James Bowles of Sarnia

Back to The Bowles of Sarnia, Ontario

James Bowles was born in Yarmouth, England about 1804. He served as a drummer with the 9th Regiment of Foot, Norfolk, England and came to Canada about 1833, settling first in Franktown, Lanark county where he worked as a carpenter and raised a family. They moved to Sarnia in 1863 where he later gave his occupation as "trader". In the 1870's his son James Jr. moved to Sombra township.

The future generations of most of the family remained in Ontario but James' youngest son, Henry James (Harry), learned the photography trade in Sarnia, practiced in Winnipeg for a while, returned to Sarnia to run his own studio, returned to Winnipeg again to run a studio there, moved down to North Dakota, worked on the railroad and then as a photographer in Pembina, ND and finally settled down and raised a family in Osnabrock, ND. Please see Harry Bowles, Photographer in Winnipeg, Sarnia and Pembina, ND.

James Bowles b. 1816 (or ~ 1804) Yarmouth, England

(Came to Canada in about 1833)

m. Martha Carson (b. ~ 1810, New York, USA) ~ 1833

1. Elizabeth Bowles b. July 12, 1834 Beckwith, Ont.

m. William Driver (b. July 25, 1830, Ireland; John, Sarah of Beckwith in 1858) Mar. 17, 1858 Lanark co.

witnesses: Thomas Driver, Charlotte Bowles ref.

1.1 Mary Charlotte Driver b. June 12, 1859

1.2 John Driver b. June 15, 1860

1.3 William Driver b. June 15, 1862

1.4 Alice Driver b. Dec. 20, 1864

1.5 Sarah Driver b. Aug. 18, 1869

1.6 Mary Ida Driver b. Apr. 16, 1875

Elizabeth d. July 24, 1913

2. Charlotte Bowles b. ~ 1836 Ont.

m. Francis Atkin (or Atkinson) (b. Ireland; William, Jane) ~ 1861 Merrickville, Ont.

(lived Manotick, Carleton, Ont.)

3. John Bowles b. ~ 1838 Ont. (according to 1871 Census working in Nova Scotia since 1868)

m. Mary Finan

4. Mary Ann Bowles b. ~ 1840 Ont.

5. Alice Bowles b. Apr. 2, 1843 Smith Falls, Ont.

m. August Wocker (Grocery merchant) (b. Sept. 24, 1841 Westfalen, Prussia, Germany)

June 13, 1892 Lambton, Ont.

(7 children)

August d. Nov. 3, 1911 Sarnia

Alice d. Mar. 3, 1919 Sarnia

6. William Bowles b. ~ 1848 Ont.

7. James Bowles b. Feb.28, 1850 Franktown, Ont.

(moved to Sombra from Sarnia in 1870's; was Reeve of Sombra twp. in 1901; worked in the lumber industry in Espanola, MI 1906-09; moved to Vancouver in 1918)

m. Lucinda Richards (b. Oct. 15, 1850, Ont.; John, Elizabeth Hopkins) (b. Dec. 15, 1850 in 1901 census)

Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Michigan < 1874

7.1 Luella Mary (Ella) Bowles b. ~ 1874 Ont. (may actually have been in Michigan)

m. Murdock McDonald Nov. 8, 1893 Brigden, Ont.

(13 children b. 1896-1918)

Ella d. Feb. 28, 1951 San Bernardino, Calif.

Murdock d. 1954 Wyoming, Lambton, Ont.

7.2 Albert (Bert) Edgar Bowles b. Feb. 9, 1876 St. Clair, St. Clair Co., Michigan

(b. June 11, 1875 Ont. in 1901 census)

m. Jennie Mae Freeman (b. Apr.14, 1878 St. Clair, St. Clair Co., Michigan) 1899

7.2.1 Zelma Grace Bowles b. July 18, 1901, Sombra Township, Lambton Co., Ont.

m. Charles Frederick Rathburn (b. 1889) June 1933

Zelma d. Mar.30, 1990, Chatham, Kent Co., Ont.

Charles Frederick d. 1948, Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio

7.2.2 Lela Beatrice Bowles b. Aug. 9, 1903, Sombra Township, Lambton Co., Ont.

d. Feb. 11, 1992, Chatham, Kent Co., Ont.

7.2.3 (Bill) Wilbur James Bowles b. May 28, 1905, Sombra Twp., Lambton Co.

m. Mary Irene Thomas (b. July 17,1909, Sombra Township, Lambton Co., Ont.)

Mar. 30, 1929, Sombra, Lambton Co., Ont.

7.2.3.1 living

m. living

7.2.3.1.1 living

7.2.3.1.2 living

7.2.3.1.3 living

7.2.3.1.4 living

7.2.3.1.5 living

7.2.3.1.6 living

7.2.3.2 living

m.(1) living

m.(2) living

7.2.3.3 living

m. living

7.2.3.3.1 living

m. living

7.2.3.3.1.2 living

7.2.3.3.2 living

m. living

7.2.3.3.2.1 living

7.2.3.3.2.2 living

7.2.3.4 living

7.2.3.4.1 living

7.2.3.4.2 living

m.(1) living

m.(2) living

7.2.3.4.3 living

Bill d. Jan. 15, 1997, St. Joseph's Hospital, London, Middlesex Co., Ont.

Mary Irene d. Oct. 1, 1988, London, Middlesex Co., Ont.

7.2.4 Rhea Mae Bowles b. Feb. 19, 1912, Sombra Township, Lambton Co., Ont.

m. Percy Peck (b. Oct. 13, 1906, England) May 20,1933

Percy d. Oct. 27, 1972

Bert d. Sept. 19, 1943, Chatham, Kent Co., Ont

Jennie d. July 10, 1964, Chatham, Kent Co., Ont.

7.3 John Herbert Bowles b. Jan.28, 1877, Sombra Twp., Lambton Co.

(b. Jan. 28, 1879 in 1901 census)

m.(1) Lilly Belle Mayhew (b. 1884 Sombra; Edmond, Hestor Helworth)

Feb. 12, 1902 Brigden ref. # 009858/02

7.3.1 Herbert Cecil Bowles b. May 10, 1903; 12th Con, Sombra Twp, Lambton Co

m. Annie (Anna) Pearl Hackett (b. Oct.28, 1903, Enniskillen Township,

Lambton Co., Ont.) June 08, 1929, United Church Parsonage, Petrolia,

Lambton Co., Ont.

7.3.1.1 Shirley Ann Bowles b. Apr. 25, 1937, Petrolia, Lambton Co., Ont.

m. Ross Russell (b. Mar.05, 1937, Petrolia, Lambton Co., Ont.)

Mar. 05, 1957, Mooreline United Church, Moore Township,

Lambton Co., Ont.

7.3.1.1.1 Jeffery Cecil Russell

7.3.1.1.2 Daniel Ross Russell

7.3.1.1.3 James Edward Russell

7.3.1.1.4 Paul William Russell

Shirley Ann m. (2) Richard Whitney Redmond

(b. May 06, 1932, Parrsboro, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia)

Aug. 26, 1996, Parrsboro, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia

Anna d. June 06, 1981

Cecil Bowles d. May 27, 1993

7.3.2 James Orin Bowles

m. Eva E. Loxton

James d. Nov. 9, 1979 Petrolia, Ont.

7.3.3 Fred Bowles

Lily Belle d. Aug.28,1935, Moore Township, Lambton Co., Ont.

John m. (2) Rosa Powers m. 1938 d. 1968

John Herbert d. Dec.20,1942 Sarnia, Ont.

7.4 Lucinda Mable Bowles b. ~ 1880

d. Sept. 19, 1881 Sombra ref. # 008575/81

7.5 Eliza Mae Bowles b. ~ 1882 Ont.

m. R. Barr Lived Vancouver, B. C.

7.6 Alexander Harold Bowles b. Jan. 7, 1885 Sombra, Ont. ref # 217611/86

7.7 James Wilfrid Bowles b. April 7, 1887 Sombra twp. ref # 217131/88

m. Helen Elmetta McLean June 3, 1911 Lambton, Ont.

7.7.1 James Wilfred Bowles b. Apr. 7, 1887 ref. # 217131/88

d. 1968

7.7.2 Helen Elmetta Bowles b. Apr. 11, 1892

d. 1970

7.7.3 Mona May Bowles b. Nov. 23, 1911

m. Harold Burton Fournie (b. Apr. 5, 1911 Lambton, Ont (Peter, Naomie Dawson)

(lived Petrolia in 2002)

(3 children)

Harold d. May 11, 1986 Lambton, Ont.

Mona d. Apr. 10, 2007 Petrolia, Ont. obit

7.7.4 Lucy Mildred Bowles b. Jan. 17, 1913

m. Mr. McDonald

d. 1939

7.7.5 Emily Audrey Bowles b. Dec. 28, 1916

m. Mr. Morrison

d. 1999

7.7.6 James William “Bill” Bowles b. Feb. 16, 1919

m. Theodora Johnston (Russel, Verbena of Leamington)

(lived 57 McNabb St. (Forest) Lambton Shores)

7.7.6.1 Patricia Gail Bowles

7.7.6.2 Jack Watson Bowles

d. April 2002

Grandchildren:

Bill m. Linda (lived London in 2002)

Becky m. Dave Watson (lived Forest in 2002)

Great-grandchildren: Billy and Brianne

Theodora d. before 2002

Bill d. May 16, 2002 North Lambton Rest Home, Ont. (age 83)

Obituary

7.7.7 Helen Jean Bowles b. Jan. 17, 1921

m. Lloyd Haney (lived Forest in 2002)

7.7.8 Albert Edgar Bowles b. Sept. 4, 1922

d. 2001

7.7.9 Georgena Joy Bowles b. June 14, 1926

m. Mr. Beer

d. 2002

7.7.10 Wilfred John Bowles b. Dec. 8, 1928 (twin)

m. Helen (lived Forest in 2002)

7.7.11 Winnifred Shirley Bowles b. Dec. 8, 1928 (twin)

m. Art Forbes (lived Forest in 2002)

7.7.12 Jack Jarvis Bowles b. May 25, 1931

d. 1965

7.7.13 Lois Irene Bowles b. Feb. 2, 1934

m. Max Roberts (lived Lake Valley Grove in 2002)

James d. 1968 Forest, Lambton, Ont.

7.8 Gladys Bowles b. aft. April 1891

m. C. C. Thomas

7.9 Lucy Bowles b. June 23, 1893 Fort William, Ont.

m. ?

Lucy d. Mar. 3, 1978 Edmonton, Alberta

James d. Apr. 25, bur. Apr. 27, 1940, Vancouver, British Columbia reference

Lucinda d. Nov. 11, bur. Nov. 13, 1940, Vancouver, British Columbia reference

1881 Census

1891 Census

1901 Census

8. Alexander Bowles b. 1852, Ont. (lived in Sarnia from 1880’s to 1925)

(labourer)

m. Marion Poynter Cameron (b. ~ 1849, Scotland) < 1870

8.1 Mary Bowles b. ~ 1870 Ont.

8.2 Henry (Harry) D. Bowles b. 1876 Ont.

Lived Detroit in 1925

8.3 Albert Alexander Bowles b. Nov. 6, 1877 Sarnia, Ont. ref # 013062/77

(reported by Dr. Alexander Bowles!)

m. Minnie Oliver (b. 1876; Henry, Susan Brentwell) Oct. 25, 1905 Sarnia, Ont. ref. # 011475/05

8.4 William David Bowles b. Nov. 28, 1878 Sarnia, Ont. ref # 013485/78

d. Mar. 19, 1880 Sarnia ref # 007535/80

8.5 Martha Isabella Bowles b. Jan. 6, 1885 Plympton twp. ref. # 016188/85

8.6 Frederick James Bowles b. Aug. 19, 1886 Plympton twp. ref # 016912/86

m. Emily Louise Luitern (b. ~ 1884 Bradford, England; William, ?)

July 17, 1906 Sarnia, Ont. ref. # 011481/06

8.6.1 Audrey M. Bowles b. ca. 1908 Canada

(family moved to Detroit in 1909)

Frederick d. Aug. 1967 Palm Beach, Calif.

8.7 Beatrice Marion Bowles b. July 4, 1890 Sarnia, Ont. ref # 016417/90

m. Earl Clement Mitchell July 11, 1923

Alex d. Oct. 9, 1925 Sarnia, Ont

1881 Census

9. Henry (Harry) James Bowles b. Dec. 10, 1855 Franktown, Ont.

m. Elizabeth McGauvran (b. June 21, 1859 Alfred, Ont.; Joseph, Mary Brownrigg)

July 9, 1892 Olga, Cavalier, ND, USA

(Harry ran photography studios in Sarnia and in Winnipeg prior to settling in North Dakota; see his story at Harry Bowles, Photographer)

9.1 Dewey Bowles

9.2 Albert Henry Bowles b. June 26, 1894

9.3 Herbert John Bowles b. Jan. 1896

9.4 Harold E. Bowles b. Feb. 27, d. June 18, 1898

9.5 Horace Edwin Bowles b. Apr. 24, 1899, d. Nov. 30, 1903

9.6 Walter James Bowles b. May 22, 1903 Hay township, Cavalier, ND

m. Ada Marion Magnus (b. Apr. 2, 1907 Mona, ND; Emil, Annie Alfson) Dec. 12, 1926 Cavalier)

(10 children; 9 Living; descendants living in ND today)

Walter James d. June 26, 1982 Langdon, ND

Ada Marion d. 1998 Cavalier, ND

Elizabeth d. Sept. 23, 1931 Hay township, Cavalier, ND

Harry d. May 22, 1944 Langdon, Cavalier, ND

James d. Feb. 1, 1894, London, Middlesex Co., Ont. ref # 010244/94 bur. Sarnia

Martha d. Mar. 4, 1875, Sarnia, Lambton, Ont., ref # 003799/75

1842 Census

1851 Census

1861 Census

1871 Census

From the given names Harry and Jack and the mention of Chatham and Leamington, the following, based on the obituary reference given, appear to be connected to this family:

Harry Bowles m. Margaret

1. Florence (deceased in 2007) m. Mr. Dingman

2. Fred (deceased in 2007) m. Karen or Betty (lived Chatham or Belle River)

3. James (deceased in 2007) m. other of Karen or Betty (lived Chatham or Belle River)

4. David m. Donna (live Leamington)

5. Rosemary m. Bernie Willson (live Bothwell)

6. Wilhelmina m. Gerald Humphrey (live Bothwell)

7. Pat m. Paul Mozina (live Wardsville)

8. Janet m. Ted Kaminskus (live Owen Sound)

9. Doreen m. Ben VanAvery (lives Ridgetown, Ben deceased in 2007)

10. John Henry (Jack) b. ~ 1937 Wardsville, Ont.

Jack d. Jan. 29, 2007 Wardsville, Ont. obit.