James Bowie, free man of color

CATAHOULA PARISH COURTHOUSE DOCUMENTS, PRESENTED CHRONOLOGICALLY

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On January 24, 1815, Stephen Prather sold Chaney (my great-great-great-great grandmother) to Patience Mecom for $500. John J. Bowie (1785- 1859), older brother of Col. James Bowie, was one of the witnesses to this transaction.

Two years later, on January 24, 1817, Patience Mecom (now Patience Warde), sells Chaney back to Stephen Prather for $700. Also included is Chaney's infant son, most probably Stephen Bowie.

On February 20, 1822, James Bowie, FMC loaned Daniel K. Mayo $69.75 to pay to Richard King at 10% interest. As collateral, Mayo mortgaged a parcel of land.

On December 20, 1823 James Bowie, FMC bought a 20 year old slave named Henry. Witness for the sale were David Posey and John J. Bowie

On October 5, 1824, James Bowie, FMC loaned John J. Bowie $110.00 due on or before April 1, 1825 at 10% interest. To secure the loan, John J. Bowie used a 12 year old slave boy named Antwine as collateral.

In the fall of 1824, John J. Bowie was accused of election fraud in obtaining his seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. A Catahoula Parish attorney, James G. Taliaferro, attempted to take the deposition of John J. Bowie at the home of James Bowie, FMC. John begged off, claiming he needed time to travel to take his seat in the Legislature. (From the LSU Archives)

However, a least one deposition was successfully taken at the "House of James Bowie, free man of color." Joseph Francis, Sr. was deposed on November 24, 1824. (From the LSU Archives)

So far, I have only seen reference to one document that contains the names of James Bowie and James Bowie, free man of color. (I am in the process of obtaining an image of the actual document.) It was summarized in the December, 1983 issue of the Louisiana Genealogical Register:

STEPHEN BOWIE, attorney-in-fact for JAMES BOWIE, on the 24^th day of January, 1827, for $900.00, sells and delivers unto JAMES BOWIE, a free man of colour of the parish of Catahoula, the following slaves: Kissey, aged 35 years, Lydia, aged 6 years, and Tom, aged 4 years, all slaves for life. Witnesses: C. D. BRASHEAR and JESSE CLIFFS. SILAS TALBERT, Notary Public.

The following footnote was added to the summary: "Stephen and James Bowie were brothers, and originally lived in Catahoula parish, La. It is not unlikely that this "free man of colour" was a relative."

In 1830, the state of Louisiana passed a law that required all free people of color to register or leave the state. In 1831, James Bowie, free man of color complied with this act to declare his seven children.

The witnesses were G. Mayo and Rhesa Bowie. Rhesa Bowie is the uncle of Col. James and John J. Bowie. In most of the previous documents, John J. Bowie is involved. Maybe James Bowie, free man of color's involvement in the election dispute, apparently on the side against John J. Bowie, caused them to part ways? Unless some other post-1824 pre-1831 documents turn up, this appears to be a possible cause for Rhesa's involvement.

On Thursday, the 8th of November, 1860, James Bowie, free man of color (the third son of James Bowie, free man of color and Chaney Bowie) married Mary Marceline Barker at the home of his brother, Rufus Bowie.