Ensign Robert Bowmar, Patriot

The Battle of Blue Licks was one of the last battles of the American Revolution. Ten months after Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown, British and patriot forces met on a hill next to the Licking River in what is now Robertson/Nicholas Counties, Kentucky (then Kentucky County, Virginia). Early accounts of the Blue Licks area describe it as a place where animals gathered to lick the salt deposits flowing from the natural springs.

On August 19, 1872, about 50 Loyalists along with 300 indigenous warriors ambushed over 180 Kentucky militiamen.

Ensign Robert “Robin” Bowmar was at the Battle of Blue Licks.

What documentation proves that he was there?

History of Woodford County

William E. Railey compiled the history of  “Woodford County Kentucky” and published it in several installments in the Register of Kentucky State Historical Society in 1920-1921. In the third installment, Mr. Railey includes a biography of the Bowmars:¹Railey, William E. “Woodford County” (Third Installment.) Register of Kentucky State Historical Society, Vol 18, No 54 (Sep 1920). Bowmar pp 51-53. This source incorrectly lists the father of Chloe Collins Bowmar.

The Bowmar family arrived in Kentucky one hundred and forty years ago and have been in Woodford County more than one hundred and thirty years. They were Virginians of the hearty, resolute, courageous type.

In 1779 Robert Bowmar, with his wife, Chloe Collins, and his son, Herman Bowmar, emigrated to Bowman’s Station, or Fort, in Mercer County. In 1789 they removed to Woodford County. Robert Bowmar participated in the bloody battle of the Blue Licks and was one of the fortunate survivors.

List of Participants

A list of participants in the Battle of Blue Licks was published by the Kentucky Historical Society in 1949.²Kentucky Historical Society. “Battle of Blue Licks.” The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, vol. 47, no. 160, 1949, pp. 247–249. www.jstor.org/stable/23372589. The latter section names the men who were killed; the first section lists the men who escaped. For unknown reasons, some names are  excluded.

See the entire list here: Battle of Blue Licks

Daniel Boone at the Battle of Blue Licks³Drake, Francis Samuel. Indian History For Young Folks. New York: Harper, 1884. p. 328.

Tracing my Bowmar Family lineage back through the generations:

• James Garnett married Dolly Pile
• James’ parents: William Garnett and Mary Victoria Jackson Willis
• Mary’s parents: Edmund “Ned Terrell Willis, Jr. and Ann “Nancy” Bowmar Willis (they were 2nd cousins)
• Nancy’s parents: Anthony G. Willis and Harriet F. Bowmar
• Harriet’s parents: Benjamin Bowmar and Mary “Polly” Burbridge
• Benjamin’s parents: Robert “Robin” Bowmar and Chloe Collins

Next week:

Learn the exciting specifics of Robert Bowmar’s escape at Blue Licks

SOURCES

• 1
  Railey, William E. “Woodford County” (Third Installment.) Register of Kentucky State Historical Society, Vol 18, No 54 (Sep 1920). Bowmar pp 51-53. This source incorrectly lists the father of Chloe Collins Bowmar.
• 2
  Kentucky Historical Society. “Battle of Blue Licks.” The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, vol. 47, no. 160, 1949, pp. 247–249. www.jstor.org/stable/23372589.
• 3
  Drake, Francis Samuel. Indian History For Young Folks. New York: Harper, 1884. p. 328.