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FRANCES CORBITT

THE STORY AS I KNOW IT

Frances Corbitt was born 12th month, 19th day 1656. The Quaker method of dating at this time would put the 12th month to be Feb. ( I think), but then the year should be dual, ie 1656/57 or 1655/56. So this date needs confirmation. The Cope Digest of Friends Engish Meeting Records C10 gives the date and states that she was the daughter of William Corbitt of Warwick, North Warwickshire Quareterly Meeting. Warwick is a small city just east southeast of Birmingham. We do not know her mother's name, but at least one person on line says her name was Alice.

The Friends House Digest Register of Worcester England Weddings is on microfilm at the Swartmore library. It states that John Bowater, a nailor, son of John Bowater wed Frances Corbitt, daughter of Wiliam Corbitt on 2nd month, 12th day, 1683. they were wed at Chadwich. I have not been able to locate Chadwich but one website said it was 8 miles north of Worcester or just south of Birmingham. That puts it near Bromsgrove, which was the Bowater home. They were members of the Dudley Monthly Quaker meeting. Dudley is just west of Birmingham, England. There is the suggestion in the history that he had been persecuted on account of his beliefs.

Most of the information on John Bowater came from Quaker records found in the files at Swartmore PA in the Friends Historical Society library. dating mostly from the time when he had immigrated to Pennsylvania.

John Bowater was an early and active follower of the Quaker movement in England. The History of Delawaer county PA, by George Smith, written in 1862, page 448, states that John Bowater visited New England, Virigina and Maryland on behalf of the Quaker Society about 1677-78.

Within a year and a half , John and Frances Bowater emigrated to Pennsylvania. The Hinshaw records show that John was recieved from the Dudley Mt. meeting 3rd month, 21st day 1684. From the Bowater name file of the chester County Historical Society there is a note slightly different. It states that the Philadelphia Monthly meeting of Friends held 9th month, 4th day 1684 recieved a certificate from John Bowater and his wife. They settled in Middletown of chester County.

The family lived in Nether Provident, Middletown Township, Chester County. The Bowater Friends Meeting met in their home until a meeting house was built in 1700 on the land just next to the Bowaters owned by Joshua Hastings. This later became the Springfield MM. There seems to be a number of versions of its history on the website noted below.

                                        The Hinshaw Records, card 3626 of the Chester Monthly Meeting has the children and birthdates for John and Frances Bowater. They are

                                        1. Mary Bowater, born 1685
                                        2. William Bowater born 1686
                                        3. Elizabeth Bowater born 1688
                                        4. Ann Bowater born 1690
                                        5. Alice Bowater born 1692
                                        6. Phebe Bowater born 1697

                                        John Bowater of West town, Chester county signed his will July 20th, 1705. It was probabed Sept 17, 1705, Chester County Will Book C. 10.5. It names his wife Frances,
                                        and children Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, Alice and Phebe. John Bennett of Birmingham PA was executor. William must have died as a child.

                                        Frances Bowater signed a will made out the 29th day of (I can't make out month), 1720/21 so Jan, Feb or march. It was Will #123, I do not have book. It was found at the
                                        Chester County Archives. There we get her daughter's married names:
                                        Mary wed Stephen Ailes
                                        Elizabeth wed William Pusey
                                        Ann wed William Chandler
                                        Alice wed Jacob Pyle, and then Moses Mendenhall (Grandson Samuel Pyle was listed with his mother Alice Mendenhall)
                                        Phebe wed Shadrack Scarlet

                                        Executors were William Pusey and Moses Mendenhall.

                                        Springfield MM did not have a cemetery until 1727. So we do not know where either John or Frances are buried.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

If you know the answer please CONTACT US

Who was her mother
Get exact reference source numbers from the Friends Historical Society
Make sure I have all of John and Frances children

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Date Last Edited: 12/20/2011