James Bowie, free man of color

"A Colored Nun in New Orleans"

"I forgot to say that there is a family of Bowies living near here but I know nothing very good of them & as they all have negro families I don’t think we want them in the history even if they are remotely connected with our family & could establish the missing link for which [Walter] Worthington B[owie] is looking. One of the women is a colored nun in New Orleans." - Lulu Leatherman Nelson, 1897 letter excerpt

"We have here in New Orleans a colored nun of the Order of the Holy Family, her parents belonged to the Natchez Bowies."  - Elve' Soniat, 1896 letter excerpt

Mother Superior Mary Elizabeth (nee' Harriet Bowie)

[photo courtesy of the Sisters of the Holy Family]

The Alamo doesn't have a basement, but behind it, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas have an excellent library. Amongst its holdings are the papers of Lucy Leigh Bowie. These papers contain numerous Bowie correspondence from the late 19th century, particularly pertaining to the genealogical efforts of Walter Worthington Bowie. His research would be published in 1899 as "The Bowies and their Kindred."

The "colored nun" referred to in the above letters was Harriet Bowie. She took the name of Mary Elizabeth when she entered the convent. She was the daughter of William Wynan Bowie and Maria Clark Bowie. William was the black son of Dr. Allen T. Bowie and an unknown black woman, resulting in the "negro families" that caused Mrs. Nelson such discomfort.

Dr. Allen Thomas Bowie was born in Maryland in 1813. After he obtained his medical degree, he moved to Natchez, Mississippi in 1836. He owned a plantation in Tensas Parish, Louisiana. His plantation estate was reputed to be one of the finest in the South, but he was ruined when it was burned to the ground during the Civil War. He died in 1872.

Historical Marker for Franklin Plantation, courtesy of Mr. William McDonald of Newellton, Louisiana

Harriet Bowie was born in Natchez, Mississippi on October 26, 1874. She was the fourth of eight children born to William Wynan Bowie and Maria Clark Bowie. (The others were Duncan, Allen, Dolly, Julie, Ada, Mathilde and Norma Bowie.) William Wynan Bowie ran the jail in Natchez.

1880 Census of the family of William and Maria Bowie

Harriet entered the order of the Sisters of the Holy Family shortly after her 18th birthday on October 30, 1892. The order was founded in 1842 by a free woman of color named Henrietta Delille. Mother Delille founded the order when none of the existing orders accepted nuns of color. Her story was told in the movie The Courage to Love, where she was portrayed by Vanessa Williams.

In 1909, Sister Mary Elizabeth was holding the office of assistant to the Superior General at the time of the sudden death of Superior General Mother Mary Austin Jones. She was the logical successor and was elected to subsequent terms, ending in 1918. After various missionary work, she was tapped to the lead the order in 1930, service which lasted until her death 16 years later. Her 25 years tenure leading the order is longer than any other.

Mother Mary Elizabeth died March 9, 1946 at the age of 71. She is emtombed in New Orleans' St. Louis Cemetery #2.

[The Sisters of the Holy Family is located at 6901 Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans, Louisiana 70126. (504) 241-5400]

(Note: Until a connection is made between the Maryland and Louisiana Bowie families and a connection between the Louisiana Bowies and James Bowie, FMC, there is no known biological connection between the Bowie families of Natchez and Catahoula Parish.)

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