Individual Details

John Bowne

(Ca 1630 - 3 Jan 1684)



John was a son of William Bowne.

From FindAGrave.com:
"Capt John Bowne (William1) was a leader in purchasing the land from the Indians: was one of the first five families who made a permanent settlement in 1664; and was one of the patentees of the Monmouth grant. "Until Captain Bowne's death in the early part of 1684, he seems to have been the most prominent citizen of the county, esteemed for his integrity and his ability. He had been compelled to leave the Massachusetts colony on account of his sympathy with the Baptists and he was one of the founders of the Baptist Church at Middletown.
He appeared as a deputy to the first Assembly in Governor Carteret's time, which met May 26, 1668, the members of the Lower House being then called "Burgesses." He was deputy again in 1675, after Carteret's return from England; and in the first Legislature under the 24 proprietors, in 1683, he was a member and the Speaker, and acted until the December following. He held other positions of trust. March 12, 1677, a commission was issued to him as president of the Court to hold a term at Middletown.
In December, 1683, shortly before his last illness, he was appointed Major of the Militia of Monmouth County." As stated, Captain John Bowne was one of the founders of the Baptist Church at Middletown, New Jersey, which was constituted in 1668 - being the first Baptist organization in the State of New Jersey.
The first who preached at Middletown was Mr. John Bowne. It was he who gave the lot on which the first meeting house was built." Captain John Bowne died January 3, 1684, and his universally recognized character was that of an upright, conscientious Christian man."
(William Bowne of Yorkshire, England & His Descendants by Miller K Reading, M.D.)
Most major faiths are represented in Middletown. One, the Baptist, was founded in New Jersey by their Middletown church. The congregation of the First Baptist Church, now know as Old First Church, still meets at their landmark location at 69 Kings Highway

He is buried Presbyterian Burial Ground, Middletown, Monmouth Co, NJ. His wife's burial is unknown.




Events

BirthCa 1630
Marriage26 Dec 1663Gravesend, Kings County, New York - Lydia HOLMES
Death3 Jan 1684Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey

Families

SpouseLydia HOLMES (1637 - 1701)
ChildJohn Bowne (1664 - 1715)
ChildObadiah Bowne (1666 - 1726)
ChildDeborah Bowne (1668 - )
ChildSarah Bowne (1669 - 1714)
ChildCatherine Bowne (1670 - 1714)