Biography

Grace (Duncan) Bowman migrated from Scotland to Virginia, United States.

This profile is part of the Duncan Name Study.

Grace Sharp Duncan was born 24 May 1860 in Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scotland to Walter Davidson and Margaret (Marshall) Duncan. At the time of her birth, her father was a grocer and fruit dealer. ^[1]

A year later the family was still in Arbroath for the census and Grace's father was listed as a grocer's salesman. ^[2] They were still there in April 1862 when Grace's brother George was born ^[3], but by June 1864 they were in the Tradeston district of Glasgow for the birth of Grace's sister Jane. ^[4]

By June 1866 they were in Kirkintilloch parish for the birth of Grace's brother Walter ^[5] and in 1871 for the census. ^[6]

In 1873 tragedy struck the family when Grace's mother ^[7] and her 12-day-old daughter ^[8] died just three days apart.

By 1881 Grace, her brother Walter, and her father were living a few miles away in Kilsyth. ^[9]

In 1882 Grace married William Bowman at Garrel Mill in Kilsyth. ^[10] She had been working as a domestic servant. William lived in Clydebank near Glasgow, about 20 miles from Kilsyth. It has not been discovered how they met.

She and William had five boys and three girls:

• William "Bill" Bowman, born 6 September 1883;
• Walter "Wattie" Bowman, born 2 June 1885;
• Helen Margaret "Nell" Bowman, born April 1887;
• Grace Sharp Bowman, born 24 July 1889;
• James McWhirter Bowman, born 12 Aug 1892;
• Jane "Jean" Bowman, born 23 Aug 1895;
• Robert McWhirter Bowman, born 27 Dec 1897; and
• George Marshal Bowman, born 2 Jan 1901.^[11][12]

James, died at the age of one. ^[13]

Grace and William made their home in Clydebank where William worked in the shipbuilding industry. ^[11]

During the years just before and during World War I, all but one of Grace's children emmigrated to the United States. In 1919 she and William made the move, too. ^[14] The entire family lived in Newport News, Virginia, USA, where the boys continued to work in the shipbuilding industry. ^[15]

Grace died at her final home at 36 Sycamore Ave., Hampton, Virginia on 4 December 1924. ^[16] She is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Newport News, Virginia. ^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Scotland, Statutory Registers Births 272/ 279." ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk. Arbroath, Forfar, Scotland; Grace Sharp Duncan; birth: 24 May 1860; address: 2 John Street; father: Walter Davidson Duncan, grocer and fruit dealer; mother: Margaret Duncan Maiden Name Marshall; informant: George Marshall, grandfather, Ogilvie & Gee(?), Arbroath. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
2. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1861," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB7Y-SC8 : 11 December 2017), Grace Duncan, Arbroath, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland; from "1861 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012.); citing p. 7, PRO RG 9, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,786.
3. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYB4-VHX : 10 February 2018), George Marshall Duncan, 03 Apr 1862; citing ARBROATH,ANGUS,SCOTLAND, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.
4. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQZW-7X4 : 10 February 2018), Jane Heatlie Duncan, 26 Jun 1864; citing TRADESTON,GLASGOW,LANARK,SCOTLAND, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.
5. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYBN-DYM : 10 February 2018), Walter Duncan, 14 Jun 1866; citing KIRKINTILLOCH,DUNBARTON,SCOTLAND, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.
6. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1871," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBRJ-P4H : 8 December 2017), Grace S Duncan, Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, Scotland; from "1871 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 5, PRO T 1, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,978.
7. ↑ "Statutory Registers Deaths 498 / 96," National Records of Scotland; Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland; 1873, pg. 32. ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk (pay site). Margaret Duncan, married to Walter Duncan; check clerk colliery; 1873, August fifth, 8h 0m P.M.; F, 35 years; [father] George Marshall, engine keeper; [mother] Grace Marshall, m.s. Sharp; [cause] Methisis[?], 2 months, as cert. by John Fraser, M.D.; [informant] Walter Duncan, widower, present.
8. ↑ "Statutory Registers Deaths 498 / 99," National Records of Scotland; Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland; 1873, pg. 33. ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk (pay site). Margaret Duncan, single; 1873, August eighth, 6h A.M, 22 Twechar Row, Kirkintilloch; F, 12 days; [father] Walter Duncan, colliery check clerk; [mother] Margaret Duncan, m.s. Marshall (deceased); [cause] Weakness[?], 10 days, as cert. by John Fraser, M.D.; [informant] Walter Duncan, father, present.
9. ↑ "1881 Scotland Census." ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk (pay site). Parish: Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland; address: 2 Parkfoot, Kilsyth. Walter Duncan, head, widr, 46, general laborer, birth: St. Boswells, Roxburghshire. Grace Duncan, daur, unm, 20, domestic serv, birth: Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scotland. Walter Duncan, son, 15, apprentice blacksmith, birth: Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire. 3 April 1881.
10. ↑ Marriage: "Scotland, Statutory Registers Marriages 483/ 59." ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk. Kilsyth, Sterling, Scotland. William Bowman, 21, pattern maker, and Grace Sharp Duncan, 22, domestic servant; 1 December 1882 at Garrel Mill, Kilsyth, after banns according to the forms of the Congregational Church in Scotland; groom's residence: Dalmuir, Old Kilpatrick; bride's residence: Barony Parish, Glasgow; groom's father: William Hamilton, blacksmith, reputed father (dec.); groom's mother: Helen Bowman, domestic servant; bride's father: Walter Duncan, laborer; bride's mother: Margaret Duncan, M.S. Marshall (dec.); officiating minister: George Rutherford, pastor of the Cong. Church in Kilsyth; witnesses: Jane Duncan, Adam Hanks. Accessed 8 September 2017.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "1901 Scotland Census." Parish: Old Kilpatrick; ED: 20; Page: 26; Line: 8; Roll: CSSCT1901_173. Grace Sharp Duncan, wife of William Bowman; age 40, address: 18 Kilbowie Rd., Clydebank, Dumbartonshire, Scotland; born Arbroath, Forfarshire. 31 March 1901. Ancestry.com. William Bowman, 39; Grace Sharp Duncan, 40; William Bowman, 17; Walter Bowman, 15; Helen Margt Bowman, 13; Grace Bowman, 11; Jane Bowman, 5; Robt McWhirter Bowman, 3; Geo Marshall Bowman, 3mo.
12. ↑ Family Bible: William and Grace Sharp (Duncan) Bowman Family Bible
13. ↑ "Scotland, Statutory Registers Deaths 501 / 154." ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk (paid site). Old Kilpatrick, Dunbarton, Scotland; James McWhirter Bowman, single; 1894 July thirtieth, 6h 40m P.M., 1 Cameron Place, Clydebank; M, 1 year; [father] William Bowman, pattern maker, journeyman; [mother] Grace Sharp Bowman, m.s. Duncan; [cause] hydrocephalus, as certified by James Stevenson, MBCM; [informant] Wm Bowman, father, present.
14. ↑ Immigration: "Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99D3-296T-X?cc=2185163&wc=3KMW-K6D%3A1018494101%2C1018555501 : 9 October 2015), (M1461) Soundex Index to Canadian Border Entries through the St. Albans, Vermont, District, 1895-1924 > Roll 44, B532 Fajos-B552 Lucile > image 3703 of 5002; citing NARA microfilm publications M1461, M1463, M1464, and M1465 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJNM-621 : accessed 12 February 2018), Grace Bowman in household of William Bowman, Newport, Warwick, Virginia, United States; citing ED 152, sheet 41A, line 18, family 930, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1916; FHL microfilm 1,821,916.
16. ↑ Death: "Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014." Kecoughtan, Elizabeth City, Virginia, USA; Grace Sharp Bowman; Birth Date: 24 May 1860, Death Date: 4 Dec 1924, Father: Walter Duncan, Mother: Margaret Marshall, Spouse: William Bowman. Ancestry.com.
17. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88691475/grace-bowman: accessed July 30, 2024), memorial page for Grace Bowman (24 May 1860–4 Dec 1924), Find a Grave Memorial ID 88691475, citing Greenlawn Memorial Park, Newport News, Newport News City, Virginia, USA; maintained by Ron Stewart (contributor 47046011); showing headstone photo with legible birth and death dates and birth location.