LOWTHER GENEALOGY
9/25/2008
Generation One
1. Robert1 Lowther, b. ca 1714 in Westmeath, Ireland,[1] [Reports of Robert Lowther's birthplace being in England are considered incorrect.], d. ca 1780 in Monongalia Co, VA (now Harrison Co, WV),[2] resided (settled, ca 1785) in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 resided ca 1738 - ca 1785 in Albemarle Co, VA.1
He married1 Feb-20-1736 in Philadelphia, PA,2 [First Presbyterian Church], Aquilla Reese, b. 1715 in Bucks Co, PA,1 [Plumstead Township], (daughter of Joseph Reese and Rebecca ___) d. in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 [Don Norman's "Descendants of Robert Lowther," reports death date for Aquilla Reese as 1747, but then lists three children born after that date.]. Robert was a teen-ager when he arrived with his family in America. He refused to become a Quaker, which led to his being disowned and disinherited by his father. His wife, Aquilla Reese, was a Quaker, and when she was married in a Presbyterian church, she was cast out by her family. Robert and Aquilla moved south to what is now Albemarle County, VA, then moved to Harrison County (W)VA in about 1785.2
Children:
i. Thomas2 Lowther,[3] b. 1736,1 d.3 [killed by Indians].
ii. Hannah Lowther, b. ca 1738 in Pennsylvania.2 She married2 John Rhodes.
2. iii. Mary Lowther b. ca 1740.
iv. Sarah Lowther, b. ca 1741 in Virginia,2 resided near Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co, WV.2 She married2 William Darke.
3. v. William Lowther b. Dec-22-1742.
4. vi. Martha Lowther b. ca 1743.
5. vii. Nancy Rebecca Lowther b. 1744.
viii. Henry Lowther,2 b. ca 1745.1 Returned to his home in Albemarle County, Virginia after participating in the building of early forts in Harrison County.3
ix. Jonathan Lowther, b. ca 1748,1 d. Apr- 4-1778,1,2,3 cause of death killed by Indians.2,3
6. x. Joseph Lowther b. ca 1755.
7. xi. Joel Lowther b. Aug- 4-1756.
Generation Two
2. Mary2 Lowther, (1.Robert1) b. ca 1740 in Albemarle Co, VA.1,2 She married2 1759 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 Alexander Morrison, b. ca 1737,1 d. ca 1820 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.1 Alexander: Son of Archibald Morrison. Alexander and Mary came to Harrison County with her parents about 1785. Alexander was listed on the Tithables List in Harrison County in 1787/88 and 1789. He served as surveyor before 1788 and was on the grand jury in 1791.1
Children:
8. i. Archibald3 Morrison b. ca 1766.
ii. Margaret Morrison. Many researchers report that this Margaret Morrison married her first cousin, William Lowther, son of William Lowther & Sudna Hughes. But earlier researchers, notably Minnie Kendall Lowther in "History of Ritchie County," pp. 12-14, show that the Margaret Morrison who married William Lowther was born in North Carolina, a daughter of Archibald Morrison and a Miss Fooks.
iii. Mary Morrison, b. ca 1770.[4] She married Feb-26-1788,4,[5] Joseph Kester.
iv. Alexander Morrison, b. ca 1773.4 He married4 Margaret ___.
v. Sarah Morrison. She married1 Nov- 7-1802,4 Marshall Reese.
3. William2 Lowther,1 title: Colonel, also known as William Beamer Lowther,1 [There is disagreement among genealogists as to whether Col. William Lowther had the middle name Beamer, or any middle name at all. His headstone reads "Col. Wm. Lowther."], (1.Robert1) b. Dec-22-1742 in Albemarle Co, VA,1,3,4 d. Oct-28-1814 near West Milford, Harrison Co, WV,[6],4,1 buried near West Milford, Harrison Co, WV,6 resided from Jun 1773 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,3 resided 1763 to Jun 1773 near Moorefield, Hardy Co, (W)VA.3 After settling in Harrison County in 1773, Col. William Lowther figured in the erection of Simpson's fort, about eight miles below Clarksburg, and West's fort, near Jane Lew. He played an important part, too, in the construction of the "Old Nutter" fort, near Clarksburg, ruins of which still mark the site. He soon became distinguished for his fearlessness as a frontiersman, and for his unselfish devotion to the welfare of the colonists. He was one of the most capable defenders of the settlement in the war of 1774, and later, and he led many successful expeditions against the enemy. He was the first Justice of the Peace in the district of West Augusta; the first Sheriff of Harrison and Wood Counties; and was at one time a member of the General Assembly at Richmond, Virginia. Having served in all the subordinate ranks of military life, he rose to that of Colonel. His military record was such as to admit his descendants to membership in the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution.[7] He married ca 1763 in Hardy Co, (W)VA,3 [DAR Lineage Book, Vol 160, p. 265, states marriage date as 1765.], Sudna Hughes, b. ca 1748,4 (daughter of Thomas Hughes and Mary Baker) d. 1829 near Berea, Ritchie Co, WV,[8],4 buried (unmarked grave) at Flanagan Cemetery (CR 22, south of White Oak & Berea), Ritchie Co, WV,8,[9],[10] resided aft 1814 in Ritchie Co, (W)VA.8
Children:
9. i. Robert3 Lowther b. Oct- 1-1765.
10. ii. Thomas Lowther b. Mar- 7-1767.
iii. Eliza Lowther, b. Jan-27-1768.1
11. iv. William Lowther b. Jan-27-1769.
12. v. Jesse Lowther b. Jul-21-1773.
vi. Sudne Lowther, b. ca 1774.1 She married Dec-15-1796 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,[11] Jacob Jackson, (son of Robert Jackson).
13. vii. Elias Lowther b. Sep-16-1776.
4. Martha2 Lowther, (1.Robert1) b. ca 1743 in Bucks Co, PA,1 d. 1838. She married ca 1762, William Childers, b. 1748,1 (son of John Childers and ___ Finley) d. ca 1804 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.1
Children:
i. Isaac3 Childers.1
ii. Paul Childers.1
iii. William Childers, Jr., b. ca 1763,1 d. Dec- -1839.1 He married Jul- 2-1793 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 Sudna Richards.
iv. Martha Childers, b. ca 1765.1 She married Nov-20-1798,1 Benjamin Frazier.
v. Elizabeth Childers, b. ca 1765.1 Married a Shawnee Indian.1
vi. Mary "Polly" Childers, b. ca 1770.1 She married1 Michael Brown.
14. vii. Sudna Childers b. ca 1778.
viii. John Childers, b. ca 1780.1 He married Mar- 6-1801 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 Margaret Yerkey.
ix. Robert Childers, b. ca 1781,1 d. Sep- 6-1850.1 He married (1) Jan-23-1806 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1,[12] Mary Tolbert. He married (2) Mar- 9-1847 in Doddridge Co, (W)VA,1,[13] Mary Piggott.
x. Samuel Childers, b. ca 1783,1 d. 1820.1 He married Apr-26-1808,1 Frances "Rebecca" Hughes.
xi. Abigal Childers, b. Jun- 1-1789,1 d. Jul- 3-1862.1 She married Jan-10-1809 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 John Edmond Yerkey, Jr..
5. Nancy Rebecca2 Lowther, (1.Robert1) b. 1744 in Albemarle Co, VA.1 She married[14],1 (1) Charles Washburn, b. 1744,1 d. Jun- -1782 in Hardy Co, (W)VA,14,1 cause of death killed by Indians.14 She married14 (2) 1784 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 William Henry M. Carder,1 b. May-19-1762 in Culpeper Co, VA,1 (son of William Henry M. Carder and Sarah ___) d. Nov-13-1839 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.1
Children by Charles Washburn:
i. Isaac3 Washburn, b. Sep- 6-1776.1 He married1 Amelia Roy.
ii. Susannah Washburn, b. 1778.1
Children by William Henry M. Carder:
iii. Elizabeth Carder, b. 1786.1 She married Feb-11-1805 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 Thomas Washburn.
iv. William Henry M. Carder, Jr., b. 1787.1 He married Oct-26-1808 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,12,14 Martha Stutler, b. Sep- -1785 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,14 [Sep 10 (or 19) 1785 (or 1790)], (daughter of John Stutler and Sarah Abigail (or Ann) Hughes) d. Oct-22-1864 in Harrison Co, WV.14
v. Manley Carder, b. Jan- 9-1790,1 d. Apr- 2-1890.1
vi. Sarah Carder, b. 1792.1
vii. John Wesley Carder, b. 1794,1 d. Jul-13-1859.1
viii. Nancy Carder, b. 1797,1 d. 1839,14 [Death date 1832 reported by Don Norman.]. She married Aug-25-1816 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,[15] John Stutler, b. ca 1788 in Kincheloe, Harrison Co, WV,[16] [Birth date reported variously as Jul 13 1787 or Aug 13 1789.], (son of John Stutler and Sarah Abigail (or Ann) Hughes) d. Jan-23-1873 in Roane Co, WV,14 cause of death kicked by a horse.14
ix. George Carder, b. 1802.1
6. Joseph2 Lowther, (1.Robert1) b. ca 1755 in Albemarle Co, VA,1 d. ca 1800 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.1 He married Jan- 1-1796 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,12,2 [Believed to be Joseph's second marriage.], Catherine Coburn, (daughter of Jonathan Coburn, Jr. and Catherine ___).
Children:
15. i. Robert3 Lowther b. ca 1796.
7. Joel2 Lowther, (1.Robert1) b. Aug- 4-1756 in Loudoun Co, VA,1 d. Nov- -1853 in Ohio,[17],1 resided (settled) in Harrison Co, (W)VA,3 military Revolutionary War.[18] He married2,1 (1) Elizabeth West, b. ca 1770 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 (daughter of Edmund West and Eleanor ___) d. bef 1812 in Ohio.1 He married18 (2) ca 1812,1 [Nancy Douglas was a widow, but unclear if Douglas is her maiden name or previous married name.], Nancy Douglas.
Children by Elizabeth West:
16. i. Robert Allen3 Lowther b. 1786.
17. ii. Jonathan Lowther b. 1788.
iii. Margaret Lowther. She married1 John Brown.
iv. Sarah "Sally" Lowther. She married[19] 1822,1 Asa Ware. Asa: Last name may be Wade.19
18. v. William Lowther b. ca 1795.
19. vi. Diana Lowther b. ca 1801.
vii. Delilah Lowther, b. ca 1802.18,1 She married18,1 Hugh Dougherty.
20. viii. John Jefferson Lowther b. ca 1805.
ix. Diadema Lowther, b. ca 1807.1 She married1 James Hamilton.
Children by Nancy Douglas:
x. Elias Lowther, b. ca 1813.18,1
xi. Mary Ann Lowther, b. ca 1815.18,1 She married 1835,18,1 James Shepherd.
xii. Jackson Lowther, b. ca 1817.18,1
xiii. Elizabeth Lowther, b. ca 1821.18,1 She married1 1843,18 William Collins.
Generation Three
8. Archibald3 Morrison, (2.Mary2, 1.Robert1) b. ca 1766.4 He married1 (1) Jan-19-1790 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,12 Bridget Runyon, also known as Bridge Runnion.1 He married1 (2) Oct- 5-1813 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,12,4 Sarah Dobson.
Children by Bridget Runyon:
21. i. Abraham4 Morrison1 b. 1801.
9. Robert3 Lowther, (3.William2, 1.Robert1) b. Oct- 1-1765 in Hardy Co, (W)VA,1,[20],18 [on the South Branch of the Potomac], d. Nov-16-1832 near West Milford, Harrison Co, WV,[21],1 [Died from a fall while re-roofing his late father's cabin near West Milford in Harrison County.], buried near West Milford, Harrison Co, WV.20 He married20 Jan-21-1787 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,12,1,4 Catherine Cain,1 also known as Kathrine Cain,20,[22] b. Oct-27-1766 in Albemarle Co, VA,20,1 [Linder, p. 425, reports birthdate as Nov 16 1766.], (daughter of Daniel Cain and Susannah Custer) d. Mar-25-1851 near West Milford, Harrison Co, WV,20,18 [Don Norman reports death date as Oct 25 1851.].
Children:
22. i. William Beamer4 Lowther b. Mar- 4-1787.
23. ii. Jesse G. Lowther b. Feb-27-1790.
24. iii. Mary Ann "Polly" Lowther b. ca 1792.
25. iv. Susannah Lowther b. ca 1795.
26. v. Catherine Lowther b. Jan-25-1798.
27. vi. Robert J. Lowther b. ca 1801.
28. vii. John C. Lowther b. Aug-21-1804.
29. viii. James K. Lowther b. 1807.
ix. Sarah Lowther. She married Nov-30-1819,21,1 George Shoulders.
x. Jonathan Lowther.1
10. Thomas3 Lowther, (3.William2, 1.Robert1) b. Mar- 7-1767 in Hardy Co, (W)VA,[23] d. Jun- -1816 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,21,1 buried near West Milford, Harrison Co, WV,23 resided near West Milford, Harrison Co, WV,23 occupation farmer.[24] Tradition says that Thomas Lowther, son of Col. William Lowther, "was a snake-charmer, that he could wield such power over a poisonous reptile as to be able to handle it without harm to himself." He is said to have died in middle age of appendicitis, having undergone surgery without an anesthetic.
There is disagreement among researchers regarding the children of Thomas Lowther and Mary Coburn; some (e.g., Minnie Kendall Lowther) include Robert and Mary "Polly," while others (e.g., Linder and Donnelly) state that there is no proof for that. Don Norman lists Elias, Jesse, William, Mary and Margaret as the five children of Thomas and Mary Coburn, then shows a second marriage to Catherine Switzer producing seven children, Sarah "Sally," Phoebe, Elizabeth, Thomas, Polly, Robert and another Elizabeth.
The will of Thomas Lowther (Harrison County Will Book, Vol 2, p. 178), was written on May 19 1816. "The will lists five children of Thomas Lowther: Jesse, Eliza, Peggy, William and Nancy. A daughter named Mary was not mentioned. (According to the Census of 1810, by enumeration Thomas Lowther appeared to have had as many as nine children, four of them girls.) The will then lists six additional children of Catherine Switzer: Polly, Thomas, Sally, Robert, Pheby and Elizabeth. The will does not state that Thomas Lowther was married (second) to Catherine Switzer nor state that the second list of children were those of Thomas Lowther by marriage or adoption." The will named Thomas' friends Robert Lowther and Elias Lowther the executors of his estate, and it was signed in the presence of Marshall Rees, William Lowther and Elias R. Lowther.
There is also speculation that Catherine Switzer was actually Thomas Lowther's oldest child, but no marriage record has been found in Harrison or Lewis counties of a Catherine Lowther to a Switzer, including name variations. Doddridge County death records show a Robert Lowther, son of Thomas & Catharine, who died on Apr 13 1867. This is likely the Robert Lowther, born ca 1810, who married Mary Ann Spurgeon and whose household contained in both the 1850 and 1860 Censuses a Catherine Lowther, born ca 1781, relationship not indicated. This may also be the Robert Lowther in question here as the son of Thomas Lowther.
Despite the lack of evidence described in Linder's and Donnelly's excellent research, we include Robert and Mary "Polly" among Thomas Lowther's children with Mary Coburn, principally because Minnie Kendall Lowther saw fit to include them.23,[25],[26] He married[27],23 Mar-17-1789 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,12 Mary Coburn, b. Mar- 7-1767 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,1 (daughter of Jonathan Coburn, Jr. and Catherine ___).
Children:
30. i. Jesse Coburn4 Lowther b. ca 1790.
31. ii. Elias Lowther.
iii. William Lowther. This may be the William T. Lowther who died in Lewis County in 1819. There was no will. The final settlement of his estate was made in Dec 1820 by William B. Peterson, Executor.[28]
32. iv. Margaret "Peggy" Lowther b. Feb- -1796.
v. Nancy Lowther. She married Jan-12-1817 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,[29],[30] John Burnside.
vi. Robert Lowther, resided in Doddridge Co, (W)VA.23
33. vii. Mary "Polly" Lowther27 b. ca 1802.
11. William3 Lowther, (3.William2, 1.Robert1) b. Jan-27-1769 near Moorefield, Hardy Co, (W)VA,[31],10 d. Nov-26-1857 in Ritchie Co, (W)VA,[32],[33],10 [at the home of his son Archibald], buried in Lowther (Walnut Grove) Cemetery, Holbrook, Ritchie Co, WV,32,10 resided from 1837 in Holbrook, Ritchie Co, WV,31 resided (childhood to 1837) in Harrison Co, (W)VA,31 resided (early childhood) in Hardy Co, (W)VA.31 In about 1797, William Lowther "went to Ohio for the purpose of seeking a home, and, while on the Muskingum River, he helped to rear the first cabin where the city of Zanesville now stands, but owing to the prevalence of 'fever and ague' in this section, he returned to his home satisfied to remain at West Milford." William and Margaret Morrison Lowther were the parents of twelve children, six of whom reached maturity. Five of them married, and four of that five were the heads of pioneer families of Ritchie County.32 He married31 Aug- 4-1789 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,15,12,4 Margaret Morrison, b. May- 1-1768 in North Carolina,31,4 [on the banks of the Yadkin River. DAR Lineage Book, Vol 160, p. 265, states birth date as 1766.], (daughter of Archibald Morrison and ___ Fooks) d. May-13-1850,32,4,10 buried in Lowther (Walnut Grove) Cemetery, Holbrook, Ritchie Co, WV,32,10 resided (from 1837) in Ritchie Co, (W)VA,31 resided (till 1837) in Harrison Co, (W)VA,31 resided birth to young adult in North Carolina.31 Conflicting information regarding Margaret Morrison, the wife of William Lowther, has been reported by numerous researchers. Minnie Kendall Lowther's "History of Ritchie County," pp. 12-14, reports that Margaret Morrison was born in North Carolina, one of several children of Archibald Morrison (a native of England) and a Miss Fooks. But Don Norman's "Descendants of Robert Lowther" reports her parents as Alexander Morrison and Mary Lowther (dau of Robert Lowther & Aquilla Reese). Linder's "Gibson and Related Families," pp. 400-401, also shows her to be the daughter of Alexander Morrison and Mary Lowther of Harrison County, but then on p. 429 identifies her parents as Archibald & ___ (Fooks) Morrison.
While neither Norman nor Linder cite specific sources, the information reported by Minnie Kendall Lowther does have a credible basis. Not only was she a reputable researcher in local history and genealogy, but she was also the great-granddaughter of this couple, William Lowther and Margaret Morrison, and she was in possession of their family Bible. From research or personal experience, she reported as follows:
"Near the year 1789, he (William Lowther) was married to Miss Margaret Morrison, who was born on the banks of the Yadkin river, in North Carolina, on May 1, 1768, and with her parents emigrated to Harrison county in her early womanhood. After their marriage, they settled near one mile below West Milford, on the farm that is now owned by the Highlands. Here they reared their family, and here they remained until near the year 1837, when they came to this county, where they spent the evening hours of their lives with their son, Archibald Lowther, at Holbrook. ... Mrs. Lowther was a woman of devout religious character, a Presbyterian in faith, and her old Bible, which was her daily companion, is now in the hands of the writer. It bears the date of "1790", and is still held together by the old leather string that she ever kept about it."
It is on this basis that we report this family as we have.
Children:
34. i. Alexander J.4 Lowther b. Jan-14-1791.
35. ii. Sudna Lowther b. Apr- -1792.
36. iii. William W. Lowther b. Oct-31-1793.
37. iv. Robert L. Lowther b. May-24-1795.
v. Mary Lowther, b. Dec-12-1797,32 d. young.32