| |
Terry Mason's Family History SiteMajor lines: Allen, Beck, Borden, Buck, Burden, Carpenter, Carper, Cobb, Cook, Cornell, Cowan, Daffron, Davis, Downing, Faubion, Fauntleroy, Fenter, Fishback, Foulks, Gray, Harris, Heimbach, Henn, Holland, Holtzclaw, Jackson, Jameson, Johnson, Jones, King, Lewis, Mason, Massengill, McAnnally, Moore, Morgan, Overstreet, Price, Peck, Rice, Richardson, Rogers, Samuel, Smith, Taylor, Thomas, Wade, Warren, Weeks, Webb, Wodell, Yeiser, Boyce, Branch, Cooper, Jackson, Mann, Nichols, Prior, Sweeting. |
|---|
Life Sketch
Ralph Rowzee was probably born before 1758 in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia as he witnessed a deed in that county on 2 April 1679. Ralph's father died in Rappahannock County, VA in 1662 when he was young and his half uncle, John Catlett, became his guardian. After his mother remarried, his step father, Daniel Gaines became his guardian.
Ralph Rowzee married Rebecca Tomlin before 6 March 1688 in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia when Ralph sued Rebecca (Fox) Tomlin, widow of Robert Tomlin, for his wife's share of his estate. Rebecca Tomlin Rowzee died before 25 November 1709 when her mother Rebecca (Fox) Tomlin made her will. In her will Rebecca (Fox) Tomlin says that her daughter, Rebecca Rowzee, was deceased and that she had had four children, but does not name them. This proves that only four of the children of Rebecca Tomlin Rowzee were living on 25 November 1709 and were hers with Ralph Rowzee. If there were other children by Rebecca Tomlin Rowzee with Ralph Rowzee, they were deceased by the time of the will. Unfortunately, this does not help to prove who those four children were and if they were still living when Ralph Rowzee made his will but the will is helpful in doing so.
After Rebecca's death Ralph married a woman named Margaret, probably around 1700. Her maiden name is not known, but she was probably the mother of most of the children named in Ralph Rowzee's will.
Ralph Rowzee made his will on 28 September 1716 in St. Ann's Parish, Essex County, VA, and it was proved on 19 May 1719 in Essex County, VA. His will named wife Margaret and ten children Edward, Ralph, Benjamin, John, Sarah, Rebecker (sic), Margatt, Elizabeth, Mary and Martha. He left land to his sons Ralph (unspecified amount), Benjamin (unspecified amount, plus 150 acres) and John (unspecified amount, plus 150 acres). He also left his home plantation and all the rest of his land to his wife to be equally divided between his four daughters (Margatt, Elizabeth, Mary and Martha). The inventory of his estate included 46 pigs, 27 cattle, 3 horses, 3 sheep and a male slave named Conjurer, a "very old" female slave named Morra, six beds and assorted household goods.
The wording of his will suggests that his children with his wife Margaret were Benjamin, John, Margatt (Margaret), Elizabeth, Mary and Martha. This suggests that his children with Rebecca Tomlin were Ralph, Edward, Sarah Fenwick and Rebecca Davis.
Ralph's children Edward, Sarah Fenwick and Rebecca Davis were each left one shilling suggesting that they had already received their portion of his estate, probably as start for Edward and for his daughter on their marriage.
Ralph separates his second wife and the children they had together from the children of his first marriage in his will; "Remainder of my estate both real and personal to be equally divided amongst my loving wife Margatt Rowzee and my six chillren Benjamin, John, Margatt, Elezabeth, Mary and Martha Rowzee".
________________________________________Will of Ralph Rowzee of the Parish of St. Anne in the County of Essex, being very sick and weak of body, dated 28 Sept. 1716.
Unto son Ralph Rowzee the plantation whareon he now lives togeather with all the land on that side of the small creek and swamp. Unto my son Ralph Rowzee my pistols and holster and sourd.
Unto my son Benjamin Rowzee the plantation I have by the mill togeather with 150 acres of land.
Unto my son John Rowzee the plantation whareon John Ridgaile lived togeather with 150 acres of land. But in case either of my two sons should dye without heirs then the surveiver to have his part,
Unto my loving wife Margatt Rowzee the plantation whareon I now live togeather with all the remainder of my land duering her naturall life and after her death to be equally divided amongst my foure daughters, one-fourth part theirof unto my daughter Elezabeth Rowzee but in case my said daughter should dye without any heir then her part unto my other three daughters Margatt, Mary and Martha Rowzee. The other three parts unto my three daughters Margatt, Mary and Martha Rowzee. My daughter Margatt have her first chase.
My two sons Benjamin and John and my wife and foure daughters gitt any sort of timber they have occation of on any part of my land, only for their one use.
Unto my son Edward Rowzee one shilling.
Unto my daughter Sarah Fenwick one shilling.
Unto my daughter Rebecker Davis one shilling.
All the remainder of my estate both reall and personall to be equally divided amongst my loving wife Margatt Rowzee and my six chillren Benjamin, John, Margatt, Elezabeth, Mary and Martha Rowzee.
My loving wife Margatt Rowzee. executrix.
Ralph Rowzee
Wit: Bryan Ward, Mathew (M E) Evina, Samuel (S) Ward, John Boughan. 19 May 1719,
Presented in Court by Margt. Rouzee. Proved by Saml. Ward and John Boughan.