Richard Bowen was perhaps born in Glamorganshire, Wales about 1594 according to lore, but this is far from certain. His elaborate ancestry back several generations is pure 19th century fabrication, and has been debunked (TAG, Vol 76[2001], p.263ff), and his origins are largely unknown. A comprehensive genealogy was wriiten by William Saxbe Jr in 2011, "Richard Bowen and his Descendants". His origins are not known with any certainty.
He arrived in America with his family about 1640, his name first appearing in Weymouth,MA 1642-1643. He soon removed to Rehoboth,MA, and was a signer of the Rehoboth Compact in 1644.
His first wife's name is unknown, but she was presumably the mother of all of his children. She likely died after arriving in America. She was not Anne Bourne, and her existence as Richard's first wife is a fabrication that was debunked in the same TAG article mentioned above.
His second wife, married November 1648 in Weymouth,MA, was Elizabeth ____ Marsh, the widow of George Marsh of Hingham,MA. Her supposed maiden name of Key has not been substantiated.
Children(by first marriage): Alice Bowen Wheaton, William Bowen, Sarah Bowen Fuller, Ruth Bowen Kendrick, Obadiah Bowen, Richard Bowen Jr, and Thomas Bowen.
Richard Bowen was perhaps born in Glamorganshire, Wales about 1594 according to lore, but this is far from certain. His elaborate ancestry back several generations is pure 19th century fabrication, and has been debunked (TAG, Vol 76[2001], p.263ff), and his origins are largely unknown. A comprehensive genealogy was wriiten by William Saxbe Jr in 2011, "Richard Bowen and his Descendants". His origins are not known with any certainty.
He arrived in America with his family about 1640, his name first appearing in Weymouth,MA 1642-1643. He soon removed to Rehoboth,MA, and was a signer of the Rehoboth Compact in 1644.
His first wife's name is unknown, but she was presumably the mother of all of his children. She likely died after arriving in America. She was not Anne Bourne, and her existence as Richard's first wife is a fabrication that was debunked in the same TAG article mentioned above.
His second wife, married November 1648 in Weymouth,MA, was Elizabeth ____ Marsh, the widow of George Marsh of Hingham,MA. Her supposed maiden name of Key has not been substantiated.
Children(by first marriage): Alice Bowen Wheaton, William Bowen, Sarah Bowen Fuller, Ruth Bowen Kendrick, Obadiah Bowen, Richard Bowen Jr, and Thomas Bowen.