Person Page

     Giles Bowditch was born sometime between 1671 and 1679 in England.²

     Margaret Cordelia Silver was born on 22 March 1852 (based on her age at death of 69 years, 9 months, 6 days) in Yancey Co., North Carolina.⁴ She married first Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch, son of Joseph Henry Bowditch and Elizabeth Blanchard Abbot, on 2 November 1870 in Yancey Co., North Carolina.² She married second Andrew D. Hall, son of Billy Hall and Sally Smith, about 1887.^5,6,7 She died on 28 December 1921 in Crabtree Twp., Yancey Co., North Carolina, at age 69 from pneumonia and flu.⁴ She was buried on 29 December 1921 at Micaville Cemetery in Yancey Co., North Carolina.⁴
     She went by her middle name Cordelia, and the nickname Delia.^8,9 She probably moved with her husband Nathaniel to Illinois in 1871. An 1875 newspaper article about his second marriage, in Kankakee Co., Illinois, provides evidence supporting this. It reports that "it is said" that he had been married a few years ago to a southern woman, that they lived "in this country" for some time, and that they went back to South Carolina [sic] after a baby was born.¹⁰ Further, Nathaniel and Cordelia's son John was born in September 1871. His birth place is listed as North Carolina in the 1920 and 1930 censuses, but as Illinois in the 1940 census and on his death certificate. (He has not been found in the 1880, 1900, or 1910 census.)^11,12,13,14 She and Nathaniel must have indeed come back to Micaville for a time, since their daughter Mary was born there about 1873 or 1874.¹⁵
     She and her second husband Andrew are listed in Crabtree Twp., Yancey Co., North Carolina, in the censuses from 1900 to 1920.^9,16,17 In the 1900 and 1910 censuses she is listed as being unable to read or write, but in the 1920 census she is listed as being able to read but not write.^9,16,17 And in the 1900 census she is listed as having had seven children, with three still living, while our records indicate that she had four children living at that time.⁹

     John Howard Bowditch was born on 16 September 1912 in Erwin, Unicoi Co., Tennessee.¹ He married Sula Gardner, daughter of Raymond T. Gardner and Annie M. Andrews, on 12 February 1938 in Bakersville, Mitchell Co., North Carolina.³ He died on 20 February 1940 at Mattie Williams Hospital in Richlands, Tazewell Co., Virginia, at age 27 from staphylococcal meningitis.¹ He was buried at Micaville Cemetery in Yancey Co., North Carolina.⁴
     He went by the name Jack.^3,5 He graduated from Burnsville High School in Burnsville, Yancey Co., North Carolina, then from Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, Avery Co., North Carolina. He also attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., North Carolina, for a time, and trained as an x-ray technician at the state sanatorium in Southern Pines, Moore Co., North Carolina. He worked for several years as an x-ray technician at Mattie Williams Hospital in Richlands, Tazewell Co., Virginia.⁵

     Robert Lee Young was born on 6 November 1871 in Yancey Co., North Carolina.³ He married first Julia Ida Smith on 31 July 1897 in Burnsville, Yancey Co.⁴ He married second Florence Edna Hall, daughter of William Andrew Hall and Mary Ella Bowditch, on 26 January 1926 in Bakersville, Mitchell Co., North Carolina.¹ They were later separated, probably by 1930. Florence and their daughter Paula Jean were then living with Florence's parents and Florence was listed in the census as Florence Hall, and single.⁵ Robert is listed by himself in 1930, but as married.⁶ They were divorced before 1933 when Robert remarried.⁷ He married third Anna Riddle on 26 January 1933 in Burnsville.⁷ He died on 8 March 1941 in Crabtree Twp., Yancey Co., at age 69 from a stroke.³ He was buried at Pete Young Cemetery in Windom, Yancey Co.³

     Joseph Towne was born on 30 October 1763 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹ He married Anna Barrett in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹ He died about 1844.²

     David Towne was born on 29 March 1765 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹ He married Lucy Upham in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹

     Benjamin Towne was born on 12 February 1767 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹ He married Betsey Chard in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹

     Mary Towne was born on 28 June 1769.¹ She married Nehemiah Upham, son of Luke Upham and Lois (?), in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹ She died on 2 February 1826 at age 56.²

     Nehemiah Upham married Mary Towne, daughter of Joseph Towne and Abigail Thompson, in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹

     Archelaus Towne was born on 28 June 1771.¹ He married Susanna Foster in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹

     Susanna Foster married Archelaus Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Abigail Thompson, in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹

     Bette Towne was born on 19 August 1773 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹ She married Joseph Elliott.¹

     Joseph Elliott married Bette Towne, daughter of Joseph Towne and Abigail Thompson.¹