Spears (2000), p.184. American Western Frontiersman. Andrew Bowie 1845 - 1912. Bowie led an expedition to find the lost San Saba mine, during which his small party repelled an attack by a large Native American raiding party. Geni requires JavaScript! [12][20] In June 1819, he joined the Long Expedition, an effort to liberate Texas from Spanish rule. He married Sarah Whitehead in 1752, in North Carolina, United States. From 19561958, Bowie was the subject of a television show, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, which was primarily set in 1830s Louisiana, although later episodes ventured into the Mexican province of Texas. He registered for military service in 1778. Six miles (10 km) from their goal, the group stopped to negotiate with a large Indian raiding party following them. If so, login to add it. Many craftsmen and manufacturers made their own versions, and major cities of the Old Southwest had "Bowie knife schools" that taught "the art of cut, thrust, and parry. Already confined to his cot by illness, Bowie was killed with the other defenders when the Alamo finally fell to numerically superior Mexican forces. A number of native groups roamed the area, including Comanche, Lipan Apache, Tawakoni, and Tonkawa. Bowies daring and courage have become legendary through Western song and ballad. At the time of Bowie's birth, his father owned eight enslaved African Americans, eleven head of cattle, seven horses, and one stud horse. [32], Bowie became internationally famous as a result of a feud with Norris Wright, the sheriff of Rapides Parish. BORN IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. Houston delegated the task to James Bowie but Bowie did not receive the orders for several weeks. Husband of Elizabeth Bowie. There was conflict between the two leaders and their troops in the tiny Alamo. This, and other stories of Bowie's prowess with a knife, led to the widespread popularity of the Bowie knife. Other family members and associates include Jasmine Bowie, James Bowie, Teva Bowie, Kimberly Bowie and Victor . Dr. James Bowie, is a Family Medicine specialist practicing in Westminster, CO with 5 years of experience. [36][37] Other members of the groups, who had various reasons for disliking each other, began fighting. David Bowie, 1970. [22], There is disagreement among scholars as to whether the knife used in this fight was the same kind of knife now known as a Bowie knife. He was the ninth of ten children. [62], Maria Ursula, her parents, and both children died in September 1833 during a cholera epidemic that swept through the South and along major waterways. [71], On November 3, 1835, Texas declared itself an independent state, and a provisional government was formed with Henry Smith of Brazoria elected provisional governor. "[89] The letter to Smith ended, "Colonel Neill and myself have come to the solemn resolution that we will rather die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy. [56][57] The Mexican government passed laws in 1834 and 1835 that stopped much of the land speculation. When he was four years old, the family moved to . It was still less than what James promised in the marriage contract. Corrections? Santa Anna responded to the rumblings by ordering large numbers of Mexican troops to Texas. In 1835 Bowie was appointed a commissioner to promote settlement in Texas, but fled when Santa Ana abolished the Coahuila-Texas government and ordered the arrest of all Texans. 26 15 189 Show this thread James BowieRetweeted The article focused primarily on the exploits of Jim Bowie. On October 22, Austin asked Bowie, now a colonel in the volunteer militia, and James W. Fannin to scout the area around the missions of San Francisco de la Espada and San Jos y San Miguel de Aguayo to find supplies for the volunteer forces. James Bowie lived here with his family from 1815 to 1824. After Mexico won independence from Spain, government interest in the mines waned. Peggy married Haywood 'John' Stenton Jones in 1946 and gave birth to David the next year. [73] Instead, Bowie enlisted in the army as a private under Fannin. He was best known for being a Explorer. IMPORTANT LINKS. [101] After first ordering that Bowie be buried, as he was too brave a man to be burned like a dog,[102] Santa Anna later had Bowie's body placed with those of the other Texians on the funeral pyre. By then, the United States had outlawed the importation of slaves, and most southern states allowed anyone who informed on a slave trader to receive half of what the imported slaves would earn at auction as a reward. He was born in Greenwood, SC on August 8, 1953, son of Sara Watt Bowie and the late William Maurice Bowie.Jim grew up in Ware Shoals, SC. Bonham signed the resolution first, Bowie's signature came second. (bio by: Iola) [75] One of the men under Bowie's command during the battle later praised him "as a born leader, never needlessly spending a bullet or imperiling a life, who repeatedly admonished Keep under cover boys, and reserve your fire; we haven't a man to spare. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 8 daughters. The Bowie family moved to Louisiana when Jim was about six. After learning that Santa Anna had 4,500 troops and was heading for the city,[80] Bowie wrote several letters to the provisional government asking for help in defending the Alamo, especially "men, money, rifles, and cannon powder". Despite conflicting accounts of the manner of his death, the "most popular, and probably the most accurate"[1] accounts maintain that he died in his bed after emptying his pistols into several Mexican soldiers. William Travis arrived with thirty men on February 3 in order to take command of the forces quartered at the Alamo mission near Bexar. This name has been the synonym of personal bravery, and a hundred tales are told of alleged duels and quixotic encounters in which he is made to figure as a hero. Children. "[109] Jim Bowie posthumously was inducted into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 1988 Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia in recognition for the impact that his eponymous design made upon generations of knife makers and cutlery companies. Bowie also lied about his age, claiming to be 30 rather than 35. Another account claims that Bowie designed the knife himself. DISTRICT CONTACT. The old Mexican nurse who lived to be more than a hundred described the events which followed. The Bowie family owned a plantation in southern Louisiana in 1809, one year after the United States Constitution barred the international trade of slaves. Parents: James Bowie was born on March 10, 1796, in Logan County, Kentucky. Family, friend, or fan this Collaborative Biography is for you to show & tell James' life so that he is always remembered. The attempts at parley failed, and Bowie and his group fought for their lives for the next 13hours. Before the latter could recover he was seized by Dr. Maddox, who held him down for some moments, but, collecting his strength, he hurled Maddox off just as Major Wright approached and fired at the wounded Bowie, who, steadied himself against a log, half buried in the sand, fired at Wright, the ball passing through the latter's body. [91] Bowie celebrated his appointment by getting very drunk and causing havoc in San Antonio, releasing all prisoners in the local jails and harassing citizens. by Refugio de la Garza, parish priest of the city. Bonham signed the resolution first, with Bowie's signature second. Mary Bowie Bird (1792 - 1842)* [1][2][3][7] (Some reference works refer to an incorrect alternate pronunciation /boi/ BOH-ee[7][8][9]). Colonel Carin, himself wounded, brought water for his adversary, Colonel Bowie. [57] He set out again with a larger force the following month, but returned home empty-handed after two and a half months of searching. Although the Superior Court originally confirmed most of those claims, the decisions were reversed in February 1831, after further research showed that the land had never belonged to the Bowies and that the original land grant documentation had been forged. All of the Bowie children learned to read and write in English, but Jim and his elder brother Rezin could also read, write, and speak Spanish and French fluently. [79], On November 3, 1835, Texas declared itself an independent state, and a provisional government was formed, with Henry Smith of Brazoria elected provisional governor. He should be one of the Prominents! "[117], Jim Bowie was inducted posthumously into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 1988 Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia, in recognition of the impact that his eponymous design had upon generations of knife makers and cutlery companies.[119]. [22][45], On January 1, 1830, Bowie left Louisiana for permanent residency in Texas. He convinced fourteen or fifteen other citizens to apply for land in order to turn it over to him, giving him 700,000 acres (280,000 ha) for speculation. In Houston's correspondence with Governor Brown he states he had selected Colonel Bowie for this important service on account of his great ability, perfect coolness in the presence of danger, and remarkable courage. James Bowie was born near Terrapin Creek (now Spring Creek) where it crosses Bowie's Mill Road (Turnertown Road), nine miles northwest of Franklin, Logan County (now Simpson County), Kentucky, probably on April 10, 1796.He was the son of Reason (or Rezin) and Elve Ap-Catesby Jones (or Johns) Bowie. There he hunted, fished, rode wild horses, and rode alligators. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. He took him to pop concerts and bought Bowie a . Tragically, his young wife and her parents died in Monclova in 1833 when a cholera epidemic swept across northern Mexico. This knife, it is asserted, was used by Col. James Bowie in nineteen deadly encounters. James BOWIE was born on April 10, 1795 in Logan County, KY. and died on March 6, 1836 in Alamo, San Augustine County, Republic of Texas, at age 40. ix. [81] Travis became the sole commander of the forces when Bowie was confined to bed. [13] Louisiana's population was growing rapidly, and the brothers hoped to take advantage of its rising land prices through speculation. Hopewell (1994), p.56. [22] Most of the noncombatants in the fort, including Bowie's relatives, survived. [11] After mustering out of the militia, Bowie settled in Rapides Parish,[5][12] where he supported himself by sawing planks and lumber and floating it down the bayou for sale. Texas, USA Travers seeing that the fort must shortly fall, called the men around him and told them of the probable fate which awaited them, but said he would remain and fight it out. James worked with William B Travis in their effort to stand up for the Texans' rights. Santa Anna responded to the rumblings by ordering large numbers of Mexican troops to Texas. It is eight inches long. After Mexico won independence from Spain, government interest in mining waned. Charles Bowie 1843 - Unknown. "This is a good time to settle our difficulty;" Bowie and Wright also drew, and the firing became general. Without government troops to keep hostile natives at bay, mining and mineral exploration were impossible. Family links: Bowie commanded a group of volunteers. [65] He set out again the following month, with a larger force, but returned home empty-handed after .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}2+12 months of searching. Bowie led an expedition to find the lost San Saba mine, during which his small party repelled an attack by a large Native American raiding party. Wright then drew a sword-cane, and, rushing upon Bowie, exclaimed, "damn you, you have killed me." On October 22, Austin asked James W. Fannin and Bowie, now a colonel in the volunteer militia, to scout the area around the missions of San Francisco de la Espada and San Jos y San Miguel de Aguayo and find supplies for the volunteer forces. [22], Bowie never talked of his exploits despite his increasing fame. They also stopped at Jared E. Groce's farm on the Brazos River, in what would later became Grimes County, and in San Felipe. During the War of 1812, Bowie and his brother joined the Louisiana Militia, but. James Millar Bowie 1836 - 1879. Colby James Price, 16 of Bowie, TX went to be with our Heavenly father on Monday, January 2nd, 2023. Bowie enlarged his reputation during the Texas Revolution. [60] Before the group reached the building housing the town officials, they were attacked by a force of 100 Mexican cavalry. At Bowie's request, Crockett and several others carried his cot over the line, leaving Rose alone on the other side. Bowie drew his knife and rushed upon Colonel Crain. see http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/BB/fbo45.html. The battle ended on March 6, one day after the infamous line drawn in the sand, when all 188 remaining defenders . [29], Shortly after his marriage, Bowie became fascinated with the story of the "lost" Los Almagres Mine (also known as the lost San Saba Mine and the lost Bowie Mine), said to be northwest of San Antonio, near the ruin of the Spanish Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba. John Bowie 1770 - 1848. Lavinnia Bowie (1783 - 1783)* [43] Bowie was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith in San Antonio on April 28, 1828, sponsored by the alcalde (chief administrator) of the town, Juan Martin de Veramendi and the wife of the administrator, Josefa Navarro. James Veramendi Bowie son Elve Ap-Catesby Bowie mother Rezin Pleasant Bowie, I father John Jones Bowie brother Sarah Davis sister Martha Nugent / Sterret sister Mary Bird sister Rezin Pleasant Bowie, Jr. brother Stephen Bowie brother David Bowie brother About Col. James "Jim" Bowie (commander Alamo volunteers) Thirty-fiveyears after the Alamo fell, a reporter identified Louis "Moses" Rose as the only man to have "deserted" the Texian forces at the Alamo. When the Indians finally retreated, Bowie reportedly had lost only one man, while over 40 Indians had been killed and 30 more wounded. Larissa Bowie (1783 - 1783)* 10, 1796 There Bowie presented a letter of introduction to impresario Stephen F. [51], On April 25, 1831 Bowie married 19-year-old Maria Ursula de Veramendi, the daughter of his business partner, who had become the vice-governor of the province. Jim Bowie Research Paper. The "Bowie knife" is now known as one of the most effective arms of its kind manufactured, and takes precedence over the old dagger. Thus, Bowie had allied himself to one of the most powerful families in Texas and with the Tejano community. Fearing for the safety of his wife's relatives in San Antonio, Bowie invited her cousins, Getrudis Navarro and Juana Navarro Alsbury, as well as Alsbury's 18-month-old son, Alijo Perez Jr., to stay inside the walls of the Alamo. At the outbreak of the Texas Revolution, Bowie joined the Texas militia, leading forces at the Battle of Concepcin and the Grass Fight. [29] Bowie later served as a delegate to the Convention of 1833, which formally requested that Texas become its own state within the Mexican federation. I. Stories of him as a fighter and frontiersman, both real and fictitious, have made him a legendary figure in Texas history and a folk hero of American culture. Born in Kentucky, Bowie spent most of his life in Louisiana, where he was raised and later worked as a land speculator. [101], When Bowie's mother was informed of his death, she calmly stated, "I'll wager no wounds were found in his back. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Left without evidence, they declined to pursue the lawsuit. As Colonel of the militia, Bowie organized and led a party of 26 men west into the Indian . Several days before the ceremony he signed a dowry contract, promising to pay his new bride 15,000 pesos (approximately $15,000) in cash or property within two years of the marriage. [56] With his citizenship assured, Bowie had the right to buy up to 11leagues of public land. It will help your ground troops get to the enemy quicker and give them . Fearing the disease would reach San Antonio, Bowie sent his pregnant wife and their daughter to the family estate in Monclova, in the company of her parents and brother. In 1818, Bowie and his brother Rezin P. were introduced to the pirate Jean Lafitte. [116] His larger legacy is his position as "one of the legendary characters of the American frontier. James and Maria settled in San Antonio. "[72], The following year, the Mexican government passed new laws allowing sale of land in Texas, and Bowie returned to land speculation. [35], The following year, on September 19, 1827, Bowie and Wright attended a duel on a sandbar outside of Natchez, Mississippi. In his section of the country the duel was a recognized law of the social system; from that appeal there was no retreat; the man who flinched would have been publicly branded as a dastard. The latter politely thanked him, but remarked that he did not think Crain had acted properly in firing upon him when he was exchanging shots with Maddox. . Some believed that the Lipan took over the mine after the Mexican citizens left the area.of [62], After obtaining permission from the Mexican government to mount an expedition into Indian territory to search for the legendary silver mine, Bowie, his brother Rezin, and ten others set out for San Saba on November 2, 1831. "[41] Bowie's reputation as a superb knife fighter was set across the South. [96] Bowie also brought several black servants, some of whom worked at the Veramendi Palace, into the security of the Alamo fortress. [44] However, Rezin Bowie's grandchildren said that Rezin only supervised his blacksmith, who was the designer of the knife. [better source needed] The personal name Buadhach means "victorious". He was among the Americans who died at the Battle of the Alamo. His father's name was Rezin and his mother's name was Elve. The attacker hit Bowie over the head with his empty pistol, breaking the pistol and knocking Bowie to the ground. As Colonel of Texas Rangers he gained a great reputation at the battle of San Saba, Nov 2,l83l. "Remember the Alamo" became the war cry of the Texans, and Santa Ana, a short time afterwords, had his army annihilated and himself taken prisoner with that shout ringing in his ears. On April 25, 1831, Bowie married Ursula de Veramendi in San Antonio; a little more than two years later, Ursula, her parents, and her child died in a cholera epidemic and Bowie reportedly turned to the bottle. They were never arrested or charged. Unfortunately, their union didn't last long, as Maria, her parents, and both children died of cholera in September 1833.[10][5]. On January 19, 1836, Bowie arrived in Bexar with thirty men carrying orders from Sam Houston for the demolition of the fortifications there. In January 1836, he arrived at the Alamo, where he commanded the volunteer forces until an illness left him bedridden. Bowie, with Wright's sword still protruding from his chest, was shot again and stabbed by another member of the group. [9][4] [5], James was engaged to Cecilia Wells, who died September 29, 1829 before they could be married, in Alexandria, Louisiana. Believing the war was over, many of the Texian volunteers left the army and returned to their families. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Bowie, Electric Scotland - Biography of James Bowie, Texas State Historical Association - James Bowie, Spartacus Educational - Biography of James Bowie, James Bowie - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), James Bowie - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). "[107], Bowie perished with the rest of the Alamo defenders when the Mexicans attacked on March 6. [74], On the foggy morning of October 28, Mexican General Domingo Ugartechea led a force of 300infantry and cavalry soldiers and two small cannons against the Texian forces. Well be that as it may yes Texas too and Louisiana too because it was under Spanish rule at the time. At 18 he left home, clearing land and sawing timber for a living. "[117] Although Bowie's name and knife were well known during his lifetime, his legend grew after October 1852, when DeBow's Review published an article written by his brother, John Jones Bowie, called, "Early Life in the SouthwestThe Bowies." Bowie visited several Native American villages in East Texas in an attempt to persuade the reluctant tribes to fight against the Mexican government. When Wright attempted to retrieve his blade by placing his foot on Bowie's chest and tugging, Bowie pulled him down and disemboweled Wright with his large knife. James Veramendi Bowie (1833 - 1833)* The Last Command (1955 film) by Republic Pictures features Jim Bowie as the main character during the battle of the Alamo and the Texas War of Independence. [100], Bowie and Travis began sending out couriers with pleas for provisions and assistance. [26] After a confrontation in Alexandria one afternoon, Wright fired a shot at Bowie. [48] To fulfill his promise, Bowie entered into partnership with Veramendi to build cotton and wool mills in Saltillo. On each occasion he bought smuggled slaves and then took them directly to a customhouse to inform on his own actions. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. James Bowie Elementary. After moving to Texas in 1830, Bowie became a Mexican citizen and married Ursula Veramendi, the daughter of Juan Martn de Veramendi, the Mexican vice-governor of the province. Later, they lived in Missouri, and finally settled in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, where he grew up. Burial: Jim grew up in Ware Shoals, SC. Without the capital required to buy large tracts,[18] they entered into a partnership with a pirate, Jean Lafitte, in 1818 to raise money. The Bowie brothers arrived in New Orleans too late to participate in the fighting. Mother of Marie Josefa Elve Bowie James. Stephen F. Austin formed an army of 500 men to march on the Mexican forces in San Antonio with the cannon that had precipitated the fight. Austin requested to be relieved of his command of the army, and Sam Houston was named army chief. Many accounts state Bowie's brother, Rezin, made it and had it forged by blacksmith Jessie Clift. "[22] Bowie left a "frustratingly sparse paper trail" of his life, and for many "where history failed, the legends prevailed. In his early years of life Jim Bowie was wild and free, when he wasn 't . After a short time, however, they moved into the Veramendi Palace to live with Ursula's parents, who supplied them with spending money. [84] In early January 1836, Bowie went to San Felipe and asked the council to allow him to recruit a regiment. Travis was disgusted, but two days later the men agreed to a joint command; Bowie would command the volunteers, and Travis would command the regular army and the volunteer cavalry. He was appointed as a land commissioner, tasked with promoting settlement in the area purchased by John T. Mason. [59], Between 1830 and 1832 the Mexican Congress passed a series of laws that seemed to discriminate against Anglo colonists in the province of Coahuila y Tejas, increasing tension between the Anglo citizenry and Mexican officials. Just another normal day. They sold that property in 1800 and relocated to Missouri before moving to Spanish Louisiana in 1802, where they settled on Bushley Bayou in Rapides Parish. 6, a few hours before the last assault was made by Santa Ana. A statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior . Edward Burleson was chosen as temporary commander of the troops in San Antonio. Bowie is a Scottish and Irish surname.The name can be derived from the Gaelic nickname buidhe, meaning "yellow", "fair-haired".The surname can also be an Anglicised form of the Irish surname Buadhaigh; [better source needed] this surname means "descendant of Buadhach" and is also rendered as Bogue and Boyce. He was a sugar planter, and together with his brother, Rezin P. Bowie, owned several very valuable estates in La Fourche and Rapides Parishes, and in the Opelousas District. In 1827, he was in a brawl in Mississippi which resulted in his being wounded and several men killed.
