James Giles Bowers (abt. 1806 - abt. 1838)

Born about 1806 in North Carolina

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rodney Bowers [send private message]

Biography

yDNA and auDNA results suggest Giles was a brother or half-brother of Sterling, William and Levi Bowers, all born in the early 1800s in North Carolina.

Family legend says Giles "fled" NC at a young age with his brother, William, and went to SC, where Giles married Mary Rebecca Giles. Giles went into GA and William went to Lincoln Co., GA, where he married Judy Thompson and died about 1837 in a horseracing accident. Giles's grandson, Isaac Jiles Bowers, said his grandfather's actual name was James Jiles Bowers. Furthermore, the great-grandson of Levi Bowers (suspected brother of Giles), Odis Bowers, said his great-grandfather had two brothers, James and William, thus leading credence that our ancestor's first name was James, though no record has been found for either James or Giles Bowers. Odis also said Levi's parents were both from VA and of Irish (Scots-Irish?) extraction.

Kenneth Bowers (James Bowers, b 1831 GA) said ancestors were Irish and came down the Great Wagon Road.

Census records show Giles Bowers (father of John, James and George) was born in NC. Based on the birth of his oldest child in early 1828, it would appear that he married ca 1827, probably in SC, home of Giles's wife, Rebecca. If 21 at that time, it would mean he was born ca 1806. His last child was born early 1838, so Giles was still alive in 1837. Giles's wife remarried and bore a child by her second husband, ufn (possibly Andrew) Marlow, in 1847, which means Giles was probably dead by 1846, placing his death 1837-1846. (Rebecca was a member of Shiloh-Marion Baptist Church, so it was unlikely that she and Giles were divorced.

Possible parents: John Bowers and Mary Ann Evans, sister of Elijah Evans. They married 1803 in Caswell Co., NC. John d 1814 in Burke Co., NC. Probate says they had children. McDowell Co., birthplace of Levi Bowers's son George, was created 1842 from part of Burke Co.

• Family history states his name was James Giles Bowers, or Giles Bowers, born ca 1806. Census records of children show Giles was born in North Carolina. Family says Giles "fled" North Carolina with brother William and went to South Carolina. First two children, Mary Ann and John, were born in South Carolina in 1828 and 1830, respectively. Giles disappeared from record before the 1838 birth of his daughter, Martha.