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Wendel Bowman was born 1681 in Thun, Canton Bern, Switzerland. At some time before the turn of the century, the Bauman Family reacting to religious and physical pressures joined the ethnic German migration stream known as the Palatinate Immigration. The family's first migration was in the company of Bishop Hans Herr, Anna's father. The extended family is believed to have sojourned in Unterbiegelhof, Heidelburg, Palatinate of the Rhine where Swiss Mennonites were moderately accepted.
In about 1700 probably in Heidelburg, Palatinate of the Rhine, Wendel married Anna Herr b. c. 1685 in Canton Zurich, Switzerland. Wendel, Anna, and children should be noted as the initial immigrant family in the Herr/Kendig/Bowman/Weber Family's migration chain from the Palatinate of the Rhine to south-central Pennsylvania.
Traveling down the Rhine River, the family embarked aboard the barque Mary Hope at Rotterdam. Arriving in Philadelphia in 10/1707, they sojourned at the ethnic community of Germantown, Philadelphia Co PA until 1710 when the main family group joined them at Germantown. The extended family continued their westward migration in the company of several other Mennonite families led by Bishop Hans Herr, pioneering the Pequea Creek Valley in what would become Lancaster Co PA. [Palatinate Migration Map to Lancaster Co PA]
In 1712 Anna's uncle, Martin Kendig, was selected by the settlers of Pequea Creek, Chester (now Lancaster) Co PA as emissary to the Palatinate of the Rhine. His mission was to gather the remaining members of their Mennonite group and recruit other ethnic Germans as immigrants for the settlement. It is possible that brothers or cousins of Wendel also immigrated between 1712 and 1717; as a Michel Bowman and a John Bowman were enumerated in the 1718 Chester Co PA Tax List.
Wendel and Anna lived the remainder of their lives in the settlement at Pequea Creek, Lancaster Co PA. Wendel died 4/1735 and is believed to be buried at Hans Tschantz Graveyard, Lancaster Co PA.
According to H. M. Bowman in "The Removal of Wendell Bauman's Sons Christian, Peter, and Jacob to Berks County," after Wendel's death, his three sons migrated north and east out of Pequea Creek, establishing the settlements along the Allegheny Creek near what is now Bowmansville, Berks Co PA.
Born 1681 Thun, Canton Bern, Switzerland
Migrated before 1700 to Unterbiegelhof, Heidelburg, Palatinate of the Rhine
Married c. 1700 in Heidelburg, Palatinate of the Rhine to Anna Herr b. c. 1685 Canton Zurich, Switzerland
Immigrated 1707 to Germantown, Philadelphia Co PA
[I]n 1707 began the steady immigration of the Patatines, which lasted
throughout the century. The first contingent of this new element to
arrive at Germantown (a little north of Philadelphia) were the Kolb
brothers -Martin, John and Jacob, from Wolfsheim near Worms, and Wynand
Bowman, all of whom came in the above year. (Smith's Mennonite
Immigration, Pages 95-6.)
[A] letter written in 1707 by one David Rutgers to the deacons of the Waterland and Flemish and Old Frisian churches of Amsterdam, asking the churches for a refund of a sum of money he had advanced to a certain Wynand Bowman and his wife and three children for their voyage to Pennsylvania in that year. (Smith's Mennonite Immigration, Pages 95-6.) |
1708 Germantown Mennonite Church Membership List: Wynanat Bowman; Ann Bowman
1710 Settled at Pequea Creek, Chester Co PA
"By the commissioners of property-Whereas
we have agreed with John Rudolph Bundely, Martin Kendig, Jacob Miller,
Hans Herr, Martin Oberholtz, Hans Funk, Michael Oberholtz and one Wendel
Bowman, Swissers, lately arrived in the Province for ten thousand
acres of land, situate on the northwesterly side of a hill, about twenty
miles easterly from Connystogoe, near the head of Pecquin creek, for
which said land, they are to pay the sum of five hundred pounds,
sterling money of Great Britain, in manner following: that is to say,
the sum of one hundred pounds, part thereof in hands, at ye issuing of
these presents, the sum of one hundred pounds more thereof (together
with forty-eight pounds like money, being the interest of four hundred
pounds for two years) at the end of two years and six months, from the
time of the survey of the said lands, (one-half year's interest of the
whole being abated), one hundred and eighteen pounds further, part
thereof with interest, included within one year, then next after one
hundred and twelve pounds (the interest being included) further part
thereof, within one year, then next after, the sum of one hundred and
six pounds full residue thereof, that of all interest for the same,
within one year, that next following, so that the said five hundred
pounds and interest, as aforesaid, is to be paid in six years next after
the time of survey. And also that the said purchasers, their heirs and assigns, shall pay unto the proprietary and Governor, William Penn, his heirs and assigns, the sum of one shilling sterling aforesaid, quit-rent yearly forever, for every hundred acres of the said ten thousand acres of land, and that said purchasers shall have said lands free of quit-rent for the two first years next after the survey thereof, and the said purchasers requesting of us a warrant for the location and survey of the said land aforesaid. These are, therefore, to authorize and require thee to survey or cause to be surveyed, unto the said purchasers, the full quantity of ten thousand acres of land (with reasonable allowance for roads and highways) in one entire tract, at or near the place aforesaid and subdivide the same (if they request it) into so many small tracts or parts as they shall agree or appoint to each of them his respective share to be holden by the purchasers, their heirs and assigns, under the rents, payments and agreements aforesaid, subject to distress for the said rent in case of non-payment; and of thy transactions and doings in the premises, by virtue of these presents thou art to make such returns into the Secretary's office, with all reasonable expedition. Given under our hands and seals of the province, the tenth day of the eighth month at Philadelphia, A.D. 1710. Edward Shippen Griffeth Owen Thos. Story |
1718 Conestoga Twp Tax List: Wendall Bowman; Michel Bowman; John Bowman
1729 Lancaster split from Chester Co
Died 4/1735 Pequea Creek, Lancaster Co PA
Buried in Hans Tschantz Graveyard, Lancaster Co PA
Born c. 1700 Unterbiegelhof, Heidelburg, Palatinate of the Rhine
Migrated c. 1748 to Allegheny Creek, Berks Co PA
Died after 1748 Berks Co PA
Born c. 1702 Unterbiegelhof, Heidelburg, Palatinate of the Rhine
Migrated c. 1752 to Allegheny Creek, Berks Co PA
Died after 1752 Berks Co PA
Born c. 1703 Unterbiegelhof, Heidelburg, Palatinate of the Rhine
1707 Immigrated with parents to Germantown, Philadelphia Co PA
1710 Migrated with parents to Pequea Creek, Lancaster Co PA
Married c. 1725 at Pequea Creek, Lancaster Co PA to Jacob Weaver b. 1688 Baretswil, Canton Zurich, Switzerland
1726 Settled Weber Thal, Earle Township, Lancaster Co PA
Died 1777 Earle Twp, Lancaster Co PA
Buried Weaverland Cemetery, Earle Twp, Lancaster Co PA
Born c. 1711 Pequea Creek, Lancaster Co PA
Migrated c. 1747 to Allegheny Creek, Berks Co PA
Died after 1747 Berks Co PA