════════════ Pioneer of Freedom of Religion in America ═══════════

• John Bowne was an early American Quaker who — through his patient and persistent resistance of governmental intolerance — helped to establish freedom of religion in colonial America.

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John Bowne was baptized at the Church of Saint Giles in Matlock, Derbyshire, England on 9 March 1627, a son of Thomas Bowne, shearman of Limetree Farm (53.137005, -1.546746).

He emigrated to Boston in 1649 with his father and a sister, Dorothy Bowne.

He kept a journal from 1649 until the year before his death.

▪ A chronology of some of his life's events —

Entered into the service of Boston vintner William Phillips on 7 January 1650, earning five shillings a week.

Sailed from Nantasket on the Charles on 24 October 1650, arriving at Deal, near Dover, England on 23 November 1650.

Visited London and Matlock, then sailed from Gravesend in the Artillery on 26 March 1651, arriving in Boston on 25 May 1651.

Removed to Vlissingen [Flushing], New Netherland on 15 June 1651.

"[A] verri jentiele young man of gud abbiliti, of a lovli fetture and gud behafior".

Arrested on 1 September 1662, and imprisoned by Peter Stuyvesant, Dutch governor of New Netherland, for holding meetings of the "abominable sect called Quakers" at his home every Sunday.

Banished after four months of imprisonment, first in the dungeon, then in the Stadt Huys in New Amsterdam, during which his door was occasionally left open with the hope that he would escape.

Deported to Ireland on the Fox on 31 December 1662, arriving in Dublin on 23 February 1663, where he stayed with fellow Quakers.

Sailed on the Grace on 1 March 1663 to Wales, then traveled on horseback to England, visiting many Quakers.

Sailed to The Netherlands from Gravesend on the Helena of Rotterdam on 24 April 1663. To Amsterdam, where he appeared before the board of directors of the West India Company, who were prompted to establish religious liberty in New Netherland.

Returned to England, then sailed from Gravesend on the Mary and Ann on 7 July 1663, arriving in Barbados on 16 November 1663.

Sailed for home on the Tryall of New London on 27 January 1664, arriving in New Amsterdam on 30 March 1664. Reunited with his wife and children 19 months after his arrest.

Quaker leader. Farmer, businessman and landowner.

Granted 1000 acres of land in Bucks County, Pennsylvania by William Penn on 2 November 1682, although he never settled there.

Elected representative from Queens County to the General Assembly in 1691, but not seated due to his refusal to take the prescribed oaths.

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John Bowne married
(1) Hannah Feake on 7 May 1656,
(2) Hannah Bickerstaff on 2 February 1680, and
(3) Mary Cock on 26 June 1693.

Father of eighteen children.

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"He did Freely Expose himself his house and Esteate to ye service of Truth … Hee allso suffered very much for ye truths seak".

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His house (40.762860, -73.824933) in Flushing, built in 1661 and still standing, is an historic landmark, presently known as The John Bowne House (administered by The Bowne House Historical Society).

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