Circuit Court  Will Book 1-a, p 37, 38
Asa Bowen of Mecklenburg. 21 April 1832, proved 17 Oct. 1838
Son Harrison V. Bowen five dollars.
Son Giddy S. Bowen five dollars.
Son John J. Bowen five dollars.
Son Edwin H. Bowen five dollars.
Son Henry J. Bowen one feather bed and furniture and one sorrel horse Peter.
Daughter Eliza A. Bowen one feather bed and furniture, one large walnut chest and one spinning wheel.
Daughter Catharine G. Bowen one bed and furniture and one dressing table.
All the rest of my estate both real and personal I give to my dear wife Charlotte Bowen during her life and after her departure out of this life, I give my tract of Land to my Son Henry J Bowen and two daughters Eliza A. Bowen & Catherine G. Bowen. The two girls to hold a right to said Land during their single lives, and after their deaths or marriages, all the Land to belong to my Son Henry J. Bowen and two daughters Eliza A. Bowen and Catherine G. Bowen to be equally divided between them for taking good care of your mother.
Henry J. Bowen executor.
Signed Asa (X) Bowen
Witnesses Salathiel Bowen, Wesly W. Bowen, Jordan (X) Bowen, John P. Bowen

At a circuit Superior Court ... Mecklenburg County on the 17th day of October 1838 ...proved according to law by the oaths of Wesley W. Bowen and John P. Bowen ... Henry J. Bowen the executor named in the said will appeared in Court and refused to take upon himself the burthen of the execution thereof. ... on a motion of John W. Gregory who made oath according to law and together with James Smith his security who justified himself entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of Five hundred dollars conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted the said John W. Gregory for obtaining letters of administration in due form on the estate of the said Asa Bowen with his will annexed.

An 1859 court record provides further information on Asa's children. Asa's sister Jenny Bowen died in 1859 leaving a will naming friend William Nash as her sole heir and executor. Her estate had been inherited from her father Charles Bowen, and apparently the children and grandchildren of Jenny's brother Asa Bowen were not happy with the arrangements. At any rate, they contested the will.

Edwin H. Bowen [son of Asa]
Jiddy S. Bowen [son of Asa]
Henry J. Bowen [son of Asa]
Eliza Bowen [dau of Asa]
James W. Bowen and wife, Catharine [dau of Asa]
James Taylor and wife, Susan Ann [don't know her relationship, but I'm
guessing dau of Harrison. Susan A Bowen m James W Taylor 11/20/1848 Lunenburg Co, Robert Bowen bm]
Branch Bowen [son of Harrison]
Joseph Thomerson and wife, Charlotte [daughter of Harrison]
John Evans and wife, Jinney [daughter of Harrison]

against

William Nash, executor of Jinney Bowen, dec'd

John J Bowen's family was not represented in this lawsuit.