Most of this information from Patricia L.M. Stanley and from Hinshw, Vol VI, VirginiaMargery and Benjamin originally settled alongside his brother John in the portion of New Kent Co. that became Hanover Co. in 1721. St. Paul’s Parish vestry records in 1712 show John and Benjamin owned property in the same vicinity with George Lovell, William McGehee, John Duffield, Hugh Case, Thomas Stanley and John Harris. (Anglican Church parishes were in charge of “processioning,” or the periodic verification of property lines in their jurisdictions.)
In the next few years, both John and Benjamin and their wives became active Quakers in the Henrico Monthly Meeting. John is first mentioned in the extensive records in 1719 and became the “overseer” of the Quaker meeting at White Oak Swamp, Henrico Co. the following year. In 1720, Benjamin appears in the records. While some researchers concluded that they did not associate with Quakers until 1719, the positions of authority they were given in these records suggest they established themselves as persons of trust in the meetings over time. Wives Elizabeth and Margery also were charged with such tasks as examining the fitness of women for marriage.
Some researchers assert that Benjamin died by 1739, but St. Paul’s Parish land records from Hanover Co. of 1743 show Benjamin living near William Allen, whose daughter married Benjamin’s son.
Virtually all official colonial records of New Kent and Hanover counties were destroyed by fire, so no will of Benjamin or Margery survived. Benjamin accumulated about 1,000 acres in Hanover Co. by the mid-1730s, some of it in partnership with John Moody, on the South Anna River and “Machunk” Creek. As a man who lived at least into his early 60s – or well past the norm for the time -- Benjamin almost surely would have provided for the division of his estate.
Benjamin and Margery had presumed sons David, Gideon and Squire or James, all born between 1711 and 1719.The family of Benjamin and Margery has not been well researched, unlike that of John and Elizabeth. Among other possible children are Nathan, Robert, Micajah or Micah, Jesse, Ashley, Margaret and James.
Never married
? 1699, Will Probated 5 Sept 1698 ?01 Jan 1697/98
Baptized 23 Feb 1660 in Christ Church Par., Middlesex Co., VA“In those days a few such animals (cows) were of great use and value. In Middlesex Parish, Va., 1665, the following action was taken by the vestry: “The following gentlemen, vestrymen of the parish, viz Henry Corbin, Richard Perrott, Abraham Weeks, Jno. Haslewwod, Rich’d Cock and Robert Chewning, agree each of them, to mark one cow calf with a crop in the right ear, to be kept as well as their own cattle until they be two years old, then given to the vestry as stock for the parish.” (M.I. 359) (From Virginia Genealogies, a Genealogy of the Glassell family of Scotland and. . . by Horace Edwin Hayden - pg. 232 - Also found in “Old Churches, Ministers and families of Virginia” by Bishop Meade, article XXXI. - page 359
Following from “Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia” by Bishop Meade, article XXXI - page 365.
Will probated 5 Sep 1698, Middlesex Co., VA: “Ann Chowning relict of Robert Chowning”, Will Book, Middlesex Co., VA, Sec 1, P 289. Listed Thomas, George, Samuel, John, William, Elizabeth and Ann, All children under 21 years of age in 1698. John Lindsey handled the estate.
Will signed 1699 ? 01 Jan 1697/98
Will signed 1699 in Will Book, Middlesex Co., VA 1675-1798, Pt. 1 (289).
Marriage Notes for Robert Chowning Chewning/ and Ann POOLE-386871
1683?
1689?
Christened 6 Apr 1690 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co., VA
1699 Middlesex Co., VA ?
10 Mar 1757?
Widow of Joseph Jacobus. - 1 child, AnnThe wills of Caroline County, VA for that time period did not survive. But if
you look at land tax records it shows when Janette died her 400 acres of her estate was divided, 300 acres
accounted for. I do not know where the other 100 acres went. 100 acres went to her son Joseph of Lousia
County, 100 acres went to the heirs of George Chewning and 100 acres to the heirs of John Chewning. Johns
heirs kept their 100 acres past 1799. Joseph sold to Erasmus Allen, George Chewnings heirs sold to John
Hackney. Hackney sold to Erasmus Allen. So he ended up with 200 acres. John Chewning died prior to
1789. The tax list shows Samuel Burrus as charged with 2 male taxes for John Chewning.
Should this be George Durrett?
1726? Christ Church records show 6 mar 1725
Baptized 3 Apr 1726 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co., VA
Bartholomew CHOWNING Chewning/
Baptized 25 Jul 1731 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co., VA“Partridge Store Accounts” 1756
MR. BATHOLLOMEW CHEWNING., Jan 1; Feb 23; Jun. 29; Sep. 2; Nove 2, 30; Dec.8 (1 Rug 37/6, 6 plates 1 1/3, pd JAMES MILLER). Credits: Dec. 2 (by 1 Hhd. Tobo at Aylletts).
Thomas MACKGEHEE McGee/Megehe/
Will 27 July 1727, King William Co., VA, St. John’s Parish
1666?
Came to Middlesex Co., VA in 1636, where he later patented land.Ancestry.com: Notes for Robert (Sr.) Chowning:
Made several trips from Virginia to England.
Robert was vestryman in the Church of England from 1657-1670.Returned 29 May 1649 with Richard Kemp and his party of 70 Royalists. On this trip there was also a woman named Joan Hitchcock, whom he later married. Sources: Land Patent 30 Jan 1653 by George Chowning in the name of Robert; Lancaster County, VA, Deed Book #1, 1652-57, p. 27-Court of 10 Jan 1652/53; Lancaster County Deed Book #4,1666-82, p. 20-sale of land by Joan Chowning; Christ Church Parish Register where Robert Chowning was a vestryman in the Church of England from 1657-1670. (from The Descendants of Theophilus Chownning, by William R. Chowning, Gateway Press, Inc., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202, c. 1986 by William Robert Chowning; material on Chowning ancestry on pages 4,5,& 6 from records collected by Carroll Chowning files in a library in Richmond, VA)
Came to America 29 May 1649 - same ship as Robert ChowningMiddlesex Co. Va. Wills book #4, Page 20 - Joane Chownings will 27th day of April, 1667.
Returned to England
Another name spelling: ChowneingeCame to Virginia directly from England in 1636 He settled in Upper Norfolk, Lancaster and Middlesex Counties, VA. He was granted 600 ac. in 1642 in Upper New Norfolk Co., A John Chandler also came from England with him, as did his future wife, Elizabeth Chandler.
Historic Note: from James City County records: John Merryman, 300 ac. in James City County, 24 May 1664, p. 525: E. side of Chickahominy River, bounded N on Warrany Sw, NW by W on Taylers Neck, SE on Michaell Goodale and the Dimension Line, SE on the Tarins [?] Line, 15 acs purch of Henrry Soane by Jno. Merryman, father of sd Jno. 5 Dec 1656
150 acs. for trans of 3 persons: Henry Rye, Jno. Chouninge, Edward Young.
1630?
aft 1610 ? Wortham, Co. Kent, England?
Record shows died after 1610 in Wortham, Kent, England. Wonder if this should be “born”.Children born beginning in about 1625
Came to America with brother John in 1636 on same ship as George Chowning. (Not yet married, but first child born in 1625?)