In a message dated 5/7/2005 4:14:07 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, leathel@sbcglobal.net writes: Margaret was in King Wm. Co.while she was married to Thomas Puryear.Now, who is Benjamin who married Nancy, a brother to David, Gideon, and Margaret or their father? Leathel, Regarding Benjamin Bowles m. Nancy, the post below was posted by Cheryl Houin to the Bowles list back in 2001. At least some of the Bowles she mentions migrated south to Surry Co. NC where a Benjamin Bowles left a will in 1780. I have always thought that this group in Surry Co. NC was the most likely source for my Benjamin Bowles of NC. To the best of my knowledge, no one has connected these guys to the Gideon/David Bowles family. But, that wouldn't surprise me at all. I have already contacted Marty Grant, a descendent of the Surry Co. line, to see if he knows a male Bowles who might be a candidate for DNA testing. He didn't, but promised to post something at his web site. Brenda Cheryl R. Houin (_rene@skyenet.net_ (mailto:rene@skyenet.net) ) on 3/25/01: John Bowles appears in the court order books of Cumberland Co, VA during the early 1750's. Given that the surnames Burch, Mosby, Bernard, and Ford are enumerated among the residents of Cumberland Co, and that Benjamin Bowles, Sr. died there c1788, I PROPOSE the following: John Bowles was the son of Benjamin Bowles, Sr. and his first wife, Nancy. John Bowles was married to Mary and their children were Thomas Bowles (Sarah Burch), Jerusha Bowles (Samuel Mosby), Mary Bowles (Reuben Ford), Frances Bowles (Joshua Bernard), Lucy Bowles, John Bowles, and Benjamin Bowles (d 1780 Surry Co, NC). The parents of the John Bowles (b 1747) who married Mary Radford were Joshua Bowles (d 1766) and Elizabeth. Joshua Bowles was probably a son of Benjamin Bowles, Sr. and his first wife. Benjamin Bowles, Sr. was the father of Elizabeth Bowles who married Henry Martin in 1761 in Cumberland Co, VA. This is the same Henry Martin who sold property to Gideon Bowles. Henry and Elizabeth named a son Benjamin and a daughter Nancy. Benjamin Bowles, Sr. was the guardian of Sarah Holman, orphan of Henry Holman. This girl was probably his niece; her mother was Mourning Bowles.