Jabez Bowen
Encyclopedia
Jabez Bowen, Jr. was a deputy governor of Rhode Island
, militia colonel during the American Revolutionary War
and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
.
in 1739. His great-uncle Jabez Bowen was also a prominent Providence physician. Jabez graduated from Yale College
in 1757. Bowen married Sarah Brown
a cousin of Moses Brown
and John Brown (Rhode Island)
of the prominent Brown family (see Brown University
) of Providence. Bowen was deeply involved with the Browns in the shipping business, involving slaves, molasses, rum, and the China trade
.
He was a member of the Providence town council from 1773 and 1775. He was also a representative in the General Assembly in 1777. During the American Revolution, Bowen served in the Providence militia between 1774 and 1777, holding the rank of colonel of the First Regiment of Providence County from 1776 to 1777, serving under William West. Bowen was Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1778 to 1779, and from 1781 to 1786. Bowen became a Superior Court judge in 1776, and became Chief Justice in 1781. Bowen served on the city committee which negotiated a peaceful end to William West's antifederalist protest on the Fourth of July in 1788.http://books.google.com/books?vid=LCCNrc01002945&id=mey2yVepeHsC&pg=PA332&dq=%22william+west%22+rhode&as_brr=1 Bowen was an ardent federalist (pro-Constitution) supporter.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, militia colonel during 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 Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
Rhode Island Supreme Court
The Rhode Island Supreme Court, founded in 1747, is the court of last resort in the U.S. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices. The current Justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court are:*Chief Justice Paul A...
.
Biography
Jabez Bowen was born to the prominent doctor, Ephraim Bowen, in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
in 1739. His great-uncle Jabez Bowen was also a prominent Providence physician. Jabez graduated from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1757. Bowen married Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown
Sarah Joy Brown is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for originating the role of Carly Corinthos, which she portrayed on the American daytime drama General Hospital from 1996 to 2001, and which earned her three Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2008, she returned to General Hospital in a...
a cousin of Moses Brown
Moses Brown
Moses Brown was a co-founder of Brown University and a New England abolitionist and industrialist, who funded the design and construction of some of the first factory houses for spinning machines during the American industrial revolution, including Slater Mill.-Early life:Brown was the son of...
and John Brown (Rhode Island)
John Brown (Rhode Island)
John Brown I was an American merchant, slave trader, and statesman from Providence, Rhode Island. In 1764, John Brown joined his brothers Nicholas Brown and Moses Brown as well as William Ellery, the Baptist Reverend James Manning, the Baptist Reverend Isaac Backus, the Congregationalist Reverend...
of the prominent Brown family (see Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
) of Providence. Bowen was deeply involved with the Browns in the shipping business, involving slaves, molasses, rum, and the China trade
Old China Trade
The Old China Trade was the name given to the early commerce between the Qing Empire and the United States under the Canton System, spanning from shortly after the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783 to the Treaty of Wanghsia in 1844...
.
He was a member of the Providence town council from 1773 and 1775. He was also a representative in the General Assembly in 1777. During the American Revolution, Bowen served in the Providence militia between 1774 and 1777, holding the rank of colonel of the First Regiment of Providence County from 1776 to 1777, serving under William West. Bowen was Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1778 to 1779, and from 1781 to 1786. Bowen became a Superior Court judge in 1776, and became Chief Justice in 1781. Bowen served on the city committee which negotiated a peaceful end to William West's antifederalist protest on the Fourth of July in 1788.http://books.google.com/books?vid=LCCNrc01002945&id=mey2yVepeHsC&pg=PA332&dq=%22william+west%22+rhode&as_brr=1 Bowen was an ardent federalist (pro-Constitution) supporter.