John Lowry was born in October, 1758 in Virginia. His will written 24 June, 1848 mentions his wife Elizabeth, sons Reason R., John, David, Light W. and Young S., plus daughter Dorcus Taylor. He also mentions children by his first wife, but doesn't name them. I had no luck finding the name of his first wife until a few months ago when another Lowry researcher mentioned that there was an error in the Rowan Co., N.C. marriage index. The marriage which listed Charles Lowry as groom, John Lowry as bondsman, was really the marriage of John Lowry, Charles Lowry, bondsman. As I wanted a copy for my records, I sent for the marriage bond, and received this in the mail from the Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History of North Carolina. This marriage bond reads: "We jointly and severally acknowledge ourselves indebted to the State of North Carolina in the sum of Five hundred pounds current money, Conditioned to be void in case there is not, nor shall hereafter be, any Lawful impediment to obstruct a marriage to be Solemnized Between John Lowry of Rowan County planter and Sarah Lowry of the same - spinster, we witness our hands and seals this 10th day of March 1780 The mark of Signed sealed and delivered Charles {C} Lowry John Lowrey In the presence of B. Booth Bootee" Written on the back is "John Lowry's MB" There were three John Lowrys in Rowan Co. at this time - a John Lowry who married Ellender Lowry, also in Rowan Co. 10 March 1780, a John Lowry (son of Samuel) who married Mary Railsback (Rahlsbach), and the John Lowry who died in Hamilton Co. (According to his Revolutionary War pension application, he enlisted in the Militia in Rowan Co., N.C. in 1779.) The first two have been eliminated as the John Lowry who died in Hamilton Co. in 1848/9, leaving him as the groom of the above marriage bond. This not only gives us the name of John's first wife, but the name of the father (Charles) of either he or his wife - our ancestor either way. Another interesting point, Charles Lowry was also the bondsman for John and Ellender, probably Charles was the father of either "our" John and Ellender, or John and Sarah. If anyone would like a copy, I will scan it and send it to you as an attachment. Phyllis