Bowie Ancestors Project
Identifying Descendants
In order to help locate descendants and descendant communities, genealogical research is ongoing.
In 1829, Henderson Magruder willed the manumission of the enslaved community at Magruder Plantation. Manumission records available at the Maryland State Archives document the names of the individuals who were manumitted. Using census data and other historical records, the Bowie Ancestors project team continues to conduct genealogical research to learn more about the community who descended from these people. Powered by Ancestry.com, family trees will continue to be added to this site and updated as new information is uncovered.
If you have information to improve these trees or believe that you may be related to any of the individuals included, please contact us.
| Abraham Bowzer | Henny Tyler | Nat Bower | ||
| Airy Addison | Henny Williams | Nell | ||
| Alice | Henny Williams | Nelly Thomas | ||
| Amy Addison | John (Jack) Bowzer | Peter Generies | ||
| Ann (Anny) Sims | John Ray | Rebecca (Beck) Tyler Williams | ||
| Benja[min] (Ben) Sims | John Rhea | Rezin Williams | ||
| Benjamin Hamilton | John Tyler | Richard (Dick) Williams | ||
| Benjamin (Ben) Sprigg | Joseph (Joe) Sims | Robert Tyler | ||
| Charity Williams | Kitty | Robert Tyler | ||
| Charles | Lucy Sprigg | Sarah Chase | ||
| Charles Bradley | Margaret Tyler | Sarah Linn | ||
| Charlotte Gantt | Mariah Hamilton | Sarah Linn | ||
| Daniel Williams | Mary Candley | Saurina Tyler | ||
| Daniel Williams | Mary Sims | Singleton Williams | ||
| David (Davy) Williams | Mary Ann Bowzer | Sophia | ||
| Dennis | Mary Ann Magruder | Sophy Bradley | ||
| Dennis Bowzer | Milley Bowzer | Sophy Williams | ||
| Elizabeth Reves | Milly Simmes | Suckey Galloway | ||
| Elizabeth Tyler | Minty Tyler | Susan Carroll | ||
| Ellen Sims | Nancy (Nanny) Williams | Thomas (Tom) Gantt | ||
| Emily Williams | Nanny | Thomas Williams | ||
| Fanny Brookes | Nanny Williams | Trueman Tyler |
Descendant Communities of Care
Greater Mt. Nebo A.M.E. Church
Fostering a lasting partnership with the local faith community at Greater Mount Nebo AME Church and the Friends of Historic Mt. Nebo Preservation Corporation (FOHMN-PC)
In March 2025, The Bowie Ancestors Project team connected with the FOHMN-PC who reached out to the University of Maryland after hearing about the efforts of the Bowie Ancestors Project. Following initial introductions, a virtual meeting was scheduled with the FOHMN to further discuss the Bowie Ancestors Project. The FOHMN showed great interest in collaborating and offered resources and assistance, including access to Historic Mt. Nebo's church and cemetery records.
With an invitation to visit the Historic Mt. Nebo Church and cemetery, project co-chairs Dr. Pavão-Zuckerman and Dr. Summers met with FOHMN representatives Janis Hagey and Michael Gaddy who gave a tour of the 100 year old historic church building and the historic cemetery. They shared their plans to restore the historic structure and volunteered the historic cemetery as a potential reburial site.
The Bowie Ancestors Project team also met with Pastor Gerald Folsom to discuss partnering with Greater Mount Nebo A.M.E. Church to help connect with the Bowie Ancestors descent community and plan reburial options. Pastor Folsom was invited to visit with the Bowie Ancestors where he delivered a heartfelt prayer. He offered his committed support to assisting with the homegoing of the Bowie Ancestors.
Solidifying connections
Combining genealogical research with archival church and cemetery records provided by the FOHMN-PC, the Bowie Ancestors Project team successfully identified two individuals buried at Historic Mt. Nebo as familial descendants of Charity Williams, a woman enslaved by Henderson Magruder and a member of the Bowie Ancestors community.
John Williams was born in the late 1800s in Anne Arundel, MD. His father was the son of David Henry Williams and Charity Williams, who was liberated by the last will and testament of Henderson Magruder dated February 20, 1829 (certificate of freedom dated May 16, 1829). Both John Williams and his wife, Josephine (Wells) Williams, were buried at the Historic Mt. Nebo cemetery in Bowie, MD.
This connection solidified Greater Mount Nebo A.M.E. Church as a descendant faith community of the Bowie Ancestors. Representatives from the FOHMN-PC serve on the Bowie Ancestors Project advisory board and are integral community partners.