Bowens

Mon 31 Dec 2001 04:34:17 PM EST Bowens

The Bowen Family - Relations of Lillian McIlhany and Antoinette Oliver

Connections with David Leech Esq of York Co. SC

Henry McIlhaney, Sr. died in Ireland ca 1710; his wife was named Jane. Their children were Lillian and Henry, Jr.

Lillian McIlhaney was born 1709 in Ireland and died in 1780 in Botetourt VA. She was the daughter of Henry and Jane McIlhaney (Sr) of Ireland. Lillian married John Bowen about 1730 in Chester, Pennsylvania, PA. Their children were:
Nancy
Reece
John Jr.
William
Moses
Agnes
Henry
Robert
Arthur
Rebecca
Charles
Jean
Mary

John and Lillian McIlhaney Bowen moved to Augusta, perhaps with Robert McIlhaney and Rev. Craighead, who had been pastor of Middle Octoraro Presbyterian Church in Lancaster Co. PA. Craighead established a church at the Forks of the James, where the town of Lexington is located. Mr. Craighead appears to have soon gone on to the Waxhaws community in SC where Robert McIlhaney of Lunenberg Co. had settled. (It is something of a mystery which of these Robert McElhaneys were associated with Craighead, and it appears there were two of them, unless a single Robert McIlhaney had a presence in all three places.)

2st generation:
Robert Bowen and Mary Gillespie were in Pendleton Dist SC by 1786 when he received a grant of 289a on George's Creek. (He appears to be the only Bowen in the 1790 census.)`

3rd generation:
John Bowen and Martha Hallum. In 1784 William Hallum took a patent for 300 acres on Georges Creek (now Pickens Co.)

4th generation:
John Bowen and Elvira Hunt: This couple was married in 1829, lived in Pickens Co and had 11 children. They were buried at the George's Creek Baptist Church. Their oldest son was named Robert Esli Bowen.

5th generation:
Col Robert Bowen and Antoinette Oliver Antoinette, the daughter of Dr. James Oliver and the granddaughter of Prudence McElhaney Leech. Her grandfathers were Alexander Oliver of 26 Mile Creek and David Leech, Esq. of York Co.)

Material gathered largely from the book entitled The Bowen Family of George's Creek (Pickens Co. SC) by John McGowan Bowen, Sr, and from cousin Joe Payne and his mother.