Sarah Bowman

• Susannah / Sarah was John Bowman’s first wife. She was not the wife of John Ellis Jr of Tuckahoe and not the same as Susannah Ellis.
• Evidence needed to support as daughter of Capt. Joseph Royall, Ill

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Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Royall-403

Joseph Royal Jr and Joseph Royal III both were witnesses to the will of Sarah's Husband, John Bowman. Sarah had grandsons named Joseph and Royal and the names passed through several generations of her descendants. This allows a tentative identification of Sarah as a daughter of Joseph Royall Jr, and if so, she likely was the granddaughter Sarah Royall named in Katherine Banks Royall Isham's 1686 will who was gifted a heifer as well as two silver spoons. Sarah likely was born about 1673, Her marriage to John Bowman probably took place when she was about 20 years old. No marriage or estate records have been published which certainly establish the identity of Sarah, but the mention of Peter Hudson in the will of John Bowman raises questions.

Will of John Bowman of Henrico Parish

• To son Robert, my plantation at Rocksdale, allowing my wife Sarah all privileges, also to Robert, the tract on Swift Creek that I have already deeded him.
• To my Godson Peter Hudson, 200 acres, being the lower part and adjoining his land called Nut Tree Run
• To my daughter Sarah Knibb, for life, 150 acres of the aforesaid tract, below Peter Hudson, and after her death, to my grandson, John Knibb
• To my granddaughter Prudence, a mare filly
• To my granddaughter Jane, daughter of my son Robert, a yearling heifer To daughter Sarah Knibb, a 15 shilling ring
• To my son John, items,
• also to son Robert, items
• All the rest to wife and she to be executor
• Dated 3 Dec. 1725 Wit: Joseph Royall, Joseph Royall, Jr., James Henry Shorthose Recorded 7 March 1725

If Peter Hudson was Sarah's son by an earlier Hudson husband, raised by John Bowman Jr. as a step-son, it would partly explain the specific bequest of 200 acres. Hudson researches have not identified the parents of this Peter Hudson. Further research and the discovery of documents such as marriage records, wills, estate administration records or deeds to clarify the relationship of Sarah to Joseph Royall and her relationship to Peter Hudson are needed.

Comments

• Joseph Royal III, son of Joseph Royal II and Katherine Banks, married twice, the second wife being the widow Mary Archer. Therefore, Sarah Ann Royall is the daughter of Joseph Royall III and Mary Royall, the former widow Archer. She is NOT the daughter of Joseph Royall and Mary Eppes Hardeman. There is NO proof that Joseph Royall married Mary Eppes Hardeman.
• Need to work on documentation. If Susannah was an Ellis, this was a well documented lineage.
• Ellis marriage disputed. See https://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/5/5c/Ellis-2104-12.jpg

References

• James-L-Bowman User Home Page Genealogy Report: Descendants of Robert Bowman, Senior https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/b/o/w/James-L-Bowman/GENE2-0003.html
• Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia, Part One, 1654-1737, by B. B. Weisiger, III., on page 108