Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
My Comments notes for Martha Henchman
Will of Martha Bowen (widow) of Patapsco River, BAL Co written 12 Apr 1702, probated 5 Mar 1703/04 names sons: Jonas, Benjamin and John and daughters: Onar and Martha, wife of John Merryman and grandson Jonas Robinson. Residue of estate to son John and daughter Onar at majority; sons Jonas and Benjamin appointed guardians of John and Onar. Execs: John and Onar.
The belief that she was Martha Henchman who married first Mr. Walden comes in part from the will (20th Oct., 1694-17th Dec., 1695) of Nathaniel Henchman of BAL Co which has been abstracted on Ancestry.com but is hard to understand factually. It mentions Lawrence Walden (presumably referring to Martha's son by her first marriage) and to Benjamin, son of Benjamin Bowen (might it actually say Jonas?) and wife Margaret. It appoints Jonas Bowen Sr. as Overseer.
The belief that she was Martha Henchman who married first Mr. Walden comes in part from the will (20th Oct., 1694-17th Dec., 1695) of Nathaniel Henchman of BAL Co which has been abstracted on Ancestry.com but is hard to understand factually. It mentions Lawrence Walden (presumably referring to Martha's son by her first marriage) and to Benjamin, son of Benjamin Bowen (might it actually say Jonas?) and wife Margaret. It appoints Jonas Bowen Sr. as Overseer.
My Comments notes for Jonas (Spouse 1)
Robert W Barnes says: ”Jonas, progenitor of the Bowen family, was in Baltimore County by Apr 1676, died between 26 Mar 1699 (will date) and 13 Apr 1699 (probate) may have been twice married -- first to a daughter of Lewis Bryan and second to Martha (possibly Henchman), widow of Lawrence Wolden.”
He bases his conclusion as to the first wife on the will of Lewis Bryan which names Elizabeth, daughter of Jonas Bowing. He bases his conclusion as to the previous marriage of his second wife on the fact that Jonas, in his will, made provision for his wife’s son Lawrence Wolden. Separately in his write-up on Nathaniel Henchman, Barnes notes that Henchman seems to be saying that Benjamin Bowen and Lawrence Wolden are descendants of his (Nathaniel’s) wife Margaret. It is this strange wording -- he didn’t really say they were his descendants too -- that may be the reason that Barnes calls her possibly Henchman.
Barnes reports that Jonas' will written 26 Mar 1699 proved 13 Apr 1699 mentioned children: Benjamin, John, Jonas, Martha and Honor and grandchildren Jonas and James Robinson. Apparently the Robinsons were children of his deceased daughter Elizabeth. His widow Martha and son Jonas administered the estate.
Jonas Bowen is one of our earliest American ancestors.
Besides Barnes, who has a rather lengthy and somewhat confusing write-up on Jonas Bowen and family citing various wills, there are two other mentions of Jonas in Baltimore County.
A book entitled ”Colonial Maryland Soldiers” names Jonas Boyne (Bowen) of Baltimore County a soldier circa 1675 against the Nanticoke Indians.
The 1678 Maryland Tax List taxed 40 pounds tobacco of Jonas Boyne of Baltimore County.
He bases his conclusion as to the first wife on the will of Lewis Bryan which names Elizabeth, daughter of Jonas Bowing. He bases his conclusion as to the previous marriage of his second wife on the fact that Jonas, in his will, made provision for his wife’s son Lawrence Wolden. Separately in his write-up on Nathaniel Henchman, Barnes notes that Henchman seems to be saying that Benjamin Bowen and Lawrence Wolden are descendants of his (Nathaniel’s) wife Margaret. It is this strange wording -- he didn’t really say they were his descendants too -- that may be the reason that Barnes calls her possibly Henchman.
Barnes reports that Jonas' will written 26 Mar 1699 proved 13 Apr 1699 mentioned children: Benjamin, John, Jonas, Martha and Honor and grandchildren Jonas and James Robinson. Apparently the Robinsons were children of his deceased daughter Elizabeth. His widow Martha and son Jonas administered the estate.
Jonas Bowen is one of our earliest American ancestors.
Besides Barnes, who has a rather lengthy and somewhat confusing write-up on Jonas Bowen and family citing various wills, there are two other mentions of Jonas in Baltimore County.
A book entitled ”Colonial Maryland Soldiers” names Jonas Boyne (Bowen) of Baltimore County a soldier circa 1675 against the Nanticoke Indians.
The 1678 Maryland Tax List taxed 40 pounds tobacco of Jonas Boyne of Baltimore County.
Children Names notes for Jonas (Spouse 1)
I believe Jonas and James Robinson must have ben the sons of his daughter Ekiza who must have died sometime after her husband James Robinson wrote his will in 1695 and when Jonas wrote his will in 1699.