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[edit] The "Reconstructed Life" of Andrew R. Lowe, 1760-1838One of the most difficult ancestors that I've had to trace is Andrew R. Lowe, who lived in Bledsoe County, Tennessee in the early 1800's. Andrew left several descendants in the East Tennessee area, but information on him was difficult to find due to a lack of records in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, where Andrew spent the last 30-plus years of his life. My line to Andrew is through his son, Andrew Lowe, who married Jane4 Witton (William Stanley3, Thomas2, William1). The information listed here has been gathered from several sources, each of which is noted for future reference, and the notification of any errors herein would be greatly appreciated to the author at my e-mail address: Delijim@aol.com. Andrew R. Lowe was born abt. 1760, probably in Maryland. It is most probable that Andrew's parents were located in the Baltimore County, Maryland area. The family of John Lowe of Baltimore County, Maryland was located very close to the same area that the Beckenbach family migrated to before 1750 (Pioneers of Old Monocacy, The Early Settlements of Frederick County, Maryland, 1721-1743, by Grace L. Tracy and John P. Dern). John Lowe, Sr. and John Lowe, Jr. both signed a petition to Governor Thomas Bladen for the creation of Frederick County, Maryland on Ocrober 16, 1742. Andrew later married and lived in Frederick County, Maryland, so Andrew is most likely from the same Lowe family that was located there. One of the brothers of John Lowe, Jr., was Ralph Lowe, who married Ruth Collett. Since Andrew R. Lowe's middle name is thought by some researchers to be "Ralph", this may by a connection which needs additional research. (1830 census indicates Andrew's birth date between 1750-1760, World Family Tree Cd#3, Tree #1392 says 1760). Andrew R. Lowe died on March 29, 1838 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee (source: Chuck Tilman, e-mail: ctilman@ott.net). Based upon credible evidence and records, it appears that Andrew was married twice; first, to Anna Marie Beckenbach on July 19, 1778 in the Reformed Church of Frederick County, Maryland (source: World Family Tree, Cd#6, Tree #3800 and Ancestry.com file submitted by: Charles Hayes, e-mail: hc7331@hotmail.com) (Date listed as April 19, 1779 in "Beckenbach, Pickenpaugh, etc" by Edwin T. & Atha Peckenpaugh Brace). Anna Maria Beckenbach, born in Germany between 1743-1747, was the daughter of Johann Adam and Anna Maria (Schmitt) Beckenbach. She came to America after her father's death in 1747, with her mother and some of the other children in 1751. She was refered to as "spinster", since she was age 34 when she married Andrew R. Lowe. Anna Maria's will was dated November 4, 1822, and probated November 19, 1822. (source: Edwin T. Brace book) Andrew was married second, to Amy Emerine Randolph, on October 13, 1833, in Bledsoe County, Tennessee (source: Chuck Tilman, e-mail: ctilman@ott.net and Gary Stoltman of Mercerville, New Jersey, e-mail: Stopan@aol.com). Amy Randolph was born September 21, 1816 in Buncombe County, North Carolina, and died April 19, 1899. World Family Tree, Cd#3, Tree #1392, lists Anna Maria Beckenbach as the mother of Elizabeth Lowe, b. 1791 in Tennessee who married John I. Kemmer. Some researchers have noted that several of Andrew's granddaughters were named "Rebecca". This may indicate a relative with the same name, but which relative cannot be determined at this time. Andrew was said by some to have served in the Revolutionary War, although records have not been located. He migrated from Frederick County, Maryland and settled near present day Pikeville, Bledsoe County, Tennessee in about 1791 - 1797. Andrew was listed on the Tax List of 1806 in Knox County, Tennessee, and apparently had property in Kingston, Roane County, Tennessee in 1807. (source: article written by Capt. Jim Lowe, grandson of Andrew R. Lowe, in the "Crossville Tribune" in 1878, provided by Mary & Don Bell, e-mail: maryanddonbell@multipro.com). First Marriage Andrew R. Lowe married Anna Marie Beckenbach on 7/18/1778 in Fredericktown, Frederick County, Maryland. (Source: Marriage Records of the Reformed Church of Frederick, Maryland). There is conflicting information on Anna Marie's parentage. The book by Edwin Brace and other sources (World Family Tree, Cd#6, Tree #3800, and Ancestry.com tree submitted by PVRadcliff@aol.com) claim that Andrew Lowe married Anna Maria Peckenpaugh, born about 1743-1747 in Eiterbach, Heidelberg, Germany, who was the daughter of Johann Adam2 Beckenbach, II (Johannes1), b. 1682 in Germany, and Anna Maria Schmidt. Other sources claim that she was born on February 17, 1758 in Middleton Valley, Frederick County, Maryland (source: World Family Tree, Cd#3, Tree #1392), the daughter of George Leonhardt Beckenbach , b. Abt. 1730 in Eiterbach, Hesse, Germany and Anna Maria Haverly. George Leonhardt Beckenbach and Johann Adam Beckenbach are listed as sons of Johann Adam Beckenbach, b. December 28, 1682 in Eiterbach, Heidelberg, Baden, Germany, and Anna Maria Schmidt, b. 1686 in Wunschmichelbach, Hesse, Germany (source: Family Tree Maker Home Page: "The John Farley Descendants Home Page" of Cheryl Ann Harnack, P.O. Box 317, Seaside, Oregon 97138, e-mail: prodesgn@aone.com) Anna Marie (Beckenbach) Lowe died in 1822, her will dated November 4, 1822, and probated November 19, 1822, leaving her entire estate to her daughter Catherine Houck, wife of Jacob Houck of Rockingham County, Virginia. Her will stated that: "the income was to be paid to Catherine during her life, and at the time of her death the money was to be divided so that Cyrus Houck would get 2 parts, and each of the other grandchildren 1 part of the equal parts into which the money was to be divided…" Most of the information on the Beckenbach (Peckenpaugh) family is apparently from the book "Peckinpaughs, Pickenpaughs, Beckenbaughs, Peckinpahs, and Peckenpaughs", 1984 Edition. written by Edwin T. & Atha Peckenpaugh Brace. It would appear based upon the evidence to date that Anna Maria was most probably the daughter of Johann Adam Beckenbach, and not George Leonhardt Beckenbach. Children from first marriage, born in Maryland (source: Steve Rivkin, e-mail: SRivkin742@aol.com): i. Mary Ann Lowe, b. 1780, Frederick County, Maryland ii. John Lowe, b. 1782, Frederick County, Maryland. There is a John Lowe listed in the 1850 census in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, age 70, born Tennessee, with: Elizabeth, age 55, born North Carolina, and James 24 (b. 1826), Isaac 19 (b. 1831), Martha 17 (b. 1833). This is most likely the same John Lowe, more research is necessary.
a. John Lowe, b. abt. 1805, Tennessee, married Sarah ???. John and his family are listed in the 1850 census in Bledsoe County, Tennessee - John, age 45, b. Tennessee; Sarah, age 38, b. Kentucky; and children: Andrew R. 18, John H. 17, Fanny J. 16; Margaret M. 15, Samuel C. 12, James M. 10. It is probable that this John Lowe is the son of John2 Lowe (Andrew R.1), born in Maryland. Based on his age, John2 would have been the only son of Andrew R. Lowe old enough to have been the father of this John Lowe. Also the fact that this John Lowe apparently named his eldest son Andrew R. Lowe (assumed to be named after his grandfather), also adds circumstantial evidence to his placement here. More research is necessary. iii. Catherine Lowe, b. 1783, Frederick County, Maryland. As listed in her mother's will, Catherine married Jacob Houck of Rockingham County, Virginia. Child of Jacob and Catherine:
iv. Elizabeth Lowe, b. 1785, Frederick County, Maryland, d. 1789, Frederick County, Maryland v. George Frederick Lowe, b. 1788, Frederick County, Maryland, d. 1789, Frederick County, Maryland Andrew Lowe was listed in the 1790 Census in Frederick County, Maryland as follows:
Sometime around 1789-1790, the family of Andrew R. Lowe, migrated from Frederick County, Maryland into East Tennessee. According to an article written by Capt. James3 Lowe (Samuel2, Andrew R.1 ), grandson of Andrew R. Lowe written for the Centennial Issue of the "Crossville Chronicle", Andrew R. Lowe, Greenberry Wilson and Reuben L. Brown were "among the first settlers in this whole area". It also stated that all three started their journey from Westmoreland County, Maryland. (note: there is not a Westmoreland County in Maryland; perhaps he was referring to a portion of Franklin County, which we know Andrew was located in from 1778 - 1790). Efforts to locate records on Andrew R. Lowe in Bledsoe County, Tennessee have been hampered by the fact that the county courthouse was burned down in 1908 (Source: "The Handy Book for Genealogists", edited by George B. Everton, Sr., Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah). The children of Andrew and Anna Maria, born in Tennessee, were identified in a lawsuit filed by Andrew's second wife against the children of his first marriage, and administrators of Andrew's will (which was undoubtedly lost in the Bledsoe County Courthouse fire). This lawsuit is included in the "Circuit Court Minutes Book of Bledsoe County, Tennessee, 1834-1841". In this lawsuit, Amy states that she is the widow and relict of Andrew R. Lowe and makes her claim which includes land in Bledsoe County where Andrew R. Lowe died. She was awarded one-third of the said Andrew R. Lowe's property. At a later session, Amy complains that she has not received her award. The last entry lists the parties in the lawsuit:
Children from First Marriage, born in Tennessee: i. Elizabeth Lowe, b. 1791, Tennessee, d. 1855, Tennessee, married John I. Kemmer in 1820 in Tennessee. John I. Kemmer, b. 1790, Tennessee, d. 1843 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, was the child of Conrad Nicholas Kemmer, b. 1754, in Germany, and Sarah Fehler, b. 1758, in Pennsylvania. (source: World Family Tree, Cd#3, Tree #1392). Children of John and Elizabeth: (source: World Family Tree, Cd#9, Tree #445)
ii. Andrew Lowe, b. 1793, Tennessee, d. 1868 in Rhea County Tennessee, married Jane 4 Witten abt. 1815 in Tennessee. Jane Witten, b. July 27, 1797, d. December 20, 1855, was the daughter of William Stanley3 Witton (Thomas2, William1) and Letitia2 Laird (James1). Andrew and his family were listed in the 1850 census in Bledsoe County, Tennessee - Andrew, age 56, b. Tennessee; Jane, age 52, b. Virginia, and Kizziah 25, William Witten 22, Jane T. 20, Mary T. 17, Malinda 14, James A. 12, Samuel H. Dickey 24, and Hardy Cox 15. Children of Andrew and Jane:
iii. Moses Lowe, prob. b. bet. 1794-1800 in Tennessee. Moses Lowe was indicted, tried and convicted of Larceny in Bledsoe County, Tennessee in 1838. He was given a term of two years confinement in the Jail and Penitentiary house of the State of Tennessee. (source: Bledsoe County, Tennessee Circuit Court Minute Book, 1834-1841) A Moses Lowe married Ruby Johnson, daughter of Aquilla Johnson and Mary Ann Scarborough, on January 20, 1824 in Tennessee. Since most of the children of Aquilla and Mary Ann also married in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, it appears that this very well could be the same Moses Lowe. (source: World Family Tree, Cd#11, Tree #3092). iv. Rebecca Lowe, b. 1797, Tennessee, d. abt. 1875 in Cumberland County, Tennessee, married Henry Hunt Sherrill, b. 1799, Georgia, d. 1885, Bledsoe County, Tennessee. (Source: Gendex search) Henry Hunt Sherrill was the son of Adam5 Sherrill, (Samuel4, Adam3, William2, Samuel1) b. March 10, 1758, Rowan County, North Carolina, d. June, 1828 in Russelville County, Georgia and Rebecca2 Kilgore (Charles1), b. bet 1765-1767 in Orange County, North Carolina, d. aft 1850. Adam5 Sherrill and Charles1 Kilgore both served in the Revolutionary War in the "Battle of King's Mountain" (Source: "The King's Mountain Men", by Katherine Keogh White, Genealogical Publishing, Baltimore, Maryland, 1985). (Note: World Family Tree, Cd#10, Tree #3164, indicates that Henry Hunt Sherrill was a son of George Davidson4 Sherrill (Adam3, William2, Samuel1), but this appears to be inaccurate). Children of Henry Hunt Sherrill and Rebecca: (Source: Gendex search)
v. Samuel C. Lowe, b. abt. 1800, Tennessee, d. July 31, 1879 near Crossville, Cumberland County, Tennessee, married Elizabeth McKinney, abt. 1820.(source: Mary and Don Bell, e-mail: maryanddonbell@multipro.com) (another source has their marriage date as September 18, 1838, but several sources claim that Elizabeth was Samuel's only wife. Samuel and Elizabeth divorced in 1844, a few years after he sold his livestock and other belongings to his brother Andrew for debt relief. In 1843, he went bankrupt for land in Bledsoe and Knox Counties. Samuel was apparently sent to prison for horse stealing, and was still there in 1850 (source: Steve Rivkin) Elizabeth and children were listed in the 1850 census in Bledsoe County, Tennessee - Elizabeth, age 49, b. Virginia; Samuel, age 20, b. Tennessee, and Andrew 18, Rebecca J. 16, Sarah 13, James W. 12, Patrick H. 10, Thomas H. 7. Children of Samuel and Elizabeth McKinney: (source: Ina Lowe and Mary & Don Bell)
6, 1927 in Cullman, Cullman County, Alabama. James Lowe married Susan Henry on July 4, 1859 in Cooksville, Putnam County, Tennessee. James was a Captain in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a publisher of the "Crossville Tribune" in February of 1878 and a writer for the Crossville Chronicle in 1905 and before 1922.
Second Marriage: Andrew R. Lowe married second, Amy Emerine Randolph on October 13, 1833 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee. (Source: Gary Stoltman, e-mail: Stopan@aol.com), cites an affidavit of "Family Record" that was submitted by Levi and Martin Kennedy declaring that " the following is true copy taken from the original Family Bible Record of the family of Andrew R. Lowe deceased to wit": "Andrew R. Lowe and Amy Randolph was Married on the 13th October A.D. 1833 by Wm. Hall, Esq." Amy Emerine Randolph , born September 21, 1816, in Buncombe County, North Carolina, and died April 19, 1899(Source: Gary Stoltman). On the date of their wedding, Andrew R. Lowe would have been about 73 years old, and Amy Emerine Randolph had just turned 17 a few weeks prior! Amy Randolph married second, David Norris, b. abt. 1825, Tennessee (source: 1850 census, Tennessee), d. aft 1880. Amy and David were divorced in 1866-67, and David married second, Mary Hyder VanHoy in Crossville, Tennessee. (Source: Pension Application of Mary Hyder VanHoy) David was the son of James Y.2 Norris (Abner1), b. abt. 1805 in South Carolina and Mary ???, b. abt. 1801, d. bet. 1851-1859. (Source: Anne Leggett McDonald). David Norris was listed in the 1850 census, age 25 - b. Tennessee, with James Norris, age 47 NC, Mary age 49 TN, David 25, Catharine 17, Mary 15, Rachael 13. Children from second marriage: (source: Chuck Tilman) i. William David Lowe, b. November 8, 1835, Tennessee, d. September 29, 1906, buried in Buck Cemetery, Slickford, Kentucky . He married Sarah Ann Hancock on January 11, 1864. ii. James S. Lowe, b. 1838, Tennessee, d. February 12, 1862, at Camp Williams, Casey, Kentucky. James died during the Civil War. Note: it should be noted that Amy had another child, John Elbert Harrison Lowe, born June 21, 1840, in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, that was listed in the Wayne County 1860 census. Since Andrew died in 1838, it appears that this may have been the first child of David Norris and Amy. The other children of David Norris were listed in the 1850 census with 'Norris' as their surname, but in the 1860 census, the same children were listed with 'Lowe' as their surname. Apparently, Amy later decided to raise her children as "Lowe's" instead of using her second husband's surname, and her children apparently continued to use the Lowe surname. This is confirmed in the following account: (source: Chuck Tilman) From "Mother's Application for Army Pension" which Amy filed after the death of her son, James S. Lowe:
Subscribed and sworn to before me by Amy Lowe this 26th day of July, 1875 Jabez Edwards, J.P. Also another document from the same papers: "Evidence Why Record Proof of Marriage Cannot be Adduced" State of Kentucky, County of Wayne, SS
As they say, "every story has two sides", and so with the story of Amy Lowe and David Norris! On the pension application of Mary Hyder VanHoy, David's second wife, the following information: (Source: Mary and Don Bell) "Mary Hyder VanHoy married David Norris at the home of a Hale in Cumberland County, Tennessee. David was divorced in 1866/67 at Crossville, Tennessee, from Amy Lowe, who was a widow when he married her. He charged her, Amy Lowe, with adultry". Second marriage of Amy to David Norris: (source: Chuck Tilman and Gary Stoltman)
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