Jesse Bowen was born around 1798 in Caswell County, North Carolina. He was the son of Reuben Bowen and Sarah R. Hicks. On 31 July 1815, Jesse Bowen married Elizabeth Ann Stanley in Scott County, Virginia. They had seven children.
Jesse Bowen wrote his Last Will and Testament in 1842. In the Will he named "Flavilla, Jason Yeoman, Henry Kane, Enoch Smyth and William Harmon, being children and heirs of Sally Durham, who is an unmarried woman." He further states he considers the children to be his own though not legal heirs. Jesse Bowen had ten children by Sarah H. Durham, but he did not marry her until after the children were born. Descendants have reported that Jesse Bowen's first wife, Elizabeth Ann Stanley would not consent to a divorce. Thus he was unable to marry Sally Durham until his first wife agreed to a divorce.
[add Lee Co VA info I put in book]
The 1850 Census in Scott County shows Jesse Bowen living in the household next to the household of Sally Durham and her 8 children. In the Census the last name of the children was listed as Durham.
Jesse Bowen married Sarah H. Durham on 23 September 1854 in Scott County. In the marriage record, Jesse Bowen gave his age, his birthplace, and his parent's names. Sarah H. Durham was born around 1808 in Rye Cove, Virginia, the daughter of Isaac B. Durham and Elizabeth Baldwin. Shortly after their marriage Jesse and Sarah Bowen moved to Hancock County, Tennessee.
Jesse Bowen and Sarah H. Durham had ten children:
Jesse Bowen died in the 1880s. He is buried in a cemetery a few miles downriver from where he lived, in an area called Wallen's Bend (the Bend or Berrd Cemetery). When his son, Jason Y. Bowen died a hand hewn marker was placed at his grave. Later his family purchased a marker and the old stone was then put to Jesse Bowen's grave. [Jean K. Horton, Kingsport, Tenn.] Sarah died around 1899, according to her granddaughter, Sarah Horton.
U.S. Federal Census Records for Jesse Bowen
1840 U.S. Federal Census (image 60, sheet 310) Scott County, Virginia, Western district Jesse Bowen - 3 males under 5, 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 40-50, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 30-40, 1 female 40-50
1850 U.S. Federal Census (image 186) Scott County, Virginia, western district age born occupation Sally H. Durham 42 VA Jason Y. 15 VA Henry K. 13 VA Enoch S. 11 VA William H. 9 VA Johana C. 7 VA Sylvania C. 5 VA Elizabeth 3 VA John P. 1 VA Jesse Bowen 52 NC farmer
1860 U.S. Federal Census (image 5, sheet 116)
Hancock County, Tennessee, Wallen District, War Gap P.O.
age born occupation
Jesse Bowen 62 NC farming
Sally 52 VA household
William 19 VA farming
Elisabeth 13 VA
John 11 VA
Ebyline 9 VA
1870 U.S. Federal Census (image 6, sheet 6)
Hancock County, Tennessee, District 4, War Gap P.O.
age born occupation
Jesse Bowen 72 NC farmer
Sally 62 VA midwifery
William 29 VA work on farm
John P. 21 VA work on farm
Rosa Carter 15 VA domestic servant
John Carter 19 VA work on farm
Tillman Peters 37 VA farming
Elizabeth Peters 23 VA keeping house
1880 U.S. Federal Census (image 9, page 11)
Hancock County, Tennessee, District 4
age born parents occupation
Jessee Bowen 83 NC VA farmer
Sarah wife 72 VA NC keeping house
William H. son 39 VA NC/VA blacksmith
14 Oct 1818 - Scott Co., Va. Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, Minute Book 1The Claim of Jesse Bowen for guarding Joseph Jones charged with felony was produced in court, examined, allowed and ordered to be certified to the auditor of publick accounts.
Scott County, Va. Land Entry Book.
Richard Stanley enters fifty
acres of land in Scott county by virtue of part of a Land office
Treasury warrant No. 6516 dated 3rd February 1819 for 1000 acres on the
north waters of Clinch River. Beginning on the south side of a
place where Jesse Bowen now lives and on the south side of Powell's
Mountain to include the place where said Bowen lives on.
Will of Jesse Bowen - 10 November 1842 -
Scott County, Virginia - Deed
Book 7 (p 109-110)
Know all men by these present that I Jesse Bowen of Scott County,
Virginia; for and in consideration of the natural love and affection
which I bear to Flavilla, Jason Yeoman, Henry Kane, Enoch Smyth and
William Harmon; being children and heirs of Sally Durham who is an
unmarried woman, as well for the further sum of one dollar to me in hand
paid by the said children above mentioned being the heirs of Sally
Durham at and before the sealing and delivery of these present the
receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have given and granted, and by
these present do give, grant hereto the said Flavilla, Jason Yeoman,
Henry Kane, Enoch Smyth and William Harmon being children of Sally
Durham which children I consider to be my own though not legal heirs of
my property and estate their ancestors and administrators and assigns
forever, the following property to wit namely to be divided between and
among the above mentioned children of Sally Durham who are not of age
equally; sixty four acres of land and appurtenances in Scott County,
Virginia being the land which I now occupy one hundred acres of land on
the waters of Stock Creek and on the fork of the Flat Branch in Scott
County, VA; one hundred acres of land which I have interest adjoining
the land which I now occupy in Scott County, VA. Fifty acres of
land which I have interest adjoining the land of Elisha Walling and
William Mitchell in Scott County, VA. My interest in an
improvement of land which I bought off ____ Shepherd in Scott county,
VA; five head of horses, to wit namely one clay bank horse, one sorrel
mare, one brown mare, one roan mare, and one roan colt, and seven head
of cattle to with four milk cows and three calves and seventy five head
of stock hogs, twenty seven head of sheep and thirty seven head geese.
All my household and kitchen furniture consisting of six beds and
bedding, five bedsteads, one chest, two tables, one sofa, seven chairs,
2 pair fire irons, one big Kettle, four pots, two kettles, one oven, one
baker, one skillet, knives, forks, plates and my corn crop standing in
the field, all my oats which is in stacks, all my flax, all of my crop
of Irish potatoes and all my crop of turnips and also my farming
utensils and one man's saddle, 2 spinning wheels, twenty five pound of
wool, to have and to hold the written mentioned property both real and
personal to the only use of the above mentioned children and their heirs
forever, against the claim or claims of the said Jesse Bowen and his
heirs and all other persons whomsoever, to have and to hold forever in
witness whereof the said Jesse Bowen has hereto subscribed his name and
affixed his seal this 10th day of November 1842. Jesse Bowen
(seal)