MM from Westfield MM in NC. Later, they moved to the Fairfield MM in Highland Co OH. These children were listed as arriving with them:
John, Oliver, Isaac, Rebecca, Thomas, Allen & Mary.

Bowater and Rebecca remained in Rainsboro, Highland Co OH, where they died, Bowater first in Mar 1829 and Rebecca just three months later, in Jun 1829.

"Will of Boweter Sumner
State of Ohio, Highland County
February 11, 1829

Be it remembered that I Bowater Sumner of the County and State aforesaid being in a low state of health but of sound disposing mind calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following—

First of all it is my wish that all my just debts together with my funeral charges be paid as soon after my decease as may be by my Executors hereinafter named—

It is my will that my two sons Isaac and Allen Sumner to whom I have gave land have no part of my personal Estate during the life or widowhood of my beloved wife.

Item it is my will that all my personal estate be left with my beloved wife for the benefit of herself and my daughter Esther and son John Sumner during her lifetime or widowhood and at the death or marriage of my widow it is my will that my wagon and gears together with all my farming and carpentry tools be given to my two sons Isaac and Allen Sumner and it is my will that my two sons to whom I have left this property and land do at their mothers decease take the care of their brother John and provide for him sufficiently of clothing diet and lodging during his lifetime.

Item it is my will that if my widow should marry that my Executors hereinafter named may give her lawful dower having all my estate not heretofore directed by this will appraised and her lawful dower set off to her and the balance to be disposed in the way that is to say two thirds at the valuation to be given to my daughter Easter including my riding carriage and the other one third to be equally divided amongst my five other daughters namely Phebe, Rachel, Rebecca, Olive and Mary—

and lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my beloved wife Rebecca Sumner and brother Thomas Sumner the whole executor of this my last will and testament hereby making null and void all other wills heretofore made by me. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of the second month 1829.

Signed sealed acknowledged in the presence of
Josiah Tomlinson
Demsey B. Sinclair

Boweter Sumner"

Notes:
Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy
Vol I, Pg 170:
"The name was changed to Westfield Meeting House from Tom's Creek Meeting House, when the monthly meeting was established in 1786."

Fairfax Co VA was formed in 1742 from the northern part of Prince William Co VA. In 1757, the northwestern two-thirds of Fairfax Co became known as Loudoun Co VA.

Depending on the source, the name Burris has different spellings: Burras, Burross are but two variations. For ease of matching to more recent ancestors, it is being kept as Burris on my memorials.

Note: Although I understand the Old Style vs. New Style months for Quakers, have not yet figured the day discrepancy between his birth of 8th day vs. 20th day. However, have changed the day according to the Quaker birth record for Bowater, which clearly states an Old Style date and a New Style date.


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