Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Jack Bowie (Boswell)
MSA SC 5496-9949
Fled from Prince George's County, Maryland, 1835

Biography:

On September 14, 1835, Jack Bowie ran away from his owner, Robert W. Bowie, who resided near Nottingham, Prince George's County, Maryland.  Bowie, who also called himself Jack Boswell, escaped four or five years previous to that and reached Pennsylvania before being caught and sent home.

Slaveowner Robert W. Bowie was the youngest child of Governor Robert Bowie.  He served in the House of Delegates during his father's last term as governor in 1810.  He became a member of the Governor's Council in 1832 and served until 1834.  He then served in the State Senate representing the Western Shore from 1821 to 1825.  He returned to the House of Delegates in 1839 and served in 1840, the Special Session of 1841, and in 1844.  In 1840 he owned 154 slaves.  He placed ads in the Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, D.C.) offering a monetary reward for Jack Bowie's/Boswell's capture and return through the end of August, 1836.  

Return to Jack Bowie's (Boswell's) Introductory Page


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