Lechthaler and Powell
Family History

Including Associated Families: Friedel, Supcoe, North, Brand, Hood, Ell, and Galeone.

James Bowker

James Bowker

Male Abt 1743 - 1840  (~ 87 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All

  • Name James Bowker 
    Born Abt 1743  Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Residence Abt 1750  Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Residence 7 Feb 1775  Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Census 1790  Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Federal Census - Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine 
    Census 1800  Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Federal Census - Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine 
    Census 1810  Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Federal Census - Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine 
    _UID F96EE07446FD84419388DAAE1057AA83FAAC 
    Died From 1830 to 1840  Durham, Cumberland, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Person ID I997  Lechthaler/Powell Genealogy
    Last Modified 8 Sep 2015 

    Father James "Booker" Bowker,   b. 7 Aug 1721, Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 9 Jun 1767  (Age > 46 years) 
    Mother Mary "Ellmes, Ellms, Elms" Elmes,   b. 3 Jan 1724, Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1773, Lincoln Co., Maine Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years) 
    Married 20 Jan 1743  Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 9, 10
    _UID E4D46730444A3948BBDFFC17CEF97CACFAF1 
    Family ID F324  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Ruth Sargent,   b. 14 Feb 1746, York, York, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Maine Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 22 Oct 1767  Georgetown, Sagadahoc, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location  [11, 12
    _UID 83579F96F118CB498E4B35112C23705761CC 
    Children 
     1. James Buker,   b. 22 Feb 1768, Georgetown, Sagadahoc, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 Aug 1837, Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years)
     2. Ruth Rogers Bowker,   b. 22 Mar 1770, Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, Maine Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 25 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F321  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Page 1 James Buker of Georgetown & Bowdoinham & Descendants
    Page 1 James Buker of Georgetown & Bowdoinham & Descendants
    "James Buker of Georgetown & Bowdoinham & Descendants" by Rev. Chas. N. Sinnett, 1923 (FHL 1697622 Item 5).~~~~
    Cover James Buker of Georgetown & Bowdoinham & Descendants
    Cover James Buker of Georgetown & Bowdoinham & Descendants
    "James Buker of Georgetown & Bowdoinham & Descendants" by Rev. Chas. N. Sinnett, 1923 (FHL 1697622 Item 5).~~
    James & Ruth Bowker Family in Bowdoinham Town Records
    James & Ruth Bowker Family in Bowdoinham Town Records
    James & Ruth Bowker Family in Bowdoinham Town Records
    James & Ruth Bowker Family in Bowdoinham Town Records

  • Notes 
    • Ancestry.com database "Maine, Wills and Probate Records, 1584-1999"
      at http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8994
      has the following entry:

      Name: James Buker Jr
      Probate Date: 12 Mar 1836
      Probate Place: Maine, USA
      Inferred Death Year: Abt 1836
      Inferred Death Place: Maine, USA
      Item Description: Probate Records, Vol 34

      at http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=USProbateME&gss=angs-d&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=james&gsfn_x=1&gsln=buker&gsln_x=1&MSAV=1&uidh=ppb&pcat=36&fh=0&h=418133&recoff=&ml_rpos=1

      The 7 Mar 1836 record has Thomas Buker of Litchfield as principal and James Williams and Ezeikiel Waive of Litchfield as sureties paying the Lincoln Co. court $200 for the administration of the estate of James Buker Jnr., yeoman, late of Bowdoinham. Thomas Buker is appointed administartor.

      A similiar document has Jane Buker appointed administrator for a James Buker on 21 Aug 1837 - I have assumed this to be the James Buker b 22 Feb 1768 d 3 Aug 1837.

      Therefore, could this be for James Buker b. abt 1743? Not used because I have no way to be sure.
      ----
      Birthdate estimate calculated 25 years from date of marriage.
      -------
      Durham is in present Androscoggin county but in 1830-1840 I believe it was part of Lincoln County.
      ---
      The c1830 for Caleb Buker has a male 80 to 90 years old (1740-1750). This could have been James Bowker although it conflicts with information in the Sinnett Book.
      ------
      Buker/Bowker of Maine & Massachusetts GenCircles.com web site has the following notes:
      CENSUSES: 1800 Bowdoinham, Lincoln (Buker); 1810 Bowdoinham, Lincoln (Bowker); 1820 Bowdoinham, Lincoln (Buker).
      FOOTNOTE: Listed as James Bowker, Jr. on Tax Bill for Bowdoinham in 1795. The name Bowker was used by this family until 1774, when it was changed to Buker. No reason was given for the change.
      ------
      The book "The history of the town of Bowdoinham, 1762-1912" contains two references about the original location of James Buker (pg 25 & pg 274). I'm not sure if they conflict or if they may be referrring to two different James Buker/Bowker.
      -------
      The book "The history of the town of Bowdoinham, 1762-1912" contains says on pg 160 a James Buker was a "selectmen" in 1700. I doubt 1700 is correct. Could it be 1800 ? Plus I'm not sure which James Buker/Bowker it may be referring to.
      -------
      The book "The history of the town of Bowdoinham, 1762-1912" contains says on pg 46 and 47 diagram of those who paid 6 Jul 1799 for pews via subscription. The James Bucker Jr. I believe is James Buker Jr (b 22 Feb 1768). Photo of page attached to his record. -------
      The book "Collections of the Maine Historical Society" by Maine Historical Society on pg 106 in the "Rofers Family of Georgetown" chapter a James Bowker is mentioned as a sureties in the will of Francis Allen dated 23 Sep 1778 and proved 25 May 1798. No idea which James Bowker this may be.
      ------
      From the web page at http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/m/i/David-G-Smith-MD/GENE3-0008.html:

      I think this refers to James Bowker (b 7 Aug 1721):
      Following the path of Thos. McFadden of Georgetown, who had settled Bowdoinham in 1720, James took his family north to Bowdoinham sometime around 1760. He is mentioned in Silas Adams' history of the town as one of the early
      settlers who took up land on the west side of the Abagadasset River. Since his father named his younger brother, John, as coexecutor in his will of May 1763, he must have been living in Georgetown or Bowdoinham at that time. From his father's estate he received one-quarter interest in the sawmill standing near Mount Hope in Scituate. Then, on 18 Jan 1764, as a farmer (yeoman) residing in Georgetown, Lincoln County, he sold his interest plus additional lands in Scituate to Samuel Stockbridge of Scituate. He purchased land at Georgetown on 9 June 1767 (Lincoln Co. Deeds 5:191) and land at Bowdoinham on the same date. He sold the Georgetown property on 22 March 1768 (6:34) and purchased more land at Bowdoinham on 14 January 1772 (8:212). On 16 July 1770 he had sold his land and buildings on the southerly side of his father-in-law's (John Elmes') farm to his brother, Lazarus Bowker of Scituate.

      I think this may refer to James Buker (b 22 Feb 1768):
      It was about this time that James changed the spelling of the family name from Bowker to Buker. His name appeared on the 1795 tax list for Bowdoinham. A seating plan of the Methodist Church near Hall's Corner, made 6 July 1799, shows "James Bucker, Jr." in pew #14, adjacent to that of Isaac Purinton. Lincoln County Deed 78:199 conveys his homestead to Caleb Buker in consideration of the sum of $2,000. The deed describes that "tract of land in Bowdoinham bounded ... Southerly on land owned by Joshua Beal, westerly on Abergadasset River, Northerly on land I sold James Buker Jur, and Easterly on land in the possession of the heirs of Benjamin Hallowell of Boston, Esq. deceased... The said Caleb Buker is not to come into the possession of the above premises till after the death of me & my wife ... this twenty fifth Day of February in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirteen ... in Presence of James Rogers and William Rogers."
      ----

  • Sources 
    1. [S270] Vital Records of Scituate, Massachusetts to the year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, (Boston Massachusetts 1909), Vol 1, page 37 - 42.
      James not found but possible brothers/sisters found are:
      Baptism: Cornelius, s. James Jr. and w., bp. Sep. 26, 1746. [ref: Second church of Scituate, now First Unitarian Church of Norwell]
      Baptism: Rhode, d. James and Mary, bp. Jun 17, 1744. [ref: Second church of Scituate, now First Unitarian Church of Norwell]

      If these are brothers/sisters it does make James birth in Scituate plausible.

    2. [S258] The History Of The Town Of Bowdoinham, 1762-1912, Silas Adams, (Fairfield Pub. Co., 1912.), page 25.
      Refers to James Bowker (b 7 Aug 1721) a short time after James Bowker (b abt 1743) was probably born.

      "On the west side of the Abagadasset River, the land was generally taken up about 1749 or 1750, by settles of old York; and many names at that day are familiar to us now. Some of these are ....; James Buker at Amasa Williams'; ... Many of these names appear upon town recordsas officials of the town."

    3. [S260] The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine, 1760 to 1800, William D. Patterson, Wiscasset, ME, (Maine Genealogical Society).
      page 84 - Estate of David Purrington: James Buker suretie 8 Dec 1774; Inventory by James Bowker of Bowdoinham 7 Feb 1775.
      page 124 - Estate of Richard Temple: Inventory by James Bowker of Bowdoinham 14 Oct 1783.
      page 339 - Estate of William Dinsmore: Inventory by James Bowker of Bowdoinham 1798.

    4. [S209] 1790 Federal Census, series M637 roll 2 page 266.
      Thought to be the person listed as James Booker.
      males 16 and up: 2
      males uder 16: 1
      females: 4

    5. [S213] 1800 Federal Census, series M32 roll 6 page 314.
      Free white males:
      under 10 - 0
      10 thru 15 - 1
      16 thru 25 - 1
      26 thru 44 - 0
      45 and over - 1
      Free white females:
      under 10 - 0
      10 thru 15 - 0
      16 thru 25 - 1
      26 thru 44 - 0
      45 and over - 1

    6. [S109] 1810 Federal Census, series M252 roll 12 page 358.
      Listed as James Bowker
      Free white males:
      under 10 - 0
      10 thru 15 - 0
      16 thru 25 - 1
      26 thru 44 - 0
      45 and over - 1
      Free white females:
      under 10 - 0
      10 thru 15 - 0
      16 thru 25 - 0
      26 thru 44 - 0
      45 and over - 1


    7. [S123] Buker/Bowker of Maine & Massachusetts GenCircles.com web site, Sharon Stees, http://www.gencircles.com/users/stees/2.
      DEATH: "James Buker of Georgetown & Bowdoinham, & Descendants"; Rev. Chas. N. Sinnett; 1923; FHLC #929.273 A1 #6756. Although, a little confusing, this record states that James Buker died at Durham, Me., at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Estes, "advanced in years". The1830 census record for Sarah & Israel Estes lists a male born 1730-1740.

    8. [S263] Massachusetts Marriages, 1633-1850, Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp., http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7853&enc=1.
      Name: James, Jr. Bowker
      Gender: Male
      Spouse: Mary Elmes
      Marriage Date: 9 Oct 1742
      City: Scituate
      County: Plymouth
      Source: Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Film # 0496902.

    9. [S270] Vital Records of Scituate, Massachusetts to the year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, (Boston Massachusetts 1909), Vol 2, page 33.
      Marriage: James Jr. and Mary Elmes, int Oct. 9, 1742, m. Jan 20, 1742-3.

    10. [S289] First Parish of Norwell Parish (aka Second Scituate) Clerk Records 1642 to 1951, B. Dexter Robinson, Parish Clerk, (V1.1 CD historical release, April 2005), Church Records Book 2, Marriages - 1740 to 1744.

    11. [S123] Buker/Bowker of Maine & Massachusetts GenCircles.com web site, Sharon Stees, http://www.gencircles.com/users/stees/2.
      MARRIAGE: Georgetown, Me. Marriages; Vol 2; Pg 206; FHLC #974.185/G1 V2v.

    12. [S287] The Salem Press Historical and Genealogical Record, (Salem, Mass.: The Salem Publishing and Printing Company, 1890), Vol 1, page 129.
      at web page http://www.mainegenealogy.net/2007/01/marriages-in-georgetown-1759-1773.html

      MARRIAGES IN GEORGETOWN, LINCOLN CO., MAINE.
      James Buker and Ruth Sargent, Oct. 22, 1767.


This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding v. 12.2, written by Darrin Lythgoe © 2001-2024.

Maintained by Don Lechthaler.