Abraham Bowman (Jr.)
We finally are in a timeframe where direct primary sources (such as censuses, birth/marriage/death certificates, military records, etc. are available. Abraham Jr we have in 1810- 1840 census records (these are less reliable as they consist of numbers of people, not details on each person) and confirmed 1850 census record (his last before his death).
Early Years
Abraham's early years appear to be spent primarily on or near the Bowman homestead. He was orphaned at age 10 and was with "Henry Bowman" is the only primary information we have based on orphan court records. Not much more is available for primary documentation in his early years.
On his own
Family
Abraham appears to have been married twice. His first marriage to Barbara Hershey was the line from which we descend. During this time he and Barbara had 5 boys and 2 girls (1810 census available). Also during this time, Abraham was involved in expanding the Bowman homestead with the act of filing on the 128 acres previously owned by Ulrich Wittmer and adjoining the other Bowman holding as documented by administration of the warrant along with Henry, his guardian. This correlates well with his prior orphan records and shows him at age of 38 filing for the land along with his prior guardian. His wife died shortly after this in 1816.
When Abraham's wife Barbara died in 1816, it appears he remarried a Christene C(K)reider in 1817 and had another 7 boys and 3 girls from this marriage. Much of the information I have found in books are based on bibliographies of the children from this marriage, but they give details on their father as well.
A major moved occurred in the 1820's. One reference (History of Stark County, about his son via Christine, Abraham, mentioning his history and page describing Abraham Bowman family arriving) puts him arriving in Stark county Ohio in 1829 and census records from 1830 to his death put him there (either Tuscarawas or Massillon) as well. We have a date of birth for his grandson in Wayne county Ohio of 8/18/1828 (per family bible), this may mean the family was in Ohio a bit earlier than 1829.
Abraham died on March 3, 1853 and his will was probated on 5/23/1853 and copy of his estate administrative records, accounts, and information on probate is found here. There is mention of a family bible being passed on to his widow Christine which would be a gold mine I believe but have not had any luck finding this to date. He appears to be buried in Brookfield Cemetery, Stark County, Ohio, Section 2, row 21 along with his wife Christine. This is also recorded in Cemetery Inscriptions, Stark County, Ohio, volume III.
Origin
Demographics: