Samuel Bowlsby

Samuel Bowlsby\Bowlby, son of John M. Bowlby Sr. and Mary Laning, was born in 1735 in Burlington, Burlington Co., NJ and died in 1823 in Imlaydale, Sussex Co., NJ at age 88.

General Notes

Samuel was the first of three sons named in his father’s will signed 7 DEC 1779 and received a third of his father’s land when the will was probated in 1782. According to a history of the HARRIMAN family of New Jersey quoted in OUR BOWLBY Kin, Volume 1, compiled by June B. BAREKMA, Samuel was born in 1735, Burlington, NJ, died 12 1823, Imlaydale, Sussex Co., NJ, married Elizabeth DUNN prior to 1760, who died prior to 1823. On the other hand, PATRIOTIC INDEX of the D.A.R. gives: "Samuel BOWLSBY, 1730-1810, pvt., NJ, Rev. W., married Betsey DURAN." Adding to confusion, family historians, Cordelia KELLY and Eva Crumbaugh GRIZZELLE, give the name of Samuel’s wife as Elizabeth DAVIS, and state that he died in 1805 or 1810, and that he was buried in the graveyard that his father deeded to the Mansfield Presbyterian Church in 1765. Samuel’s father lived in Springfield Twp., Burlington Co., from 1727 to 1737, so Samuel probably was born there. TRADITIONS OF HUNTERDON by John W. LEQUEAR states that Samuel and his brothers all lived to be over 80 years of age. Samuel’s estate was introduced into the Prerogative Court, Sussex Co., 22 Nov 1823, at which time it was stated that Samuel "... died in the month of November last past intestate seized of land and real estate, lying on both sides of the Musconetcong creek." Therefore, Samuel must have died in Nov 1822, and was over 80 years old even if he were born as late as 1741 or 1742. That Samuel married Elizabeth _____, there is no doubt, because they both signed as grantors in Hunterdon Co. land deeds as late as 1816. Since his wife is not mentioned in the prerogative proceedings, she must have died between 1816 and 1822. The prerogative court proceedings make clear that Samuel and Elizabeth had six children, and that they were born in the following order: John, Mary, Hannah, Sarah, Ann, and Samuel.

At the time of his death, Samuel held land described as "... the farm in the counties of Hunterdon and Sussex on both sides of the Musconetcong River, containing two hundred and fifty acres more or less, and also the farm situate in the county of Sussex near the village of Washington, containing one hundred and seventy-five acres more or less..." A quitclaim on 3 Nov 1801, for 35 acres from Samuel BOWLBY (8) to Henry DUSENBERY reveals that at that time Samuel owned practically all of what is today New Hampton with exception to the six acres bequeathed in his father’s will to assorted grandchildren. These were the lands that fell in dispute in 1823. A manuscript map by D, Stanton HAMMOND of Hunterdon County drawn from early deeds shows that Samuel held a fifty acre tract before his father’s death that lay along the south bank of the Musconetcong River in the vicinity of New Hampton in Hunterdon County. The land inherited from his father is said to have included the family grist mill at Imlaydale on the north bank of the Musconetcong River in Syssex, now Warren County.

Samuel and the American Revolution

Information on Samuel’s life is not at all clear. There were several members of the BOWLBY family named Samuel living in the general area at the same time, and records as well as family traditions became confused. Samuel probably operated the family mill at Omlaydale until it was sold to Thomas STEWART, then later to Noab CRAMER. D.A.R. has accepted lineages of Samuel’s descendants under the service record of "Samuel BOWLSBY" who, according to Stryker’s OFFICIAL REGISTER OF OFFICERS AND MEN OF NEW JERSEY, served as a private in Captain Jacob STULL’s company, Second Regiment, Sussex Co., New Jersey militia, and the Continental line as a captain under Colonel Aaron HANKINSON. TRADITIONS OF HUNTERDON by John W. LEQUEAR states: "Samuel BOWLBY was an officer in the expedition that was sent to Wilkes-Barre after the massacre in Wyoming. The party had to cut their way through forests. Joseph H. BOWLBY had his father’s commission for a number of years." Since Samuel had no son named Joseph, the Joseph H. BOWLBY referred to in this quote, and later described, must have been Jospeh Lanning BOWLBY, son of Samuel’s son, John. The massacre at Wyoming, PA, occurred in July, 1778, when Samuel was around 43 years old. Samuel’s military record appears to be contradicted in an excerpt from NEW JERSEY AS A ROYAL PROVINCE by Edgar J. FISHER:

County committees reported to the Provincial Congress those persons
who were unfriendly to the articles of association. Non-associates were
directed to be disarmed and give security for their future behavior. After
their refusal to join the association had led to their disarmament, they were
fined for not attending the military reviews properly accounted. Charges
were proffered against Christopher HARRISON by the committee of
Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co. His case was examined and considered by
the Provincial Congress, and HARRISON was ordered to pay costs, be
disarmed and give £50 security for good behavior. The county jail was to
be his abode until he complied with those conditions. Similar judgements
were returned against Samuel BOWLSBY and Dr. Andrew McCLINCY of
Sussex Co. ...

This would indicate that Samuel was of Loyalist persuasion. Further doubt is cast upon Samuel’s reputation as a soldier of the American Revolution when a search of New Jersey records reveals:

New Jersey Continental Line ... BOWLSBY, Samuel ... Newton ... Sussex ... MSS,
Number 3660 ... A list of the Recruits raised for nine months out of the Second
Battalion of Sussex Co. Militia Commanded by Col. Aaron HANKINSON raised by
order of the State New Jersey, that is to say, - Sixth Company, Commanded by
Captain STULL 5 Class, Newton - Name, Samuel BOWLSBY, 5 feet, 9 inches,
aged 25 years.

The pay records attached to this record were addressed to Morris Co. on 3 May, 1784. The Samuel BOWLBY considered here was around 33 years old in 1778, so it can only be concluded the above records were for Samuel’s cousin, Samuel BOWLBY, fifth son of George BOWLBY (7), whose estimated birth was after 1737, probably in the middle to late 1740’s.

An overview of Samuel’s attitude during the war is given in a biographic sketch of Joseph I. BOWLSBY of Neligh, NE, who is believed to be a grandson through Samuel’s son, Samuel. Several items given in the sketch are of doubtful validity, but in light of what is now known of Samuel’s life, this has the ring of truth:

His grandfather, Captain Samuel BOWLSBY. .. served for some time in the
militia, which was organized for protection against the Indians. When the
Revolutionary War broke out he resigned his position as an officer in the militia,
as he was too old to enter the service had he been so inclined. His sympathies
were with the British, as the sympathies of his family, still he took no active part
either way.

The following was sent to Cynthia BOWLBY from Melva CALAMAN on 12 NOV 2000:

Found the Prerogative Court Petition of the heirs of Samuel BOWLBY dated Nov. 1824 in my back pocket--Ray BOWLBY sent me a copy . It says that Samuel (8) died "in the month of November,    
1822 (no age given )..leaving heirs at law to whom it (property) hath descended, to wit, Samuel BOWLBY, his son, entitled to one share. Hannah PIATT, wife of Benjamin PIATT, his daughter,  
entitled to one share. Mary LACY, widow of John LACEY dec’d. his daughter, entitled to one share. Joseph L. BOWLBY, John S. BOWLBY, Henry BOWLBY, Samuel BOWLBY and James 
BOWLBY, sons of John BOWLBY his son who was entitled to one share. Sally Martin HESS, wife of John Martin HESS his daughter who was entitled to one share. Samuel LACEY, Elizabeth MORSE 
late LACEY, wife of Robert MORSE, and Mary LACEY, a minor, children of Ann LACEY deceased who was the wife of Garret LACEY and daughter of  said Samuel BOWLBY deceased and entitled to one 
share of  his said real estate." Also states that the property is "clear of all debt and that the said real estate is not depreciating in value".

The following was supplied by James LEMING on 23 AUG 2001:

Samuel BOWLSBY appears to have seen
military service in the New Jersey Militia, at least early on in the
Revolutionary War.
After reading your notes, I realize how difficult it is to get a clear
picture of Samuel BOWLSBY’S vital information and his involvement in
the War effort.  As did his own family (in which he was a child and
grandchild), I can see where Samuel BOWLSBY might have had leanings as
a Loyalist--but at the same time being a Rebel.
Samuel BOWLSBY was the grandson of Thomas BOWLBY, born 1665.  Three of
Thomas’ sons, John, George and Richard came to America.  We know that
Richard remained a loyalist.  I’m Not sure about George, but do know
that his sons Edward and Richard both fought for the British and that
his son John probably also sympathized with them.
The status of John BOWLBY, the father of our Samuel BOWLSBY, is not
clear, but although he may have been sympathetic toward the British,
he does not seem to have been active in supporting them as did his
brothers, Richard and George.
One account (source named later) which we believe is referring to
their brother, John, states:  "Richard’s brother (name not stated),
although a Loyalist, remained in New Jersey throughout and after the
War with his wife and children, who were ’Rebels’."  One of these
"Rebels" would have been my ancestor, Samuel BOWLSBY.
The information which I have presented here comes from the
publication, "The Loyalists of New Jersey in The Revolution," pp.
31-32, 88, 262-263.  My apologies for at this time not providing a
more complete description of this publication.  I made use of this
book in the Orlando Public Library at Orlando, Florida.
My purpose in writing you is hopefully to give a clearer picture of
Samuel BOWLSBY’S situation during the Revolutionary War and to more
accurately determine his War record.  Might this also give us a lead
as to actually which was his wife’s family--DUNN, DURAN or DAVIS?  Who
were the patriots bearing these respective names?
Cordelia Carbaugh KELLY goes as far as naming the father of Samuel
BOWLSBY’S wife.  She states:
"He married Elizabeth DAVIS of Nottingham, Greewich, N.J. and she died
in Warren Co., N.J.  Her father was Jonathan DAVIS."  I’ve done no
follow up on this.
My BOWLBY ancestry descending from Samuel BOWLSBY is through his son
John and his first wife, Mary HARRIMAN; their son Samuel Barker BOWLBY
and through his daughter Mary Ann Bowlby CARBAUGH; continuing through
Martha E. Carbaugh RICHARDS, Ada Ann Richards WELCH and Viola Welch
LEMING, my mother.

His Family

Samuel married Elizabeth Dunn before 1760.

Children from this marriage were:

John Bowlsby (*).

Mary Ann Bowlby.

Hannah Bowlby was born on 10 May 1765 and died on 30 Mar 1842 at age 76.

Ann Bowlby was born about 4 Dec 1768, died on 18 Feb 1816 about age 47, and was buried in Bowlby Cem., Imlaydale, NJ.

Sarah Bowlby was born in 1765 in Mansfield Twp., Sussex Co., NJ and died on 28 Dec 1851 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA at age 86.

Samuel Bowlby was born on 6 Mar 1770 in Sussex Co., NJ and died after 1827 in Fayette Or Somerset Co., PA.