JOHN BOWATER
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
John Bowater was born about 1652 in Bromsgrove,
Worcestershire England. His father was John Bowater.
Mother may have been Ann
Carter. There is a Find a Grave memorial 82756580
from Chester Friends Cemetery in Chester PA.
that says Sarah Edge Bowater "married Thomas
Bowater on 4 Oct 1686 in Edgemont, Chester Co PA,
the son of John and Ann(Carter) Bowater of Bromsgrove,
Worschester England and later of Middletown,
Chester Co (now Delaware Co) PA." A lot of
helpful information. They need firm documentation,
but holds lots of clues.
Both John Bowater and Thomas Bowater were
from Bromsgrove and came to Chester County PA. My
guess is they were brothers.
John Bowater was
an early and active follower of the Quaker movement in
England. The History of Delaware county PA, by
George Smith, written in 1862, page 448, states that
John Bowater
visited New England, Virgina and Maryland on behalf of the
Quaker Society about 1677-78.
The Friends House
Digest Register of Worcester England Weddings is on
microfilm at the Swartmore library. It
states that John Bowater,
a nailor, son of John
Bowater wed Frances Corbitt,
daughter of Wiliam
Corbitt on 2nd month, 12th day, 1683. they
were wed at Chadwich. I have not been able to locate
Chadwich but one website said it was 8 miles north of
Worcester. That puts it near Bromsgrove. They were
members of the Dudley Monthly Quaker meeting. Dudley
is just west of Birmingham, England. There is the
suggestion in the history that he had been persecuted on
account of his beliefs.
Within a year and a half , John and Frances Bowater emigrated to
Pennsylvania. The Hinshaw
records show that John was received from the
Dudley Mt. meeting 3rd month, 21st day 1684. From
the Bowater name file of
the Chester County Historical Society there is a
note slightly different. It states that the
Philadelphia Monthly meeting of Friends held 9th month,
4th day 1684 received a certificate from John Bowater and his
wife. They settled in Middletown of Chester County.
Thomas Bowater
emigrated about the same time, also a Quaker from the same
area to the same place. I believe it is highly
possible that Thomas
and John were
brothers.
The Hinshaw Records, card 3626 of the Chester Monthly Meeting has the children and birth dates for John and Frances Bowater. They are:
1. Mary Bowater, born 1685
2.William Bowater born 1686
3. Elizabeth Bowater born 1688
4. Ann Bowater born 1690
5. Alice Bowater born 1692
6. Phebe Bowater born 1697
John Bowater of West town, Chester county signed his will July 20th, 1705. It was probated Sept 17, 1705, Chester County Will. It names his wife Frances, and children Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, Alice and Phebe. John Bennett of Birmingham PA was executor. William must have died as a child.
Frances Bowater signed a will made out the 29th day of (I can't make out month), 1720/21 so Jan, Feb or March. It was Will #123, I do not have book. It was found at the Chester County Archives. There we get her daughter's married names:
Executors were William Pusey and Moses Mendenhall.Mary wed Stephen Ailes
Elizabeth wed William Pusey
Ann wed William Chandler
Alice wed Jacob Pyle, and then Moses Mendenhall (Grandson Samuel Pyle was listed with his mother Alice Mendenhall)
Phebe wed Shadrack Scarlet
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Doc; gpbow020.html
Date Created: 12/16/2011
Date edited 8/22/2020
Date edited 5/20/2023
Date edited 5/9/2024
Date edited 6/8/2024