Person:John Bowman (102)

Disambiguation

NOT to be confused with Capt. Jacob Bowman (1733-1781) of Ninety-Nine District, South Carolina who married Sarah Stephens. Many internet genealogies claim Capt. Jacob Bowman married Grace "Grizzel" Greenlee, but that Jacob Bowman's estate records clearly state that his wife was Sarah Bowman. Additional research is needed.

Clearing the Record

From the wikipedia page of Capt. John Jacob Bowman (1733-1781):

Unfortunately, this man [John Jacob Bowman] has been linked to several inaccuracies through time. First one says he was killed at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill in North Carolina on June 20, 1780. Although a Captain John Bowman was mortally wounded in that battle, it was not the same (John) Jacob Bowman. Another inaccurate link would be the husband of Grace Grizel Greenlee. Grace did marry a John Bowman but again she did not marry (John) Jacob Bowman.

Will Transcript

In the name of God Amen.

I John Bowman of the County of Burke in the State of North Carolina, being weak in body, but of perfect and disposing mind and memory, do make this my last will and Testament and do hereby disannul and revoke all other and former wills by me ever heretofore made. After ___ in ending ones Soul to god. My will is that my body be intered in such manner as my Executors shall think best or at the discretion of any one or more of tem who may be present at my decease.

My will is and I do hereby devise to be beloved wife Grizzel one tract of land with all its appurtenances containing six hundred and forty acres being the same I have lived one lying on both sides of Silver Creek, Joining land of John Mackey, during her lifetime and if my wife is with child, and, should be delivered of a living child. I do hereby devise the said tract of land to such child, if a female, after the death of my wife and to her heirs and assigns forever, but if my wife is now with child I do devise the said tract of land to my wife and to her heirs and assigns forever. My will further is that if my wife be delivered of a male child that said child inherch? my tract of entered land which I purchased of Thomas & Josias Black and that my Executors procure a deed to be made of said land to such male child and his heirs and assigns; And that the tract of Six hundred and forty acres before devised after the death of my wife be inherited by my daughter Mary, and, her heirs, and, assigns forever.

My will further is that if my wife is not with child that my entered and before mentioned to have been bought of Thomas and Josias Black be inherited by my daughter Mary and her heirs and assigns forever.

I do further bequeath to my wife one negro girl named Cate and a negro boy named Prince during her live then to desend to my heirs. I do bequeath to my daughter Mary a negro wench named Phillis and a boy named Preiness?, and, to her heirs forever.

I bequeath to each of my brothers who may come to America with ten years fifty pounds Sterline to be set apart out of the residue of my real, and, personal estate which residue I will to be Sold to the best advantage and the money thereforver arising (the sterling money bequeathed to ^my brothers as aforesaid excepted) to be divided as follows to wit: one third to my wife and the remainder to my child or children as the cost may be.

My will is that my debts be paid before the legacies.

I do hereby Nominate and Appoint James Greenlee, Charles McDowell and John Greenlee the Executors of this will.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal thsi 23rd Day of June Anno Dom. 1780.

[Signed] Jno. Bowman [Seal]

Sealed published pronounced and declared by the testator as his last will and testament in presence of

Ad. Osborne, H? Brevard, James Richardson

State of North Carolina Burke County

This will was produced in Court and proved in due form by the oath of James Richardson one of the Subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded at April Session 1781.

Teste: Alex. Erwin Clk.

Land Acquisitions in NC

• 29 Jan 1778; Land Entry Book, Burke County, NC: No. 39. James Greenlee, John Bowman and David Greenlee enters in Burke County six hundred and forty acres of Land, on Swanens River Joining George Catheys Entry below including both sides of the river and extending down said river for Complement Jan'ry 29th 1778. [Signed] James Greenlee, Jno. Bowman, D. Greenlee.

• 29 Jan 1778; Land Entry Book, Burke County, NC: No. 40. James Greenlee, John Bowman and David Greenlee enters in Burke County six hundred and forty acres of Land, Lyeing in the fork of Ivy Creek River where the path Crosses that leads from Nollachughets in Tryon County, the path Crosses the further or No. forks including both sides of the forks and laking? in a large Camp that leeg? in teh forks. Jan'ry 29th 1778. [Signed] James Greenlee, Jno. Bowman, D. Greenlee.

• 13 Feb 1778. Land Entry Book, Burke County, NC: No. 178. John Bowman enters in Burke County, 300 Acres of Land lying on the Catawba River on both Sides including his improvements on the No. Side and extending across to the So. Side Joining lines with Chas. McDowells Entry & Joining Lines with Thomas Black and extending out towards John McKey, for complement Feby. 13th. 1778. [Signed] John Bowman.

• 10 Feb 1778; Land Entry Book, Burke County, NC: No. 202. James Greenlee and John Bowman enters in Burke County, Six hundred & forth acres of Land in the lower cove of Green River Including Miles Harts Improvements and taking in the Marether? of the three cove creeks for complement. Entd. Feby. 10th 1778. [Signed] James Greenlee & Jno. Bowman.

• 10 Feb 1778; Land Entry Book, Burke County, NC: No. 203. James Greenlee and John Bowman enters in Burke County, four Hundred Acres of Land lying on fourte? Creek a branch of French Broad River implying thereof into the North side of Said River Begining about half a mile above an old Indian forte on Laid? Creek and coming down both sides of said Creek for quantity Emtd. 10th Feby. 1778. [Signed] Jas. Greenlee & Jno. Bowman.

Estate Records

James Greenlee [the brother-in-law of John Bowman] and Col. Charles McDowell [John Bowman's wife's 2nd husband] were Executors of the Last Will & Testament of John Bowman deceased. [Burke County, NC Probate Records]. The Estate proceedings began in Burke County Court records in 16 July 1781 and continued until 28 April 1818 due to many Bonds, Claims, Lawsuits and other proceedings dealing with John Bowman's Estate.

Lawsuits resulting from John Bowman's Estate [two examples]:

Tate v. Greenlee, 7 N.C. 556 (N.C. 1819)

Tate v. Greenlee's administrators, 9 N.C. 486, 2 Hawks 486 (1823)

1.   Genealogy.com.

   Patriot John Bowman left one child, a daughter, Mary, and his widow, Grace Greenlee Bowman, who married second to one of the patriotic McDowell family. Mary Bowman married into the Tate family.

2.   North Carolina Folklore.

   Captain John Bowman, of Burke County, North Carolina, was killed in the battle of Ramseur's Mill, in Lincoln County, N. C. Prior to his death, he had been a successful and prominent merchant, and at the time of his death he was sheriff of Burke County.
   
   ["The elegy was found among the Burke records now in the Department of Archives and History in Raleigh, among some papers entitled "Bonds belonging to the estate of-------------------, sold July 16, 1781." (The blank was to be filled by the name 'John Bowman Esqr. ') One of the pages in a ledger included in the papers contained the following poem, thought to have been written by his widow, Grace (Greenlee) Bowman. 'Polly,' referred to in the admonition at the end, was Mary (Polly) Bowman, a daughter of Captain John Bowman and Grace (Greenlee) Bowman, who married William Allison Tate."]
   
   Like the Sun Rising in the Morn
   He went away left me forlorn
   and saw the tears I shed
   My boding heart did then foretell
   That fatal Evening heard the knell
   that my dear John had Bled
   Tears that must ever fall
   For Ah no lights the past Recall
   No cries awoke the dead
   **************
   Weep not Polly for I will be
   a mother and father unto thee Oh!
   
   https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjo2Yqwhc_5AhXBD0QIHce4AFYQFnoECA4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdigital.ncdcr.gov%2Fdigital%2Fapi%2Fcollection%2Fp16062coll43%2Fid%2F234%2Fdownload&usg=AOvVaw2kmZJonhXEU8KuB-xmaJ0Z

3.   .

   Battle of Ramseur's Mill
   
   Spies reported that Cornwallis expected to enter the west part of the State where the crops were good and beef cattle fat and plentiful. Griffith Rutherford and Charles McDowell were in Mecklenburg County with several hundred partisans in their commands and with some idea of entering South Carolina when word came from Major Joseph McDowell of Burke County that a substantial body of Tories had gathered at Ramseur's Mill with the intent of joining British forces. Rutherford sent men under Francis Locke to join the Burke forces under Joseph McDowell and Lt Colonel Hugh Brevard, and the small force of four hundred partisans defeated and scattered twice their number of Tories.
   
   Sheriff John Bowman of Burke County died of wounds received in the battle. It is said that when the news reached Grace Greenlee Bowman, his wife, that she rode the many miles from Burke County over dim trails through South Mountains, with her little daughter Polly in the saddle in front of her and reached his side just before he died. This battle occurred on June 20, 1780, and was considered by the British to have been staged "prematurely."
   
   General Rutherford assigned Charles McDowell and his partisans the mission of disrupting the advance of the British forces into the west as much as he could.
   
   http://www.ancestraltrackers.net/nc/burke/history/hist.htm

4.   Dr. Hodges Tells Tale of the Heroine of Piedmont Section, by Dr. J.E. Hodges, in Watauga Democrat
   22 May 1947.

   Few, if any, states have richer colonial history than North Carolina, and none have been more careless in preserving it. Much of it has never been recorded, and much that was recorded, has by carelessness, been lost forever.
   Even today, thousands of manuscript pages are stored in old chests and closets and the contents forgotten.
   North Carolina has had her share of heroines, but eh pages of her histories are not noticeably swelled by the stories of their exploits, and the very names of some have not been heard for a century past.
   Few people, even of Western North Carolina, have heard the name of the heroine of this story though she lived, labored and died in this section of the state.
   Her ancestry goes back to Christopher Irvine, who fell at Fladden Field in 1513. One of his descendants became the wife of Ephraim McDowell, who, when only 15, wielded his Scottish claymore at the Battle of Boyne and at the siege of Londonderry.
   He buried his wife in Ireland and came with his four children to America in 1729. His daughter, Mary, married James Greenlee in 1737 and settled in the Valley of Virginia.
   Among other children born to the couple, was Grace, in 1750.
   There is tradition in the family that her father had arranged for her father to marry a rich landowner of Virginia, well advanced in years, and that the wedding feast was in readiness and the wedding ceremony had advanced to the point where she was asked if she would take the aged bridegroom for better or worse, when she electrified the assembled guests with an emphatic "No".
   Anyway, she married a dashing young soldier, Capt. John Bowman, in 1776, and with her husband and brothers set out for North Carolina, where her relatives, the McDowells, and Margaret and Mary Moffitt, who had married in the McDowell family, had preceded her.
   When they reached the Moravian settlement at Salem, they learned the Cherokees were on the warpath in the upper Catawba settlements. So, instead of going to Burke they went to the homes of relatives in South Carolina. These relatives were her aunts who had married Mitchells and Neelys. On this trip, her brother, James Greenlee, married Mary Mitchell and brought her to Burke. No record exists as to the exact time the party reached the Catawba Valley, but probably near the end of the year 1776. They were entertained by their relatives the McDowells, at Quaker Meadows, and they entered large tracts of land on the Catawba and its tributaries.
   Both wanted a tract of land joining Quaker Meadows, and at the suggestion of Maj. Joseph McDowell, they wrestled with each other to settle the question and Greenlee won.
   Capt. Bowman then crossed the river and entered 1,300 acres on Silver Creek and build his house, "Hickory Grove".
   We must keep in mind that these early homes erected in the Catawba Valley by McDowells, Bowmans, Greenlees, Vances and Carsons, were of hewn logs from the forests in which they were built, for the planks they used were sawed by hand and the nails driven into them were wrought and hammered in a blacksmith shop.
   Here at Hickory Grove in March, 1779, Mary, the only child of Grace Bowman, was born.
   The Revolution was then in full swing and Grace Bowman was an expert powder manufacturer and kept busy making powder for the Whig forces of Burke.
   A portion of the eight or more bullets that entered Ferguson's body at Kings Mountain were sped by powder made by Grace Bowman.
   Her husband had to leave her alone a great deal of the time as, with the McDowells he was on many expeditions against the Tories, who were very troublesome in this section.
   On one occasion, Ferguson's troopers carried off some of the Bowman horses. This courageous woman rode to the British camp, some miles away, and demanded her horses from the officer in charge, and was allowed to bring them back in triumph.
   On another occasion a band of roving Tories plundered her home when she ran away. She pursued them and, at the point of a musket compelled them to surrender her property.
   Like many soldiers, Capt. Bowman finally went on his last expedition, and was brought down by a Tory bullet at the battle of Ramseur's Mill, near Lincolntown, June 20, 1780.
   His wife at home heard that he was desperately wounded at a house near the battleground. She was a splended horsewoman, so mounted the fastest and most powerful horse in the Bowman stables and with her 15-months old child in her arms, she dashed the 40 mines to her husband, who died a short time after her arrival. This trip was over a dim trail through the South Mountains and through a section infested by bands of Tories, burning under their recent defeat.
   Her soldier husband was buried on the battlefield, with four other captains who fell in the battle, Halls, Dobson, Smith and Armstrong, and later a brick wall was erected around the grave. It is in a field within a few hundred yards of, and in plain view from Highway 321 approaching Lincolnton from the North.
   In the fall of 1782, Grace Bowman married Col. Charles McDowell and moved across the Catawba to become the mistress of Quaker Meadows and its 2,000 acres of fine land, and there five children were born to her. Margaret, Charles, Sarah, Eathan Allen and James.
   Today, she sleeps on a hilltop overlooking the valley that her two husbands offered their lives that they might hold it as freemen, and where she, by her daring earned the title of "One of North Carolina's Heroines".

5.   USGenweb Archives.

   "JOHN BOWMAN, the husband of GRACE GREENLEE, came from Virginia about the same time as the MCDOWELLs and others. He was killed at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill; he had but one child, MARY BOWMAN, who married WILLIAM TATE, SR. of Hickory Grove, the old homestead of JOHN BOWMAN; his widow, nee GRACE GREENLEE BOWMAN, married Gen. CHARLES MCDOWELL. Major ROBERT MCDOWELL TATE is the only living child of WILLIAM TATE, SR.. JAMES GREENLEE, SR. owned the place on which I (Col. Thomas George Walton in 1894) live ("Creekside"), and was living there before the Revolution. He, by his thrift, foresight and industry, was possessed of large and valuable bodies of land in North Carolina and Tennessee. He had five sons by his wife, MARY MITCHELL GREENLEE, who was his cousin, viz: Col. JOHN M. GREENLEE, EPHRAIM M., WILLIAM, JAMES and DAVID. He was regarded as the wealthiest man in the county........"
   
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/burke/bios/brkbios1.txt

6.   Genealogy.com.

   John Bowman, patriot captain and sheriff who died at Ramseur's mill was a member of the family at first because a branch of the family settled in Burke county (in Alexander County near Granite Falls, I think) about 1770. This patriot's will was abstracted and supposedly includes a bequest to his brothers in Scotland. This suggests either a Scottish origin for the captain or that his family maintained strong business/educational ties to Scotland.
   
   https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/bowman/2208/