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Descendants of FELIX FURBEE

Generation No. 5

5. BOWERS⁵ FURBEE (BENJIMAN⁴, BENJAMIN FURBEE³ [FURBY], BENJAMIN FURBEE², FELIX¹ FURBEE) was born 1722 in Murderkill hundred, Kent County, DE, and died 1781 in Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, DE. He married ANNA SIPPLE Abt. 1748 in Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, DE, daughter of WAITMAN SIPPLE and MARY HUNN. She was born 1725 in Kenty Co. Delaware, and died 1785 in Murderkill Hundred, Kent Co., Delaware.

Notes for BOWERS FURBEE:
      Will was made in March 6, 1775, a month before the battle of Lexington, which precipitated the Revolutionary War.
His will was probated at Dover on February 12, 1781.
His death was probably a few days before that.
      On 13 AUG 1759 Bowers and Anna sold to Benjamin Furbee, for 137 pounds 10 shillings PA money, 141 acres 54 perches on the west side of Double Run Branch of Murderkill Creek, formerly conveyed by Andrew Caldwell to Bowers and surveyed for Bowers 4 OCT 1756 by warrant dated 16 DEC 1755; the land was adjacent to Caleb Furbee, James Boyer, and Martinus Sipple; witnesses were George and Mark Manlove.[26]
      "In 1759 Bowers Furbee bought from Daniel Brinkloe a tract of 225 acres for $267.10, located on the east side of the King's Highway beyond the draw bridge over the Murderkill. Here he was to erect a mansion and develop the family fortune to their highest point. This was a wonderful property and well-suited for the great plantation which it become. The land extends east for almost a mile along the Murderkill and varies in width from a quarter to half a mile. Along the south extends a marsh which was and still is covered by a great forest. The tillable land back of the mansion was divided into, four great sections and was surrounded entirely by a private road running the full length of the property along the Murderkill and marsh. The land is almost as level as a floor and very fertile. A short distance back of the location of the mansion, one still sees traces of the private landing for vessels plying the Murderkill, and the point where the slaves seined the enormous quantity of fish which supplied, in part, the tables of the Plantation.
      "The mansion, which was destroyed by fire about half a century ago, was built of brick in the style of the English country estate of the period. The story that the bricks were from England, often reported in regard to other old houses along the eastern seaboard, is of doubtful authenticity, although it is a fact that bricks from English brickyards were often used for ballast on the western voyage. The house stood at least a hundred feet back from the highway and at a later date was surrounded by great trees.
      "The mansion had two stories and an attic with high steep roof as well as many dormer windows. An ell of the same was built on the rear and was probably added in extent as time went on. Both Bowers and his wife, Anna, speak of it in their wills--not without a touch of pride--as the 'mansion.' To judge from other houses of the period, which are still standing in the region, one would say that they were quit justified in the use of the word. Perhaps, Delaware had few finer at that date.
      "The wealth of Bowers Furbee came to him by ancestral inheritance in his own family, by the succession of his wife, Anna Sipple, to her share in the wealth of her family; (her father, Waitman Sipple, died February, 1762) and especially by his own efforts, 1740-80. During the period of the Revolutionary War, his properties included over a thousand acres. With these vast holdings and with slaves enough to exploit them, he rose to a high position of wealth in this community. The easily-accessible and excellent markets of Philadelphia assured him ready sale for all his products. Especially was this true during the period 1760-80, which included the most important parts of the French and Indian, and the Revolutionary Wars.
      "However, he was not to be permitted to enjoy his wealth and his ease to a ripe and healthy old age. In his will made March 6, 1775, about a month before the battle of Lexington which precipitated the Revolutionary War, he speaks of himself as being well in health and of perfect mind and memory. The next five or six years were of the most action of his life, and we have no record of final illness. His will was probated at Dover on February 12, 1781. His death probably occurred a few days before that date."
      Calendar of Kent County Delaware Probate Records
            1680 - 1800 page 328
Furbee, Bowers, Will Made May 4, 1775. Heirs: wife Anna; sons Waitman, Caleb, Jonathan & John; daus. Mirriam Davis, Anna & Elizabeth Furbee; grandson Bowers Davis. Exec'x, wife Anna. Wits., Philip Barritt, Caleb Sipple, Elizabeth Sipple. Prob. Feb. 12, 1781. Arch. vol. A18, page 148. Reg. of Wills, Liber L, folios 223-224.

Bowers was a very successful Kent County farmer.

More About BOWERS FURBEE:
Occupation: Farmer
Probate: February 12, 1781
Will: March 06, 1775

Notes for ANNA SIPPLE:
"Anna Sipple was a remarkable woman. During her lifetime, she introduced into the Furbee family an element of culture and an appreciation of the better things of life, such as it has seldom enjoyed since her day. Born to a life of wealth, luxury, and ease, she inspired in her husband and children sentiments which can be traced down to the present dayŠ. Anna Sipple Furbee, survived him [Bowers] almost five years. In her will, a most remarkable document, made November 14, 1785, she speaks of herself as 'being on sick bed, but of sound and perfect understanding.' It closes with this: 'Item, (I) will also that all my negroes may and shall be their own free people to act and deal for themselves.' This will was probated on or about December 20, 1785, which marks approximately the date of her death."

More About BOWERS FURBEE and ANNA SIPPLE:
Marriage: Abt. 1748, Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, DE

Children of BOWERS FURBEE and ANNA SIPPLE are:

9.	i.	MIRIAM⁶ FURBEE, b. Abt. 1750, Kent Co., Delaware; d. Abt. 1820, Monongalia Co., VA (later to be WV).
10.	ii.	WAITMAN FURBEE, b. Abt. 1750, Kent Co., Delaware; d. Abt. 1835, West Run, Tyler Co., W.Va..
11.	iii.	CALEB FURBEE, b. November 22, 1752, Kent Co., DE; d. April 16, 1837, Monongalia Co. Va (Wetzel Co.,WVa).
	iv.	SUSANNA FURBEE, b. Abt. 1756; d. Aft. 1842, Monongalia Co., VA (later to be WV); m. (1) GEORGE SMITH; b. Abt. 1750; d. Unknown; m. (2) JOHN DAVIS, 1780, K ent Co., Delaware; b. July 22, 1751, Kent Co., Delaware; d. Abt. 1841, Monongalia Co., Virginia.

Notes for GEORGE SMITH:
There are two George Smiths in Monongalia in 1810; one is 26-45 and the other is over 45.
The only George Smith in Monongalia in 1820 is over 45.

Notes for JOHN DAVIS:
There are two John Davises in the reconstructed 1790 census of DE in Mispillion Hundred; he is probably one of them, the other being the son of Mathias Davis Sr., who died in 1785; in Murderkill Hundred the only John Davis has "Manrings" [a misreading of Mathias?] in parentheses after his name.
On 11 SEP 1797 Robert and Messey Davis and John and Ann Davis sold to William Veach, for $100 VA money, 106 acres on Robinsons Run, adjoining John Davis and Robert Davis; it was part of a tract patented to Joseph Meal 26 JAN 1787; signed Robert Davis, Messey Davis, John Davis, Anna Davis; no witnesses. Solomon Getty was sold land on Robinsons Run by John and Anna Davis in 1835; see Elizabeth Getty, 2nd wife of Bowers Davis. John and Anna sold land to their son Robert at the same time.

More About JOHN DAVIS and SUSANNA FURBEE:
Marriage: 1780, K ent Co., Delaware

ELIZABETH FURBEE, b. Abt. 1760, Kent Co., Delaware; d. Bef. 1808; m. VINCENT DOUGHERTY, Bef. December 1785; b. Unknown; d. 1808.

Notes for ELIZABETH FURBEE:
In 1788 Elizabeth and her husband asked for a division of her brother John's real estate because he was deceased.

More About VINCENT DOUGHERTY and ELIZABETH FURBEE:
Marriage: Bef. December 1785

	vi.	MARION FURBEE, b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
12.	vii.	ANNA FURBEE, b. Abt. 1756, Kent Co., DE; d. Aft. 1842.
13.	viii.	CAPTAIN CALAB FURBEE, b. November 22, 1752, Kent, DE.; d. April 26, 1836, Mannington, Marion Co.VA(WV).
14.	ix.	MARIAM FURBEE, b. Abt. 1757; d. Unknown.
	x.	JOHN FURBEE, b. Abt. 1763; d. Unknown.

6. MICHAEL⁵ FURBEE (BENJIMAN⁴, BENJAMIN FURBEE³ [FURBY], BENJAMIN FURBEE², FELIX¹ FURBEE) was born Abt. 1720 in Murderkill Hundred, Kent Co., DE, and died 1765 in Murderkill Hundred, Kent Co., DE. He married MARY BOYER Unknown, daughter of DANIEL BOYER and ??? [BOYER]. She was born Abt. 1725 in Murderkill Hundred, Kent Co., Delaware, and died Aft. 1791.

Notes for MICHAEL FURBEE:
On 25 FEB 1756 Michael bought from Peter Lowber, for 20 pounds, 260-1/2 acres in Murderkill Hd. on the north side of Tanner's Branch.

On 11 FEB 1760 Michael bought from Martinus Sipple, for 200 pounds, 200 acres in Murderkill forest, part of the dwelling plantation of his deceased father.

Michael made his will 9 APR 1765; it was proved 15 MAY 1765. He gave his son Benjamin the 200 acres he bought from Martinus Sipple; to his daughter Mary Furbee a Negro girl called Tish; to his daughter Nancy Furbee a Negro girl called Perulow whom he bought from David Lewis; "unto a child that my wife is now big with 40 pounds"; to daughters Mary and Nancy and the unborn child his dwelling plantation that belonged to his mother, Susannah Lewis; to his wife Mary one third of his land and moveable estate and a Negro woman called Hannah. His executors were his friend James Boyer and wife Mary Furbee; witnesses were Caleb Furbee, Stephen Lewis, and Alexander Craige.
His will mentions his wife Mary, and children Benjamin, Mary, Nancy and an unnamed child. Vol. A18 records the Mary Furby, widow, married Arthur Wheatley and mentions Michael Furby as her son.

On 11 MAY 1769, however, James Boyer sold the two former Martinus Sipple tracts, 224-1/4 acres, to Joseph Caldwell for 100 pounds to pay Michael's debts.

More About MICHAEL FURBEE:
Will: April 08, 1765, Dated
Will Probated: May 15, 1765, in Kent County, Deleware

Notes for MARY BOYER:
On 12 NOV 1766. On that date a deed was acknowledged in which Michael's executor, James Boyer, along with Arthur Whiteley and Mary his wife, late the wife of Michael Furbee, sold to William Price 260-1/2 acres in Murderkill forest on the north side of Tanners Branch, adjoining Isaiah Whitehead; the land had been surveyed for Peter Lowber, and Michael had agreed to sell it before he died.

More About MICHAEL FURBEE and MARY BOYER:
Marriage: Unknown

Children of MICHAEL FURBEE and MARY BOYER are:

MARY⁶ FURBEE, b. Bef. 1763; d. Unknown.

Notes for MARY FURBEE:
As of 25 Nov 1790 she was still unmarried.

ii.

NANCY FURBEE, b. Abt. 1763; d. Bef. November 25, 1790.

Notes for NANCY FURBEE:
In 1783 Nancy asked to have James Byard [Boyers?] appointed as her guardian.
On 25 NOV 1790 her brother Michael and sister Mary were said to be the only surviving heirs of Michael, their father.

15.	iii.	MICHEAL FURBEE, b. Abt. 1760, Delaware; d. Aft. November 25, 1790.
16.	iv.	BENJAMIN FURBEE, b. Unknown; d. November 29, 1782.
	v.	BENJAMIN FURBEE, b. Abt. 1745; d. Bef. 1782.
	vi.	MARY FURBEE, b. Abt. 1750; d. Unknown.
	vii.	MICHAEL FURBEE, b. Abt. 1755; d. Unknown.

7. CALEB⁵ FURBEE (BENJIMAN⁴, BENJAMIN FURBEE³ [FURBY], BENJAMIN FURBEE², FELIX¹ FURBEE) was born Abt. 1728 in Muderkill Hundred, Kent C., Delaware, and died May 04, 1795 in Muderkill Hundred, Kent Co, Delaware. He married (1) JANE BRADY Abt. 1759. She was born Abt. 1726, and died Abt. 1792. He married (2) SARAH ??? Unknown. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown.

Notes for CALEB FURBEE:
On 9 MAY 1796 administration of Caleb's estate was given to Sarah Furbee. Also mentioned was Jacob Furby. According to Carol Mehring, the balance sheet of Caleb's probate record shows that one third of his estate, after expenses, went to the widow (58 pounds) and the remaining two thirds to Jacob Furby (117 pounds), apparently the only heir.

More About CALEB FURBEE:
Burial: Unknown, Barratt's Chapel Cemetery

More About CALEB FURBEE and JANE BRADY:
Marriage: Abt. 1759

More About CALEB FURBEE and SARAH ???:
Marriage: Unknown

Child of CALEB FURBEE and JANE BRADY is:

JACOB⁶ FURBEE, b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

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