BOWIE/BUIE: Circa 1870s Scottish Photo Album

[Busy B]

I am a descendant of James Frank Bowie, born Aug, 1851, we think in Morayshire, Scotland according to a family memory (his death cert lists parents and town as unknown). He immigrated to the U.S. around 1875 and brought an album of Scottish relatives - all unidentified. We do not know his parent's names, but have a note from someone saying he had a brother named Willie and a sister named Maggie. He was supposedly a policeman in Scotland around 1870-75 and brought his police whistle, pistol and a pocket watch made in Dufftown by James Walker with him. I have put together all the info we know on him, along with pictures of the Scottish relatives and his memorabilia on a blog at:

http://busybeetraveler.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/james-frank-bowie-1851-1930-scottish-immigrant/

A Scottish researcher has suggested perhaps his birth name was James Buie and was the son of Peter Buie and Marjory Garrow... Maybe someone will recognize photos in the Scottish album. Look forward to any input from Scottish "cousins"!

[MonicaL]

Busy B, what a great collection of material you have there...and how frustrating it must be the lack of progress 

Just a couple of comments really:

I am reading comments correctly that you think that James might have marrried previously before Susan? To a Jessie/Janet?

I know he shows as arriving in the US c.1875 but his naturalization papers in 1894 (?) indicate he was 12 years in the US. Have you been able to have any sitings for him in the US in 1880? See there is a James Bowie, married, born in Scotland c.1851 boarding in Buffalo, NY in 1880. But then I saw a naturalization card for a James Bowie in Buffalo in 1880, born 1851, so thought this might the same as showed in 1880....and your James' papers were from 1894.

No obvioius female Scottish names for his daughters after his marriage to Susan. A gap of four years though between marriage in 1882 (is that year confirmed?) and then the eldest showing born in 1886.

Cannot see anything on immigration into NY for him which is a pity.

Apart from the birth entry for a James BUIE to a Peter and Marjorie, haven't been able to see anything at all further for this couple. Buie is so rare on the Scottish records for then that I would wonder if it may be down to a mistrascription of Bowie/Blue etc...not sure about that surname...

Monica

[pricech2]

I have an example of a BUIE being reported as a BOWIE.  Elizabeth BUIE was married to John BURGES (sic) in 1816 in Bellie parish.  Their children's baptisms all gave Elizabeth's maiden name as BUIE, but on her death certificate in 1876 her parents were reported as BOWIE.  I could certainly imagine that a Doric speaker would pronounce the name BOWIE as BUIE.

Christine

[langbank]

My great grandmother was Ann(e) Buie/Bowie from Dyke, Morayshire. The spelling for her and siblings was Buie until mid 1860s and then Bowie. It seems to depend on who was recording the information, as phonetically they are the same.

Alastair

[Busy B]

I have updated my James Bowie immigrant blog, grouping all of my 1870s family photos by town/photographer and photographing them in a single image each that is printable on a sheet of paper each. I was hoping this might help establish family groups, relationships. It helped me match up obvious/possible sisters/brothers. If any researchers have associated families married to Bowies in the 1870s, please look at the faces to see if any are recognizable. Quite a few photos in Huntly, Elgin, Paisley. I appreciate all the input so far! Would love to hear input on what their dress, clothing, etc. says about them!

http://busybeetraveler.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/james-frank-bowie-1851-1930-scottish-immigrant/

[MonicaL]

You might want to post the photos again as a new thread on this specialist board here on RootsChat www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,298.0.html

Lots of people look in there with relevant experience that should help with these photos.

Monica