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Clay County Genealogical Society - Mystery package leads to new family history
A mysterious package arrived at the Genealogy Library in Center Point on Monday. It was posted from Wisconsin and had just a surname in the return address. The contents of the package were soon discovered to be a treasure trove of information about the Bowman family and their relatives. There was enough information to compile a 3-ring binder for the Family History section of the library.
Among the historical papers was one that read as follows: “Letters Patent were issued to Wendel Bowman in the year 1709 for 250 acres in Lampeter Township, Lancaster Co. , PA. Wendel died 1735; Benjamin Bowman (son) died 1781; Benjamin born July 4, 1742; died June 29.”
Included are land records from the village of Bowmansville, in Erie County, New York; extensive lists of births and deaths of Bowmans in the 1800s; the Wiltse family of Clay City; and much more.
In the recent Rooted in Clay Volume 3, there was an article about Clay County native, Palmer Bowman, who was an actor in early screen dramas. Using the papers received at the library, we can trace Palmer’s ancestry from his father, Lucius Joslyn Bowman, to his grandfather, Palmer Snively Bowman, to his great-grandfather, Benjamin Bowman, and his great-great-grandfather, Wendel Bowman, who was born in 1681.
If you are interested in the Bowman or Wiltse family, you will want to come to the library and discover information about your ancestors.
The library is open Monday and Wednesday from 10:00- 4:00, the first and third Saturdays from noon to 4:00, and the first Sunday of the month from noon to 4:00.
The library’s phone number is 812-835-5005.