Individual Details

One database, apparently from a book on The Williams Family by Cora Louesa Williams, p. 7 states that Nancy M. Bowles was Cherokee. I very much doubt this - there were way too many Bowles families in colonial Virginia and in 1850, and she gave her place of birth as Virginia.

I also doubt that Nancy has been correctly placed in the Bowles family - she is most often seen as a daughter of John Bowles and Mary Redford/Radford. But I believe she is a generation too young to have been the daughter of the John Bowles [son of Benjamin dec'd] who married Mary Redford [dau of William, dec'd] in 1768.

Searching online has been more confusing than helpful. John Bowles and Mary Redford may have had a son named John - he would be of the likely age to be the father of Nancy if there is a tradition her father's name as John. However, databases do not agree on what became of the younger John. The younger John Bowles, usually shown as born from about 1769 to 1775 in Hanover Co VA is sometimes suggested to have been married to Frances "Fanny" Bolling - a marriage which took place 27 Apr 1795 in Henry Co VA. Research would need to be done to determine exactly how the family of John Bowles came to be in Henry Co. Then there is the problem how and where this couple lived and who were their children. I have seen two widely divergent theories.

One story is that John M. Bowles who married Frances Bolling 27 Apr 1795 in Henry Co, VA, apparently moved to Tennessee where some of their younger children were born. At least Tennessee is the location where the Williams family lived. Children are suggested as William [not in all databases], Nancy b. ca 1795 who married John Jefferson Williams; John, born 1802 in Hanover Co VA, who moved to Mississippi, married Millie Caroline Pate and died in Uvalde Co, Texas 1859, scalped by Indians; Sarah, born ca 1800, who married William Howard; Lucinda, born ca 1810 in DeKalb Co TN, married Isaac Adcock and died in DeKalb Co about 1870; Mary, born 1815, DeKalb Co, married John B. Walker and lived to appear in the 1900 census still in DeKalb Co; Frances, born 1819 in DeKalb Co, married Thomas Adcock, 5 May 1838 in DeKalb Co, died between 1906-1910. Frances had a Confederate Widow's Pension. The parents, John & Frances Bowles are said to be buried in the Walter Cemetery, Keltonburg, DeKalb Co, TN

DeKalb Co was formed 1837-1838 out of Cannon, Jackson, Warren & White Counties. Warren had been formed out of White in 1807 and might be the location of some of the records of the above family. That is where Nancy Bowles & John Jefferson Williams are said to have married ca 1813. This is definitely the most likely place for Nancy but the connection to her parents is still somewhat questionable at this point. However in 1860, Nancy [Bowles] Williams was living next door to her sisters Martha & husband Moses Cantrell, and the widow Sarah Howard, in St. Francois, MO.

The second story is interesting in that the same couple - John Bowles and Frances Bolling had a different set of children. John, in this database, was a Baptist Minister and died about 1814 in the Battle of New Orleans. No mention of a residence in Tennessee. This couple is said to have had William, born 1801; John, born 1802 in Hanover, married Millie Caroline as above, and died 1859, Uvalde Co TX [same story as the previous John]; Joseph born 1803; Edmond b. 1809, married Catherine Stockstill, died 1897 in Dade Co MO, buried Antioch Cemetery; and Thomas Phillip Bowles, b. 1811 in Hanover Co VA, married Huldah Stocktstill in Missouri. Except for John, born 1802, these children, and others, also appear as children of a completely different John Bowles, born ca 1774, who married Elizabeth Longdon. A John, son of a Phillip Bowles, grandson of Thomas Phillip Bowles, b. 1745 - Thomas Phillip being a possible brother to the John Bowles who married Mary Redford in Hanover/Goochland, VA.

Obviously we are dealing with at least two different families of two different men named John Bowles and no proof that either is the son of John Bowles & Mary Redford. Without supporting evidence and in-depth research, I have no clues as to which is correct. The second database also suggests that the older John Bowles who married Mary Redford in 1768, died in the Revolutionary War. If so perhaps paper work exists to confirm that and so far I've found none. Other than John they are seen with children Martha, born 19 Dec 1773 in Goochland - she's in The Douglas Register. Also said to have had a son Thomas who marred Lucy England, daughters Nancy [no doubt encouraged the unsuspecting to leap to the conclusion she was the Nancy who married John Jefferson Williams] and Adeline [who may have married a Cocke], and a son William Joseph Bowles who married Nancy Rolf Bolling.

Now if there were two Bowles brothers who married Bolling girls, that would certainly help place the John who married Frances Bolling as belonging in that place. It is true that the family of John Bowles who married Mary Redford lived near Bolling families in Virginia. The family of the John who lived in DeKalb Co, Tennessee would certainly seem to be the most likely the family of this Nancy Bowles who married John Jefferson Williams. Another plus is that Nancy Bowles and John J. Williams named their second daughter "Frances" - the third daughter was named for John's mother Charlotte. Adequate proof is lacking.

1820 Census shows a John "Boles", Jackson Co TN [Able & Rolin Boles also listed - likely not the father of Nancy].

1830 Census; Warren Co TN
John M. Bowles. 1m age 15-20; 1m age 60-70. 2f 10-15, 1f 15-20, 1f 50-60

1840 Census; DeKalb Co TN
Frances Bowls: 1f 50-60. Living next door to Thomas Adcock, most likely a son-in-law

1850 Census: DeKalb Co TN
Frances Bouls age 70, b. VA was living with Thomas & Frances Adcock, and a 50-year-old Sarah Howard. Nancy & Sarah both possible daughters. The information concerning the John M. Bowles who married Frances Bolling does suggest their daughter Frances married Thomas Adcock and they did have a daughter Sarah who married William Howard.
Hh 1178: Thomas Adcock, age 33; Frances, age 31
Marshall E. age 10, Mary D. R. age 8, Calvin R., age 2 - all born Tennessee
Frances Bowls, age 70 and Sarah Howard age 50, born Virginia.

In 1860, Thomas Adcock, age 43, and Frances, age 41, were still in DeKalb Co.
Marshall E., age 20, Rufus C., age 11, Naomi C. age 9, Anthony E. age 8, Samantha E. age 5, and Stokely A. age 4.
In 1860, Frances Bowls, age 83 was living with another daughter:
Hh 605: John B. Walker, age 42. Mary, age 42. Both born TN.
Francis, 12 [female] and James age 8 - both born TN.
and Frances Bowls, age 83, b. Virginia

27 Mar 1876
St. Francois Co, MO, Letters of Administration, 1852-1898, p. 197-8
John J. Williams, late of the county of St. Francois died intestate, having property in the state which may be lost destroyed or diminished in value if speedy care be not taken ....letters of administration were granted to Nancy Williams, who some time since departed this life without fully administered said estate. We do hereby appoint Elias Williams, administrator de bonis non of said estate. J. W. Brady, Clerk
Last will of Nancy Williams has been exhibited, proved and recorded. No executor was named or appointed in said will. Elias Williams appointed administrator to perform and fulfill all duties. J. W. Brady, Clerk.

St. Francois Co, MO, Probates, 1875-1878
Vol. J, p.216
Tues, 5 Feb 1878
Elizabeth Williams vs. Est. Nancy Williams. Plaintiff presents demand from allowance. Elias Williams, admin, waives notes. court finds said estate is indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of $25 and the sum to be paid out of the assets of the estate. [I know of no daughter Elizabeth - perhaps this was the wife of Ambrose who had performed some service for Nancy]
Vol. J., p.224
Final Settlement, Est. of Nancy Williams, Elias williams, Admin. He has published notice as require and present accounts and vouchers for final settlement. He is to distribute the balance of $74.47 among the legal heirs. There were eleven shares. $6.77 paid to each: Thomas Williams, Eliza [sic - Elias] Williams, Sarah White, Ambrose Williams, heirs of Lucinda Johnson, dec'd [sic - this must be Louisa who died in 1860 and was married to Johnson!], Fanny Thompson, John Williams, Lucinda Webb, Mary Bennett, Nancy Reil [sic - Hill], heirs of Charlottle Williams, dec'd.
Vol. J, p.283
Wed, 6 Nov 1878
Estate of Nancy Williams, dec'd, Elias williams, Admin. Final Settlement. of the sum of $74.47 has a balance of $40.72 to be distributed as follows: $3.70 each to Thomas Williams, John Williams, Elias Williams, Lucinda Webb, Sarah White, Mary Bennett, Ambrose Williams, Nancy Hill, heirs of Lucinda Johnson, heirs of Charlotte Williams, heirs of Fanny Thompson.
Elias Williams, Gardian & curator of the minor heirs of Asa Bennett: The court approprates the sum of $50 out of the Estate of said Minors for their, support, maintenance etc - ordered that the said Guardian pay same to their mother Nancy E. Hill and take receipt thereof.

FindAGrave
Nancy M. Bowles Williams
Birth: unknown
Virginia, USA
Death: unknown
Missouri, USA
Nancy shares a double headstone with, husband, John Jefferson Williams.
Burial:
Libertyville Christian Church Cemetery
Libertyville
St. Francois County
Missouri, USA


If I can ever prove the relationship of Nancy back to Mary Redford, I can prove another "cousin" relationship between my husband and I.

Birth	Nov 1796	Virginia
Marriage	Abt 1813	Warren County, Tennessee - JOHN JEFFERSON WILLIAMS
Death	27 Mar 1876	Saint Francois County, Missouri

Spouse	JOHN JEFFERSON WILLIAMS (1792 - 1874)
Child	Louisa WILLIAMS (1816 - 1860)
Child	Frances "Fannie" WILLIAMS (1818 - 1877)
Child	Charlotta WILLIAMS (1820 - 1869)
Child	Thomas Davis Williams (1822 - 1908)
Child	John WILLIAMS (1825 - 1898)
Child	Elias WILLIAMS (1827 - 1892)
Child	Mary A. WILLIAMS (1829 - 1917)
Child	Ambrose/Ambers WILLIAMS (1832 - 1913)
Child	Lucinda WILLIAMS (1833 - 1920)
Child	SARAH C. WILLIAMS (1833 - 1914)
Child	Nancy E. WILLIAMS (1837 - 1887)

Father	John M. Bowles (1775 - 1832)
Mother	Frances Bolling (1777 - 1869)
Sibling	Sarah Bowles (1798 - 1869)
Sibling	John Bowles (1802 - 1859)
Sibling	Martha Bowles (1804 - )
Sibling	Lucinda Bowles (1810 - 1880)
Sibling	Mary Bowles (1816 - )
Sibling	Frances Bowles (1819 - 1906)