Bowles, Vice-Admiral (William), 1780-1869

Sources for this biography accompany the account book. Some information is contradictory. Letters were written to Reverend H. A. Watson of Bradford Peverell, Dorchester, apparently as he was researching the book's history.

From a letter written by the Librarian and Keeper of the Archives, New College, Oxford, 12.1.1924 [name illegible]:

“William Bowles was son of Matthew Bowles, Record of Donhead St. Andrew in Wiltshire and was educated at Winchester College. He matriculated from Hart Hall (now re-incorporated as Hertford College, just at the entrance to New College Lane) on March 13 1716/1717 aged 19; He took his B.A. degree in 1722 from New College, to which he must have “migrated” meanwhile; and his M.A. degree in 1726. In 1723 he was elected a Fellow of New College, and was afterward Rector of Donhead, and a Fellow of Winchester College. Donhead St. Andrew is not a living in the gift of New College, but Donhead St. Mary, the next parish, is; so doubtless the College influence reinforced his family interest in securing his appointment there.

From a letter written by William Biggs, secretary to the Bishop of Salisbury, January 11th, 1924:

“William Bowles M.A. Fellow of Winchester College... succeeded William Thomas and was succeeded in 1767 by John Taylor when he went to Donhead St. Mary (see Hutchin’s Dorset Volume page 538). William Bowles purchased a turn of Donhead St. Mary from Lord Arundel, He left his property to the Poet’s father who had a house and estate at Shaftesbury. I think that Donhead St. Mary is a mistake for Donhead St. Andrew, because I see from the list of Institutions that William Bowles died as Rector of Donhead St. Andrew in 1781, having been, according to the list of Institutions, instituted there in 1742 in place of Matthew Bowles who had died. How this information compares with Hutchin’s list of Rectors of Bradford Peverell, I cannot quite understand. The patron of Donhead St. Andrew at the time when William Bowles was instituted is given as William Thomas, Fellow of Winchester College, who may be assumed to be the same as William Thomas, who was William Bowles’ predecessor at Bradford Peverell.”

From the guide to the William Bowles Expense Ledger (MS 73), 1723-44, (University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.)

Epithet: of Add MS 38152

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000473.0x000028

Epithet: Admiral of the Fleet KCB

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000758.0x0000b3

Epithet: Rear-Admiral; M P for Launceston

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000473.0x00002a