An American Family History

Sarah Bonner Bowles Douglas Smith Harbert was born about 1636 in Charles County, Maryland.

Her first husband was William Bowles (Bowls, Bouls). He was the son of Edward and Isabell Bowles. He owned Bowls Plantation (Bowlesley) which was a plantation of 200 acres on the Potomac River near Piccowaxen Creek.

In 1662, Sarah inherited Bowls Plantation and half his estate from William.

Her second husband was John Douglas. Their children and life together are described in detail in the section on John and Sarah Douglas.

Sarah married Ralph Smith after John's death. In 1683 she was referred to as the widow of John Douglas and wife of Ralph Smith in Peter Carr's will.

Ralph's will was probated on March 10, 1693

Her last husband was Captain William Harbert (Herbert). He had been married twice before. William died two months before she did.

She signed a will on July 8, 1718 in Charles County.

She died in July, 1718 at Bowls Plantation.

Bowles, William, Pickiawaxen, Charles Co., 15th Apr., 1662;
27th Feb., 1662.
To wife Sarah, execx., and hrs., ½ estate, real and personal.
To Robert Robbins, personalty.
Uncle John Bowles and kinsman James Tyre,
residuary legatees. Test: Jas. Smith, Wm. Ayliffe, Wm. Lewis. 1. 171.

Feb. 27, 1662/3 - Sarah Boules was granted administration on estate of William Bowles. Bond: Robert Robins. Appraisers: William Heard, Thomas Smoote. Mr. Francis Pope to administer oath.
Source: Maryland Prerogative Court, Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 1D, pp. 64-5.

Carr, Peter, Charles County, 21st Sept., 1680;
19th Apr., 1683.
To Robert, Charles, Joseph, Eliza: and Sarah Douglass, sons and daus. of Col. John Douglass, late of Charles County, personalty; part of same being a debt due testator by Sarah Douglass, now wife of Ralph Smith, and mother of sd. legatees.
To Peter, son of George Mackmillion, at 16 yrs.; Jane, wife of John Smith; James, son of James Tyer, and child. of George Newman, personalty.
Ex. Jas. Tyer.
Test: Wm. Philmore, Jno. Gilby, Edm. Dinnis. 4. 12.

Ralph Smith 18.154 1 CH £334,6,9 Mar 10 1693
Appraisers: Cleborne Lomax, Walter Storey,
Executrix: Sarah Smith (relict),

Ra. Smith 19-1/2B.89 A CH £334.6.9 £22.3.8 Feb 24 1699
Payments to: Mrs. Richard Boughton, John Doughlass, Joseph Cole, Mrs. Philip Briscoe.
Mentions: no orphans.
Executrix: Mrs. Sarah Smith (widow).

Charles County Circuit Court Liber H, Page 290
3 Apr 1680; Indenture from Thomas Harris, planter, to Ralph Smith and Sarah his wife, the relict of Col. John Duglas; exchange of land; a parcel of land at the head of Petit's Creek part of land now in possession of Thomas Harris; bound by Pope's Hollow and land of Thomas Petits; containing 20 acres; /s/Thomas Haris; wit. Henry Bonner, Rando. Brandt; acknowledged by Mary Haris, wife of Thomas

Smith, Richard, Chas. County, 14th June, 1694;
18th July, 1694,
To Sarah Douglas, to dau. Eliza: and unborn child, personalty. sons Richard and Arthur and hrs., all real estate equally.
wife Ann, estate during minority of children.
EX; Wife and son Rich'd afsd.
Test: Jno. Harrison,, Robt. Barrett.

Thomas Tallor [Taylor] 19-1/2B.113 A CH Apr 25 1700
Received from: John Loftin, Anne Hide, Samuel Burnham,
Payments to: Joseph Venor, Anne Cox, Mrs. Sarah Smith.
Administratrix/Executrix: widow (unnamed), wife of John Gwin,

Will of Sarah Herbart
Herbart, Sarah, widow, Charles County, 8th July 1718;
26th July 1718
To son Joseph Douglas and heirs., dwelling plantation and 200 A., "The Hills"
To grandsons Thomas, Benjamin, and Joseph Douglas and Douglas Giffard, personality.
To granddaus. Eliz. Howard and Mary Douglass, personality.
Son Joseph afsd., ex. and residuary legatee.
Test: Col. Walter Story, Tho.Harris, Sam. Hanson. MCW 14, 662.

Charles County Maryland Probate Records Inventories Book 1717-1735
49: Sarah Herbert decd 26 Jul 1718 - Geo Dent, Douglass Gifferd next of kin.

William Timothy 20.264 A CH £23.14.0 #3924 May 14 1701
The amount of the inventory is equivalent to #5688,
Payments to: Grace Timothy widow of deceased), John Rose, William Herbert and his wife Sarah (executrix of Ralph Smith), William Nicholls, Phillip Briscoe, Gerrard Fowke.
Administratrix: Samuell Compton

A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.

Harbert (Herbert), William (?-1718).
BORN: perhaps in Maryland, of age by 1690.
NATIVE perhaps second generation.
RESIDED: in Charles County.
FAMILY BACKGROUND.
FATHER: perhaps William Harbert, who died in Calvert County, ca. 1679.
MARRIED first, by 1690 Mary Sentel.
MARRIED second, possibly Elinor, widow of John Angell; daughter of James Pattison, of St. Mary's County.
MARRIED third, Sarah (?-1718), probably widow of both John Douglas (?-1705/6) and Ralph Smith.
CHILDREN.
DAUGHTERS: Ann, who married George Dent (1690- 1754); Catherine (1692-?).
PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION, literate.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE planter.
PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Charles County, 1708A.
LOCAL OFFICES: William and Mary Parish Vestry, Charles County, 1696-1697; justice, Charles County, 1700-1714 (quorum, 1708-1714).
MILITARY SERVICE captain, 1705.
WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.
LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: ca. 1,574 acres.
WEALTH AT DEATH.
DIED: will probated on July 26, 1718.
PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, £1,083.14.8 (including 9 slaves, 1 servant, and 18 books);
FB, £1,001.0.0.
LAND, over 500 acres.
IDENTIFICATION PROBLEMS. Career and origins uncertain; two other William Harberts lived in neighboring counties.

from Maryland Historical Magazine Volume 8

30 Aug. [1650] Edward Bowles demandeth 500 Acres of land for transportacon of himself his wife and Willm & Joane Bowles his children and John Norman his servant into this Province this pesent yeare.

Warrt to lay out for Edward Bowles 400 Acres of land on Patomeck River or some branch or Creeke thereof.