On April 11, 2008, I went to Utah and met with Jacob DeLoss Bowers who is a descendant of James Bowers (1811-1856). James is a brother of John Bowers (1816-1853). I am a descendant of John. The two brothers joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England.
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.
