John 'The First' Fowler

John Fowler was born 1638 in Malsborough, Wiltshire, England, and died 1683 in Henrico Co., VA. According to the House of Fowler, Our John Fowler, believed to be the son of Christopher, arrived in Virginia from England about 1660 with his wife Mary. They settled in Henrico County. John was a member of the Society of Friends, or the Quakers. John Fowler died before October 1, 1683, leaving 3 minor sons: John, Mark and Godfrey, and a daughter Martha. Godfrey was the only son to leave descendants.

Family

From https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/130718/I14407/godfrey-fowler/ahnentafel

Children of Mary and John Fowler are:

1. Mark Fowler was born ABT 1663 in Henrico Co., VA, and died BEF 1 JUN 1691 in Henrico Co., VA.
2. Godfrey Fowler was born ABT 1670 in Henrico Co., VA, and died ABT MAY 1747 in Henrico Co., VA. He married Susannah Archer in Henrico Co., VA. She was born ABT 1674 in England.
3. John Fowler was born ABT 1673 in Henrico Co., VA, and died BEF 1 JUN 1691 in Henrico Co., VA.
4. Martha Fowler was born ABT 1675 in Henrico Co., VA.

Biography

IMMI: DATE 1662 PLAC from England on the ship Hopewell

From "Kissing Kin" by Katherine Childress Hillers page 174a

We can take pride in the fact that as early as the 1660's one of our forefathers, John Fowler the First (in America) had established himself in the Virginia Colony, thus being among those famous colonials known as The First Families of Virginia.
Just when he came to America is not known, perhaps between 1650 and 1660, but in 1662 he received grants of land on the Appomatox River. Evidently an industrious man, he received another grant of land in 1673 from Sir William Berkley, Governor, for the transportation of eight persons to the colony. The territory in which John Fowler settled was then on the border of civilization.

From A History of The Fowler Family of SE North Carolina, by Rich G.Fowler Page: Page 8

John Fowler I was the first of the Fowlers known in America. In 1663 hereceived a grant of land from Sir William Berkley, Governor, for thetransportation of eight persons to the colony. The territory in whichJohn Fowler settled was then on the border of civilization. When thefirst colonist sought a site for a settlement in the vicinity in 1607,they found an Indian town near the mouth of the Appomatox, present siteof Petersburg, and nearby was the village of Matoax, home of Pocahontus,one of Virginia's most romantic figures. Fort Henry was built by GovernorBerkley in 1646, and many exploring expeditions went out from thisfrontier post. The nearby Indian tr ading post called Peters Point,established by Major Peter Jones, later grew into the present city ofPetersburg. John Fowler settled just across the Appomattox from Fort Henry and therelaid the foundation in America for the House of Fowler.
John Fowler was-no doubt a menber of the Society of Friends before he came to America andperhaps he knew George Fox, the Puritan silk weaver who, at the age of 25established the Society of Friends, who later came to be known as"Quakers". George Fox visited John Fowler's home on a visit to America in1672, and it was from the vicinity in which Joh Fowler lived that so manyof the members of that fiath went forth to establish the Society ofFriends in other sections. Godfrey Fowler, youngest son of Joh Fowler, was also a Quaker and wasprominent in their councils.

Timeline

• On 12 Sep 1662 John Fowler was given a grant of 398 acres on the north side of Appomatocks River, 200 acres adjoining his own land along the Old Towne run, 198 acres on the north side of Old Town Creek, near Stony Point.
• On October 30, 1673 John got 390 acres for the transportation of 8persons: John Baster, Mary Poolan, Robert C..., Thomas Wooley, Mary, hiswife, Paul Vardern, Clara Varden, Ann Welle.
• In 1683 John Fowler was deceased and had orphans Mark, Godfrey and Martha Fowler in court. "October 1, 1683 item 18: by order of this court, Orphans Court of HenricoCo., Virginia "Mr. Thomas Batte, Sr. Empowered to take estate of Orphansof John Fowler, dec'd into his possession, has not given security.Ordered to enter sec. Henrico Co."
• On 8 Oct 1683 an accounting was made of the stock of horses and mares that belonged to the orphans of John Fowler, dec'd.
• April 14, 1685, Deed Book No. 1, p 394, Mark Fowler of Bristol Parish,released John Davis, of all demands, etc., & 1 cow, 2 horses, 1 gun,being all the legacy left to me by my loving father, John Fowler. wit:Henry Kent, Tho. Batt, at request of John Davis, Henry Randolph, clerk. (From other rec. on p 33-36, I gather that Thomas Batt farmed the landfor John's orphans, & John davis was their guardian.
• Henrico County Court records, Godfrey Fowler vs. Thos. Batt, 1 jun 1691. "A copy of the will of John fowler the elder, deceased, was produced in court, which will gave each of his three sons, John, Mark, and Godfey, an interest in the estate of 398 acres. The said Godfrey Fowler's two elder brothers, John and Mark, being dead, leaving no issue, the said Godfrey Fowler was declared the only heir at law."

(By: Becky Yett Root)

Disputed Origins

Seen as son of Elizabeth Fowler & Rev. Christopher Fowler b 1611 England died 1676 without supporting evidence as of January 2020.

References

• Annals of the Fowler family, with branches in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, California, and Texas by Arthur, Glenn Dora Fowler (Mrs. J. J. Arthur), 1858, Published 1901 Archive.Org
• The Complete Book of Emigrants: 1607-1660. Peter Wilson Coldham. Genealogical Publishing Com, 1987 - History - 600 pages. GoogleBooks
• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 6 2020, 18:51:45 UTC
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fowler-304
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L83F-B5H
• https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/130718/I14233/johnwilliam-fowler/indi...
• https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Complete_Book_of_Emigrants...
• https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/g/e/o/James-Alfred-George/WEBSITE-000...
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/19863555/person/88...
• Source: https://archive.org/stream/annalsoffowlerfa00arth/annalsoffowlerfa0...