John and Hannah Robinson Bowman--England to Anson County

John Bowman (1810-1856) was born in Brampton, England. Burial place unknown. It has been said that he went back to England and never returned. Also said to have been buried on his farm in Bethel Community in Anson County, NC. He lived in this community and his occupation was farming.

John married Hannah Robinson (1810-1880) of Brampton, England on October 21, 1833. She is buried in Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery located four miles south of Wadesboro, North Carolina on highway # 742. Hannah’s parents were John Robinson (1761-1842) of Lanniston, England and Ann Little (1771) of Marsgate, England. Burial place unknown.

John left England on October 15, 1836 for America. Hannah and son John left for America August 3, 1841. Their two sons William and Thomas came to America to live. They also lived in Bethel Community.

In 1776 William Bowman received land grants on Lanes Creek. In 1850 Thomas Bowman gave John Bowman, Hannah’s husband, Power of Attorney to settle his part of their father’s estate of Hardest in Parish of Lancaster, England. In 1853 Thomas sold John Bowman land on Jones Creek. In 1854 Thomas Bowman bought land from Phillip Gathings near Brown Creek and White Store. In 1850 Thomas Bowman bought land on Jones Creek at public auction from the County of Anson.

John Bowman applied for his citizenship July A.D. 1848 at Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, State of North Carolina in Anson County. John Bowman, age 38 years who was born in the city of Cumberland in England comes in open Court and reports himself as having arrived at New York in the State of New York in the month of September A.D. 1841 and that he intends to settle himself in the County of Anson in the State of North Carolina; and also declares upon oath, in open court, that it is bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States of North America, and to renounce all allegiances and fidelity, to any foreign potentate, prince, State or Sovereignty whatever and particularly to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He also swears that he will support the Constitution of North Carolina and with true allegiance bear to the said state. Sworn to and subscribed before me in open court July 11, 1849. (signed): N.D. Boggan, Clerk (signed); John Bowman.

John and Hannah had seven children: Thomas, William and John were born in Brampton, England. George, Cornelius, Robinson Tyler and Margaret Ann were born in America. Five sons served in the Civil War.

John Thomas (1839-1902) was a farmer prior to enlisting in Anson County in the Army at age 24, April 1861. Was a Private in company C 34th Regiment, North Carolina. Accounted for unit paroled at Appomattox Court House, Virginia April, 1865. John came to the States in 1841. they lived in Cheraw, South Carolina two years and then settled in Anson county. He stayed two years with his parents and then moved to Thomas County, Georgia where he remained for eight years. While there he married Miss Mary Adeline Carroll, December 17, 1867. A CSA Veteran’s War marker has been placed at his grave in Bethel Cemetery.

Thomas (b. 1836) lived in Anson County prior to enlisting in the Army at age 16, July 1861. Was a Private in Company K 26 Regiment North Carolina. Captured near Falling Waters, Maryland July 14, 1863. confined at Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D.C. until transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland where he arrived August 23, 1863. Paroled at Point Lookout about February 1863 and transferred to Atkin’s Landing, James River, Virginia. Received February 25, 1865 for exchange. Died in Jefferson County, Georgia. Buried in Little Flock Cemetery near Monticello, Florida.

George (1842-1862) resided in Anson County where he enlisted in the Army at age 19, May 10, 1862. He was in Company C 26th Regiment North Carolina. Accounty for until killed near King’s School House, Virginia June 25, 1862. Burial unknown. It has been said that Mr. Sam Short was near George when he was wounded and put his hat over George’s face when he was buried. They were friends from Anson County.

William (1834-1863) enlisted in Anson County on the same date. May 10, 1862. William was in Company K 26 Regiment North Carolina. He was 28 years old. Accounted for until killed at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania July 1, 1863, the first day of battle. Burial place unknown.

Cornelius (1844-1918) was a Private in Company C 14 Regiment North Carolina. Resided in Anson County and enlisted at Strasburg, Virginia, July 23, 1864. Confined at Hart’s Island, New York Harbor until released June 1865 after taking the oath of Allegiance. He was married to Nancy Jane Carroll of Thomasville, Georgia. Their children: Robert Lee, Oscar Caleb, Clyde, John Carroll, Ella, and Minnie.

Robinson Tyler (1847-1918) married Susan Harriet Ratliff. Their children: John Robinson, Mary Adelia, Fannie Ophelia, Susan Hannah, Elijah Dorsey, Margaret Annie, Hattie Inez, George Manley, Cora May, Nannie Lou, and Henry William.

Margaret Ann (1849-1932) married Henry T. Covington. Their children: Franklin, Lester, George, and John. all buried in Morven Town Cemetery, Morven, North Carolina.

There are several Brampton's in England, but there is one very near Bewcastle in Cumberland (now Cumbria) County. It is about nine miles east of Carlisle, on the A69 highway, in the northwest of England. It is both the name of the parish and the name of the town. Lanercost is the parish to the north of Brampton, Bewcastle the parish north of Lanercost, and north of Bewcastle is Scotland.

First re:Bowman. There is no *parish* of Lancaster, thats a county. There is however a parish of Lanercost in Cumberland County - and there is a farm there named Hardhurst which was sometimes spelled Hardest or Hardhirst. AND the following entry appears in the Lanercost parish registers: "John, s. of Ann Bowman of Hardhirst, illeg.", baptised December 30, 1807. So, a John Bowman was born, probably sometime in 1807, at Hardhirst (Hardest) in Lanercost parish, which is just outside of the town of Brampton. I did not find his marriage in Lanercost and I do not have full records for Brampton parish, but the IGI lists a marriage of John Bowman and Hannah Robinson, in Brampton, on 31 October, 1833. It was generally the case that a marriage would take place in the bride's parish (note that later)

Re: Robinson: On 30 October 1794,a Jane Robinson was baptised, from "Lanerton" farm (in Lanercost parish), dau of John Robinson and his wife Ann, late Little. The Lanercost registers show no Hannah baptism, but the IGI shows the baptism of Hannah, d/o John Robinson and Ann Little, in Brampton, on 27 January, 1811. There are also several baptisms shown at Lanerton in Lanercost to a Joseph Robinson and his wife Isabel, late Lee. So, it looks like John lived with a relative (?) at Lanerton but moved to Brampton before Hannah was born. This is a common local migration pattern.

Both the Bowman and Robinson families show up in the Bewcastle registers but I have not tried to trace the lines. Hardhurst still exists (Ordnance Survey ref 668546 on Landranger 86). Its on whats called Mill Beck (a creek) that runs off of the Irthing River and is in the northern portion of Lanercost parish. The geography is significant here; the Bewcastle church is in the very south of its parish, literally on the border with Lanercost and Lanercost Abbey is somewhat south in its parish (near Brampton). This led many folks who physically lived in Lanercost to attend (baptize, marry, etc) the Bewcastle church as it was much closer.

Most of the farms in this area still exist, development fever has not reached this part of England - yet.

So, it appears that your two lines *are* from the Lanercost/Bewcastle area. The later marriage in Brampton is consistent, and earlier ancestors will undoubtedly be found in the two parishes to the north. You're in luck there too. Pretty good records exist and folks didn't move around too much in the early days. The records generally/often show farm names and its therefore much easier to identify and trace specific families.

Well, I think I found some more good data. I don't know of a "Marsgate" anywhere, but I looked in the Knowe Presbyterian index and found a Malsgate, sometimes spelled Mallsgate. Its in Bewcastle parish (486741 on the Ordnance Survey map) and guess what; it was occupied by several Little's in the late 1700's.

Brampton is a rather interesting place, but very difficult to find anything about from here in the US.