Several families appear to have been closely associated with the Bowens. At this time, there is no proof of any marriages or other kinship, but there is reason to believe there may have been some connection that we simply haven't been able to prove yet.

Bowen records that indicate possible connections with these families:

William Drumright was named as an executor in the will of Hicks Bowen 1787.
William Drumright and James Drumright were witnesses to the will of Charles Bowen 1815.

Friend Jones Gee was named as executor in the will of David Bowen (Jr) 1814.
Jones Gee was also named as an executor in the will of Charles Bowen 1815.
David Bowen Sr sold his land near the other Bowens in NE Mecklenburg Co to Jones Gee in 1790. When he bought more land near Buffalo Creek in 1795, Jones Gee witnessed that deed too.
Jones Gee witnessed the 1815 will of Isaac Johnson whose last wife was Rebekah Bowen, daughter of Littleberry Bowen. He also witnessed an 1819 agreement between Joseph Arnold, Isaac Arnold, James Briggs and wife Rebekah (Bowen, previously the wife of Isaac Johnson) concerning the estate of Isaac Johnson.

Charles Bowen's son Rolly's full name was Rolly/Rolley Andrews Bowen as proven by records found by Martha Hills:
Mecklenburg Court Orders p. 239 - Rolley Bowen, son of Charles Bowen, be excused from paying taxes (June 1788).
Mecklenburg Court Orders p. 143 - Charles Bowen is excused from paying levies for son, Rolley Andrews Bowen, he being infirm (1805).

Drury Andrus Bowen was found on the 1810 census in Abbeville, SC. He was born between 1784-1794 and is suspected to be the son of Isaac Bowen who was possibly the son of Drury Bowen who moved from Mecklenburg to Abbeville.

The Bowens who settled in Abbeville, SC are definitely descended from the Mecklenburg Co Bowens. So far, no records have been found to prove many of the exact relationships, but it appears that an earlier Drury Bowen (whose parentage is unproven) was probably their ancestor.

The name Andrews was sometimes recorded as Anders or Andrus in various records.

The births of several children of William Andrews and wife Avis were recorded in the Bristol Parish Register.

Ephraim b. 4 Feb. 1720/21
Geo: b. 14 Jan 1722/23
Winifred b. 1 June 1724
Avice b. 7 Dec. 1727
John b. 7 July 1729
Luciana b. 9 Sept. 1731

Ephraim's mother was actually recorded as Amy rather than Avis in his birth record, but a later deed by William Andrews' widow Avis Andrews to Ephraim Andrews refered to Ephraim as her son.

Deed Book 4, page 335.  Avis Andrews of Dinwiddie Co., widow and relic of William Andrews late of Dinwiddie Co, deceased, paid by her loving son, Ephraim Andrews of Mecklenburg Co., ...one Negro wench named Nell; also one
Negro Boy named Tom, child of Nell.  Recorded 10 Oct. 1774.

These birth and baptismal records indicate the William Andrews Sr family was living in Bristol Parish from at least 1721 until 1732 when Luciana was baptised. However, William Andrews Sr's 1770 Dinwiddie Co will named several children whose births were not recorded. Most if not all of those children whose births were not recorded must have been born either before 1721 or after 1732. The Bowen birth and baptism records in Bristol Parish fell between 1729 and 1734. We don't know if no earlier records were found because these were their first children or if it was because the Bowens had just arrived in the area. It's interesting that Robert Bowen's wife was also named Avis, but there is no possibility that she was the same as William Andrews' wife or daughter by the same name. The unusual name Avis has appeared again and again in families that moved from Bristol Parish to Brunswick Co (later Lunenburg and Mecklenburg). These same families were closely associated with each other. They include Andrews, Bowens, Baileys, Mize, and Granger. I have not found a single case of the name Avis in a Lunenburg or Mecklenburg family that didn't in some way relate to the families that came from Bristol Parish.

Curiously, four children from two different Bowen families and two different Andrews families were all baptised on the same date in Bristol Parish. But no children from other families were baptised on that date with them - only Andrews children and Bowen children. A family affair? Ephraim, son of Robert and Avis Bowen, David, son of William and Amy Bowen, Luciana, daughter of William and Avis Andrews, and Pheboe daughter of Richard and Mary Andrews were all baptised on July 30, 1732.

William Andrews (Jr) and Richard Andrews who witnessed the 1740 will of James Vaughan Jr were two of the sons of William Andrews (Sr) and wife Avis of Dinwiddie Co. These two sons were certainly in the Lunenburg area at that time. James Vaughan Jr had purchased the land of John Watson on the south side of the Meherrin River. The John Watson patent adjoined the William Andrews Sr patent to the east. It is believed that William and Richard Andrews were the eldest sons of William Andrews Sr and Avis, both born before Ephraim Andrews whose birth was the first recorded in the Bristol Parish records.
 
 

In the name of God, Amen.  I William Andrews of the Parish of (  ?  ) and County of Dinwiddie Being of perfect Mind and Memory thanks be to almighty God, Do make and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following.....

Imprimis:  I devise my Soul to God hoping pardon and Remission of my Sins Through the  ..........and mediation of my Blessed Savior Jesus Christ and my Body to the Earth to be  ....... interred by my Executor thereafter mentioned.

Item:  I give and devise unto Ann Brooks, widow of William Andrews, Deceased, one fourth part of two hundred and eighty acres of Land whereon she now lives adjoining the plantation for and during the (time?) of her natural life and after her decease to her son Ephraim and his Heirs for ever.  The residue of the ..........of Land I give and devise to be equally divided share and share alike between the three sons, David, William and Varney, their heirs and assigns for ever.  But if the said Anne should not (incline?) to live on the said plantation or should rent it out in either case it is my Will and Desire that my grandson Ephraim have the said land immediately there upon to Hold to Him his Heirs and Assigns forever as aforesaid.

Item:  I give and Devise unto my son John Andrews and to his Heirs and Assigns forever two hundred and eighty acres of Land part of my Tract of Land in Mecklenburg County as is (?) of? adjoining his plantation.

Item:  I give and Devise unto my son Thomas Andrews and to his Heirs forever, two hundred and eighty acres of Land said of joining his plantation, Being another part of my said Tract of Land in Mecklenburg County aforeaid.

Item:  I give and Devise unto my Daughter Winiford Granger one hundred and thirty five acres of land lying on the North side of Meherrin River at the Lower part of my Land there being the Land whereon she now lives which said Land I give to her and her Heirs forever.

Item:  I give unto my son Abram Andrews one hundred and thirty three acres of Land on the North side of Meherrin River in the middle of my Land thereto to him the said Abram his Heirs and Assigns for ever.

Item:  I give and Devise unto my Daughter Lucy Andrews the Remainder part of my land lying on the North side of Meherrin River the aforesaid containing by Estimation one hundred and thirty-three acres more or less lying at the upper part of my said Tract.

Item:  I give and Bequeath to my Loving wife Avis Andrews my Negro woman Nell for and during her Natural Life and after my said wife decease I give my said Negro Nell to my son Ephraim Andrews and his Heirs and Assigns forever and I also give my said wife a feather bed and furniture which is called Hers and as much of my stock as she pleases or thinks............

Item:  Whereas my said Negro woman Nell is now with Child it is my will and desire that the Child so to be born be and belong to my grandson David Andrews to him his Heirs and assigns forever.

Item:  Whatsoever Debts may be due and owing to me at the time of my death I give the .......and profit .........to my beloved wife aforesaid during her life and after her decease to be equally divided among my sons and daughters that may be then living share and share alike.

Item:  I give unto my son Richard Andrews and to his Heirs and assigns forever one Negro girl named Jean.

Item:  I give unto my son John Andrews one Negro girl named Suckey to him and his assigns forever.

Item:  I give unto my son Thomas Andrews one Negro girl named Sukey to him and his Heirs forever.

Item:  I give unto my son Abram Andrews one Negro boy named Natt to him and his Heirs forever.

Item:  I give unto my Daughter Avis a bed and furniture that is called hers, a cow and calf, and to have her choice of two (Ewes?) of the Best (  ?  ) and a wheel and cards.

Item:  I give unto my son Mark Andrews two Negro men called Heanary and Dick to Him and his Heirs forever..........I also give unto my son Mark Andrews and to his Heirs and assigns forever all the rest and residue of my Estate of what nature kind or quality whatsover not herein before given away consisting of Stocks of (Houses?) ......caste making tools, sheep, household furniture, etc.

Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said son Mark Andrews sole Executor of this my Last will and Testament, hereby revoking all and every will or wills heretofore by me made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fix my Seal on this 22 day of May 1770.   Signed Sealed
............By the said William Andrews to be His Last Will in the presence of as who are being subscribing witnesses at His request.
Gray Briggs                          William (mark) Andrews
James Basseau
John Robin

William Andrews Sr was the son of Thomas Andrews Sr who left his will in Henrico dated 21 April 1731, recorded March 1731. (By the new calendar, this would have been March 1732.) There is a published abstract for the Thomas Andrews will that left out a daughter, Ame (no surname given), who was left one shilling. There was also a daughter named Anne Granger. Anne Granger was the wife of Benjamin Granger. Both died in Chesterfield Co, VA. Their Granger children - at least some of them - including son John Granger born 24 Dec 1726, were recorded in the Bristol Parish Register. John Granger was found in the records of Chesterfield Co where his mother Anne (Andrews) Granger left her will proved in 1786. A few years after his records ceased in Chesterfield Co, John Granger was recorded as a witness for William Bowen in his suit against Field Jefferson in the the May, 1759 Lunenburg Order Book records. Granger was to be paid for 14 days' attendance by Bowen.

John Granger's first wife was Winifred Andrews, named as daughter Winifred Granger in William Andrews Sr's 1770 will. Since both were grandchildren of Thomas Andrews Sr of Henrico Co, this was a marriage between first cousins. John Granger's 1793 will named a daughter named Avis Wills, probably named for Winifred Andrews' mother. However, John Granger's will named his wife as Agnes who was obviously John's second wife as he married Agness Roberts in 1781. The connection between Winifred Andrews and John Granger can be found in the Lunenburg Co deeds. We know that William Andrews Sr left his Lunenburg Co land to three children, Winifred Granger, Abram Andrews, and Lucy Andrews.

That Lunenburg Co land was described in a patent to William "Anders".

William Anders  12 July 1750  400 acres in Lunenburg Co on the Meherrin River. Beginning on the river bank thence new lines north one hundred and sixty two poles to three pines south eighty five degrees east two hundred and sixty eight poles to a Spanish oak on Beaver Pond Creek thence down the same as it meanders to a poplar on the same thence [?] south one hundred and thirty four poles to a white oak on the bank of the river aforesaid thence up the same as it meanders to the first station.
Patents 30, p 159

Beaver Pond Creek is located on the north side of the Meherrin River slightly west of Hwy 637 and between  Mountain Creek and Smith Creek (formerly called Stith's Creek) on the opposite side of the river in Mecklenburg Co. This would place the land a mile or two upriver or west of the Bowen patent in Lunenburg. The description of the land in the William Andrews patent indicates his land fronted the Meherrin River on the west side of Beaver Dam Creek.

The following deed is one of several that places John Granger's land near Beaver Pond Creek and Abram/Abraham Andrews' land. Certainly John Granger's land was the land that William Andrews Sr had left to daughter Winifred Granger.

Lunenburg DB 15 p 517
8 Apr 1790  Abraham Andrews of Lunenburg to Wm. Allen. About 200 acres bounded by bever pond cr on Nevill Gee's corner, thence to David Vandy [Vandyke], Henry Gee, Thos. Jones, John Grainger & Abraham Andrews.
Wit Peter Garland, David Van Dyck, Sterling Cooper
Rec 8 Apr 1790

In addition, we have Winifred named as his wife in another deed.

Mecklenburg Co, VA Deed Book 3, p. 29, February 22, 1771 from John Grainger and Winifret, his wife, of Lunenburg County, to Bartholomew Crowder of Mecklenburg, for 30 pounds, a certain tract of land in Mecklenburg, about 104 acres bounded by a corner between Crowder and Cooper, Arnold.
Signed:  John (his mark) Granger.
Witnesses:  Ruben Vaughan, Joseph Kelley, James (his mark) Johnson.  Recorded March 11, 1771.
At a court held for Mecklenburg on June 9, 1777.  Winifred, the wife of John Grainger, relinquished her right of dower.

John Granger is known to have been a witness for William Bowen.

Lunenburg Co Order Book 5, p 156
John Granger, witness for Wm Bowing in his suit agst Field Jefferson, to be pd by Bowing for 14 days attendance. May Court, 1759

The 1748 Lunenburg tithes indicate that William Andrews [Jr], Richard Andrews, and Ephraim Andrews lived relatively near the Bowens. All were sons of William Andrews Sr and wife Avis who had originally patented the land. The 1749 Lunenburg tithes again included William Andrews (Jr), Richard Andrews, and Ephraim Andrews, but this time added John Andrews, another son. Two of the eldest sons, William Andrews (Jr) and Richard Andrews, can be placed in the Brunswick/Lunenburg area as early as 1740 when they witnessed the will of James Vaughan (Jr), brother of George Vaughan, both sons of James Voughn (Sr) who had also moved from Bristol Parish to Brunswick Co.

Some webpages state that Richard Andrews son of Thomas Andrews Sr of Henrico moved to Lunenburg where he died. This seems very unlikely since Thomas's son Richard Andrews left records in Chesterfield Co (formed from Henrico) until at least 1756. But the confusion is easy to understand. Thomas Andrews Sr of Henrico did have two sons named William and Richard. So did William Andrews (Sr), his son.

William Andrews (Sr) who died in Dinwiddie Co patented land on the South side of the Meherrin River in 1750. (Since it took years for patents to be granted, he might have held this land well before 1750.) The land was mentioned in a deed from William Andrews (Sr) to son Ephraim Andrews in 1769, William Andrews' 1770 Dinwiddie will, and again in a 1771 deed from William Andrews to John Andrews, another son.

Patent granted to William Anders  12 July 1750 1400 acres Lunenburg Co ... south side Meherrin River ... beginning at Vaughan's corner beech on the said river along his line south forty degrees west two hundred poles to a black jack thence (new?) lines south sixty poles to a small hiccory south forty degrees west twelve poles to Arnold's corner black jack still a new line south eighty degrees west four hundred and fourteen poles to two Spanish oaks on the Timbertree branch thence down the same as it meanders to Brodnax's corner white oak thence along his line west one hundred and eighty four poles to his corner red oak thence a new line north three hundred and twenty two poles to a (sorrell?) tree on the bank of the river aforesaid and thence down the same as it meanders to the first station ...
Patents 30, p 215, 216

Vaughan's corner beech is referring to the John Watson patent that had been purchased by James Vaughan Jr.

DB 2, page 396.  William Andrews of Dinwiddie Co. sold 280 acres of land to Ephraim Andrews of the Parrish of Saint James of Mecklenburg Co. Ephraim Andrews is the son of William Andrews.  Rec. 14 May 1770.

Oct. 31, 1771 from William Andrews of Dinwiddie County to John Andrews of Mecklenburg for 200 pds 280 a. in Mecklenburg, bounded by Andrews old line on MacDaniel's line, Vaughn, Atkinson, a new line between Ephraim Andrews and John Andrews, William Andrews, Thomas Andrews.  Signed William X Andrews.
Wit:  Richard Jones, Abram X Andrews, Ephraim X Andrews, David Brooks, George Andrews.  Rec: Dec. 9, 1771.  (Deed Book 3, p. 272. Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Deeds, 1765-1771, T.L.C. Genealogy, Miami Beach, FL, 1990).

This probably came from the western part of William Andrews' patent, since James and Edward McDaniel had patented land on the river to the west of William Andrews' patent in 1759. Stephen and Reuben Vaughan (sons of James Vaughan Jr) had patented land in 1759 just south of the McDaniel land but still adjoining the west side of William Andrews' patent.

There is also reason to believe that William Andrews (Sr)'s home was in  Prince George Co (later Dinwiddie Co) before 1722 although he patented additional land in Lunenburg and Mecklenburg. William Andrews (Sr) is known to have owned land near Picture Branch adjoining land surveyed for David Wells in Dinwiddie on 16 Nov 1758. I have checked the patents and did not find that David Wells ever received a grant for this land.

A HUGE thanks to Nellie Collins who sent me a copy of this survey!

November 16th 1758
Survey'd for David Wells of the County of Dinwiddie one hundred forty six and an half acres of land lying on the North side the Picture Branch in the said county,  Bounded as follows.
Viz. Beginning at a corner pine on the said branch at A and running along Abraham Wells's line.
From A to B  North 48 1/2 east 165 poles to his corner on Wm Hamlin's line
B  -  C  East 94 poles along the sd Hamlin's & Wm Andrews's Lines to the sd Andrews's Corner in a Slash
C  -  D  South 28 West 77 1/2 poles along the said Andrews's line to his Corner at pointers
D  -  E  East 13 1/2 South 26 poles along another of the said Andrews's lines to his corner on Abraham Wells's line, Then on his Line
E  -  F  South 33 West 122 1/2 Poles to John Petersons corner, Then on his Line
F  -  G  West 4 North 44 Poles to the Picture Branch
G  -  A  Up the said Branch as it meanders to the Beginning.

A map of the survey shows the David Wells land on the northeast side of Picture Branch. William Andrews' land would have fit into the northeast C-D-E corner, probably extending westward along the B-C line some unknown distance since this line was referred to as both Hamlin's and Andrews' line. Abraham Wells' land seems to have been east of the E-F line with John Peterson's land south of the F-G line. William Hamlin's land was probably north and/or west of the Wells survey and probably adjoined the western line of William Andrews' land since the line between Hamlin's land and Andrews' land appears to have been somewhere along the B-C line. .

Patent granted to William Andrews of Prince George County 28 Sept 1728 100 acres lying and being in the fork of Wallis's Creek in the county aforesaid. Beginning at the mouth of Rockey Branch thereof thence up the Rockey Branch as it meanders to a corner several trees choped inwards thence west one hundred and sixty poles to a corner between several trees choped inwards by the side of a pond thence north eighty six poles to a pine in Wallis's Creek thence down Wallis's Creek as it meanders to the beginning.
Patents 13, p 428, 429

The David Wells survey also mentions the adjoining land of William Hamlin.

Patent granted to William Hamlin  1 Oct 1747  718 acres Prince George Co on both sides of Wallace's Creek. Beginning at a poplar upon the said creek being the upper corner of his four hundred acres purchased of Thomas Booth thence along the lines of the said land south fourteen degrees west thirty four poles to John Davis's line thence along the same south seventeen degrees east one hundred and seventy two poles to Thomas Moors line thence along the same south east twenty six poles to a corner thence east three hundred and fifty poles to William Andrews line from Overby thence along the same north thirty degrees east one hundred and twenty two poles to his corner white oak thence north fifteen degrees fifty four poles thence west fifteen degrees north twelve poles to William Andrews corner of his old land thence along his line west one hundred and eighty six poles to his corner thence along his upper [end? and?] line north eighty six poles to Wallace's Creek thence down the said creek as it meanders to his the said Hamlin's own lower corner on the same thence north fifteen degrees west one hundred and twenty poles to a corner between pointers thence west fifteen degrees south two hundred and fifty six poles to a corner between pointers thence south fifteen degrees east one hundred and twenty poles to Wallace's Creek thence up the same as it meanders to the beginning.
Patents 28 p 249

John Davis's grant dated 14 July 1718 didn't mention William Andrews' land, but did mention Nicholas Overby's land. Davis's grant was for 400 acres in Prince George Co on the west side of Wallis's Creek. Patents 10 p 401.

Patent granted to Nicholas Overby Sr  22 June 1722  292 acres Prince George Co on the lower side of Willis's [sic] Creek above William Andrews. Beginning upon William Andrews' line at a white oak thence south fifteen degrees west one hundred and six poles to a corner shrub white oak thence south thirty degrees west two hundred poles to a corner between several trees chopt inwards thence east fifteen degrees south one hundred fifty six poles to a corner thence north thirty degrees west two hundred poles to a corner thence north thirty degrees east two hundred poles to a corner near a shrub white oak marked four ways thence north fifteen degrees east one hundred and four poles to a corner shrub black oak thence west fifteen degrees north one hundred and fifty six poles to the beginning.
Patents 11 p 127

This is interesting because it mentions William Andrews' land as early as 1722. Normally, it took a number of years from the time the land was surveyed until the patent was finally granted. So this Overby land was surveyed years before 1722, and the description came from that earlier survey. William Andrews may have held land in this area as early as 1710 or 1715 depending on how long it took for the Overby patent to be granted after it was surveyed.

In comparing the Andrews lines mentioned in the other patents to the lines described in the 1728 Andrews patent, there are many lines that just don't match up with the 1728 patent. The Andrews patent does mention a line "north eighty six poles to a pine in Wallis's Creek" which can be found in the Hamlin patent. But the Hamlin patent also contains the phrase "to William Andrews corner of his old land" implying that William Andrews held a piece of old land and a piece of new land. Since there are several Andrews lines mentioned in the other patents that can't be found in the 1728 Andrews patent, it appears likely that William Andrews did own another piece of land for which we have no record. The 1728 Andrews patent did state that William Andrews was "of Prince George County". As I interpret the Hamlin patent, the line "west one hundred and eighty six poles to his corner" was one of the lines from William Andrews' "old land". That line is not found in the 1728 patent. Is this why the 1722 grant to Overby (surveyed several years before 1722) mentioned an Andrews line that can't be found in the 1728 Andrews patent? Was this a line from Andrews' "old land" too?

Picture Branch is in northern Dinwiddie Co between Petersburg and Sutherland just south of US 460. Wallace Creek is immediately above Picture Branch just north of US 460. Modern maps show a Rocky Creek nearby to the east of Picture Branch. Since quite a few years often passed between the time that land was first surveyed for a patent and the patent was finally granted, it's possible that William Andrews Sr was living on this land well before 1728. Could this be where he was living at the time that the records for his children were entered in the Bristol Parish register between 1721 and 1732? If so, were the Bowens living nearby at that time too? Chesterfield Co where William Andrews' siblings left their later records was only a few miles northwest. We know William Andrews Sr, Richard Andrews, William Bowen Sr, and Robert Bowen all had children baptised on the same day in Bristol Parish. Did William Andrews Sr live on this land near Picture Branch and Wallace Creek continuously even though he held additional land in Lunenburg?

There were several grandchildren of Thomas Andrews Sr of Henrico living in Lunenburg/Mecklenburg along the Meherrin River near the Bowens - four sons of William Andrews Sr as well as John Granger (son of Thomas's daughter Anne Andrews Granger) and John's wife Winifred Andrews Granger (daughter of William Andrews Sr), and Peter Andrews (son of Thomas's son John Andrews) and his wife Luciana "Lucy" Andrews (daughter of William Andrews Sr). There is even the possibility that William Dizmang/Dishman Sr who purchased land from William Bowen Jr might have been a descendant of Thomas Andrews Sr, but that has not been firmly established. The 1756 Chesterfield Co will of Jane Andrews, widow of Thomas Andrews Jr, did name a daughter Frances Dishman. The 1748 Lunenburg tithes list included a William Dishman on the same page with the Bowens, Andrews, Vaughans, Thomersons, Mizes, etc. The 1764 Lunenburg tithes list included the names William Dizmang, Danl. Dizmang, and William Dizmang Junr. in the same district with Thomas Andrews, Richard Andrews, and Peter Andrews, who were still living on the north side of the Meherrin River.

We also know that there was a William Dishman/Dismang who appeared in the Chesterfield Co records in association with the Andrews family, but his exact relationship to the Andrews hasn't been determined.

Chesterfield Co. DB 1, p 206.
1 Nove. 1750.  George Platt sold to John Andrews, 100 acres on North side of Appomattox River, bounded by John Dyer, Porters Branch, Humphrey Traylor, and said Andrews.
Wit:  William Dismang, Thomas Brooks, John Granger
Recorded:  3 May 1751.

Chesterfield Co. DB 1, p 208.
1 Dec. 1750.  John Andrews sold to George Platt 192 acres bounded by Benjamin Granger, Handy's corner, Wolfpen Branch.
Wit:  William Dismang, Thomas Brooks, John Granger
Recorded:  3 May 1751.

At this time, the name of this William Dishman/Dismang's wife has not been determined, and the husband of Frances Andrews Dishman has not been determined, so we can't be certain that William Dishman/Dizmang was the husband of Frances Dishman. We also can't be certain that the William Dismang who appeared in the Chesterfield Co records was the same as the William Dishman/Dizmang who appeared in the Lunenburg Co records. Perhaps more research into the Dishman/Dizmang records will prove or disprove this possibility.

James Voughn Sr's family can be associated with the Kirks who were closely associated with the Bowens. The homeplace land of James Voughn Sr at the time of his death can be placed on the North side of the Meherrin in present Lunenburg very near the land patented by William Bowen Sr in 1747. James Voughn Sr also came from Bristol Parish, but may have settled in Brunswick Co well before the Bowens and Andrews. Regardless of when they arrived in the area, the Vaughan, Andrews, and Bowen families seem to have been close. A 1746 Brunswick Co court record states that James Vaughan (Jr) was the security for the appearance of Robert Bowen, defendant.

The children of Henry Bailey and wife Avis were also recorded in Bristol Parish - another case of the name Avis tracing back to Bristol Parish. Sure enough, Henry Bailey's family moved to Brunswick Co, then later farther west into Lunenburg Co.

In 1749, Henry Bailey purchased William Bowen Sr's 1747 patent on the north side of the Meherrin River, and James Mize's land adjoined the Bowen/Bailey land. This places all three of these families - Bowen, Bailey, and Mize  - very near each other on the North side of the Meherrin River. William Andrews Sr owned land on both sides of the river as did the Vaughans and Bowens. At that time, there was a ford at James Mize's land known as Mize's Ford. The river was not at all a barrier.

There are several webpages that claim that one of William Drumright Sr's wives was Anne/Nancy Andrews, daughter of Ephraim Andrews, son of William Andrews (Sr) and Amy of Dinwiddie. This can be disproven by the following marriage record.

Bugg, Benjamin & Anne Andrews, 3 Sept. 17~, Ephriam Andrews, Jr. Sec.
Note from Ephriam Andrews, father of Anne - wit. John Young & William Drumright.

(I have seen this marriage dated as 1785. I don't know how this date was determined or if it's accurate.)

Ephraim Andrews' will does indicate that one of his daughters married William Drumright. This is confirmed by another record in Lunenburg dated 6 Oct 1812 DB 22 p 212 in which George Andrews and William Drumright gave POA to Nevil Gee, son of Nevil Gee, "to collect their interest in the estate of Ephriam Andrews and Ann Andrews of Williamson County Tennessee, they being entitled to a child's part of the estate of said Ephriam and Ann Andrews." Ephraim Andrews' will stated he had six children, three of them daughters. Two of the daughters' marriages can be proven, eliminating them. Daughter Stacy has not been traced and would almost have to be Drumright's wife by the process of elimination.

From the Mecklenburg Co marriage records:
Allen, Gray & Molley Nance, 16 Dec. 1791, William Drumright sec. Notes from
grooms brother Darling Allen, wit. Stacy Drumright & bride's father, Robert
Nance, wit. Drury Allen

A son William Drumright Jr married as his second wife Lucy Gee, daughter of Jones Gee who was son of Neavil Gee Sr - the same Jones Gee who was named extr for the wills of Charles Bowen and David Bowen Jr. Jones Gee was the brother of Neavil Gee (Jr) who was given POA by William Drumright and George Andrews above. However, the 1828 Mecklenburg will of William Drumright Sr named wife Sally - a later wife. Only a part of this will is available online.

One published source, The Drumright Family Tree by Gracie Drumright Dowland 1974, claims that William Drumright was married three times. It states that William Drumright's first wife was Nancy Bowen. The name Nancy Bowen seems to have been passed down in the family and I have never found any proof of her given name. But a marriage between a daughter of William Bowen Jr and William Drumright can be proven with the 1787 will of Hicks Bowen. William Drumright and Hicks Bowen's other brothers, sisters, and sisters' husbands assigned their rights to the estate of Hicks Bowen to the widow and godchildren as Hicks had requested in the will. But his original will had been destroyed when William Drumright's house burned. Although most of Hicks' sisters were named after their husbands' names, William Drumright was named alone with no wife appearing after his name. This would indicate that his wife, a sister to Hicks Bowen, was deceased prior to 1787 since her signature would have been necessary if she were living. This would also explain why William Drumright was in possession of the will when his house burned. From these records, we know that William Drumright's first wife was a daughter of William Bowen Jr  while his second wife was Stacy Andrews, daughter of Ephraim Andrews. Sally was Drumright's last wife.

There was a Rowland Andrews from Mecklenburg who, according to a posting to Genforum/Andrews, moved to Randolph Co, NC around the end of the Revolutionary War and died by 1786. Carol Shrader's research indicates Rowland Andrews and Eleazor Andrews may have been additional sons of William Andrews Sr who were not named in his will. There was also a Drury Andrews from Mecklenburg. Could Rolley Andrews Bowen, son of Charles Bowen, have been named for Rowland Andrews? The Bowen's loved to use nicknames. Could Drury Andrus Bowen have been named for Drury Andrews? Or, since Drury Andrus Bowen's father may have been Drury Andrews (probable but not proven), and it appears that Drury Bowen might have been another unproven son of William Bowen Sr and Amy, could the name Andrus have come from and Andrews ancestor? Maybe the first names Drury and Rolly were just coincidence. Where did the name Andrews in the Bowen family come from - not once, but twice? Could there have been an early Bowen/Andrews marriage?

Thomas Andrews' 1731 Henrico will named a daughter Ame who was to receive one shilling. A published abstract for this will accidentally omitted her. No surname for the daughter Ame was given in the will. She has not been found and traced in the records of other later families. Could Thomas Andrews' daughter Ame have been the same as Amy, wife of William Bowen Sr? Is this why the name Andrews/Andrus came down in the Bowen family twice? Is this why the Bowen children and Andrews children were baptised on the same day in Bristol Parish? Is this why the Bowens and Andrews who came from Bristol Parish continued to live near each other in Lunenburg/Mecklenburg? So far, no proof of this marriage has been found, but it does appear likely.