Yeovil People
John Woodman Bowring
Baker of South Street
John Woodman Bowring was born in late April or early May 1792 and was baptised at St John's church on 11 May 1792. He was the son of Yeovil baker Robert Bowring or Bowering (1752-1831) and Tryphena née Woodman (1757-1830).
Nothing is known of John's early life, but he was a baker like his father, initially of Kingston (1822) and later (certainly by 1841) of South Street. He married a girl named Susanna, also known as Susan (1747-1841), who was not originally from Somerset. They were to have at least four children, all born in Yeovil: John Woodman Jnr (b1820), Frederick Robert (1822-1889), Hubert (b1826) and a daughter Tryphena (b1828).
In 1813, John's father, Robert, had purchased a 'court' of six cottages (see Map below) from the Corporation. Situated off the northern side of South Street, opposite Pen Hill, the cottages were known as Bowring's Row, or Bowring's Court. The dwellings had gardens on the western side of their access path. John owned the properties following his father's death until at least 1847, when he put the properties up for sale with a reserve price of £130 although there was no bid at that time. The properties were eventually sold and Bowring's Row was finally declared unfit for habitation in September 1906.
John Bowring was listed in the 1832 Register of Voters by virtue of owning a freehold house in South Street.
The 1841 census recorded John and Susan living in South Street, together with Tryphena, two male servants and two female servants. John gave his occupation simply as 'baker'.
Susanna died in 1841 and in the 1851 census, 58-year-old John was recorded as a widower living in South Street with his daughter Tryphena, aged 23. John gave his occupation as "Baker, Master, employing 2 men" and living with him were two baker's journeymen, a housemaid, nursemaid and a monthly nurse. Living next door was John's 25-year-old son Hubert who described himself as a "Coal Merchant, Ship broker and Commission Agent". Hubert's wife, 25-year-old Ann had been born in Jersey, Channel Islands, as were their two daughters Ann and Emma, aged 3 and 1 respectively. A one-day-old daughter, born in Yeovil, was listed as "Not Named".
John Woodman Bowring died in Yeovil during October 1852, aged 60.
MAP
This map is based on the 1886 Ordnance Survey, but rotated 90° with the Borough at extreme left and South Street at extreme right. Bowring's Row is seen at top right running parallel with the southern part of Tabernacle Lane.
Gallery
The record of John's baptism of 11 May 1792 in St John's parish register.
The will of John woodman bowring, 1852
This is the last Will and Testament of me John Woodman Bowring of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Baker I give and bequeath unto my daughter Tryphena Bowring all the furniture of the parlor in my dwelling House including the Piano Forte and also all the furniture of the bed room over the said Parlor usually occupied by my said daughter All the residue of my personal estate goods chattels [word illegible] and effects I give and bequeath unto my trustees and executors hereinafter named upon trust to call in and convert the same into money and to pay and apply the same in the manner herein after expressed I give and devise all my messuages cottages lands and hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever unto my friend Robert Bond of Northover in the said County Yeoman and my Nephew Robert Palmer of [Comeldon ?] in the County of Wilts Yeoman their heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the nature thereof respectively Nevertheless upon the trusts following that is to say Upon trust as soon as conveniently may be after my decease to sell and dispose of the same either by public auction or by private contract and either together or in parcels and subject to such conditions and generally in such manner as may be thought expedient and to convey and assure the same when old unto the purchaser or respective purchasers thereof and as to the monies to arise from the conversion of my residuary personal estate upon trust therewith in the first place to pay and discharge all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the costs and charges of carrying this my Will into execution and upon trust in the next place to pay and divide the residue of such monies unto and equally between my four children John Woodman Bowring Frederick Robert Bowring Hubert Bowring and the said Tryphena Bowring and their respective executors administrators and assigns and I appoint the said Robert Bond and Robert Palmer Executors of this my Will and give them full power to compound for all debts due to me and to settle all my accounts and affairs as they may think proper and desirable and I declare that each of them shall be chargeable only with his respective actual receipts and that they shall not be accountable the for the other nor for any losses which may happen to my Estate and Effects so as the same be not occasioned by their or his wilful neglect or default In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of March One thousand eight hundred and forty nine
John Woodman Bowring
Signed by the above named John Woodman Bowring as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses
John Batten James James (Clerk to Mr J Batten)
On
the 14th day of
December 1852
Administration
with the [word
illegible]
annexed of the
goods chattels
and credits of
John Woodman
Bowring late of
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset Baker
deceased was
granted to
Hubert Bowring
the the Son one
of the residuary
Legatees named
in the said Will
having been
first sworn by
him [Comon ?]
duly to
administer
Robert Bond and
Robert Palmer
the Nephew the
Executors and
Residuary
Legatees in
trusts named in
the said Will
having renounced
as well the
Probate and
execution of the
said Will as
Letters of
Administration
with the said
Will annexed of
the goods of the
said deceased as
by Acts of Court
appears
Transcribed by Bob Osborn