James Bowles of Amherst's Family Tree

Back to The Bowles Family of Cumberland of African Descent

James Bowles b. ca. 1755 possibly Charleston, South Carolina; he served with the British Army in the Black Pioneers, an all Black regiment, and was evacuated from New York to Nova Scotia on a British naval ship after the war was lost in 1783; he settled in a community of fellow Black Loyalists in Amherst and raised a family. He probably died before 1814.

His son, Cornelius Bowles, applied for and received a grant of 300 acres of land under a program for the settlement of those who had served for the British in the American Revolutionary War where he raised a family.

1. Cynthia Bowles (eldest daughter of Cornelius Bowles)

m. Edward Morse (eldest son of Joseph Morse) May 15, 1838 Amherst (ref: The Christian Messenger May 11, 1838)

2. Stephen Bowles b. ~ 1826 N.S.

m. Charlotte (b. ~ 1836 N.S.)

2.1 John Bowles b. ~ 1856 N.S.

m. Lilla Jones (b. July 14, 1859 N.S.) ~ 1882 N.S.

2.1.1 Charlotte Manell (Maude) Bowles b. June 3, 1883 Amherst, Cumberland co., N.S.

2.1.2 Garnett Wolsley Bowles b. Feb. 24, 1885 Amherst, N.S.

2.1.3 Ida Jane Bowles b. Dec. 29, 1886 Amherst, N.S.

2.1.4 James Henry Bowles b. Apr. 27, 1888 (or Dec. 26, 1888) Amherst, N.S.

m. Lillian Gay

2.1.4.1 Mervyn Gesner Bowles b. Aug. 24, 1943 Amherst, N.S.

m. Beulah Sparks

2.1.4.1.1 Richard Bowles of Bowmanville

2.1.4.1.2 Randy Christopher Bowles of Hamilton

2.1.4.1.3 Jeffrey Marvyn Bowles of Toronto

m. Monica

2.1.4.1.4 Barry Anthony Bowles of Brampton

2.1.4.1.5 Michael Collin Bowles of Toronto

m. Donnette

2.1.4.1.6 Kimberly Marsella Bowles of Toronto

2.1.4.1.7 Crystal Gail Bowles of Toronto

2.1.4.1.8 Leslie Bowles-Gaudet of Toronto (step-daughter)

Mervyn d. Aug. 12, 2009 Toronto obituary

2.1.4.2 Wayde Douglas Bowles b. Aug. 24, 1944 Amherst, N.S. (he changed his name and wrestled as Rocky Johnson) of Davie, Florida

m. Ata Maivia ("High Chief" Peter Maivia, head of a Samoan wrestling family)

2.1.4.2.1 Dwayne Douglas Johnson b. May 2, 1972 Hayward, California (he wrestles/acts as The Rock)

2.1.4.3 Lewis (Buster) Ishmael Bowles (deceased before 2009)

2.1.4.4 Robert Ishmael Bowles of Atlanta, Georgia

2.1.4.5 James (Ricky Johnson) Bowles Jr. of Toronto

2.1.5 Elizabeth Estella Bowles b. Feb. 2, 1890 Amherst, N.S.

2.1.6 Harry G. Bowles b. Sept. 8, 1892 Amherst, N.S.

2.1.7 Morley Bowles b. Mar. 11, 1895 Amherst, N.S.

Moved to Cleveland, Ohio d. 1983

2.1.8 Russell C. Bowles b. May 9, 1897 N.S.

Moved to Cleveland, Ohio d. 1970

2.1.8.1 Russell Bowles

2.1.8.2 Garnett Bowles

2.1.9 Alexander Bowles b. Jan. 8, 1900 N.S.

1901 Census

1901 Census Cumberland district (30), Amherst town (a-1) p. 28 Film T-6449

John Bowles M Head M 44 NS African Episcopal

Lilla F wife M July 14, 1859 41 NS African Episcopal

Maude F daug. S June 3, 1883 17 NS African Episcopal

Garnet W. M son S Feb. 24, 1885 16 NS African Episcopal

Ida J. F daug. S Dec. 29, 1886 14 NS African Episcopal

James A. M son S Apr. 27, 1888 12 NS African Episcopal

Elizabeth E. F daug. S Feb. 2, 1890 11 NS African Episcopal

Harry G. M son S Sept. 8, 1892 8 NS African Episcopal

Morley M son S Mar. 11, 1895 6 NS African Episcopal

Russell C. M son S May 9, 1897 3 NS African Episcopal

Alexander M son S Jan. 8, 1900 1 NS African Episcopal

Rufus M brot. S 33 NS African Episcopal

2.2 Orin (or Aaurin) Bowles b. ~ 1866 N.S.

2.3 Rufus Bowles b. ~ 1867 N.S.

2.4 Frederick Bowles b. ~ 1870 N.S.

2.5 Florence Bowles b. ~ 1872 N.S.

1881 Census

1881 Census Amherst, Cumberland, Nova Scotia (22 A-1) p. 55 house 237 reel # C-13176

Charlotte Bowles W Fem. African 44 NS Servant E. Meth.

John Male African 24 NS Laborer E. Meth.

Aaurin Fem. African 14 NS at school E. Meth.

Rufus Male African 13 NS at school E. Meth.

Fredrick Male African 10 NS at school E. Meth.

Florence Fem. African 8 NS at school E. Meth.

Also in Amherst:

James Bowles b. May 12, 1876 N. S.

1901 Census

1901 Census Cumberland district (30), Amherst town (a-3) p. 11 Film T-6449

James Bowles M cook S May 12, 1876 24 NS African Am. E. cook

Also, a Mrs. James Bowles (Irene) died at age 76 at Tidnish near Amherst in 1967. obituary

The 1881 Census lists this household in Amherst

1881 Census Amherst, Cumberland, Nova Scotia (22 A-1) p. 82 house 374 reel # C-13176

Ionis Bowles Fem. African 42 NS Baptist

Joana Fem. African 24 NS Baptist

Agnes Fem. African 21 NS Baptist

Geogun (?) Fem. African 8 NS Baptist

Mable Fem. African 3 NS Baptist

Lalia B. Fem. African 2 NS Baptist

John C. Martin Male African 22 NS shoemaker Ch. of Eng.

Elsewhere in Cumberland county:

River Hebert, Cumberland co.

? Bowles m. Mary (b. Nov. 3, 1817 N.S.)

1. Sarah b. Feb. 20, 1832 N.S.

m. Joseph Miligan or Michilgan (Milligan?) (b. Mar. 15, 1834 N.S.)

2. Abraham b. Sept. 1, 1836 N.S.

1901 Census

1901 Census Cumberland district (30), River Hebert (y) Film T-6449 p. 2

Abraham Bowles M servant S Sept. 1, 1836 65 NS African bapt. Farm lab.

1901 Census

1901 Census Cumberland district (30), River Hebert (y) Film T-6449 p. 17

Mary Bowles F mother W Nov. 3, 1817 84 NS African Baptist sailor

Living at home of

Joseph Michilgan M Head M Mar. 15, 1834 66 NS African Baptist

Sarah Michilgan F wife M Feb. 20, 1832 68 NS African C of E

Possibly another child of the above (Albert lived with Sarah and Joseph Miligan in 1881)

Albert Bowles b. Mar. 9, 1847 N.S.

m. ?

1. Harold H. b. Feb. 10, 1889 N.S.

m. Eula Mae Stoutley (b. ~ 1894 Truro, N.S.; Edward, Mrs. Stoutley)

1.1 Blanche m. Robert Clyke (lived Montreal in 1963)

1.2 Pauline m. Victor Thompson (lived Montreal in 1963)

1.3 Muriel m. John Davidson (lived Amherst in 1963)

1.4 Barbara (lived Halifax in 1963)

1.5 Clarence (lived Truro in 1963)

Eula Mae d. ~ Feb. 12, 1963 River Hebert, N.S. obituary

2. Alice b. Jan. 8, 1890 N.S.

1881 Census

1881 Census River Herbert, Cumberland, Nova Scotia (22 J-1) p. 28 house 131 reel # C-13177

Albert Bowles male African 28 NS mechanic Ch. Of Eng.

Living at home of Joseph (a sailor) and Sarah Miligan

1901 Census

1901 Census Cumberland district (30), River Hebert (y) Film T-6449 p. 6

Albert Bowles M Head W Mar. 9, 1847 53 NS African CE Carage B (?)

Harold M son S Feb. 10, 1889 12 NS African CE

Alice F daug. S Jan. 8, 1890 11 NS African CE

The occupation of Carage B could be Carriage Builder

There were also two other Black Bowles families in nearby counties:

1881 Census Local District No. 2, Liverpool, Queens, Nova Scotia (12 B) p. 20 house 93 reel # C-13170

Samuel Bowls M Male African 62 USA Labourer C. Meth.

Caroline H. Bowls M Fem. African 55 NS C. Meth.

Benjamin F. Bowls Male African 12 USA in school C. Meth.

Ellenor Rogers W Fem. African 91 NS blind Ch. Of Eng.

1901 Census Hants district (34), St. Croix (m) p. 23 Film T-6452

William H. Bowles M Head M Dec. 25, 1863 38 NS African C of E. Genl. Labour

Eliza J. F wife M Oct. 27, 1875 26 NS African C of E.

Mary E. F daug. S June 12, 1899 2 NS African C of E.

Percy M son S Oct. 5, 1900 NS African C of E.