Jerathmeel Bowers Sr. (1650 - aft. 1724)

Born 2 May 1650 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 5 Mar 1724 after age 73 in Groton, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jack Parker [send private message]

Biography

Jerathmeel is the child of George Bowers and Elizabeth Worthington. He was born 2 May 1650, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA of his father's second wife, Elizabeth Worthington. ^[1]

"Capt. Jerathmeel Bowers, a brother of our Jonathan, lived in Chelmsford, near Pawtucket, and was a leading citizen." ^[2]

Jerathmeel Bowers reached adulthood in 1671, and in that year he married Elizabeth Wilder, fourth of five children born to Thomas and Anna (Eames) Wilder of Charlestown. It was about that time that Jerathmeel built a house which survives today. The following is from the 1991 application for the home to be included in the National Register of Historic Places: “The Bowers House is significant as the earliest surviving farmhouse in Lowell. Its origins date from ca. 1671 and the house has remained in single family ownership since then…Though early history is sketchy, it seems certain that Jerathmeel Bowers was living here by 1674; his marriage three years earlier make the ca. 1671 construction date plausible. Jerathmeel was a farmer who also fought in King Philip’s War when he earned his title of “Colonel” and who represented Chelmsford in the General Court for five years. In 1688 he was licensed to sell “strong waters.” Nine succeeding generations of Bowers over a period of 300 years have occupied the site. By the early 20th century, the farm’s production focused on hay and dairy products. The original 500 acres was gradually reduced, until the city acquired a large tract to the southwest, leaving only 3 with the homestead. ^[3]

Some other information from the application is valuable. It was accepted in 1994, and the house has a Wikipedia page (photo by Tim Pierce). Considered part of Chelmsford at the time, it was later included in the city of Lowell. It is of the Federalist style construction but has had some remodeling. Jerathmeel Bowers was licensed to manufacture liquor that “may be sold to Christians, but not to Indians.” Settlers sought shelter here during attacks, and the house served as a garrison in that period.

Jerathmeul was listed in the Middlesex County, Massachusetts Deponents for the year 1681/2.^[4]

Jerathmeel Bowers' will was dated and witnessed 5 March 1723/4. In his will he specifically mentions his children but no wife. The probate date was 10 June 1724.^[5][6]:

• son Jonathan, named Executor, and his son Benjamin Bowers
• son John, deceased
• son Samuel
• son Jerathmeel
• daughter Elizabeth [Bowers] Head
• daughter Hannah [Bowers] Wilson and her son Jerathmeel Pearce (by her 1st husband Benjamin Pierce)
• daughter Mary [Bowers] Page

Research Notes
Note, based upon his probated will there is an issue with the following FAG record death date:

Died (22/23) Apr. 1724 in 78th year of his age. Spouse: Elizabeth Wilder Bowers (____ - 1721) Children: Samuel Bowers (1682 - 1724). Burial: Old Burying Ground, Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. ^[7]

In the intention of marriage for Oliver Colburn and Lucy Bowers her parents are listed as Jerathmael and Sarah. Chronologically it would fit better if she were daughter of the younger Jerathmael.

Note: Middlesex County Massachusetts Probate Index shows his will being probated in 1724, file #2272. This is consistent with the FAG date discussed above.

Sources

1. ↑ New England Historical and Genealogical Register Abbreviation: NEHGR Publication: Boston, MA . Page: vol. 79; July 1925; pg. 288-9. Accessed 2 Apr 2020.
2. ↑ History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical register by Hazen, Henry Allen, pg 14 (382 of 588 in pdf)
3. ↑ Application for designation in the National Register of Historic Places; Ancestry.com.”
4. ↑ Legal Record: "Middlesex County, Massachusetts Deponents, 1649-1700"
   Ancestry Record 5233 #284 (accessed 24 February 2022)
   Given Name: Jerathmeul; Surname: Bowers; Age: 32; Year: 1681/2.
5. ↑ Probate: Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org) Middlesex Cases 2000-3999; Location Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Original Text BOWERS, Jerathmael Case Number 2272 dated 1724 Note page 1 of 14 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB536/rd/14460/2272-co1/263782429
6. ↑ Probate Records 1648--1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts); Author: Massachusetts. Probate Court (Middlesex County); Probate Place: Middlesex, Massachusetts. Reprinted online db Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 2 Apr 2020. Page 1 Ancestry Sharing Link & Page 2 Ancestry Sharing Link
7. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33616463

• Massachusetts Marriages, 1633-1850 Author: Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
• "Descendants of Richard Knowles" p. 11
• Hartford Times Querry
• "The American Genealogist" vol. 48 pp 89--92
• Middlesex County Massachusetts Probate Index 1648-1870
• New England Marriages prior to 1700, page 87.
• Massachusetts Town & Vital Records 1620-1877; page 76, Cambridge Births.
• Pope, Charles Henry; "Pioneers of Massachusetts": page 65 (Bowers) - birth

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to Elizabeth Loftus for starting this profile.
• WikiTree profile Bower-154 created through the import of EBENSTEIN-GRANGER.GED on Aug 19, 2011 by Merryann Palmer.
• Wilfred Vasile,
• WikiTree profile Bower-84 created through the import of BDM7-7-11.ged on Jul 8, 2011 by Brian McCullough.
• WikiTree profile Bowers-1429 created through the import of DeMarco-Gaffney Family Tree.ged on Jul 1, 2011 by Regina DeMarco.