Bowie Family Tree · Bowie History Atlas

Bowie Family Tree
Prince George’s County, Maryland

The Bowie family of Prince George’s County descends from John Bowie Sr. (c. 1688–1759), who arrived from Scotland around 1705–1706 and married Mary Mullikin. Two main branches are central to the history of Bowie, Maryland:

John Bowie Sr. (c. 1688–1759) m. Mary Mullikin
- Capt. William Bowie (1721–1791) of Mattaponi m. Margaret Sprigg
  - Governor Robert Bowie (1750–1818) of Mattaponi — the governor whose farm was looted in 1814, triggering the events that led to “The Star-Spangled Banner”
- Walter Bowie (of “Darnell’s Grove” / Willow Grove)
  - William Bowie “of Walter” / Fairview (c. 1776–1826) m. Kitty Beanes Duckett
    - Col. William Duckett Bowie (1803–1873) of Fairview
    - Oden Bowie (1826–1894) — born at Fairview; 34th Governor of Maryland; the railroad junction and later the City of Bowie were named in his honor in 1880

Note on name reuse: The Bowie family frequently reused the same first names (Robert, William, Walter, Thomas) across generations and branches. Always check dates and estates (Mattaponi vs. Fairview) when reading sources. The two governors — Robert Bowie (Mattaponi) and Oden Bowie (Fairview) — are from different lines but part of the same extended family that dominated local politics and landownership for two centuries.

Bowie Family TreePrince George’s County, Maryland

Bowie Family Tree
Prince George’s County, Maryland