He registered for military service in 1778. Much has been written about Bowie's motivation for marriage. Next, James and his brother Rezin went on an expedition to find the Lost San Saba Mine but were unable to locate it. [31][32] Wright died instantly, and Bowie, with Wright's sword still protruding from his chest, was shot again and stabbed by another member of the group. [113] Various other stories circulated. Other areas assembled similar volunteer militias. [86] They found a force of 104men with a few weapons and a few cannons, but not many supplies and little gunpowder. Agness Liddell Bowie 1848 - Unknown. [20][4] After the carnage was over and the heroes of this modern Thermopylae had all been slain, their corpses were burned by the savage Santa Ana, who lost in the eight days fight against one hundred and eighty-five men, more than two thousand of his best troops. One Texian and ten Mexican troops had been killed. James Veramendi Bowie son Elve Ap-Catesby Bowie mother Rezin Pleasant Bowie, I father John Jones Bowie brother Sarah Davis sister Martha Nugent / Sterret sister Mary Bird sister Rezin Pleasant Bowie, Jr. brother Stephen Bowie brother David Bowie brother About Col. James "Jim" Bowie (commander Alamo volunteers) In 1829, he became engaged to Cecilia Wells, but she died in Alexandria on September 29, two weeks before they were to be married. Believing the war was over, many of the Texian volunteers left the army and returned to their families. The Mexican army raised a red flag to warn the defenders that no quarter would be given. [54], Shortly after his marriage Bowie became fascinated with the story of the "lost" Los Almagres Mine, said to be west of San Antonio near the ruin of Santa Cruz de San Sab Mission. In January 1836, he arrived at the Alamo, where he commanded the volunteer forces until an illness left him bedridden. [40] The design of the knife continued to evolve, but today a Bowie knife generally is considered to have a blade 8.25 inches (21.0 cm) long and 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) wide, with a curved point, a "sharp false edge cut from both sides", and a cross-guard to protect the user's hands. This ended the fight, and Bowie was removed, as it was supposed, in a dying condition. as his name became a terror throughout the Southwest to threaten reckless class of law-breakers who infest a new country. Many donations and bounties were awarded to James' heirs. [70] Two days later, Bowie resigned from Austin's army because he did not have an official commission in the army, and he disliked the "minor tasks of scouting and spying". He convinced 14 or 15 other citizens to apply for land and transfer it to him, giving him 700,000acres (280,000ha) for speculation. Although the Superior Court originally confirmed most of those claims, the decisions were reversed in February 1831, after further research showed that the land had never belonged to the Bowies and that the original land grant documentation had been forged. On each occasion, he bought smuggled slaves and took them directly to a customhouse to inform on his own actions. Wright shot at and missed the prone Bowie, who returned fire and possibly hit Wright. [47] The design of the knife continued to evolve, but a Bowie knife is now generally considered to have a blade 8.25 inches (21.0cm) long and 1.25 inches (3.2cm) wide, with a curved point, a "sharp false edge cut from both sides", and a cross-guard to protect the user's hands. Inscription. "[69], An hour after the battle ended, Austin arrived with the rest of the Texian army to begin a siege of San Antonio de Bxar, where General Martn Perfecto de Cs, the overall commander of Mexican forces in Texas, and his troops were garrisoned. In May 1824, Congress authorized the superior courts of each territory to hear suits from people who claimed they had been overlooked. James Bowie, byname Jim Bowie, (born 1796?, Logan County, Ky., U.S.died March 6, 1836, San Antonio, Texas), popular hero of the Texas Revolution (183536) who is mainly remembered for his part in the Battle of the Alamo (FebruaryMarch 1836). The extent of Bowie's participation is unclear, but he returned to Louisiana before the invasion was repelled by Spanish troops.[23][24]. He spent most of his life in Louisiana, where he was raised and where he later worked as a land speculator. His rise to fame began in 1827 on reports of the Sandbar Fight near present-day Vidalia, Louisiana. On January 26, one of Bowie's men, James Bonham, organized a rally that passed a resolution in favor of holding the Alamo. The doctors who had been present for the duel removed the bullets and patched Bowie's other wounds. He chose the surname Bowie because he admired James Bowie and the Bowie knife.[115]. Bowie's reputation was cemented by his role in the Texas Revolution. Witness accounts agreed that Bowie did not attack first, and the other combatants had focused their attack on Bowie because "they considered him the most dangerous man among their opposition. On each occasion he bought smuggled slaves and then took them directly to a customhouse to inform on his own actions. American lawyer and politician; president of Republic of Texas. Father of John C Bowie. One Texian and ten Mexican troops had been killed. "[109] Although Bowie's name and his knife were well-known during his lifetime, his legend grew after October 1852, when DeBow's Review published an article written by his brother John Jones Bowie, called "Early Life in the SouthwestThe Bowies." Texas, USA Husband of Ursala Bowie (de Veramendi) [22] Most of the noncombatants in the fort, including Bowie's relatives, survived. Birth: Apr. Bowie and two brothers subsequently got into the slave. [17], In late 1814, in response to General Andrew Jackson's plea for volunteers to fight the British in the War of 1812, James and Rezin enlisted in the Louisiana militia. Ugartechea retreated with his troops, ending the Battle of Concepcin. Bowie had been stricken down with typhoid fever, and a Mexican woman known as an experienced nurse was brought into the building to attend him before it had been surrounded Santa Ana demanded Travers to surrender, but he defiantly refused and was supported by the other leaders, including Bowie and the noted Davy Crockett. March20, 1832) and James Veramendi Bowie (b. July18, 1833). Soon Jim became ill with either pneumonia or tuberculosis, mentioned in reports, but it isn't clear which. Later he reportedly engaged in the slave trade with his brothers John and Rezin. He was turned down again, because he "was not an officer of the government nor army. "[4], They had two children,[10] Marie Elve Bowie, born March 20, 1832 and James Veramendi Bowie, born July 18, 1833. James and Ursula were married in 1831. Both men were also the executors. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Every man sold his life desperately. They were on a visit at the time to her father, and the latter also fell a victim to the scourge. It was there that he first acquired a reputation for his bold and fearless disposition. At some point, Bowie appeared before the council and spoke for an hour, asking for a commission. William Travis arrived with thirty men on February 3 in order to take command of the forces quartered at the Alamo mission near Bexar. Without the capital required to buy large tracts,[18] they entered into a partnership with a pirate, Jean Lafitte, in 1818 to raise money. Bowie, with Wright's sword still protruding from his chest, was shot again and stabbed by another member of the group. [73] The scouting party left with 92men, many of them members of the New Orleans Grays, who had just arrived in Texas. [16], The Mexican Army arrived February 23, 1836, led by General Santa Anna and began the attack on the Alamo, which lasted from February until March 6, 1836. The cholera epidemic struck Monclova, and between September 6 and September 14, Ursula, their children, her brother, and her parents all died of the disease. The soldier maintained that Bowie verbally castigated a Mexican officer in fluent Spanish, and the officer ordered Bowie's tongue cut out and his still-breathing body thrown onto the funeral pyre. [67], Between 1830 and 1832, the Mexican Congress passed a series of laws that seemed to discriminate against Anglo colonists in the province of Coahuila y Tejas, increasing tension between the Anglo citizenry and Mexican officials. Thus, Bowie had allied himself to one of the most powerful families in Texas and with the Tejano community. I have traced the Bowies back to Scotland. [35], The following year, on September 19, 1827, Bowie and Wright attended a duel on a sandbar outside of Natchez, Mississippi. broad, single-edged and with a curved point. [5] In his 1948 book, Bowie Knife, historian Raymond Thorp gives Bowie's birth date as April 10 but does not support it with any documentation. [25], Bowie became internationally famous as a result of a feud with Norris Wright, the sheriff of Rapides Parish. Fearing for the safety of his wife's relatives in San Antonio, Bowie invited her cousins, Getrudis Navarro and Juana Navarro Alsbury, as well as Alsbury's 18-month-old son, Alijo Perez Jr., to stay inside the walls of the Alamo. Family Time Line. At the time of Bowie's birth, his father owned eight slaves, eleven head of cattle, seven horses, and one stud horse. In 1818, Bowie and his brother Rezin P. were introduced to the pirate Jean Lafitte. Maddox, of Charles County, Maryland; Maj. Morris Wright, of Baltimore; Col. Robert A. Carin of Fauquier County,Virginia; Alfred and Edward Cary Blanchard, of Norfolk, Virginia (The latter the father of Senator N.C. Blanchard,) And Dr. Denny, composed the leaders of the two parties. He then drew a mark on the floor with his sword and requested all who wished to stand and fall with him to cross the line to his side the others might endeavor to escape by cutting their way through the enemy under cover of darkness. Bowie is a Scottish and Irish surname.The name can be derived from the Gaelic nickname buidhe, meaning "yellow", "fair-haired".The surname can also be an Anglicised form of the Irish surname Buadhaigh; [better source needed] this surname means "descendant of Buadhach" and is also rendered as Bogue and Boyce. He married Sarah Whitehead in 1752, in North Carolina, United States. In 1829, he became engaged to Cecilia Wells, who died in Alexandria on September 29, two weeks before their wedding. He left the active management of their lands to his brother, and took more interest in politics, especially in the trend of events in the neighboring Republic of Texas. On April 25, 1831, Bowie married nineteen-year-old Maria Ursula de Veramendi, the daughter of his business partner, who had become the vice governor of the province. [91] Bowie celebrated his appointment by getting very drunk and causing havoc in San Antonio, releasing all prisoners in the local jails and harassing citizens. Husband of Elizabeth Bowie. [14] Raised on the frontier, the Bowie children worked from a young age, helping to clear the land and plant and cultivate crops. [81] Travis became the sole commander of the forces when Bowie was confined to bed. The cholera epidemic instead struck Monclova, and between September 6 and September 14, Ursula, their children, her brother, and her parents all died of the disease. Jim Bowie was known for many things, but he was most famously known for his ability to win fights with his big knife. Most of his time was spent in Texas, whose independence he was constantly scheming to accomplish, and was therefore hated and dreaded by the Mexicans. A statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior . In 1827, he was in a brawl in Mississippi which resulted in his being wounded and several men killed. According to the reporter's version of Rose's account, when Travis realized that the Mexican army would likely prevail, he drew a line in the sand and asked those willing to die for the cause to cross the line. [78] Twodays later, Bowie resigned from Austin's army because he did not have an official commission in the army, and he disliked the "minor tasks of scouting and spying". James bowie was raised and baptized in a catholic church. [97] After its publication, several other eyewitnesses confirmed the account,[98][99] but as Rose was deceased the story can only be authenticated by the word of the reporter, who admitted to embellishing other articles, "and thus many historians refuse to believe it. [46] Bowie was elected a commander, with the rank of colonel, of the Texas Rangers later that year. The duelists each fired two shots and, because neither man had been injured, resolved their duel with a handshake. [109], When Bowie's mother was informed of his death, she calmly stated, "I'll wager no wounds were found in his back. After discovering a good defensive position near Mission Concepcin, the group requested that Austin's army join them. James Bowie was born near Terrapin Creek (now Spring Creek) where it crosses Bowie's Mill Road (Turnertown Road), nine miles northwest of Franklin, Logan County (now Simpson County), Kentucky, probably on April 10, 1796.He was the son of Reason (or Rezin) and Elve Ap-Catesby Jones (or Johns) Bowie. [3], James fought in the Battle of Concepcion, November 26, 1835 and the, October through December 14, 1835, near San Antonio, including the Grass Fight. As a boy one of his Indian friends even taught him to rope alligators. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. This, and other stories of Bowie's prowess with a knife, led to the widespread popularity of the Bowie knife. Crockett, with a cutlass, stood at bay with his back to the wall and cut down his assailants until shot. . John was affectionate to his son. [81] In another letter, to Governor Smith, he reiterated his view that "the salvation of Texas depends in great measure on keeping Bexar out of the hands of the enemy. When the citizens purchased the grants, James bought the leagues from them. James Bowie became proficient with pistol, rifle, and knife,Hopewell (1994), p. 7 . Jim was soon confined to a cot. [54], After obtaining permission from the Mexican government to mount an expedition into Indian territory to search for the legendary silver mine, Bowie, his brother Rezin, and nine others set out for San Saba on November 2, 1831. Bowie was born in Kentucky in 1796. Wright then drew a sword-cane, and, rushing upon Bowie, exclaimed, "damn you, you have killed me." [3] Bowie was the ninth of ten children born to Elve Ap-Catesby Jones and Rezin Bowie. [72] The council refused Bowie's request, likely because of lingering animosity over his land dealings. Jones changed his last name in the 1960s because he feared confusion with Davy Jones, a member of the already famous The Monkees. The uninjured Bowie was enraged and tried to kill Wright with his bare hands. According to his older brother, John, James Bowie was born in Logan County, Kentucky, on March 10, 1796 (Historical marker: 36 46' 25"N 86 42' 10"W). Travis ordered all the Texian forces into the Alamo. The stalemate ended shortly after Bowie led a charge to seize one of the Mexican cannons, at that time only 80 yards (73 m) away. [58] Captain William Y. Lacey, who spent eight months living in the wilderness with Bowie, described him as a humble man who never used profanity or vulgarities. The Kentucky frontier offered boundless opportunity, and the Bowies prospered. [112] Other witnesses maintained that they saw several Mexican soldiers enter Bowie's room, bayonet him, and carry him, alive, from the room. Col James "Jim" Bowie Born 10 Apr 1796 in Terrapin Creek, Logan, Kentucky, United States Ancestors Son of Reason Bowie Sr. and Elvira Ap Catesby (Jones) Bowie Brother of David Bowie, Larissa Bowie, John Jones Bowie, Martha (Bowie) Sterrett, Mary (Bowie) Bird, Rezin Pleasant Bowie, Sarah (Bowie) Davis, Stephen Bowie and David Bowie Speculation on his ailment favors typhoid pneumonia or tuberculosis. The old Mexican nurse who lived to be more than a hundred described the events which followed. He was a man of singular modesty and sweetness of disposition, with a reverence for women and a fondness for children ever ready to protect the weak; in fact, nothing at all of the desperado about him. On one side Was Col. James Bowie, Gen Momfort Wells, D+SAnyek ?wells, General Cuney, Dr. Cuney, and Mc Whorter. Although not possessing the sprakling talents of his brother Rezin, he was however endowed with much native eloquence. Edmondson (2000), p.107. The latter politely thanked him, but remarked that he did not think Crain had acted properly in firing upon him when he was exchanging shots with Maddox. Erected by The City of Opelousas and the Opelousas Historic . Mar 6,l836. [29][91], On February 23, the bells of San Fernando sounded the alarm for the approach of the Mexicans. Colonel Carin, himself wounded, brought water for his adversary, Colonel Bowie. Tragically, his young wife and her parents died in Monclova in 1833 when a cholera epidemic swept across northern Mexico. [81], Houston offered Bowie a commission as an officer on his staff, but Bowie rejected the opportunity, explaining that he wanted to be in the midst of the fighting. Several days before the ceremony, he signed a dowry contract promising to pay his new bride 15,000pesos (approximately $15,000 then, or $382,000 today[59]) in cash or property within two years of the marriage.

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