~ Thomas B. Bowen ~
By: Brother McDonald` “Don” Burbidge
Major Thomas B. Bowen was the fifth member to join the Supreme Council that
was established in Charleston, S. C. on May 31, 1801 by Colonel John Mitchell
and Dr. Frederick L. Dalcho. He was born in the year 1741in Ireland. He fought
for America’s freedom against Great Britain during the Revolutionary war. After
the war had ended he settled in Charleston, S.C. to live and work as a printer.
With his chosen profession came many hardships that he worked so hard to over
come throughout his life. On August 29, 1783 the Society of the Cincinnati was
established in Charleston, S. C. In the list of those who first joined this
society you will find the names of Colonel John Mitchell, Major Charles Lining,
General Mordecai Gist, and Major Thomas B. Bowen along with 109 other officers
of the revolutionary War for the state of South Carolina. The first President of
the Society of the Cincinnati for the State of South Carolina was General
William Moultrie who held this office from 1783-1805. It should be mentioned
that General William Moultrie was a distant cousin of Ill. James Moultrie, 33°.
We next find that Brother Bowen joined “St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 40,” (Ancient).
The month and date that he became a member is not known at this time. Listed
among the members of this lodge we find the names of General Mordecai Gist, Dr.
James Moultrie (founder of the Supreme Council), Thomas Bacot (last Proventional
Grand Master of South Carolina), and Edward Weyman (who established the first
Ancient lodge in South Carolina) as attested by the signatures of each member.
Sometime in 1786 his lodge lost it’s charter and during one of the meeting that
the lodge held a letter written by his lodge and signed by Brother Bowen as the
of Secretary of the lodge minutes dated March 18, 1786 in which the lodge voted
on petitioning the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for a new charter to hold a lodge
of Ancient York Masons. This letter provides us with a glimpse of this man
thoughts and handwriting. In part the letter written by the hand of Brother
Bowen states in part;
On Motion, “Resolved that the Brethren who constitute this meeting do
agree to form a Lodge of Ancient York Masons & that they now proceed to appoint
Officers for the same.
The meeting proceeded to ballot for a Master and Warden, when Bother Gen.
Gist was chosen Master.
Brother T. B. Bowen, S. W., Brother E. Mitchell, J. W., Brother W. Graham,
Tres., Brother A. Fraser, Secy.
Brother Gist having laid before the members at this Meeting a Military
Warrant No. 27 granted him by the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
requested their Officers upon the propriety of congregating under that Warrant
which the Officers of the Right Worshipful Lodge aforesaid can be obtained on
the subject. On motion Resolved that the Worshipful Master, Wardens, treasurers,
& Secretary or any three of them be & are hereby appointed a Committee to frame
a letter to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania upon this business & request their
answer maybe transmitted as hastily as possible.
Proved that the committee report on Monday next. The meeting adjourned to
Monday the 27th Inst. 7 o’clock P. M.
A True Extract, T. B. Bowen”
We next find that on August 1st, 1786 his lodge sent a letter to the Grand
Lodge of Philadelphia requesting a new charter. In part it reads the following:
“Humbly to Represent, That we, being settled & residing in Charleston,
South Carolina and not members of any, particular Lodge therein; and being
anxious to extend the benign influence of Masonry by forming & establishing a
Lodge, regular in itself and respectable in its Members; have congregated
together under a Warrant granted from your Right Worshipful Body to our
Worshipful Brother Mordecai Gist, as Master and others therein named; members
Twenty six and bearing date the fourth day of April in the Year of Masonry 5780,
which by reference to your Books, will fully appear.
Right Worshipful Your affectionate Brethren and Honorable Servants M Gist,
T. B. Bowen, Ephiaman Mitchell William Graham, Alex Fraser Enos, Edward McCaudy”
After the Grand Lodge of Philadelphia considered the letter it was granted a
new charter and number designation of “Union Lodge No. 47.” This same lodge name
and number was changed at a later date to St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 10 until it was
merged into Union Lodge No. 4 that still exists today. Published in the
Charleston Courier dated July 15, 1805, is written the announcement of Ill.
Bowen's death, which marked the first founder of the Supreme Council to pass
away. His remains were deposited in the Lining family burial grounds at
Hillsbourgh Plantation, which was owned by Major Charles Lining who was a close
friend of Brother Bowen and also a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
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