WENDEL BOWMAN, LAMPETER PIONEER

   Wendel Bowman, a patentee of the first Pequea colony. was born in Thun,
Canton Berne, Switzerland in 1681.... A coppersmith by trade, he came in 1707
to Germantown (Pennsylvania), where he and his wife Annie became members of the
Mennonite fellowship in 1708. He moved to Lampeter with the 1710 group and
obtained a 530 acre warrant along the Pequea on October 10, 1710. This land,
then in Strasburg Township, Chester County and now West Lampeter
Township, Lancaster County, took in much of Lampeter. It was patented on July
7, 1711.... He built a substantial, two-story log mansion by 1712. it was
chinked with plaster and whitewashed and had an arch cellar under the eastern
end. (It served until 1874, when it was dismantled.) In 1717 he obtained 310
acres southeast of Lampeter on Big Beaver Creek, land which in his lifetime he
sold to John and Caspar Bauman, nephews. He also sold 250 acres of his mansion
farm, leaving 280 acres at his death.
   Interested in the growing Mennonite settlement, he along with Martin Meilung
(Mylin) and Benedick Hearsay (Hershey) "on behalf of themselves and others
called Menists" signed the petition which eventually enabled them to hold lands
and trade. They made provision in the bill for their acceptance by affirmation.
Though it was signed by Mennonites on Nevember 27, 1727, the naturalization
papers were not granted until 1729.
   Wendel died in April 1735. his will was probated September 6, 1735 by
Benjamin Bowman, his son. The inventory appraisal follows:...
   Whole Amt.     L268.S.00.p.6  (268 pounds, 0 shillings, 6 pence)
                           ...
   A number from this pioneer family and its descendants are buried in
unmarked graves in the old Tschantz Cemetery near Lampeter. (article lists alot
of people and goes on to discuss other Bauman family members.)
                           ...
   Some researchers also list Magdalena (w. Jacob Groh) and Barbara (Dec. 29,
1726- May 14, 1810) and Elizabeth (July 19, 1728) as children, but ths cannot
be verified. Mennonite Research Journal. January 1971 p. 10-11.