It was the year 1644, grannie Bridget was feeling old - three of her four sons were dead, her daughters Alice and Elizabeth were married and busy with their children. Only her daughter Bridget and little grandson Thomas were with her. She was worried about Thomas; he was now thirteen and growing up fast. Times were very unsettled since King Charles had been executed three years ago. One never knew who would be about, and the wild Forest of Dean was too near for her liking as it was the refuge of many malcontents. Thomas would be better in a town and what was more, Thomas could learn a trade there.

So arrangements were made and Thomas was apprenticed for seven years to Thomas Pengy, his cousin, weaver of Gloucester (1) and went of to live with him and his wife Ann. The next year grannie Bridget died. Thomas Pengy was the son of John and Katherine Pengy of Micheldean. It was probable that Katherine Pengy was the same as Katherine Peutois - John Bower's sister so Thomas Pengy son of Katherine would be Thomas Bower's cousin.

Thomas worked hard and learned his trade and by the time he was twenty he had finished his apprenticeship - but the following year he came into the money which he had from his father and all the possessions grannie Bridget had left him - what was he to do with the latter? The best idea seemed to be to buy a house to put them in.

It seemed no point going back to Micheldean - certainly Aunt Bridget was still there but nobody else. He had cousins in the Village of Newent, seven miles from Gloucester, so he went out there and bought some property, which he farmed, styling himself "yeoman."

(1) Gloucester Record Office. Apprentice records.

[pg. 6] In 1660, he married Christian Bower of Newent. Christian was the widow of Robert Bower, a distant cousin of Thomas, who had been the owner of the Crown Inn, Newent. This Inn Christian inherited, but as in those days there was no married woman's property act, it was first registered in the name of Trustees. When she married Thomas, the Crown Inn was transferred to his name and henceforth he called himself "innholder". On his death it again reverted to Christian. Robert was very much older than Christian and when he died in 1659, he left her to bring up their four young children [Eleanor born 1657, Robert, Ann and another Thomas] alone. So marrying Thomas in 1660 helped her a great deal and they had a son, also called Thomas in 1676. These five children must have kept her pretty busy and for a long time they had no more children but eventually they had another son John born 1672, who died unmarried in 1695.

Thomas Bower died in 1679 - leaving property worth L208 [pounds sterling] - which was about equivalent to what he had inherited from his father at twenty-one years old. The Inn then reverted to the possession of his wife Christian and his money and possessions he left to Thomas and John - his sons. Edward Bower [tanner] was one of Thomas' executors - it is probable that he was a first cousin, being a son of Edward Bower of Micheldean, the brother of Thomas' father - he married in 1661 Margaret Purlevent by whom he had four children [Robert, Edward, Margaret and John]. His wife died in 1675 and in 1677 he married Ann Wall, a widow, and probably the daughter of Christian, wife of Thomas Bower [in Christian's will she names her grandson Edward Wall]. The two families were closely associated.

In 1671 Edward had bought the Tan House ["lately erected", though an earlier deed of 1652, also in Gloucester Record Office also describes it as "new erected"] and there he carried on the business of a tanner - his son Hubert eventually joined him. The Tan House still stands [and is now used as a medical group practice centre] together with the Tannery. The latter was originally of this shape so that carts carrying hides for delivery could be driven directly into the building. Above the arch is a plaque containing the initials H.B. and underneath the date 1695. Presumably this was "Hubert Bower." The archway is now bricked up. The yard is bounded by a stream, part of which is bricked up to form a tank for soaking hides - there are also large drying sheds still there. These, though old, are probably of later date than the Tannery and the Tan House. Both these are constructed of brick - the Tan House has three floors as well as good cellars, it has three living rooms on the ground floor [plus a kitchen of later date built out at the back], four bedrooms and two closets on the first floor and four bedrooms on the second floor. The basement contains three large vaulted cellars.

Edward Bower died in 1688 - he was coming home late one night on horseback, when the horse took a wrong path and ended up on a "tump".* Trying to get down this, the horse slipped and threw Edward, who died shortly after from his injuries. Of Thomas Bower innholder's children - Thomas married Joanna Browning in 1672, and John died unmarried in 1695, leaving all the property he had inherited from his father to his mother. She at once executed a deed [now in Gloucester City Library] making her daughter Eleanor Painter, wife of William Painter - yeoman of Oxenhall - a life tenant of all this property and on her death it was to go to her grandsons William and Samuel Painter and "their heirs for ever".

In the middle of the seventeenth Century there were about thirty adults of the name of Bower living in Newent. All these, except three, seem to be descendants of John Bower of Newent [will 1560] who was a cousin of the father of John Bower of the Monument [died 1615]. The only three who do not fit into this descent are Thomas Bower innholder and Edward Bower tanner who both came from Micheldean and [page 7] Richard Bower of Boulsdon who may have been the son of Richard Bower of Slimbridge, son of John Bower of the Monument and therefore also a cousin; but all the Newent Bowers must have been related to the Berkley Bowers.

The Story of the Crown Inn, Newent.

The story of the Crown Inn, Newent, is interesting. All the following deeds are in Gloucester City Library.

Robert Bower married Christian - he died in April, 1659, and left the Crown Inn to her.

1. Deed 20th July, 1659 - Christian Bower widow bought four acres land called Hallcroft for L90 [pounds sterling] from Thomas and Susan Master [Mercer].

2. Deed 16th January, 1659/60 - Christian Bower widow to Randall Hook of Newent Butcher and William Coke of Newent shoemaker settlement of Crown Inn and land called Hallcroft [four acres] in Newent four the use of Robert and Thomas Bower, sons of Christian [with inventory of furniture].

This was the appointment of Trustees as a married woman could not hold any property. On marriage any property she had devolved on her husband - so when she remarried in 1660 to Thomas Bower, who owned and farmed quite a lot of land of his own, he also became the owner of the Crown Inn and the land called Hallcroft. Hence he was known as Thomas Bower innholder.

3. Deed 30th July, 1662 - Thomas Bower yeoman, Christian his wife and Robert son of Christian sold the leasehold to Thomas Natley of Weres. A shed or shoppe adjoins to the house wherein the said Thomas Bower doth now reside called the Crown, the shed having been erected by Robert Bower deceased late husband of said Christian.

4. Deed 29th April, 1685 - Christian Bower of Newent widow and Thomas Bower her son of London to Thomas Welsh citizen and clothier of London mortgage of L50 [pounds sterling] on land called Hallcroft [four acres] in Newent, with bond for performance of covenant [Thomas Bower, second husband of Christian died in 1679, so the land he held for her then reverted to her again, i.e., the Crown Inn and the land called Hallcroft].

5. Deed 12th September, 1688 - Christian Bower widow and her son Robert Bower the elder, cordwainer, to Miles Beale, clothier and Richard Hawke, cooper, settlement of the Crown Inn, Newent and Hallcroft [four acres] on marriage to Robert Bower the younger and Elizabeth his wife.

6. Deed 26th February,1692 - Thomas Bower master citizen and clothworker of London, Christian Bower of Newent widow and Robert Bower of Newent cordwainer to Walter Norse of Newent assignment of mortgage of L50 [pounds sterling] on Hallcroft [four acres] in Newent. Consideration L40 [pounds sterling].

7. Deed 3rd April, 1703 - Robert Bower of Newent cordwainer and Thomas Bower of Newent butcher to John Barnes of Oxenhall, founder, lease for 99 years of the Crown Inn and Hallcroft [four acres] in Newent. Yearly rent L13 [pounds sterling] 10/-. Christian Bower died in 1698.

[pg. 8] Thomas Bower, 1661-1864.

Thomas Bower, the son of Thomas Bower innholder was apprenticed as a tanner during his father's lifetime. His father, in his will, left him L10 [pounds sterling] to be paid to him "when he is out of his apprenticeship". He was eighteen when his father died and his apprenticeship to a tanner probably finished when he was twenty i.e. in 1681 and it is probable he went to work with his father's cousin Edward Bower the tanner. The following year on 2nd October, 1682, he married Joanna Browning, also of Newent who was twenty-three. On 4th October, 1683, only a year later, she was buried and Thomas their son was baptized the same day, so it is probable that she died in childbirth. It is probable that Ann, Edward the tanner's second wife took over the care of the infant baby [she was probably the half-sister of Thomas the tanner, the baby's father], and that Thomas the tanner went on working for Edward the tanner; but tragedy struck, and Thomas, the father of the wee baby died - probably of an epidemic as several others were buried at about the same time. Thomas was buried at Newent on 31st January, 1684,* [Newent Church Register]. He died intestate and the administration of his estate was granted to his mother Christian Bower. He left goods worth L34 [pounds sterling] 10/- but by the time his funeral expenses, charges for his sickness and various administrative charges were paid, he only left L19 1/4, presumably eventually to be passed on to his orphan son, Thomas.

*At this time the calendar year ended in March, so he died in 1683 by the old calendar and 1684 by the modern calendar.

Thomas Bower. 1683-1741.

Thomas grew up very probably at the Tannery in the care of Edward Bower and his second wife, Thomas' half-aunt, Ann.

When he was fifteen in 1698 he was apprenticed to William Nichols, tanner, of Gloucester and seven years later in 1705, at the end of his apprenticeship he was admitted to the Guild of Tanners of Gloucester.

He then came back to Newent and joined Hubert Bower, son of Edward the tanner who was running the tannery [Edward had died in 1685 when Thomas was only five]. Hubert was born in 1670, so was fifteen by the time his father died - so presumably he had to take over the running of the tannery then with the help of his stepmother.

On 10th September, 1706, a year after Thomas returned to Newent and at the age of almost twenty-three, he married Mary Clarks of Newent and had seven children by her - Thomas born 1707, Edward born 1709, Sarah born 1711, Dorothy born 1713, Mary born 1714, Hubert born 1715, and Hannah born 1717. His wife Mary died in 1718 and in the same year Thomas married Prudence Woodward, a widow with one daughter and had four more children by her, John born 1719, Prudence born 1721, Ann born 1722, and William born 1726. Thomas was a very keen tanner and was warden of the Tanners' Guild of Gloucester in 1709-10. He was Master of that Guild certainly in the years 1713, 1715, 1721, and 1724 and maybe at other times as well. He died intestate in 1741 and Prudence his wife took out the administration of his estate.

Thomas must have married again only three months after his wife Mary died. He was then at the height of his career as Mater of the Tanners' Guild and he would have been away in Gloucester a great deal. He had been left with seven children aged between twelve and one and it was essential that he had someone to look after them while he was occupied with his work.

[pg. 9] Of Thomas Bower's children:

1. Thomas [born 1707] - stayed in Newent, married Hannah Nash. They had three children - Mary, John and Hannah. Thomas died 2nd December, 1775, and Hannah died 16th November, 1775. Both are buried in the family graves in Newent Church Yard.

Their son John [1733-1814] married first - Jane Cocks [1743-1790] by whom he had Ann [1791-1834] who married James Edwards and whose daughter Elizabeth Bower married his cousin Edward Roland Bower and these were the grandparents of the "three Miss Bower Bowers". John also had a son John [died 1824] by Jane Cocks who married a Miss Trounsell. They had two sons - Thomas Cocks also died a minor and John Cocks [1807-1860] who died unmarried.

Secondly, John married Ann Roston [died 1810] by who he had no children.

John Bower and his two wives - Jane [nee Cocks] and Ann [nee Roston] are buried in the Newent Church Yard.

2. Edward [1709-1761] - went to Birmingham where he married Sarah Noble. He lived in the Parish of St. Martin and is buried in the Church. M.I. tablet in the loft of the Church which carries the same Bower Coat of Arms as is depicted on the monument in Gloucester Cathedral. All the Birmingham/Knowle Bowers are descended from him.

3. Sarah [born 1711] - no information. Either died young or married.

4. Dorothy [born 1713] - no information. Either died young or married.

5. Mary [born 1714] - unmarried; died 1786. Buried with her sister Hannah.

6. Hubert [born 1715] - died 1779. Carried on Tannery with his father Thomas Bower. He had three children - Thomas [died 1771], Mary [died 1774] and Hubert [died 1800]. He was buried with wife Elizabeth [died 1793]. His son Hubert [died 1800] married Margaret Roston and carried on the Tannery. He was living at the Tan Yard House at the same time as his cousin John Bower [1733-1814] [father of Ann Edwards and John Cocks Bower] was living at the Steps House, Newent. The two cousins married two sisters Margaret and Ann Roston and apparently [see below] carried on the Tannery together.

7. Hannah [born 1717] - unmarried. Died 1811 and was buried with her sister Mary.

In the British Universal Directory 1792 [Gloucester City Library] among the entries for Newent is:

This Hannah Bower may have been the youngest daughter of Thomas, tanner, as she did not die till 1811. Hubert and John were the cousins mentioned above who married the two sisters Roston, so apparently cousin John was also in the Tannery with Hubert [their fathers were Thomas and Hubert, eldest and youngest sons of Thomas Bower, tanner].

Note: The three "Miss Bower Bowers" living in my lifetime, and one of whom, Ella, I met, always claimed relationship with the Birmingham/Knowle Bowers. Ella died in 1920 in Jamaica, Constance and Muriel in 1961, both in separate nursing homes in Devon.

[pg. 10] They were called "Bower Bower" from the Bower habit of giving the mother's surname as one of the child's Christian names. In this case Edward Roland Bower [1805-1864] [who was a descendant of Edward Bower [1638-1688] and of Edward's son, Hubert [1670-1735] both tanners of Newent, married a distant cousin Elizabeth Bower Edwards [1804-1886], she was a descendant of Thomas Bower [1683-1741] who carried on the tanning with Hubert Bower [above] and from who our branch is descended.

Edward Bower. 1709-1761.

The ancient Parish of Birmingham, comprising 299 acres, lay entirely in Warwickshire. On the east was the Parish of Aston comprising Deritend, Duddington, Bordesly, Aston, Erdington, etc. On the south was Edgbaston; Smallheath was the area to the North of the Sparkbrook, and Barshall Heath was to the south of it.

The oldest extant map of Birmingham [1731] shows the Bull Ring as the Village Green and St. Martin's Church on its present site. The Manor House was on the site on which later Smithfield Market was built, and was surrounded by a defensive ditch that eventually became Moat Lane. The Parsonage, surrounded by another moat stood at the junction of what later became Smallbrook Street and Pershore Street. Roads radiated out along the Sandstone ridge to Edgbaston and Sutton Coalfield. Dominating every feature of local communications was the crossing of the River Rea at the bottom of Digbeth.

In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there were grants for a market and a fair which indicate its growing prosperity. The only industries mentioned there in the Middle Ages were of cloth and iron, gold working, tanning, agriculture and marketing. All through the seventeenth century there was a rapid development of industry, though the ancient Parish remained rural in character and much of the wealth of the town was still in the hands of merchants rather than manufacturers. The built-up area of the town was not appreciably extended during this century as much of the land surrounding the town was in the hands of private families. So, the increasing population had to be accommodated in the old streets, many of which, especially in Digbeth and Deritend, became badly congested. New courts and alleys had to be built on land behind existing houses. Many of these were built in two rows with wash houses and latrines in the centre between them.

This was the picture of Birmingham when Edward Bower went there from Newent. When he went and why he went there, is not known, but it was before 1743. On 14th April of that year, it is stated in the Parish Register of St. Martin's, the Bull Ring, Birmingham that he married Sarah Noble. There is also a memorial tablet to him and Sarah in St. Martin's incorporating the same Coat of Arms as is on the Bower Monument in Gloucester Cathedral. He died in 1761 and his wife in 1786. The births of their [eight] children are recorded in St. Martin's Register [so they must have lived in that parish]. Also recorded are entries concerning a John Bower [marriage in 1756] and a Thomas Bower [had a son in 1750] so it can be presumed that Edward went to Birmingham because he had some relatives there.