While I was visiting with Jacob Bowers, he gave me a copy of James Bowers' journal (see above images). As I look over the copies now, I realize that I may have a missing page and it also seems that there could be more pages. This is a transcribed copy of the journal. It also helps that when one reads this copy to remember that "Do" means ditto. Jacob did not know where the original journal was located at this time.
In the journal, several times names are underlined. On the first page we learn that Roshannah Bowers and Hellen Bowers are baptized on June 14 in Dudley. Roshannah Bowers is probably John Bowers' wife, so James' sister-in-law. Uncertain who Hellen Bowers would be, but possibly James and John's sister? In addition on the first page, Honor Barnickel's name is underlined. I do not have any guesses as to why her name is of importance to be underlined. Any ideas? (See comments below by Julie.)
On the page numbered 6, Honner Barnickel's name is underlined. Again, I do not know why this name would be underlined. (See comments below by Julie.) Also on this page, Isabelle Wakelam's name is not underlined, but caught my attention. Would this be Isabella Haldren, James' mother? She married Joseph Sansom Bowers and later married Joseph Wakelim.
As already suggested in a previous post, checking with the Church History Library for this journal may be helpful.
18 July 2011
I emailed the Church History Library and asked if they had the journal. They do not have it. Below is a copy of the email response from the Church History Library.
From:
Date: Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Subject: CH2327 Response to your Personal family history question
To: srbigler@gmail.com
LDS Church History Library
Ask a Librarian
Response to your Personal family history Question #: CH2327
Your question:
I am looking for a transcribed copy of or the original journal of an ancestor, James Bowers (1811-1856).
Our response:
Thank you for contacting the Church History Library.
Unfortunately, we do not have the original journal, or a transcript, of the journal of James Bowers in our collection. The Daughters of Utah Pioneers has information in their collection. You may want to contact them: http://www.dupinternational.org/
We also suggest that you check with the libraries at BYU, University of Utah, Utah State and the Utah State Historical Society. They may be able to help you.
We hope you are able to find the journal and a transcript.
Sincerely,
Sherry Smith
Library Reference
LDS Church History Library
The status of your question is now closed.
Here's what my mother had documented. James baptized both sisters: Jane (Hodgetts) on June 13, and Helen on June 14, 1841. He also baptized John's wife Rosehannah.
ReplyDeleteHere's more: The Honor Barnickle referred to is the mother of Rose Hannah Leech Bowers, and so she would be John Bowers's mother-in-law. Honor Law first married James Leech (d. 22 Feb. 1827), then she married Charles Leech (d. ?), then she married William Barnacle on 2 Mar. 1840.
ReplyDeleteRemember that the Bowers family in England were very poor and uneducated people, as you can tell from the writing and spelling.
I did not realize that Jane Hodgetts was the older sister (located on the first page). What your mother has documented coincides with the journal. I did not catch that with Honor Law and William Barnacle.
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie! Your feedback and input is beneficial.