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The North Carolina Lowders
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On October 22, 1932, Callie Campbell Lowder, the daughter of Elonzo "Elon" Lowder, married Lewis Edward Ross, the son of George and Cora Linker Ross. Our Lowder ancestors have been documented back to Daniel Lowder , the son of Thomas A. Lowder.
I have read that the origin of the name LOWDER is English and was spelled LOWTHER, apparently dating back to one "Arikefrith, a Danish nobleman who held lands on the Lowther River in northern England during the reign of King Caunte. I have also read that Lowder is the German spelling of the English name Lowther.
Alberta Lowder Boggan believes our Lowder's are English. In her book "Our Children's Heritage" she states her belief that George Lowther, who became the first Attorney General of Pennsylvania, and all the Pennsylvania Lowthers, Lauders, and Lowders, seem to be descended from Edward and Mary Cussach Lowther of Ireland, who were descended from the Lowthers of Yorkshire, England.
Lowder family tradition has it that the North Carolina Lowders are descended from the Quaker Joel Lowther who married Phoebe Ellis of Philadelphia in 1738. Since Phoebe was not a Quaker, Joel was disowned, and therefore, the records are not clear. It is believed that Thomas and William were the sons of Joel and Pheobe, but there is no proof of this.
It is said that Thomas A. Lowder, his brother William H., their sister Rebecca, along with Jerry Adderton, came to North Carolina from Pennsylvania in about 1785. Mrs. Boggan states that Thomas and William were listed in the Pennsylvania Militia in 1781, and then in the 1790 North Carolina Census, Thomas in Mecklenburg County and William in Cabarrus County.
Where ever they came from, there were definitely Lowders in Montgomery County, NC by 1799. North Carolina land records show many Lowder land grants in Montgomery County, including grant number 1842 entered 9 October 1799 for 100 acres to one Thomas Lowder. There are also Montgomery County land grants for Henry Lowder in 1821 SW of Pee Dee River, Peggy Lowder 200 acres SW of Pee Dee River issued in 1798, and William Lowder 100 acres on the "Waters of Big Bear Creek" in 1819.
It is probably safe to assume that these Montgomery County land grants were issued to "our" Lowder ancestors, and that the Thomas Lowder who entered the 1799 land grant is the Thomas Louder enumerated in the 1800 Montgomery County, NC federal census. This family included 2 males and 2 females under 10 years of age, and 1 male and 1 female between 26 and 44 years of age. By the 1810 Montgomery County census, there are two Lowder families, Thos. Lowder and W. Lowder.
Thomas Lowder died in 1827 and in his will mentioned his wife Elizabeth. Her maiden name is not known, but some sources believe it may be Langley. In the 1800 Montgomery Co., NC census, the family enumerated next to Thomas Louder is Christopher Langly. Elizabeth lived to age 100 according to her grave marker in the Old Freedom cemetery in Stanly County where she is buried. Her marker is inscribed "Elizabeth Lowder departed this life Jan 8th 1864 AG 100 Y". She is enumerated in the 1850 Stanly County, NC census as age 80 and head of household, and in the 1860 Stanly County census as age 98 in the household of George and Betsey Lowder.
The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Lowder
I, Thomas Lowder, of the County of Montgomery and State of North Carolina, being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be God, do this 4th day of September 1826 make and publish this my last will and testament in manner of following, that is to say; first I give and bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth Lowder one bed and its necessary furniture, and one chest, that is called hers, and all her clothing, also one sorrel mare and her bridle and saddle and one filly colt that is formerly called her own, also one cow and yearling, also all the notes which she has which she lent money and they were taken in my name, it is my desire that she should have them; secondly, I give unto my son George Lowder a Negro girl by the name of Sal, which is to remain in the possession of his mother during her natural life or widowhood or sooner if they all agree, also the old wagon which is to remain as the Negro stated above stated; third, I give unto my son Daniel Lowder one Negro boy by the name of Holden, and the blacksmith tools which is to continue in the possession of his mother during her natural life or widowhood, except they agree otherwise; fourth, I give unto my son Samuel Lowder one Negro boy by the name of Joseph, and the new wagon and the still and the ten stands and seven barrels which he may choose cut of what there is, which is to remain in his mothers possession during her natural live or widowhood except he and his mother can agree otherwise; fifth, it is my desire for my wife Elizabeth Lowder to have one hundred acres of land, including my dwelling house and all my household and kitchen furniture if she sees cause to live there during her natural life or widowhood, and if she refuses to continue there and breaks up and moves off, each of the boys is to take his legacy bequeathed to them, together with ratable part of the household furniture, and cow and calf and one sow and pigs and other necessary. Seventh, it is my desire when the grant is obtained for the land which I have entered, that my executors divide it equally between Samuel and Rebecca and make them a deed for the same and I hereby make and ordain my trusty sons George Lowder and Daniel Lowder my Executor of this my last will and testament. In witness where I, the said Thomas Lowder, have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal, the day and year above written, signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Lowder the testator as his last will and testatment in the presence of us who were present at the time of signing and sealing thereof. Richard Stokes and Williamson Finch; signed his mark (X) Thomas Lowder.
The will does not specifically call Rebecca a daughter, but it can be presumed that she was. I have read that there were two other daughters who were not mentioned in the will.
Generation
1.
Thomas Lowder
Children of Thomas Lowder as mentioned in his will:
2. Daniel
Lowder
Children:
3.
Eben Lowder
Children
Children:
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