Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Named/o Lewis Bryan 
FatherLewis Bryan (-1676)
Spouses
Parent-Proof notes for d/o Lewis Bryan
In his 1676 will, Lewis Bryan mentions Eliza Bowen dau of Jonas. The presumption is that Eliza is his granddaughter.
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.