|
|
4, 1777. The injury forced him to resign his com-
mission on December 15, 1777, and kept him an
invalid for many years. William became involved
in mercantile activities and owned a store in Up-
per Marlboro, Prince George's County by 1788,
but his health seemed to keep him from making
the business a success. In 1800 William petitioned
the Assembly as an insolvent debtor and when he
died in 1809 he owned no land of his own. Wil-
liam married in 1781 Elizabeth, widow of John
Clark Sprigg (?-1781) and daughter of Benjamin
Brookes, Sr. (?-1787). Osborn Sprigg (?-1806).
DAUGHTERS: Elizabeth (1746-?), who married
Walter Smith, of Calvert County; Ann (1765-?),
who married Philemon Lloyd Chew, of Calvert
County; and Margaret Sprigg (1765-?), who mar-
ried Maj. Benjamin Brookes, Jr., son of Benjamin
Brookes, Sr. (?-1787). PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCA-
TION literate; a subscriber to St. John's College,
Annapolis, at death. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: An-
glican. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., by
1759; Esq., by 1785. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE
planter, by 1744. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE
SERVICE Conventions, Prince George's County,
1st, 1774, 2nd-3rd, 1774, 4th, 1775 (elected, but
did not attend), 5th, 1775. LOCAL OFFICES: to-
bacco inspector, Nottingham, Prince George's
County, appointed 1753; churchwarden, St. Paul's
Parish, Prince George's County, period of service
unknown; St. Paul's Parish Vestry, Prince
George's County, period of service unknown; jus-
tice. Prince George's County, 1759-at least 1761;
Committee of Correspondence, Prince George's
County, elected 1774; Committee of Observation,
Prince George's County, elected 1775; commis-
sioner of tax, Prince George's County, 1777-at
least 1783; committee to raise supplies for the
army, Prince George's County, appointed 1778;
judge, Court of Appeals for Tax Assessment,
Prince George's County, appointed 1786 (de-
clined). JURY SERVICE: foreman, grand jury, in
office 1764 and 1766. MILITARY SERVICE: captain,
by 1760. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. LAND AT
FIRST ELECTION 2,540 acres in Prince George's
and Charles counties (402 acres were the remain-
der of 612 acres acquired from his father through
deeds of gift and inheritance; at least 1,731 acres
by purchase; and 89 acres, the remainder of 112
acres patented before his first election). ADDI-
TIONAL COMMENTS: Before his first election Wil-
liam transferred 432 acres by deed of gift to his
son Robert Bowie (ca. 1750-1818). This acreage
was composed partially of William's inherited land
and partially of land he had purchased. SIGNIFI-
CANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELEC-
|
TION AND DEATH: transferred by deed of gift 695
acres in Charles County to his son William, 1782;
transferred by deed of gift 1 acre in Prince
George's County to his son Robert Bowie (ca.
1750-1818), 1785. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: be-
tween March 15 and April 9, 1791, in Prince
George's County. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV,
£2,451.16.0 current money (including 45 slaves, 98
oz. plate, and 4 books); FB, £104.10.11. LAND:
1,845 acres in Prince George's County.
BOWLES, JAMES (?-ca. 1727/28). BORN: in
England; only son. IMMIGRATED: probably in
1699 as a free adult. RESIDED: in Charles County;
St. Mary's County by 1700. FAMILY BACK-
GROUND. FATHER: Tobias Bowles (?-1727), a
sugar and tobacco merchant of London and Deal,
England, who was nominated for the governorship
of Maryland after death of his uncle, John Sey-
mour (1649- 1709). SISTERS (first name unknown),
who married Henry Alexander Primrose; (first
name unknown), who married Capt. John Under-
downe; and Jane. MARRIED first, by 1718 Jane,
daughter of Henry Lowe(?-1717) niece of Nicho-
las Lowe (ca. 1662-1714). Her brothers were
Henry Lowe (?-1721); Bennett (?-1722); Nicholas
Lowe (?-1728); and Thomas. Her sisters were
Ann; Elizabeth; Henrietta Maria; Dorothy; Mary;
and Susannah Maria. MARRIED second, Rebecca
(1703-?), daughter of Thomas Addison (1679-
1727) and wife Elizabeth Tasker (1686-1706/7);
stepdaughter of Eleanor (1689-1761), daughter of
Walter Smith (?-1711); granddaughter of both
John Addison (?-ca. 1705/6) and Thomas Tasker
(?-1700); niece of Benjamin Tasker (ca. 1690-
1768). Her half brothers were John Addison
(1713-1764); Henry; Thomas; and Anthony. Her
sister was Elinor. Her half sister was Ann, who
married William Murdoch (?-1769). CHILDREN.
DAUGHTERS: Elinor, who married William Gooch,
son of Gov. William Gooch, of Virginia; Mary,
who married William Armistead; and Jane, who
married Rev. Thomas Price. PRIVATE CAREER.
EDUCATION: literate, probably had considerable
schooling. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION. Anglican. SO-
CIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: apparently came to
Maryland to settle the estate of Capt. Anthony
Bowles and to serve as his father's agent in the
colony; married the daughters of two of the
wealthiest and most politically powerful men on
the lower Western Shore. OCCUPATIONAL PRO-
FILE: merchant; planter. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLA-
TIVE SERVICE: Lower House, St. Mary's County,
1710-1711 (elected to the 3rd session); Upper
House, 1720-1721/22 (appointed to the 3rd ses-
154
|
|
