George Bowman (1795 - 1878)

Born 26 May 1795 in London, England

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza Sophia (Pearce) Bowman — married 24 May 1820 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 26 Aug 1878 at age 83 in Richmond, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Wjj Lynton [send private message]

Biography

George Bowman is Notable.

Birth: George Bowman was born on 26 May 1795. He was baptised on 23 August 1795 at St Marylebone, London (St Marylebone is actually in County Middlesex). The baptismal register has the notation: "George Bowman of John & Honour B.26 May".^[1]

Marriage: George Bowman married Eliza Sophia Pearce on 24 May 1820 at St Johns Church of England, Parramatta by Rev. George Augustus Middleton, by Special licence issued by Governor Macquarie. Witnesses were Matthew Pearce, and Eliza Howe.^[2][3]

Death: He passed away at Richmond, New South Wales on 26 August 1878. ^[4] He was buried in Richmond Presbyterian Cemetery, Jersey Street, Richmond, New South Wales.^[5]

George was a member of the Legislative Council in 1851-56; he was also a powerful churchman and strongly supported John Dunmore Lang in the foundation of the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales, but in the church controversies of the 1840s he declared and later maintained equally strong allegiance to the Free Presbyterian Church. His religious convictions were matched by his reverence for education and both attitudes were strengthened by close association with the clergy.

Obituary for George Bowman 1795-1878 in Town and Country Journal, 7 September 1878:^[6]

The late Mr. George Bowman, J.P.

As a pillar that long stood firm against the ravages of time, a worthy representative of one of the oldest families in the country, and a noble example of integrity and generosity for the generations that have risen up around him, Mr. George Bowman, of Richmond, was such a one as cannot be "forgot as soon as cold." And now that he is gone to his long home many will look for some notice of his career. Mr. George Bowman was born in Scotland in 1795. His father, Mr. John Bowman, lived in Fifeshire; his mother was a native of Cornwall, in England. In 1798 Mr. John Bowman and his family came out to New South "Wales. He was one of the earliest free' settlers in Australia. Of his three sons, John, the eldest, went to India, where he died many years ago. William, the third, died at Richmond about 4 years ago. Their sister, Mrs. Chisholm, died in May last. George, the subject of this sketch, the second son, survived all the rest. When he grew up he devoted his attention to pastoral pursuits and as he combined cool daring with caution and perseverance he found in this field of enterprise the opportunity for acquiring wealth. When the Hunter River was discovered he went over the mountains from the Hawkesbury to settle in the new country, and took up his abode as a squatter, where now his sons possess very valuable freehold estates.

He prospered in business and by his sterling character won the esteem of his fellow colonists and the confidence of those who were entrusted with, the maintenance of law and order. While still a young man he was appointed a magistrate of the territory. He was afterwards elected as a representative of part of the Hunter River District in the Legislative Council, when that body was partly nominated and partly elected. In politics he was a consistent Liberal.

He was attached to the church of his fathers, the Church of Scotland. And taking a lively interest in the current history of that church, he approved of the position taken by Dr. Chalmers and those associated with him in the proceedings which led to the formation of the Free Church. For in religion as well as in politics he was a firm friend of liberty and the rights of the people. And he not only held decided opinions, he was generous in devoting his wealth to the extension of what he believed to be important truth. At his own expense he built a church in Richmond, on which he had inscribed the title " Free Presbyterian Church," He was a representative elder in the church; and although he defended the position taken by the Free Church in 1843, in opposition to those who would have subjected the spiritual management of the church to State control ; he was among the foremost to welcome and to forward the work of union in the colony, where the fetters against which the Free Church protested do not exist.

He was also a liberal promoter of education. He was one of the largest contributors to the Australian College, established by Dr. Lang, At that institution the eldest of his sons were educated the youngest went to the University of Sydney. Two of his sons, Matthew and Robert, were sent to Scotland for their University education. Matthew completed, at the New College, Edinburgh, his course of preparation for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church and his father hoped that he might preach the gospel in the church which he built at Richmond. But the young man sickened and died before he entered on the work of the pulpit. It was in the hearts of the father and the son thus to unite in rendering honour to their God and Saviour. And when the son was taken the father pursued in other ways the same great end. He bore a large part of the expense of building churches at Penrith and elsewhere. Robert Bowman studied medicine, and took the degree of M.D. in Edinburgh University. He practised his profession for some years at Richmond. But his health failed and he died at about the age of forty.

Mr. Bowman had two daughters, one of whom is the wife of the Rev. James Cameron, M.A., minister of the Presbyterian Church at Richmond, the church built by his father-in-law, and recently enlarged and beautified. The other daughter was married to the late Dr. Andrew Cameron, brother of the Rev. James Cameron, who for a few years practised medicine with great success at Richmond, and won so strong a hold on the esteem of his fellow townsmen that they have erected a handsome monument to his honour. Dr. Cameron and his wife both passed away after a few years but their memory is perpetuated in the endowment of the Bowman-Cameron Scholarship in the University of Sydney.

Mr. Bowman's youngest sons (twins) went to London to study for the Bar. They were admitted as barristers, and took the degree of LL.B. in the University of London; but on returning to the colony preferred pastoral pursuits to the exercise of the legal profession. The seventh son, Mr. Alexander Bowman, was elected, at the last general election, as one of the representatives of the Hawkesbury. The family has prospered and extended. Mr. Bowman had thirty grandchildren.

He had been gradually becoming more and more infirm and, worn out with age. He departed this life at his residence at Richmond on the 26th Aug.

It is a remarkable circumstance, as indicative of the generous desire of Mr. Bowman to advance the welfare of the town in which he spent most of his days, that a town clock, which he ordered in London for the use of Richmond, is now, as is believed, on the way out. He had in many ways contributed liberally to promote the good of the town, the district, and the colony. And his memory will long be cherished with respect.

THE LATE MR. GEORGE BOWMAN, J.P. [Illustration]

Sources

1. ↑ London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 for George Bowman, Westminster St Marylebone 1793-1810 Ancestry.com sharing link
2. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Marriages, 1790-1966 for Eliza Sophia Pearce Vol 01, Baptisms, 1790-1825; Marriages, 1789-1823; Burials, 1790-1825 Ancestry.com sharing link
3. ↑ Marriage Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed by Nigel Clark 14 Feb 2022), Index entry for GEORGE BOWMAN and ELIZA S PEARCE; District: CB; Registration Number: 2553/1820
4. ↑ Death Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & D20Marriages : accessed by Nigel Clark14 Feb 2022), Index entry for BOWMAN GEORGE; Parents: JOHN & HONOR; District: RICHMOND; Registration Number: 9281/1878 
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162439280/george-bowman: accessed 10 February 2023), memorial page for George Bowman (26 May 1795–26 Aug 1878), Find a Grave Memorial ID 162439280, citing Richmond Presbyterian Cemetery, Richmond, Hawkesbury City, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209).
6. ↑ 1878 'The Late Mr. George Bowman, J.P.', Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), 7 September, p. 17. , viewed 10 Feb 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70594589

• Unsourced family tree handed down to Wjj Lynton.
• 'Bowman, George (1795–1878)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/bowman-george-15340/text26549, accessed 10 February 2023
• A History of St Andrews Uniting Church Richmond 1845-1995 : 150th Anniversary https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gZHT7vhuG4A-nkX85laGnUCXnLTPeznw/view
• Nancy Gray, 'Bowman, George Pearce (1821–1870)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bowman-george-pearce-3034/text4455, published first in hardcopy 1969, accessed online 10 February 2023.
• Parliament of New South Wales, Former Members https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/formermembers/Pages/former-member-details.aspx?pk=256
• Bowman, S. M. The History of a Bowman Family in Australia : The First 200 Years 1798-1998 : Free Settlers, Free Enterprise / S. M. Bowman. Dubbo, N.S.W.: Development and Advisory Publications Australia, 2000.
• Bowman, E. S. John and Honor Bowman of Richmond, New South Wales, and Their Family / E.S. Bowman. Singleton, [N.S.W.]: Archer Press, 1999.