Bowen family web
[ Visit
the new Bowen/Hardin main index. ]
Joshua "Brown"
Bowen
From the Gonzales Daily Inquirer (Condensed)
Transcribed by Ben Bowen from materials supplied by Marlene Bowen Fruth.
May
18, 1878
It Was estimated 4,000 people arrived as to feast to witness the
human suffering and shedding of human blood for the hanging of Brown Bowen.
The gallows were erected between the jail and the jailer's house so that
the prisoner stepped from the head of the stairs onto the platform.The gallows
was 17ft. 6 in. from the top beam to the ground. The platform was 10ft.
6in. from the ground. The "fall" was 7 ft. The trap door was sprung
by touching a lever whereupon the door fell to the ground.
About 2:00 P.M. Mr. Bowen was led to the scaffold. Rev.E.Y.scales read his
final statement "blaming his troubles on keeping bad company and proclaiming
his innocense of the murder of Thomas Holderman."
He claimed that J.W. hardin, with whom he went to town,killed Holderman
because he thought he was a spy for J. Tomlinson, J. Helms and W.W. Davis.
Bowen claimed Hardin and Gip Clements went into the store and started drinking.
"Hardin told me he was going to show me how to kill a man. I begged
him not to as he (Holderman) was harmless and my friend. Hardin went to
Mr. Holderman and told him that I killed his son." Bowen Prayed with
Rev. Seale, the Noose around his neck. while Mr. Bass was preparing the
spring door, Bowen Muttered, "O Lord receive my spirit" The door
sprung open and Bowen fell a full 7 ft. In about 6 Min. he was dead. Bowen
was a native of Florida.
The following taken from a section of the Notepad
ALSO WE HAVE FAMILY TREES OF THE NEIL BOWEN FAMILY FROM SANTA ROSA COUNTY FLORIDA. SHOWING NEILL BOWEN B 1826 MARRIED MARY WESTON 1848 AND LATER IN 1870 MARRIED PURITY ANN SUNDAY. HIS CHILDREN BY HIS FIRST WIFE WERE JOSHUA (BROWN) BOWEN, HANGED IN GONZALES FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING A MAN. CLAIMED HIS BROTER-IN-LAW , JOHN WESLEY HARDIN KILLED HIM AND BLAMED HIM FOR IT. HIS SISTER JANE MARRIED JOHN WESLEY HARDIN IN 1873 IN DEWITT COUNTY. NEILL LIVED IN GONZALES COUNTY. NEILL SISTERS WERE BARBARA BOWEN AND SARAH BOWEN CHILDREN OF NANCY BOWEN THESE RECORDS WERE GIVEN TO ME BY MARJORIE LEE BURNETT OF SMILEY AND NIXON WHO IS A REPORTER FOR THE GONZALES INQUIRER. SHE AND HER HUSBAND WROTE A BOOK " BROWN BOWEN AND JOHN WESLEY HARDIN (Bowen & Hardin) AND DID ALL THIS RESEARCH EVEN TRAVELLING TO FLORIDA TO TRACK THE BOWENS. THEY FELT THAT 'BROWN' BOWEN WAS RAILROADED.
Questions from other researchers :
I have questions reguarding Brown Bowen. Our family bible has my Great Grandmother, Nora Eleonor Presley born September 19,1870, to Martha Presley and Brown Bowin. We were never told anything about Browin Bowin except that he was hanged. I believe that my G.Grandmother is the ill. daughter of Brown Bowin. They lived in the Pensacola, Florida area. My Grandmother never said anything about her Mothers' Father. Was he in this area around this time? I know that he moved to Pollard which is extremely close.
If anyone would like my information or has any please get in touch!!
links
[| Bowen family web index |] [| Photo album & document Archives |] [| Origins |]
The Bowen family web : The Rootsweb edition 2000-2004
