[Index]
John BOWCHER (1762 - 1828)
Yoeman of Exon, wine and spirit merchant Exeter
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Mary BOWCHER (1788 - 1827)
Sarah BOWCHER (1792 - 1814)
John BOWCHER (1794 - 1862)
William BOWCHER (1800 - 1804)
Ann BOWCHER (1801 - 1898)
Frederick James BOWCHER (1806 - 1877)
Edward BOWCHER (1807 - 1877)
Charles Henry BOWCHER (1808 - 1826)
Eliza Ann Jane BOWCHER (1808 - 1892)
Emma BOWCHER (1810 - 1854)
William Townsend BOWCHER (1813 - 1877)
Henry James Cann BOWCHER (1815 - 1864)
 John BOWCHER (1762 - 1828)

+

Mary REED ( - 1805)

Elizabeth TOWNSEND (1772 - 1858)
 John BOWCHER (1730 - ) John BOWCHER



Mary (BOWCHER)



Deborah CHOWNE (1727 - 1788) Henry CHOWNE (1702 - 1770) Charles CHOWNE (1648 - )
Joan NORTHCOTT (1662 - 1733)
Ann COOKNEY (1705 - 1775)



John BOWCHER Elizabeth TOWNSEND
John BOWCHER John BOWCHER John BOWCHER John BOWCHER
John BOWCHER Elizabeth TOWNSEND John BOWCHER John BOWCHER John BOWCHER John BOWCHER
Pic P1. The flask is 21 cm high

Pic S2. The flask is 21 cm high

Pic 1. The flask is 21 cm high

b. Mar 1762 at Kenton, Devon, England
m. (1) 06 Mar 1787 Mary REED ( - 1805) at Exeter, Devon, England
m. (2) 15 Sep 1805 Elizabeth TOWNSEND (1772 - 1858) at Upton Pyne, Devon, England
d. 28 Feb 1828 at Exeter, Devon, England aged 65
Near Relatives of John BOWCHER (1762 - 1828)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Grandfather John BOWCHER
Grandmother Mary (BOWCHER)
Grandfather Henry CHOWNE 07 Apr 1702 Rockbeare, Devon, England abt 29 Oct 1770 Exminster, Devon, England 68
Grandmother Ann COOKNEY abt 1705 Devon, England bef 16 Feb 1775 Devon, England 70

Father in Law William TOWNSEND bef 21 Sep 1734 Alphington, Exeter, Devon, England 23 Oct 1817 Alphington, Exeter, Devon, England 83
Mother in Law Alice ROWE

Father John BOWCHER abt 21 Aug 1730 Crediton, Devon, England
Step Father William HILL abt 1727 Devon, England bef 1756 29
Mother Deborah CHOWNE 18 Mar 1727 Rockbeare, Devon, England 07 Feb 1788 Exminster, Devon, England 60

Self John BOWCHER Mar 1762 Kenton, Devon, England 28 Feb 1828 Exeter, Devon, England 65

Wife Mary REED abt 12 Jan 1805 St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England
Wife Elizabeth TOWNSEND bef 01 Jul 1772 St Petrock, Exeter, Devon, England 16 Apr 1858 Exeter, Devon, England 85

Daughter Mary BOWCHER 1788 Exeter, Devon, England 24 Jun 1827 39
Daughter Sarah BOWCHER 13 Feb 1792 Exeter, Devon, England abt 1814 22
Son John BOWCHER 28 Feb 1794 Exeter, Devon, England 1862 Exeter, Devon, England 68
Son William BOWCHER 1800 1804 4
Daughter Ann BOWCHER 1801 Exeter, Devon, England 1898 Exeter, Devon, England 97
Son Frederick James BOWCHER 12 Feb 1806 Exeter, Devon, England 1877 Marylebone, London, England 71
Son Edward BOWCHER 17 Jun 1807 Exeter, Devon, England abt Jun 1877 Exeter, Devon, England 70
Son Charles Henry BOWCHER bef 04 Dec 1808 Exeter, Devon, England 19 Jul 1826 17
Daughter Eliza Ann Jane BOWCHER bef 04 Dec 1808 Exeter, Devon, England abt Dec 1892 Exeter, Devon, England 84
Daughter Emma BOWCHER 18 Aug 1810 St Petrock, Exeter, Devon, England 08 Jul 1854 St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England 43
Son William Townsend BOWCHER 01 Apr 1813 Exeter, Devon, England abt Dec 1877 Exeter, Devon, England 64
Son Henry James Cann BOWCHER 29 Jun 1815 St Petrock, Exeter, Devon, England abt Dec 1864 Chelsea, London, England 49

Sister Ann BOWCHER Jul 1757 Exminster, Devon, England
Sister Elizabeth BOWCHER bef 10 Jan 1759 Exminster, Devon, England
Brother Richard BOWCHER bef 12 Jul 1760 Devon, England
Sister Deborah BOWCHER Aug 1765
Brother Samuel BOWCHER Apr 1768
Brother Henry BOWCHER 15 Jul 1772

Daughter in Law Eliza SPARK abt May 1805 Exeter, Devon, England abt Sep 1880 Exeter, Devon, England 75
Son in Law John BAKER
Son in Law Francis BLACKLER abt 1803 Bideford, Devon, England abt Dec 1856 Newton Abbott, Devon, England 53
Daughter in Law Mary (BOWCHER) abt 1808 St Martins, Exeter, Devon, England
Daughter in Law Matilda SNELL abt Jun 1806 Exminster, Devon, England abt Dec 1886 Exeter, Devon, England 80
Son in Law Thomas TOBY abt Jan 1804 Exeter, Devon, England abt Dec 1889 Exeter, Devon, England 85
Son in Law George ELWORTHY 23 Apr 1813 Exeter, Devon, England 24 Feb 1878 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 64
Daughter in Law Margaret Ann BOOTH 28 Apr 1822 Kenton, Devon, England abt Mar 1894 Exeter, Devon, England 71
Daughter in Law Mary BROWN abt Dec 1811 Northumberland, England abt Mar 1854 Chelsea, London, England 42
Daughter in Law Catherine TORY 1818 Leicestershire, England abt Mar 1891 Chelsea, London, England 73

Grandson John Spark BOWCHER 22 Sep 1826 St Martins, Exeter, Devon, England 10 Dec 1826 0
Grandson George John Spark BOWCHER 03 Nov 1828 Exeter, Devon, England 15 Oct 1908 Bristol, Gloucestershire, England 79
Granddaughter Eliza Spark BOWCHER 1834 Heavitree, Devon, England
Granddaughter Mary Ann BAKER abt 1832 Devon, England Y
Grandson James Baker ELWORTHY 09 Dec 1833 Exeter, Devon, England 03 Mar 1889 Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia 55
Granddaughter Elizabeth Harriet ELWORTHY 04 Nov 1835 Exeter, Devon, England abt 16 Sep 1855 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 19
Grandson George Gregory Townsend ELWORTHY 16 Aug 1837 Exeter, Devon, England 26 Dec 1905 Mt Perry, Queensland, Australia 68
Granddaughter Eliza Grace ELWORTHY 26 Jun 1839 Exeter, Devon, England 15 Oct 1922 Paddington, New South Wales, Australia 83
Granddaughter Emma Louisa ELWORTHY 14 Apr 1841 Exeter, Devon, England 1920 Waverley, New South Wales, Australia 79
Granddaughter Isabella Bowcher ELWORTHY 20 Oct 1842 Exeter, Devon, England 16 Jul 1921 Auckland, New Zealand 78
Grandson Charles Henry ELWORTHY bef 06 Jun 1844 Exeter, Devon, England 20 Sep 1859 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 15
Granddaughter Alice Mary ELWORTHY 1845 Exeter, Devon, England 14 Jan 1854 New South Wales, Australia 9
Grandson Charles Thomas BOWCHER abt Dec 1845 Exeter, Devon, England abt Mar 1911 Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales 65
Granddaughter Elizabeth Julia BOWCHER abt Sep 1847 abt Mar 1909 Exeter, Devon, England 61
Grandson Edward Henry BOWCHER abt Dec 1849 Exeter, Devon, England abt Mar 1854 Exeter, Devon, England 4
Grandson Albert William BOWCHER abt Dec 1851 Exeter, Devon, England abt Sep 1934 Exeter, Devon, England 82
Grandson Henry Edward BOWCHER abt Mar 1854 Exeter, Devon, England abt Sep 1892 St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England 38
Grandson Arthur John BOWCHER abt Mar 1856 Exeter, Devon, England abt Sep 1891 Exeter, Devon, England 35
Granddaughter Eliza Anne BOWCHER abt Dec 1860 Exeter, Devon, England 1865 Exeter, Devon, England 5
Granddaughter Elizabeth Catherine BOWCHER 22 Nov 1856 Chelsea, London, England abt Sep 1925 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England 68
Granddaughter Henrietta BOWCHER abt Dec 1859 Chelsea, London, England abt Mar 1897 Bromyard, Herefordshire, England 37

Uncle Samuel BOWCHER 1734
Aunt Anne CHOWNE 17 Dec 1729 Rockbeare, Devon, England
Uncle William PRIDHAM
Uncle Henry CHOWNE 06 Jan 1731 Rockbeare, Devon, England Nov 1800 Devon, England 69
Aunt Elizabeth Adams Grace DYER
Uncle Joseph CHOWNE 1733 Exminster, Devon, England 1811 Exminster, Devon, England 78
Aunt Mary ELSON Alphington, Exeter, Devon, England
Aunt Julian COLLINS 1766
Aunt Elizabeth CHOWNE 18 Jan 1735 Exeter, Devon, England
Uncle John HAWKER
Aunt Joan CHOWNE 29 May 1738 Exeter, Devon, England
Uncle John PITTS
Uncle Charles CHOWNE 01 May 1740 Exeter, Devon, England 09 Mar 1804 Exminster, Devon, England 63
Aunt Mary (CHOWNE)
Aunt Hannah MORTIMORE
Aunt Martha SULLEY LILLEY
Uncle William CHOWNE 21 Dec 1741 Exminster, Devon, England 09 Mar 1804 Exminster, Devon, England 62
Aunt Susannah DYER
Aunt Edmund CHOWNE 05 Sep 1744 Exeter, Devon, England Nov 1744 Exeter, Devon, England 0

Cousin Matthais CHOWNE 10 May 1770 Exminster, Devon, England 1834 64
Cousin William CHOWNE 1764 1834 70
Cousin Susannah CHOWNE 1767 abt 1793 26
Cousin Grace CHOWNE 1771

Nephew William PIDGEON bef 15 Sep 1779 Kenton, Devon, England
Nephew Charles Chown PIDGEON bef 10 Oct 1781 Powderham, Devon, England
Niece Ann PIDGEON bef 21 May 1786 Powderham, Devon, England
Nephew Nathaniel PIDGEON bef 25 Jan 1789 Powderham, Devon, England
Niece Deborah Ann PIDGEON bef 26 Feb 1792 Powderham, Devon, England
Niece Rebecca PIDGEON bef 22 May 1796 Powderham, Devon, England
Niece Julia PIDGEON bef 13 Dec 1801 Powderham, Devon, England
Nephew William BOWCHER 16 Feb 1787 Kenton, Devon, England
Niece Deborah BOWCHER bef 23 Apr 1788 Kenton, Devon, England abt Sep 1862 Totnes, Devon, England 74
Nephew John BOWCHER 26 Aug 1789 Kenton, Devon, England
Niece Eleanor BOWCHER 1792 Kenton, Devon, England abt Jun 1863 Totnes, Devon, England 71
Niece Bathsheba Ann BOWCHER 1795 Kenton, Devon, England abt Mar 1863 St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England 68
Nephew Henry Chown(e) BOUCHER BOWCHER 1797 Kenton, Devon, England 23 Oct 1843 Buckland, Spring Bay, Tasmania, Australia 46
Nephew Richard BOWCHER 1800 Kenton, Devon, England
Niece Jehoshabeth Alice Townsend BOWCHER 1804 Kenton, Devon, England
Niece Caroline Elizabeth Cann BOWCHER 1806 Kenton, Devon, England
Niece Loveday BOWCHER abt Nov 1793
Niece Eleanor TOWNSEND 1796 1854 Exeter, Devon, England 58
Niece Alice TOWNSEND 1810 Devon, England
Niece Anna Maria TOWNSEND 23 Dec 1812 Upton Pyne, Devon, England
Niece Alice TOWNSEND 29 Mar 1815 Upton Pyne, Devon, England
Niece Jane May TOWNSEND 12 Dec 1816 Upton Pyne, Devon, England
Nephew Henry Cann TOWNSEND 23 Sep 1818 Upton Pyne, Devon, England 03 May 1889 St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England 70
Nephew William TOWNSEND 07 Oct 1820 Upton Pyne, Devon, England
Nephew Francis TOWNSEND bef 1801
Niece Jane SNELL 17 Mar 1802 Exminster, Devon, England abt Jun 1872 Exeter, Devon, England 70
Niece Mary Anne SNELL 30 Oct 1803 Exminster, Devon, England abt Jun 1865 St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England 61
Niece Matilda SNELL abt Jun 1806 Exminster, Devon, England abt Dec 1886 Exeter, Devon, England 80
Nephew Samuel John SNELL 18 Oct 1809 Exminster, Devon, England 1887 Kenton, Devon, England 78

Sister in Law Ellenor TOWNSEND bef 09 Jul 1767 Shillingford St George, Exeter, Devon, England
Brother in Law William TOWNSEND 14 Sep 1768 Shillingford St George, Exeter, Devon, England 08 Jan 1836 St Mary Major, Exeter, Devon, England 67
Brother in Law Thomas TOWNSEND 14 Jun 1770 Shillingford St George, Exeter, Devon, England 05 Jan 1845 Upton Pyne, Devon, England 74
Sister in Law Grace TOWNSEND 24 Feb 1774 Kenton, Devon, England abt Dec 1849 St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England 75
Sister in Law Alice TOWNSEND 1776
Sister in Law Mary TOWNSEND 04 Nov 1777 Kenton, Devon, England abt Mar 1838 St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England 60
Brother in Law John TOWNSEND 1780 25 Jun 1812 32
Brother in Law Robert COOK 1758
Brother in Law John JOREY
Brother in Law Jasper PIDGEON 1750 Kenton, Devon, England
Sister in Law Ann COFFIN
Events in John BOWCHER (1762 - 1828)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
bef 1756 Death of step father William HILL (aged 29)
Mar 1762 John BOWCHER was born Kenton, Devon, England Ancestry
06 Mar 1787 25 Married Mary REED Exeter, Devon, England 2
1788 26 Birth of daughter Mary BOWCHER Exeter, Devon, England
07 Feb 1788 25 Death of mother Deborah CHOWNE (aged 60) Exminster, Devon, England
13 Feb 1792 29 Birth of daughter Sarah BOWCHER Exeter, Devon, England
28 Feb 1794 31 Birth of son John BOWCHER Exeter, Devon, England
1800 38 Birth of son William BOWCHER 68
1801 39 Birth of daughter Ann BOWCHER Exeter, Devon, England
1804 42 Death of son William BOWCHER (aged 4) 2
abt 12 Jan 1805 42 Death of wife Mary REED St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England 2
15 Sep 1805 43 Married Elizabeth TOWNSEND (aged 33) Upton Pyne, Devon, England 2
12 Feb 1806 43 Birth of son Frederick James BOWCHER Exeter, Devon, England
17 Jun 1807 45 Birth of son Edward BOWCHER Exeter, Devon, England
bef 04 Dec 1808 46 Birth of son Charles Henry BOWCHER Exeter, Devon, England twin
bef 04 Dec 1808 46 Birth of daughter Eliza Ann Jane BOWCHER Exeter, Devon, England twin
18 Aug 1810 48 Birth of daughter Emma BOWCHER St Petrock, Exeter, Devon, England
27 Dec 1810 48 Declaired bankrupt Exeter, Devon, England
15 Jun 1811 49 Paid a Dividend to pay creditors Exeter, Devon, England
01 Apr 1813 51 Birth of son William Townsend BOWCHER Exeter, Devon, England
abt 1814 52 Death of daughter Sarah BOWCHER (aged 22) 2
29 Jun 1815 53 Birth of son Henry James Cann BOWCHER St Petrock, Exeter, Devon, England
1820 58 Will 2
19 Jul 1826 64 Death of son Charles Henry BOWCHER (aged 17) 2
24 Jun 1827 65 Death of daughter Mary BOWCHER (aged 39) 68
28 Feb 1828 65 John BOWCHER died Exeter, Devon, England
Personal Notes:
After the 18th century a Yoeman was one of class of small farmers commonly freeholders, the next grade below gentlemen, who were entitled to have a coat of arms.

John was a spirit dealer in 1823. Elizabeth was running the business in 1850 at 71 High St.
Source References:
2. Type: Book, Abbr: Devon to Down Under, Title: Devon to Down Under, Auth: Bettie Elworthy, Publ: Bookbound, Date: 1997
- Reference = 20 (Will)
- Notes: John Bowcher Second made his long and intricate will in 1820. To his dear wife
he left Fifty Pounds for mourning for herself and the seven youngest children. To
the children from his first marriage named as Mary, Ann and John (Sarah had died
in 1814), he gave ten pounds each for mourning. By the time of John Second's
death in 1828, John Third was the only surviving child of the first marriage.
A total of eighty pounds sterling to be spent on mourning - quite a mighty sum!
I wonder if it was for mourning clothes only or if it was also to cover the cost of a
wake. Either way there should have been no problem with liquid refreshments.
John Second was quite specific about the division of the family silver. Each child
was left engraved teaspoons, tablespoons or tankards and in most cases the
monogram matched his or her initials.
To Emma he bequeathed two tablespoons and six teaspoons marked "EB" whilst
William got two half-pints marked "WB" and two tablespoons engraved with
"TB". Officially baptised James, the eldest son was usually called Frederick so I
wonder if they changed his name to suit his spoons marked "FIB".
John left the bulk of his estate to his 'dear wife' so long as she continued to mourn
him and remain unmarried. If she remarried then the estate was to be divided among
the surviving children of their 'legally begotten heirs'.
Elizabeth had money of her own, having inherited a legacy from her relative
Mary Cann of Newton St Cyres in 1814 'for her sole use and benefit' so John's
stipulation about relinquishing the estate if she remarried may not have worried
her overmuch.
When Elizabeth made her will on 09 Jun 1852 she left to each of her four
surviving sons Frederick, Henry, William and Edward the sum of 100 pounds as
well as interest from various trusts involved in Mary Cann's will.
To her daughters Eliza, the wife of Thomas Toby, spirit merchant and Emma,
wife of George Elworthy, mercer and draper of Exeter, she also left one hundred
pounds.
As it happened, Emma didn't ever receive her legacy. Her mother Elizabeth died
on 16 ApI 1858 aged 86 but Emma had died on 08 July 1854. Elizabeth added a
codicil on 13 Nov that year giving Emma's portion to Edward, the son who ran the
wine and spirit business.
I thought it strange Emma's share was not divided among her surviving
children but then the amount was not significant, they were so far away and it may
have been quite impractical.
When I found Edward's will I was childishly pleased to find he had made a
bequest to Emma's eldest son, James Baker Elworthy. It could have taken some
time for the legacy to come to him then James died suddenly in 1889 without
making a will.
Before James' eldest son Billy died in 1909 he made sure each of Emma's three
surviving children Eliza Holloway, Emma Donaldson and Isabella Madden
received a gift in his will and bequeathed two hundred and fifty pounds to each of
them.
It took a long long time but Emma's legacy was finally discharged - with interest!
- Reference = 17 (Name, Notes)
- Notes: By 1810 John was settled as a wine and spirit merchant but his fortunes waxed
and waned somewhat! In that year's 5 Dec issue of the Exeter Flying Post, John
published a Notice of Dissolution of Partnership with William Wood "in the
business of dealers in Wines and Spirituous Liquors, Hops and Tea".
John advised clients that a person would call to collect outstanding debts but
that until the time of such visit, no monies should be paid in to the firm.
But Mr Wood obviously had other thoughts on this matter and through his
solicitors, in the same issue warned customers that because of these 'divers
disputes' no monies should be paid to anyone!
Both John Bowcher and William Wood were declared bankrupt and a meeting to
make arrangements with their creditors was fixed for 05 Feb 1811. It would seem
this bankruptcy was just a messy means of dissolving their unsatisfactory
partnership and settling the 'divers disputes'.
In the 25 April Flying Post a notice advised John Bowcher was starting a new
business as a wine merchant at 71 High St. He obviously did well enough to be able
to extend credit as he was shown in Sep 1814 as one of the creditors of an artist
from London who was jailed for debt in Exeter.

John Second and Elizabeth had five sons and two daughters one of whom is the
nexus between Bowchers and Elworthys.
- Reference = 6, 17 (Marriage)
- Notes: At Upton Pyne, a few miles from Exeter, Elizabeth 01 Jul 1772 wed Richard's
brother, John Bowcher Second on 15 Sep 1805. The widowed John was ten years
older than Elizabeth. They were an interesting couple and direct ancestors of many
who will be reading this book. Sisters marrying brothers was not unusual and
details of these four are given in the section relative to the Bowcher Family.
The Townsend family was long established, well-known and respected in the
areas of Shillingford, Exminster, Alphington, Kenton, Newton St Cyres, Upton
Pyne and Thorverton where they were yeoman farmers with both freehold and
leasehold lands.
At the time of Elizabeth's marriage in 1805, her brother Thomas was farming
'Stevenstone Barton' on the boundary of Thorverton and Upton Pyne. From the road
I saw this farmhouse when I was in that area in 1990. At the junction of the farm's
drive and the road is the remnant of an ancient tree, variously said to be a 900 year
old oak and a 200 year old yew! It was not hard to conjure up a picture of Elizabeth
in an elegant carriage driving past on the way to her marriage in the nearby parish
church.

An event of great significance to this family took place at Upton Pyne on 15 Sep
1805 when widowed John Second married Elizabeth Townsend, younger sister of
Deborah?, wife of Richard Bowcher.

The sisters appeared to be capable business women. After Richard's death
Deborah? took over ownership of his lands, then when John died Elizabeth
efficiently ran his business.
- Reference = 15 (Marriage)
- Notes: JOHN BOWCHER Second 10 March 1762, firstly wed Mary REED on 06 Mar 1787
at St David's, Exeter. The family lived in the parish for a considerable time as each
of their four children was baptised there.
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