Descendant of a King
Originally from: Letters from Linden
Date: November – December 2010 & January 2011
DESCENDANT OF A KING: JOSEPH BOWMAN
The following appeared in the Calvert Gazette
January 17, 1903
“Joseph Bowman, colored, who was at one time a prosperous farmer in this county, died in Baltimore Tuesday night [January 13], aged 91 years. He claimed to be of direct descent from a king of a large tribe on the West Coast of Africa. Referring to his death, the Baltimore American says: Bowman had been a slave in the family of Mr. Henry Williams, president of the Second Branch City Council and the Weems Line of steamboats. A grandfather of the old man was king of a tribe, he claims, and was captured by a party of slave dealers and brought to this country. Bowman was bought by the late Miss Elizabeth Chew, a member of the Williams family, who resided in Calvert county. Shortly before the Civil War Miss Chew liberated the slave because of his faithfulness. He employed himself around on the different farms, and in several years’ time had saved considerable money. With this the old man bought a small farm and employed others to help him in his work. He was a severe slave master, and it was said that he could get more work out the of the colored help than any in the county. In a short time he became prosperous and was reputed to be quite wealthy. With this prosperity he bought a larger farm. Then came ill-luck, for his farm failed to produce the required amount of tobacco and he lost several large sums of money. He then removed to Baltimore. The old man would go to the office of Mr. Henry Williams, who contributed to his support, once every week.”
On August 27th, 1850, Henry Williams’ slaves were enumerated, including a 35-year-old male, who could be Joseph. Elizabeth Chew of the third district owned three slaves, according to the census: a 20-year-old female and two males, aged 12 and 6. It appears that she purchased Joseph after records were taken.
By 1860, census records for Calvert County reflect Joseph as a free man at age 50; he is a laborer. In his household are Sophia Bowman, age 45, Tom Gray, 15; Sam Gray, 10; and Ben Gray, 5. 1870 census records taken June 21st, 1870, for Calvert County’s second district reflect the household of Joseph Bowman, age 54, a black male. A farmer, his real estate is valued at $700 and personal estate at $200. Living with him are Sophia Bowman, 47, a black female who keeps house, and Maria Bowman, 13, a black female who attended school within the year. All were born in Maryland.
The 1880 census recorded the 23rd and 24th of June, 1880, shows that Joseph and his wife, Sophia, still are living in Calvert County. By June 4th, 1900, Joseph is living by himself on W Lee Street in Baltimore’s first ward, according to the 1900 census, suggesting that Sophia has died. His age is listed as 80, having been born in August, 1819. Despite the age discrepancies, this appears to have been Joseph Bowman, descendant of a king.
SOURCES: Calvert Gazette, Vol 18, No 24, 17 Jan 1903. 1850 US Federal Census, Calvert Co, MD, p 59; Slave Sched, Dist 3, pp 1 & 33. 1860 US Federal Census, Calvert Co, MD, p 86. 1870 US Federal Census, Calvert Co, MD, p 33. 1880 US Federal Census, Calvert Co, MD, p 28. 1900 US Federal Census, Baltimore City, MD, p 4B.
