Susannah Iiams was born about 1680 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Susannah married (1) Thomas Fowler on October 15, 1696, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland, and (2) Mark Brown on November 8, 1716, in Prince George's County, British Colonial Maryland. Susannah Iiams Fowler Brown died about 1743 in Prince George's County, British Colonial Maryland.
Susannah Iiams, sometimes spelled Ijams, was born about 1680 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland, likely the youngest of 6 children of William Iiams and Elizabeth Cheney. Likely the youngest because Susannah was last in the list of children in her father's will, which usually implies birth order. Additionally Susannah gave birth to her first child in 1697, about age 17, and her last child in 1723, about age 43, suggesting that an earlier birth year is unlikely.
Susannah grew up on her father's plantation, a 100 acre part of “Cheney's Resolution” on the south side of South River in Anne Arundel County. Susannah likely met Thomas Fowler in South River.
Susannah and Thomas Fowler married on October 15, 1696, in Anne Arundel County. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Prince George's County where all their children were born. They may have lived at Susannah's father's plantation which he patented in 1695, “Iiams Choice”, until Thomas could purchase his own plantation.
Susannah and Thomas Fowler had the following known children:
- Elizabeth Fowler
- William Fowler
- Thomas Fowler
- Susannah Fowler
- John Fowler
- Benjamin Fowler
- Samuel Fowler
- Mary Fowler
- Richard Fowler
- Jeremiah Fowler
- Anne Fowler
- Benoni Fowler
Susannah's husband Thomas purchased his own land in 1703, a 100 acre part of “Ridgely's and Tyler's Chance” called “Fowler's Venture”. “Fowler's Venture” was located in Prince George's county between White Marsh and the Patuxent River. In 1706, Thomas purchased an additional 300 acres of “Ridgley's and Tyler's Chance.”
Before June 8, 1715, Susannah's husband Thomas died intestate. All of the children except Elizabeth were minors: William - 17, Thomas - 14, Susannah - 13, John - 11, Benjamin - 10, Samuel -8 , Mary - 7, Richard - 5, Jeremiah - 3 , and Anne - 1. Susannah was 4 months pregnant with their 12th child. Thomas' estate was inventoried on June 8, 1715. A second inventory was recorded the following year on February 22, 1716, after the birth of a son born on November 15, 1715. Susannah named the boy Benoni, which means “son of my sorrow”.
Susannah's son William was heir at law to his father's estate and Susannah was entitled to a third dower's rights. Shortly before or after Thomas' death, daughter Elizabeth married Samuel Howard. As was common for the time, minor children were considered orphans even though Susannah was still alive. Without an inheritance, the older children were likely bound in servitude to learn a trade. Records years later suggest that Thomas, Susannah, John, Benjamin, and Samuel were placed in the Broadneck area of Anne Arundel. William and the youngest children, Jeremiah, Anne and Benoni, appear to have remained with their mother Susannah.
On November 8, 1716, Susannah married Mark Brown in Prince George's County, British Colonial Maryland. Susannah and Mark had the following known children:
- Mark Brown
- Alice Brown
- Mark Brown
- Frances Brown
Susannah and Mark's first son Mark died prior to the birth of their next son, who they also named after his father. Youngest daughter Frances, Susannah's 16th child, was born in 1723 when Susannah was about 43 years old.
In 1729 Susannah's husband Mark loaned Susannah's daughter Elizabeth £1000.
In 1741 the vestry of Queen Anne's parish decided to construct pews to replace chairs and benches in the church. The parishioners were asked to divide into groups of three and draw lots for the pew placement in the church. Susannah's husband Mark Brown and her son William Fowler grouped together along with Dr. William Denune.
On February 9, 1744, Mark Brown made a final distribution of Thomas Fowler's estate to Susannah children by Thomas. The distribution was likely Susannah's widow's dower indicating that Susannah was deceased. All 12 children received a distribution.
Susannah Ijams Fowler Brown likely died around 1743 in Prince George's County, British Colonial Maryland, about 63 years of age. Of Susannah's 16 children, 15 survived to adulthood.
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch completed: November 2020
Sources:
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Elizabeth Fowler, 1697.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for William Fowler, 1699.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Thomas Fowler, 1700.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Susanna Fowler, 1702.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for John Fowler, 1703.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Benjamin Fowler, 1705.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Samuel Fowler, 1706.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Mary Fowler, 1708.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Richard Fowler, 1709.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susannah in entry for Jeremiah Fowler, 1711.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Ann Fowler, 1713.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Benony Fowler, 1715.
"Maryland Marriages, 1666-1970", database, FamilySearch, Susanna Fowler in entry for Mark Brown, 1716.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Mark Brown, 1717.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Alice Brown, 1718.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Mark Brown, 1721.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Susanna in entry for Frances Brown, 1723.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Testamentary Proceedings. Liber 31 Folio 446.
Maryland State Archives. Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1732-1753. Vol 28 Pg 286.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Prince George's County, Liber C Folio 46A & 183 A.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories and Accounts, Liber 36C Folio 229 & 270.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories and Accounts, Liber 37C Folio 122.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Prince George's County. Liber M Folio 446.
