Carrier v. Bowman: Deposition 3
In pursuance of A Notice herewith enclosed the undersigned Commissioner for taking depositions hath proceeded this 18th day of November 1819 at the house of Thomas Lanahan in the Town of Harrisonburg to take the following Depositions to read as evidence in a suit depending in the Superior Court of Chancery holdin Staunton wherein Richard Carrier & others are Plaintiffs and John Bowmans Exors and others are defendants which depositions were sworn to and subscribed at the time and place aforesaid the said Executors and said Carrier and Peter Shaver being present
John Rader of Lawful age being first duly sworn deposeth and saith being interrogated as follows
Questions by Defts
Are you acquainted with Magdalene Bowman widow of John Bowman Deceased and you been acquainted with her for any length of time and if so do you not know although she is a woman of weak understanding that she is capable of managing her domestic concerns
Answer, I am acquainted with her and have known her about forty five or forty six years I have always seen her house in Good order when I was there every thing appeared to be clean and Decent as much so as at any of the Neighbors, I have not conversed with her since about a year or more before the Death of her husband at that time and always previous to that time when I conversed with her she talked as sensibly as most of Women but never did consider her a Woman of Strong understanding and further this deponent saith not
John Rader
Joesph Motter of Lawful age being first duly sworn deposeth and saith being interrogated as follows
Question by Defts
Do you know Magdalene Bowman Widow of John Bowman Deceased and have you known her since the Death of her husband and is she comfortably provided for & do you think her capable of managing her own concerns
Answer - I know her and have lived with John Bowman before his Death and Drove Waggon for him and worked for him and since his death have been frequently at the house of the old Woman and to the best of my knowledge she is well provided for, often as I have been there I have never heard any compliant, and in my opinion she is capable of managing her own concerns the reason why I think so is she has every thing about her nice and decent
Question by Plaintiff
In what year was you at the house of Mrs. Bowman Last
Answer,
In this year I have been frequently there backward and forward since last Newyear
Question by the same,
Is she a woman of a Strong or Weak mind
Answer,
In my opinion she has sense enough to take care of herself and her business and further this deponent saith not
Joseph Motter
Samuel Stoner of Lawful age being first duly affirmed deposeth and saith to the following interrogations
Question by Defts
Do you know Magdalene Bowman widow of John Bowman Deceased and have you known her since the death of her husband and is she comfortably provided for and do you consider her capable of Managing her own concerns
Answer, I have known her for eighteen or nineteen years and have been at her house twice since the death of her husband She appears to be comfortably provided for, Every thing about her is neat and clean as much so as the most of her Neighbours and she says she has a comfortable Living and I do believe she is capable or managing her domestic concerns
Question by the same,
How long is it since you were there last and did you hear her say she did not wish the Estate disturbed by a Law suit about her Dower
Answer,
I was summoned on Monday and on yesterday I went to see her, and hear what she would say, She told me she was satisfied and did not wish her thirds laid off Dower assigned her, I asked her if she was not lonesome she sayed She was used to it and wished to live as she was She sayed her son George had offered to get her a Maid to live with her but she would rather live without one as long as she was well
Question by the same,
How far is the house she lives in from her Son George Bowman's house
Answer, about a hundred and fifty yards
Question by Plft
Does no person live in the house with her
Answer, No I do not think she would let any person live with her
Question by the same
Is she a person of a strong good Natural mind or is she a weak minded person
Answer, She is a person that sometimes will talk queer and sometimes will talk as sensibly as any person she has always since my acquaintance with her talked at times sensibly at other times she would talk sensibly for a while and would break off and talk on some other subject
Question by same
Do you think she would be capable of managing her own concerns if she was removed to any other house the house she lives in
Answer,
I do not think she would be willing to be removed out of the house she now lives in and if she was removed I do not whether she would be capable of managing her concerns or not and further this deponent saith not
Samuel Stoner
Michael Nave of Lawful age being first duly sworn deposeth and saith being interrogated as follows to wit
Question by Deft
Do you know Magdalene Bowman widow of John Bowman Deceased and have you been acquainted with her since her the death of her husband, and is she comfortably provided for and do you think her capable of managing her own concerns
Answer, I have known her this many years I have frequently worked for John Bowman in his lifetime I have been often at George Bowmans since the Death of his father which is close by where the Woman lives and have been in her house more than once and as far as I could see she had a comfortable living and from what I have seen I cannot say any thing but what she is capable of managing her own concerns
Question by Plft
What is the situation of of the old Womans mind is she a woman of strong or Weak mind
Answer,
She is not like some people she does not talk as sensibly as some people, at times she talks sensibly enough and at other times she does not talk so sensibly
Question by same
Does nay person live in the house with her
Answer, No unless it is very lately there was no person living with her last Week and further this deponent saith not
his
Michael X Nave
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