Tom, First I want to state that I do not have all of this Bowdoin family documented. I first took information from other researchers. Then, I started doing the research at my library, on the net and just about everywhere I could find the Bowdoin name. Then where I find 'documentation' I insert my sources. Maybe not the proper way to do genealogy, but in my mind and my file, I know that nothing is proven until the research is done. So, with this in mind, I will share what I have in my file as clues and maybe it will throw some more questions out there that perhaps another researcher will have the answers to. Very interesting! I looked at my file and of course I have Judith Farrar married to John Bowdoin. I got this information from another person and have it marked 'unproven' but entered the information none-the less. However, under the notes for Judith, I have the following note: WILL: 11 Sep 1827 - Warren Co., North Carolina I wonder if anyone has seen this will. If she died in 1828, it would make her about 85 years old I figure. Anyway, Tom, Thank you for bringing up this issue. It will be interesting proving all of this. Keep us posted! Ruth I am a descendant of Sarah Nichols and have listed the father of Elizabeth (Betty) Travis as Simeon Travis. Again, not documented yet. I found this information on the LDS site. (Yes, I KNOW LDS is riddled with mistakes, but again, I use these only as clues.) I don't have a son named William as the son of Jean Bowdoin who died in 1717. Never saw this reference before. >The Granville Co, NC, will of William BOWDON (sometimes BOWDOWN) >was dated 8 July 1773 and proved at the August court 1774. It mentions >sons John (my ancestor), William, and Travis; daughter Sarah Nichols; >and wife Betty. I am eager to identify the parents of William and Betty. > >Another descendant of this pair, J Walter Allen, decided (on grounds I >have not found) that William was a son of John (Jean) Bowdoin who died >1717 in Northampton Co, VA. To my knowledge he did not cite a source >in support of this theory, nor did he explain how this William could have >fitted into that rather well-documented descendancy. > >Allen always used that spelling of the name, which has been adopted >also by many descendants. I have not found a single original record in >which the Bowdoin spelling was used prior to the publication of Allen's >claim. I have read in some citations by Allen examples in which he >changed the name BOWDEN to BOWDOIN. > >Allen also alleged that John BOWDON's wife, Judith, was a daughter >of William Farrar. Again he never to my knowledge cited a source or >evidence in support of that claim. There was a Granville Co marriage >bond in 1796 for Judith Farrar and Peter Hays. After years of searching >Farrar descendants I could find no other Judith who could have been the >wife of John BOWDON. > >In summary, I discount the accuracy of Allen's assertions and question >both his reliability and integrity in genealogical matters. I'd be delighted >to be proven wrong and find that I can claim BOWDOIN (or Farrar) >ancestry. Barring that, I am looking for the parents of William BOWDON >who died in Granville Co, NC, in 1774. > >Tom (rootsnva@aol.com) > >______________________________