Abraham Bowman
Encyclopedia
Colonel Abraham Bowman was an 18th century American
frontiersman and American Revolutionary War
military officer, who served as an officer and later commanded the 8th Virginia Regiment
popularly known as the "German Regiment".
He and his brothers Isaac
, Joseph
and John Jacob Bowman
were among the earliest settlers in Kentucky. His grandson, John Bryan Bowman
, founded Kentucky University and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky
. His father George Bowman
and grandfather Jost Hite were both well-known Virginian pioneers and the first to explore and settle Shenandoah Valley
.
and Mary Hite (the eldest daughter of Jost Hite), he was raised on the Bowman family estate on Cedar Creek
near Strasburg, Virginia
. In 1766, the 17-year-old Bowman played a prominent role in the defence of the area against an Indian raiding party. When one of his neighbors, the daughter of George Miller, arrived at his home seeking help from an Indian raiding party, he took a gun and rode to Miller's home where he was joined by another young man, Thomas Newell. However, they arrived too late to save Miller and his family who were found "weltering in their own blood". He and Newell were part of the party who pursued the raiders and, overtaking them at South Branch Mountain
, killed one of them and rescued a Rachel Dellinger. Her infant child had been killed by her captors near the Capon River.
He was one of the first justices of the peace
in Shenandoah County during 1772 and 1773 as well as being appointed a justice
in Dunmore County, Virginia
in 1774. He and his brothers arrived in Kentucky during the mid-1770s, later helping establish and settle present-day Fayette County, Kentucky
. He was also a close friend of fellow frontiersman Daniel Boone
and was part of the expedition which explored Dick's River
.
He enlisted in the Virginia militia shortly before the American Revolutionary War
and, commissioned a lieutenant-colonel by the Virginia Convention on January 12, 1776, he served under Colonel Peter Muhlenberg
in the 8th Virginia Regiment, otherwise known as the famous "German Regiment" of the Virginia Line
. He participated in battles at Ticonderoga
, Monmouth
, Germantown
and Valley Forge. Made a full colonel
in March 1777, he assumed command of the regiment after Muhlenberg was made a brigadier general
and led in regiment during the Battle of Brandywine
and Yorktown
, where he led the last charge against the enemy redoubt
s. Among the Kentucky veterans awarded land grants by the federal government at Clark's Grant
, Bowman received the largest with 7590 acres (30.7 km²).
Resigning his commission in 1779, he returned to Kentucky with a party of 30 families that fall and founded Bowman's Station in Madison County, Kentucky
. Settling in Fayette County
two years later, he also participated in defending Kentucky against Indian raids with his brother John, Colonel-Commandant of the Kentucky County Militia.
He later became a prominent landowner in Kentucky County eventually acquiring 8000 acres (32.4 km²) six miles (10 km) southwest of Lexington and later constructed one of the first brick house
s to be built in the state. He often entertained former Revolutionary War veterans, most notably General Marquis de Lafayette when he stayed in Lexington in 1824. Active in politics, Bowman was elected on first bench of justices in Lincoln County, Kentucky
and later represented Fayette County
in the Kentucky constitutional convention in 1825.
He died at his estate near Lexington, Kentucky
on November 9, 1837 at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife, Sarah Henry, and their children. The Keeneland race track was later built on the site of his home, the Keenland plantation, amounting to nearly 12,000 at the time of his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
frontiersman and American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
military officer, who served as an officer and later commanded the 8th Virginia Regiment
8th Virginia Regiment
The 8th Virginia Regiment was raised on January 11, 1776 at Suffolk Court House, Virginia for service with the Continental Army under the command of Peter Muhlenberg. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Brandywine, the Battle of Germantown and the Battle of Monmouth...
popularly known as the "German Regiment".
He and his brothers Isaac
Isaac Bowman
Isaac Bowman was an 18th-century American soldier and militia officer who took part in the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War...
, Joseph
Joseph Bowman
Joseph Bowman was a Virginia militia officer during the American Revolutionary War. He was second-in-command during George Rogers Clark's famous campaign to capture the Illinois country, in which Clark and his men seized the British-controlled towns of Kaskaskia, Vincennes, and others...
and John Jacob Bowman
John Bowman (pioneer)
John Jacob Bowman was an 18th century American pioneer, colonial militia officer and sheriff, the first appointed in Lincoln County, Kentucky. In 1781 he also presided as a justice of the peace over the first county court held in Kentucky...
were among the earliest settlers in Kentucky. His grandson, John Bryan Bowman
John Bryan Bowman
John Bryan Bowman was a 19th-century American lawyer and educator, most notably, as the founder Kentucky University and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky. He is the grandson of Kentucky frontiersman Abraham Bowman, as well as the grandnephew of Isaac, Joseph and John Jacob Bowman...
, founded Kentucky University and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. His father George Bowman
George Bowman (pioneer)
George Bowman was an 18th century American pioneer, landowner and a prominent Indian fighter in the early history of the Colony of Virginia. He, along with his father-in-law Jost Hite, was one of the first to explore and settle Shenandoah Valley...
and grandfather Jost Hite were both well-known Virginian pioneers and the first to explore and settle Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
.
Biography
Born to George BowmanGeorge Bowman (pioneer)
George Bowman was an 18th century American pioneer, landowner and a prominent Indian fighter in the early history of the Colony of Virginia. He, along with his father-in-law Jost Hite, was one of the first to explore and settle Shenandoah Valley...
and Mary Hite (the eldest daughter of Jost Hite), he was raised on the Bowman family estate on Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek
-In Delaware:*Cedar Creek, Delaware*Cedar Creek Hundred, an unincorporated subdivision of Sussex County, Delaware-In Georgia:*Cedar Creek , former name for Vickery Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River-In Indiana:...
near Strasburg, Virginia
Strasburg, Virginia
Strasburg is a town in Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States, which was founded in 1761 by Peter Stover. It is the largest town, population-wise, in the county and is known for its pottery, antiques, and Civil War history...
. In 1766, the 17-year-old Bowman played a prominent role in the defence of the area against an Indian raiding party. When one of his neighbors, the daughter of George Miller, arrived at his home seeking help from an Indian raiding party, he took a gun and rode to Miller's home where he was joined by another young man, Thomas Newell. However, they arrived too late to save Miller and his family who were found "weltering in their own blood". He and Newell were part of the party who pursued the raiders and, overtaking them at South Branch Mountain
South Branch Mountain
South Branch Mountain is a mountain ridge that runs southwest to northeast through Hampshire and Hardy counties in the Eastern Panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia, rising to its greatest elevation of 3,028 feet above sea-level in the Nathaniel Mountain Wildlife Management Area...
, killed one of them and rescued a Rachel Dellinger. Her infant child had been killed by her captors near the Capon River.
He was one of the first justices of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Shenandoah County during 1772 and 1773 as well as being appointed a justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
in Dunmore County, Virginia
Dunmore County, Virginia
Dunmore County was a county in Virginia formed in 1772 and named for the colonial lieutenant governor, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore. Woodstock, Virginia was the county seat....
in 1774. He and his brothers arrived in Kentucky during the mid-1770s, later helping establish and settle present-day Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
. He was also a close friend of fellow frontiersman Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
and was part of the expedition which explored Dick's River
Dix River
The Dix River is a tributary of the Kentucky River in central Kentucky in the United States.It begins in western Rockcastle County, about west of Mount Vernon. It flows generally northwest, in a tight meandering course, passing north of Stanford and east of Danville. Northwest of Danville it is...
.
He enlisted in the Virginia militia shortly before the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and, commissioned a lieutenant-colonel by the Virginia Convention on January 12, 1776, he served under Colonel Peter Muhlenberg
Peter Muhlenberg
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly-independent United States...
in the 8th Virginia Regiment, otherwise known as the famous "German Regiment" of the Virginia Line
Virginia Line
The Virginia Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Virginia Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Virginia at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the...
. He participated in battles at Ticonderoga
Battle of Ticonderoga
Battle of Ticonderoga may refer to:*Battle of Ticonderoga or Battle of Carillon, an unsuccessful British attack on French*Battle of Ticonderoga , a British approach that forced a small French garrison to withdraw...
, Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
, Germantown
Battle of Germantown
The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington...
and Valley Forge. Made a full colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in March 1777, he assumed command of the regiment after Muhlenberg was made a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
and led in regiment during the Battle of Brandywine
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
and Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
, where he led the last charge against the enemy redoubt
Redoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
s. Among the Kentucky veterans awarded land grants by the federal government at Clark's Grant
Clark's Grant
Clark's Grant was a tract of land granted to George Rogers Clark and the soldiers who fought with him during the American Revolutionary War by the state of Virginia in honor of their service...
, Bowman received the largest with 7590 acres (30.7 km²).
Resigning his commission in 1779, he returned to Kentucky with a party of 30 families that fall and founded Bowman's Station in Madison County, Kentucky
Madison County, Kentucky
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2008, the population was 82,192. Its county seat is Richmond. The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States. This is also where famous pioneer Daniel...
. Settling in Fayette County
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
two years later, he also participated in defending Kentucky against Indian raids with his brother John, Colonel-Commandant of the Kentucky County Militia.
He later became a prominent landowner in Kentucky County eventually acquiring 8000 acres (32.4 km²) six miles (10 km) southwest of Lexington and later constructed one of the first brick house
Brick House
-Properties in the United Kingdom:* Brick House , listed for the 2006 Sterling prize for architecture-Properties in the United States:* The Brick House, Louisville, Kentucky...
s to be built in the state. He often entertained former Revolutionary War veterans, most notably General Marquis de Lafayette when he stayed in Lexington in 1824. Active in politics, Bowman was elected on first bench of justices in Lincoln County, Kentucky
Lincoln County, Kentucky
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 24,742 in the 2010 Cesus. Its county seat is Stanford. Lincoln is a prohibition or "dry county" and is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
and later represented Fayette County
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
in the Kentucky constitutional convention in 1825.
He died at his estate near Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
on November 9, 1837 at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife, Sarah Henry, and their children. The Keeneland race track was later built on the site of his home, the Keenland plantation, amounting to nearly 12,000 at the time of his death.
Further reading
- Sanchez-Saavedra, E.M. A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations in the American Revolution, 1774-1787. Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1978.
- Wayland, John W. The Bowmans: A Pioneering Family in Virginia, Kentucky and the Northwest Territory. Staunton, Virginia: McClure Co., 1943.