William Bowen

William Bowen3rd Regiment Lincoln Militia

by Sharon Dell June 9,2014

Research compiled by the Heritage Arts Legacy of Fort Erie

William Bowen was a Veteran of the War of 1812, serving as a Private with the 3rd Regiment Lincoln Militia in Captain John Hardy’s Company. He was born in 1774 in Fort Hunter, N.Y., son of Cornelius and Rebecca Bowen. In 1784 he came to Bertie Township, with the wave of Loyalists who came to Upper Canada, with his parents, two brothers John and Henry, and a sister Gertrude (aka Catharine). Three more brothers and a sister were born in Bertie Township:

Daniel

Cornelius

James

Christeen

William Bowen married Elizabeth Brown, who was also born in the USA, on February 23, 1801, at St. Mark’s Church, Niagara-on-the-Lake and they had 9 children:

Edward

Henry

William

Robert

Walter

Nelson

Mary

Hannah

Barbara

As the son of Loyalist Cornelius Bowen, who fought with Butler’s Rangers, he received 200 acres from the Crown. He was a farmer and in the 1851 Bertie Census his religion was given as Methodist but in the 1861 Census it was given as“no religion.”

Bowen Road between Stevensville and Fort Erie ran alongside the farms of 3 Bowen brothers, William, Henry and Robert, and was named after the Bowen family.

William died on or about March 22, 1860 at the age of 86 and is buried in McAffee Cemetery in Fort Erie, Ontario. His last will and testament was probated on the 14th of April 1860.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Veteran Summary: William Bowen Private, 3rd Regiment Lincoln Militia Place of Birth Fort Hunter, NY, British North America Place of Death Bertie Twp., Welland Co., ON, CAN Died on: 22 MAR 1860 Reason: Unknown Location of Grave McAffee Cemetery, Thompson Road Fort Erie, ON, CAN Latitude: 42.946908N Longitude: -78.945006

http://www.1812veterans.ca/?p=473&lang=en

Bruce C. Johnson Jr. Research notes 1985 - 1995 NOTE: Correct name is William BOWEN not "Bower" as some are posting.

Feb 23. William Bowen and Elizabeth Brown. This information was originally published by: ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY Papers and Records Volume 3, Published in Toronto in 1901 Pages 7-73.

   In the 1828 census at Bertie Twp., Welland Co., Upper Canada is William Bowen, with 13 in family. He is next to Benjamin Troup and Stephin Howey.

In the 1842 census at Bertie,
In the 1851 census[William Bowen, aged 77, and his family resided in Concession 5, Lots 8 and 9, at the time of the census of 1851. He was a native of the United States. His wife Elizabeth, aged 67, was also listed as a native of the United States. In their household, all natives of Bertie, were: William, 30; Robert, 25; and Michael, 11.
In the 1861 census at Bertie Twp., Welland Co., Canada West, p. 10, Elizabeth Brown is age 77, widow, born U. Can. (this is in error) and is with the family of her son Henry, age 58 and his wife, Barbara, 56.
In the 1871 census for Bertie Township, Welland County.[ ] Elizabeth Bowen is a widow, age 86. They are Presbyterian. With her are her son William, 47, a farmer, Mary, 28, and Edward? age 30. The latter two may be grandchildren by another son. Living next to them are her son Robert, 44, his wife Ann 36, and there children, Elinor?, 16, Edwin, 14, Violetta, 12, Mary, 10, Wm. 8, and Anna, ?. They are listed as Episcopal.
3 August 1874, "To Aunt Elizabeth Bowen. 90 feeble. (NCB Diary.)

  In the name of God, Amen. I William Bowen of the township of Bertie, in the County of Welland, in the Province of Canada West, Senior Yeoman, being of sound mind and memory, do make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. Firstly, I will and devise unto my eldest son Henry Bowen, Fifty Acres of Land being the West half of lot number nine in the Fifth Concession from the Niagara River in the township aforesaid with all the buildings and other improvements thereon situate, to him and his heirs forever. I also will and bequeath unto my son Walter Bowen the sum of Twenty Five pounds lawful money of the Province aforesaid to be paid to him out of my estate. I also will and bequeath unto my son Nelson Bowen the sum of Twenty Five pounds lawful money of the Province aforesaid. I also give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary, now the wife of William Smith of Long Point, the sum of six pounds thirteen shillings lawful money of the Province aforesaid, and also to my daughter Hannah, now the wife of James Townsend, in the township of Townsend, the sum of six pounds thirteen shillings lawful money of the Province aforesaid. And likewise to my daughter Barbary, wife of Isaac Thompson of the township of Bertie, the sum of six pounds thirteen shillings lawful money of the Province aforesaid. All the above legacies to be paid as hereinafter directed.

           I also will and devise unto my beloved wife Elizabeth the east half of lot number Nine and lot number Eight both in the Fifth Concession of the township of Bertie aforesaid and in which I now reside, during the term of her natural life or so long as she shall remain my widow, and at her decease, I hereby give and devise the aforesaid lots of land to my two sons William Bowen and Robert Bowen each an equal and undivided half,(?)together with all the buildings and other improvements thereon situate and properly belonging.

          I further give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all my personal estate, chattel, property of every kind whatsoever - And in the event of her marrying again the lands herein before devised to her shall thereon be immediately taken possession of and belong to my sons William and Robert aforesaid and shall then as well as at her Decease descend to them, their heirs and assigns forever.

          I hereby further will and order that all the Legacies hereinbefore mentioned shall be paid out of my estate by my two last named sons William and Robert in six months after the decease of my wife.

           Now whereas I hold a certain Bond against Luke Bowen of the township of Richmond in the late Midland District bearing date 12th day of June 1841 for certain lands therein mentioned - In the event of such lands being obtained I hereby Devise and Will that they shall be equally divided among all my lawful sons as they shall agree.

           Lastly I hereby nominate and appoint William Stockdale and Edward Miller of the township of Bertie Yeomen to be my Executors to manage my estate for the benefit of my heirs.

          Signed Sealed and published and declared by the above named Testator to be his last Will and Testament, In presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto this Twenty seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six.

           William Bowen

           Robert Gilmour

           E. Miller

           John Gilmour