Lewis Bowen was the son of David Bowen Sr and Ann/Nancy as proven by an 1811 Mecklenburg Co deed in which the legatees of David Bowen Sr sold his land. The legatees were named in this deed as Bracie Bowen, Elizabeth Bowen, Nelley wife of William Glascock, Lewis Bowen, Benjamin Bowen, Elijah Bowen, Nancy wife of John Sparks, and Riter/Ritter Bowen.

Mecklenburg Co DB 9 p 477 Rec 1798 Lewis Bowen from Alexander Overby (from index)

Mecklenburg DB 14 p. 417
10 Nov 1810  Peter Overby, son of Zachariah Overby, sells for $100 to Benjamin Bowen 25 acres.  Beginning in Lewis Bowen's line to John Butler's to Daniel Butler's line h Lewis Bowen's line.  It being a part of a tract the said Overby purchased of Parson John Cammeron.
signed Peter Overby
Witness:  PPool, Thos Stovall, Abel Gregory.
Proved 17 June 1811.

Mecklenburg DB 14, p. 401
17 Aug 1811 Lewis Bowen and Benjamin Bowen sell to Robert Hestor for $300 land lying on the waters of Buffalo Creek containing 70 acres being all that tract wheron the said Lewis and Benjamin now reside.
signed Lewis Bowen and Benjamin Bowen.
Witness: Aaron Butler, James Townes, Edward Townes,
John Wilson, John Hill.
Proved at a court held 19 Aug 1811.

Mecklenburg DB 14 p. 453
22 Aug 1811  Ambrose Gregory sells to Lewis Bowen for 137 pounds 11 shillings land on Little Buffalo Creek  containing 109 3/4 acres.
signed
Ambrose Gregory
Witness:  PPool, S.C. Vaughan, Hardy Stone, Aaron Butler, Charles Hamblin, Thomas Owen, Wiley James.
Proved 16 Sep 1811

Mecklenburg DB 14 p. 546
Lewis Bowen and Benjamin Bowen have sold 70 acres to Robert Hester.  Jenney, the wife of Lewis Bowen and Patsey, wife of Benjamin could not travel to the Meck. court to relinquish their right of dower in the estate conveyed by the said indenture.   Joseph Townes and James Birchett are to go personally to Jinney and Patsey Bowen and receive their relinquishment apart from their husbands.  12 Sep 1811.

Mecklenburg DB 14 p 486  Lewis Bowen from Sarah Gregory dower release. Rec 1811

There may be (probably are) additional deeds or other records for Lewis Bowen in Mecklenburg Co not given here.

By 1820, Lewis Bowen was a resident of Rutherford Co, NC. His brother Bracy Bowen  b 1762 also moved from Mecklenburg Co to Rutherford Co in 1822. The 1820 Rutherford Co census also listed Mabry (Mayberry) Bowen who was most likely a son of either Bracy Bowen or Lewis Bowen.

Censuses contributed by Gordon Parks:

1820 Rutherford Co, NC
Lewis Bowen p. 379
1 male 10-16 b. bet 1804-1810
2 males 16-18 b. bet 1802-1804
3 males 16-26 b. bet 1794-1804
1 male over 45 b. bef 1775
1 female 10-16 b. bet. 1804-1810
1 female over 45 b. bef 1775

1830 Rutherford Co, NC
Lewis Bowen  p. 494
1 male 20-30 b. bet 1800-1810
1 male 60-70 b. bet 1760-1770
1 female 15-20 b. bet 1810-1815
1 female 50-60 b. bet 1770-1780*
*This should be rechecked. The article about Bracy Bowen gives her age as 60-70 on this census.

1840 Greenville Co, SC
Lewis Bowen p. 206
1 male 30-40 b. bet 1800-1810
1 male 60-70 b. bet 1770-1780
1 female 30-40 b. bet 1800-1810
1 female 60-70 b. bet 1770-1780

Lewis Bowen first appeared on the Mecklenburg Co tax lists in 1788. He was listed under his father David Bowen and counted in a column for white males at least age 21. This indicates he was born by 1767.

We know from the 1811 dower release that Lewis Bowen's wife was named Jinny. Her surname is unknown at this time. It would appear from his censuses that Lewis Bowen might have had several sons and perhaps one daughter. It is not known if the 2 males age 16-18 were counted again when the 3 males age 16-26 were recorded on the 1820 census. So this census could indicate a total of 3 males age 16-26 with 2 of them listed again in the 16-18 group. Or it could indicate a total of 5 males, 2 males age 16-18 and 3 more males age 16-26. We also cannot be sure that these younger members of the household were actually Lewis's children although most probably were. It is also possible that some of Lewis's children older children may have left home prior to the 1820 census.

The Rutherford Co, NC and Greenville Co, SC records may provide additional records.