John Crowell

General Notes: From Andrea Crowell:

............For those interested in early English Crowells on Cape Cod..........

"Who was the wife of John Crowell, grandson of the immigrant John? She's frequently listed as Sarah O'Kellia, daughter of David O'Kellia and Jane Powell, but that's been shown to be incorrect and we now realize we don't know her maiden name. This is one of the inaccuracies that the Levi Crowell 1903 book has perpetuated and it will live forever courtesy of the internet!

Levi states unequivocally, "JOHN CROWELL, of Bass Ponds (Thomas, John), m. Sarah, eldest dau of David and Jane O'Kellia. He died 1715." He continues on to list 8 children for the couple, including my ancestor Thomas born 1691.

However, the NEHGS Register article Vol. 151, April 1997, page 131, "David Okillea of Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and Some of His Descendants," by R. Dudley Kelley, proves the earlier theory wrong. Apparently, the identification relied on John Crowell's mention of Sarah's daughter in his will. Quoting the article: "The will of John Crowe, dated 12 March 1713/14, includes a bequest 'to my loving wife Sarah for her support and livelihood so long as she shall remain my widow. To my wives Eldest daughter Jane Okilley ten shillings.' The identity of these two women remain a mystery, but it is clear from her estate administration that Sarah OKillia did not marry John Crowe: she is named there as 'Sarah OKilley, Single Woman."

Sarah daughter of David and Jane O'Kellia is described in the article as follows, "SARAH2 OKILLIA, b. ca. 1660; d. at Yarmouth 25 July 1715. The administration of Sarah's estate lists house, lands, and meadow worth [63 pounds]. She never married and probably never left her father's homestead, even though it had been bequeathed to her brother, Benjamin. Their mother died in 1711, about the time Benjamin removed from Barnstable County, and Sarah may have acquired his house and lands at Yarmouth as a result. Administration on Sarah's estate was given to her brother, Jeremiah OKilley, 17 Aug. 1715, and distribution ordered as follows: 'Whereas Sarah Okilley late of Yarmouth in sd County Single Woman died intestate and left some Estate both Real & Personal within sd County. I do therefore. order. that it shall be equally divided. among Jeremiah OKille, David OKille, Benjamin OKille, and John OKille the son of John OKille Deceased and Elizabeth Sears all the brothers and sisters of sd deceased..'"

So it really is clear that this Sarah daughter of David O'Kellia is not the woman who married our John Crowell (probably her second husband since she already had one daughter) and went on to have 8 additional children with him. If Sarah daughter of David O'Kellia had had children, they would have received her estate."

Andrea Crowell - aecrowell@charter.net