WILLIAM & ANNE BOWNE
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
William Bowne was born about 1605 in Yorkshire England. His parents are unknown but there is good reason to believe they can be located.
William married Anne, last name unknown, about 1629. Their first son was born in England. They left England searching for freedom to worship as Baptist without persecution. They emigrated to Salem, Massachuesettes. Anne bore four more children there.
The children of William and Anne Bowne were:
1. John Bowne born 1630 in England, wed Lydia. He died
Jan. 3, 1684 Monmouth NJ
2. James Bowne born 1636 Salem Mass, wed Mary
Stoute, died in 1692 or 95 in NJ.
3. Andrew Bown born 1638 in Salem, died 1708 in NJ.
4. Philip Bowne born 1641 in Salem - he is not mentioned in
further records
5. Deborah Bowne wed Gershon Mott, and died a young
woman.
After 14 years they moved their family of five children to Gravesend, Long Island. Again they were searching for the freedom to worship as Baptist without persecution, this time from the Puritans. They were under the leadership of Lady Deborah Moody who had obtained a patent from the Dutch Government. Gravesend is at the western end of Long Island, now part of Brooklyn. In 1645 it was still Dutch territory.
William served this new community as an assistant justice in 1651, and as magistrate from 1655 to 1662. His cousin, John Bowne moved to Flushing, Long Island from Derbyshire in 1649. This John Bowne was a Quaker. As they were cousins but from different areas of England, their must be a way to find the connecting relative. John experience persecution at the hands of the Dutch so William was again ready to seek his freedom to worship elsewhere.
All the above is from Some Bowne Footprints in the Sands of time by Donald W. Bowne MD. It was found at the Monmouth County NJ Historical Society.
Early Settlers of Kings Ct. Long Island by Bergen has a Genealogy section on the Bowne family. According to this writer William was allotted a plantation lot on Nov. 18, 1656. It was found in the Gravesend Record.
William's story continues in A History of Monmouth and Ocean counties by Edwin Salter published in 1890. He used the term "Indians" so it is used here as this material comes from his book.
In August 1664 the Dutch at New Amsterdam surrendered to the English. Soon negotiations were on with Popomora, chief of the Nevesink Indians to purchase the Monmouth Patent. The land was in the area below Staten Island in current day New Jersey. William's son John Bowne is listed as one of the four recipients of the deed. William's son James Bowne was one of the 5 interpreters demonstrating that they had had considerable experience with the Indians.
The official deed was signed by Popomora and acknowledged by Governor Nicholls of New York on April 7, 1665. Lib 3, page 1 in the office of Secretary of State at Albany, NY. A copy is in the Secretary of State's office, Trenton. The founders of the settlement were "honorable, conscientious men". They kept careful records of the amounts paid, to whom and who contributed money toward the purchase. William Bowne paid 1 pound, 6 shilling 8 pence. John contributed 4 pounds, and James 1 pound 14 shillings 6 pence. All were original patent holders. His cousin John Bowne of Flushing contributed 3 pounds.
One of the stipulations was that the land be settled within three years time with homes, planted land and 100 families. It is believed that William and his sons settled in Monmouth County NJ. Each son held office there. William established a home at Portland Point and was elected Deputy to the General Assembly of NJ in 1669. According to The Town book of Old Middletown, "lots at Portland Point, at or near Highlands, were awarded in order as follows:" James Bowne is listed 2nd and William Bowne 8th of nine settlers. The first entry was Dec. 30, 1667 so it was probably in 1668 that they moved to Portland Point.
In 1675 the Rights of Land are noted re the Monmouth Patent. Captain John Bowne, of Middletown, for his rights, March 18th, 1675, 500 as being a first purchase. For rights of himself and wife, his father, mother and for William Compton and his wife from first year, 120 acres each, 3 servants at 60 acres each to 180 acres" That should give them a plantation of 1280 acres. Most important it notes that William's wife Anne Bowne is still alive in 1675. .
William Bowne probably died in 1677. At that time Letters of administration were granted to John Bowne of Middletown, NJ on the estate of his father William "heretofore of Gravesend and of late Middletown". Early Settlers and it refers to Pp. 24,25,26 of Vol. IV of the Genealogical Record.
The Long Island Source Records notes from Book #2 on Conveyances, Brooklyn Kings Ct, NJ, pp 103 "Captain Andrew Bowne of Chingeroras, Monmouth Ct. NJ sold to Nicholas Stillwell of Gravesend, "property there which belonged in 1685 to Andrew's father William Bowne, deceased". This is dated 6/18/1696. Then on page 193-4, Capt. Andrew Bowne sold another piece in Cellarneck in Gravesend, "all formerly in occupation of my father William Bowne, deceased." Dated June 1, 1699.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
If you know the answer please CONTACT US
1. Who were William's parents?
2.. Where in Yorkshire was he born?
3. Get documentation of his birth in Yorkshire.
4. Where did he marry Anne and what was her maiden name?
5. Where is he buried?
6. When did Anne die?
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Date Last Edited: 6/21/2009