Jefferson Bowman (abt. 1805 - 1896)

Born about 1805 in Prince George, Virginia, United States

Died 31 Dec 1896 at about age 91 in Prince George, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Jeff Bowman is a part of US Black heritage.

Jefferson was born about 1800-1810 in Virginia. The 1870 census gives his birth year as about 1810. The 1880 census gives his birth year as 1799, in 1878 he gave a deposition where he stated his age was 78. He passed away in 1896 and his death certificate gives his birth as 1806. Likely an illiterate former slave, he probably didn't know his real birth year.

1870 Census:^[1]

1880 Census:^[2]

In 1878 he was asked to give testimony as a witness to a neighbors claim for lost property in the Civil War.^[3]. Some of his testimony:

My name is Jeff Bowman I am 78 years old, I am a farm laborer and live on Mr. Lucas's farm about 1/4 mile from claimant (William Shackleford) ... My wife was one of the claimants servants and I used to go there every week during the war and was there nearly every day after the yankee army came... I heard him talk a great deal about the the war and the secesh (secessionists). He used to curse and swear about them pretty hard for bringing on the war and making so much trouble for everybody. He had some slaves, and was a mighty good master to them. and they all liked him. I heard him curse Jeff Davis and Old Ruffin many times, and said they ought to be hung.

Sources

1. ↑ 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870"
   citing Page: 50; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 21; Digital film/folder number: 004268762_002_M9V2-G93; FHL microfilm: 000553172; Image number: 76; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01493-9
   FamilySearch Record: MFG7-9SQ (accessed 9 July 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-XH17-3XY
   Jefferson Bowman (60) head of household in Prince George, Virginia, United States. Born in Virginia.
2. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
   citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00005; Digital film/folder number: 005162797_002_M9VQ-CNY; FHL microfilm: 1255384; Image number: 100; Sheet number: 416; Sheet letter: C; Packet letter: I
   FamilySearch Record: MC5B-39W (accessed 9 July 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBK-9N6R
   Jeff Bowman (81), widowed, Farm Laborer, head of household in Prince George, Prince George, Virginia, United States. Born in Virginia, United States.
3. ↑ National Archives, Southern Claims Commission Approved Claim Files from Prince George County, Virginia: Shackleford, William L, Claim No. 55255, image 31

• Death: "Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912"
  citing Digital film/folder number: 004225406; FHL microfilm: 2048582; Record number: 108; Packet letter: O
  FamilySearch Record: XR7N-6T5 (accessed 9 July 2024)
  Jeff Bowman death 31 Dec 1896 (age 90) in Prince George, Virginia, United States.