Person:Thomas Bowerman (3)

   From website entitled Descendants of Thomas Bowerman and Hannah (Annable) Bowerman, which is no longer online

   b. c 1625, d. b 01 Jun 1663, #1
   Thomas Bowerman was born circa 1625 in Prob. England. Thomas appeared on a list of those able to bear arms in August 1643 in Plymouth and was of Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, USA, this being the earliest proven record positively identifying "our Thomas". See attached discussion from "The Great Migration Begins.1,2,3,4"

   Research Note: If Otis (GNBF) was correct, the eleven young men named were at least 16 years old and "able to bear arms" in August, 1643, but not yet twenty-one years old "of legal age" the following January 1643/44 meaning that they were not old enough to appear on the list of "Townsmen" of that date. This would mean that all eleven men were born between approx. 1623 and 1627.
   It should further be noted that it has not been reliably proven that "our" Thomas Boreman ever achived the rank of "Townsman" or "freeman". His name cannot be reliably shown to appear on any of the lists of "freemen" now extant for Massachusetts. Several things could have disqualified a man such as refusal to take the oath of fidelity, refusing to join the established church, etc.5

   As of August 1643, Thomas was also known as Thomas Boreman the name being written as such on the Arms List.4,6 As of 1 March 1644/45, Thomas was also known as Thomas Burman.7
   Thomas married Hannah Annable, daughter of Anthony Annable and Jane Momford, on 3 March 1644/45 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England, Thomas was "of Barnstable" at the time of marriage.8,9,7 Thomas Bowerman witnessed the marriage of Anne Clark and Anthony Annable on 3 March 1644/45 at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England; in a double wedding with his daughter Hannah #2.10 Thomas Bowerman and Hannah lived at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England, between 1643 and 1663 "in the west part of the town (Barnstable), on the south side of the cove of meadow at the head of Bridge Creek."11,12 Thomas and Hannah Annable have also been reported to have married on 10 March 1644/45 at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England.13 Thomas and Hannah Annable have also been reported to have married on 1 March 1645/46 at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England.14,7 Thomas Bowerman was appointed in 1648 at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England, as a "Surveyor of Highways." This simply meant that he checked the local roads for disrepair... he did NOT "Survey" them as we know the term today.5,6 He was a jury member in 1650 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, New England, Grand Juror.6,15 Thomas and Henry Bourne were appointed on 8 June 1655 at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England, as "Surveyor of Highways."16 Thomas Bowerman and Anthony Annable were authorized by the Plymouth Colony Court to purchase lands, along with Mr John Howland, Isacke Robinson, Capt. Nathaniel Thomas, Samuel Fuller, Abraham Pierse, and Peter Blossom. On 4 June 1661 at "Saconesset", Falmouth, Barnstable Co., MA, USA.17,18

   Research Note: Russell A. Lovell, Jr., curator of the Sandwich Archives and historical Center, published an article in issue #8 of the "Bowerman Family Newsletter" [BFN 8, article #134], in which he shows Thomas as being "on a committee to buy Indian land" and cited PCR III:216 as his source. Upon examination of this record, it is found that Thomas was a "petitioner" for lands in the "Saconesset" (now Falmouth) area. The "committee" was actually comprised of Mr. Thomas Hinckley, Richard Bourne, and Nathaniel Bacon, who were acting on behalf of the other purchasers. 

   Thomas Bowerman sold his farm, for £78 to Robert Parker on 28 October 1662 at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England. Thomas Bowerman left a will dated 9 January 1663 at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England.19,20 The will of Thomas dated 9 January 1663 reads as follows:

   May the 9th 1663. The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Burman of Barnstable in the Collonie of New Plymouth.

   Memorandum: I doe make my wife sole Exequitor of what estate I have and shee shall pay my debts and performe my Will in delivering out such goods or legacies as I shall give to my children.
   Item, I give to my son, Thomas, forty acrees of land at Namassakett. Item, I doe give my wife threescore acrees of land att Namassakett, the one halfe to be att her dispose. Item, I doe give twenty five acrees that is to bee layed out to bee equally devided between my daughter, Hannah, and my son, Tristram--the said lands to bee layed out att Namassakett in Plymouth Collonie, and the meddowes and privilidges to bee equally devided according to the quantities of that land. Item, I doe give to my sonne, Thomas, and my son Samuel, my Great Lott in the towne of Barnstable and alsoe the privilidges of the comons that I have in this towne.
   Item, I doe give to my son Thomas, my young mare and Tristram, my son, shall have the first colt that shee bringes. Item, I doe give to my son, Samuell, the coult of the white faced mare. Item, I doe give to my daughter, Hannah, two cowes. Item, I doe give my daughters, Desire, Mary, and Mehetabell, each of them, a cow a peece.
   And this doe I fully declare to bee my mind and will by these presents. In witness whereof I doe sett to my hand in the day and yeare above written.

   Thomas Burman (Mark)

   Witnes
   John Smith
   John Chipman

   (John Smith and John Chipman gave their oaths, 4 Jun 1663)
   Source: Plymouth PR II(2), f. 83 (Document set #182)

   NOTE: "Namasket" became Middleborough in 1669, and is the commonly held location of this land, although the family never settled on it. "Namassakeesett", which joined Duxbury in 1658, has also been presented as the "true location" of this property, although it's union with Duxbury 5 years before this event makes it unlikely.

   Thomas Bowerman died before 1 June 1663 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England.21,6 His estate was probated on 4 June 1663 at Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA, New England, Anthony Annable and William Crocker were appointed by the court to administer Thomas' estate on 01 Jun 1663.19

   Last Edited=9 Oct 2002

   Children of Thomas Bowerman and Hannah Annable:
   Hannah Bowerman (May 1646)
   Thomas Bowerman (Sep 1648 - a 30 Jun 1730)
   Samuel Bowerman (Jul 1651)
   Desire Bowerman (May 1654)
   Mary Bowerman (Mar 1656)
   Mehitable Bowerman (Sep 1658)
   Tristram Bowerman (Aug 1661)

   [S65] A. L. Bowerman, BFH, Pg. 3 [Citing NEHGR 4:257-8] - "Our Thomas Boremans's first reliably proven appearance in the New World is on the Plymouth Colony Arms List of 1643. He was listed in Barnstable on Cape Cod.".
   [S66] Amos Otis, GNBF, Pg. 333 - "[Thomas Boreman] "returned in Aug. 1643, as able to bear arms, (but) not of legal age in January 1643/44" along with John Foxwell, Thomas Blossom and eight others..
   [S93] Gary Boyd Roberts, MSR, Pg. 503-4.
   [S84] Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, PCR VIII, :193 ["Boreman"].
   [S65] A. L. Bowerman, BFH, Pg. 3.
   [S66] Amos Otis, GNBF, Pg. 81.
   [S84] Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, PCR VIII, :41 ["Thomas Burman and Hannah Annible marryed March first, 1645"].
   [S65] A. L. Bowerman, BFH, Pg. 5 [Citing PlymouthVR 655]; "Thomas Boreman of Barnestable & Hannah Annable married 3 March 1644/45.".
   [S85] Lee D. van Antwerp, Plymouth VR, Pg. 655 [Citing PCR 2:110]; "Thomas Boreman of Barnestable & Hannah Annable married 3 March 1644[/5].".
   [S60] Robert Charles Anderson GMB, :273 [citingMD 2:212; PCR 2:80, 8:41; Otis 17-18].
   [S65] A. L. Bowerman, BFH, Pg. 4 [Citing GNBF 80].
   [S66] Amos Otis, GNBF, Pg 80; "Thomas Bourman was of Barnstable in 1643. He resided at West Barnstable, on a farm on the south side of the cove of meadow, at the head of Bridge Creek. It is thus described on the town records:

   1. Twenty-five acres of upland, be it more or less, butting northerly upon ye marsh, easterly upon a brook, and westerly upon a brook, and so running 80 rods southerly into ye woods.
   2. Sixteen acres of marsh, more or less, bounded westerly partly by John Jenkins, and partly by a ditch east up between Abraham Blush and him; noertherly, partly by ye highway, and partly by Gdd. Blush, easterly, partly by ye great swamp and partly by Gdd. Blush's, his marsh.
   3. Five acres of upland, more or less, butting northerly upon ye great marsh, southerly upon a foot-path, easterly upon a flashy swamp, westerly upon his own land..
   [S66] Amos Otis, GNBF, Pg. 81; "He [Thomas Bourman] married 10th of March, 1644-5, Hannah, daughter of Anthony Annable...".
   [S65] A. L. Bowerman, BFH, Pg. 5 [Citing NEHGR 9:315]; "Thomas Burman (sic) to Hannah Annible, Mar 1, 1645/6".
   [S65] A. L. Bowerman, BFH, Pg. 5.
   [S61] Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, PCR III, :79; In this same record, Thomas Boardman of Yarmouth (with whom records about "our" Thomas are often confused), appears as being appointed Constable of Yarmouth.
   [S61] Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, PCR III, :216-217.
   [S99] Theodate Geoffrey, Suckanesset, : 23; "... while on June 4 were added Samuel hinkley, Matthew Fuller, John Cooper, Henry Cobb, John Dunham and John Jenkins of Barnstable and William Nelson and Thomas Burman (Bowerman) of Sandwich...".
   [S65] A. L. Bowerman, BFH, Pg. 6.
   [S89] PCPR, II(2), f. 83 (Document set #182); 
   [S65] A. L. Bowerman, BFH, Pg. 6 [Citing GNBF 81]. 

Marriage 1 HANNAH ANNABLE b: ABT 1623 in Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony

   * Married: 3 MAR 1644/45 in Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Children

  1. Has No Children Hannah Bowerman b: MAY 1646
  2. Has Children THOMAS BOWERMAN b: SEP 1648 in Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
  3. Has No Children Samuel Bowerman b: JUL 1651
  4. Has No Children Desire Bowerman b: MAY 1654
  5. Has No Children Mary Bowerman b: MAR 1655/56
  6. Has No Children Mehitable Bowerman b: SEP 1658
  7. Has No Children Tristram Bowerman b: AUG 1661