Thirteenth Generation

7522. George Bower was born in 1590 in Manby, Lincolnshire, England.^154,276 He was made a Freeman by marriage or majority on 7 March 1636/7 in Scituate, Massachusetts (Plymouth).⁶²⁰ On 5 March 1638/9 he was a Constable in Plymouth, Massachusetts (Plymouth).⁶²⁰ George died on 30 December 1656 at the age of 66 in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Middlesex).¹⁵⁴ Mr. Bower (or Bowers), planter, was early at Scituate in the Plymouth Colony, where he was freeman 7 Mar. 1636/7 and a town officer.

By the spring of 1639 he had removed to Plymouth, and on 5 Mar 1638/9 was elected constable for the whole of that town, although he did not sell his lands at Scituate or buy at Plymouth until 1640.

He purchased lands at Eels River of Governor Winslow, who reserved the right of repurchase in part in case he should himself decide to settle there. He was soon complained of for not allowing the passage of cattle, and a committee was appointed to-lay out ways through his land where they would he least prejudicial to him.

In 1640 "John Barnes and George Bower," Richard Knowles's nearest neighbor and his father-in-law, were given charge of procuring timber for the new Colony jail. In Jan. 1641/2 a dosen or more Plymouth men contracted for building a barque on shares, a sixteenth part each to Mr. William Bradford, John Atwood, George Bower, Edward Bangs, and others. But George Bower soon removed to Cambridge. apparently for the education of his sons.

His wife Barbara died at Cambridge 25 Mar. 1644, his son Matthew died there 30 Jan. 1644/5, and his son John was graduated at the college in 1649. On 15 Apr. 1649.

George Bower married at Cambridge Elizabeth Worthington, who after his death married again at Cambridge, 25 June 1657, Henry Bowtell.

On 31 May 1652 he was called before the Court for voting when not a freeman of this (the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In his will, dated 8 Nov. and proved 3O Dec. 1656, he did not mention his daughter Ruth Knowles, but bequeathed to his wife, his sons Benenuel. John, and Jerathmeel, and his young daughters, Patience and Silence.

His son Benanuel married at Cambridge, 9 Dec. 1653, Elisabetb Dunster. His son Jerathmeel, a child by his second wile, was born at Cambridge 2 May 1650.

Rev. Bowers(2) (George1) was schoolmaster at Plymouth and later (1653-1660) at New Haven, whither be went on the invitation of Governor Eaton. He afterwards taught in other towns in Connecticut, and preached at Branford, 1667-1672/3, where one of his daughters married and remained and where Nathaniel' Knowles (7) settled, the first of the Knowles family of Cape Cod to remove to Connecticut. From Branford Mr. Bowers removed to Derby, Coon., where he was the first settled minister, and where he died 14 June 1687. His family continued in Derby. He married Bridget Thompson, who survived him, daughter of Anthony Thompson of New Haven. His children were: 1 Ruth, bapt. at New Haven 20 Dec 1657; m. (1) John Frisbie; m. (2) William Hoadley of Branford. 2 Nathaniel. 3. Mary, m. in 1682 Samuel Nichols. 4. Samuel, bapt. at New Haven 5 Nov. 1665. 5. John, b. at Guilford 3 Dec. 1667. 6. Ann, m. in 1703 Francis French. 7. James. Barbara (Smyth) Smith and George Bower were married on 9 February 1614 in Braithwell, England.¹⁵⁴

7523. Barbara (Smyth) Smith²⁷⁶ was born in 1596 in Braithwell, England.^154,276 She died on 25 March 1644 at the age of 48 in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Middlesex).^154,276

Children were: