General Notes

Name Suffix:<NSFX> Sr.
Was a Quaker, the only son of John I to leave decendants.
In the name of God, Amen! I, Godfrey Fowler of Henrico Coun
ty, VA., being of perfect health and sound memory--thanks b
e to God!--but knowing the uncertainty of this life, do mak
e, constitute, and ordain this to be my last will and testa
ment in manner and form following: First, I desire that m
y son John Fowler may have the whole use and benefit and ad
vantage of the plantation on which he now lives, with all t
he land on the north side of the Spring Branch, during hi
s natural life, or his abode upon the said plantation. Afte
r his death or removal I give and bequeth the aforesaid pla
ntation and tract of land to my grandson Godfrey Fowler so
n of Mark Fowler [i.e., the second Mark] to his heirs forev
er. Then I give my son Godfrey Fowler"[i.e., the second God
frey, known as the Quaker]" the plantation and tract of lan
d whereon he now lives, lying on the south side of the afor
esaid Spring Branch, crossing Cattail Creek to William Dunn
ifants, Spring Branch, thence keeping that branch to the li
ne, to him and his heirs forever.
Then I desire that my daughter (in law) Phebe, widow of m
y deceased son Thomas Fowler, may have the whole use and be
nefit and advantage of the tract of land and Plantation whe
reon my deceased son dwelt containing two hunddred acres, t
he same more or less, as it is already laid off by Mark't T
rees &c during her natural life or widowhood and after he
r death or marriage I give the aforesaid Plantation and Tra
ct of Land to my two Grandswons William and Josiah Fowler
, sons of my aforesaid son Thomas Fowler, to them and thei
r heirs forever, to be equally divided between them.
Then I give and bequeath unto Thomas Ellis the Plantation a
nd Tract of Land whereon he lately dwelt containing 200 acr
es more or less as laid off by Mark't Trees &c to him and h
is heirs forever, it being the Tract of Land which he bough
t of my son Joseph Fowler and the right not yet conveyed.
Then I give and bequeath unto John Smith 100 acres of lan
d be the same more or less joyning upon land which I have g
iven to Thomas Ellis to him and his heirs forever, he havin
g fully satisfied me for the said land and the right not co
nveyed before.
Then I give my son Joseph Fowler One Shilling Sterling.
Then I give my Daughter Anne Hill one Sealskin Trunk.
Then I give my son Mark Fowler all the Cattle he has of min
e in his possession and the debt he owes me.
Then I give my Daughter Martha Vadin one Leather Chair whic
h she has now in her possession.
I desire that my Estate may not be appraised. All of the re
st of my Estate of (what) nature or kind soever I give unt
o my Son Godfrey Fowler my whole and Sole Executor of my la
st will and testament ratifying and confirming this and n
o other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereo
f I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 29t
h of June, 1743. (Signed) " Godfrey Fowler
- Religion: Society of Friends (Quakers)
-Godfrey petitioned for the return of 200 acres of his fath
er's estate. Godfrey being the only surviving heir was give
n the land. Godfrey, together with George Archer, his broth
er in law, were granted land on Jan. 22, 1717 in Bristol C
o and Godfrey was granted land on July 9, 1725 near his oth
er land. He also received a grant August 17, 1725 or 400 ac
res. At death, Godfrey owned 1408 acres of land, 7 slaves
, 4 horses, 16 head of cattle. His personal property afte
r his death sold for 858 Pounds, 5 Shillings and 5 Pence.
Virginia 1705 Rent Rolls (Note: This was closest thing t
o a census, showing Colonial Planters in Virginia: April, 1
705 - Henrico Co - The number following the name is the amo
unt of acres the person held. Fowler, Godfrey - 250, Archer
, Jno - 335, Archer, Geo
-Developed the family estate in Chesterfield, patenting wit
h George Archer over 750 acres in Henrico Co, VA
-Henrico