WILLIAM & ANNE BOWNE

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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, Massachusetts in 1631.He was granted 40 acres of a 400 acre grant in Jeffries Creek along with 9 other families. from William Bowne of Yorkshire England and his Descendants by Miller K Reading and History of Monmouth County NJ by Edwin Salter

At the time Salem had a large boundrary and Jeffreis Creek was considered part of Salem. It was about 9 miles along the coast east of the Salem harbor. It has its own small harbor. In fact that the coast line north and south of Boston has many protected harbors and inlets. It is easy to see why it was a destination for ships. In 1640 the inhabitants of Jeffries Creeke requested the court the power to erect a village. It was granted and then in 1645 they petitioned for a name change. Jeffries Creek became Manchester now Manchester by the Sea. From the History of Manchester Essex County Massachusetts by Rev. D.F.Lawson Page 23

The children of William and Anne Bowne were: (the sons were all listed in the William Bowne of Yorkshire noted above,  page 7

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, 1645 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.  His eldest son, John Bowne was also allotted a "planter's lot". It was found in the Gravesend Record.  In 1691 Capt Andrew Bowne,  William's son sold a 15 acres lot in the town of "Gravesend which did formerly below to my father." from 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.

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 created: 6/21/2009
Date edited 8/29/2018