Notes for Joshua BOWEN
The following was taken from http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~bowen/brown.html
From the Gonzales Daily Inquirer (Condensed)
Transcribed by Ben Bowen from materials supplied by Marlene Bowen Fruth.
May 18, 1878
It Was estimated 4,000 people arrived as to feast to witness the human suffering and shedding of human blood for the hanging of Brown Bowen. The gallows were erected between the jail and the jailer's house so that the prisoner stepped from the head of the stairs onto the platform. The gallows was 17ft. 6 in. from the top beam to the ground. The platform was 10ft. 6in. from the ground. The "fall" was 7 ft. The trap door was sprung by touching a lever whereupon the door fell to the ground.
About 2:00 P.M. Mr. Bowen was led to the scaffold. Rev.E.Y.scales read his final statement "blaming his troubles on keeping bad company and proclaiming his innocence of the murder of Thomas Holderman."
He claimed that J.W. Hardin, with whom he went to town,killed Holderman because he thought he was a spy for J. Tomlinson, J. Helms and W.W. Davis. Bowen claimed Hardin and Gip Clements went into the store and started drinking. "Hardin told me he was going to show me how to kill a man. I begged him not to as he (Holderman) was harmless and my friend. Hardin went to Mr. Holderman and told him that I killed his son." Bowen Prayed with Rev. Seale, the Noose around his neck. while Mr. Bass was preparing the spring door, Bowen Muttered, "O Lord receive my spirit" The door sprung open and Bowen fell a full 7 ft. In about 6 Min. he was dead. Bowen was a native of Florida.
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ALSO WE HAVE FAMILY TREES OF THE NEIL BOWEN FAMILY FROM SANTA ROSA COUNTY FLORIDA. SHOWING NEILL BOWEN B 1826 MARRIED MARY WESTON 1848 AND LATER IN 1870 MARRIED PURITY ANN SUNDAY. HIS CHILDREN BY HIS FIRST WIFE WERE JOSHUA (BROWN) BOWEN, HANGED IN GONZALES FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING A MAN. CLAIMED HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW , JOHN WESLEY HARDIN KILLED HIM AND BLAMED HIM FOR IT. HIS SISTER JANE MARRIED JOHN WESLEY HARDIN IN 1873 IN DEWITT COUNTY. NEILL LIVED IN GONZALES COUNTY. NEILL SISTERS WERE BARBARA BOWEN AND SARAH BOWEN CHILDREN OF NANCY BOWEN THESE RECORDS WERE GIVEN TO ME BY MARJORIE LEE BURNETT OF SMILEY AND NIXON WHO IS A REPORTER FOR THE GONZALES INQUIRER. SHE AND HER HUSBAND WROTE A BOOK " BROWN BOWEN AND JOHN WESLEY HARDIN (Bowen & Hardin) AND DID ALL THIS RESEARCH EVEN TRAVELLING TO FLORIDA TO TRACK THE BOWENS. THEY FELT THAT 'BROWN' BOWEN WAS RAILROADED.
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I have questions regarding Brown Bowen. Our family bible has my Great Grandmother, Nora Eleonor Presley born September 19,1870, to Martha Presley and Brown Bowin. We were never told anything about Browin Bowin except that he was hanged. I believe that my G.Grandmother is the ill. daughter of Brown Bowin. They lived in the Pensacola, Florida area. My Grandmother never said anything about her Mothers' Father. Was he in this area around this time? I know that he moved to Pollard which is extremely close.
If anyone would like my information or has any please get in touch!!
MagLynRob@@aol.com
Time Line for Joshua Robert (Brown) Bowen
1849 September 27- Born around Walnut Hill, Florida
1850- 1857 Moved to Texas
1868 Married- Margaret Reese, in Texas
1870 Had a son- Thomas, born in Texas
Killed a man named Phillips according to his fathers testimony.
1871 Met John Wesley Harden
1872 Killed Thomas Harderman in Texas
Jane Bowen and Harden get married
Arrested for killing Harderman
1873 Escaped from jail in March 26 (broken out by Harden)
Left Texas in August
1873 September arrived in Florida
1874 Bluff Springs, worked logging on Stix River w/ Shep and Robert Hardy (also known outlaws). He also worked at the McDavid Saw Mill on Moore's Creek in Santa Rosa County.
1875 Pollard
1875 Married- Mary Catherine Mayo in Whiting, Al ( no lis. Found )
1877 Arrested in Flomaton at Pensacola Junction.
1877 Had a son with Mary on Nov 9th Montgomery Neil J. Bowen was born after Bowen's arrest.
1878 Bowen was hung in Gonzales, Texas on May 17th.
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