Abbeville in Abbeville County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Bowie
Christian Pioneers
Front (East) Inscription
Abraham Boey came from Sterlingshire, Scotland to Charles County, Md. about 1700. His son John had six sons, one being Rhodi who married Ann Price. Rhodi's six children moved to Abbeville County, S.C. ca. 1802-1815. Four are buried in Old Bowie Burial Ground ½ mile north. They are:
Eli Bowie, Rhodi's oldest son, came to S.C. about 1802. Married Katherine Franklin. Founded Gilgal Methodist Church. Many descendants.
Catherine, Spinster. First burial Old Bowie Burial Ground.
Reverse (West) Inscription
Richard Price, Presbyterian. Children by Catherine Hodges. Moved to Miss. ca. 1850. Child by second wife, Jane Milford married Eli's grandson. Many offspring.
Hezekiah, Presbyterian. Widow, Lucinda Simms and eight children moved to Miss. 1850. Large subclan.
Nancy's and Frances' gravesites unknown.
End markers are for later generations.
Erected 1986.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1700.
Location. 34° 16.583′ N, 82° 20.95′ W. Marker is in Abbeville, South Carolina, in Abbeville County. Marker can be reached from Gilgal Church Road (County Road 1-74). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Abbeville SC 29620, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Marilyn Anne McKinney (here, next to this marker); Bowie Family Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); Angela Marlow Newton (approx. 4.4 miles away); Rev. J.I. Bonner Monument (approx. 4˝ miles away); Bryson College Memorial (approx. 4˝ miles away); Erskine College (approx. 4˝ miles away); Abbeville County (approx. 4˝ miles away); William Moffatt Grier (approx. 4˝ miles away); Camp-Walker Plaza (approx. 4˝ miles away); Due West (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Abbeville.
Also see . . . Descendants of Rhodi Bowie. Showing the descendants of Rhodi Bowie seven generations. (Submitted on June 27, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Additional commentary.
1. History of Gilgal United Methodist Church
Two church histories have been published.
1. The Heritage of Abbeville County. According to this source, "in 1821 a society was formed for the purpose of religious worship near the waters of Jobs Creek by the Reverend Keisy and the following families, namely, Auntly, Bowie, Carter, Close, Johnson, Lawson, and Plucket. Later the following families were added: Buckhannons, Kirkpatricks, Richardson and others. Worship was first held in the homes of individual families. A brush arbor was soon constructed on the same plot where the church now stands. From that time, a preacher has been supplied and regular services have been held until this day. In 1839 a small plot of land was conveyed to the church by Joseph Eakin and George Nickles and a log building was constructed and the building was named Gilgal. Apparently, the land did not belong to the group in the beginning. Tradition claims that neighbors complained to Mr. Eakin and Nickles about giving land to this new type of religious worship. The reply was, 'If they are not of God they will not last.' Eli Bowie lived very near to the site of the church and took a very active part in the worship. This has had a long lasting effect on the Bowie family. A large percentage of the present-day members are of Bowie ancestry. Gilgal is considered by many Bowies as the mother church."
2. WPA survey of Abbeville rural churches completed in 1939 by Ben Carlton. According to Carlton, the "church was organized in 1820 by the Rev. Kelsey, a circuit rider, and it was a Methodist society, which consisted of 9 families. The first building was of logs and lasted until 1840 when it was replaced by a rectangular frame one which had a bell and was smaller than the current church. The latter was built in 1884 and was set on a lot of 2½ acres, which included a cemetery. It was 30' by 47', surrounded by large oaks on the side, but no bell. In 1939, its pastor was the Rev. Jessie H. Manly, Abbeville, RFD #3, who had been there since 1935, and it had a membership of about 85."
— Submitted June 27, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,702 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. submitted on June 27, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 24. submitted on July 20, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 25. submitted on August 22, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 26. submitted on June 27, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 27, 28. submitted on August 22, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 29. submitted on June 27, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 30. submitted on August 22, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.