William Fowler1,2

M, b. circa 1687, d. before 14 September 1747
FatherHenry Fowler IV b. 1658, d. b 5 Dec 1733
MotherAbigail Hoyt b. c 1659, d. a 1701
     William was born circa 1687 in Eastchester, Westchester County, New York. William married Mary (?) circa 1709 in New York. Captain William Fowler was a constable in East Chesterin 1711 and held many other offices. Over a period of time, he purchased a substantial amount of property on King Street and in some records became known as William Fowler of King Street. He also purchased a large tract of land in the west patent of North Castle covering much of the site of the village of Chappaqua and land in the Middle Patent as well. William made his will on 1 July 1747 at North Castle, Westchester County, New York.

In the name of God, Amen, July 1, 1747. I, William Fowler, of North Castle, in Westchester County, Innholder, being very sick. I leave to my wife Mary 1/3 of all the farm that I now live upon, and 1/3 of my dwelling house and barn and orchard and meadow land, for her use during widowhood, and 1/3 of the movables, and a horse and saddle, and a silver tankard; "And my estate is to find her bread and meat for one whole year." I leave to my sons Caleb and Moses, all my farm meadows and lands after my wife's decease, but my son Caleb is to have the house and barn. I leave to my son Moses, my silver pike and scimetar. I leave to my daughter, Phebe Rundal, 5 shillings. To my daughter, Mary Brown, 5 shillings. To my daughter, Abigail Boker, and to my daughter, Rebecca Haight, 5 shillings each. To my daughter, Miriam Fowler, œ25. To my daughter, Hannah Fowler, œ30 "and a negro child, which I reserved of the wench I let James Rundall have, to be delivered when 18 months old." All my lands in North Castle, situate in Fortiners (Fauconiers) Waters & Company's west and middle Patents are to be sold. I make my wife and two sons executors. Witnesses, Samuel Dean, Anthony Wadham, Adam Johnson. [New York Wills: Liber 16, page 177]3

William departed this life before 14 September 1747 in North Castle, Westchester County, New York. His will was probated on 14 September 1747.

Family

Mary (?) b. c 1691, d. 1755
Children

Citations

  1. [S22] Norman Davis, Westchester Patriarchs, A Genealogical Dictionary of Westchester Co., N.Y., page 89.
  2. [S66] Christine Cecilia Fowler, The History of the Fowlers, pages 44-45 - no. 15. Capt. William" Fowler (Henry' Henry') son of Henry Fowler and his wife Abigail Hoyt, was born about 1687" at Eastchester, and died between July 1 and Sept. 14, 1747, the dates of making and probating his will.`'He m. Mary Merritt (name given by C. S. Fowler's records and mentioned here on p. 345.
    William Fowler was listed in his father's family at Eastchester, on the Census of 1698'' and again in 1710, age 23'. He was Constable for Eastchester in 1711, and was re-appointed in Dec. 1711. On June 1, William Fowler was appointed Collector for Eastchester.' In 1715, he purchased a tract of land in Will's Purchase in Rye, between Blind Brook and King Sreet, from Samuel Blackman, and on May 14, 1715, he purchased 18 acres east of King Street on the east side of the Colony line from Thomas Park! In December 1715, William Fowler served as Grand Juror; and in 1716 had a suit against Denham in the Court of General Sessions. In 1718 he served as Grand Juror" and purchased 77 acres adjoining his other lands, between Blind Brook and King Street which ran along the Colony line`. 1755 mentioned his mother Mary Merritt; and Caleb Fowler made the following entry in his ledger in 1754, "To John Carhart -- balance - yr. 1752 - by a mourning band - by writing an article of agreement between my father Lyon and myself."'
         The Court records call him "son of Henry"; entered on the town records as William Fowler, weaver, which was the occupation given when he purchased land in Rye; same appointment. Rye Town Records.
    William Fowler had purchased a large tract of land in the West Patent of North Castle, covering most of the present site of the village of Chappaqua and land in the Middle Patent of North Castle, and from early entries upon the town records it is apparent that his sons Caleb and Moses had settled upon the Chappaqua tract long before he moved up there himself; and an entry on the Book of Westchester Co. Road Commissioners," indicates that he had built a small house upon his lands in the Middle Patent.
    Children of William' and Mary (Merritt) Fowler: 55.     i. Caleb,' b. about 1710-11;" (testified in Court in 1742, therefore probably of age at that date) ; d. before 1778.`; 56.     ii. Moses,' b     ; d. between Jan. 3 and April 3, 1755"; 57.     iii. Phoebe, b     m. James Rundel; 58.     iv. Mary,' b     m     Brown; 59.     v. Abigail' b     _ m      Baker; 60.     vi. Rebecca, b     m     Samuel Haight; 61.     vii. Zerpah,' b     m. Robert Dickinson; 62.     viii. Miriam,' b     unm in 1747; ix. Hannah,' b     unm. in 1747.
  3. [S30] New York Historical Society, Collections of the New York Historical Society Abstract of Wills, Volume 28: pagaes 138-39 - Will of William Fowler dated: 1 July 1747 & probate 14 September 1747.