| Notes |
- . John Bowne, above named, left England in 1649, & arrived at Boston the same year. His first visit to Flushing, was on the 15th of June, 1651, in company with his brother-in-law, Edward Farrington.
He married Hannah, daughter of Robert Field, at Flushing, May 7th, 1656, & in 1661 built the house there, which we have just above noticed, & which has been occupied constantly by some one of his descendants.
His wife became intimate with some of the people called Quakers, who at that period, were obliged from necessity, to hold their meetings privately in the woods, & other remote places. She became attached to the society, & was received as a member amongst them. Her husband, mostly from motives of curiosity, attended their meetings, & was so powerfully struck with the beauty & simplicity of their worship, that he invited them to his house, soon after which he also became a member of their society; " not merely (as he observes,) from kindness & affection to his wife, but his judgment also was convinced of the principles they held forth for a little time his faith was put to the test, & he had to partake, in a large degree, of the sufferings to which others of his faith & profession were exposed; & his persecutions, imprisonment, banishment, & severe privations for the truth's sake, & the testimony of a good conscience, were such as most persons would shrink from, in this our day of ease & quiet enjoyment.
The said John Bowne, had a severe sentence passed against him, on the 14th of Sept., 1662, & the governor finally proceeded to such extremities, that the said Bowne was actually transported to Europe, to be tried for heresy, & his disregard of the orders & placards of the governor & council. He was patiently heard before a committee of the Investment? Company; who, finding him a discreet man & steadfast in his region, set him at liberty - with the following severe reprimand in the form of an epistle, directed to Governor Stuyvesant:
. 1663 Apr 6 - Amsterdam, [NY City]
"Sir: We perceive from your last letter, that you had exiled & transported hither a certain Quaker, named John Bowne. Although it is our anxious desire that similar & other sectarians may not be found among you, yet we doubt extremely the policy of adopting rigorous measures against them. In the youth of your existence, you ought rather to encourage than direct? the population of the colony.
"The consciences of men ought to be free & unshackled so long as they continue moderate, peaceable, offensive, & not hostile to the government. Such have been the maxims of prudence & toleration by which the magistrates of this city (Amsterdam) have been governed; & the consequences have been, that the oppressed & persecuted from every country, have found among us an asylum from distress. Follow in the same steps, & you will he blessed."
Mr. Bowne remained several years abroad, visiting many parts of Europe, & returned to America in the spring of 1665, his wife having died in London in the month of February preceding, & his father, Thomas Bowne, also, during his absence.
He of course found the country in the possession of the English, but calling upon the puissant Stuyvesant, now a private citizen, he expressed his regret for having used so much severity toward him & his fellow Quakers, whom he frankly admitted to be among the most valuable citizens.
Ref: Historical Genealogy Lawrence Family. Their first landing in this country AD 1635 to the present date JULY 4, 1858.
. 1715 Jan ye 12 - Then Obadiah Bowne Desired to have the Earmark Recorded for him which was formerly his Father John Brown - as followeth, viz; A Crop on the Off Ear & a Slitt In the Crop & Another In the fore side of the same Ear. Now Entred Per Me, Willm. Lawrence Junr., Town Clerk. Now Recorded to his Son John.
. 1737 May 8. WILL of John Brown, of Mansfleld, Burlington Co., Doctor;
Dau., Elizabeth Lawrence. Each grandchild now born 20 shillings & a silver spoon.
Wife, Elizabeth, sole executrix & to be guardian of grandson John, son of my son, John Brown, dec'd.
Witnesses: John Rockhill, Peter Imlay, Isaac DeCow, medius.
Proved Aug. 1, 1737. Lib. 4, p. 109. - - - [1, 2]
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Est 1668 - 1737 (69 years)