Elias Bowden  (1763-1843)

Elias Bowden was born 6 April 1763 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia, the son of
John and Peggy Bowden.  It is thought Peggy's maiden name was Webb, but that has
not been proven.  John Bowden was a cooper by trade.

Elias served as a substitute for his brother, William, under Capt. William Gay
in Col. John S. b. Wills' Regiment, entering in July 1779, for the term of two
months.  In July 1780, he served another two months' tour as a substitute under
the same officers for said William Bowden, who had served one month.  Then 1
September 1781 he again entered the service under Capt. William Gay and was
appointed his orderly sergeant until the surrender of Cornwallis army.

Elias married Celia Lawrence, the daughter of John and ?? Tynes Lawrence, who
was born in 1768. They were married in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia, 20 December
1785. About five years after their marriage they moved to Franklin County, NC
and after a number of years there, they moved to Granville Co., NC and then to
Henry County, Tennessee in 1823.

Elias Bowden's will is dated 8 November 1842.  He died in Henry Co., TN the
25thof Feb. 1843.  His wife, Celia, applied for and received a pension as the
widow of a Revolutionary War soldier. She died in Henry County, Tennessee on the
5thof December 1852.

Elias Bowden's father, John, is also considered a Patriot, his service having
been accepted by the DAR for his having supplied beef.  His will is dated 11 Dec
1786, and recorded 4 Dec 1788.  Legatees named in the will are sons John,
Thomas, Elias, and William; daughters, Frances, Mary, Hannah, Rhody and Choley;
grandchildren Samuel, Lemuel, Catherine, Amy and Rhody Powell; brother Richard
Bowden and wife Peggy Bowden.  The executors named were his sons Thomas and
Elias, with William Bridger, James Bridger and Robert Elev as witnesses.

John Bowden had another son, Jesse, who was killed in the Revolutionary War, and
a daughter, Elizabeth Powell, who died prior to 1786 when John made his will.
Children Elias and Celia Lawrence Bowden were Jesse W. Frances married Elias
Gay, Dempsey m. Sally Olive and Rhoda Owen (?), Thomas married Betsy Turner,
Holland married John Olive, Margaret Webb married Edward Gwinn, Jackey Lawrence
M., James H. Howard, Benjamin Tynes married Emily (?) and Drusilla (?) and Mary
married Fielding Veasey and John Olive.

(Local DAR member descended from Elias Bowden are Mrs. F.M. Gossum, Jr. and Mrs.
M.E. Simons)

Taken from the Fulton Daily Leader, Fulton, Kentucky, Friday, March 15, 1974.