Notes for Thomas Bowie

Notes for Thomas Bowie

!"The Bowie's and Their Kindred" by Walter Worthington Bowie; pg. 91-92: Col. Thomas Bowie, (Allen Bowie, Jr. John Bowie, Jr. John Bowie, Sr.) eldest son of Allen Bowie, Jr. and his wife, Ruth (Cramphin) Bowie, was born at "The Hermitage", Montgomery Co., Maryland, December 22, 1767. He began the study of law, but ill-health forced him to abandon it and turn his attention to agriculture. He received from his father land near Bladensburg, Prince George's Co., then called "War Park," but originally "Railey's Discovery," and built his home on the heights overlooking the village, and the Anacosta River. This home is still standing, and is now occupied by a Mr. Rogers. On January 26, 1794, Thomas Bowie married Margaret, daughter of Dr. Humprey Belt, and his wife, Mary (Brooke) Belt.

October 16, 1795, Colonel Bowie was elected to the State Legislature as a delegate from Prince George's Co., and on December 24, 1795, his vote is recorded in favor of the bill incorporating the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River Canal. In 1807, he acted as administration for his uncle, Thomas Cramphin, Jr.; December 10, 1812, he was, by the governor, appointed justice of the peace and judge of the Orphan's Court, and again to the same offices in 1814-16. In this year he declined to be executor for the estate of Mrs. Elizabeth Lamar. In all of the publications of that era he is invariably spoken of as "Colonel" Thomas Bowie. For many years he was vestryman for the Episcopal church in Bladensburg, and a regular attendant upon divine worship. He is said to have possessed a gentle disposition and fine intellectual abilities. His death occurred while on his knees in a Washington church, July 27, 1823. His wife was born in 1770, and died January 2, 1814. Both are buried near Beltsville