~MY ANCESTOR
The son of George Bowers of Scituate, MA, John Bowers immigrated from England at a young age with his parents, and graduated from Harvard in 1649. He was a school master in Plymouth Colony from 1652-1653, and was called to New Haven by Gov. Eaton and taught school there for about 7 years (1653-1660). He was pastor of Guilford and preached in Branford after Rev. Pierson left (1667 to Feb. 1673). On Nov. 19, 1673, he was ordained and became the first pastor of Derby remaining there until he died in 1687. The town of Derby voted to build a house for their pastor & his family on Nov. 18, 1673 to be finished by the next May. He was to receive £35 for the first year.
At a town meeting at Derby, April 18, 1677, he was grated 12 acres, a lot on which to build his home, as well all the swamp adjacent to his 12 acres of land.
On Feb. 22, 1676, he was granted 3 acres of meadow called David's meadow on the west side of the brook.
Dec. 30, 1678, the town agreed to give Mr. Bowers 15 pounds added to his 35 pounds to make his fence.
His wife was my ancestor, REBECCA GREGSON, daughter of THOMAS & JANE GREGSON. After her death, he married Bridget Thompson.
In "A History of the First Church & Society of Branford, CT, 1544-1919" by J. Rupert Simonds, he is described as not having eloquence or popularity, but he was honest, hard-working & a personal life above reproach.
His will dated Jan. 8, 1686, was witnessed by son-in-law John Frisbie and was recorded at Derby. "...my will is yt after my deceace my dearly beloved wife Bridget Bowers Shall have ye dispose of my whole Estate to dispose of it amongst our children..."
I can honestly not say which of his wives was the mother of his children since there are no marriage dates for them, but the following children were born:
1. Ruth Bowers b. Dec. 20, 1657 at Branford; died April 26, 1736 in Branford; m. John Frisby
2. Mary Bowers b. 1665 in New Haven, CT., m. Samuel Nichols
3. Samuel Bowers b. Nov. 5, 1665, d. after 1710, m. Nov. 4, 1691 at Derby Lydia French.
4. John Bowers b. Dec. 3, 1667 at Guilford, d. Dec. 23, 1708 at Derby.
5. ANNA BOWERS, my ancestor, b. 1679 at Derby, d. Jan. 11, 1744 at New Haven, m. FRANCIS FRENCH, JR.
Pictured is the old Church in Derby, est. 1600's.
The son of George Bowers of Scituate, MA, John Bowers immigrated from England at a young age with his parents, and graduated from Harvard in 1649. He was a school master in Plymouth Colony from 1652-1653, and was called to New Haven by Gov. Eaton and taught school there for about 7 years (1653-1660). He was pastor of Guilford and preached in Branford after Rev. Pierson left (1667 to Feb. 1673). On Nov. 19, 1673, he was ordained and became the first pastor of Derby remaining there until he died in 1687. The town of Derby voted to build a house for their pastor & his family on Nov. 18, 1673 to be finished by the next May. He was to receive £35 for the first year.
At a town meeting at Derby, April 18, 1677, he was grated 12 acres, a lot on which to build his home, as well all the swamp adjacent to his 12 acres of land.
On Feb. 22, 1676, he was granted 3 acres of meadow called David's meadow on the west side of the brook.
Dec. 30, 1678, the town agreed to give Mr. Bowers 15 pounds added to his 35 pounds to make his fence.
His wife was my ancestor, REBECCA GREGSON, daughter of THOMAS & JANE GREGSON. After her death, he married Bridget Thompson.
In "A History of the First Church & Society of Branford, CT, 1544-1919" by J. Rupert Simonds, he is described as not having eloquence or popularity, but he was honest, hard-working & a personal life above reproach.
His will dated Jan. 8, 1686, was witnessed by son-in-law John Frisbie and was recorded at Derby. "...my will is yt after my deceace my dearly beloved wife Bridget Bowers Shall have ye dispose of my whole Estate to dispose of it amongst our children..."
I can honestly not say which of his wives was the mother of his children since there are no marriage dates for them, but the following children were born:
1. Ruth Bowers b. Dec. 20, 1657 at Branford; died April 26, 1736 in Branford; m. John Frisby
2. Mary Bowers b. 1665 in New Haven, CT., m. Samuel Nichols
3. Samuel Bowers b. Nov. 5, 1665, d. after 1710, m. Nov. 4, 1691 at Derby Lydia French.
4. John Bowers b. Dec. 3, 1667 at Guilford, d. Dec. 23, 1708 at Derby.
5. ANNA BOWERS, my ancestor, b. 1679 at Derby, d. Jan. 11, 1744 at New Haven, m. FRANCIS FRENCH, JR.
Pictured is the old Church in Derby, est. 1600's.
~MY ANCESTOR
The son of George Bowers of Scituate, MA, John Bowers immigrated from England at a young age with his parents, and graduated from Harvard in 1649. He was a school master in Plymouth Colony from 1652-1653, and was called to New Haven by Gov. Eaton and taught school there for about 7 years (1653-1660). He was pastor of Guilford and preached in Branford after Rev. Pierson left (1667 to Feb. 1673). On Nov. 19, 1673, he was ordained and became the first pastor of Derby remaining there until he died in 1687. The town of Derby voted to build a house for their pastor & his family on Nov. 18, 1673 to be finished by the next May. He was to receive £35 for the first year.
At a town meeting at Derby, April 18, 1677, he was grated 12 acres, a lot on which to build his home, as well all the swamp adjacent to his 12 acres of land.
On Feb. 22, 1676, he was granted 3 acres of meadow called David's meadow on the west side of the brook.
Dec. 30, 1678, the town agreed to give Mr. Bowers 15 pounds added to his 35 pounds to make his fence.
His wife was my ancestor, REBECCA GREGSON, daughter of THOMAS & JANE GREGSON. After her death, he married Bridget Thompson.
In "A History of the First Church & Society of Branford, CT, 1544-1919" by J. Rupert Simonds, he is described as not having eloquence or popularity, but he was honest, hard-working & a personal life above reproach.
His will dated Jan. 8, 1686, was witnessed by son-in-law John Frisbie and was recorded at Derby. "...my will is yt after my deceace my dearly beloved wife Bridget Bowers Shall have ye dispose of my whole Estate to dispose of it amongst our children..."
I can honestly not say which of his wives was the mother of his children since there are no marriage dates for them, but the following children were born:
1. Ruth Bowers b. Dec. 20, 1657 at Branford; died April 26, 1736 in Branford; m. John Frisby
2. Mary Bowers b. 1665 in New Haven, CT., m. Samuel Nichols
3. Samuel Bowers b. Nov. 5, 1665, d. after 1710, m. Nov. 4, 1691 at Derby Lydia French.
4. John Bowers b. Dec. 3, 1667 at Guilford, d. Dec. 23, 1708 at Derby.
5. ANNA BOWERS, my ancestor, b. 1679 at Derby, d. Jan. 11, 1744 at New Haven, m. FRANCIS FRENCH, JR.
Pictured is the old Church in Derby, est. 1600's.
The son of George Bowers of Scituate, MA, John Bowers immigrated from England at a young age with his parents, and graduated from Harvard in 1649. He was a school master in Plymouth Colony from 1652-1653, and was called to New Haven by Gov. Eaton and taught school there for about 7 years (1653-1660). He was pastor of Guilford and preached in Branford after Rev. Pierson left (1667 to Feb. 1673). On Nov. 19, 1673, he was ordained and became the first pastor of Derby remaining there until he died in 1687. The town of Derby voted to build a house for their pastor & his family on Nov. 18, 1673 to be finished by the next May. He was to receive £35 for the first year.
At a town meeting at Derby, April 18, 1677, he was grated 12 acres, a lot on which to build his home, as well all the swamp adjacent to his 12 acres of land.
On Feb. 22, 1676, he was granted 3 acres of meadow called David's meadow on the west side of the brook.
Dec. 30, 1678, the town agreed to give Mr. Bowers 15 pounds added to his 35 pounds to make his fence.
His wife was my ancestor, REBECCA GREGSON, daughter of THOMAS & JANE GREGSON. After her death, he married Bridget Thompson.
In "A History of the First Church & Society of Branford, CT, 1544-1919" by J. Rupert Simonds, he is described as not having eloquence or popularity, but he was honest, hard-working & a personal life above reproach.
His will dated Jan. 8, 1686, was witnessed by son-in-law John Frisbie and was recorded at Derby. "...my will is yt after my deceace my dearly beloved wife Bridget Bowers Shall have ye dispose of my whole Estate to dispose of it amongst our children..."
I can honestly not say which of his wives was the mother of his children since there are no marriage dates for them, but the following children were born:
1. Ruth Bowers b. Dec. 20, 1657 at Branford; died April 26, 1736 in Branford; m. John Frisby
2. Mary Bowers b. 1665 in New Haven, CT., m. Samuel Nichols
3. Samuel Bowers b. Nov. 5, 1665, d. after 1710, m. Nov. 4, 1691 at Derby Lydia French.
4. John Bowers b. Dec. 3, 1667 at Guilford, d. Dec. 23, 1708 at Derby.
5. ANNA BOWERS, my ancestor, b. 1679 at Derby, d. Jan. 11, 1744 at New Haven, m. FRANCIS FRENCH, JR.
Pictured is the old Church in Derby, est. 1600's.
Inscription
"First Minister of Derby, Feb. 1673 to June, 1687, Rev. John Bowers Died June 14, 1687, aged 58."
