Descendants of Wendel Bowman
of Canton Bern, Switzerland

Emblem of
Canton Bern

Generation #1

Wendel Bowman of Canton Bern, Switzerland

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.

[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.)

"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

    Children

    1. Christian Bowman

    2. Peter Bowman

    3. Anna Bowman

    4. Jacob Bowman

Caveat

This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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