USING CENSUS DATA, JAMES FMC WAS BORN ABOUT 1794. WHERE HE WAS BORN IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. HE MARRIED CHANEY (B. CIRCA 1795, D. after 1850) AROUND 1817. TOGETHER THEY HAD SEVEN CHILDREN: STEPHEN, JAMES, HEMAN, RUFUS (MY GGG-GRANDFATHER), ALBERT, PARKER & ANNIS. JAMES FMC HAD A CONNECTION TO COL. JAMES BOWIE AND HIS FAMILY, BUT THE EXACT TIE-IN IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. MOST OF THE DOCUMENTS TRANSCRIBED BELOW SHOW JAMES FMC DEALING WITH JOHN J. BOWIE AND RHESA BOWIE, THE COL.'S BROTHER AND UNCLE, RESPECTIVELY.
AS CAN BE SEEN BELOW, JAMES FMC WAS AN ACCEPTED AND ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH IN OCTOBER OF 1832, HE LEFT A SIGNIFICANT ESTATE. HE AND SOME OF HIS CHILDREN WERE SLAVE OWNERS. IN DR. CARTER G. WOODSON'S BOOK, "FREE NEGRO OWNERS OF SLAVES IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1830", JAMES BOWIE, FMC IS THE ONLY FREE PERSON OF COLOR IN CATAHOULA PARISH OWNING SLAVES (3 IN NUMBER). IN AVOYELLES, ONLY JULIEN BARZANNA, WITH 1, IS IN A SIMILAR POSITION. TWO OF JAMES BOWIE, FMC'S SONS, JAMES AND ALBERT MARRIED TWO BERZAT SISTERS IN AVOYELLES PARISH IN 1860.
(NOTE: XX'S INDICATE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IS ILLEGIBLE AT THAT POINT)
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? EMAIL ME AT:
JAMES BOWIE, FMC BUYS A SLAVE, HENRY, FOR $550
For and in consideration of the sum of five hundred and fifty Dollars to me in hand paid by JAMES BOWIE a Free man of Color of the Parish of Catahoula and State of Louisiana the receipt Whereof I do hereby acknowledge I have this day bargained and Sold and by these presents grant bargain sell and deliver unto him the said JAMES BOWIE a free man of Colour a certain negro man Slave for life by the name of HENRY and aged about twenty years which negro I do warrant and defend from all manner of Claims whatsoever of any other person or persons and to be free from all diseases proscribed against by law to the only proper use of him the said BOWIE his heirs and assigns from myself and my heirs and assigns forever done and executed in presence of the two subscribing witnesses this 20 day of December 1823. Test JOHN J. BOWIE (signed) JAMES BOWIE DAVID POSEY
JAMES BOWIE, FMC LENDS JOHN J. BOWIE $110
State of Louisiana } Parish of Catahoula } Before me SAMUEL LIGHTNER Judge of the Parish of Catahoula aforesaid and the two subscribing witnesses on this fifth day of October in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty four personally appeared JOHN J. BOWIE who acknowledged that he owes and stands justly indebted to JAMES BOWIE a free man of Color in the just sum of One hundred and ten Dollars to be paid on or before the first day of April next to bear at the rate of ten per Cent interest from date until paid. The parties being all of the Parish and State aforesaid Now therefore the better to secure the payment of said sum of money with interest as aforesaid the said JOHN J. BOWIE does hereby Hypothecate Mortgage and Set over to the said JAMES BOWIE a free man of Color his heirs and assigns a Certain negro boy named ANTWINE about twelve years of age and the said JAMES BOWIE free man of Colour being here present accepts of the foregoing mortgage in all its parts and Clauses. In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands and acknowledged the same the day and date first above written. (signed) JOHN J. BOWIE JAMES x BOWIE WILLIAM BYRNE G. G. HOLDSHIP Done before me SAM LIGHTNER Parish Judge
JAMES BOWIE, FMC LEGITIMIZES HIS CHILDREN
State of Louisiana } Parish of Catahoula} Before me Joseph J. Williams Notary Public in and for the Parish of Catahoula & State aforesaid personally appeared James Bowie a free man of Colour also of the same Parish and State who acknowledges that Stephen Bowie, James Bowie, Heman Bowie, Rufus Bowie, Albert Bowie, Parker Bowie & Annis Bowie are his sons and his daughter and further declares this acknowledgement is intended to operate in the Acknowledging to Legitimate the foregoing Children in Conformity with an act of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana approved on the twenty fourth day of March in the Year of Our Lord 1831. In Testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name by making my Ordinary mark not being able to write the same in Presence of the Undersigned Notary & two Subscribing Witnesses this day & date first above written G Mayo }witnesses James (x) Bowie a free man of Colour Rhesa Bowie Done before me Jos. J. Williams Not Pub
INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES BOWIE, FMC
State of Louisiana } Parish of Catahoula} Be it known to all whom it may concern know you that I Samuel Lightner Judge of the Parish of Catahoula aforesaid Did on this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two repair to the late Plantation of James Bowie deceased a Free man of Colour when and where I took an Inventory of said deceased to be appraised the property of the said deceased as follows 640 Acres of Land in the Bushley five hundred dollars 500.00 50 ditto ditto of the Axxx Tract fifty dollars 50.00 One Negro Man named Charlie six hundred dollars 600.00 One Negro Man named Thomas six hundred dollars 600.00 One Negro Woman named Salina four hundred fifty dolls 450.00 350 head of Cattle fourteen hundred dollars 1400.00 150 ditto Hogs three hundred dollars 300.00 13 ditto Horses four hundred & fifty five dollars 455.00 One Note xxxxxxxxxx for Sixty dollars with 60.00 ten per cent Interest there abouts after date One ditto ditto for Seven dollars twenty five cents 7.25 One note or xxx in the Hands of Robert xxx Isaac Bowden payable to B. King for Seventy Eight dollars fifty six and one fourth 78.56 1/4 One note on James Doss for seven dollars 7.00 One Improvement for water rights fifty dollars 50.00 __________________ 4557.81 1/4
MARRIAGE OF ALBERT BOWIE & JULIETTE BERZAT
Etat de la Louisiane Pairoisse des Avoyelles L'an mil huit cent soixant, le neuf Fevrier, toutes les formalites voulues par l'leglise catholiques ayant e'te' remplies, le dispanse de l'empechment de disparite' de culte ayant e'te' accorde' apres lu promesse faite par la partie non Catholique 1er de laisser a' l'autre pleine et entiere liberte' pour la pralique de sa religion et de faire e'leve'e dans la re'ligion catholique ses enfents des deux sexes, su la licence delivree par Mr. L. H. Couvillion greffier de la cour de treizieme district judiciare en date du vingt-sept janvier del la meme annee, je sousigne ai non le consentement mutuel de mariage de Mr. Albert Bowie et di Mm Juliette Berzat en presensce de M.M. Ch. Aug Robviers, Derviere Couvillion et Louis Laurant, tennirs competents qui ont signe apres lecture ainsi que l'epouse et l'epouse par leur marque ordinaire, meme jour et an que dessus. sa Tennirs Albert x Bowie Ch. Aug. Robviers marque Desidr Couvillion Louis Laurant sa Juliette x Berzat marque
MARRIAGE OF JAMES BOWIE {JR.} & MARIE JANE BERZAT
James Bowie to Marie Jane Berzat Marriage Certificate Filed 11 Jan 1860 Etat de la Louisiane Pairoisse des Avoyelles L'an mil huit cent soixant, le dix janvier, toutes les formalites voulues par l'leglise catholiques ayant ete remplies, le dispense de l'empechment de disparite' de culte ayant e'te' accorde' apres lu promesse faite par la partie non Catholique 1er de laisser a' l'autre pleine et entiere liberte' pour la pralique de sa religion et de faire e'leve'e dans la re'ligion catholique ses enfents des deux sexes, su la licence delivree par Mr. L. H. Couvillion greffier de la cour de treizieme district judiciare en date du six janvier del la meme annee, je sousigne ai recun le consentement mutuel de mariage de Mr. James Bowie et de Mm Marie Jane Berzat en presensce de M.M. J. L. DeGeneres, P. Abat et Joseph Laurent, tennirs competants qui ont signe apres lecture ainsi que l'epouse et l'epouse par leure marque ordinaire, memes jour et an que dessus. sa Tennirs James x Bowie J. L. Generes marque Paul Abat Joseph Laurent sa Mary Jane x Berzat marque J. Janeau Cure'
JAMES BOWIE, FMC LENDS $69.75 TO DANIEL K. MAYO
Before me Samuel Lightner Judge of the Parish of Catahoula this day Personally appeared Daniel K. Mayo of the Parish aforesaid and State aforesaid and James Bowie a man of color of the same Parish and State and the said Daniel K. Mayo acnowledges to be indebted to the said James Bowie a man of Color in the sum of Sixty nine Dollars and seventy five cents by reason of the said James Bowie's becoming bound in solido with the said Daniel K. Mayo for the payment of the said sum of Money to Rich King. Now therefore in order to secure him the said James Bowie a man of Color in case he should be compelled and obliged to pay the sum of money aforesaid and for and on account of him the said Daniel K. Mayo to the said R. King_ I the said Daniel K. Mayo doth hereby mortgage and Hypothecate to him the said James Bowie a man of Colour a certain tract or parcel of land lying, being and situate in the Parish of Catahoula and State of Louisiana being In Patterson and Joining lands transferred from Leavins to R. C. Brightman, To have and to hold under these Mortgage the aforesaid tract or parcel of land until I the said Daniel K. Mayou Shall pay of shall cause to be paid to him the said James Bowie a man of Color the aforesaid sum of money with ten per Cent interest until paid. The said Mayou hereby acknowledged to pass the foregoing mortgage and act of Hypothecation_ and the said James Bowie a man of Colour accepting the same in all its parts and Clauses in the presence of the undersigned Judge and the two subscribing witnesses this 20th Feby. 1822 (signed) Daniel K. Mayo Witnesses James x Bowie Richard King Done before me Thomas Bryan Sam Lightner Parish Judge
BILL OF SALE FOR CHANEY
For and in Consideration of the Sum of five hundred Dollars to me in hand the Receipt Whereof is hereby Acknowledged I have hereby Bargained Sold and Delivered and Do hereby Bargain Sell and Deliver unto Patience Michum a Certain Negroe Woman Called Chaney Between twenty and five and twenty years of Age the Right of Which property I Do hereby Warrant and Defend against the Claim or Claims of all and every other person or persons Whatever.. In Witness Whereof I have hereby set my hand and seal this 24th day of January in the year of our Lord 1815. Stephen Prather In presents of John J. Bowie Joseph Collins Sam Lightner, Judge of the Parish of Catahoula
BILL OF SALE FOR CHANEY
for and in consideration of the Sum of Seven hundred Dollars to me in hand paid by Stephen Prather the Receipt Whereof I Do hereby Acknowledge I Do hereby Bargain Sell and Deliver and have hereby Bargained Sold and Delivered unto him the Said Stephen Prather a Sertain Negroe Woman Called Chaney together with her Boy Child Now at the Breast the Right of Which property I Do hereby Warrant and Defend against the Claim or Claims of all and Every other person or persons Watever In Witness Whereof I have herewith Set my hand and seal the 24th day of Jany 1817 Patience Warde John J. Bowie Rhesa Bowie State of Louisiana } Parish of Catahoula } Before me Samuel Lightner Judge of the Parish aforesaid personally appeared Patience Warde who acknowledged that she signed the above Bill of Sale for the purposes therein Stated. 18th Jany 1818 Saml Lightner Judge of the Parish of Catahoula
IN 1824, THE ELECTION OF JOHN J. BOWIE TO THE LOUISIANA STATE LEGISLATURE WAS CONTESTED. IT WAS PROPOSED THAT A MEETING TO TAKE DEPOSITIONS BE HELD AT THE HOME OF JAMES BOWIE, FMC.
Mr. John J. Bowie Please take notice that I shall attend on the 5th day of November next at the house of James Bowie free man of color on the Bushley creek to take the depositions on oath of Elias Carter, Daniel Wiggins & others relative to the contestation of your election as member to the house of representatives in the general assembly of this State and at the above mentioned time and place you may attend if you think proper. James G. Taliaferro October 25, 1824 Mr. James G. Taliaferro Sir I shall object to attending at the above time and place on the following ground (viz) that the Legislature of this State will convene on the fifteenth of that month and there will not be sufficient time to arrive at the seat of Government. And further that I have attended agreeable to your former notices at all the places appointed by you and you did not use due diligence in obtaining the attendence of your witnesses as some of the subpoenas were not issued untill the day appointed for taking testimony on Sicily Island at the house of Samuel Lightner which will appear by a reference to the date thereof. John J. Bowie
IN 1853, MARY JANE BOWIE (NEE' WOOD) HAD TO LIST HER ASSETS TO SEPARATE THEM FROM HER RECENTLY DECEASED HUSBAND, JAMES BOWIE. THIS JAMES BOWIE WAS BORN JAMES SCROGGINS. HE TOOK THE NAME BOWIE WHEN HE WAS ADOPTED BY RHESA BOWIE. THE DOCUMENTS BELOW DEAL WITH THE WILLS OF RHESA BOWIE AND JAMES SCROGGINS BOWIE.
The following is a list of the community Property between said decendent and Mary Jane Wood his surviving widow------ (xxx) Property Negro Man German Six Hundred Dollars 600 A tract of Land lying on the Alexandria Road being the same purchased from Wm Prior Constituting the South West quarter of North East quarter + South East quarter of N.W. qt of Section No. 31 Township No. 9 Range 6 East Containing 120 7/100 Acres Also Forty Acres More or less ajoining the above Tract purchased by said decendent from said Pryor Appraised to two Dollars per Acre----- 320 Also a small Tract of Land constituting the South half of the North West fractional quarter of section No. 29 Township Nine N. W. of Range No. Six East Containing 40 Acres As per Duplicate Receipt No. 8547 dated xxx September 25th 1848 appraised to Two Dollars per Acre 80 1 note drawn by Thomas McCollum for two hundred & twenty Dollars payable thirty days after date and dated Feb 9th 1853 & made payable to James Bowie on order 220 1 note drawn by Rufus Bowie (F. M. C.) for 21 (Twenty One hundred dollars in Cash) 2100 And not being informed of any other property of said community We have closed the same amounting in the aggregate to three thousand three hundred and forty one dollars _____ 3341 Witnesses James G. Taliaferro J. M. Stuart J. F. Lothrop J. Q. A. Taliaferro W. E. Goulden Recorder & Not. Pub. To the Honbl Edward Barry Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District of the State of Louisiana holding sessions in and for the Parish of Catahoula in (X). The Petitioner Mary Jane Wood (widow of James Bowie decd late of said parish and state) with due respect represents that her said husband died recently in said parish of Catahoula leaving them a large estate consisting of real and personal property the principal part of which is separate property of the decedent and a part thereof community property between him and your petitioner. She further represents that said decedent left two minor children heirs of his succession to wit: Rhesa Bowie and James Taliaferro Bowie issue of his marriage with your petitioner. Your petitioner prays to be confirmed in her office of Natural Tutrix to said minor children and that an Inventory of the property aforesaid be made according to law. She prays such other and further order in the premises as the case may require and for general relief & c. She prays that under Tutor be appointed to said minors. James G. Taliaferro Atty for Petitioner 11th District Court } Clerk’s office_Parish of Catahoula April 16_1853._____ It is ordered that the Petitioner be and is hereby confirmed as Natural Tutrix of her minor children Rhesa Bowie and James Taliaferro Bowie and that James G. Taliaferro be and is hereby appointed Under Tutor to said minors and that letters issue accordingly upon said Tutrix and Under Tutor taking the oath required by law.___ It is further ordered that an xxxxx. To the Honbl Edward Barry Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District of the State of Louisiana holding sessions in and for the Parish of Catahoula in said District. The Petitioner Mary Bowie widow of James Bowie decd late of said parish and state and Tutrix by nature and confirmation of her minor children heirs of said decedant, to wit of Rhesa Bowie and James Taliaferro Bowie with due respect represents that she is about to contract a second marriage and desires that a family meeting be convened to decide whether your petitioner shall retain the said Tutorship after said contemplated marriage is entered into without giving security for the administration of the property of said minors or otherwise. Wherefore she prays that a family meeting be convened under an order of your honorable court for the purpose aforesaid and she prays general relief & c. James G. Taliaferro Atty for Petitioner Clerk’s Office ______} Parish of Catahoula } It is ordered that a family meeting to be comprised of the following persons to wit: John Wood, Herman Hobbs, Matthew D. Thompson, William L. Richmond, & Hellman Lanes relatives xxx by affinity and friends of the minor heirs of James Bowie decd convene at the residence of Mrs. Mary Bowie in said parish on Tuesday the 28th day of February A.D. 1854 at 12 oclock M to consider the subject matter of the above petition. It is further ordered that William E. Goulden, Recorder & Ex officio Notary Public of said parish preside at said meeting and that James G. Taliaferro Under Tutor to said minors have notice to attend. Given under my hand this 21st day of February 1854 C. C. Duke Clk State of Louisiana } Parish of Catahoula} Be it Remembered that on this day of April A.D. 1853 in pursuance of an order from the Honble District Court in and for the Parish of Catahoula in the Eleventh Judicial District of the State of Louisiana I the undersigned Recorder and Ex officio Notary Public in and for said parish did procede to the residence of James Bowie decd on Bushley Creek in said Parish when and where I commenced the taking of an Inventory of the Property of the Succession of said James Bowie decd and caused the same to be appraised by John Quincy Taliaferro & James Monroe Stuart, competent persons duly appointed and sworn by me notary for that purpose an account of which is as follows to wit: Inventory Appraisment A Tract of land on Bushley Creek commonly called the "Old Place" and being for many years the residence of Rhesa Bowie, embracing the plantation and improvements thereon -- the tract Containing Six hundred and seventy seven acres -- more or less appraised to the sum of Two dollars per acre making 1354.00 A Tract of Land adjoining the above containing Three hundred and Thirty Eight acres more or less being the land purchased by Rhesa Bowie from William Doss appraised to the sum of Two dollars per Acre 676.00 __________ Amount Carried Over $2030.00 Amount Brot forward 2030.00 A Tract of Land on the waters of the Bushley adjoining the one where Rhesa Bowie resided and known as the "Row Place" And the same purchased by Rhesa Bowie from James Roe by deed before Joseph J. Williams Notary Public on the 8th day June 1833 Containing Two hundred and Eighty seven Acres appraised to the sum of Two Dollars per Acre 579.00 A Tract of Land containing the quantity of Six hundred and 40/100 Acres lying on Bird Creek within five Miles of Harrisonburg Known as "the Bird Creek place" embracing the plantation & out houses Gin house xxx & c and all improvements appraised to the sum of Two Dollars per Acre 1280.00 A Tract of Land lying on the Alexandria Road about a mile and half West or south west of "the Bird Creek place" known as the xx old place including the "poplar spring" and adjoining the land of (Wm Albert Hawthorne) This tract containing the quantity of Eight acres 5/100 being the N half of the N.E. qr of section thirty on Township Nine R.6.E. appraised to Two Dollars per Acre 180.00 Two hundred and thirty nine acres and 90/100 being the south east quarter and East half of the south west quarter of section 21 Township Nine Range six East as per duplicate receipt No. 3849 __________ Amount Carried Over $4065.00 Amount Brought Over 4065.00 Appraised at two Dollars per Acre 479.80 A Tract of Land lying on the Alexandria Road about Seven Miles from Harrisonburg constituting the S.W. qr of N.W. & N.W. qr of S.W. qr of section No. 30 T. 9. Range 6 East purchased at probate sale of the succession of Wm Doss ded. appraised at two Dollars per Acre 160 6 head mules 7 head horses appraised to the sum of sixty five dollars per head (average) 845 4 yoke of Oxen appraised to forty dollars per yoke 160 150 head stock Cattle more or less appraised to four dollars & 50 Cents per head 675 300 head stock Hogs appraised to Two dollars per head 600 8 head Goats appraised to Two Dollars 16 ------------------Slaves-------------------------------------- Anthony Eleven hundred Dollars 1100 Henry Nine hundred dollars 900 Julian Eight hundred dollars 800 Spencer Eleven hundred dollars 1100 Stephen Eleven hundred dollars 1100 William One thousand dollars 1000 Allen One thousand dollars 1000 John Four hundred dollars 400 Bob Nine hundred dollars 900 May One thousand dollars 1000 Isaac Two hundred & fifty dollars 250 Lucinda One hundred & fifty dollars 150 May Nine hundred dollars 900 May Anne Nine hundred dollars 900 Amount Carried Over $19400.80 Amount Brot Over 19400.80 Louisa One thousand dollars 1000 Clarisa One thousand dollars 1000 Harrison Four hundred dollars 400 Martha Jane One thousand dollars 1000 Louisiana Nine hundred dollars 900 Jane Five hundred & fifty dollars 550 Dave Four hundred dollars 400 Abner Five hundred & fifty dollars 550 Frank Nine hundred & fifty dollars 950 Caroline Nine hundred dollars 900 Dan Two hundred & fifty dollars 250 Abe Eleven hundred dollars 1100 Bill Eleven hundred dollars 1100 Boland One thousand dollars 1000 Betsy Old and infirm ----- 1 Lot Black Smiths Tools Twenty five Dollars 25 1 Lot Carpenters Tools Ten Dollars 10 1 " Iron & Steel Fifteen Dollars 15 1 Waggon & 1 Cart One hundred Dollars 100 1 Lot farming utensils Fifty Dollars 50 Household furniture Fifty Dollars 50 6 stocks fodder Twenty five Dollars 25 250 bushels Corn Fifty Cents per Bushel 125 1 Lot Peas Five dollars 5 _________ 30005.80 And not knowing or being informed of any other property belonging to said succession, we have closed the inventory as shown above amounting to the sum of Thirty Thousand & five Dollars & Eighty Cents. In faith whereof the said appraisal have hereunto subscribed their names in presence of the two subscribing witnesses & the said notary the xxx first above written. Witnesses J. M. Stuart James G. Taliaferro J. Q. A. Taliaferro J. K. Lothrop W. E. Goulden Recorder & Not Pub
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